Four more tiger reserves to come up in the country
To focus attention on the depleting tiger population, the Union Environment and Forests Ministry has decided to create four new tiger reserves and upgrade one National Park as a separate reserve. With these additions, the number of tiger reserves will go up to 33.The National Tiger Conservation Authority earlier this week approved the proposals "in principle."
The new reserves will be created at the Sunabeda Tiger Reserve in Orissa, the Shahyadri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra, the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve in Uttar Pradesh and the Ratapani Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh. All the four States had submitted proposals to the Ministry. The Authority also approved the proposal from Karnataka to treat the Nagarahole National Park as a separate reserve which, as of now is part of the Bandipur Tiger Reserve.
Taking note of the recent all-India tiger estimation findings that show a major decline in the number of big cats, and protection strategy in tiger reserves, the Authority approved other proposals, including funding for research and monitoring through the Wildlife Institute of India.
Latest figures
The latest tiger census figures have shown a 50 per cent decline in the number of tigers in the past five years from 3,642 to 1,411. However, the census could not be conducted in two tiger reserves affected by naxalite activities. The other issues discussed at the meeting were contractual arrangement for the NTCA staff, radio telemetry monitoring of tigers, awareness programme, support to non-governmental organisations with MoU for capacity building, research and tiger estimation and tiger reintroduction proposals.
The Hindu, May 24, 2008
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