In order to reduce chances of man-animal conflict, the Akhilesh government in Uttar Pradesh is planning to set up five forest corridors for animals venturing out of their forest reserves.
In order to reduce chances of man-animal conflict, the Akhilesh government in Uttar Pradesh is planning to set up five forest corridors for animals venturing out of their forest reserves.
These corridors will connect the various forest reserves in the state and allow animals to move around at ease.
The corridors would be dedicated roads or paths made for wild animals between these forests to let them move at ease and at their own pace.
The wildlife corridors would function as buffering zones to dense forest areas rich in wildlife and help animals move from one patch to another with minimum or no interference.
The human population living along the corridor would not be displaced but sensitised and educated on animal behaviour. They would also be alerted about the possible movement of animals through the corridor, based on the information collected through drones and camera traps.
Five such wildlife corridors would be built between the two ends of Pilibhit tiger reserve, between Dudhwa National Park and Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary, between Dudhwa and Katarniaghat sanctuary, between Shravasti and Suhelwa wildlife divisions and between North Kheri forest division and Pilibhit and Dudhwa.
The smallest corridor of 2 km would be in Pilibhit, while the longest (of 25 km) would be between North Kheri, Pilibhit and Dudhwa. The one lying between Dudhwa and Katarniaghat would be about 16-km-long and the remaining two would vary between 2 km and 25 km.
The survey of the delineated corridors would be done using drones in the coming week to know which path the wild animals take while moving in between the identified patches of forest.
So far, there is only incidental evidence about wild animals frequenting a particular route. Drones and camera trap would give direct evidence.
According to principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) Rupak De, the private, public and forest land lying on the identified stretches would be surveyed and acquired to create corridors which would be dense patches of forest. Trees would be planted on vacant public and forest land while encroached land would be vacated.
Forests in Uttar Pradesh comprise isolated and disintegrated green patches. The state is also witnessing a growing conflict of humans with tigers, leopards, elephants and, at times, rhinos.
The partner in this project would be the WWF and funds would be provided by Tiger Society, as well as the state and the Union government. NGOs would also be roped in to educate and sensitise people living along the proposed corridors.
