Kultali, Sundarbans, 29th July 2025: On the occasion of Global Tiger Day 2025, the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), in collaboration with the South 24 Parganas Forest Division, West Bengal Forest Department, Government of West Bengal, & Lokamata Rani Rashmoni Mission (LRRM), Nimpith, with support from IUCN, KFW Development Bank and German Cooperation,  launched a GPS-enabled SOS Alarm System & Speed-Boat Community Support Unit to improve the safety of livelihood practices of local communities in the Kultali Block of Sundarban Biosphere Reserve.

Inaugurated at Jharkhali, this life-saving initiative addresses the urgent need for rapid medical aid and crisis response in remote areas prone to accidental human-tiger interactions, particularly in the Raidighi Range, where fish and crab harvesters regularly face the risk of accidental attack from tigers.

Dr. Abhishek Ghoshal, WTI (R) and  Mr. Partha Mukherjee, ADFO (L) launching the GPS-enabled SOS device |  Photo by Adil Arif/WTI

Recognising the risks these communities face in remote locations while harvesting natural resources for their livelihood, WTI has distributed GPS-enabled SOS Alarm Devices to select licensed resource harvesters visiting high-risk areas based on consultation with the forest officials. With the press of a single button, the device will generate an alert to representatives of the West Bengal Forest Department and WTI, enabling emergency rescue operations through a speedboat. The boat is equipped with trained medical personnel, essential first aid kit and life-saving medical supplies, designed to function as a mobile rapid response unit. This boat will offer immediate medical assistance and facilitate the swift evacuation of the victims of accidental tiger attacks to the nearest healthcare facility.

Five group leaders from the fishing community have officially received the Alert system devices at the event | Photo by Adil Arif/WTI

In the event of an emergency, a joint response team comprising WTI staff, a trained medical professional, local forest beat personnel and a Primary Response Team (PRT) member will be deployed using the speedboat to evacuate the victim to the nearest healthcare facility.

Prosenjit Sheel, Project Head- WTI’s Sundarban Tiger Project, stated that the Block Medical Officer of Health (BMOH) of Kultali Block has extended her guidance in this initiative and has ensured the provision of all basic medicine required to operate the Speed Boat Community Support unit effectively. Her involvement, along with that of local healthcare workers, is integral to the success of this coordinated effort.

Dr. Abhishek Ghoshal, Manager & Head, Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation, WTI, explained that their broader goal is to address human-tiger negative interactions through simple yet innovative solutions by enhancing the safety of existing livelihood practices in one of India’s most ecologically fragile landscapes. This initiative, in collaboration with the State Forest Department and local communities, is about saving the lives of both humans and tigers, thereby strengthening human-tiger coexistence in the Sundarban Biosphere Reserve.

The GPS-enabled alarm system and speed-boat-based community support has been launched in Kultali Block of Sundarban Biosphere Reserve | Photo by Adil Arif/WTI

Ms. Nisha Goswami, IFS, Divisional Forest Officer, 24 Parganas (S) Division, Sundarban Biosphere Reserve emphasised that the unique conservation challenges in the Sundarbans require innovative, community-centric approaches. She highlighted WTI’s dual initiative of GPS-enabled alarm system and speed-boat-based community support—as a powerful combination of technology, rapid medical response, and inter-agency collaboration. This approach, she noted, enhances efforts to safeguard both people and wildlife.