Valmiki Tiger Reserve - The Resurgence

Valmiki Tiger Reserve is the only tiger reserve in Bihar, falling in the west Champaran district of Bihar the tiger reserve falls on the border between India and Nepal. One of the lesser known tiger havens in the country, the reserve was fraught with tension and conflict in the last decade with the forest department having no access to the area because of Maoists, Sand Mafia and Timber Smugglers. Now in 2014 the park is said to be on a resurgence with Camera trap evidence being collected by a WWF study in 2012. The study showed the presence of 22 tigers. The animals are still weary of moving within the park during the day because of human activity but at night with special permission from the forest department we were given exclusive access to see the presence of an abundance of species within the national park even sighting a leopard that roams the forests of VTR. Valmiki has a lot of issues that plague it from man-animal conflict to local people not directly benefiting from the presence of wildlife in the area. This is all changing now with a host of initiatives being taken up by the forest department, on ground patrols have ensured the animals safety. The forest department is also attempting to save the critically endangered Gharial and starting an initiative to have local Eco Development committees in the park to give the local people in VTR a chance to benefit from the presence of wildlife.