Tiger Reserves

Forests of the Surai range and Khatima range in the district are all set to be included as part of the buffer zone of Pilibhit Tiger Reserve. An additional 2,300 hectare of forest land from Uttarakhand will also be included in PTR, so wild animals have greater safety and suffer less disturbance from humans, DP Singh, sub-divisional forest officer of PTR, said.

On Saturday evening, Singh met forest officials from Khatima, WWF and wildlife experts and disclosed this. The Surai range of forests are adjacent to Mahof range of PTR. It will become a corridor for the forest reserve, Singh said.

The forests of Khatima are rich in flora and fauna. Even tigers are found here. PTR animals normally migrate between PTR and Khatima forests, but once they reach Khatima, they are not as secure as at PTR. "Once these forests are included in PTR, the security of the wild animal will be improved," the forest officer said.



NP Singh, sub-divisional forest officer of Khatima told TOI, "We plan to include Surai and Khatima range of forests in PTR. Like the forests of Amaangarh (in Bijnor) were added to Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve. We have tigers, leopards and elephants in our forests here too." He said a proposal in the matter would be sent to the state government of Uttarakhand.

He said that once the forests of Khatima are included as a buffer zone for PTR, officials from National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) will provide guidance and support in conserving the area's tiger population.

Wildlife expert Akhtar M Khan, who has been researching the Pilibhit forests, welcomed these plans, saying it would give animals much-needed space and greater security.