Fire, water watchers help USTR curb human–wildlife conflict

Raipur: The Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve (USTR) in Chhattisgarh has strengthened wildlife conservation and community safety by deploying dedicated fire watchers and water watchers across all 143 forest beats, helping reduce human–wildlife conflict in nearly 120 villages in core and buffer zones.During summer, forest fires and drying water sources often force animals such as sloth bears, leopards, hyenas, and elephants to move closer to villages, increasing conflict risks. To address this, USTR has adopted a proactive strategy combining surveillance, water management and enforcement.Fire watchers conduct regular foot patrols and use thermal drone surveillance to detect and prevent forest fires. Their efforts have led to the apprehension of 23 individuals responsible for causing fires, reducing such incidents significantly.Water watchers have ensured water availability through over 750 "jhiriya" water holes in interior forests and 26 solar-operated pumps in key water bodies across hotspot zones. This network helps retain wildlife within forest boundaries and limits their movement towards villages.These measures also help curb poaching, as summer water sources are often targeted.Satellite-based monitoring is also being used to track drying water sources and identify fire-prone areas for timely intervention.Officials said these coordinated efforts have resulted in zero human and wildlife casualties over the past three summers, despite peak collection of minor forest produce such as mahua, sal seeds, chironji and tendu leaves in buffer areas.
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