Bigcats News

[Rage2277]

Tigers in 41 of 50 reserves could go extinct: Study 

Read more at:
 Tigers in 41 of 50 reserves could go extinct:Study Shivani Azad | TNN | Sep 20, 2018, 12:19 IST 1 4 India is home to 2,226 tigers across 50 reserves DEHRADUN: Scientists working towards conservation of tiger population in Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun have indicated the need to keep the population of all the tigers across 41 tiger reserves, which have less than 20 breeding female and male big cats, ‘connected’ with the nine tiger reserves that have higher population of breeding tigers. WII had laid down criteria before selecting tigers and tigresses of breeding value, according to which only nine reserves in India have big cat populations robust enough to have a future. Only those reserves which had at least 20 breeding units, with a tiger and tigress comprising a unit, qualified. The nine reserves are Corbett, Kanha, Painch, Ranthambore, Bandhavgarh, Sundarbans, Kaziranga, Tadoba and Mudumalai, Sathyamangalam, Bandipur and Nagarhole. Scientists at the annual seminar of WII on Wednesday said that there was an urgent need to connect reserves with lower populations of breeding big cats with these nine reserves. According to 2014 estimates, India is home to 2,226 tigers across 50 reserves of the country spread across 89,000 sq km of the total 3 lakh square kilometres that is the tiger habitat in the country. Yadvendradev Jhala, scientist (G) of WII told TOI, “The essence of managing endangered species is to first understand their population vital rates, that is, birth rates, age of first reproduction, litter size, survival and so on. This is like having an insurance policy — it allows us to decide on the premium. Instead of individuals, we are making decisions on populations. Our research has shown that a minimum of 20 breeding units are required for long-term persistence of tiger populations. Only nine tiger reserves meet this criteria in India, and even fewer outside the country. There are tigers in several reserves but their fate is questionable. Given their inherent demographic parameters they have a high probability to become extinct.” The experts have laid thrust on development with utmost care in tiger corridors to save the big cats. Jhala added, “These smaller populations can only survive if they remain connected with these nine larger populations. That means they exchange individuals and genetic material. Therefore the crux of tiger conservation is to ensure the protection of these large populations, make others as large as them and keep the corridors between them intact. This means that any development passing through corridors has to be green and no development should be permitted within the core areas of tiger reserves.” Reply