The livestock of villagers living close to the borders of Ranthambore National Park have often become a meal to the roaming tiger of the National Park. In retaliation villagers have avenged the death of their livestock by killing the big cat either by poisoning or setting up a trap and killing it.
About a month ago a male tiger called ST-1 from Sariska National Park also in Rajasthan had killed a buffalo. The villagers took revenge of their loss by smearing the half eaten carcass of the buffalo with poison when the tiger was away.
This vengeful attitude of the villagers is greatly worrying the forest officials. When a villager’s animal is killed by any of the wild animals of a National Park, they are given compensation for the same. At present the compensation rates is Rs. 300 for a goat and Rs. 3000 for a cow or buffalo.
However now to further pacify the villagers over the loss of their livestock, the Rajasthan government is thinking of giving double or even more compensation then the present amount. "We had given such a proposal some time ago. The proposal is under consideration," confirmed H M Bhatia, chief wildlife warden, Rajasthan. The proposal is under the consideration of the state finance department and may soon be approved.
At present Ranthambore forest officials are worried about the fate of a tigress T-13, who has ventured out of the National Park along the route of the Chambal River with her two cubs. The tigress had killed a bull a few days ago. The forest officials settled the matter when they visited the owner of the bull and the village sarpanch, to ensure the provision of compensation for the loss and also asked them not to graze cattle in that area for some time now. However till date the only compensation the owner received was Rs. 5000 from an NGO.
However the fate of T- 13 and her cubs is still in danger as she is still lurking in that area, which is about two kms from human habitation and forest officials are afraid she may possibly add another livestock kill to her victim portfolio. The forest officials are afraid that if this happens, T-13 and her cubs may soon meet the same fate, they meted out to others.
It is with this intention in mind to save the majestic tiger that forest officials are leaving no stone unturned to ensure the tiger’s safety.
"It is high time for the forest department to revise compensation rates for villagers whose livestock is eaten by tigers. The sum can hardly be compared with market rates of animals which is somewhere around 10 times the amount. Also, the process for giving this sum needs to be simplified. Currently, the department takes a very long time to hand over the cheque to the villager," said Rajpal Singh, member, state wildlife board. It is due to this paltry sum that tigers are often poisoned by villagers. However in spite of all the straight forwardness of the situation, there are complications underneath. Villagers who stay within the boundaries of the sanctuaries are allocated compensation for relocation outside the National Parks. But the livestock of the villagers is not allowed to graze within the confines of the sanctuary. If the livestock is killed within the sanctuary area, no compensation is given. Only if a tiger strays out of the National Park and kills the livestock outside the sanctuary area or in the periphery of the forest area, is compensation granted.
This complexity which is defined by boundaries may thus continue to danger the lives of wild animals in Ranthambore and Sariska National Park.
Already Sariska National Park suffers from a haunted past, where it lost all its tigers due to poaching and other reasons. Since the past few years, the state forest department has been trying to introduce tigers in Sariska by relocating a few tigers and tigresses from Ranthambore National Park. Forest officials are hopeful that the transferred animals will breed a new generation and thus populate Sariska with the majestic tigers again.
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