HYDERABAD: There was a dispute over the number of tigers at the Nagarjuna-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR) in the 2010 tiger census. While the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) put the tiger population at the reserve between 53 and 66, K Tulsi Rao, head, biodiversity research, Project Tiger, Srisailam, claimed that the number of cats in NSTR would be around 100.
While agreeing that there was a decline in the number of tigers in the state due to poaching and shrinking of their habitat, Tulsi attributed the rise in tiger population in NSTR to ertain measures introduced by his department.
The NTCA has given a bleak picture of the tiger population in the state. It said that AP and Madhya Pradesh were the only states in the country that have shown decline in tiger population. While giving no figures for the East and West Godavari districts, Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram the census claimed that there were only five tigers in the districts of Adilabad, Warangal, Karimnagar and Khammam.
According to forest department officials, the tiger population rose from 102 in 2008 to 106 in 2009.
The figures released by the forest department in 2009 had put the number of tigers in NSTR at 72 as against 65 in 2008. The remaining 24 tigers were spread over other sanctuaries.
Commenting on the present situation Rao said, "At NSTR we have introduced special measures. Chenchus were roped in to act as tiger trackers. They are also protecting them."
Rao, who is also the deputy conservator of forest, put the number of tigers in NSTR at 100, including cubs. "We have captured 25-30 cubs on camera, claimed Rao.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Forest-official-disputes-tiger-census-figures/articleshow/7811037.cms
I don't believe the population of tigers at NSTR would be 100 r 102 its bad that AP has the largest forest area that is 3568 which is the biggest of all states in INDIA and has less population of tigers
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