Uttarakhand – To enhance tiger protection in Uttarakhand, 81 Special Tiger Guards will soon be deployed in Corbett Tiger Reserve. After prolonged delays, the Forest Department has now sent a requisition to the Uttarakhand Subordinate Service Selection Commission (UKSSSC), and the recruitment process is expected to conclude next year. Once appointed, the total strength of frontline protectors in Corbett will increase to 331.
Currently, the safety of nearly 260 tigers in Corbett is managed by only 250 forest inspectors and guards. As per National Tiger Conservation Authority guidelines, every tiger reserve must have a dedicated Special Tiger Guard force to prevent poaching and improve surveillance. The proposal had remained stalled due to procedural and policy issues, but the department is now moving forward with urgency following recurring concerns over wildlife safety.
According to Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Meenakshi Joshi, the proposal for 81 positions has been officially forwarded to UKSSSC, and deployment is expected by next year. The recruitment will prioritize Agniveer candidates, who will be trained specifically for advanced wildlife protection and anti-poaching operations. These guards will serve exclusively in tiger security roles and will remain in this unit until the age of 40 before being transferred to other divisions.
Director of Corbett Tiger Reserve, Dr. Saket Badola, said the expanded force will significantly strengthen the reserve’s protection system, improve intelligence networks, and reduce poaching threats.
