Patrolling is one of the most crucial activities for foresters in protecting wildlife and natural resources. It is a gruelling task for foresters to combat indiscriminate exploitation of natural resources by people from within and across the border. One has to have physical dexterity and detective intuition to face a challenging situation. While on patrol, a forester will have to carry their food and bedding along with a 7 kg weapon. Porters cannot be engaged due to a risk of attack by miscreants and wild animals.
Often, foresters have to deal with a war-like situation to avoid any mishap. Every patrol member must be on top vigilance because attacks could happen anytime from wild animals such as agitated elephants, aggressive gaur or venomous king cobra. At the campsite, the members take turns to guard the camp throughout the night which is set up on a vantage location. After a long tiring day, the night of a forester is even longer.
We foresters are dedicated to protecting our natural resources for ecological stability as well as for our future generations. By sacrificing the lives of foresters’ today, it would ensure the livelihood perpetuity of the next generations. We aspire to hand over our rich natural resources to our young generations.
-Ugyen Tshering, Chief Forestry Officer, Jomotsangkha Wildlife Sanctuary
