A recent study conducted by Dr. Trishant Simlai, a researcher at Cambridge University, has unveiled allegations of intrusive surveillance tactics at the Corbett Tiger Reserve. The study suggests that sound recorders, camera traps, and drones are being misused by forest rangers to monitor women without their consent, sparking concerns about privacy and misuse of conservation tools.
Dr. Simlai spent 14 months interviewing 270 locals living near the reserve. He discovered that drones were deliberately flown over local women to intimidate them, often to deter them from collecting natural resources. Women reported feeling watched and inhibited by the pervasive presence of surveillance equipment, causing them to speak and sing softly in spaces they previously considered private.
In one troubling instance, the study revealed that a camera trap captured footage of an autistic woman relieving herself, which was later shared on social media and WhatsApp. Another woman expressed fear of being photographed or recorded inappropriately, avoiding areas where cameras were installed.
The research further highlighted how some women, seeking to evade surveillance, ventured deeper into forested areas, inadvertently increasing their risk in a reserve known for its high tiger density. Forest rangers, however, defended the use of technology, citing cases where cameras detected illegal or inappropriate activities, which were then reported to the authorities.
Dr. Simlai remarked, “For women living in villages around the reserve, the forest has long been a space for freedom and expression away from the men in a heavily conservative and patriarchal society.”
The revelations have raised critical questions about the ethical use of surveillance tools intended for wildlife conservation. The Jim Corbett National Park, established in 1936 and renowned as India’s oldest national park, is a vital hub for tiger conservation and eco-tourism. However, the alleged misuse of its surveillance infrastructure risks undermining its reputation and the trust of the local community.
The study calls for stricter regulations and ethical guidelines to ensure that technology serves its intended purpose of wildlife conservation without infringing on the privacy and dignity of local residents.
