Previous census estimated tiger count

in Bandipur to be 80

MYSORE: After the tiger count and more than two years of suspense, the final results of the tiger census conducted at Bandipur and Nagarahole could be released “anytime now”.

The census was conducted as part of the nation-wide exercise to account for the number of tigers following the disaster at Sariska, where the entire tiger population was wiped out due to poaching.

A section of the staff here are jittery over the latest outcome as the earlier tiger census at Bandipur and Nagarahole — as also at other national parks across the country — was based on the disputed pug mark counting methods whose authenticity was questioned. Based on the previous census, the number of tigers in Bandipur was estimated to be around 80, while the total number of tigers in both Bandipur and Nagarahole put together was reckoned to be in the range of 120 to 140. But the entire methodology was discredited following the tragedy at Sariska and other national parks, where subsequent studies proved that the tiger figures had been manipulated to project a rosy picture. In reality the tiger numbers continued to slide, mainly due to poaching and habitat degradation.

Dduring the latest census, the Centre decided to incorporate modern techniques developed by wildlife biologists and scientists to provide a reliable estimate of the endangered species, whose dwindling numbers had resulted in an outcry.

Though the pug-mark counting method was not dumped, the results have been collated with prey density estimation figures as also camera-trapping and pellet count methods to secure an authentic data of the number of tigers whose figures had become highly contentious with the officials swearing by the pug-mark method, while the field biologists and NGOs questioned its authenticity.

Sources, citing authorities, claimed that there was good news in the offing for Bandipur and Nagarahole national parks as the tiger figures were supposed to be in a healthy range. Quoting officials from the WII, they said the figures for tigers at Bandipur were impressive and this, it was pointed out, was in conformity with the results of improvised technologies that were used by wildlife biologists to ascertain the tiger density.

A study conducted by the WII some time ago came up with a rich density of tigers — 25 of them in a 120 sq km radius. Hence the authorities are optimistic that the tiger count in Bandipur and Nagaraholecould indeed be high.

The census figures obtained from the Forest Department indicate that there were only 11 tigers in 1972 when Project Tiger was launched. This figure went up to 26 in 1976 and from then on, the official figures showed an increase with each passing year and was pegged at 80 in the subsequent census.