And then the jungle sprang to life: Four attacks, 550 arrests & 2,500 acres of forest reclaimed in Chhattisgarh tiger reserve

RAIPUR: This World Environment Day, the success story from Chhattisgarh is not about how many trees were planted, but about who came back. A pangolin, a hornbill from the Western Ghats, flying squirrels and even a rare hill turtle have resurfaced in Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve, signalling an ecological recovery that followed the reclamation of 2,500 acres of forest land from encroachers and poachers.

The reappearance of rare animals is now emerging as the most compelling evidence of a conservation turnaround inside Chhattisgarh’s Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve.

Long before officials counted hectares reclaimed or arrests made, the forest had already begun sending signals.

Soon came more surprises.

A Malabar pied hornbill, a bird more commonly associated with the Western Ghats. A rare Tricarinate Hill Turtle, usually linked to Himalayan and northeastern landscapes. Flying squirrels gliding through forest canopies. Mouse deer, otters and other shy creatures reappearing in areas where human pressure once dominated.

But behind these wildlife sightings lies a story far less tranquil.

Over the past four years, forest officials in Udanti-Sitanadi have fought what officers describe as one of the region's toughest conservation battles — reclaiming nearly 956 hectares, or about 2,500 acres, of encroached forest land while taking on poachers, timber smugglers and land grabbers operating across state borders.

The campaign, led by the reserve management and deputy director Varun Jain, was anything but routine. Officials say forest personnel faced four life-threatening attacks during anti-encroachment and enforcement operations. Yet the drives continued.

The result was the removal of illegal occupation from forest land valued at an estimated ₹573 crore, restoring large stretches of habitat in the Mahanadi catchment area and reconnecting fragmented wildlife corridors, Jain told TOI.

At the same time, anti-poaching operations expanded beyond Chhattisgarh's borders into Odisha and Maharashtra. More than 550 alleged poachers, traffickers and encroachers were arrested or detained during the period.

Conservationists say the ecological response was almost immediate.

With human pressure reduced and habitats restored, wildlife began reclaiming territory. Camera traps started recording species rarely seen in central India. The reserve’s forests, once under constant threat from encroachment and illegal activity, gradually became safer for wildlife.

Officials have also turned to technology to protect the gains. Thermal drones, AI-enabled cameras and elephant-tracking alert systems are now being deployed to monitor wildlife movement and reduce conflict with local communities.

Meanwhile, innovative habitat restoration projects are reshaping the landscape. Under the ‘Hornbill Restaurants’ initiative, native fruit-bearing trees are being planted to provide year-round food sources for hornbills. Another programme, ‘Weaving the canopy cove, is reconnecting forest canopies to help arboreal species such as giant squirrels and flying squirrels move safely through the forest.

In a state where conservation often competes with mining, development pressures and human-wildlife conflict, the return of some of India’s rarest creatures may be the strongest proof yet that the battle was worth fighting.