The World Land Trust (WLT) has reported that since
2010, seven people have been killed by tigers in the vicinity of
Sunderkhal in Uttarakhand in northern India, and a further person was
killed by a leopard in the same area. The most recent death was reported
in March 2014.There has been an increase in the human population living in or near to the 3.75km-wide Chilkiya-Kota Corridor, which is an essential area for big cats. This has resulted in clashes between the species, as tigers prey on cattle in villages on the edge of the corridor, coming into close contact with people who live in the area. In January 2011, a tiger that had been declared a man-eater was shot dead in the corridor by officials from the Uttarakhand Forest Department.
WLT and partner Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) are working with the Uttarakhand Forest Department for the benefit of both big cats and humans. The organisations are collaborating in order to relocate the human settlement in Chilkiya-Kota Corridor to a safer location. The villagers have agreed to the relocation, and in the new settlements they will have their own houses and land ownership.
“To conserve the wildlife, especially elephants and tigers, as well as to ameliorate the suffering of people due to conflict with wildlife, rehabilitating the villagers to a safer place is the only option,” explains Dr Sandeep Tiwari, WTI’s Deputy Director and Regional Head, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. “This will be a win-win situation for both villagers who are living in poor conditions and wildlife.”
WLT are running the Big Cat Big Match Fortnight, which we reported on earlier, from 1–15 October 2014. The funds raised will go to specifically helping to protect the Chilkiya-Kota Corridor, for the benefit of both humans and animals alike.
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