News Analysis India

Tag: Corbett Tiger Reserve

  • Forest Survey of India finds 6421 trees felled for Modi’s dream Pakhro tiger safari project

    Express News Service

    DEHRADUN: A dispute has erupted between the Forest Survey of India and the Uttarakhand Forest Department after 6421 trees were cut in the Corbett forest area for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dream project Pakhro Kalagarh Tiger Reserve division.

    The Forest Survey of India in its report on September 6, this year has found that around 6421 trees have been cut in Corbett Tiger Reserve where the Prime Minister’s dream project Pakhro Tiger project is underway. 

    The FSI has also discovered that apart from illegal tree felling, around 16.21 hectares of land in Corbett Tiger Reserve has also been cleared by forest officials of the Uttarakhand forest department.

    The FSI has surveyed the area of Corbett Tiger Reserve following a complaint lodged by Wildlife conservationist Gaurav Kumar Bansal with the National Tiger Conservation Authority.

    Bansal told, “It is not that the Uttarakhand forest department has requested the FSI to survey the area. In fact, the Ministry of Environment and Forests had requested FSI to conduct a survey.

    The questioning of FSI by the state forest department shows the lack of trust in the country’s premier agency, which is extremely unfortunate.

    Interestingly Principal Chief Conservator of forests, Uttrakhand Vinod Singhal on Saturday asked the Forest Survey of India to provide a detailed report on the illicit felling of trees in Pakhro Kalagarh Tiger Reserve division.

    Talking to TNIE, Singhal further clarified that this report has been not been received in the office.  After a preliminary examination of this report, there are several important technical issues which need to be resolved before this report can be accepted”.

    Rejecting the report released by the FSI on the felling of such a large number of trees, Singhal said, “There are many serious and important questions on the tabulation of the number of trees allegedly cut and the sampling technique used to arrive at this number, on which the Forest Survey of India has been asked to provide the detailed information”.

    The Pakhro Kalagarh Tiger project has now reached a controversial juncture with three major bodies, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), the Ministry of Environment and Forests, and Forest Survey of India (FSI) themselves alleging irregularities in the implementation of the project.

    It was also brought to notice that apart from the illegal felling of trees in Corbett Tiger Reserve (Asia’s first national park that has a maximum density of tigersfrom anywhere in the world), several illegal buildings within the core area of Corbett Tiger Reserve were constructed by Uttarakhand forest officials.

    The Forest Survey of India has found in its survey report that around 6093 trees have been cut in Corbett Tiger Reserve, where the Prime Minister’s dream project Pakhro Tiger project is going on. The FSI has also found that apart from illegal felling of trees, around 16.21 hectares of land in Corbett Tiger Reserve has also been cleared by forest officials of uttarakhand forest department.

    In 2019, the Prime Minister trekked in the forest of Corbett Reserve in Uttarakhand with Bear Grylls and after the said visit, the construction of was announced by the Uttarakhand government as the prime minister’s dream project.

    DEHRADUN: A dispute has erupted between the Forest Survey of India and the Uttarakhand Forest Department after 6421 trees were cut in the Corbett forest area for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dream project Pakhro Kalagarh Tiger Reserve division.

    The Forest Survey of India in its report on September 6, this year has found that around 6421 trees have been cut in Corbett Tiger Reserve where the Prime Minister’s dream project Pakhro Tiger project is underway. 

    The FSI has also discovered that apart from illegal tree felling, around 16.21 hectares of land in Corbett Tiger Reserve has also been cleared by forest officials of the Uttarakhand forest department.

    The FSI has surveyed the area of Corbett Tiger Reserve following a complaint lodged by Wildlife conservationist Gaurav Kumar Bansal with the National Tiger Conservation Authority.

    Bansal told, “It is not that the Uttarakhand forest department has requested the FSI to survey the area. In fact, the Ministry of Environment and Forests had requested FSI to conduct a survey.

    The questioning of FSI by the state forest department shows the lack of trust in the country’s premier agency, which is extremely unfortunate.

    Interestingly Principal Chief Conservator of forests, Uttrakhand Vinod Singhal on Saturday asked the Forest Survey of India to provide a detailed report on the illicit felling of trees in Pakhro Kalagarh Tiger Reserve division.

    Talking to TNIE, Singhal further clarified that this report has been not been received in the office.  After a preliminary examination of this report, there are several important technical issues which need to be resolved before this report can be accepted”.

