Text and Photos : Vikram Singh
The Van Ghat river lodge at Corbett National Park was set up with the objective to work towards the conservation of Yellow fin Mahseer - an endemic and endangered game fish through an integrated approach involving the local community and the forest department. Some people residing in this remote area were poaching the fish illegally in a large scale as a food and revenue source. Apart from using nets, the stretch of the river was being bombed by dynamites and even electrocuted using generators and the local power lines, this was neither good for the riverine system nor good for a potentially great revenue source - sportfishing.
We started a campaign 3 years ago at the local village level to garner support for protecting the river. Soon we purchased a small patch of land and created basic amenities to serve as a base for patrolling and carrying out conservation activities.
We soon employed 5 local youths and thanks to their effective patrolling, with a little bit of input from us the riverine system improved considerably in 2 years time, proof that nature restores itself if left undisturbed. The fish made a big come back in our stretch of the river ; we even maintained 5 sanctuary pools where we fed the fish. The word spread and the State Forest Department, a Government body recognized our initiative by leasing us a 5 km stretch to protect, maintain and develop as a sportfishing venue in coordination with the Local Village Eco Development Communities (EDC’s), Van Nigams as they are called locally. As per the agreement part of the revenues go directly to the village EDC’s and we presently employ 8 people from the area as river guides, naturalists and conservation aid. The lodge has presently has 5 thatched huts made of local material for visitors and employs 8 local people where sportfishing activities are carried strictly on a catch and release policy.
Some of the guests we have hosted have rated this beat as the finest anywhere for Mahseer fish in both numbers and sizes. The wildlife viewing in the area has also improved significantly - Tigers, Elephants, Leopards, Deer, Goat Antelopes are regular visitors. With the fish having made a comeback, Fishing Eagles now nest in the area.
Contact
Sumantha Ghosh
21 Kailash Hills, New Delhi 110 065, India
Tel. : 91 11 26832883
Fax : 91 11 26391769
E-mail : sumantha@wildworldindia.com
Internet : www.wildworldindia.com
Language : English
Other contact :
mahseer@wildworldindia.com