Thank our Forest Guards this World Ranger Day

Equip Forest Guards to Protect the Wildlife of India – 2025 - 26

Frontline forest staff are essential to wildlife conservation efforts, acting as the primary protectors on the ground. They patrol forests, combat threats like poaching, and bridge communities with protected areas. These workers, including permanent and temporary, conduct routine patrols covering 15-20 km in harsh conditions to deter poachers, illegal loggers, and encroachers. They safeguard endangered species, habitats, and resources like trees and minerals while assisting in rescues and veterinary care for injured animals. In the financial year 2025-26, we equipped forest department staff through 17 Rapid Action Projects across 9 states — Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Jharkhand, Kerala, Maharashtra, Manipur, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.

A total of 665 forest frontline staff were equipped with essential field gear in 23 forest divisions along with some field equipment. Field gear like jackets, sleeping bags, torches, rucksacks, boots, backpacks, raincoats, t-shirts and caps were provided to individuals for field preparedness. Equipment like weather stations, leaf blowers, camera traps, camping tents, snake rescue kits, water filters, lead-acid batteries, first-aid kits, fire-proof suits, and mosquito nets were also provided to assist in wildlife conservation efforts.

Details of equipment aid provided to each protected area is given below:

1. Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh - Camera Traps (5), Camping tent (12), Trekking bag (30), Headlamps (30), Trekking boots (30), Snake Rescue Kits (2), and Portable Weather Station (4)
2. Kamlang Tiger Reserve, Arunachal Pradesh -  Rucksacks (50), Solar Rechargeable Torch (50), Sleeping Bags (50), Socks (50), and Boots (50)
3. Dibrugarh Forest Division, Assam -  High-intensity Torch Lights (21), Basic Torch Lights (50), Shoes (50), Megaphones (7), Tarpaulin Sheets (30), and Winter Jackets (50)
4. Dhemaji Forest Division, Assam – Jackets (70), Caps (70), Jungle Boots (70), Torches (50), Water Filters (20), and Solar Home Kits (30).
5. Sikhna Jwhwlao National Park, Assam - Torches (20), T-shirts (70), Backpacks (70), Caps (70), Gumboots (20), GPS (2), and Binoculars (3).
6. Golaghat Forest Division, Assam – Shoes (30), Jackets (30), High-Intensity Torchlight (30), SOS Torchlight (10), and Snake Rescue Kits (2)
7. Jamshedpur Forest Division, Jharkhand - Solar-powered Torchlights (280).
8. Muthanga Elephant Camp, Kerala- Raincoats (31), Blankets (24), Weather Coats (31), Dry Sheets (24), Bags (31), Rechargeable Torches (11), Search Lights (4), Tents (2), T-Shirts and Caps (31), Night Vision Binocular (1), Tarpaulin Sheets (2), Billhooks (13), Water Tank (4), and Plastic Bucket (11).
9. Chalakudy Forest Division, Kerala -  AI trap cameras (6).
10. Sholayar Range, Kerala - Sleeping Bags (25), Headlamps (10), Jackets (25), Raincoats (25), Rucksacks (25), Torches (8), Snake Rescue Kits (6), Multimeters (3), Chainsaws (3), And Bill Hooks (9).
11. Melghat Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra - lead-acid batteries (20)
12. Yanambail Range, Telangana - Torchlights (11), Jackets (11), Backpacks (11), Water Bottles (11), Lunch Boxes (11), Sleeping Bags (11), And Trekking Shoes (11), Mosquito Nets (6), Snake Rescue Kits (5), and First-Aid Kits (3).
13. Pakhal Wildlife Sanctuary, Telangana - Raincoats (20), T-Shirts (28), Cap (28), Headlamps (20), Jackets (20), Sleeping Bags (5), Camping Tents (4), First Aid Kit (2), Solar Home Kit (2), Tiffin Box (28), Water Bottle (28), Backpack (28), and Field Diaries (80).
14. Mehnagar Range, Uttar Pradesh – Fire resistant suits (5), Handheld Petrol-Operated Leaf Blower (1), Fire Extinguisher (2), Grass Cutting Machine (2), Brush Cutter (1), Trapping Net (1), Winter Jackets (10), and Portable water pump (1).
15. Senapati Forest Division, Manipur - Fireproof Suits (10), Camping Tents (3), Sleeping Bags (10), Trekking Shoes (10), and Camera Traps (2).
16. Gorumara Wildlife Division, Jaldapara Wildlife Division, Baikunthapur Forest Division, Jalpaiguri Forest Division, Buxa Tiger Reserve, Darjeeling Forest Division, Kurseong Forest Division, West Bengal – Jackets (48) and Backpack (48).
17. Dhansiri Forest Division, Assam – T-shirts (130), Caps (130), Torches (130), GPS Device (1), and Tarpaulin Sheets (20).

• Equipment_RAPs_Summary_FY202526.docx (DOCX)