NTCA proposes 38 new rescue centres in tiger reserves as human-animal conflict rises
Citing the example of Uttarakhand where leopards are commonly reported in peri-urban and rural settlements, leading to livestock depredation and human injury cases, a rescue centre in the Chilla range of Rajaji tiger reserve has been proposed
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has proposed to set up additional 38 rescue rehab and release (RRR) centres in 39 tiger reserves. Presently, of India’s 58 tiger reserves, 36 currently have 40 wildlife rescue facilities.
This comes after increasing instances of wild animals, including tigers, sloth bears, and leopards, straying into human habitats.
Locations for proposed rescue facilities have been identified based on the analysis of All India Tiger Estimation (AITE) data, including patterns of tiger distribution, movement, and landscape connectivity, as well as inputs from the field staff of forest departments across the tiger reserves.
NTCA in a consolidated report stated that dispersal of wildlife beyond protected areas frequently comes into closer contact with domestic livestock, free-ranging dogs, feral animals, and human settlements, increasing the potential for exposure to infectious diseases, including canine distemper virus, bovine tuberculosis, foot and-mouth disease, parasitic infections, and other zoonotic or cross-species pathogens.
Citing the example of Uttarakhand where leopards are commonly reported in peri-urban and rural settlements, leading to livestock depredation and human injury cases, a rescue centre in the Chilla range of Rajaji tiger reserve has been proposed. In Bihar, rescue operations involve both venomous and nonvenomous species, making snake management a continuous and resource-intensive responsibility. Sloth bears and Gaur rescues from village areas, and agricultural landscapes also occur intermittently. Additionally, flooding in rivers necessitates the rescue and rehabilitation of aquatic species, including stranded turtles and river dolphins. Valmiki tiger reserve division 2 will come up with a rescue facility.
Doraha forest block in Uttar Pradesh’s Dudhwa tiger reserve will also come up with a rescue centre.
In another report, NTCA has pointed out that only 50% of the country’s tiger reserves have notified eco-sensitive zones (ESZs). Of the 58 tiger reserves in the country, 29 have notified ESZs, while the remaining 29 are yet to receive final ESZ notifications.
