In a noteworthy sighting, a Royal Bengal tiger has been captured in camera traps in Sikkim’s high-altitude Yali forest, marking the first recorded presence of the big cat in this area. The photos, taken by trap cameras installed jointly by the Sikkim Forest and Environment Department and the Global Tiger Forum (GTF), reveal the tiger’s movements in the Yali Reserve Forest, located about 25km from Gangtok.
The GTF announced this significant development, stating, “Big news! Camera deployed by the Sikkim Forest & Environment Department and Global Tiger Forum, under the ongoing project supported by IUCN-KfW, captured tigers in Pangolakha WLS, and for the first time, in Yali Reserve Forest!” This sighting follows a December 2023 tiger sighting at Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary, also in Sikkim.
The GTF has been implementing the “Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Programme” in Sikkim, aiming to combat the decline of the tiger population in the region due to anthropogenic pressures, forest fragmentation, poaching, and illegal trade. Sikkim serves as a crucial corridor for tigers in the Eastern Himalayas, and conservation efforts are vital for preserving the genetic diversity and long-term survival of the species and its prey.
The tiger conservation project, supported by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and funded by German Cooperation via KfW Development Bank, spans various regions in Sikkim, including Khangchendzonga National Park, Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary, Pangolakha, Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary, and reserve forests such as Lachen, Lachung, Chungthang, Phodong, Kabi, Tingda, Lagyap, Yali, and Phadamchen.
The project’s objectives include establishing standardised protocols for tiger monitoring and research, reducing human-wildlife conflicts, increasing household incomes for local communities, strengthening institutional capacities, and maintaining effective monitoring and patrolling regimes while preserving the environment. Additionally, the project focuses on assessing and monitoring species and habitats within Sikkim and its borders with Bengal and Bhutan.
To further enhance these efforts, tiger-specific training will be provided to at least 100 forest officials and frontline staff, ensuring that conservation strategies are effectively implemented and sustained.
