NEW DELHI, APRIL 11: A day before the Project Tiger Steering Committee meets, the Environment and Forest Ministry today tried to explain the tiger deaths in Sariska and Indravati tiger reserves while maintaining that the Centre only has an ‘‘advisory role’’ in the running of the reserves. Its take on the dwindling number of tigers: poaching is the ‘‘fundamental and primary reason’’.
But the ministry refused to acknowledge that there is an upward trend in poaching. But the CBI representative at the conference B.K. Sharma said: ‘‘We did come across instances of poaching as the fundamental and primary reason for disappearance of tigers in Sariska.’’ ‘‘Poaching is a concern though the data does not show any trend as to whether it is on decline or increasing,’’ Environment and Forest Minister A. Raja said. Project Tiger director Rajesh Gopal added: ‘‘There has been no major trend or increase in poaching in the recent past as reported by the press.’’
At Indravati, the blame was fixed on insurgency and at Sariska, on the state governments since 1998. ‘‘We provide technical guidance and ensure coordination,’’ said Gopal during a presentation titled Tiger Conservation — Myths, Facts and Issues. ‘‘This country has a federal set-up. Management of forests and wildlife primarily is the responsibility of the states concerned. Unless there is cooperation from the state government, the role of the Central government becomes grey,’’ Raja said.
‘‘What is happening in Sariska is not an overnight problem. I am not blaming the Vasundhara Raje government. Sightings gave been going down since 1998,’’ Raja said, responding to a question on whether the Raje government is at fault. The ministry, however, finally accepted that Sariska is a ‘‘problem reserve’’, as evaluated by the CBI and State Wildlife Department as well. ‘‘Tiger sighting frequency by staff went down since 1998 but the tiger estimation figures don’t show such a trend. There is something wrong with the estimation,’’ said Gopal. The ministry did not release the report of the special investigation team set up to look into the Sariska deaths; nor did it say if there were any tigers left in the reserve.
In Panna, Bandhavgarh and Pench, however, the director said there was no problem.
Several other issues were highlighted, including lack of and ageing field staff, amenities, old vehicles and equipment. On the future course of action, he announced the proposal for a National Wildlife Crime Bureau. A tiger population census is scheduled for November 2005 where international and national experts will monitor and a refined methodology will be used, Gopal said.
