Dudhwa Tiger Reserve sets up helpline to curb man-animal conflicts

For the villagers residing in the sensitive areas of the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR), help is now just a call away.

The forest department in collaboration with the Reliance Foundation has launched a toll-free number 1926 to curtail man-animal conflicts.

The helpline will work in tandem with the 'Dial 100' emergency service.

"The department has introduced a toll-free number 1926 through which villagers can inform the forest authorities about the movement of a big cat in their neighbourhood for prompt assistance," field director, DTR Ramesh Pandey told PTI today.

"The service has been initiated from Katarniaghat wildlife sanctuary where several leopard attacks were reported during past seven months," he added.

As a pilot project, the service would cover three divisions of DTR including Dudhwa, Katarniaghat and the buffer zone of north Kheri forest areas, Pandey said further.

A database of villagers living in the periphery of sensitive forest areas was being prepared and their phone numbers were being collected, the official said.

"Audio and text messages to alert the villagers about big cat movements, advising them not to defecate in the open are already being sent on their mobile numbers," he added.

The initiative will be launched in other tiger reserves as well, Pandey added.