Centre gives nod to set up task force for Palamu Tiger Reserve

The Pioneer , Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Correspondent : Anupam Rana | Ranchi
The Central Government has given its nod to set up a ‘task force’ to intensify an anti-poaching drive engaging the villagers in the Palamu Tiger Reserve.

It is reported that the forest guards prefer to protect their fire arms instead of patrolling in the reserve forests due to the fear of Maoists. There were many instances in which the Naxals had attacked the foresters, aiming to snatch their arms.

However, the forest officials claimed that there was no report of poaching of tigers in the Reserve. A senior forest official said that the Ministry of Forest and Environment has given its nod to set up a task force. “The forest guards and rangers are facing difficulty to patrol in the core and buffer region of the reserve due to the growing menace of the Maoists. Now we want to engage the villagers for patrolling in the reserve. They could easily venture into the forest region to ward off the poaching,” he added.

He added that about 45 villages are located in the buffer area and about 60 are located in the periphery of the reserve. “It would be great help for the forest officials. The Central Government has approved a proposal to intensify anti-poaching drive in the reserve. Once the state gives it nod to set up a task force, then, the villagers would be engaged for this purpose,” he added.

The Palamu Tiger Reserve, one of the nine original tiger reserve in the country, has been situated in Jharkhand. About 1026 square kilometre of forest area in alamu falls under the protected areas under the Indian Forest Act. Prior to the formation of the reserve, the area was used for cattle grazing by the villagers.

The tiger reserve has a core area of 213 sq. km and a buffer area of 813 sq km. Ramandag, Latoo and Kujurum forest villages are located in the core area

The population of tiger is extremely scarce and counting them has become difficult due to presence of the Maoists in the area. Tiger, elephant, leopard, gaur, sambar etc, have been staying in the reserve.

A couple of months ago, the samples of tiger scat collected from 17 zones were sent to the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology in Hyderabad for the DNA tests. The report will reveal exact number of male and female population of the tigers.

 
SOURCE : http://www.dailypioneer.com/210254/Centre-gives-nod-to-set-up-task-force-for-Palamu-Tiger-Reserve.html
 


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