Haldwani, Nov. 12 -- The state forest department has introduced special calendars featuring images of deities alongside messages on wildlife safety to raise awareness among residents in forest-fringe villages amid increased movement of tigers and leopards during winter, officials said. According to Ramnagar divisional forest officer (DFO) Dhruv Singh Martolia, the initiative aims to make residents more conscious of precautions required to avoid encounters with wild animals. The calendars are being distributed to households in Ramnagar and neighbouring villages as part of a broader awareness drive in the Corbett landscape. "The movement of wild animals, particularly tigers and leopards, increases during the winter months. People living in villages bordering forest areas frequently travel along isolated roads and pathways for daily work. The risk of human-wildlife encounters escalates during early morning and evening hours when animal activity is peak," Martolia said. Explaining the rationale behind the campaign, the DFO said the calendar-based approach ensures that safety messages remain visible in households throughout the year, turning wildlife safety awareness into a daily habit rather than a sporadic campaign. "Apart from distributing calendars, forest department teams are reaching out to residents through handbills and pamphlets. These materials outline measures to minimise the risk of encounters and guidelines for moving near forest zones". Martolia expressed hope that the religious iconography paired with safety instructions would encourage responsible behaviour and foster safer coexistence between local communities and wildlife during winter season....