Tiger presence has been recorded in Sohelwa Wildlife Division of Balrampur. This news can bring Sohelwa back its golden history. Till now tigers were believed to have become extinct from Sohelwa. Its presence was not recorded for several decades. Tiger’s presence in Sohelwa has been confirmed by camera trapping installed in the division. These cameras were installed by the Wildlife Institute of India. Three tigers have been seen in these cameras. Forest officials are very excited to know about the presence of Tiger. Divisional Forest Officer Dr. Semmaran says that there will be further increase in the number of tigers in the coming times.
The history of Sohelwa has been very golden. It was once considered the natural habitat of the Royal Bengal Tiger. People used to come from far and wide to visit Sohelwa. The large reservoirs found in Sohelwa and the biodiversity here are very suitable for large carnivorous animals. There is also a large number of herbivores like deer, which are the food of tigers and leopards. The availability of water for the animals throughout the year remains in this wildlife division even when it is very hot. In this wildlife division spread over 452 square kilometers, tigers can live easily by making their own territory.
Wildlife experts say that adult tigers have their own designated territory which can be several kilometers. In such a situation, it is necessary to have more area of forest area for more number of tigers. Despite everything being suitable for the tiger, due to the indiscriminate hunting done for its skins and bones, the number of tigers gradually decreased. Due to the deforestation in Nepal, even the tigers coming from Nepal to the Sohelwa forest of India are unable to find their way to the dense forest. The situation has become such that for the last few decades it is believed that the existence of Tiger in Sohelwa has ended. For many years, the need for camera trapping work was being felt in Sohelwa Wildlife Division.
Camera trapping work completed in a month
On the initiative of DFO Dr. M. Semmaran, Wildlife Institute of India (WII) had installed about 300 cameras in all the ranges of Sohelwa. In which encouraging results were found. Evidence of Tiger’s presence has been found in Sohelwa forest area falling in Balrampur district. The presence of a large number of leopards has also been seen in the camera. Experts believe that leopards are not seen in the area where tigers are active. WII had installed about three hundred cameras in more than half a dozen ranges of Sohelwa. The Wii took about a month to complete this task.
WII officials also had little hope that evidence of tiger presence would be found in Sohelwa. After removing the camera, evidence of tiger was found after observing the footage recorded in it. WII will submit the report of complete camera trapping in the month of March to April.
DFO Dr. M. Semmaran told that the natural habitat of Sohelwa is suitable for Tiger. Camera trapping by WII has yielded encouraging results. Tiger has been seen in the camera. Their number is likely to be three. It is not possible to say exactly about the number. It is declared from All India level. Whatever is required will be done to increase the number of these tigers.
Wildlife lovers are now eyeing Katarnia
Katarniaghat Wildlife Division, rich in immense forest resources and rare herbs, is an important natural habitat of the Royal Bengal Tiger. Around 50 Vanrajs are roaming here. Katarniaghat wildlife lovers have once again caught sight of the Royal Bengal Tiger after four years in the Sohelwa Wildlife Division of Balrampur. Here Vanraj’s family is also growing rapidly.
Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, spread over an area of 551 square kilometers in Bahraich district on the Indo-Nepal international border, was declared a tiger reserve in 2003. This gift was received on the presence of Royal Bengal Tiger. Its pleasant results have come out in 20 years. Vanraj’s family has grown rapidly, which is adding to the beauty of Katarniaghat. Tourists coming to Katarniaghat often come face to face with Vanraj. While Suhelwa of Balrampur spread over 452 square kilometers was established in the year 1988. At that time the number of tigers here also remained around 30, but the tiger reserve was not declared. In 2018, Vanraj was counted from the camera trap cell, but his presence was not found. Now almost four years later, the presence of three Royal Bengal Tigers had created curiosity as to where these tigers came from. This disclosure has come from the camera trap installed by the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, which is conducting the Border Road Survey.