Three tiger cubs go 'missing' in Panna forest

Three tiger cubs, born to a translocated tigress in May, have gone "missing" in the Panna Tiger Reserve, sending alarm bells ringing for forest officials in Madhya Pradesh.

The birth of the cubs was seen as a major boost to efforts to revive tiger population as it was the first for any translocated tigress.

"Three out of the four cubs born to a translocated tigress in May have not been spotted for last couple of days in Panna," state principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife) HS Pabla told PTI today.

He said that hectic efforts were on to trace the cubs, adding that it was not an easy task to find these small striped cubs given the grass in the forest.

"Our teams are searching for the cubs in Panna which is spread over an area of 543 sq kms in twin districts of Panna and Chhatarpur in eastern Madhya Pradesh," Pabla added.

However, he did not rule out the possibility of the cubs being dead, given their high mortality rate.

Some time back, a tiger had attacked the tigress that gave birth to the four cubs. The tigress still has bruises, he said.

The tiger often kills the cubs to mate with tigress, a forest official said.

Panna tiger reserve had become devoid of the endangered animal last year and following this, two tigresses, one from Bandhavgarh and another from Kanha Tiger Reserve were translocated in it on March 6 and March 9, last year.

Besides, a tiger from Pench tiger reserve was put in the wild of Panna on November 14 last year. The tigress brought from Kanha had given birth to four cubs in May.

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_three-tiger-cubs-go-missing-in-panna-forest_1437019

Deoria to find a place in tiger map

The Deoria range of Pilibhit district may soon be included in the Critical Habitat Zone for tiger.

State forest department officials said the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has asked them to prepare a long-term plan for the conservation of the big cat and also, prepare a map of the area connecting it with the critical tiger habitat of Dudhwa in Lakhimpur Kheri and Katarniya Ghat in Bahraich.

Officials said the recent incidents of man-animal conflict reported from the area have confirms the presence of tigers and a comprehensive plan is needed to check poaching and manage the tiger population.

The affected villages will be included in the joint forest management (JFM) programme to stop villagers from going deep inside the forest and to provide them with a livelihood. The range, with an area of 96.6 square kilometres, came to limelight after eight incidents of tiger attack over the last four-and-a-half months.

The Divisional Forest Officer, Pilibhit, VK Singh, said: “The NTCA officials, including their secretary Rajesh Gopal, have been visiting the area since the forest department decided to catch three tigers who have been killing people. They have closely observed the area for the presence of tigers and have given us a green signal to prepare a long-term plan for the area.”

After consultation with experts from Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), the NTCA has also asked the state government to prepare a proposal for including the range in the critical tiger habitat zone. “This will help us make a strategy to not just conserve the animal but also keep a check on poaching incidents,” said Singh.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Deoria-to-find-a-place-in-tiger-map/680913/