This story is from November 8, 2015

A 120km ‘movement’ to save Pench-Kanha corridor

At a time when country’s one of the finest and functional tiger corridors between Pench and Kanha is under threat from linear projects like NH-7 four-laning, a 120km walk between the two source populations proved to be a stepping stone to secure tiger habitats outside protected areas (PAs) by drawing global and national attention.
A 120km ‘movement’ to save Pench-Kanha corridor
KHATIYA(Kanha): At a time when country’s one of the finest and functional tiger corridors between Pench and Kanha is under threat from linear projects like NH-7 four-laning, a 120km walk between the two source populations proved to be a stepping stone to secure tiger habitats outside protected areas (PAs) by drawing global and national attention.
The walk, an initiative of World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), was organized for the third consecutive year with a basic aim to spread awareness among locals regarding wildlife conservation and shrinking corridors.
The first walk in 2013 was between Achankmar-Kanha, followed by Kanha-Pench in 2014 and Pench-Kanha in 2015.
“We will continue even next year,” says Soumen Dey, team leader of Satpuda Maikal Landscape Tiger Conservation Program. “One has to see it to believe how corridors are vital and how sensitive we should be about it. We expect to raise sociopolitical awareness through these walks,” Dey adds.
Despite a tough task roughing the jungles, wading streams, tall grass and gradients, covering at least 20km a day, over 200 from across the country had sought participation for the walk. “We restricted it to 40 after tough choices,” says Vaibhav Chaturvedi, one of the coordinators.
Among the participants included a leading conservationist AJT Johnsingh, forest officials, conservation scientists, wildlife biologists, students and NGOs. People from Pune, Mumbai, Gujarat, Chennai, Hyderabad, Delhi, MP and Chhattisgarh were also part of the walk. The seven-day walk started on October 30 from Sakata near Pench and concluded at Khatiya on the outskirts of Kanha on November 5.
Despite walking for all seven days, the participants remained excited. “For me, it was like a life trail. I run an environment education NGO. If I myself don’t understand about nature what will I tell my students. The walk was best platform for knowledge sharing,” said Ajinkya Bhatkar from Pune.

“I took part for the first time and really enjoyed talking to tribals, and knowing their culture and lifestyle,” said Kalpana Ruhela of Delhi, who is preparing for IFS.
“We have a long way to go as there are around 450 villages in the Pench-Kanha corridor. Yet, not much disturbance was seen. We need to take along these communities if we really want to save the corridor,” says Arpita Singh, a postgraduate in environment studies.
MP forest officials say with radio-collared tigers dispersing between Pench-Kanha and vice versa, there is no doubt the corridor is functional. Tigers don’t only disperse, they have become corridor residents, they add.
“This was proved when we heard roars of tigers, saw pugmarks and even kills at places,” says Aditi Patil, project officer of WWF. At one spot, there was direct sighting of a leopard, she added.
Hence, to further strengthen the corridor, we have sent a proposal to National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA),” says OP Tiwari, conservator, Kanha.
Former APCCF SS Mishra, who flagged off the concluding walk, stressed the need for such practices in corridors which are compatible for wildlife. He threw light on various paradoxes in forestry and wildlife activities.
What’s Kanha-Pench corridor
It connects two major tiger source populations of Kanha and Pench in Central India. The corridor not only facilitates the dispersal of tigers but is also home to several wild animals and indigenous tribes
Why it is important
The corridor acts as natural travelling route not only for tigers and leopards but also for other wild animals. It also provides refuge to a rich and diverse flora and fauna
Why the walk
The walk aims to create awareness about securing tiger habitats outside protected areas. It is a commitment by nature lovers to protect the integrity of wildlife corridors in a human dominated landscape
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