    Rejecting the report released by the FSI on the felling of such a large number of trees, Singhal said, “There are many serious and important questions on the tabulation of the number of trees allegedly cut and the sampling technique used to arrive at this number, on which the Forest Survey of India has been asked to provide the detailed information”.

    The Pakhro Kalagarh Tiger project has now reached a controversial juncture with three major bodies, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), the Ministry of Environment and Forests, and Forest Survey of India (FSI) themselves alleging irregularities in the implementation of the project.

    It was also brought to notice that apart from the illegal felling of trees in Corbett Tiger Reserve (Asia’s first national park that has a maximum density of tigers
    from anywhere in the world), several illegal buildings within the core area of Corbett Tiger Reserve were constructed by Uttarakhand forest officials.

    The Forest Survey of India has found in its survey report that around 6093 trees have been cut in Corbett Tiger Reserve, where the Prime Minister’s dream project Pakhro Tiger project is going on. The FSI has also found that apart from illegal felling of trees, around 16.21 hectares of land in Corbett Tiger Reserve has also been cleared by forest officials of uttarakhand forest department.

    In 2019, the Prime Minister trekked in the forest of Corbett Reserve in Uttarakhand with Bear Grylls and after the said visit, the construction of was announced by the Uttarakhand government as the prime minister’s dream project.

  • CAG seeks documents related to financial irregularities in Corbett Tiger Reserve

    By PTI

    RISHIKESH: The Comptroller and Auditor General of India has sought documents related to alleged financial irregularities in the Kalagarh and Lansdowne forest divisions of the Corbett Tiger Reserve from Uttarakhand’s Head of Forest Force Vinod Kumar Singhal.

    Singhal had written to the state government recently, recommending a CAG probe into the alleged misappropriation of funds worth crores of rupees in the two forest divisions of the reserve.

    Now, the CAG has sought relevant documents from the officer to start its probe.

    Funds worth crores of rupees from the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority and other heads had been released for the two forest divisions but were not utilised for works they were meant for, Singhal had said.

    Suspended IFS officer Kishan Chand misused Rs 1.43 crore of the funds to buy refrigerators and air conditioners rather than spending the amount on sanctioned works, he alleged.

    The then head of forest force and chief wildlife warden also did not pay attention to the irregularities committed by Kishan Chand, who was the DFO of Kalagarh, Singhal further claimed.

    Large-scale misappropriation of funds committed during Kishan Chand’s tenure has come to light, the official added.

    The National Tiger Conservation Authority first conducted a probe into the allegations.

    Taking suo motu cognisance of its findings, the Uttarakhand High Court conducted a probe into the irregularities.

    The matter finally reached the Supreme Court and a central empowered committee is now probing it.

    The then Ranger Brij Bihari Sharma, DFO Kishan Chand and Chief Wildlife Warden J S Suhag are currently under suspension.

  • Two senior Indian Forest Service officers suspended over tree felling at Corbett Tiger Reserve

    By Express News Service

    DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand government has suspended two senior Indian Forest Service officers in connection with illegal tree felling and construction at the Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR).

    The action was taken on Wednesday. Officials from the state government said that further action will be taken in the matter soon.

    Subodh Uniyal, state forest minister said, “Our goverment is committed to zero tolerance policy towards violation of the law of the land. Further action will be take as per the law.”

    JS Suhag, former chief wildlife warden who held the post of chief executive officer (CAMPA) till Wednesday, and Kishan Chand, former divisional forest officer of Kalagarh Tiger Reserve, were suspended.

    CTR director Rahul (who goes by his first name) was removed from his post and attached to the office principal chief conservator of forests, Dehradun.

    In January this year, the Uttarakhand High Court had directed the chief secretary and principal secretary, forests, of the state to take action against officials over illegal constructions and felling of trees in the reserve’s Pakhro and Morghati areas.

    On April 17, the state government served a show-cause notice to Rahul and asked him to reply within 15 days.

    In October 2021, the Uttarakhand High Court taking suo moto cognizance of alleged illegal construction in the CTR and violation by the state forest department officials issued a notice to the state government and asked the state government to file replies in the matter.

    Earlier, a committee formed by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) found that in order to allow illegal construction and buildings, state forest department officials forged government records and violated the laws.

    The committee was formed by the NTCA after a petition by Gaurav Kumar Bansal, Supreme Court advocate, wildlife activist and conservationist.

