Animal Tracking Techniques Used by Forest Guards in Jim Corbett

Jim Corbett National Park is an amazing spot in Uttarakhand and is a beautiful forest with tall sal trees, flowing rivers, and peaceful vibes. This park is a natural habitat for the wild animals, and a lot of tourist visit this area to see the animals and observe them in their natural habitat. People can explore the area through thrilling Jim Corbett Safaris. 

The forest guard and staff of this park are those people who make it possible for tourists to spot the animals. The forest guards of the park work every single day to understand where the animals are moving, how they behave, and what signs they leave behind. The tracking skills of the forest guards are one of the main reasons why Jim Corbett  National Park stays safe, well-managed, and has rich wildlife. 

The forest guards of the park work every day and keep themselves informed about the animals' movements.  They can look at the ground, hear a call, or notice a small sign and immediately understand what has happened in that area. Animal tracking is highly important as it allows the guards to keep the animals safe and also makes safaris exciting for visitors. Because of animal tracking, they can also handle emergencies in a better way. 

Why Animal Tracking Is Done in Jim Corbett

Animal tracking is important in Jim Corbett for their protection. It basically includes learning about how the wildlife is living, moving, and surviving inside the forest. The forest guards keep an eye on the movement of tigers, elephants, leopards, and other animals so they can notice any changes in their behavior or health. This helps the forest guards to provide a safe space for animals. For example, if a tiger starts moving near a village area, the forest department takes quick action to avoid any human-animal conflict. It also helps them to prevent illegal hunting. 

Animal tracking also includes learning how the animals walk, rest, hunt, and drink water inside the park. These help the forest department in making zones and informed decisions related to the safety of animals and also the visitors. The tracking also allows the authorities to make the safaris safer and more exciting for the tourists. When the forest guards know where an animal can be seen, they inform the forest guides and drivers, and then visitors get a chance to see animals without disturbing them. Animal tracking also helps the researchers to keep a count of the tiger population and other wildlife found inside the park. 

Various Ways of Animal Tracking in Jim Corbett 

1. Reading Pugmarks

One of the most famous ways for animal tracking is reading their pugmarks. A pugmark is basically the footprint of the animal, which is left on soil, sand, or mud. Forest guards study these footprints to understand which animal passed through the area and where it was going. Experienced forest guards and even the safari guides can easily identify which animal it was and in which direction it was going. Sometimes, even the age and gender can also be guessed through the pugmarks. 

The forest guards note down the direction of movement through the pugmark. They can also tell if the pugmarks are fresh. Then they follow those pugmarks during the safari, through which the tourists might get the chance to spot the wild animal. This helps in patrolling and in safely guiding tourists during safaris. 

2. Alarm Calls of Animals 

The natural sounds of the forest are the best way to track animals inside the Jim Corbett National Park. Animals warn each other when they see predators like tigers or leopards through special sounds. These sounds are known as the alarm calls. The alarm calls are mostly made by the spotted deer, langurs, sambar deer, peacocks, or barking deer. 

Each animal species inside the Jim Corbett National Park has their different type of alarm call. Spotted deer give sharp “kek-kek” sounds. Langurs scream loudly from treetops. Barking deer give a dog-like bark. The forest guides and guards easily understand the different alarm calls, and they can guess which predator is around, or how far it is, and other things like this. The alarm calls of animals are like a natural communication network inside the forest. Most of the time, the guides depend on these alarm calls to track the animals during the Jim Corbett Safari exploration. 

3. Animal Dropping  

This might sound a bit strange and creepy, but animal droppings can be used for wildlife tracking. The forest guards study the droppings, and through them, they can understand what the animal ate. It also shows whether the animal is healthy or not. These droppings help the forest guards to track the health of animals that are living in the park. 

For example:

• Most of the time, tiger dropping includes hair, bones, and sometimes even hooves.

• Elephant droppings contain grass, leaves, and bark.

• Herbivore droppings show the kind of plants growing in that area.

4. Scratches and Scent Marks Tracking 

Many animals inside the Jim Corbett use the trees, rocks, and bushes to leave messages for other animals. You can see the tiger's claw scratches on the tree trunks, which show their territory. Many forest guards note these marks to understand which tiger is using which part of the forest. 

Sometimes the tigers,  leopards, and even some herbivores use urine or special scent glands to mark areas. The smell stays for many hours, and expert guards can even identify how fresh these smells are. 

Even the elephants rub their bodies on specific trees of the forest. These trees get shiny and smooth over time - and they show the moving pattern of elephant herds inside the Jim Corbett National Park. 

5. Using Technology 

The forest department of Jim Corbett National Park often uses camera traps and tracking collars to understand animal movement in a deeper way. Both tools work differently, but using them together offers more clearer study. Through the images and collar location, the forest staff clearly knows how healthy the animal looks and if it’s moving normally. 

The camera traps capture real photos and videos of the animals in the park. They show who is moving and at what time. Through the photo and video,  you can also learn how often the path is used by the animals. 

On the other hand, the collars are made with technology. They send signals that help the forest team to follow the exact route that the tiger, elephants, and other animals have taken. These collars are especially used on animals that need close monitoring.