Government statistics show that against 16 cases in the previous year, the figures so far have already reached 34. The tiger range States of Uttarakhand, Maharashtra and Karnataka are the most vulnerable.

According to Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan, a series of latest initiatives for modernising tiger protection have been taken that include M-STrIPES (an upgraded holistic new monitoring system) electronic surveillance for more effective vigil of the tiger habitats amongst others.

For the extremist-hit tiger reserves States such as Jharkhand, Odisha and Chhattisgarh special crack teams have been deployed.

The experts, however, questioned on the ultimate efficacy of these special initiatives. The Corbett Tiger Reserve has one of the most modernised systems of tiger monitoring in the country, yet the figures of tiger poaching cases in Uttarakhand is one of the highest. Similarly, the special measures taken in the Naxal-hit tiger reserves also comes under shadow of doubt especially with the fast depleting tiger figures in Palamau in Jharkhand.

She further informed that one-time grant of Rs 50 crores has been provided to National Tiger Conservation Authority for raising Special Tiger Protection Force in 13 sensitive tiger reserves. In all, Rs 93 lakhs each has been granted to the three reserves of Corbett, Ranthambore and Dudhwa which figure in the lot of sensitive reserves way back in 2008-09, but as per Government figures the allocations are yet to be utilised.

Natarajan stressed on anti-poaching measures by focusing on its enforcement mechanism. She pointed out that the CBI has been empowered under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 to apprehend and prosecute wildlife offenders. Further efforts are on to check cross-border poaching.

The country has a bilateral understanding with Nepal on controlling trans-boundary illegal trade in wildlife and conservation, apart from a protocol on tiger conservation with China.

A protocol has also been signed with Bangladesh for conservation of the Royal Bengal Tiger of the Sunderbans. Further, a sub-group on tiger/leopard conservation has been constituted for cooperation with the Russian Federation. A Global Tiger Forum of Tiger Range Countries is also functioning for addressing international issues related to tiger conservation.

The experts, however, pointed to the need of attitudinal change in conservation at the local level. “There is a severe crisis of skilled and trained manpower in the protected areas, to look into some of the serious situations that arise in the reserves resulting in loss of both wildlife and human life,” they said, adding most often such situations are avoidable.