    Bansal in his petition had submitted that the illegal construction of bridges and wall in tiger breeding habitat of the CTR has disturbed the whole ecology of the Corbett landscape.

    The NTCA committee also recommended initiating action against state forest officials including a vigilance inquiry.

    Following this, Magsaysay awardee and 2002 batch Indian Forest Service officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi was nominated as the investigation officer of the case by the then HoFF Bhartari.

    Later, Chaturvedi withdrew, citing attempts to destroy the ‘sanctity’ of the investigation. After this, another senior official also refused to conduct an investigation in the matter.

    On August 12, 2021, the NTCA issued a notice to the chief wildlife warden of the state asking him to submit a factual status report in the matter after a legal notice was sent by Bansal to the NTCA over the issue.

    On August 23, 2021, the Delhi High Court also directed NTCA to take action in respect of illegal construction of bridges and walls within critical tiger habitat in the CTR as expeditiously as possible and practicable.

    Interestingly, last year, on International Tiger Day, the report titled ‘Status of Tigers Co-predators and Prey in India’, released by the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change minister (MoEFCC) revealed that the Corbett Tiger Reserved has the highest tiger density amongst 50 tiger reserves in India.

    The CTR has 14 tigers per 100 square kilometres.

  • IFS officer and Magsaysay award recipient Chaturvedi withdraws from Corbett probe

    Express News Service

    DEHRADUN: Sanjiv Chaturvedi, 2002 Indian Forest Services officer who was appointed as investigation officer in alleged illegal construction and tree felling in Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR) has withdrawn himself from the investigation citing attempts to destroy ‘sanctity’ of the probe.

    In his letter dated November 7, 2021 the officer stated, “The undersigned has conducted hundreds of investigations within the ambit of law of the land in cases of corruption/malpractice in which allegations on incumbent party leaders as well as on senior most officers of all India services were levelled. And these investigations were approved/lauded by the CBI, CVC, Parliamentary Committee and other authorities but in none of these cases was any fear, desperation, confusion and apprehension ever reflected like in this case.”

    The development comes after contradictory statements of top functionaries of the state government including the state’s forest minister Harak Singh Rawat. 

    Chaturvedi, an awardee of Magsaysay Award 2015 who at present is posted as Chief Conservator of Forests in research wing of the department in Haldwani of Nainital district attaching a clipping of a vernacular stated in his letter, “I am also attaching a newspaper clipping dated November 7, 2021 in which contradictory statements of atleast half-a-dozen top most officials of the department have been published in which not only legality of the investigation has been questioned but attempts to destroy sanctity of the investigation have been made.”

    Adding a note of sarcasm, he has written at the end of his letter that in future any corruption inquiry should be entrsuted to him only if the state government takes clear decision to actually punish real culprits in matter of corruption. 

    On November 2, 2021 Rajiv Bhartari, head of the forest force appointed Chaturvedi as investigation officer in the case after Uttarakhand High Court took suo moto cognizance of the matter on October 27, 2022 and issued notices to the state government. 

    Earlier, a committee formed by the NTCA found that in order to allow illegal construction and buildings, state forest dept officials forged the government records and violated the laws. 

    The committee was formed by the NTCA after a petition by Gaurav Kumar Bansal, Supreme Court advocate, wildlife activist and conservationist. 

    Bansal in his petition had submitted that the said illegal construction of bridges and & wall in tiger breeding habitat of the CTR has disturbed the whole ecology of the Corbett landscape.

    Not only illegal construction of more than 4 bridges near Kalagarh Forest Rest House was going on but the Uttarakhand state forest officials are also actively cutting trees, shrubs in the tiger breeding habitat of the CTR, Bansal had alleged in his petition.

    The NTCA committee also recommended initiating action against state forest officials including vigilance inquiry. 

    The committee was formed by the NTCA after a petition by Bansal. 

    “The entire ongoing construction activities in one of the highest density tiger habitat of the world without any competent sanctions and by violating the various statutory provisions/court orders is an excellent example of both administrative and managerial failure. Appropriate actions are reqyired against all the forest officers responsible for such grave violations, ” stated the NTCA committee report dated October 22, 2021

    Meanwhile, state government has suspended BB Sharma, forest range officer of Pakhro range of the CTR. 

    The findings of the committee include alarming points such as illegal construction of the road and bridges is of such nature that it can meet the requirement of single lane highway.

