First Aid training conducted to reduce Human – Large Carnivore conflict in Valmiki Tiger Reserve
Manguraha, 8th September 2024: Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) in collaboration with DoEFCC, Govt of Bihar, organised a two-day First Aid training for community members and frontline forest staff at the Manguraha Tourism Campus located in the East Champaran district.
The workshop witnessed the participation of sixteen community members, including seven women from Dumari, Rupaulia, Ekwa, Purainia, Dhumatand and Jasauli villages, alongside fourteen forest staff—comprising foresters, forest guards, and tiger trackers, from the Manguraha, Gobardhana, and Raghia ranges, participated in the training.
The workshop was hosted by WTI and DoEFCC, Govt of Bihar in Manguraha | Photo by Team WTI
Dr. Sharwan Kumar Singh of the Shri Arvind Foundation led the training, covering essential topics such as the basic principles of First Aid, the roles of a First Aider, techniques for handling CPR and management of injuries like head and spinal trauma, and wound dressings. This was followed by a session on emergency responses by Dr. Jagmohan Kumar, Secretary of the Indian Red Cross Society, West Champaran district.
Mr. Subrat Kumar Behera, Project Head at WTI, emphasised that this training is designed to empower both the communities living on the edge of the Valmiki Tiger Reserve and forest staff to enhance their ability to respond swiftly and effectively to emergencies, particularly those arising from human-wildlife conflicts. To date, WTI has successfully formed Primary Response Teams (PRTs), which include 32 volunteers from seven villages to assist victims of human-wildlife conflict situations.
PRT members and forest staff participating in first aid and CPR training | Photo by WTI
Among the forest staff who participated in the training were Udit Sharma, Brujlal Kumar Baitha, Bikash Kumar, Ankush Kumar Tiwari, Bikash Kumar Tiwari and Manish Kumar Sharma, Mahmad Abdul, Kanheiya Thakur, Manikant Kumar.
The prominent members of the community included Rakesh Dubey, Rajkumar Mahato, Kalam Ansari, Ajay Kumar, Ashok Ram, Karishma Kumari, Kiran Kumari, Shital Kumari, Pratima Devi, and Rajlaxmi Devi.
This training is part of the “Living with Large Carnivores – Integrative Coexistence through Community Empowerment” project.
Implemented by WTI in partnership with Chester Zoo, UK, and supported by the Darwin Initiative Grant from the Government of the United Kingdom, the project focuses on minimizing human-large carnivore conflicts in the Valmiki Tiger Reserve and promoting peaceful coexistence between local communities and wildlife. Implemented by WTI in partnership with Chester Zoo, UK, and supported by the Darwin Initiative Grant from the Government of the United Kingdom, the project focuses on minimising human-large carnivore conflicts in the Valmiki Tiger Reserve and promoting peaceful coexistence between local communities and wildlife.
