The task force has discovered that the tigers there vanished because of poaching. This is the only explanation for the disappearance of tigers; if there I had t>eenan outbreak of disease, we would have found carcasses. This shows the complete breakdown of the conservation management machinery.

Which Issue will the task force tackle?

The task force constituted to study enforcement measure by the state; the role of local communities; the nature of the poaching trade; to improve the tiger census to better the habitat. There is also a need to make information available to the public.

Will conservation get a new face?

The most important change that needs to be brought in is reducing the hostility of local people in areas where tiger reserves exist; failure to do so will aid poachers. We must also study how conservation management know how can be passed from the Centre to states.

Certain quarters allege that you are an 'outsider' in the task force?

I am an outsider, but also an expert on conservation. All the members of the task force are expert on tigers as chairperson, I bring With me the issue of reviewing the management conservation. Somebody needs to review the system from outside. You can't have people who have been formulating policies for the last 50 years writing a critique of their policies.