Two dozen kids in Dudhwa spell terror for tree-cutters

Lucknow: About two dozen children in Lakhimpur district now spell terror for tree-cutters and poachers in the Dudhwa National Park.

These children, in the age group of 10 to 16 years, have been trained by an environmental group called ‘Tiger Haven Society’ to identify and report those who indulge in illegal tree felling and poaching.

Shekhar Srivastava, a member of the Tiger Haven Society, said, “Children living in villages around the Dudhwa National Park move around in the area and come across outsiders who cut trees and kill animals. Since children are not looked upon with suspicion, they get to identify the culprits and report to the local forest officials who take over from here and take necessary action”.

Some of the children belong to the Tharu community that inhabits the forest area and are acutely concerned about forest conservation.

“We also teach children about the need for environment conservation, checking open defecation and building toilets. They have helped the local people in connecting up with and building toilets and also setting up biogas plants. The children who are a part of this group, now understand their responsibility”, Mr Srivastava said.