Near the foothills of the Himalayas lies the Corbett Tiger Reserve, one of oldest National Parks of India with a rich and interesting history. The park is known for its Bengal tiger conservation efforts and transformation from a hunting ground to this scenic protected park for wildlife.
Visiting Corbett Tiger Reserve will not only be a tiger sighting jeep safari experience but also a glimpse into passionate community efforts for protecting them.
From Princely Hunting Grounds to Early Conservation Efforts
Corbett’s dense forests were once the private game preserves of the Tehri Garhwal rajas. However, by the 19th century, human encroachment and rampant hunting posed threats to the area.
In 1858, Major Ramsay, a British officer based in this region came up with the first comprehensive plan on how these woods could be protected. It was a starting point towards protecting integrity of ecology.
Enter Jim Corbett: Hunter Turned Conservationist
Interestingly enough, there is a man called Corbett who initially earned his living through hunting – Edward James “Jim” Corbett. Despite being a hunter himself, he realized how much damage people had brought about on tiger population.
He sought for stricter regulations and shot only those tigers that were eating villagers. The increasing concern of Corbett regarding wildlife conservation played an instrumental role in creation of first national park in India.
The Birth of Hailey National Park and Beyond
Thus, Hailey National Park containing 323.75 square kilometers was established in 1936 through continued efforts by this man together with then Governor Sir Malcolm Hailey support. And so started Indian conservation history at this park.
There was put ban on hunting as well as other rules meant to protect diverse flora and fauna within the park itself. The park was later named Ramganga National Park before finally becoming Corbett National Park in 1956 after Jim Corbett’s name in recognition for his contribution.
Project Tiger and the Rise of Corbett Tiger Reserve
This necessitated more broad-based conservation strategies due to declining number of tigers in mid-20th century. Project Tiger was initiated all over India starting from Corbett National Park, founded in 1973 for protection purposes of Bengal Tigers.
This project gave financial as well as technical support which supported expansion of protected areas boundaries including buffer zones creation. Its inclusion into the reserve increased its size and ecological diversity.
A Legacy of Conservation and Looking Ahead
Today, the Bengal tigers are thriving in Corbett Tiger Reserve, which covers 1300 sq km and has a high density of these big cats in India. The reserve provides natural habitat for a wide variety of mammals, reptiles, birds, and plants. Additionally, apart from being a home to wildlife Corbett Tiger Reserve generates substantial ecotourism income that fosters community development initiatives.
Corbett’s journey from hunting grounds to a globally recognized conservation success story is a testament to the dedication of individuals like Jim Corbett and the unwavering commitment to protecting India’s rich biodiversity. As Corbett Tiger Reserve evolves further, it remains an example for future efforts at conservation making sure that Bengal tigers thrives in future generations.