    The report stating that frontline field worker is under tremendous pressure to allow illegal construction said that the illegal construction has been supervised by high level officers like divisional forest officer (DFO) of Kalagarh area. 

    Further adding that the illegal construction in the CTR is going on without any approval and financial sanctions the report states that instead of building cottages inside the CTR the forest officers allowed illegal construction of buildings. 

    Mentioning the construction work on Kandi road, Morghatti raod, Pakhrau forest rest house (FRH) and water body near the Pakhrau FRH the report revealed that no statutory approval/sanctions were obtained. 

    Furthermore adding that large amount of earth material was stacked by damaging the tiger habitat in the CTR all this work is in violation of Forest Conservation Act 1980, Wildlife Protection Act 1972, India Forest Act 1927. 

    The report by the NTCA apart from penal action and vigilance inquiry also recommends demolition of all illegal constructions, eco-restoration with immediate effect along with recovery of the cost from the ‘concerned officials’. 

    The committee has also recommended remote sensing by Forest Survey of India and National Remote Sensing Center to determine the felling of accurate number of trees in the protected sanctuary as allegations state felling of thousands of tree against the claims of hundreds by the state forest officials. 

    On August 12, 2021,  the NTCA issued notice to the chief wildlife warden of the state asking to submit factual status report in the matter after a legal notice was sent by Bansal to the NTCA pertaining the issue. 

    On August 23, 2021 the Delhi High Court also directed NTCA to take action in respect of illegal construction of bridges and walls within critical tiger habitat within the CTR as expeditiously as possible and practicable. 

    Interestingly, last year, on the International Tiger Day, the report titled  ‘Status of Tigers Co-predators and Prey in India’, released by union ministry of environment, forest and climate change minister (MoEFCC) revealed that Corbett Tiger Reserve of Uttarakhand has the highest tiger density amongst 50 tiger reserves in India. 

    The CTR has 14 tigers per 100 square kilometers which is highest in India. 

  • Magsaysay winner IFS officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi to probe Corbett violations

    Express News Service

    DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand forest department has appointed Magsaysay awardee and Indian Forest Service officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi to probe the alleged illegal constructions and tree felling in Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR). 

    At present Chaturvedi is the Chief Conservator of Forest in the research wing of the department in Haldwani of Nainital district.

    In an order dated November 2 by the head of the forest force (HoFF), Chaturvedi has been directed to submit the report within two weeks.

    Meanwhile, the state government has suspended BB Sharma, forest range officer of Pakhro range of the CTR. 

    The development comes after the Uttarakhand High Court took suo moto cognisance of the matter on October 27 and issued notices to the state government. 

    Earlier, a committee formed by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) had found that in order to allow illegal constructions, forest officials forged government records and violated laws. 

    The committee was formed by the NTCA after a petition by Gaurav Kumar Bansal, a Supreme Court advocate, and wildlife activist. 

    “It’s a scam of more than Rs 150 crore. More than Rs 150 cr of CAMPA funds (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority) have been illegally utilised for all these illegal constructions. Some officials of the CTR have destroyed the Corbett landscape only for the sake of money,” said Bansal. 

    The NTCA committee had recommended action, including vigilance inquiry, against officials, besides demolishing the illegal structures.

  • Forest officials forged docs, violated laws for illegal construction in Corbett: NTCA committee

    Express News Service

    DEHRADUN: A committee formed by National Tiger Conservation Authority to investigate allegations of illegal construction in Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR) in Uttarakhand has found that in order to allow illegal construction and buildings in the protected sanctuary, state forest department officials forged the government records and violated the laws. 

    “The entire ongoing construction activities in one of the highest density tiger habitat of the world without any competent sanctions and by violating the various statutory provisions/court orders is an excellent example of both administrative and managerial failure. Appropriate actions are reqyired against all the forest officers responsible for such grave violations, ” stated the NTCA committee report dated October 22, 2021

    The NTCA committee has also recommended initiating action against state forest officials including vigilance inquiry. 

    U’khand: Forest officials forged documents, violated laws for illegal construction in Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR), says Nantional Tiger Conservation Authority formed committee! @NewIndianXpress @TheMornStandard pic.twitter.com/1BwfSqoUrE
    — Vineet Upadhyay (@VineetTNIE) October 23, 2021
    The committee was formed by the NTCA after Gaurav Kumar Bansal, Supreme Court advocate and wildlife activist, conservationist filed a petition alleging illegal construction and violation of laws. 

