Creation of tiger reserves in India has invariably resulted in the displacement of indigenous communities from their forest homes of centuries. There are now more than 50 tiger reserves in India and the Rajaji National Park(RNP) occupying an area of 825.sq.km across the states of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand is the latest to be added to the list of tiger reserves in the country.
Of course, the objective of Project Tiger under which tiger reserves are being created across the country is the conservation of the big cat which has become one of the most threatened wild life species. But whether the shifting of forest dwelling ethnic communities from tiger reserves would help conserve this wildlife species, that is at the apex of the forest food chain, no one is sure as yet.
Incidentally, tigers are present in the Chilla and Dhaulkhand ranges of RNP which has also a large elephant population. For long, pastoral nomadic community of....
