Tribals join in tiger conservation in Kanha national park

Kanha, Jun 19:From being tiger worshippers to guardians of the wildlife, the Baiga tribe of Madhya Pradesh are playing a vital role in tiger conservation by helping forest officials in providing protection to the big cats and other wild animals living in the Kanha National Park.

Members of the Baiga tribe, a semi-nomadic tribe of central India that is reliant on the forest, had been living in 28 villages within the Kanha National Park until 1968, after which they were relocated. The relocation was part of an effort to maintain a critical tiger habitat. In 2014, hundreds of Baiga tribals were evicted from the Kanha Tiger Reserve — home of Rudyard Kipling's 'Jungle Book.'

However, the tribe continues to be the lifeline of the forest and the forest officials continue to depend on the experience and acumen of tribals here for tiger conservation and wildlife protection. "Without the cooperation of the tribals, there is no way that tigers could flourish in these jungles.

It is because of their experience and help that we are able to protect our tigers better," says J S Chauhan, Field Director of Kanha National Park. Kanha National Park has ten experienced tribals also known as 'trackers' who help the forest officials in tracing animals, especially tigers in the forest.

According to Chauhan, the tribes understand the animals. "We have about 8-10 such experienced tribals who help in tracking tigers. By observing the sound of movement of leaves and by chirpings of birds these trackers tell the approximate location of tigers which not only protect the tourists but also the tigers," he says.

One tribal named 'Manglu', says the field director, was "as good in tracking as Sachin Tendulkar is in batting." A guide who has been working in the forest since 2002 says Manglu had helped them to locate many tigers and provide them with the required aid.

"With just the reaction of animals he could identify the location of tigers," the guide says. The trackers also help in locating and administering required medical attention to sick tigers. "We don't have advanced technology like that of developed countries to keep track of tigers, hence we rely on tribals who form the backbone of our system," says the field director.

Other than that these tribals also help in igniting and dousing controlled forest fires and their acumen helps in the prevention of such fires. "The tribals help us in identifying any suspicious person who may have entered the area to poach animals. We make sure that none of the villagers house any suspicious person.

PTI