Nainital: Following the Uttarakhand high court's directions last month about forming a Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) to ensure tigers in Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR) are saved from poachers, the force was put in place on Thursday.The 80-member STPF comprising largely of ex-servicemen from the Army also staged a flag march on the southern boundary of the reserve. Officials said that the force currently includes 60 former Army soldiers while 20 personnel have been inducted from the state forest department.Rahul (who uses only his first name), the director of CTR, told TOI that “the force has a fine balance of people from the Army and state forest department.” “They will receive special training to combat threats to the wildlife,” he added.The force is equipped with firearms such as .315 bore rifles, .32 revolvers, shotguns, GPS tracker as well as two drones. They will also have the support of three sniffer dogs and will be provided with night-vision goggles in order to carry out patrolling at night.Sanjay Pandey, officer-in-charge of the STPF who had earlier been involved in cracking of several poaching cases in the state, told TOI, “The motive is to create fear among poachers and those involved in wildlife crime. The team will patrol various areas of the reserve including Dhela, Jhirna, Bijrani and Kalagarh range.”On Thursday, while a section of the force conducted a flag march from Pankhro to Kalagarh range, another section of the force marched from Ramnagar to Kalagarh. These areas comprise more than 100 km of the southern boundary of the CTR which is said to be most vulnerable.Hayat Singh, 42, a resident of Chamoli district, an ex-Armyman who has joined the STPF, told TOI, “Our state is known for its natural beauty and abundance of wildlife. I decided to take up arms again to protect our flora and fauna from those who are trying to destroy it.”Last month, Uttarakhand high court had asked the state government to recruit ex-servicemen as members of STPF. The court’s direction had come after the state government said that it has sent a proposal to the state forest minister to recruit forest guards in the proposed force meant to curb poaching. On hearing this, the HC had directed the state government to recruit former Army soldiers instead. “Ex-servicemen have a vast experience in handling weapons and serving in forest terrains throughout the country. They need not be trained. They are professional. In this process, they would also be rehabilitated.”

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