At least four tigers have been killed in Nepal in the last 2 weeks
New Census Methods
Dr. Rajesh Gopal informed that, using new methods to count tigers, the results from four major tiger States, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, were finalized/released in May 2007. This report shows that the status of tiger, its co-predators, prey and its habitat has not significantly changed in the Tiger Reserves and Protected Areas. However, there is a decline outside the key areas.
Some areas ( see below) couldn’t not be fully surveyed for a variety of reasons.
(a) Indravati Tiger Reserve (Chhattisgarh): Survey work could not be carried out as the area is inaccessible owing to engineered problems.
(b) The population estimate relating to Palamau Tiger Reserve (Jharkhand) could not be fully assessed. However, available information, based on spatial occupancy data collected, indicates a low density of tiger in the area ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 per hundred sq.km.
(c) The population survey in the Sunderbans (West Bengal) is ongoing as a separate exercise owing to the unique habitat conditions.
Dr. Rajesh Gopal informed that, using new methods to count tigers, the results from four major tiger States, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, were finalized/released in May 2007. This report shows that the status of tiger, its co-predators, prey and its habitat has not significantly changed in the Tiger Reserves and Protected Areas. However, there is a decline outside the key areas.
Some areas ( see below) couldn’t not be fully surveyed for a variety of reasons.
(a) Indravati Tiger Reserve (Chhattisgarh): Survey work could not be carried out as the area is inaccessible owing to engineered problems.
(b) The population estimate relating to Palamau Tiger Reserve (Jharkhand) could not be fully assessed. However, available information, based on spatial occupancy data collected, indicates a low density of tiger in the area ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 per hundred sq.km.
(c) The population survey in the Sunderbans (West Bengal) is ongoing as a separate exercise owing to the unique habitat conditions.
(1) Shivalik-Gangetic Plain Landscape Complex Corbett
(2) Central Indian Landscape Complex (Kanha)
(3) North East Hills and Brahamaputra Plains (Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong)
There is also the potential for smaller populations of tigers to exist in the following areas.
(1) Rajaji-Corbett
(2) Dudhwa-Katerniaghat
(3) Satpura-Melghat
(4) Pench
(5) Bhadra-Kudremukh
(6) Parambikulam-Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary
Further research is required on the following areas.
(1) Nagarjunasagar Srisailam
(2) Ranthambhore-Kuno
(3) Indravati-Northern Andhra
(4) Bandhavgarh-Sanjay-Palamau
Long-term Survival
To ensure the long-term survival of tigers in India it is imperative to offer strict protection that will establish source populations, and to manage key conservation areas by involving local communities in buffer and corridor areas by providing them with a direct stake in conservation.
The Government of India has taken several steps to strengthen tiger conservation in the country, through implementation of the urgent recommendations of the Tiger Task Force. This includes a tenfold enhancement of village relocation package, central assistance for protection and deployment of Tiger Protection Force involving local people and ex-army personnel, rehabilitation of communities involved in traditional hunting, strengthening corridor connectivity, providing safeguards, establishing eight new tiger reserves, fostering eco-tourism to benefit local people, and strengthening the National Tiger Conservation Authority. The allocation for Tiger Conservation has also been enhanced.
