Bettiah/Patna: A series of forest fires has scorched approximately six acres of land in Bihar’s Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR), raising alarm over the safety of the state’s only tiger habitat and the broader implications for biodiversity in the region.
The twin blazes erupted in the Jatashankar forest of the Valmikinagar range and the Champapur area of the Gonauli range. Forest officials confirmed that around five acres were destroyed near the upper camp in the T-2 compartment of Jatashankar, while another acre burned along the Don Seva Path, between Daruabari and Santpur villages in Gonauli.
The fire decimated large swathes of vegetation, including trees, bushes, canes, and undergrowth, causing what officials estimate to be lakhs of rupees in ecological and economic loss. While no human casualties have been reported, the flames have forced wild animals to flee their habitat. Several species were spotted moving toward nearby settlements, raising concerns about human-wildlife conflict.
“The exact cause is yet to be established, but we suspect either mischief by anti-social elements or negligence by local shepherds,” Ranger Srinivasan Naveen told reporters. “An investigation is underway, and those responsible will be held accountable.”
Firefighters and forest personnel worked for hours to contain the blaze, after being alerted by locals and ground teams. However, the incident has highlighted the vulnerability of the forest reserve to fire hazards, particularly as temperatures climb and westerly winds grow stronger in the summer months.
Officials across the Valmikinagar, Madanpur, and Gonauli ranges under Forest Division-2 of VTR are on high alert. The repeat occurrence of such fires is seen as a direct threat not only to forest wealth but to the fragile ecosystem that sustains the region’s tigers and other wildlife.
The Valmiki Tiger Reserve, which borders Nepal’s Chitwan National Park, is a vital corridor for biodiversity conservation in the Gangetic plains and is home to Bengal tigers, elephants, leopards, and numerous bird and plant species.
