Unhappy with the latest census that robbed Madhya Pradesh of its ‘tiger state’ status, the state has decided to carry out a fresh ‘sign survey’ in Kanha tiger reserve that has lost several wild cats over the past four years.
The state’s request to re-check the data with the Wildlife Institute of India was rejected, prompting it to announce a fresh count from April 25 to 27.
The 2006 census had put the count at 89, which now stands at 60, a figure the state disputes.
PCCF (Wildlife) H S Pabla said his department will collect data such as scrape and scat marks and other indirect evidence like killing of preys.
For this purpose, camera traps have already been set up in the reserve, Pabla added.
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Tiger-census--MP-govt-orders-fresh-count-in-Kanha/778035/
We have seen this sort of denial in Simlipal and Panna. The fall in tiger numbers in Kanha is real, and can be confirmed also by visitor sightings. There were more tigers in the meadows 5 years ago than they are now. Also, there have been a lot more leopard sightings in the open than usual - another clear sign that fewer tigers are prowling the reserve.
ReplyDeleteOn the plus side, the majority of the losses probably occurred during the 2006-2009 period. The current management seems to have stemmed the losses. Luckily, Kanha had a large enough tiger population so it was not completely wiped out like Panna.
Personally, I happen to doubt the results of the census from Bandhavgarh, too. Most of its tigers are well known, they even have names; the official number of 59 tigers seems exaggerated. Perhaps they counted the tigers in the core zone and then assumed the same density for the entire remaining forest area?
Denial will not help. The State should instead concentrate on financing the tiger protection forces, village relocation and corridor protection.