Bandhavgarh fencing usurps tiger turf

Moushumi Basu | New Delhi

Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh is slowly getting converted into a zoo. The 108 sq km area covering the twin ranges of Tala and Kallwah in the reserve is being enclosed by chain links or iron mesh fencing.

The purpose, according to the Forest Department, is to minimise man-animal conflict. However, wildlife experts question its rationale. They point out that restricted territories are leading to infighting among the big cats, resulting in deaths of sub-adults. Such a situation can also lead to more and more in-breeding in the long run.

Experts also point out that while fences are able to prevent movement of other wildlife, tigers just jump over them in search of prey, bringing them in conflict with humans more often than not. Prior to fencing, the tigers were free to go out of the reserve area and hunt. Now, the prey base within the reserve, like deer, is fast disappearing.

On May 23, two persons — one man and a woman — were killed near Damna village in Tala range. They were attacked by a tiger while collecting tendu leaves. Local sources said three cubs are often seen moving out of the Mirchaini area of the reserve and venturing into nearby villages.

On June 11, an 18-20 month-old female cub was found dead in the Sukhi Pathiya area. Her death had been caused due to infighting.

“In the above circumstances, what purpose is the chain link fence serving?” asked Saptarishi Saigal, assistant conservator of NGO Save The Stripes.

According to him, the chain link is certainly not controlling man-animal conflict, but is affecting the big cats in two ways. First, confining the boundary of the reserve has put tremendous pressure on them. Battling against shrinking habitat, sub-adults or cubs are being pushed out of protected areas, which is worsening the conflict with humans. “Second, when the tiger is going out of the protected area, then there is also a threat of its getting poached,” Saigal added.

Wildlife experts further contended that such fencing blocks the corridor for tigers and other wildlife. Due to restricted space, it compels sub-adult tigers to stay in their mother’s territory for longer than they should, which, in turn, diminishes the prey base.

“The long-term impact of putting up chain-linking needs to be looked as there have been cases of ungulates not being able to save themselves when chased by predators once they are pushed to the fence,” said tiger expert Belinda Wright.

To add to it, local sources said the fence is also hurting the big cats. Tigress Laxmi injured her leg while another male tiger was also seen with a wire stuck in his paw pad.

However, according to Field Director Bandhavgarh, CK Patil, the chain link fencing has reduced the intrusion of the local villagers into the reserve and it would be further extended.

“It has also checked the entry of cattle into the forest”, he noted.

This was the very purpose for which the fence was erected. The human pressure was increasing every day and there had to be some way out to keep them at bay, he said.  According to him the success of the chain link lies in the fact that that today agricultural fields have extended right up to the fencing area. Earlier, it would be at least 400-500 metres away.

Acknowledging the fact that the tigers are moving out, he said it was inevitable. Pointing to the shrinking habitat, he added that the reserve can accommodate about 15 male tigers, an average area of territory being 30 sq kms-40 sq kms. “It is but natural that the tigers would move out. The fence is barely 2 metres in height, which can not anyway stop tigers,” he said.

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