    The findings of the committee include alarming points such as illegal construction of the road and bridges is of such nature that it can meet the requirement of single lane highway.

    The report stating that frontline field worker is under tremendous pressure to allow illegal construction said that the illegal construction has been supervised by high level officers like divisional forest officer (DFO) of Kalagarh area. 

    Further adding that the illegal construction in the CTR is going on without any approval and financial sanctions the report states that instead of building cottages inside the CTR the forest officers allowed illegal construction of buildings. 

    Mentioning the construction work on Kandi road, Morghatti raod, Pakhrau forest rest house (FRH) and water body near the Pakhrau FRH the report revealed that no statutory approval/sanctions were obtained. 

    Furthermore adding that large amount of earth material was stacked by damaging the tiger habitat in the CTR all this work is in violation of Forest Conservation Act 1980, Wildlife Protection Act 1972, India Forest Act 1927. 

    The report by the NTCA apart from penal action and vigilance inquiry also recommends demolition of all illegal constructions, eco-restoration with immediate effect along with recovery of the cost from the ‘concerned officials’. 

    The committee has also recommended remote sensing by Forest Survey of India and National Remote Sensing Center to determine the felling of accurate number of trees in the protected sanctuary as allegations state felling of thousands of tree against the claims of hundreds by the state forest officials. 

    On August 12, 2021,  the NTCA issued notice to the chief wildlife warden of the state asking to submit factual status report in the matter after a legal notice was sent by Bansal to the NTCA pertaining the issue. 

    Bansal in his notice dates August 11, 2021 to the member secretary of the NTCA in which he has also attached the pictures alleged that all the material needed for the said construction except cement is being sourced from the Corbett National Park – Uttarakhand itself “resulting into illegal mining of the natural resources and the same is causing irreparable & irreversible loss and damage to the rich biological diversity of the Corbett landscape”. 

    The notice stated illegal construction of bridges, walls in the tiger reserve which shall not only disturb whole ecology of the reserve but is also against the provisions of Wildlife Protection Act and Forest Conservation Act.

    The notice further added, “That said illegal construction of BRIDGES and WALL by way of felling the trees and shrubs within the Corbett Tiger Reserve by Uttarakhand Forest Department is nothing but unsustainable use of Corbett Landscape which is not only capable of damaging the ecology of the Tiger Reserve but shall also cause harm to the pristine biological diversity of the Corbett National Park.”

    The alleged construction of four bridges and ‘high wall’ is within Kalagarh and Pakhro area of the reserve near Kalagarh Forest Rest House.

    On August 23, 2021 the Delhi High Court also directed NTCA to take action in respect of illegal construction of bridges and walls within critical tiger habitat within the CTR as expeditiously as possible and practicable.  

  • SC constituted committee seeks reply over illegal tree felling in Corbett Tiger Reserve

    Express News Service

    DEHRADUN: A Supreme Court constituted committee has directed the Uttarakhand state forest department to submit reply about allegations pertaining to illegal felling of trees, illegal construction of buildings and water bodies in Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR) landscape. 

    A practising advocate alleged 163 thousand trees have been felled in the protected sanctuary. 

    Earlier this month, Central Zoo Authority (CZA) had issued notice to the chief wildlife warden of Uttarakhand on the issue of illegal tree cutting in Kalagarh forest division in the name of establishment of Pakhrau tiger safari. 

    The CZA issued the said notice on the legal issued by Gaurav Kumar Bansal, a practising advocate of the Supreme Court and a wild life activist, wherein he has requested the CZA & NTCA to withdraw their approval for establishment of the tiger safari in Pakhrau forest division. 

    In the notice, Bansal has stated that Forest Advisory Committee, MoEFCC, Govt of India recommended the said proposal only after the written assurance from Uttarakhand forest dept fficials that only 163 trees will be felled for the establishment of the safari. 

    Bansal has also pointed out the letter written by the director of the CTR wherein he has also called for a report from DFO Kalagarh regarding illegal felling of trees in the name of establishment of the safari. 

    The director of CTR in the letter dated July 6, 2021 raised the issue of illegal felling of the trees within the jurisdiction of DFO, Kalagarh. 

    Earlier, the National Tiger Conservation Authority had sought factual status report from the state forest department on the issue of opening of tourism in a critical tiger habitat of Rajaji Tiger Reserve. 

