Orrisa refuses to trust WII tiger count for Similipal - Orders another one

Despite two surveys by credible organisations over as many years pointing out to decline in tiger numbers in Similipal Tiger reserve, state govt of Orrisa refuses to believe the news. After the 2007 tiger census pointed out low tiger density, Chief minister Navin Patnaik himself had questioned the validity of the numbers. Now after another count conducted by WII recently found tiger population to have fallen to just 41, down from almost 100, the chief wildlife officer taking a cue from his boss has questioned the figures again. Similipal has been in news recently due to maoist problems and local mafia along with villagers having taken over the park. In fact chief minister Navin Patnaik himself had asked the centre to deploy CRPF to protect the park from being raided by poaching gangs. Now that a credible nodal body has laid bare the facts, the least state govt can do is get out of its denial mode. Our readers would remember similar denials issued by park directors of Panna in MP doomed the tigers there. One hopes a similar story is not unfolding in Similipal. The centre should push Orrisa govt to sign the tripartite agreement which will put an end to such blatant attempts at cover ups.

Orissa to recount Tigers in Similipal Tiger Reserv

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