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THE STATE OF THE TIGER
Acknowledgements  
Introduction  
National Update  
International Trade  
MP Tiger State  
Poaching and Trade  
Timber Mafia  
Fish Mafia  
Mining  
Indrawati  
Staff Issues
Nationwide  
Kaziranga  
Conclusions  
Staff Issues - Demoralised Field Staff


The front-line field staff continue to be neglected and abused by the State government as they suffer at the hands of violent poaching gangs, political insurgents, and angry villagers. The risks they take go without recognition as they protect the vast wealth of the natural resources of Madhya Pradesh. The actual annual revenue from the forests (timber and minor forest produce) is US$160 million, yet less than US$0.5million is invested in protecting this natural treasury and empowering the people who are employed to protect it.

Between 1992 and 1998 a staggering 37 Forest staff were murdered. This individual is the latest casualty Mr Kamal Singh Chauhan, who joined the Forest Department as a Forest Guard in 1977 and was brutally murdered by illegal loggers in Pachmarhi Wildlife Sanctuary on 15th October 1998. It now transpires that the killing may have been pre-meditated. Kamal, who was renowned for his effectiveness in reducing illicit felling, was notified of the presence of timber thieves by an informer who is the father of one of the two co-accused who have been arrested.

The Forest Department have sanctioned just over US$3500 for Kamal's widow and three children, but the State government needs to do much more to honour and protect the individuals and families of those who strive to save India's forests. Their job is clearly no less dangerous than the Police and Army.

In Panna Tiger Reserve, one of the winners of a conservation award is facing charges from timber smugglers and the State government are doing nothing to help. In 1992, teak timber smugglers brought charges against Forest Guard Mr Napit, when one of their gang fell over a cliff and died as the Forest Department were apprehending them.

Mr Napit who received the award for "exercising good control in his beat" and has shown "keen interest in wildlife monitoring", has had to cover his court costs, US$285 from his monthly wage which is only US$85. Despite appeals on his behalf from his senior officers, the Forest Department failed to compensate him or give him additional leave to attend court on a case which he eventually won.

Range Officer kidnapped and beaten
When EIA researchers visited Pench National Park in Maharashtra which borders Pench Tiger Reserve Madhya Pradesh they accompanied Range Officer (RO) Mishrikotar and his boat patrol in the early hours of 15th April 1998. The boat donated by the British charity Care For The Wild, has enable the Park staff to become a determined presence on the Totladoh reservoir and has greatly reduced the incidence of illegal fishing on the Maharashtra side of the reservoir.

During the patrol illegal fishermen were spotted on the reservoir under the shadow of the Totladoh dam. The fishermen landed the boat and escaped through the forest, but the Park staff seized the boat the fishermen had tried to submerge along with nets and fish.

In this haul they seized approximately US$430 worth of equipment and up to US$70 worth of fish. By the time the patrol reached base the escaped fishermen had retaliated by starting a forest fire. Fortunately the forest staff were quick to react and three teams fire-fighters rushed to the scene.

RO Mishrikotkar, a Tiger Link Bagh Sevak Award winner, was kidnapped and beaten in October 1995 by the fish mafia, who then threatened to kill him if he prevented them from fishing. Despite this, he continued to lead his staff in their duty and at the same time put pressure on the Maharashtra State government to move the illegal Totladoh colony outside of the Park and to offer the fishermen access to nearby reservoirs outside of the Park.

Mishrikotkar has since been transferred.


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