Dr. Rakesh Shukla, Research Officer with the Kanha Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh talks about the conservation efforts in the park and the importance of wildlife research to meet the many challenges in protecting wild habitats.

How long have you been serving in Kanha and what changes have you specifically observed in the tiger reserve?
I have been in Kanha for the past 13 years. It is a fine example of adaptive management, which means ‘learning by doing’. Stringent protection has restored Kanha’s forests and grasslands. Special conservation initiatives for the only world population of the Braneri Barasingha are very reassuring for its future. Habitat regeneration has provided ideal habitats for source populations of tigers, which has resulted in a high probability of seeing tigers here. Tourists who visit are oriented towards becoming defenders of nature. The sacrifice of those villagers who vacated their ancestral homes has not been in vain. The buffer zone around the park is also fully functional and despite attempts by some people to sow seeds of discontent in the villagers years ago, they largely support us.

You have been a quiet researcher in Kanha for many years. Why wildlife research? What led you down this path?
Why not research? When progress in every sphere of life depends upon the findings of research, why should wildlife management be left behind? It’s a difficult area to work in because this branch of science has received very little real support. The likes of Guy Mountfort, Julian Huxley and Max Nicholson (WWF) were researchers and they were the ones who initiated Project Tiger in India. We need a much larger body of wildlife research in the country to understand and tackle India’s conservation problems. Ignorance of science, like ignorance of law, is an unacceptable excuse for environmental abuse. Of course, there is that other reason why I chose research – I simply enjoy being out in the field and I am now paid to do what I enjoy most in life!

And how exactly does your research help Kanha?
Apart from studies that investigate or examine hypotheses, research helps us fashion management tools through the collection, collation and analysis of field data. It also helps us gather baseline data - both plant and animal diversity and the enumeration of rare plants and the animals that feed on them. We are also able to monitor endangered animals and establish the age and sex structures of ungulate species to understand predator-prey dynamics. Without this, we would not know whether or not our management plan is working.

The new Wildlife Institute of India (WII) tiger estimation has shown a dramatic decline in tigers outside protected forests such as Kanha. Also a new enumeration method seems to be emerging. Your comments?
Protected areas are very special areas as far as the degree of wildlife protection is concerned. Though overburdened, if such managed or general forests are helped and effectively oriented to push up tiger protection, they will definitely fare better in the days ahead. We need not panic at this decline, but be introspective and concerned. If given an honest chance, the tiger can still bounce back.

Already tested in a pilot project, the new enumeration method is robust, comprehensive, and has the potential to yield reliable results under well-corroborated relationships. This was a joint project of researchers and foresters. Accepting the new trends of tiger populations with humility and determination will strengthen conservation.

What are the most pressing problems for Kanha and what are the solutions?
The peripheral areas of the park face illicit grazing pressures, especially in the monsoon. The Kanha management has a well thought out strategy called ‘Operation Monsoon’ which seeks to prevent intrusions. The people in surrounding villages are simple adivasis and they do respect the Kanha management, but with 18 forest villages still remaining inside Kanha, problems that include fires, poaching and wood and grass collection do arise. We have identified tracks and trails used by people, and we patrol them more thoroughly on market days. Other problems include the fact that Kanha’s grasslands are showing signs of overuse by thousands of ungulates.
Climatic factors seem to be adding to this gradual deterioration. We are doing the best we can to counter such threats.

What problems do your field staff face?
Service conditions in Kanha are demanding and tough. Our frontline staff lives in patrolling camps in dense jungles. These are non-family postings, and forest guards and their game watchers generally suffer from many waterborne diseases, including gastroenteritis and jaundice. Malaria is endemic and sometimes cerebral malaria plays havoc.

Besides, stress-related disorders also take their toll. Though the Kanha management is doing its best for the staff, people who visit the park can donate medicines for prophylaxis against diseases. Some seriously ill staff members’ lives could be saved if their treatment costs were underwritten.