The results of the all-India tiger census that were released last month indicated an increase in the number of striped cats from 1,411 to 1,706. Karnataka was specifically mentioned as a State where the tiger population was doing well.

However, D. Rajkumar of Wildlife Conservation Foundation, Mysore, who was one of the invigilation officers, alleged that some of the data had deficiencies and was inaccurate. He added that the authorities did not take cognisance of his observations.

Mr. Rajkumar had a team of volunteers under him during the tiger enumeration and data collection exercise conducted in January 2010 at Bandipur.

He said many of the volunteers arrived on the day of the enumeration and had no training at all. Mr. Rajkumar said that even those who were “trained” had only sat through a one-day programme that could at best be described as an introduction. Many of them had practically no field experience.

Mr. Rajkumar suspected that data from at least 12 of the 102 line transects at Bandipur had deficiencies and was inaccurate. He pointed out that data was not collected during census days. He said that though he sent his observations to the Field Director, Project Tiger, it had been ignored.

Mr. Rajkumar also visited 22 anti-poaching camps where some of the volunteers were present. There was confusion while filling in the data on the data sheet as many of them were not trained. He said some of them had scribbled their observations on a rough sheet and were seen making entries on the data sheet at the camp. The correct method is to make the entries directly on the data sheet to avoid fudging or manipulation at a later stage.

Mr. Rajkumar said the robustness of the data and the increase in the number of tigers at Bandipur could be questioned.

Overhaul sought

Calling for an overhaul of the training procedure, he suggested that it should be held at least for 15 days and the volunteers be subjected to field trials and dry runs, apart from being screened so as to weed out non-serious candidates.

“I am getting similar feedback from Nilgiri Wildlife Association, Ooty, and hence am apprehensive about the tiger figures being put out by the authorities,” Mr. Rajkumar said.

He hoped the Forest Department would take note and rectify the defects in data collection to ensure accurate figures in future.

The forests in Karnataka comprising Bandipur-Nagarahole-BRT Sanctuary have emerged as prime tiger habitats of the country. These forests are contiguous with Mudumalai in Tamil Nadu and Wayanad in Kerala and constitute the single largest tiger landscape in India.

‘Baseless allegations'

When contacted, Field Director Project Tiger, Bandipur, B.G. Hosmath, dismissed the allegations as baseless and erroneous.

He denied any knowledge of the invigilator's report and said the volunteers were given training as per the protocols established by the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun.