The recent news report on the illegal felling of more than 6,000 trees for the proposed Pakhro tiger safari project in Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR) has raised serious environmental concerns. Forest Survey of India (FSI) report shed light on the incident, stating an approximate area of 16.21 hectares within CTR had been cleared for the safari. Upon completion, the Pakhro tiger safari, sprawled over 106 hectares, will mark the State’s first tiger safari, offering 100% tiger sighting within enclosures.
Overview of Corbett Tiger Reserve
Nestled in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand, Corbett Tiger Reserve became the launchpad for Project Tiger in 1973. The initiative was taken at Corbett National Park, which was India’s first national park and part of Corbett Tiger Reserve. Its establishment dates back to 1936 under the moniker, Hailey National Park, with an objective to protect the endangered Bengal tiger.
An Eponymous Tribute
The reserve pays homage to Jim Corbett for his instrumental role in its establishment. Originally, the core area was designated as Corbett National Park, while the buffer area included reserve forests and the Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary.
Geographical Significance
Geologically, the reserve is located within the Shivalik and Outer Himalaya provinces and characterised by mountainous terrains. It is traversed by major rivers such as Ramganga, Sonanadi, Mandal, Palain, and Kosi.
A Diverse Biodome
Encompassing over 500 square kilometres, CTR is known worldwide for its high density of tigers, with 14 tigers per hundred square kilometres, totalling to around 230 tigers. It is teeming with about 600 species of plants, as noted by the botanical survey of India. This includes trees, shrubs, ferns, grass, climbers, herbs, and bamboo, with Sal, Khair, and Sissoo being the most common trees.
The Animal Kingdom
In addition to tigers, Corbett is also home to leopards and other mammals such as jungle cats, barking deer, spotted deer, sambar deer, sloth etc.
Uttarakhand’s Protected Zones
Uttarakhand is known for its several protected areas including Nanda Devi National Park, Valley of Flowers National Park, Rajaji National Park, Gangotri National Park, and Govind National Park. Among these, Nanda Devi National Park and Valley of Flowers National Park hold the title of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Insightful Questions
Several intriguing questions have been asked in the UPSC Civil Services Examination regarding national parks. For instance, one question inquired about which among the listed national parks has the largest area under “Critical Tiger Habitat”. The answer was Nagarjunsagar Srisailam as it spans an area of 2595.72 sq. Kms, making it the largest core habitat for tigers.
