With the onset of summer, forest officials at the Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) have begun activating multi-pronged strategies, including reliance on satellite inputs from Forest Research Institute, to control forest fires and strengthen wildlife safety in Bihar’s West Champaran district, officials said. Valmiki Tiger Reserve (HT File) Sharing the information, Gaurav Ojha, chief wildlife warden and field director of VTR, said that the dry weather during summer significantly increases the risk of forest fires, which can threaten the reserve’s rich biodiversity, including several endangered species. “To tackle the situation, the forest department has intensified controlled burning and patrolling across the forest and readied fire lines. Apart from this, we have deployed fire watchers in vulnerable areas and begun clearing dry leaves and other combustible materials from forest tracks and fire lines,” said the chief wildlife warden. According to forest department officials, satellite technology will also be used to monitor forest fires in the reserve. Under this system, if a fire breaks out in any part of the forest, information will be received through satellite alerts. …