Equip Forest Guards to Protect Wildlife in India

Pakke Tiger Reserve (PTR) lying in the foothills of Eastern Himalayas in Arunachal Pradesh. (PTR) had a long horrid history of extensive poaching and required a strong enforcement initiative to sustain its wildlife under threat. The forest being vulnerable to illegal activities requires constant patrolling and monitoring. Frontline forest staffs of Pakke often risk their lives while rowing across the dangerous Kameng River patrolling the forest but the lack of desired equipment and training prevented these guards from taking efficient actions. WTI has been supporting these brave guardians of the wild with required tools and training programmes. This ongoing effort involving local communities with forest department brought the situation well under control today. Apart from patrolling, the frontline staff also conducted Rescue and Rehabilitation of animals like barking deer, sambar, great hornbill, snakes, turtles and other wildlife in distress.

To conduct effective monitoring the frontline staff required a suitable inflatable boat to maneuver through the forest cover. With the support of Global giving, WTI had supported the staff of Tippi wildlife range with a 16-seater inflatable boat. The boat is being effectively used in monitoring the western boundary of Pakke Tiger reserve. The boat will play a major role in coming monsoon season for patrolling the area and rescue distressed wildlife when the water level will be high and conditions will be tough.

In addition to honor the staff of the Pakke forest department for their hard work and commitment the best patrolling staff and best camera trapping team were selected and provided with field gears that including digital cameras(3 nos), which will help them to record wildlife movement and  illegal activities, head torches(4 nos) for patrolling and visibility in night , Swiss army knife(1 nos) for self-protection in an undesired  situation, Rucksacks (4 nos) to collect materials and evidences against poachers, Indian mammal field guides (3 nos) to identify and locate animals.   Mr. Tana Tapi, Divisional Forest Officer of Pakke Wildlife Sanctuary & Tiger reserve exclaimed, “This support from your organization goes a long way in supporting our front-line staff and keeping them motivated in their duty throughout the year.”