Kota: The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)'s nod for shifting of three tigers from Ranthambore National Park to Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve (MHTR) has made wildlife activists of Hadauti region happy as they foresee multi-dimensional growth in the region with the habitation of tiger. NTCA on Friday, in a meeting held in New Delhi approved for the reintroduction of tiger into MHTR by December this year.
A meeting of technical committee of NTCA was held in New Delhi where it was in principle approved that tiger may be reintroduced to Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve by December 2017, told Deputy Conservator of Forest (DCF), MHTR SR Yadav. In the first phase, three tigers, two female and one male are proposed to be shifted most probably from Ranthambore National Park (RNP) to MHTR, he said adding earlier the tiger was scheduled to be shifted to the reserve by December 2018 but following the directions by state government, the proposal was resent to shift the tiger to MHTR by December 2017 following which the technical committee of NTCA approved the proposal in the meeting on Friday and granted the permission to the reintroduction of tiger to MHTR.
"Preparations for tiger habitation in MHTR are in order, prey base is ready; we have adopted protection measures and augmentation of herbivores for the tiger habitation in MHTR," DCF said and added at least 300 Cheetals have been augmented in MHTR from Jodhpur and the process is still underway.
The wild life activists in Hadauti region are happy with the decision of NTCA to reintroduce tigers in MHTR. "It is great news as it will boost tourism in Hadauti region," said Vijay Kumar Salwan, a wildlife activist and retired IFS from Kota. The habitation of tiger in MHTR more depends on Chambal River, he said adding a great amount of work still needs to be done for the healthy tiger habitation.
The shifting of tiger in MHTR would boost tourism and help generate employment in Hadauti region, said BrajeshVijayvergya, another wildlife and water activist in Kota. Now, the tourists visiting Kota would set schedule for a few days stay and visit MHTR rather than passing through the city in a day, he said. "Protection is the key condition for the survival of tiger in MHTR and the forest department should adopt advanced technology for the tiger habitation in MHTR," Vijayvergya said. The tiger habitation in MHTR would also help conserve eco system as tiger is a major conservator of forest, he added.
Stretched over an area of 759 sq. km including 417 sq. km core area and 342 buffer zone, the MHTR covers four districts namely Kota, Bundi, Chittor and Jhalawar. The Mukundra Hills area was in 2013 declared and notified as Tiger Reserve but was approved for tiger habitation in around five years on September 1 this year.
