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Total country level population of
tiger is 1411 with a 17.43 per cent coefficient of variation. The lower limit is 1165 and the upper limit
is 1657. Making a presentation about Tiger census in a press conference today
Dr. Rajesh Gopal, Member Secretary, Tiger Project
explained that the assessment shows that though the tiger has suffered due to
direct poaching, loss of quality habitat, and loss of its prey, but there is
still hope. The government has declared
more eight new tiger reserves to strengthen the population of tigers. He said an area of around
31111 sq.km. of tiger
habitat has been notified/identified by tiger states as per provisions of the
wildlife (Protection Act).
New and additional methods have been
used in Tiger Census. Giving the details
the Minister said The Project Tiger
Directorate (now the National Tiger Conservation Authority) of the Ministry of
Environment and Forests initiated refinement of the ongoing process of tiger
estimation using pugmarks (footprints) in 2002.
This was a collaborative initiative with the Wildlife Institute
of India and 17 Tiger States. Based on a pilot study done in the Satpura
Landscape of Madhya Pradesh, the methodology was mainstreamed as a country-level
process, which was endorsed by the Tiger Task Force. The new process has been conceived,
financially supported and implemented by the Ministry of Environment and
Forests (now the National Tiger Conservation Authority),
with internal and external peer review during field data collection.
Dr. Rajesh Gopal informed that
results pertaining to four major tiger States (Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh
and Rajasthan) were finalized / released in May 2007. This report evaluates the
current status of tigers, co-predators and their prey in India. The Member Secretary informed that the status of tiger, its
co-predators, prey and its habitat has not significantly / adversely changed in
the Tiger Reserves and Protected Areas.
However, there is a decline in the same in outside areas. The spatial occupancy of tigers and other
animals have been done for all the 17 tiger States, and mapped in the GIS
domain.
Regarding
non-availability of Census in certain areas Dr. Rajesh Gopal,
cited difficult circumstances and reasons:
(a) Indravati
Tiger Reserve (Chhattisgarh): Estimation could not be
done since the area is inaccessible owing to Naxalite
engineered problems.
(b) The population estimate
relating to Palamau Tiger Reserve (Jharkhand) could not be fully assessed owing to extremist
engineered disturbances. 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 estimation in Sunderbans (West Bengal) is ongoing as a separate exercise owing to the unique habitat
conditions.
There are three promising areas i.e. with high probability
of long-term persistence. They are:
(1) Shivalik-Gangetic
Plain Landscape Complex Corbett
(2) Central Indian Landscape
Complex (Kanha)
(3) North East Hills and Brahamaputra Plains (Kaziranga-Karbi
Anglong)
Tiger populations having potential to persist as Meta populations are:
(1) Rajaji-Corbett
(2) Dudhwa-Katerniaghat
(3) Satpura-Melghat
(4) Pench
(5) Bhadra-Kudremukh
(6) Parambikulam-Indira
Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary
The Census suggests that four Landscapes
in the country are in need of inputs:
(1) Nagarjunasagar
Srisailam
(2) Ranthambhore-Kuno
(3) Indravati-Northern
Andhra
(4) Bandhavgarh-Sanjay-Palamau
To ensure the long-term survival of tigers in India it is imperative
to offer strict protection to establish source populations, and manage areas
with restorative inputs by involving local communities in buffer and corridor
areas by providing them with a direct stale 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, interalia, includes enhancement of
village relocation package from Rs. 1.00 lakh
per family to Rs. 10.00 lakhs,
central assistance for protection and deployment of Tiger Protection Force
involving local people and ex-army personnel, rehabilitation/resettlement
of denotified tribes/communities involved in traditional
hunting, strengthening corridor connectivity, providing safeguards and retrofitting
measures for wildlife, 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 to Rs. 600.00 crores
during the Plan period.
Earlier the Minister of State Shri S. Regupathy, MOS of Environment and Forests released the report
of Tiger Census and State Forest Report 2005. A presentation was also made on State Forest
Report.
KP/Hb
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Total Country level Population of Tiger 1411
