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KANHA
TIGER RESERVE
Nestled in the ranges of the Satpuras in Madhya Pradesh and abounding
in Sal and mixed forests, Kanha was one
of the first 9 Project Tiger areas initiated in 1973. The total area covers
1945 sq. kms with a core area of
940 sq. kms. The area was
enlarged after Project Tiger was initiated and still awaits final legal
notification. The tiger population was said to be 48 in 1976 and is estimated
today at 100.
The management input into
Kanha Tiger Reserve of the Central Indian highlands, from where the reverberating
call of the tiger and the braying of the mating hard ground Barasingha
resounds has probably achieved quite spectacular results during the past
two decades. Though the management is far from satisfied from the results,
which reflects the uncompromising, dedicated and may be somewhat impatient
but correct approach, yet it must be said, that Kanha is most likely the
area, where most of the objectives of Project Tiger had been very faithfully
pursued. This naturally has produced the desired results to show the way
for future action.
Through intensive protection
of the natural habitat and the resident mute denizens and also by complete
elimination of the biotic influences in Kanha, it was possible to retrieve
the ecological loss, that had been sustained earlier. Kanha once again
looked probably like what Forsythe, Brander and Kipling had observed decades
back. In its attempt to free the core area from human interference, 26
villages were removed from the area, the villagers had to be motivated
to volunteer to leave their ancestral home land. This in itself should
by taken as a milestone, as we are aware of countless onesided cases of
man encroaching upon wild animals habitat, not the other way. The deserted
villages have given rise to various interesting developments in animal
ecology and behaviour, which has also been observed, at least partially
and some documented, which provides interesting knowledge. Total fire protection
has caused tremendous improvement in the water
regime, which has given
a new dimension to the flora, specially the grasses, herbs and shrubs.
Many ecological situations, favorable to all life forms, was observed.
The Barasingha bounced back,
once left to nature. The causes of its earlier decline, as had been explained,
worked out to be incorrect. H.S. Panwar found another cause - human disturbance
in the Barasinga habitat to be the real reason of its decline. But change
of behaviour by packs of jackals, many of whom have taken to predating
on fawns of chitals or the extremely limited black bucks still remains
a matter of research, specially as the future of the Black bucks in Kanha
appears to be dependent on this wholly unnatural scourge of their young
ones.
This is the only Tiger Reserve,
where some substantial ecological research had been carried out, under
the able hands of a keen researcher, who had been aptly supported by the
Field Director.
Research in the Park cover
a vast arena of new and exciting information from the creation of a field
laboratory, eco-monitoring, data collection on population dynamics, dispersal
patterns of wild animals, intra and inter-specific relations, feeding habits
of carnivora and herbivora, development of herbarium, checklists of birds,
plants and a faunal inventory, use of land-sat imageries to study habitat
parameters, use of radio telemetry to study land tenure of tiger's and
so on and 60 research papers have been published and from this there have
been 7 doctoral dissertations and a post doctoral thesis.
The first interpretation
centre has also been set up here, though it may not be the most ideal one
to educate the masses, who reside at the fringe and require most to be
motivated. The core area has been enlarged and at present the management
is trying to look beyond the boundary of the reserve in an attempt to spill
over the effects, with the cooperation of the people.
But there has been some ominous
development also staring the management on the face. Some political adventurists
have been active in the fringe in their attempt to misguide the disgruntled
section of the villagers
and fan up this antagonism
against the management, seemingly because the protected area (Kanha) has
been locked up, denying them their traditional subsistence supply from
the forests. And that too without any
substitute. The villagers,
who are almost entirely tribals and are descendents of 'ecosystem people',
still retaining most of their `ecosystems life style' were first baffled
and then tried to grapple with the problems, and fell easy victim to systematic
brain washing of some "ism" even though few actively supported the antisocial
outlaws.
Massive ecodevelopment planning
has been taken up to counter this new menace. But this may take a little
time. It may be the most crucial step ever taken in wildlife conservation,
and under the exploding pressure on
land by an ever increasing
human population level, there seems to be no alternative to proper ecodevelopment
for ensuring ecological stability in future. The current juncture appears
to be the most troubled period. The past results of good works will have
to be strengthened, as also new strategies to
counter new threats will
have to be created, which is quite a task for the future decade.
Kanha Tiger Reserve is the
true flagship of Project Tiger in terms of management, research and the
effective control of problems. In many ways it has set an example for all
the other 18 tiger reserves but Bittu Saigal, Member Steering Committee
of Project Tiger discussing the problem of fringe peoples and this protected
area states "The people who fringe Kanha have absolutely no vested interest
in protecting its buffer. They have no usufruct rights, they have no understanding
of the reason, for Project Tiger to exist, they are not a part of the decision
making processes which effect their lives". This might be a moment to actively
involve the people in this Project Tiger reserve. |