To keep the tiger gene pool alive, the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) today proposed establishing corridors between tiger reserves in the country.

The steering committee of Project Tiger, which met today after a gap of two-an-a-half years in the backdrop disturbing reports on tiger poaching in Sariska and other reserves, proposed establishing connectivity between tiger reserves to encourage cross-breeding and check the “island effect” that resulted in in-breeding and degeneration of the species.

Officials figures on tiger poaching say that between 1999 and 2003, as many as 114 to 122 tigers were poached and 59 to 62 died of natural causes. Recognising that tiger poaching was an important factor, the ministry decided to tell state governments to deploy Home Guards, besides other alternatives, to save tigers in reserves.

However, the future of Sariska will be decided after the Wildlife Institute of India submits its final report. The committee also decided to validate and supervise state-wise primary data collection to arrive at a true picture to establish tiger density using traditional pug mark technology, besides the refined pug mark and camera-trap technology.