Agniveers Boost Tiger Protection Efforts in Uttarakhand

An innovative initiative is underway in Uttarakhand, where Agniveers will join the Tiger Protection Force in the Corbett Tiger Reserve after their Army tenure. This announcement came from Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on International Tiger Day, aiming to bolster efforts against poaching and habitat protection.

The experimental move will see more than 80 young Agniveers trained in modern surveilling techniques such as drones, thermal imaging, and GPS tracking to elevate the force's efficiency. Their primary mission will be to thwart tiger poaching while addressing related illegal activities like timber smuggling and encroachment.

Chief Minister Dhami emphasized the potential of replicating this model across other reserves if successful. By utilizing the skills and discipline of the Agniveers, Uttarakhand hopes to improve patrolling and management of human-wildlife conflicts, thereby safeguarding one of India's most significant tiger habitats.

(With inputs from agencies.)