Next time you are on a tiger safari in India, you will be surprised to see that people going into the forests to collect forest products are wearing masks of human faces on the back of their heads. Yes, this is a new initiative by the forest department of Madhya Pradesh, a state with the highest tiger population in India, to protect forest dwellers from tiger attacks.
As per the National Tiger Conservation Authority, a tiger reserve is divided into two administrative zones, the inner core zone and the outer buffer zone. The core zone is the area where the rules are very strict and no human activity except tourism (only in less than 20%), research, and wildlife conservation and management are allowed. A buffer zone essentially serves as a multi-use forest, permitting forest product collection and human activities to a limited extent. This is the zone where most of the conflict happens with the local villagers. Though tigers are tolerant of human activities in buffer zones, sometimes there are cases of tiger attacks on humans, mostly by misidentification. Most of the attacks took place during the season of Mahua and Tendu leaf collection.
When people go to collect forest products, they bend or sit on the ground to collect the fallen leaves, flowers, or seeds, which makes them vulnerable to tiger attacks because tigers may misunderstand them as natural prey. That’s why the forest department has come up with this intriguing idea of wearing masks on their backs. When a tiger sees a human face looking at him, he does not attack. This is already in practice successfully in the Sunderban tiger reserve, a place known for frequent tiger attacks.
So next time when you are on your safari inside a tiger reserve, don’t be surprised to see people wearing masks on the back of their faces.
Mr. Vibhav Srivastava is a seasoned wildlife biologist and ecotourism professional with over 20 years of experience across wildlife research, forest management, conservation education, and sustainable tourism in India.
Currently at Nature Safari India, he curates immersive wildlife experiences, leads conservation communication, and designs educational outreach programs. His expertise spans both in-situ and ex-situ conservation, with extensive field work in all major wildlife landscapes of Central, Northern, Eastern, and Southern India. Notable contributions include all-India tiger monitoring with the Wildlife Institute of India, community-based conservation initiatives, and training forest staff and nature guides.
He has held key roles with RARE India, National Zoological Park (New Delhi), Le Passage to India, Tiger Protection Group, and served as Chief Naturalist at Kanha National Park, deepening his expertise in biodiversity conservation and human-wildlife interactions.
An accomplished educator and communicator, Mr. Srivastava has delivered over 30 lectures at prestigious institutions including Delhi University, BHU, Amity University, and IITTM. He is a published author and researcher, with co-authored books, scientific publications, and paper presentations at national seminars. His work consistently bridges conservation science, community engagement, and responsible tourism.
He holds a Master’s degree in Botany, has received professional training from the Wildlife Institute of India, and was nominated among the top five naturalists in India for the TOFT Best Naturalist Award.
