By U. SUDHAKAR REDDY
Hyderabad
The latest census showing AP as having just 95 tigers, against 195 in the previous exercise, has come as a shock for the forest department. The department which boasted that the tiger population had increased particularly in the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve is now blaming the decreasing numbers on wrong technique.
The 2008 tiger census released by the National Tiger Conservation Authority on Tuesday put the number of tigers in the state at 95.
It estimated that there were on average 53 tigers in the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve, the largest in the country, and adjoining forests in Kurnool, Prakasam, Kadapa, Mahabubnagar and Guntur districts.
It estimated that in Adilabad the tiger population was 19 with a range of 17 to 34. In the Karminagar-WarangalKhamamam belt, the tigers were estimated at 12 with a range from 10 to 14. In the Khammam(east)-East Godavari-Visakhapatnam belt, there were an estimated 11 tigers ranging form 9 to 13 tigers.
An official of the reserve said, "As per our calculation there are 70 tigers in the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam reserve and 30 in Gundla Brahmeswara." "The camera traps sampling (adopted by the census) is incorrect," the official said.
The chief wild life warden, Mr Hitesh Malhotra, told this newspaper, "They assessed the number of tigers in a different way. They took three to four parameters for computation including camera traps, pug marks, faecal matter and other evidences."
"Previously they used to take vegetation and pug marks," he said.
"If 100-odd tigers have been wiped out or poached since the last census, it is not possible that we will not come to know of it." he said.
"Except in one or two cases there are no reports (of poaching). This has something to do with the method," he said. "Camera traps were set up in limited areas particularly close to the Srisailam-Dornala road in Nallamala where there is more disturbance," he pointed out.
Another official said that the tiger numbers were cooked up earlier. "The figures now show an increase in tiger numbers due to good protection measures."
The Tiger Conservation Authority suggested that the prey based in Srisailam be increased. It said the southeastern ghats be depopulated. It suggested that northern tiger populations be interconnected by prey base restoration
The latest census showing AP as having just 95 tigers, against 195 in the previous exercise, has come as a shock for the forest department. The department which boasted that the tiger population had increased particularly in the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve is now blaming the decreasing numbers on wrong technique.
The 2008 tiger census released by the National Tiger Conservation Authority on Tuesday put the number of tigers in the state at 95.
It estimated that there were on average 53 tigers in the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve, the largest in the country, and adjoining forests in Kurnool, Prakasam, Kadapa, Mahabubnagar and Guntur districts.
It estimated that in Adilabad the tiger population was 19 with a range of 17 to 34. In the Karminagar-WarangalKhamamam belt, the tigers were estimated at 12 with a range from 10 to 14. In the Khammam(east)-East Godavari-Visakhapatnam belt, there were an estimated 11 tigers ranging form 9 to 13 tigers.
An official of the reserve said, "As per our calculation there are 70 tigers in the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam reserve and 30 in Gundla Brahmeswara." "The camera traps sampling (adopted by the census) is incorrect," the official said.
The chief wild life warden, Mr Hitesh Malhotra, told this newspaper, "They assessed the number of tigers in a different way. They took three to four parameters for computation including camera traps, pug marks, faecal matter and other evidences."
"Previously they used to take vegetation and pug marks," he said.
"If 100-odd tigers have been wiped out or poached since the last census, it is not possible that we will not come to know of it." he said.
"Except in one or two cases there are no reports (of poaching). This has something to do with the method," he said. "Camera traps were set up in limited areas particularly close to the Srisailam-Dornala road in Nallamala where there is more disturbance," he pointed out.
Another official said that the tiger numbers were cooked up earlier. "The figures now show an increase in tiger numbers due to good protection measures."
The Tiger Conservation Authority suggested that the prey based in Srisailam be increased. It said the southeastern ghats be depopulated. It suggested that northern tiger populations be interconnected by prey base restoration
(Published in Deccan Chronicle on Febraury 14 2008)
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