The Corbett Foundation

The Corbett Foundation is shocked and saddened at the tragic accident on the Chilla Canal road in Tiger Reserve on 8th January 2024, which took the lives of four Forest Department staff and five others were grievously injured. We extend our deepest condolences to the families, loved ones and friends and colleagues of the deceased and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured 🙏🏻

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/tadoba-tiger-traverses-2000km-crosses-four-states-reaches-odisha/articleshow/105454653.cms

Tadoba tiger traverses 2,000km, crosses four states, reaches Odisha | Nagpur News - Times of India Nagpur: A male tiger from Tadoba landscape in Bramhapuri travelled around 2,000km to reach Odisha crossing forests in four states in search of a safe .

The Corbett Foundation is pleased to share the latest research article published in Nature about the satellite telemetry project to understand the home range and habitat use of the critically endangered lesser florican (Sypheotides indicus) in Gujarat. The results of the analysis of the GPS locations received from 10 lesser floricans between 2020 and 2022 have unraveled some very interesting information about the habitat preferences and movement patterns of these birds, which will be useful in planning conservation strategies for floricans and their grassland habitats.

The Corbett Foundation is proud to be associated with the Wildlife Division, Sasan-Gir, Gujarat Forest Department for this collaboration and support 💚

The research article can be accessed at the below link:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-46563-5?utm_source=rct_congratemailt&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=oa_20231104&utm_content=10.1038/s41598-023-46563-5

Tiger conservation presents a multitude of challenges, and among them, one of the most significant hurdles arises from the impact of highway traffic. This challenge becomes even more pronounced when a National Highway separates a highly dense tiger-occupied protected area from the surrounding forests. Specifically, National Highway 309 serves as the boundary between the Ramnagar Forest Division and the Corbett Tiger Reserve. This highway serves not only as a primary access route to hilly regions within the state but also grants access to four safari zones within the Corbett Tiger Reserve.
The bustling highway creates barriers for wildlife attempting to traverse to the Kosi River in adjacent forest divisions and poses a threat to the safety of individuals traveling along this route. In response to this challenge and with the aim of safeguarding both wildlife and human travelers, The Corbett Foundation (TCF) has introduced a solution in the form of informative highway signboards and implemented in collaboration with the Corbett Tiger Reserve.
These signboards convey crucial information about animal corridors, designated zones for animal crossings, warnings urging people to refrain from venturing into the forests due to the presence of tigers and elephants, and the importance of not littering forest areas. Additionally, they encourage drivers to maintain a slow and cautious pace. We extend special thanks to CODELLO from Germany for sponsoring these informative signboards and express our gratitude to Sabina for her role in identifying this critical issue.

We are delighted to announce that "Trampled Boundaries" is now available for download! This captivating compilation, edited by esteemed conservationists Dr. AJT Jonhsingh and Dr. Naveen Pandey, offers a profound exploration of the intricate relationship between humanity and Asian elephants.

Within the pages of this meticulously crafted book, you will find a wealth of knowledge, including articles, research findings, and experiences shared by some of the most distinguished conservationists from India and neighboring countries. These experts, who have devoted their lives to understanding and safeguarding the Asian elephant, provide a panoramic view of the challenges and opportunities in elephant conservation.

To request your copy, please fill out this form: https://lnkd.in/dfWyyEYw

TCF has a holistic approach for species conservation encompassing conducting scientific research on threatened species like the critically endangered great Indian bustards as well as collaborating with an array of stakeholders enhance the efficacy of forest land monitoring and alleviate associated pressures.

Our multifaceted approach involves various initiatives, including capacity building, awareness campaigns, and the creation of livelihood opportunities for local communities, thereby reducing their reliance on natural resources. TCF operates across diverse landscapes throughout India, with the aim of safeguarding and preserving various species, including the one-horned rhinoceros, Bengal tigers, Asian elephants, leopards, lesser floricans, amur falcons, hornbills, as well as their prey species and respective habitats.

We are pleased to share a write-up on The Corbett Foundation's flagship large cats conservation programme being implemented in Corbett Tiger Reserve and its surrounding forest areas in partnership with WWF-India.

This programme, popularly known as Interim Relief Scheme, is being implemented since 1997, which undoubtedly makes it one of the longest running and funded tiger conservation programme by two non-governmental organisations - The Corbett Foundation and WWF-India. More than 18,000 livestock kill cases have been provided immediate ex-gratia to prevent retaliation by the livestock owners against tigers and leopards. The fact that the tiger numbers in this landscape have increased over the years is testament of the success of this programme, which is one of the many reasons for the increase in tiger numbers.

