Periyar Nature Preserve

Follow Wild Chronicles to Periyar Nature Preserve, where the Indian government has found an innovative solution to a national problem.

Rather than prosecuting the poachers who once illegally stripped bark from sandalwood trees, the forestry department is hiring these men as park guides. In addition to providing them a better quality of life, these men now have a personal stake in protecting the preserve that they once exploited.
1. Abdul Bashir, the tourism officer, says former poachers make excellent nature guides. Why?
  
  Show Answer
  
  Bashir says the former poachers are familiar with the area, are not afraid of wild animals, and "tourists . . . will be safe in their hands because their jungle skills are so good."
2. Do the men and women of Periyar make more money as guides or poachers?
  
  Show Answer
  
  Poachers make more money, but not being criminals improves the residents' quality of life.
Articles & Profiles
- National Geographic News: Poachers Track Poachers in India Wilderness Project
Worksheets & Handouts
- FAO: Periyar Tiger Reserve—Poachers Turned Gamekeepers

Term	Part of Speech	Definition	Encyclopedic Entry
conservation	Noun	management of a natural resource to prevent exploitation, destruction, or neglect.	Encyclopedic Entry: conservation
exploit	Verb	to use or take advantage of for profit.
forestry	Noun	management, cultivation, and harvesting of trees and other vegetation in forests.
government	Noun	system or order of a nation, state, or other political unit.
innovative	Adjective	new, advanced, or original.
national park	Noun	geographic area protected by the national government of a country.
poacher	Noun	person who hunts or fishes illegally.
prosecute	Verb	to accuse and carry out legal action against a person or organization.
tree	Noun	type of large plant with a thick trunk and branches.

Credits

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Writer

Caryl-Sue, National Geographic Society

Editor

Jeannie Evers, Emdash Editing

Producer

Caryl-Sue, National Geographic Society

Last Updated

Nov. 14, 2016

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