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Decline in tiger numbers in several Vid sanctuaries

As countries celebrate 'International Tiger Day' on Tuesday, assessment of tigers under Phase III (camera traps) in wildlife sanctuaries and national parks under Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) and Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve (NNTR) shows a minimum presence of 37 tigers. The population doesn't include cubs.

The latest figures as per camera trap estimation include 23 tigers in Pench & Mansinghdeo (439 sqkm); four in Bor & New Bor (121 sq km), four in Umred-Karhandla (189 sqkm), and six in NNTR (655 sqkm) comprising Nagzira (152 sqkm), New Nagzira (151 sqkm), Navegaon National Park (133 sqkm), Navegaon (123 sqkm) and Koka (97 sqkm).

According to forest department sources, the preliminary results are part of 2014 national tiger assessment exercise conducted every four years by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun. 

Figures from Tadoba and Melghat are still under assessment.

The only positive sign so far is from Pench, where the tiger number has gone up from 19 last year to 23. It is a wake up call for new tiger reserve Navegaon-Nagzira where the number seems to have declined despite massive increase in area.State's principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) for wildlife Sarjan Bhagat did not certify the figure of 37 in PAs under Pench and NNTR as the final report was yet to come in.Bhagat told, "Last year, as per camera traps survey, we had 101 tigers in four tiger reserves- Tadoba, Melghat, Sahyadri and Pench. 

The exercise was not carried out in non-protected areas. At present, there are 199 tigers in the state."The final results of the estimation exercise carried out in 2014 will be announced in December. As per the scientific assessment carried out in 2010, there were 69 tigers in Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) on 2,610 sqkm landscape. 

Melghat recorded 35 tigers (30-39) over 2,246 sqkm; Sahyadri 21 over 540 sqkm; Nagzira-Navegaon 20 over 765 sqkm; Bor 12 over 560 sqkm; and Pench (MP & Maharashtra) 65 over 2,547 sqkm.If the latest number of 37 tigers is considered, situation has worsened in Navegaon-Nagzira, Umred-Karhandla, Bor & New Bor. 

Even in Pench, though the situation seems better than last year, three years ago a figure of 24 tigers in the reserve alone was estimated. Now Mansinghdeo has been added to it and the number is expected to go up slowly. There are five cubs in Pench-Mansinghdeo.A figure of six tigers in 655 sq km in Navegaon-Nagzira reserve means 109 sq km per tiger (an area where at least 4-5 tigers can be accommodated).

"While Navegaon park and sanctuary have no tigers, tourists have been complaining this year that sightings in Nagzira were not so good like a couple of years ago. In 2007, there were at least 10 tigers in 152 sq km Nagzira alone.

Now there are six in 655 sq km," said Himanshu Bagde, a regular visitor to Nagzira.Similarly, in Umred-Karhandla, two years ago, officials claimed to have 20-22 tigers. However, now it looks the claims were farce or poachers have held a field day there. As Bagde added, "it is all about better protection."


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/...189554.cms

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