‘Rajaji National Park should be made a tiger park'

SUNDAY, 11 DECEMBER 2011 22:45 PARITOSH KIMOTHI | DEHRADUN HITS: 105 The Rajaji National Park should be made a tiger park considering the rising big cat population and the fact that a thriving prey base and healthy environment makes it an ideal habitat for both predators and herbivores. The World Bank programme director for the Global Tiger Initiative (GTI), Keshav Varma said this while talking to The Pioneer on the sidelines of the international conference on eco-engineering for connecting wildlife corridors. Though the Corbett National Park is famous for its high density of tiger population, the population of big cats has also been rising in Rajaji which is known for elephants. According to Varma, the tiger population in Rajaji has increased from about 3.2 per 100 sq km to 6 per 100 sq km. In addition to tigers, there are more than 200 leopards in this national park which is due to the rich prey base here. “There are 72 ungulate species per sq km in Rajaji which can sustain a healthy population of predators. The tiger is also a politically important animal in India so it is easier to elicit focus and efforts for tiger conservation, which in turn will benefit all wildlife. The biotic pressure faced here will increase further in the future considering which it is important to make Rajaji a tiger park”, stressed Varma. He further said that the GTI could talk to the National Tiger Conservation Authority in this regard and also assist in facilitation of capacity building and training if the national park is made a tiger park. Focus on this issue will also facilitate the movement of tigers and elephants between Corbett and Rajaji, he added. http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/dehradun/27105-rajaji-national-park-should-be-made-a-tiger-park.html