Dwindling tiger numbers, a cause for concern at Rajaji

The Pioneer , Sunday, July 13, 2008
Correspondent : Prithviraj Singh
Even as Rajaji National Park celebrates its silver jubilee, tiger population in this wildlife habitat has been dwindling steeply in the last 7-8 years, for reasons yet to be discovered, feel the Rajaji National Park authorities.

Sources in the department say that western flank of the park has lost almost all its big cats in these years while eastern part has only 5-6 tigers. However, the State has reason to cheer as the population of Asian Elephants is on the rise in the Park.

Rajaji National Park is one of the precious jewels in the crown of Uttarakhand's wildlife habitation forming a sizeable portion of the transition zone between Himalayan Shivalik and Indo-Gangetic Plain. Park had a substantial strength of big cats nearly a decade ago specially in the western part but that is dwindled to almost zero for no specific reasons, however, poaching could be one of them.

"It cannot solely be attributed to poaching as tigers in this part of the park also migrate owing to the human population pressure from fringe villages particularly Ramgarh range. It is also difficult to spot them frequentlydue to the vast size of the park," said recently appointed director SS Rasaili.

He informed that the western flank had almost 20 tigers 7-8 years back but the number had since gone down to one or two.

"We cannot blame anyone for the decreasing numbers of tigers as my predecessors were efficient and competent officials but we will have to examine and find all relevant causes for the decreasing tiger population in this part of the park," said the director.

According to Rasaili, the eastern part of the park currently houses almost 10-12 tigers. When asked that if migration of tigers is the only cause for their thinning strength in western flank of the park then their total number must remain that same a senior officer, on condition of anonymity, informed that poaching as the sole reason cannot be fully ruled out. However, the department is on constant watch to counter poaching incidents in the park.

According to wildlife chief S Chandola, tiger migration is the basic cause of their reducing population in the western side of the park. This happens mainly due to human pressure from Gujjar, Gothia and Tongiya tribal population in this sector.

"Now that Government has speeded up its rehabilitation programme for the tribals living in this area we hope to bring the tigers back to the western portion of the park," said Chandola.

According to the wildlife chief, tigers prefer to remain in undisturbed space hence they migrate to other parts of the park.

Meanwhile, the State has reason to cheer for the department sources say that Asiatic tusker population is rising in Rajaji Park.

According to range level sources, several juvenile elephants were spotted recently going towards Rampur range along with their elders. According to a range warden, the elephant population may have crossed 500 mark in Rajajji Park.

 
SOURCE : The Pioneer, Wednesday, 13 August 2008
 


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