He also suggested several measures to National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to check man-animal conflicts in the state.

According to Singh, who is also member NTCA and National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), “At this critical juncture when the tiger is facing danger, it’s important to understand the needs of tiger populated states for better management.”

He said, “Coordination between state and centre is not as rapid and smooth as it should be. if the tiger is to be saved in CTR, which has the largest number of free roaming tigers, then the union government has to pay more heed and provide more funds, assistance and equipment that is required for its survival.

He mentioned that apart from coordination, the authorities should understand the importance of infrastructure and therefore, should release funds for the same.

He said that equipment, night viewing devices and other surveillance appliances as remote controlled cameras should be provided by NTCA for smooth and effective working and better conservation strategies.

Mentioning the paucity of manpower in Kalagarh forest division, one of the principle habitats for tigers, he said that staff paucity contributes to its vulnerability.

“Staff paucity, is a grave reality and perhaps the most important aspect of the tiger reserves vulnerability. This is even more so in the Kalagarh tiger division. Immediate measures are required to fill vacancies and recruit more staff,” Singh added.

He said that apart from patrolling, it’s important for tiger reserves like CTR maintain intelligence team.

He added that the team would not only help in keeping tab over poaching activities in and around reserve but would also prove a strong tool in exposing animal part trading.

He stated that not only forest department, but also government of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh should have coordination to check animal’s parts smugglers.

Singh has made several suggestions to NTCA for better management and conservation plans in Uttarakhand.

Forest Dept Probes into tiger Deaths

The four consecutive tiger deaths in just one week has led the forest department to begin a secret inquiry into the two recent feline deaths. The inquiry was initiated to unravel if these tigers were poached or whether they died naturally.

Well-placed sources in the wildlife division of the state forest department said that the department had started a secret inquiry into the deaths of two tiger cubs that died on December 13 in Terai east forest division.

A senior forest official and wildlife expert said that a team of Special Operation Group was assigned the task to get to the bottom of the situation.

When asked if the department suspected poaching in the two tiger deaths, the officials refused to accept it but said that postmortem report would lead to a proper conclusion.

“We are waiting for the postmortem report. As for now we rule out the foul play but tiger deaths are indeed a matter of concern for us,” said Chief Conservator, Kumoun Paramjeet Singh.

The principal chief conservator of forest (PCCF) Doctor R.B.S. Rawat expressed his unhappiness over the tiger deaths that too within a short span of time and in the same region. The forest authorities had apparently decided to keep the secret investigation plan under wraps. Interestingly the firest incident of tiger death was reported on December 13 at Kilpura Range of Terai forest division when two cubs were found dead.

The second death took place immediately the next morning when a newborn female tiger cub was discovered dead at Dhela range of Corbett again in Terai region. Fourth tiger death took place on December 17 in Diachouri Ragne of Ramnagar Forest Division.