Two base camps to check man-animal conflicts in Terai

The state Forest department will be undertaking an exclusive project to keep a check on the incidents of man-animal conflict in the core tiger habitat zone in the state. The department, with support from the World Wildlife Fund, will be establishing two conflict and quick response camps at Katarniya Ghat in Bahraich and Dudhwa Wildlife Sanctuary in Lakhimpur Kheri districts. These camps will cover the area between Katarniya Ghat and Pilibhit forest reserves and check the movement of tigers and also, the incidents of man-animal conflict.

The decision to set up these base camps was taken at a meeting of the newly formed Project Management Committee for the Project Tiger, held at Pilibhit on Friday and Saturday. The committee, which has officials of the state Forest department and the WWF as its members, will be monitoring all the projects that the department will undertake for the protection of tigers. During the meeting, the committee decided to include Pilibhit in the core tiger habitat zone.
The need for setting up these base camps was felt because of the recent incidents of tiger killings. Since July last, there have been around 10 incidents of man-animal conflicts in several districts of the state. The latest attack was reported from Rae Bareli on Saturday, when 8 people including a deputy ranger, were injured while trying to catch the leopard. The incident occurred in Lachai village under Saraini police station around 7.30 am, when the leopard attacked four locals, including a woman, who were working in the field. Hearing their cries, other villagers rushed to the spot. The injured were rushed to the district hospital. Meanwhile, a forest team also reached the spot. The animal attacked deputy ranger Ram Naresh Shukla, who was also rushed to the hospital. The villagers then started hitting the animal with lathis and stones and finally, killed the animal. Three more people were injured during the fight

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