Villages in tiger territory get fresh net cover to avert polling-day intrusion by big cats
Times of India | 3 May 2024
KOLKATA: A 12km river stretch skirting the villages of Lahiripur, Jamespur, Kumirmari, Choto Mollakhali and Jharkhali in Sundarbans have got fresh nylon nets to stop straying tigers from disrupting the poll process on June 1.
There are at least 57 polling booths in these villages on the edge of the forest that live in constant fear of straying big cats.Spread across Gosaba and Kultali assembly constituencies under Jaynagar Lok Sabha seat, these villages have over 5 lakh voters.
The Indian Sundarbans is home to at least 101 tigers, according to the latest census.
Fences on the edge of the forest and nets along rivers like Gomor, Bidya, Pitchkhali and Kapura have, over the years, helped in preventing man-animal conflict in this part of the world. The Sundarbans Tiger Reserve has 106km of nylon net fencing with foresters keeping a constant check on any breach due to seasonal storms, soil erosion or human activity.
"With the elections approaching, vigilance has been increased and a 12km section of old fencing replaced," said deputy field director Justine Jones, adding that much of their focus was on the booths located along this vulnerable stretch.
There has been no report of any tiger-straying from the mangroves this year yet, but four crab-catchers who entered the forest were killed in tiger attacks.
In recent years, the reserve forest area witnessed a couple of cases of tiger straying in Kumirmari and Jhila. In contrast, the buffer zone of Kultali in South 24 Parganas division saw nine cases of straying between Dec 2021 and Jan 2022, and two back-to-back cases at the end of last year. Officials from South 24 Parganas are monitoring an additional 92km protected by net fencing, including a 12-km stretch with steel fencing.
"In the past, fishermen have damaged nets to enter the forest illegally, leading to tigers sneaking in. To combat this, campaigns involving locals and schoolchildren are conducted regularly," said Milan Mandal, South 24 Parganas DFO.