We express our deepest gratitude to WWF-India for this long-standing partnership and support. We also thank our other donors - Big Cat Rescue, DMCC Speciality Chemicals Limited and Bombay Gow Rakshak Trust for their financial support. Special thanks to Dr. M. K. Ranjitsinh, a doyen of India's wildlife and a Trustee of The Corbett Foundation, who was instrumental in starting this programme.

Please do read the below article by Dr. Harendra Singh Bargali, Deputy Director of The Corbett Foundation, who has been at the helm of affairs in managing this important programme for 18 years. Thank you IDR for carrying this success story!

Conflict to conservation: The Corbett story | IDR Local communities around Corbett Tiger Reserve frequently face livestock depredation. Here's how a timely compensation helps maintain the fine balance of the forest.

Checkout The Corbett Foundation Newsletter for the period Jun-Aug 2023.
https://bit.ly/3YXPjkt

The Corbett Foundation (TCF) adopts a holistic approach to nature conservation and designs its interventions for harmonious coexistence between the local communities and the wildlife and ecosystems of which they are a part. TCF's projects have reached over 825 villages in 26 districts from six states of India (Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Manipur and Maharashtra).

https://bit.ly/3YXPjkt

The Corbett Foundation is grateful to its donor, partners and well-wishers for the support extended for our programmes and projects 💚

Parivartan Sanctuary Nature Foundation International Elephant Foundation Travels Ltd Big Cat Rescue Natureforall IUCN Asia IUCN Bank Born Free Foundation The Nature Conservancy
National Payments Corporation of India

The Corbett Foundation Newsletter Archive - The Corbett Foundation Newsletter Jun-Jul-Aug 23 We are pleased to present the latest edition of The Corbett Foundation Newsletter, covering the period from June to August. In this issue, we share highlights from the celebration of World Environment Day, Global Tiger Day and World Elephant Day from across The Corbett Foundation's (TCF) offices cov...

Happy Global Tiger Day! 🐅

The Corbett Foundation organized a series of events to celebrate Global Tiger Day in schools in forest fringe areas. From special screening of the movie “Jungle Book” to drawing competitions, skits and face painting activities, TCF used sounds and visuals as medium to raise awareness and teach children about tigers and their importance in the eco systems.

Understanding the challenges faced by some primary schools still using fuelwood chulhas, TCF Corbett also donated a Bosch modern chulha to one of the schools, aiming to improve cooking practices and reduce environmental impact.

All events aimed to raise awareness about tiger conservation, encourage wildlife coexistence, and instil a sense of responsibility towards the environment in the young minds of these communities.

Ravi Chellam writes: Why protecting India’s forests should be a part of national security Amendments to Forest Conservation Act threaten to erode India's fragile ecosystems

This is so unfortunate...

Objections overruled, Forest Bill goes to House unchanged A Parliamentary committee, set up to examine controversial proposed amendments to the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, has endorsed the amendment Bill in its entirety. The Hindu has viewed a draft copy of the report prepared by the 31-member joint committee on the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bil...

In fringe villages of , the construction of cattle sheds often relies on wood sourced from forest. While the collection of dry wood is permitted, the use of large trees such as (Shorea robusta) for making backyard and cattle shed fences poses a significant problem that keads to habitat degradation. These wooden cattle sheds require frequent reconstruction and repairs leading to further deforestation and increased visits to deep forest areas where the risk of and large attacks is high.

To address these challenges, The Corbett Foundation is implementing the 'Tiger Habitat Project' in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, supported through generous funding from the
Exodus Travels Foundation (UK). As part of this initiative, TCF is actively transforming the traditional wood-based cattle sheds of local , into non-wood based structures. This involves replacing wooden structures with robust 7 ft cement poles (with 5 ft above the ground) and substituting tree trunks and branches with chain-linked fences.

To date, has successfully modified over 400 cattle sheds in Tiger Reserve with ongoing renovations in progress. These modifications have ensured that wood worth over 1,200 mature Sal trees will be saved from being cut from the forest. The adoption of chain-linked fencing has significantly reduced the heavy reliance on forest trees. Notably, no incidents of killings have been reported within the modified cattle shed fences.

Previous cattle shed modification work undertaken with the support of Big Cat Rescue (USA).



Natureforall Naveen Pandey Bittu Sahgal Harendra Singh Bargali Sanctuary Nature Foundation IUCN SSC Human-Wildlife Conflict & Coexistence Specialist Group IUCN IUCN Asia M.P. Tiger Foundation Society, India

In collaboration with the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department (MPFD) and with the support of Big Cat Rescue, The Corbett Foundation has been working to create an interface for human-cheetah coexistence in Kuno National Park.

