A major victory for wildlife protection forces was made last week
with the launch of a new government-operated insurance program to cover
all forest guards employed in the Indian state of Karnataka, which holds
the largest number of wild tigers in India, and serves as a stronghold
for this highly endangered species.
Around the world, park guards are the keepers of the forests,
protectors of wildlife, and serve as the front line of defence against
poachers. Tigers, elephants, rhinos and other wildlife are being heavily
targeted by poachers for the illegal wildlife market – which is a
booming 19 billion dollar a year insidious industry. Poachers are highly
organized and heavily out-fitted, more so than the park guards, who are
often poorly paid, ill-equipped, and yet risk their lives to protect
the world's wildlife.
Recognizing the critical role government forest staff play in conserving tigers and other species, Sanjay Gubbi, the Tiger Program Coordinator for the big cat conservation group Panthera,
spearheaded this program (the first of its kind to be offered even to
temporary staff) to provide the much-needed insurance protection for
nearly 2,500 wildlife park guards, anti-poaching patrol members, and
other frontline enforcement staff working in extremely high-risk
conditions throughout Karnataka's five tiger reserves and 38 protected
areas.
"Karnataka's forest staff are on the front lines defending tigers
and other wildlife from poaching, habitat loss, and overhunting of
their prey. Their presence on the ground, patrolling these areas and
mitigating key threats, is essential in protecting wildlife, and yet
they often risk their lives doing so" Gubbi stated. "The adoption of
this new insurance policy demonstrates the value that the Karnataka
State Government places on the well-being of its forest staff and their
commitment to wildlife conservation, and this program serves as a model
for other states and countries around the globe."
The new policy was presented by Gubbi, who worked with the State
Government for several months to implement this insurance scheme, and it
was formally approved during the Karnataka State Wildlife Board Meeting
on Saturday, December 15th. The meeting was overseen by Chief Minister,
Jagadish Shettar, and attended by instrumental supporters of the
initiative, including Karnataka's Principal Chief Conservator of
Forests, Dipak Sarmah, Forest Minister C. P. Yogeshwar, and former
Indian cricket team captain, Anil Kumble.
Insurance is a critical security component and incentive for
wildlife enforcement staff, and up until now there has been a
significant dearth of such state-funded protection for fulltime and
temporary workers. Without insurance initiatives, forest staff face
illness, and a range of injuries from their jobs, some as serious as
losing limbs, and even losing their lives. Worse yet, the families of
guards who have perished, up until now, have been left without any form
of government-funded social security.
Panthera's CEO, Dr. Alan Rabinowitz,
stated, "Today, the Indian subcontinent is home to the world's highest
densities of tigers. If we are to see the species rebound from its
current state of fewer than 3,200 individuals, the philosophy is simple:
properly protect and equip the foot soldiers fighting to conserve the
last viable tiger populations." He continued, "We applaud Karnataka's
government for bolstering its wildlife protection forces and
establishing a sound insurance model to be replicated across the tiger's
range."
Above all, highly organized and well-armed gangs of poachers
targeting and trafficking animals for their meat, skins and body parts
serve as the number one threat to tigers, their prey and to the wildlife
enforcement patrols themselves. Serving as a biodiversity hotspot, the
threat of poaching is particularly real within Karnataka State. Nestled
in southwest India's Western Ghats region, Karnataka is home to one of
the world's largest remaining wild tiger populations and substantial
populations of the leopard, Asian elephant, and other endangered
species. Today, Karnataka's estimated population of 300 wild tigers
primarily live within the region's five tiger reserves, including the
Bandipur, Dandeli-Anshi, Biligirirangaswamy Temple, Bhadra, and
Nagarahole Reserves.
Expected to be fully established within these reserves in the coming
year, the State's insurance policy is currently being implemented on a
pilot basis within Bandipur Tiger Reserve, where Panthera's Gubbi has
played a pivotal role in convincing the reserve Director, Kumar Pushkar,
to provide insurance for the 471 wildlife enforcement staff. Pushkar, a
dynamic officer, took up the suggestion immediately and implemented the
policy.
In collaboration with the Nature Conservation Foundation, Gubbi and
other field scientists are implementing Panthera's Tigers Forever program
to reduce habitat fragmentation of India's tiger reserves, connect
Karnataka's remaining tiger populations to ensure the species' genetic
diversity, mitigate threats facing tigers and implement public awareness
campaigns to galvanize local support for the future of this iconic
species.
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About Panthera
Panthera, founded in 2006, is devoted exclusively to the
conservation of wild cats and their ecosystems. Utilizing the expertise
of the world's premier cat biologists, Panthera develops and implements
global conservation strategies for the largest, most imperilled cats –
tigers, lions, jaguars, and snow leopards. Representing the most
comprehensive effort of its kind, Panthera works in partnership with
local and international NGOs, scientific institutions, local communities
and governments around the globe. Visit: www.panthera.org
About Tigers Forever
Launched in 2006 after decades of continuing tiger declines,
Tigers Forever is changing the face of tiger conservation. Tigers
Forever makes a unique commitment to increase tiger numbers at key sites
by at least 50% over a 10-year period by relentlessly attacking the
most critical threats to tigers – poaching of tigers and their prey.
Utilizing rigorous science to maintain constant vigilance on
conservation efforts and on the tiger itself, this transformative
program is the only one of its kind to guarantee success – the recovery
of the wild tiger. Visit Tigers Forever.
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