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Our News
Bridging nature and people
When talking about something you love, your face glows. It shows. When Ranger Khandu Tshomo talks about the wilderness and all that it harbors, her passion for her work sets her face aglow.
©Aaron Gekoski/WWF-US
Working as the lone woman ranger at Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary in south central part of Bhutan which covers portions of Sarpang and Dagana districts, Khandu Tshomo feels at home.
This is partly because of the fact that she grew up in a remote village where people share strong connections with the wilderness, according to Khandu. “That is why I opted to study forestry, and I have learnt about the importance of conservation, the animals, nature and how conservation can have meaningful impact for future generations.”
For Khandu Tshomo, the most challenging part of her work, which is also the most rewarding is working with communities surrounding the national park. Dealing with human-wildlife conflicts and wildlife crimes can get stressful. “Communities can get frustrated, especially when dealing with human-wildlife conflicts,” she said. “But I feel people and nature can live in harmony and that is where we, as frontliners get to come in as the link between people and nature.”
Working with communities requires one to be respectful and understand their grievances. “As middlemen we maintain a good relationship between people and nature,” she said. “We help people while also carrying out conservation works.”
Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary has carried out series of initiatives like providing water pipelines to the community of Shariphu and reservoir tank facility to communities in Nichula in Dagana district.
To curb wildlife crimes, park rangers are required to patrol the forests. This, Khandu said, is another challenge. But over the years, the park management has adopted SMART (spatial monitoring and reporting tool) patrolling, and rangers are equipped with drones, improved cellular connectivity, and most recently through Bhutan For Life set up a 11kilowatt hybrid solar plant which supplies power to Phibsoo Range office.
©Kinley Wangmo/WWF-Bhutan
The rangers are out in the field for research and park management works too. To increase prey species grassland management activities are carried out. “Before, we managed 50 hectares of grassland, and it increased to 100 hectares and our plan is to manage another 150 hectares in the future.”
The grassland management is aimed at increasing prey population, which helps increase predator numbers. “Predators like the Royal Bengal tiger and leopards are found in Phibsoo,” she said.
As part of park management salt lick enrichment and water holes development or enhancement activities have been carried out. Tigers, leopards, spotted deer, gaurs, and even the “critically endangered” white-bellied heron has been spotted at the waterhole.
©Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary
“These are few of the beautiful impacts of our work,” she said, reasserting her passion for being a conservationist.
From patrolling to carrying out research works to build data for current and future use, to understanding the behaviors of wildlife, Khandu contributes to the larger conservation work carried out as a country.
“Although Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary is the smallest protected area in the country, it is rich in biodiversity – be it birds, mammals, fish or orchids,” she said. “The times I see elephant footprints and tiger pug marks are some of the happiest moments in my life.”
©Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary