Sirmaur emerges as a new sanctuary for wildlife

In a striking ecological shift, the forests of Sirmaur district — particularly around Paonta Sahib — are transforming into a thriving sanctuary for some of India’s most iconic and elusive wildlife. What was once a seasonal corridor for migrating animals has now become a permanent home to elephants, tigers, and the majestic King Cobra.

According to the Forest Department, over 10 elephants have now taken up year-round residence in the Paonta Sahib valley — a sharp departure from previous migration patterns between Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. Their cross-border movement has virtually stopped, indicating that Sirmaur’s forests are offering a stable, resource-rich habitat.

Unlike in the past, these elephants are no longer travelling as a single herd. Instead, they’ve split into smaller groups, roaming independently across different forest beats. In just the past four days, two separate herds of three elephants each were reported causing disturbances in Behral and Batamandi areas. The Forest Department is actively tracking their movement and assessing their impact.

This change coincides with the Centre’s 2024 inclusion of the Paonta Sahib and Nahan forest divisions under Project Elephant and Project Tiger — the only forest divisions in Himachal Pradesh to receive this recognition. The move has triggered a range of new conservation measures, including early warning systems, community outreach initiatives, and rapid response teams to manage human-wildlife encounters.

Experts say the terrain and climate of Paonta Sahib’s forests are remarkably similar to those of Rajaji National Park in Uttarakhand — dense, moist, and undisturbed — making it an ideal habitat for elephants and other large wildlife. However, the presence of illicit liquor production in remote forest areas could also be luring elephants, known for their acute sense of smell and attraction to fermented scents. While this poses a challenge for law enforcement, it underscores the need to regulate human activities in sensitive ecological zones.

But elephants aren’t the only new residents. Tigers — once absent from Himachal’s wildlife map — have now been sighted in forest stretches of the Paonta Sahib and Shri Renuka Ji divisions. Although rare and elusive, these sightings are being taken seriously by the Forest Department, which is intensifying surveillance and habitat protection.

Even more surprising is the emergence of King Cobras, India’s longest venomous snake, in Sirmaur. Over the past few weeks, forest teams have rescued and safely relocated several specimens — some over 10 feet long — from residential areas back into the wild. These rescues mark the first confirmed presence of King Cobras in Himachal Pradesh, a significant milestone for regional biodiversity.

While wildlife enthusiasts and ecologists are celebrating these developments, they also pose new challenges for local communities, particularly those living near forest boundaries. Incidents of crop damage by elephants, sightings of big cats, and fear of venomous snakes are sparking concern among villagers, nomadic shepherds, and Gujjar families.

The Forest Department is taking proactive steps to minimise conflict. “We are making every possible effort to ensure that wildlife and people coexist peacefully,” said Vasanth Kiran Babu, Conservator of Forests, Sirmaur. “The consistent presence of elephants, tigers, and King Cobras suggests that our forests offer the right conditions. But peaceful coexistence is key.”

Community engagement efforts have been stepped up through awareness drives, training programmes, protective fencing, and round-the-clock patrolling in high-risk areas.

Sirmaur now stands as the only district in Himachal Pradesh with a permanent elephant population, and the only one where tigers and King Cobras have been reliably sighted. This makes it not only a beacon of conservation success but also a focal point for managing the complex dynamics between wildlife and human habitation. Sirmaur’s unfolding transformation is a powerful reminder: with balanced ecological stewardship, even the most unexpected landscapes can evolve into safe havens for some of the wild’s most extraordinary creatures.

Himachal Tribune