M F AHMED
Daltonganj, Nov. 6: The three B’s (birds, bears, and bisons) in the Palamu tiger reserve have always been disadvantaged in comparison to the flag species like leopards, elephants, and phantom tigers. These three species have never received the attention they deserve.
Lagatar24.com today spoke to the field director and chief conservator of PTR forest, Kumar Ashutosh, to know why the birds, bears and bison are not talked about much here. According to sources, there are over 160 varieties of birds that fly over the space of this tiger reserve.
Local, as well as migratory birds, come here during the severe winter season but bird watching is not a thing in this tiger reserve.
Lark birds (‘Bageri’ in local language) come here from Tibet and leave this place with the onset of the summer. But unfortunately, this bird is trapped and killed for its meat as according to a saying, ‘one lark a day keeps the cold away’.
Kumar Ashutosh said that instructions have been given to the tiger reserve personnel to be watchful of the birds when out for big wildlife like elephants, leopards, hyenas, wolves and tigers.
“We have asked our forest guards and trackers to identify birds with their locations as far as possible,” he said.
“Our Kamaldah jheel is the abode of these birds and we are trying to further improve the amenities for tourists coming over to this lake which abounds in lotus flowers,” he added.
Mukesh Kumar, the Deputy Director (South division) of the Palamu Tiger Reserve said, “We have instructed our employees to keep their eyes on both ground as well as the sky for signs and symbols of the wildlife along with beautiful birds that fly over for adding value and interest to the reserve for visitors.”
On the other hand, there are many bears in the Kutku and Mahuadanr ranges of the tiger reserve but this wildlife leads an orphan life as no PTR official is heard talking about them ever.
These animals get into the news only when they maul people. Sources said that three people were killed in the Bhandarya block under the Kutku range of the tiger reserve by bears a few months ago.
Kumar Ashutosh said that wherever bears strike on human beings, PTR officials rush to the victims to help them. “Wildlife which is seen very often is not talked about much as rare wildlife makes more headlines,” he added.
On the topic of bison in the PTR, D. S. Srivastava, a noted wildlife expert, said, “Time has come when the PTR management should focus on the progeny of the bison as its population is restricted to just Betla National Park which is a very dangerous proposition.”
He cautioned that bisons in the Betla National Park are vulnerable ones following the intrusion of farmers’ cattle and nobody can vouch if their cattle are disease-free.
Field director Kumar Ashutosh said, “We have reasons to understand that there has been some addition to the family of bison but its population is now only at the Betla National Park.” He said he welcomes the concern for the bison as its numerical strength is around 70 or so.
Sources said that the year 2021 will be sadly remembered for the death of three bisons in a span of three weeks at Betla National Park. One of the dead bison was pregnant.
But it is now being said by some sources that they had died due to poison, but no official is ready to speak up on the matter. A senior official of the PTR requesting anonymity has confided this poison theory behind the death of the bison to Lagatar24.com.
The samples of the dead bison were sent to the Indian Veterinary Research Institute Bareilly which had found traces of poison in their bodies. Insiders in the PTR said that the matter of poison was hushed up then as there was a loud and state-wide outrage against the death of these animals and poison angle then would have put the PTR management on fire.
