“If I had this gear then, I wouldn’t have lost my eye.” These are the words of Ganesh, a survivor of a tiger attack and a brave member of the “Baghdhora” Kultali Tiger Response Team in the Sundarbans. 

This team serves as the first line of defense when a tiger nears human settlements along the 26km forest interface where the Herobhanga-Ajmalmari forest blocks are often just a river crossing away from village doorsteps.

To aid these local heroes, HEAL recently distributed specialised protective kits to over thirty responders with generous support from the Jac Olivol Group.

This gear is,

🐾 Specifically engineered to guard the head, neck, shoulders, and chest which are the areas most vulnerable during close-range tiger encounters.

🐾 Lightweight enough for the grueling, swampy terrain of the Sundarbans, allowing the team to maintain the speed required for “Quick Response” operations.

🐾 Helpful in working in tandem with the Forest Department’s Chituri and Nolgora offices, as it reinforces the safety net for both people and wildlife.

In a landscape where the boundary between forest and village isn’t marked by a wall or a fence, the safety of the community depends on the courage and agility of these first responders. We hope this gear helps them stand guard with greater confidence and security.

HEAL’s Work on Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation

Human Elephant Conflict in West Bengal

Striving Towards Zero death from Snakebites in Sundarbans