Tigers will only survive if we give them space

News from conservation is almost always grim, so when a "selfie" of a tiger, or rather Similipal’s special "black" (actually only a melanistic quirk) tiger shows up in my inbox, I cannot contain my delight. This is not a mere photograph, it is the harbinger of glad tidings: proof that years of effort in this reserve are yielding fruit, that tigers are reviving...

Let’s go back to beginnings. Similipal (Odisha) is one of India’s original nine tiger reserves, birthed in 1973 when Project Tiger was launched, and flourished in the care of its first — and legendary — field director Saroj Raj Choudhary. Subsequent years saw a downfall, largely due to a collapse in leadership, coupled with an indifferent state government. Hunters had the run of the park, especially with akhand shikar — an  annual ritual where local tribes go on a mass hunting spree killing wild "game" with indigenous weaponry.

Professional poachers had moved in as well, with Similipal’s magnificent tuskers as their prime target.

Then, in 2009, Similipal suffered another body blow, with a Maoist-led attack.  We learnt later that the Maoists in a bid to establish base in the park, had bandied together local poachers, timber smugglers and other disgruntled elements, and laid Similpal under siege. I visited just days after the attack: Similipal park was devastated, insurgents had wrecked the infrastructure, communication systems had been destroyed, forest chowkis, vehicles, rest houses were ransacked and burnt, rangers and forest guards were tied and beaten, the "department" elephant (who had recently battered a motorcycle belonging to local poachers) was shot at and you could see posters demanding the “death of Project Tiger”, everywhere. The carnage, clearly, was aimed to break the back of forest administration and thereby "free" Similipal of any control whatsoever.

I despaired: Would Similipal ever recover?  

If the tiger photograph, captured by a camera-trap is anything to go by, Similipal has.

One key reason — besides improved management and protection, under very adverse of conditions — has been the successful and voluntary relocation of people from within the core, critical tiger habitat. The first phase saw the voluntary relocation and rehabilitation of 65 families of Jenabil village from Similipal’s core in 2010. Visiting the park a year later was an eye-opener. Freed of human presence - and pressures, nature had taken over in Jenabil. The forests had a new lease of life: over-grazed, cultivated and encroached valleys were now a flourishing grasslands. A stream ran free and clear, sambar and chital grazed and elephants browsed where earlier there were cattle. And...on the squishy, muddy path by the stream we could see the pugmarks of a tiger.  This year,  two settlements at Upper Barhakamda and Bahagarh were relocated. Indeed, the tiger who took the "selfie" — actually merely passed by a strategically placed motion sensing remote camera--was very close to Bahagarh, which is now undisturbed, causing tigers to move around boldly by daylight and tigresses to successfully raise large litters of cubs in peace. Yet another village, Jamunagarh, recently convened a village council meeting voting to relocate.

The recovery of tigers here  is well-documented and backed by science. It is estimated that successful breeding has resulted in a healthy tiger density of over six tigers per 100sqkm, which can be compared with some of India’s best tiger reserves.

Even more heartening, was meeting with the villagers at "New Jenabil". They had settled in well, were living a peaceful existence distant from the constant conflict with wildlife they faced inside the reserve. Out of the forest where they lived in extreme hardship, without basic facilities like electricity, communication, access to healthcare, education and markets, they were now integrated with mainstream India. The village has a functional anganwadi, children go to school, they have access to healthcare and each household now boasted gas stoves, electricity, cell phones, satellite TV and (an enviable) bank balance.

There are other examples of voluntary relocation from across the country, which have provided such "win-win" solutions for both people, and wildlife. Bhadra, Nagarahole, Satpuda and Melghat Tiger Reserves and Rajaji National Park come to mind, having visited them personally.

Voluntary relocation from tiger reserves was identified as a priority activity by the prime minister-appointed Tiger Task Force, in recognition of the fact that tigers need inviolate spaces to breed.  If tigers are to survive, have a future, they needed undisturbed habitats free from human disturbance.

Equally important is the imperative from the perspective of human welfare: People "trapped" within these remote regions, deprived of the fruits of development, need to be brought  into the mainstream of society. Villagers living in remote forests, in the heart of reserves want a different life — of schools,  roads, employment opportunities, electricity, mobile phones –away from the stress of living in constant conflict with wild animals. Life outside, in the mainstream offers not just basic facilities like healthcare and education, but also opportunities denied in the forests that must remain pristine if we are to safeguard our ecological security.

To facilitate the process, the relocation package was enhanced by the Central Government, and while this did give it momentum, the funds made available with Project Tiger for relocation have not kept pace with the need. Currently there are over 45,000 families from 750-odd villages in core critical tiger habitats across India which have been identified for relocation—many of whom have petitioned governments, and even courts to demand relocation.  

My impetus to write this, stems not just from the tiger photograph, but the consistent bad press — especially internationally-on this issue, essentially condemning the "eviction" of people from their traditional homes, for the sake of wildlife. I understand and appreciate the concerns surrounding this sensitive exercise. But I wonder how many are aware of ground reality of the harsh conditions that people live within forests off the map? Communities in Wayanad Sanctuary have perched temporary "shelters"on trees, where they spend nights to avoid elephants; people in Satkosia Tiger Reserve live in penury; they have given up agriculture, as most of it was eaten and trampled on by deer, and elephants; of children not being able to go to school due to the tough terrain, or the loss of a life as hospitals are too distant, too inaccessible.

Fact of the matter is, the tide has turned, relocation is now driven by communities who want out, who aspire for more, and it is upto us - governments, organisations, civil society to ensure that they are given the opportunity to exercise their choice, in a fair, sensitive manner, giving them the best possible facilities and advantages to ease the difficult transition.

It is only with the trust and faith of communities that we can conserve tigers, and our forests.