We heard a Tiger growling at a distance beyond our sight as we prepared for a walk in tiger terrain accompanied by a Beat guard and two watchers. They took us on one of their patrolling routes, connecting one Patrolling Camp to the other. We were following a narrow jungle trail bordered by new growth of dense bamboo(Dendrocalamus strictus) when the guard received a wireless message that a Tiger has been sighted ahead on the same trail so he decided to skip the trail and lead us along a stream originating near the next camp. While on the way the watchers checked the stagnant water pools on the stream to make sure they haven’t been poisoned and measured the depth of the pools to account for water availability. These are important precautions to be taken especially during the summer seasons when water is limited and animals congregate to drink from stagnant pools which can be easily poisoned by poachers using agricultural pesticides. This can be done even by villagers seeking revenge for losses caused by animals or just as revenge against the authorities. The pools are checked for any kind of signs such as precipitates, color, floating layers on water or any other suspicious substances. Such water bodies are frequented by wildlife which was indicated by the presence of ungulate tracks and scat of Sloth Bear and therefore the nearby foot trails and animal trails need to be examined for snares placed by poachers. Each and every such water body is checked especially those in certain designated ‘sensitive areas’ and the date of examination is written on a nearby rock or tree with paint. Caves or Overhangs in gorges also need to be checked for use by poachers as natural shelters.
Foot patrolling is also required to keep a tab on illegal harvest of timber as well as non-timber forest products such as Honey, Bamboo, flowers of Mahua(Madhuca indica) used for making liquor, Leaves of Tendu (Diospyros melanoxylon) used for making ‘Bidi’, Seeds of Chironji(Buchanania lanzan) used in Sweets, bark of Bauhinia vahlii from which ropes are made and Gum of Sal(Shorea robusta) used as a fumigant. Collection of such NTFP’s which are also referred to as Minor Forest Products (MFP’s) may sound harmless but villagers are willing to chop down an entire tree for the sake of collecting few ounces of honey form bark-dwelling bees, inflict deep wounds on Sal to collect gum leading to the death of such trees or ignite fires to clear the undergrowth to facilitate Mahua flower collection and to stimulate new leaf flush of Tendu leaves. Intrusions of MFP collectors also increase the risk of Human-Animal Conflicts and hence needs to be curbed in Critical Wildlife areas.
We arrived at the camp after quenching our thirst with the clear waters of the tiny perennial pool which is shared by the patrolling parties with the wildlife around as they camp here throughout the year. The patrolling camp is a modest structure with a kitchen equipped with a ‘chula’ and a water purifier, the single room with a chest to store bedding and blankets. The camp is also equipped with solar powered lighting and there’s a toilet built outside. There’s also a shack in front of the camp meant of the visiting Officers who join the patrolling parties from time to time as everyone from the Range Forest Officers (RFO’s) to the Field Director is supposed to participate in the ‘legwork’ as they call it. Patrolling by Officers is required to boost the morale of the frontline staff and the Officers ensure that regular patrolling is being carried out judging by the use of patrolling trails and the camp. The guards are also motivated to plant fruiting trees such as bananas and vegetables for recreation as it also serves to judge the upkeep and use of the camp. After every patrol the guard is also required to fill a Patrolling Register which contains a detailed record of the foot patrol and a Sightings Register of the species, numbers, age and sex of the major mammals sighted and records of indirect evidences such as signs.
There are more than 100 such patrolling camps strategically located across the Tiger Reserve which are manned by a Beat Guard and one or two watchers. The permanent ones are manned throughout the year while temporary ones are those operational during summer as Fire-watching positions constructed on vantage points and those used during monsoons when surveillance is crucial as vehicular patrolling is difficult.
Hunger pangs prompted us that is was time to head back to our base and so we waved good bye to our hosts. On the way back we spotted a huge Wild Boar(Sus scrofa) utilizing its upward tusks to plow away soil from the ground in search of tubers and roots in the process loosening-up soil compacted by hooves of hoarding Cervids. Our Gypsies distracted it but it didn't scramble into the thickets but held its ground and moved along the road until finally retreating into the forest. Such lack of flight response to humans by animals is seen when they are left unmolested and are not persecuted by humans and was a testimony to the protection provided.
Our experience enlightened us about the most basic and crucial unit of Protected Areas Management i.e. the Beat and the Beat Guard and while the vacancies of frontline staff hover at around 25-30% in even the best of our PAs and the higher-ups discuss the use of Satellites to Monitor Fires and Encroachments and Wireless Infrared Sensors to detect trespassers we must always remember that it is the Frontline staff and effective ‘legwork’ which is most important for a Park’s Success.
- Aditya Malgaonkar
18/01/2011
