Purulia: Purulia: A new chapter in wildlife conservation is set to unfold in Jungle Mahal, with Purulia to get the region’s first wildlife sanctuary — one that will seek to protect a growing population of wild animals without uprooting people who have lived alongside them for generations.The proposed sanctuary will cover 3,609.4 hectares across 21 mouzas, encompassing the Simni and Nowahatu beats of the Kotshila forest range and Kalma beat of the Jhalda range. The detailed project report has already reached Aranya Bhavan and subject to approval, the forest dept expects to issue the notification within the current financial year.The sanctuary featured in CM Suvendu Adhikari’s Purulia address on Sunday as he assured that the region’s natural landscape, including its hills and forests would not be disturbed. “We will not let anyone touch the nature here. We have plans to develop a big zoo in the region, where more leopards will be brought in,” he said. The CM added that the govt also plans to develop tourism infrastructure in the area.Purulia has a mini zoo now.What sets the proposal for the sanctuary apart is its emphasis on human-wildlife coexistence. Unlike several protected-area models where villages may have to be relocated, the Purulia sanctuary plan envisages keeping existing settlements within the landscape while making local communities partners in conservation.The proposal comes against the backdrop of a revival of wildlife in the forest belt. Leopards returned to the Kotshila-Jhalda landscape in recent years, with their presence confirmed through camera traps in 2022. There are around six adult leopards in the area now, foresters estimate.The forest is also an established elephant corridor and has records of sloth bears, honey badgers, pangolins, hyenas, barking deer, porcupines and wild boar. Around 10 sloth bears are estimated to inhabit the wider landscape, according to forest department sources. Signs indicating the movement of tigers have also been recorded, making the forest belt an important link with the adjoining Jharkhand landscape.According to the proposal, habitat protection, fire and access control, water and soil conservation and regular wildlife monitoring will form part of the management plan. Fifteen joint forest management committees are expected to play a key role. A dedicated research and monitoring zone has also been proposed, with permanent vegetation plots, camera traps and climate-monitoring systems.The project also envisages carefully regulated nature tourism. Nature and bird trails, trekking routes, watchtowers, eco-guides, camping and rock-climbing facilities, along with a nature education centre, have been proposed. A jeep safari and butterfly garden are also part of the plan. Eco-tourism around the Seoti waterfall and a Shiva temple in the area is proposed.The 188.3-hectare medicinal-plant-rich tract in Kalma beat is another important component of the proposed plan. Residents of Simni said the sanctuary could bring recognition to the area’s forests while creating new avenues of livelihood.
