Capacity building workshop in Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR)

Shikaribas in Bihar is a transboundary corridor connecting Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) in India and Chitwan National Park in Nepal. NEWS, in collaboration with Ujyaalo Nepal, a Nepal-based non-profit NGO has been working on a community-based Human-Elephant conflict mitigation approach funded by the Global Nature Fund (GNF) in the region since December 2020. Elephant movements through Shikaribas corridor into Bhatujila and Chakarsen villages of VTR region is a common issue in the crop harvesting seasons. On 15th November 2022, our wildlife expert, Abhishek, carried out a one day workshop with the members of the Gaja Mitra (Elephant Protection Groups) on elephant behavior, conflict mitigation measures, awareness generation and coordination with the forest department. Also present in the workshop were staffs from the forest department, Range officer, local NGO, Tiger trackers, patrolling parties etc. Local print media personnel from Dainik Jagran, Dainik Bhaskar and Nation Agenda covered the event. Emphasis was on increasing the patrolling and enabling Early Warning System (EWS) by active participation of the Gaja Mitra members and local community, creating a patrolling chain with the forest range offices. The workshop helped the Gaja Mitra members to prepare themselves implement the strategies in next elephant migration phases with a long term vision of coexistence of human and wildlife living in prosperity. #humanelephantconflict #elephantprotectiongroups #gajamitras #protectelephants#GNF#ValmikiTigerReserve