Tiger, tiger, vanishing
It is official. There are only 1,411 tigers and their numbers are falling. With the threatened species fighting a losing battle against ruthless poaching and
shrinking forests, conservationists are demanding that an emergency be declared
to save the national animal, reports Vibha Sharma
Indian forest workers recently released a rescued tigress into the Sundarikati river in the Sunderbans. The pregnant tigress, which strayed nearly 30 km from deep inside the Sunderbans, was rescued by the forest workers after being stoned and badly beaten by villagers.
— Photo by AFP
month the Centre
released what has been termed as the most comprehensive,
scientific and accurate report on the status of tigers in India.
This, perhaps, is the only redeeming feature of the much-awaited
report titled "Status of Tigers, Co-predators and Prey in
India" that otherwise spelled doom and confirmed the worst
fears of tiger conservationists.
prepared by the Dehra Dun-based Wildlife Institute of India and
the National Tiger Conservation Authority took two years of
extensive data collection. It has been commended by a majority
of tiger scientists for arriving at a number through a
comprehensive documentation of big cats, their habitat and
Arrived at by
using different methodologies and techniques, the latest count
indicates how tiger numbers had been grossly misinterpreted in
the past to suit the interests of those supposed to be looking
after the welfare of the national animal.
report has been co-authored by Qamar Qureshi and Y.V Jhala of
the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and Rajesh Gopal from the
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) along with a
research team that included 67 members. Open to scrutiny at all
stages of data collection, this is the most scientific report
that puts in place a transparent system that can be traced back
to the beat level, says Qureshi.
that where tigers are doing well, forests are also doing well.
The report identifies areas where tigers are decreasing and why.
Besides the report is not just about tigers and co-predators
like leopards and wild dogs but it also looks at the number and
quality of prey like sambhar, cheetal and blue bulls. Tigers do
respond well to quality and number of prey," he explains.
The report also
monitors source population or breeding units and other vital
issues like spacing and connectivity. Executive Director of the
Wildlife Protection Society of India Belinda Wright calls the
report the most scientifically robust estimation ever carried
out on the status of tigers in India.
is echoed by eminent tiger scientist Valmik Thapar. "At
least, now we have an official figure that shows that tiger is
in deep crisis in India," he says.
spells it all, state-wise, area-wise, dividing tiger habitat
into regions like Shivalik-Gangetic flood plains, Central Indian
landscape and Eastern Ghats, Western Ghats complex,
North-eastern Hills and Brahmaputra Flood plains and the
Due to the
Naxalite problem, Jharkhand and the Indravati reserve in
Chhattisgarh have not been covered, while the census in the
Sunderbans is not yet complete. But the report does point out
that Naxalism, subsistence poaching and fragmentation of forests
have worked against big cats in areas that had the capability of
holding larger numbers.
As far as
figures go, the bottomline is that the number of tigers is at a
sinking low of 1,411. The positive is, a candid admission by the
Central Government that there is a problem.
distressingly low but with clear-cut population and habitat data
now available hope has emerged that a strategic and effective
way could be worked out to ensure that tiger populations recover
and India is able to protect its national animal. The report has
also invited criticism from certain states which have expressed
reservations about the efficacy of the camera-trap method used
to count the numbers. They are not willing to accept the report
in its totality, and have questioned the figures released by the
it is seen, the WII report is unambiguous that the tiger — the
most charismatic, the most exciting wildlife species on earth
— is in danger in India and fighting a tough battle to
survive. The alarm bells that sounded when the infamous Sariska
incident came to light some three years ago are now again
ringing loud and clear.
From 40,000 in
1900 to an all-time low of 1,411 in 2007, this is an emergency.
Scientists say that in a scenario unlike any before, there could
be, maybe 1657 big cats, which would still be lower than the
1800 tigers estimated in the first census in 1960. In any case
the current figures are definitely a climb down from 2002 when
tiger population was 3,642. Simple arithmetic shows that India
has lost more than 2000 tigers to three basic reasons: incessant
and ruthless poaching, loss of habitat and pressure of people.
The report also
exposes that the figure of 3,642 in 2002 was fudged to cover up
the failure of the government to protect the tiger. Maybe data
was continuously being fudged even as tiger numbers kept
dwindling. "Tigers have been continuously falling prey to
poachers," Belinda says.
the report, the only safe places where healthy population of big
cats still exists are Corbett in Uttarakhand, Kaziranga in Assam
and other habitats in Brahmaputra, besides Bandipur, Nagarhole,
Madurai and Wyanand tiger reserves in the South, Kanha,
Bandhavgarh in Madhya Pradesh and some parts of the North-East
where tigers had a chance to breed and grow. This signifies that
surveillance and good quality habitat and prey does work well
for the magnificent predator.
like Corbett Tiger Reserve that recorded the highest tiger
density as compared to other habitats show that if safe zones
are created with inviolate core areas surrounded by a buffer,
the tiger can survive. Corbett has 164 tigers in 1524 sq-km.
