Sep 08 2014 : The Times of India (Delhi)
India loses more foresters than any other country
Sivakumar B
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Chennai:
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India loses more forest rangers to poachers and attacks by wild animals each year than any other country. As many as 72 forest rangers were killed in India in the past three years. Other forested countries in Asia, Africa and the Americas lost less than 10 rangers in the same period, according to statistics made available to TOI by International Ranger Federation, a nonprofit organization to raise awareness of the work of park rangers.“We’re extremely concerned that rangers continue to face high levels of violence and are being murdered (by poachers) at an alarming pace,” International Ranger Federation president Sean Willmore said. Nearly 60% of rangers killed are in Asia, said the federation’s report.
India lost 34 rangers in 2012, a year in which the United States, which had the second largest number of forester deaths, lost only six.
India recorded 14 forester deaths in 2013 and 24 in 2014, the largest among all countries for both years.
The Philippines and Congo lost nine forest guards each in 2013, Uganda seven, and Kazakhstan and Chad six each. Kenya has recorded 10 forester deaths this year, Thailand six, and Tanzania three. Wild animals and poachers were responsible for most ranger deaths but some have also been claimed by diseases like dengue and malaria, as well as forest fires and road accidents. India's forest establishment must be the largest in the world,“ Wild life Conservation Society director Ullas Karanth told TOI. “We have thousands of forest officials, guards and rangers. Our tiger reserves are manned by thousands of people employed by state and central forest departments. They come in contact with wild animals while patrolling, so often their job involves putting their lives on the line.“
The country , by demarcating protected areas, has been successful in protecting wild animals from hunters but this has also led to officials coming under attack, he said. Armed poachers at times have no compunctions about gunning down forest rangers, Karanth said.
A report by International Ranger Federation, an organisation that works to spread awareness of the work of park rangers, says 72 forest rangers died in the country in the past three years. Other countries lost 10 rangers or fewer in the same period.
Ecologist AJT Johnsingh says in sanctuaries like Kaziranga in Assam rangers poachers of rhinos frequently attack forest officials who get in their way . “These officials take on poachers, who kill rhinos for their horns, and sometimes get killed,“ he said. “Forest officials are also vulnerable while on the trail of tigers or ele phants,“ Johnsingh added.
Wildlife activist and sports journalist Joseph Hoover says visitors to Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka killed a forest official called Naik two years ago. “Naik refused to give them permission to feed crocodiles meat. After an argument, they attacked him, leaving him in a coma from which he never recovered,“ he said.
“Although the world is slowly awakening to the dangers that forest rangers face, we need to turn this awareness into meaningful action on the ground and make sure that the dangerous work rangers do to protect our valuable wildlife receives the support and respect it deserves,“ Willmore of International Ranger Federation said. “This still remains our challenge.“
The federation has 63 ranger associations from 46 countries as members and collects data about the welfare of the rangers from these associations each year.
India lost 34 rangers in 2012, a year in which the United States, which had the second largest number of forester deaths, lost only six.
India recorded 14 forester deaths in 2013 and 24 in 2014, the largest among all countries for both years.
The Philippines and Congo lost nine forest guards each in 2013, Uganda seven, and Kazakhstan and Chad six each. Kenya has recorded 10 forester deaths this year, Thailand six, and Tanzania three. Wild animals and poachers were responsible for most ranger deaths but some have also been claimed by diseases like dengue and malaria, as well as forest fires and road accidents. India's forest establishment must be the largest in the world,“ Wild life Conservation Society director Ullas Karanth told TOI. “We have thousands of forest officials, guards and rangers. Our tiger reserves are manned by thousands of people employed by state and central forest departments. They come in contact with wild animals while patrolling, so often their job involves putting their lives on the line.“
The country , by demarcating protected areas, has been successful in protecting wild animals from hunters but this has also led to officials coming under attack, he said. Armed poachers at times have no compunctions about gunning down forest rangers, Karanth said.
A report by International Ranger Federation, an organisation that works to spread awareness of the work of park rangers, says 72 forest rangers died in the country in the past three years. Other countries lost 10 rangers or fewer in the same period.
Ecologist AJT Johnsingh says in sanctuaries like Kaziranga in Assam rangers poachers of rhinos frequently attack forest officials who get in their way . “These officials take on poachers, who kill rhinos for their horns, and sometimes get killed,“ he said. “Forest officials are also vulnerable while on the trail of tigers or ele phants,“ Johnsingh added.
Wildlife activist and sports journalist Joseph Hoover says visitors to Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka killed a forest official called Naik two years ago. “Naik refused to give them permission to feed crocodiles meat. After an argument, they attacked him, leaving him in a coma from which he never recovered,“ he said.
“Although the world is slowly awakening to the dangers that forest rangers face, we need to turn this awareness into meaningful action on the ground and make sure that the dangerous work rangers do to protect our valuable wildlife receives the support and respect it deserves,“ Willmore of International Ranger Federation said. “This still remains our challenge.“
The federation has 63 ranger associations from 46 countries as members and collects data about the welfare of the rangers from these associations each year.
