Best Practices

1. Prey Augmentations: Main focus of tiger recovery project is on prey augmentation program in Phase-I. For this Spotted deer are captured from the Sagareswar wildlife sanctuary, translocated them in due care and released them into the enclosures made at Zholambi beat in Chandoli range of Chandoli National Park. Provisions that are being made for water, shade and fodder.

2. Tiger Recovery Project: The Sahyadri Tiger Recovery Project was initiated in 2017 considering the increasing need for concerted efforts to augment the tiger population in Sahyadri Tiger Reserve. After the completion of the feasibility analysis in early 2018, efforts in the form of camera trapping, sign surveys, line transects, and habitat monitoring have continued to date. During the five-year period ¼ 2017-2021 ½, review meetings to discuss progress and future actions have taken place regularly. In all the meetings, topics such as prey augmentation and village relocation have been in the center.

3. Corridor Protection: In the past few decades, permanent tiger presence was in Sahyadri ranges. But due to habitat fragmentation, the permanent tiger vanished from the area. Now, in the last few years, tigers have been recorded, but all of them are migratory ones. In order to increase the population up to carrying capacity, the Tiger recovery project and prey augmentation program are ongoing in STR. For this, new 10 conservation reserves are created near the corridor of STR to Kali and Dandeli tiger reserve, and close monitoring on the corridor with camera traps and research projects on monitoring with wildlife research and conservation society (WRCS). Adjoining territorial wings also play a crucial role in monitoring operation.

4. Rehabilitation: Out of 37 villages from the core, 29 villages get rehabilitated, and the remaining 8 village relocation programs are in the process. All the amenities are developed at the newly settled spot. Regular monitoring through a specially appointed ACF as a nodal officer, forester, and guard was done to overcome the problem of relocated villages and individual beneficiaries.

5. EDC: For overall development of villages, EDCs are formed in 55 villages through Dr. Shyama Prasad Jan Van Vikas Yojna. Amenities like LPG and their refilling, Bamb, crop seed distribution, Solar cooker, Poultry farming, Floor mill, Vermin-compost unit, Smokeless Chullas are distributed to individual beneficiaries. Also, works like gabion bandhara, Plantation, water pipelines, Van talav, Solar street light, Solar lamp, Sheaving machines, Solar heater, Water tanks, Apiculture kits, etc. of community benefits also carried out at the village level. It results in the overall development of villages.

6. Wildlife Monitoring: STR having a wide range of floral and faunal diversity. Above 45 mammals, 244 birds, above 120 butterflies, 22 amphibians, 44 reptiles, 50 fish, 1452 plants, and 400 medicinal species are found in STR. Regular patrolling at beat, range, and division level, camera trapping, line transect survey, machan census are done as part of monitoring. Also, research projects are sanctioned for research scholars from various institutes like BSKKV Dapoli and SGM College Karad.

7. Anti-Poaching Camps: In order to close monitoring 37 anti-poaching camps and 3 inspection huts are made inside the tiger project area. All the officers from the field director to guard and daily wages laborers are halted on APC during day and night form the protection point of view.

8. Rescue: Specially trained and well-equipped staff are deputed for the rescue of wild animals. Also, a special vehicle Tata Eicher is given to the rescue team. A specially appointed veterinary officer monitors the rescued wild animal and their health up to the release into their native habitat.

9. Sahyadri Conservation Education and Awareness Program: There is biotic pressure on STR due to human population and livestock. There is a prime need for people education, awareness, and involvement in the management of the tiger project to reduce biotic pressure and dependence on the forest. For this, STR along with various non-government organizations conducted various nature education and awareness programs for village youth, students, women self-help groups, and members of EDCs. Film shows, slide shows, jungle safari, and competitions in schools are conducted. Three mini-buses are mint jungle safari for the tourists. MoU done with the Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Agriculture University, Dapoli and Sant Gadgemahraj Mahavidyalay, Karad for research projects.