    The letter addressed to the chief wildlife warden of Uttarakhand dated September 7, 2021 states, “Kindly share the factual status report about the same through registered post.”

    This comes after Gaurav Kumar Bansal sent a legal notice to the NTCA on the issue citing serious violations of laws and endangering the national animal as well as other wildlife.

  • Submit ‘factual report’ over illegal construction in Corbett Tiger Reserve: NTCA to Uttarakhand forest dept

    Express News Service

    DEHRADUN: The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has sent a reminder to Uttarakhand state forest department after it failed to submit factual status report about allegations of construction of bridges and walls inside Corbett Tiger Reserve. 

    The reminder dated on September 6, 2021 addessed to the chief wildlife warden of Uttarakhand said, “The factual status report in the matter has not been received yet. Kindly ensure the submission of factual status report so that action can be taken in the matter.”

    Earlier on August 12, 2021, the NTCA issued notice to the chief wildlife warden of the state asking to submit factual status report in the matter after a legal notice was sent by a lawyer to the NTCA pertaining the issue. 

    Bansal in his notice dated on August 11, 2021 to the member secretary of the NTCA in which he has also attached the pictures alleged that all the material needed for the said construction except cement is being sourced from the Corbett National Park – Uttarakhand itself, “resulting into illegal mining of the natural resources and the same is causing irreparable & irreversible loss and damage to the rich biological diversity of the Corbett landscape.” 

    The notice states that illegal construction of bridges, walls is happening in the tiger reserve which shall not only disturb whole ecology of the reserve but is also against the provisions of Wildlife Protection Act and Forest Conservation Act.

    The notice further added, “That said illegal construction of BRIDGES and WALL by way of felling the trees and shrubs within the Corbett Tiger Reserve by Uttarakhand Forest Department is nothing but unsustainable use of Corbett Landscape which is not only capable of damaging the ecology of the Tiger Reserve but shall also cause harm to the pristine biological diversity of the Corbett National Park.”

    The alleged construction of four bridges and ‘high wall’ is within Kalagarh and Pakhro area of the reserve near Kalagarh Forest Rest House.

    On August 23, 2021 the Delhi High Court also directed NTCA to take action in respect of illegal construction of bridges and walls within critical tiger habitat as expeditiously as possible and practicable. 

    Chief Wildlife Warden of Uttarakhand, when contacted refused to comment on the matter. 

  • Alert sounded in Corbett Tiger Reserve over poacher threat

    Express News Service
    DEHRADUN: An alert has been sounded in the Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR) after its Special Observation Group (SOG) deployed in the Kalagarh area (close to the Uttar Pradesh border) informed authorities about active poachers in the area. 

    The officials of the reserve said that an alert has been sounded as there has been an increase in the movement of people in this area, presumably due to the reopening of the Nepal route.

    “Southern boundary of Corbett is sensitive in terms of infiltration. The villages of the neighbouring state of Uttar Pradesh located at the border of CTR act as patches to infiltrate,” said a senior IFS officer on the condition of anonymity. 

    The recent nabbing of poachers from Lakhimpur Kheri and Pithoragarh is also alarming, added officials.

    On March 3, five poachers were seized with 20 tiger bones in Lakhimpur Kheri.

    On February 14th in Takiyapurva village near Dudhwa Tiger Reserve’s Bailrayan Forest Range, two persons were caught with the hide of an adult tiger, which officials said appeared to have been killed barely a few days ago.

    At more than 240, CTR has the world’s largest Bengal tiger population. 

    In July 2020, a report titled  ‘Status of Tigers Co-predators and Prey in India’, released by the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change on the eve of Global Tiger Day revealed that the CTR has 14 tigers per 100 square kilometres which is the highest in India amongst 50 tiger reserves in the country. 

    The 656-page report which was termed as the “world’s largest effort invested in any wildlife survey till date” mentioned that the CTR has the highest tiger numbers with 231 inside the reserve and 266 ‘utilizing’ the reserve. 

    ‘Utilizing’ here means that the animal not necessarily shares habitat on a permanent basis but move from one area to another using corridor which connects the forests where the tiger resides.  

    Interestingly, the report underlining the concerns for the corridors warned that these (corridors) are further threatened by the proposed Kandi road that will connect Kotdwar to Ramnagar through parts of CTR.