Haldwani, Sept. 21 -- A "Tiger Protection Team" comprising of around 150 local villagers has been formed in order to boost conservation efforts at Corbett Tiger Reserve, officials said on Saturday. "The Corbett Tiger Reserve shares its boundaries with several villages, making it a hotspot for man-animal conflict. Incidents involving wild animals, including elephants, straying into inhabited areas are frequent. In such situations, the Tiger Protection Team members will be the first to respond, assisting forest department personnel in managing emergencies and safeguarding both people and animals," said Dr Saket Badola, director of Corbett National Park. "Recruitment for the Tiger Protection Team will be carried out voluntarily and free of charge through village eco-development committees. The forest department will appoint villagers based on the committees' recommendations. While the department will benefit from their voluntary assistance, it will also provide them with periodic training and support," he added. He further said, "So far, the department relied on outside workers hired on short-term contracts to extinguish forest fires during the summer...This initiative is expected to not only strengthen tiger protection measures in Corbett but also foster greater community involvement in conserving India's most iconic wildlife reserve." The Corbett National Park, covering an area of 521 sq km, is situated at the foothills of the Himalayas....