Sunday Release

New Delhi, 5 July 2008

Tiger Population

HOPE OR END OF ROAD?

By Radhakrishna Rao

Even as the introduction of a tiger and a tigress in the Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan made history and received wide media coverage, the concern over their numbers decreasing grows. An example is the launching of a campaign by an international airline to create awareness about protecting the Royal Bengal tiger. The airline has offered a special round trip fare from Kolkata to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and back as the capital city of West Bengal offers easy access to the thick forests of Sunderbans, which is home to the Royal Bengal tigers.

This apart, the World Bank has launched tiger conservation initiative and has warned that if current trend continues it is likely that the tiger will be the first species of large predator to vanish. ”Since tigers are at the top of the food chain, the conservation of tigers also means preservation of the habitats in which they live and the prey population that support them,” says a statement from the World Bank. Besides, a wildlife monitoring group TRAFFIC warns: “Tigers are now largely being consigned to only protected areas.They are being hit in a big way. It is huge cause of alarm”.

On its part, the Ministry of Forests and Environment has decided to set up four more tiger reserves in the country, to give a boost to the tiger population in the wild and reserves of the country, The 4 reserves will be located at: Sunbeda in Orissa, Sahyadri In Maharastra, Philbit in UttarPradesh and Ratanpari in Madhya Pradesh.

Tiger, the magnificent beast which had once roamed the wild of India as an unchallenged monarch for hundreds of years now, is now edging closer to extinction. In fact, the figures released by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) paints a grim picture of the tiger conservation scenario in the country. From around 3,500 tigers in 2002, the number of the big cats has touched an all time low of 1,411.In particular the NTCA has expressed concern over the rapid decline in the tiger population in the reserves and general forest areas of UP, which is now left with just around 100 tigers.

However, the UP Government has questioned the authenticity of NTCA figures saying that it got its “counting wrong”. But at the same time, has agreed to initiate a slew of measures. "A proposal to create a home for the endangered cats in Philbhit forests has been cleared by the Government. The area has good potential to boost tiger population on account of its unique eco system with vast open spaces and sufficient feedstocks for the elegant predators" say sources in the UP Forest Department.

A path-breaking study by the Dehra Dun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII) says, "Dudhwa-Philbhit has high conservation value since it represents the only tiger population having the ecological and behavioural adaptation of the tiger unique to Terai region". Similarly, Corbett Tiger Reserve shared by UP and Uttaranchal has realised the highest tiger density as compared to other habitats in the country.  In a mere 1,524 sq.km area, it holds 164 tigers. It has 19.6 tigers for every one sq.km. The dense tiger population in the reserve, say conservationists could become a good base to sustain the entire tiger pool in the Shivaliks and Gangetic plains of UP and Bihar.

However, Madhya Pradesh with 300 tigers in its protected areas and forests comes on the top, in so far as the conservation of this beautiful wild animal is concerned. On the other hand, Karnataka has close to 300 big cats and has the potential to pull back the animal from the precipice of certain extinction. "If we keep these zones safe, create inviolate core regions surrounded by a buffer, the tiger can survive. These cores can act as the source of stability for the entire population of surviving tiger," says Rajesh Gopal, Member Secretary, NTCA.

"Poaching in the State's forest has become a serious problem and requires full attention of the police as many international gangs operate from out of here" points out a Senior Superintendent of Police, Special Task Force (STF), UP. The NTCA has thus directed the State Government to arm it forest officials with high-speed radar guns. Even in the reserves of Assam and adjoining north- eastern States, tigers along with elephants fall an easy prey to the bullets of a dozen militant groups which smuggle out wildlife products to fund its arms buying spree.

Way back in 2005, the disappearance of tigers from Sariska Tiger Reserve had created widespread dismay in the country. The Sariska episode led to the creation of the NTCA. Today, about 20 tigers fall prey to the bullets of poachers every year. Tiger population in the forest stretches of UP, which shares its border with Nepal, has become a special target for international gangs of poachers.

Not surprisingly, wildlife conservationists in India believe that it was the success of the Project Tiger which resulted in an appreciable increase in the tiger population that ultimately led to the international poaching syndicates zeroing in on India. The project was launched in 1973 with the aim of pulling back the giant cat from the brink of extinction. Billed as the most ambitious and successful wildlife conservation project launched anywhere in the world, the rigorously implemented project Tiger helped push up the population of this elegant beast to 4,000 by the end of the 80s.

By far the most significant salutary fall out of Project Tiger was the creation of as many as 21 Reserves to protect the big cats in the wild. But in 1992, even as wildlife lovers were busy preparing to celebrate two successful decades of Project Tiger, the shocking reality of the Indian tiger falling prey to poachers' guns was driven home.

Wildlife conservationists are of view that burgeoning demand for tiger bones and its vital organs in return for the cash in the rich Far East is largely to blame for the rapid decline of Indian tigers. For centuries, the traditional medical system in China, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan have been using tiger bones for the production of potions and pills considered to be an effective treatment for rheumatism and nervous disorders. Despite global protests, breweries in Taiwan and China are known to be using tiger bones for producing wines.

The fact that a single tiger can fetch US $60,000 in the illegal wildlife market of the Far East has emboldened poachers to even shoot forest guards. Besides, Indian tiger reserves are also facing a threat from steady human encroachment. The shrinking forest cover is forcing the tigers to intrude into human settlements and we have heard stories of people getting maimed and killed. Instances of agricultural hamlets in the vicinity of tiger reserves poisoning tigers have also come to light.

With tiger-man conflict assuming a serious dimension, the big Indian cat has a bleak future. The disappearance of the spotted and swamp deer that constituted the staple food of the tiger is also another factor contributing to tigers straying into human settlements. In the ultimate analysis, only a multi-pronged action plan of international dimension to be launched on a war footing can alone save the Indian tiger from certain extinction. –INFA

 (Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)