If you don’t spot a tiger in India’s Corbett Tiger Reserve, at least the fish are biting. “Tiger is giving us dodge”, declares wildlife guide Hem Bahuguna, calling a halt near some tell-tale pug marks (pawprints) and scrapings. As the engine cools, then stills, we hear only the birds, the soft breeze and the distant chattering of monkeys. From time to time, another jeep materialises, stopping to exchange a few words. Otherwise, here in India, most crowded of nations, there is perfect peace. Corbett is India’s first, perhaps finest, Tiger Reserve and is buffered by surrounding tracts of...

The Pionner, October 5, 2009 In a major boost for environmentalists, vultures were sighted in Uttarakhand after the recent discovery of the near-extinct birds in Himachal Pradesh. Over 150 vultures of five species can be found nesting and feeding at three locations around Ramnagar in Uttarakhand — Van Gujjar village of Tumeria, Ringora and Hatidagar. The three sites fall under two categories: Regular nesting sites (Ringora and Tumeria): Vultures are consistently seen roosting and occupying nests throughout the year and these are likely to be important breeding sites; Regular feeding sites (Hatidagar):...

September 29th, 2009 RAMNAGAR – With the vulture population declining alarmingly in Uttarakhand’s Ramnagar area, which adjoins the Corbett Wildlife Sanctuary, a group of pro-wildlife activists and forest rangers are engaged in spreading public awareness about their conservation in the region. Under the banner of the Corbett Vulture Conservation Committee, the NGO activists recently used the annual Ramlilas, held during the Dussehra festival, to promote awareness about vultures. Jatayu Bhagwan, a Demi god in form of a vulture, who finds mention in they mythological epic Ramayana, was used...

He whom the gods love dies young. Discipline and dedication sum up Subrati the forester. Subrati joined forest department in 1988 and ever since didn’t look back. He was honest and hard working person. He had good knowledge of wildlife as well as meticulous office work. Be it anti-poaching of fire-fighting he was often the groupleader. On the fateful evening of 09 September 2006 Subrati passed away in the line of duty and the tiger lost one of it’s most dedicated guards.

Rajesh is an agriculture graduate from India’s topmost agriculture university i.e. Pantnagar University. He has a vast experience of working with communities in various parts of Uttarakhand. He has been working in social sector since last 07 years. He is an expert of community mobilization and worked as master trainer of Bio-composting Techniques, Organic Farming, Pachayati Raj Institutions and Pre and Post Harvest Management of Horticultural Produce in Uttarakhand State. He coordinated various projects in different parts of Uttarakhand viz. Awareness Generation on Biology and Control of White...

He is however known more as Jolly Uncle. Jolly joined the Forest Department in Garwal as a dakwallah or postman in 1956 when he was just 16. Also known as The Tiger Man of Corbett Jolly has witnessed when India’s finest national park Hailey National Park was renamed as the Ramganga National Park and then in 1956 as the Corbett National Park and finally he saw Project Tiger being launched from the  Corbett Tiger Reserve in 1973. Jolly has never known fear and never will. While serving with the forest department he has caught several poachers and has caught hunting army soldiers, a member of legislative...

General Practitioner from Shorpshire UK, this avid angler, dedicated son and husband and dreamer is truly an unsung hero. James first trip to Uttarakhand was in the monsoons of 2001 and organized a fishing trip into the upstream sections of the Ramganga. It was here that he really reeled in my first Mahseer and proudly let is go. This was a turning point in my life. Eventually when I wanted to develop a community based wilderness fishing loge on the Ramganga James stood by me and helped in every way possible. Not only did we manage to development a unique wilderness lodge but managed to conserve...

Laurie is a French student and was based at Ringora to study the wildlife corridor between Corbett Tiger Reserve and the adjoining forest of Ramnagar Forest Division with us during three months, focusing on tigers’ movement. She went every morning walking on the road to notice any animal been killed by vehicles and also walked in the main nulla (seasonal stream) in Ringora used by wildlife, including tigers, to go from the Corbett Tiger Reserve to the Kosi River and beyond. In this nulla, she was looking for any signs of tiger or elephant and when there was, she took pictures of the pugmarks....

Jacob worked with us for the conservation of Indian vultures in general and more specifically the critically endangered White-rumped vulture, during three months. Their big decline is due to the use of an anti-inflammatory drug, Diclofenac, which is given to the cattle when sick. The problem with this drug is that when it is ingested by the vultures, it makes them die in few days. And only one carcass is enough to eradicate a whole colony. While he was here, Jacob stayed at Ringora’s homestay. It was an ideal place to work since there is a colony of White-rumped vultures in three trees, located...

I ain’t got time I got a race to run. It may not be rude to call this bone honest forest officer a workaholic. Anyone would be if they knew that we are running out of time on the planet. Rajiv has a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in botany from Delhi University. In addition, he has received training in wildlife management at the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun. Like his father Rajiv Bhartari went on to join the Indian Forest Service of the Uttarakhand Cadre. Corbett Park is certainly his second love if not first. He has served as the Deputy Director of Corbett Tiger Reserve for six...