Chikmagalur’s Captain Planet Published:20th July 2014 06:00 AM Last Updated:19th July 2014 11:50 AM New Indian Express It took wildlife conservationist D V Girish three years to convince the 464 families living in 13 villages near Chikmagalur, Karnataka, to relocate for setting up the Bhadra Tiger Reserve in 2001-2002. The Bhadra resettlement is now widely recognised as one of India’s best and equitable resettlement projects. Girish, 45, was awarded the RBS ‘Protect the Tiger’ award under the RBS Earth Heroes Award for 2013 by The Royal Bank of Scotland, for his lifelong efforts and commitment to protecting the Reserve. Outlining the relocation story, Girish says, “It all started when bamboo was being extracted indiscriminately in the Bhadra area in 1993 and 13 villages were in direct conflict with the concept of forming a tiger reserve.” A wildlife conservationist, Girish wanted to address this issue humanely. “The relocation of families became my focus for the next few years. Eighty per cent of the population was poor and interacting with them, I started understanding their problems,” he says. The Bhadra project was proposed in 1982-83, but it took off only in 1992 with successive governments contributing their bit. Although the Central government had given permission for acquisition of 750 acres of land, the state took its time on the rehabilitation issue. “It took us nearly three years to convince the people and as they realised that our efforts were genuine, they cooperated and in 2000-01, the shifting process started and it took us another year to rehabilitate them,” says Girish. He continues to ensure the wellbeing of these families even to this day. Today, the 53 kilometre-long Bhadra Tiger Reserve has no villages, no grazing herds, no instances of timber felling and as one traverses across the land, the feeling of viewing nature at its best is exhilarating. While more than 20 tigers rule the roost, elephants, leopards, bisons and other wildlife, too, have found a haven here. Girish’s love for conservation began at home, a coffee plantation in the beautiful wilderness of this district where he used to take care of sick and injured animals. He explains, “Believing in the freedom of animals, we tended and cared for these helpless creatures for a couple of days and then released them into the wild. This was how my tryst with conservation started. I was just 12 years old when I visited Bhadra and for the first time encountered big mammals.” It was early 1970s and hunting was still prevalent, something that disturbed young Girish. “My friends and I started a nature club which is one of the oldest in Karnataka today. While still in school we used to cycle around, looking for opportunities for bird-watching. By the time we went to college, we had progressed to bikes and went everywhere trying to understand nature, wildlife and the issues confronting it,” he says. However, it was only in the 1980s, when Girish met noted wildlife conservationists Dr Ullas Karanth and M K Chinnappa at Nagarhole that his whole life changed. “My concept that we could save the whole world was debunked when Ullas asked us to focus on a specific issue. He is a visionary who played an important role in my life. Focusing on the prevailing problems in Muthodi forest, I realised that I was born here and since I am based here, it was easier for me to concentrate on the issues in this area.” The Chikmagalur native has carried on a relentless battle to support closure and enforcement of laws towards mining, dams, resorts and other commercial projects in the eco-sensitive Bhadra-Kudremukh landscape. He has received many laurels in recognition of his outstanding services to wildlife conservation, which include the Wildlife Conservation Society Service Award in 1998, the Karnataka Rajyotsava District Award in 2001, the Carl Zeiss Wildlife Conservation Award in 2002, and the Tiger Gold Award in 2004.
Posted on: Mon, 21 Jul 2014 10:49:02 +0000
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