MELGHAT
TIGER RESERVE
Melghat Tiger Reserve spreads over 1597 sq.kms. of tropical dry deciduous
forest with 648 species of flora, many species of mammals, 19 fishes, 15
snakes, 5 lizards, 250 birds and 4 turtle/tortoise species. The core
area is 308 sq.kms.
The 1989 census reveals an estimated population of 77 tigers.
There are 59 villages in the area with 17,138 people and 21,677 cattle.
110 sq. kms. is under cultivation. The Korku tribals form a large percentage
of the population. Their life is compatible with the forest and they indulge
in small game poaching and fishing for their own consumption.
The final notification as a National Park is still pending.
The field director of the Park only controls 361 sq.kms. of the area
and the remaining area has an overlapping jurisdiction with the territorial
forest division of East, West and South Melghat. There is a large effort
after 20
years of Project Tiger to bring the area under unitary control. The
core is well protected without any villages. The grazing pressures are
not high and only 40,000 on the fringe areas. Through the flow of funds
and
equipment, local poaching has been curbed, although there have been
2 cases of tiger poaching in 1990-1991. Till 1988 timber extraction to
the tune of 30 crores annually was exploited. This is said to have stopped
since 1989 and degraded areas have had a chance to recoup. Through ecological
development pressures that mount from the buffer to the core will be reduced.
Tourist management, interpretation and other facilities are managed
by Project Tiger and nature education of school children and tribals is
underway. It appears that Melghat is an excellent flagship of Project Tiger
for the management of tourism and education to the people. There is no
tourism activity in the Core area.
The Park authorities feel that there is a deficit in the staff required
to manage the reserve. Much more work has to be done to eliminate the hazard
of fires. Water is a limiting factor and much has to be done to alleviate
the situation. There is a veterinary cell but yet to be fully operational.
Most of the research work has started in 1989 and there is some data being
collected. The research laboratory is slowly developing and requires much
more improvement.
On the side of documentation there has been some excellent work done.
An annotated bibliography on tigers has been compiled which encompasses
all tiger literature over the centuries. A compilation of the ethno-botanical
species of flora,and their uses has also been completed.
There is a plan to relocate 6 villages in the fringe. The damage to
crops in these areas by wild animals is alarming. The first case of man
eating also occurred in 1992.
It appears from census figures that this Tiger Reserve has reached its
optimum capacity to hold tigers. In fact prey species are said to be declining
at a very rapid rate especially spotted deer and wild boar. Tigers prey
on 250 cattle annually revealing their dependence on livestock that
must roam this forest. An attempt is being made to restock the forest with
prey though such a process could be questionable. The whole predator prey
base requires detailed scientific research, in order to understand
the problems. Unitary control by the field director of the core and buffer
is essential. Through this process the habitat in the buffer can be developed
and livestock predation reduced. Eco-development approaches for the
future will be vital in creating a harmony between man and forest, in this
tiger habitat.
Discussing the people and the park. Bittu Saigal, Member Steering Committee
of Project Tiger states "Proiect Tiger Directors Particularly Mr. M.G.
Gogate have been very aware of both the rights and sensibilities of the
Korkus and other local people. Nevertheless they are hampered by the fact
that there is simply no policy upon which they can fall back, it is only
their individual relationships that allow them to sporadically execute
`people- oriented' plans. Even these are by way of magnanimous dispensations,
not by way of routine right. How can we ever expect people's participation
this way". |