The tiger population in Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) attracted controversy due to varied and dubious data revealed at different times. While the number of tigers was put at 71 as per the latest census, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) had created a flutter by projecting the number at 20, ranging from 17 to 23, in 2008. Interestingly, a census carried out by the Forest Department in 2004 had put the number at 102.

While the State Forest Department uses the pug-mark method for enumeration, WII made use of cameratrap technology to arrive at a scientific conclusion. Sources in the STR said the latest census conducted in January projects the adult tiger population at 60 while the number of cubs is 11. If one goes into the break-up, there are 42 female and 18 male tigers in STR.

If one goes by the Forest Department’s pug mark method of enumeration, this will mean tiger population has witnessed a sharp decline in Similipal from 102 to 71.

When National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) carried out census across India starting 2006 over four phases that continued till 2008, it had made use of different sets of data. The last round saw use of cameras in the tiger reserves. While the total tiger population in Orissa was projected at 45 (in the range of 37 to 53), at Similipal, it was pegged at 20.

It was enough to create a controversy as Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who holds the Forest Department portfolio, announced the State is not happy with the cameratrap technology and would conduct its own census again.

Comparing 2004 to 2009 means the male tiger number has dropped from 28 to 18, while the figure for females has remained constant. The biggest drop has been in the number of cubs — from 31 to 11. STR has not reported tiger poaching in the last few years nor have the Forest Department field staffs spotted natural deaths in such a higher number so as to see a decline of 31.