The national tiger reserve which is situated in this backward district has been affected by the activities of the Maoists. And now nobody knows whether there are any tigers left in the reserve.
Nationwide drive
Established in 1973 and spread across 1,014 sq.km., the reserve had 22 tigers. In spite of a nationwide drive to conserve tigers, the big cat's population in this district has been dwindling. The 2007 census put the Palamu tiger population at 17. This has further reduced to 13, according to a forest guard. However the actual figures are not known as the Maoist presence impeded survey.
Increased naxal activities are also affecting routine forest management. A senior official says more than 70 per cent of the reserve remains unprotected as the officials and staff have come under attack from the Maoists.
According to him, in May 1999 a ranger was abducted and robbed, in August 2003 a forest tracker was killed and in September 2004 a forester and driver were killed in a landmine blast. Last year the rebels killed a forest ranger and robbed him. A forest guard says: “Earlier the reserve used to be open till late at night but as the animal's eyes were being affected by the torch used by the guide to point at the animals, we close the reserve early.”
Water scarcity
Scarcity of water is also affecting the reserve. It is one of the poorest districts in India and classified by the State government as “food insecure.”
Keywords: Palamu tiger reserve, naxal threat
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