Since November 2022, TCF has been actively engaging with the MPFD and local communities residing in approximately 50 villages surrounding the park with the aim to enhance monitoring efforts, promote human-wildlife , and raise awareness about the world's fastest land mammal.

The villages in the vicinity of the park are extremely remote and do not have any grid . Thus. TCF, through this project, has provided solar home lights to 50 households and equipped forest department camp offices with 120 solar lights. In addition to this, we have also provided 30 water storage tanks and installed 20 solar streetlights at various forest camps. TCF also assists MPFD for monitoring and conducts awareness and sensitization programs with local community members to instill a sense of pride and responsibility towards the natural resources they depend upon.

By fostering and providing essential resources like lighting systems, TCF has developed a strong rapport with the residents, laying the foundation for their sustained commitment to the of cheetahs and other wildlife of the region.

TCF, in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy and Satpura Tiger Reserve, is implementing an eco-restoration project in the buffer of Tiger Reserve. Adopting a approach, the project focuses on targeted areas for , management, and capacity building. A primary objective is enhancing management activities to increase the availability of forage for ungulate , thereby creating a more favorable environment for their thriving.

Additionally, the project emphasizes the importance of strengthening conservation at a level, fostering connections between Satpura Tiger Reserve and neighboring reserves to facilitate the movement of large mammals and promote genetic diversity.

Furthermore, the project actively supports eco-restoration efforts in buffer areas through careful planning, capacity building, and on-ground implementation. The aim is to establish sustainable models that empower local communities and promote harmonious coexistence with wildlife on the reserve's periphery.

To ensure and -oriented conservation, comprehensive socio-economic surveys are currently being conducted. These surveys assess the current status of , examine the dependence of local communities on the forest, evaluate livelihood needs, and explore opportunities for sustainable options. By documenting community challenges and identifying solutions, the project is actively involved in developing micro-planning for villages situated in the buffer of Satpura Tiger Reserve.

TCF participated in a three-day bird count survey conducted by the Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR). The survey covered the Kalagarh Tiger Reserve, Lansdowne, and 12 ranges within the CTR. The result? A comprehensive compilation of 550 bird species, shedding light on the incredible avian diversity within the CTR.

We are delighted to present the latest edition of The Corbett Foundation Newsletter, encompassing the period from February to May. In this issue, we highlight the achievements and progress made in our ongoing projects across diverse landscapes, including , , , , , and .

The Corbett Foundation Newsletter Archive - The Corbett Foundation Newsletter Feb 2023 - Jun 2023 Final His vision to create a grassroots organization which not only acts as an intermediary for human-wildlife coexistence but also advocates the protection and conservation of India's threatened species and habitats at the national and international levels. All of us at The Corbett Foundation will miss h...

Congratulations to Dr. Naveen Pandey Deputy Director of The Corbett Foundation, for receiving the Best Oral Presentation Award at IIT Guwahati during the National Conference on Gau-Vigyan in Modern Life and Medical Science. Our paper titled 'Incorporating Ethnographic Techniques for One Health Research in Rural India' was recognized for its outstanding contribution. Kudos to Dr. Pandey for his dedication to advancing research and promoting holistic approaches to health in rural communities.

In the June 2023 issue of Sanctuary Asia, Bittu Sahgal writes a great tribute in memory of his dear friend and the former Chairman and Founder of The Corbett Foundation, late Mr. Dilip D. Khatau. The Corbett Foundation strives to carry on with its work guided by Mr. Khatau's vision of a human-wildlife conflict-free India under the able leadership and guidance of Mrs. Rina Khatau as the new Chairperson of The Corbett Foundation.

Dilip D. Khatau - 1942-2023 Dilip Khatau Bittu Sahgal remembers his close friend, conservationist-businessman and founder of The Corbett Foundation, whose life was spent protecting.

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY

This year's theme is . It is generally believed that plastic pollution is an urban issue. However, this problem has unfortunately reached our forest areas too where there is no mechanism of trash collection and proper disposal. Nonbiodegradable waste that is carelessly thrown by people accumulates in our pristine wilderness areas and have given rise to additional conservation challenges that directly threaten our wildlife and their habitat.

To raise awareness on this issue, The Corbett Foundation teams in and tiger reserves mobilised clean-up drives and collected several kilos of plastic and other nonbiodegradable waste from Kanha forest and River in Corbett.

We thank the village children and our team members for actively participating in the clean-up drives.

