Katerniaghat wildlife sanctuary is one of the most sensitive protected areas of the state. The most important reason is presence of porous Indo-Nepal border all along the northern boundary of the sanctuary. It is very interesting that in Nepalese side there is no forest left. Actually they have cut there forests few decades back. It was always very difficult for the forest staff to tackle the biotic pressure mounted from Nepalese side in the past. Illicit felling and poaching use to be a great problem in these areas. Deployment of SSB on border has certainly reduced the pressure but still there was a need of man power support to the forest department to face such problems more professionally.
Recently the Government of India, National Tiger Conservation Authority decided to deploy Tiger Protection Force in all Tiger Reserve of the country. In the initial phase it had been decided that Ex-Army men and local villagers will be deployed for this purpose. In Katerniaghat we deployed the Tiger Protection Force from Feb 08 onward and the results are very encouraging.
We have got extra man power which is 24 hours available for patrolling and other preventive works. The guns, guards, vehicle and local youth have given an edge to the protection strategy in the division. Recently in an encounter with Nepalese poachers we could arrest 4 offenders with a muzzle loaded gun. The Forest Guard and the Tiger Protection Force was on patrolling in bordering area and got information from 'mukhbir' that people are planning to poach ungulates and will enter in the forest area. The 'gadabandi' was done and in an encounter the poachers were apprehended read handed.
Before this incident, when we were facing Leopard menace problem in Sujauli area, the force gave extra ordinary support to our efforts to mitigate the problem. I strongly feel that 'Guns and Guards matter a lot' when we have to protect our dwindling wildlife against all odds. The deployment of force is very helpful for the field staff...as the feed back I am getting from my range officers. Thanks for those who cares for our invaluable wildlife wealth.
Recently the Government of India, National Tiger Conservation Authority decided to deploy Tiger Protection Force in all Tiger Reserve of the country. In the initial phase it had been decided that Ex-Army men and local villagers will be deployed for this purpose. In Katerniaghat we deployed the Tiger Protection Force from Feb 08 onward and the results are very encouraging.
We have got extra man power which is 24 hours available for patrolling and other preventive works. The guns, guards, vehicle and local youth have given an edge to the protection strategy in the division. Recently in an encounter with Nepalese poachers we could arrest 4 offenders with a muzzle loaded gun. The Forest Guard and the Tiger Protection Force was on patrolling in bordering area and got information from 'mukhbir' that people are planning to poach ungulates and will enter in the forest area. The 'gadabandi' was done and in an encounter the poachers were apprehended read handed.
Before this incident, when we were facing Leopard menace problem in Sujauli area, the force gave extra ordinary support to our efforts to mitigate the problem. I strongly feel that 'Guns and Guards matter a lot' when we have to protect our dwindling wildlife against all odds. The deployment of force is very helpful for the field staff...as the feed back I am getting from my range officers. Thanks for those who cares for our invaluable wildlife wealth.
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