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Ex-army men to protect Rajasthan tiger reserves

          Jaipur: Rajasthan will appoint 1000 retired army personnel as forest guards to protect the declining tiger population and its habitats. Forest Minister Laxmi Narayan Dave said the plan follows poachers killing the entire tiger population at the Sariska Tiger Reserve. "It will certainly help in protecting the wildlife and the forest. Whether it is poaching, illegal mining or other incidents in the forest will certainly be checked and protected. They will prove to be very useful and beneficial," Dave said. They will be posted mainly in the two tiger reserves - Sariska and Ranthambore. Re-settlement officers in the army feel that their men have the experience in rigorous working conditions, and they are the best suited for the job. "Their (army) best strength is that they are trained soldiers. They are physically fit; know how to handle such things, use weapons and protecting others. They are sincere, honest to their job and dependable persons. "They have spent their lives defending the country and no matter what job you give them they will excel in it," said Colonel Rajiv Ratan, Director of Sainik Kalyan Board. The Rajasthan High Court in May had issued a 30-point directive to park authorities, making them personally responsible for any poaching. Alarmed by the dwindling tiger population, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had also set up a high-powered panel to mull plans for conservation of the endangered national animal. There were about 40,000 tigers in India a century ago. A survey conducted in 2001 and 2002 suggested that number had fallen to around 3,700, after decades of poaching and habitat destruction. Some environment groups put the number at less than 2,000.
- August 1,  2007