We salute the young crusaders who collected more than 130 kg of plastic waste and have demonstrated that they care for their 💚

Happy World Environment Day 🌿

IUCN Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Government of India WorldEnvironmentDay Kedar Gore

The Corbett Foundation was established on the Earth Day (April 22nd) of 1994 by late Mr. Dilip Dharamsey Khatau with a vision for a harmonious coexistence of humans and wildlife. His love and passion for wildlife and his deep understanding of the grassroots conservation issues has guided our programmes and projects for almost three decades.

Today, as we complete 29 years benchmark, we sorely miss the guidance of our Founder and Chairman Mr. Khatau, who left for his heavenly abode on March 09, 2023. But we pledge to follow the path he has shown us through his visionary leadership and continue to make a differencein India's wilderness landscapes.

We take this opportunity to thank all our supporters, partners, well-wishers and friends across all sections of the society in India and abroad, and we look forward to a continued partnership and association for many more decades to come...💚

Extending our best wishes for the World Earth Day 🌏 🌿

Vacancy announcement at The Corbett Foundation

The Corbett Foundation, working for nature conservation with a holistic approach since past three decades, invites applications from suitable candidates with a passion for nature conservation to join its project team to work for a multi-dimensional project in the Western Ghats focusing on education, livelihood and conservation in selected villages of Lonavla and Rajmachi Conservation Reserves in Pune district of Maharashtra. For more details on the vacancy positions, please check the attached document.

Those interested may please submit their latest CV with a brief covering letter mentioning the reason for applying and the current CTC. Applications to be sent to [email protected] with a cc to [email protected] on or before April 28, 2023. The appointments will be done on an immediate basis.

With profound grief, we share this very sad news of the demise of our beloved Founder and Chairman, Mr. Dilip Dharamsey Khatau. He passed away peacefully on 9th March 2023.

May his soul rest in eternal peace 🙏🏻😥

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/new-power-lines-plan-could-further-endanger-the-great-indian-bustard-101677873179706.html

New power lines plan could further endanger the Great Indian Bustard The draft notification appears to be an attempt to sidestep a 2021 Supreme Court order that seeks to protect the species

Pleased to share the latest issue of The Corbett Foundation with snippets of our new and existing projects with a holistic approach to nature conservation across India.

Read our Newsletter online at the following link:

https://bit.ly/3SnmYB9

Please feel free to share with your friends and contacts 💚

Sanctuary Nature Foundation Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Government of India WWF-India IUCN IUCN Asia Satpuda Landscape Tiger Partnership-Saving India's Tigers Natureforall Network for Conserving Central India (NCCI) Big Cat Rescue Kuno National Park Uttarakhand Forest, Government of Uttarakhand Department of Forest, Madhya Pradesh

The Corbett Foundation Newsletter Archive - The Corbett Foundation Newsletter, Oct 2022 to Jan 2023 In September 2022, the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India released launched the ambitious Cheetah Reintroduction Project by releasing the first lot of eight cheetahs, sourced from Namibia, in Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh. This first-of-its-kind inter-continental reintroduction of a large cat is...

“Enhancing legal insight & requisite provisions for successful prosecution”
The Corbett Foundation, in collaboration with Uttarakhand Forest Division (UKFD) and Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), organised the above-mentioned capacity building training workshop in Ramnagar on January 31, 2023. The field staff of the Corbett Tiger Reserve, Ramnagar Forest Division and Terai-West Forest Division attended the workshop. During the workshop, experts from WCCB and UKFD imparted details on important sections of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 with amendments, Evidence Act, Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), investigation, preparation of necessary documents, presenting the accused in the Court and other relevant aspects with the trainees.

Wildlife poaching and Illegal wildlife trade, posing serious threats of extinction to many wild species, are among the top four organised crimes in the world. Most of the species irrespective of their conservation status under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species or various schedules of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 are under extreme pressure due to trade in body parts to meet the demand of the international market. Considering the fact and as part of preparedness to deal with such issues The Corbett Foundation (TCF), in collaboration with Uttarakhand Forest Department and Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, organised a workshop on “Antipoaching and Combatting Wildlife Trade” in Ramnagar, Uttarakhand on January 30, 2023.
The workshop was flagged off by Dr. Dheeraj Pandey, Park Director, Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR). Dr. Harendra Singh Bargali, Deputy Director TCF briefed the aims and objectives of the participants. The workshop was attended by the field staff from the CTR as well as from adjoining territorial forest divisions.
The subjects covered in the workshop included Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and recent amendments, intelligence collection, search, seizure, interrogation and filing complaints in the court.