Corbett National Park to have Tiger Protection Force from January 2010

Corbett National Park to have Tiger Protection Force from January 2010
Dehradun, Sep 17 - ANI: The Uttarakhand Government has decided to set up a specialized Tiger Protection Force to prevent poaching in the Corbett Tiger Reserve.

The Field Director of Corbett National Park will head the force, which would be operational from January 2010.

The Corbett Tiger Reserve is considered as one of the most suitable habitats for tigers and other endangered species.

The Uttarakhands Chief Conservator of Forest, R.B.S. Rawat, said the Corbett Tiger Protection Force would assist existing staff keeping a close watch on poachers.

The impact of the pilot project would be assessed before expanding it to other tiger reserves, he added.

Earlier, in 2007, the Union Environment and Forest Ministry had asked all 17 tiger range states to form a specialized force to strengthen efforts to save the national animal.

The countrys tiger population has dwindled to about 1400 due to poaching, shrinking habitat and falling prey bases.

The 112-member force will consist of youth from the Van Gujjar tribal community, which lives near the park. - ANI

4 poachers held for killing Corbett tiger

NAINITAL: Four poachers who killed an adult tigress four days ago near Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR) were arrested on Friday morning. The skin and other body parts of the animal have been seized from their possession, Uttarakhand forest officials said.

Forest department sources said these poachers were arrested in the Fatehpur forest range area. They belong to Udham Singh Nagar, Jaspur, Suhara, and Choi (in UP) towns, respectively. Some firearms and other sharp-edged weapons apart from a gunny bag were also seized from them.

Sources said the arrests were made following a tip-off that the suspected poachers would be passing through the area. A team of special forest armed guards rushed there and managed to arrest them.

Forest department sources blamed senior forest officials for failing to protect the Ramnagar tarai division area, which has virtually become a haven for poachers for the past couple of years. The same gang had killed an adult tiger in the Ramnagar tarai division about three years ago, they claimed.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/4_poachers_held_for_killing_Corbett_tiger/articleshow/4054343.cms