Lurking tigers emerge as key issue in Pilibhit forest fringes

Pilibhit: Days before Pilibhit goes to the hustings, the focus has shifted sharply to a pressing issue: the conflict between villagers and wildlife, particularly leopards and tigers. Despite political leaders’ claims about govt achievements and welfare programmes, over 250 villages within the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR)’s eco-sensitive zone grapple with fear, particularly regarding tiger attacks. These villages, with a population of about 8 lakh, have a large number of voters who can sway the election results.

“Even a slight ruffle in our agricultural field scares us, especially during the current phase of wheat and sugarcane harvesting,” said Rama Charan, a resident of Pandri in Pilibhit, which witnessed the killings of two persons in tiger attacks just this year.

Since its establishment in 2014, the PTR has recorded a surge in tiger population, causing distress among locals. The tiger population, confined to a mere 23 in 2014, soared to 71 in 2022. National leaders and top forest officials have celebrated this significant achievement, yet little attention has been given to the negative repercussions on the ground. Since 2016, 49 villagers have lost their lives to tiger attacks, with many more injured, amplifying the urgency for a solution.

According to PTR authorities and wildlife experts, the core forest area can sustain a maximum of 30-35 tigers based on grassland management and prey distribution. With tigers being territorial, young ones struggle to establish independent territories in the overcrowded reserve, leading to over 40% of tigers venturing into rural areas.

Pilibhit, a central sugarcane-producing district, shares its borders with PTR. Tigers, perceiving sugarcane fields as part of their habitat, often take refuge there, especially mother tigers protecting their cubs from male tigers. Recent incidents have heightened fear among villagers, particularly during wheat and sugarcane harvesting.

Villagers are adamant about voting for the party that offers a viable resolution to this issue. “The villagers have been demanding a chain-link-fencing at PTR periphery for years. However, the only solution to tigers’ straying is their translocation to other forest regions with low tiger density,” said Dr Qamar Quraishi, head of the tiger cell at the Wildlife Institute of India.

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