Specialized 'tiger force' to protect big cats in Corbett Reserve

DEHRADUN: With growing concern over dwindling population of big cats in the country, a specialized tiger protection force is being set up in the Corbett Tiger Reserve, considered one of the best parks for the endangered species.

The Corbett Tiger Protection Force would assist the existing staff of the national park, nestled in the Kumaon region, in keeping a close watch on poachers, Uttarakhand Principal Chief Conservator of Forest R B S Rawat said.

The raising of a separate and specialised force is in line with Union Environment and Forest Ministry's efforts to save the tigers, whose population has dwindled over the years due to growing incidents of poaching, shrinking habitat and falling prey bases.

Since there is a healthy population of more than 160 tigers in the Corbett Park, as per the census carried out by Wildlife Institute of India (WII), it has been selected for initiation of the force on a pilot project basis, said Rawat.