Villagers script Corbett's success story

Corbett, Uttarakhand: A unique partnership between Kumaoni villagers and the forest department at the Jim Corbett National Park has helped protect many rare wildlife species and scripted one of the world's best conservation stories. Here, the villagers work as gilis (forest guards). They guide the tourists to scenic spots, help them choose the right place for angling and keep a watchful eye on illegal activities in the park. This modest endeavour by the forest department has created employment opportunities for the local villagers. The active participation of locals has helped the park management monitor the vast areas of the park that straddle the Shivalik foothills in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. The 1,300-sq-km park has about 130 tigers, 500-plus Asiatic wild elephants and around 120 leopards besides sambar and spotted deer. The park also has a large variety of small-bodied mammals, avian species and precious flora.