Katarniaghat, 22nd December 2025: The Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), under the Terai Tiger Project, hosted an enriching two-day exposure visit (December 17-18) for a 12-member delegation, including eight PRT (Primary Response Team) volunteers from the Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) at the Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary (KWLS). The visit aimed to facilitate peer learning, capacity building, and the exchange of best practices in human–wildlife conflict (HWC) mitigation.

The programme began with a comprehensive orientation by the KWLSPrimary Response Team (PRT)–Rapid Response Team (RRT), covering key project components such as the public alert system Aapka Prahari, HWC mitigation strategies, feedback and documentation tools including the Epicollect app, PRT coordination mechanisms, conflict and rescue case handling, community sensitisation approaches, and the Improved Cook Stove initiative. The session opened with the screening of the short animated film “Kinara,” which highlights issues related to human–wildlife conflict.

PRT members engaged in an session on the Epicollect Documentation App, conducted by THE team from Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary. | Photograph by team WTI.

The visiting team later observed live demonstrations of safe sugarcane harvesting practices and interacted with local farmers to understand measures that reduce wildlife encounters. The first day concluded with exposure to local livelihood initiatives, particularly turmeric cultivation, showcasing its role in eco-tourism, economic empowerment, and supporting local farmers and the Tharu community.

On the second day, the team visited the eco-tourism village of Karikot to learn about PRT involvement in Eco Development Committee activities and participated in a formal introductory session led by Gram Panchayat representative Shri Keshavram. They also inspected a Predator Proof House (PPH) site in Lohra village, where discussions with RRT–PRT teams and local residents provided insights into site selection, village surveys, and ongoing HWC challenges, including a recent leopard-related incident. 

The trip to Karikot’s Eco-Tourism Village, aimed at learning about the activities of the Eco Development Committee (EDC). | Photo courtesy team WTI.

The exposure visit concluded with a brief felicitation of the VTR team by DFO (Retd.) Shri Anand Kumar Srivastava. In total, 15 PRT members from KWLS contributed to the success of the programme, with coordination support from PRT Coordinators, while Field Officer Archit Mishra, Jyoti Antil, and Field Attendant Santram Chauhan expressed gratitude to all participants for their active involvement.