33 Sundarbans villagers, including 10 women, train to keep people and tigers safe
The new volunteers join a network of 98 'first responders' in Kultali, South 24 Parganas, who step in when a tiger strays into a village.
- 98 volunteers in the network, 18 of them women
- About 24 km of nylon fencing monitored
- Volunteers are known locally as 'Bagh Bondhu'
Who they are
The Wildlife Trust of India and the West Bengal Forest Department run Primary Response Teams in Kultali block, with support from the IUCN. On 24 October, 33 new volunteers, 10 of them women, were trained at an education centre in Ambikanagar. They learned about tiger behaviour, tracking signs, keeping crowds calm and talking with worried residents. They do not try rescues themselves; they alert forest staff and keep people back.
Why it helps
Since 2018–19 the network has grown to 98 members, including 18 women, who also watch over about 24 km of nylon fencing along the coast. In December 2023, such teams helped guide a straying tiger back across the Makri River to the mangroves without it being captured. Drones, camera traps and light-and-sound deterrents are also being tested.