Despite limited space, it appears to be doing well in comparison
to some larger reserves.
are 178 tigers in Uttarakhand, 109 in UP, 10 in Bihar, 95 in
Andhra Pradesh, 26 in Chhatisgarh, 300 in Madhya Pradesh, 103 in
Maharashtra, 45 in Orissa, 32 in Rajasthan, 290 in Karnataka, 46
in Kerala and 76 in Tamil Nadu.
north-eastern states, population estimates are based on possible
density of tiger-occupied landscape in the area. They have not
been assessed by double sampling. According to these estimates,
there are 70 tigers in Assam, 14 in Arunachal Pradesh, six
in Mizoram and 10 in northern West Bengal.
have preferred to shut their eyes to the existing problem and
questioned the latest official figures. During a meeting of
senior forest and wildlife officials called by the Ministry of
Environment and Forests in the Capital, wildlife wardens from
states like Orissa, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh questioned the
efficacy of the camera-trap method used in the latest
census. The response of the state governments forced Thapar to
declare that any state that rejects the report is, in fact,
rejecting the future of the tiger. "States rejecting the
government figures just means that they are digging more graves
for the tiger. For Simlipal (in Orissa), the Centre’s figures
are 20. The state government claims there are 100 tigers. They
can continue sitting with their figures and let whatever tigers
are left to also die," says a disturbed Thapar.
situation is extremely grim and it is time India declares an
emergency for the tiger, The Prime Minister chairs the most
important decision-making body, the National Board of Wildlife.
He should call an emergency meeting of the board. He should ask
the chief ministers to put solutions on board within the next
two months. This ego problem between states and the Centre needs
to be addressed immediately. The data is already two years’
old and if we do not act now, we will slip further. The Prime
Minister should create a think tank of those who have worked
with tigers all their lives. Not a body like the Tiger Task
Force, where three of the members have no experience of working
with the tiger," he adds. Belinda agrees. "If Orissa
or any other state government does not accept the report they
are living in a fool’s paradise".
As far as the
WII is concerned, there is no reason why states should not
accept the numbers. Defending the methodology, Qureshi says that
the new system is based on a multivariate approach that has
helped converge evidence for data assessment. "The methods
are all scientifically valid, well tested and holistic in
nature. They address the real-time monitoring of habitat quality
and prey and provide tools for conservation planning at
landscape level. There is no reason why anyone should reject the
methodology," he says.
emerged when the much-awaited Wildlife Crime Control Bureau to
deal with illegal trade finally started functioning this
January. The Ministry of Environment and Forests says that the
Bureau, with four regional offices at New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai
and Chennai and three sub-regional offices, was fully
Set up at the
behest of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to develop
infrastructure and build capacity for scientific and
professional investigation into wildlife crimes, the Bureau will
have two joint directors, one from the IFS and another from the
IPS rank, and will be assisted by regional directors. Inspectors
and constables will also be sent on deputation from customs and
But this set-up
has not found favour with former Director of Project Tiger P.K.
Sen. "The offices will be in Delhi while tigers are being
killed in jungles," he says, terming the Bureau
"bogus, a complete eyewash".
with wildlife crimes you require a specialised force. You are
not dealing with common thieves or smugglers that can be tackled
by officials from the CBI, IB or Customs. Here you are trying to
combat people from within your country who are poaching and
trading in tiger parts because they are being abetted by those
living outside the country. Their operations are based on
economics of demand and supply. And to deal with situations like
these, you need a specialised force on the lines of the Railway
Protection Force or the CISF," he adds.
have been bearing the brunt of growth and the country has
already lost 728 sq-km of forests to dam construction and
tsunami. Wildlife scientists fear that the depleting Indian
forests may face further destruction due to recent rights given
to tribals and dwellers. And any further loss of forests could
spell more bad news for the country’s wildlife. It was a good
start to the new year for lakhs of tribals living in wilderness
in the country with the government finally notifying the
much-awaited Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forests
Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights Act), 2006, almost a year
after it was passed by Parliament.
The Act aims to
provide forest rights to STs and other people, living and
depending on forests for their livelihood for three generations.
Some of major rights recognised under the Act include forestland
up to four hectares, right to collect, use and dispose off minor
produce and traditional rights like grazing inside forests. The
very same day the PMO issued a list of core notified tiger
reserves that would be out of bounds for human beings, bringing
a sigh of relief from wildlife conservationists. It stated that
as many as 11 tiger range states had been identified as critical
big cat habitats.
notification said that an area of around 31, 940 sq km of tiger
reserves would be completely out of bounds to support a viable
population of wild tigers in the country.
lobby alleges that the Act has been much diluted, but for
wildlife activists the PMO notification came as a big relief.
They said this would initiate a
process of creating inviolate areas for tiger conservation in
areas where forest rights were likely to be modified or holders
of forest right resettled. But fears continue to remain that
once rights are given, the already falling forest cover would be
reduced further and wildlife would suffer. After all there is a
direct correlation between good forests and good wildlife.
Centre says it is doing all it can by providing enhanced
funds and support to the states. There is a huge budget to
resettle people from core tiger areas. This will help
decrease the man-animal conflict and create inviolate
zones for the big cats. The compensation for
rehabilitation has been increased from Rs 1 lakh per
family to Rs 10 lakh per family.
to the Centre, establishing corridors between tiger
habitats to create free movement zones and improving the
gene pool is another step that will help to overcome the
crisis. The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau is finally in
place. Locals and ex-Army men are also being recruited as
forest guards to step up the vigilance.
Valmik Thapar, however,
says these measures may not be adequate. What the tiger
needs to fight the battle is a task force to flush out
poachers and timber mafia from forests. "What we need
is a dedicated anti-poaching force. Every country that
wants to protect its natural wealth has one. We also need
to introduce reforms in the Indian Forest Service and
create a branch called the Indian Wildlife Service."