Even as the fifth tiger is “poached” in the outskirts of the Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR) since October 2005, the Uttaranchal Government has been sitting on suggestions made by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to “place the Lansdowne, West Terai and Ramnagar forest divisions under the unified control” of CTR. With no response from the state ministry, the MoEF even asked Chief Minister N.D. Tiwari to intervene in a letter this April.

Among the suggestions pending with the state are:

• Bring adjoining tiger-rich forest areas within Corbett, ensuring better protection with Central funding support

• Fostering site-specific eco-development with livelihood options and engaging locals in protection

• Ensuring timely compensation for man-animal conflict

• Relieving senior forest officers from tourism related work

“Lack of vigil has led to poaching and there is no excuse for it. We must work on a comprehensive strategy that enhances protection and wins the goodwill of the locals. Appropriate action will be taken once the investigation is complete,” Project Tiger director Rajesh Gopal said.

He has reasons to worry. In spite of directives from the Project Tiger for joint monsoon patrolling involving staff from Corbett and adjoining forest areas, there has been no coordination in and around Corbett since last year.

Sources in Dehradun say Chief Wildlife Warden Srikant Chandola wanted the wardens of the adjoining forests to report to him directly and this upset Corbett conservator Rajiv Bhartari who snapped communication with them.

... contd.