CHENNAI: The Forest Department has sounded an alert in all national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in the State against tiger poachers. The vigil has been stepped up after a Project Tiger Steering Committee meeting, held in New Delhi on April 12, instructed all State Forest Departments to intensify policing in the wake of the controversy over the reported disappearance of tigers from the Sariska reserve in Rajasthan.
"All personnel in the national parks and sanctuaries have been put on alert and asked to report any instance of missing tigers. Also, animals leaving forest tracts will be kept track of. Apart from our regular personnel, tribals have also been roped in. We have also created water sources deep inside the forests to ensure the animals do not leave the forests," J.C. Kala, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, said. Forest personnel will also be given weapons training at a cost of Rs. 15 lakhs.
The tiger population in the State had increased in the past few years from 82 in 1997 to 88 in 2001.
Apart from the Kalakkad-Mundanthurai wildlife sanctuary in Tirunelveli district, the State's only Project Tiger reserve that houses 29 great cats, tigers are also found in the Aanamalai, Mudumalai and Sathyamangalam forests. There have been no recorded instances of tiger poaching in the last five years.
Census this year
The State is due for its next tiger census this year. "More manpower will be recruited for the census, which will start in three months," Mr. Kala said.
"The census methodology has been refined this time for a more accurate count. We shall be using the pugmark and camera-trap techniques. Even during primary data collection, the operation will be overseen by experts from the Wildlife Institute of India and the Indian Union for Conservation of Nature," Project Tiger's national Director, Rajesh Gopal, told The Hindu .
`Wise practice'
Dr. Gopal commended Tamil Nadu's "wise practice in mainstreaming conservation by including tribals and local self-help groups in joint forest management," which has brought down instances of poaching.
Conservation experts have expressed the hope that this year's census will be more "participatory, transparent and scientific."
"Playing the numbers game alone will not be enough. In the post-Sariska scenario, the data that is collected should be shared with all stakeholders. A better planned and more intensive patrolling would certainly yield dividends," said Ravi Chellam, programme officer, United Nations Development Programme, who was in the core team that set up the Kalakkad sanctuary in the mid-1980s.
