After TOI report on October 20, a section of readers claimed that looking into the death of a tigress T4 due to radio collar infection in Panna tiger reserve in MP on September 18, it is a waste of money to place satellite collars on tigers. However, wildlife experts dubbed these comments as immature.

Conservationist Prafulla Bhamburkar says such research is needed more outside Tadoba landscape where 17 villagers have been mauled to death by big carnivores this year. 'Pombhurna tiger, which was shot dead, could have been saved had it been radio-collared," he added.

PCCF (wildlife) Sarjan Bhagat admits that tigers outside PAs need better protection but says as of now there is no proposal to collar them. "We will moot a separate proposal," he said.

Radio collar is one of the best tools to understand tiger behaviour, predation, population and ecology. Not a single tiger died of radio-collaring, because it is just 1% body weight of that species, say experts. If we want to save a species at its population level, we need to understand its ecology using reliable tools.

Panna field director RS Murthy denied that T4 died of collar infection. "The tigress died naturally due to some internal health problem. It will be known once we get clinical reports from respective agencies," Murthy said.

"Radio collars are the best help managers with least invasive observations of any mega carnivore. We are doing it for last five years," Murthy added.

In 2009, a wildlife intelligence report had blamed tiger deaths in Panna on their 'radio collaring', raising questions over the projects to conserve the animal throughout the country.

However, Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) director Asad Rahmani says it all depends on who did it and for what purpose? Studying animal movement and ecology by radio-collaring/satellite tracking are well-known methods used all over the world.

"New tracking technology is giving us remarkable results about animal behaviour and movement. So, it is wrong to say that radio-collaring per se is bad. If there is a purpose and clear objective, there is nothing wrong in radio-collaring," said Rahmani.

"It is wrong to say that Panna tigress died due to radio-collaring. If this is the reason, why other animals do not die? Every major operation on human being has some risk. So, should we stop life-saving operations due to the small risk involved?" said Rahmani.

In November 2012, the state wildlife wing had for the first time placed a radio collar on a rescued tigress which was released post treatment at Tass near Bhiwapur. "The collar gave valuable insights into the secretive world of big cats in the wild. Radio-tracking actually helps curb menace of poaching since tiger movement is constantly monitored and the ones which stray or are killed are immediately noticed," says wildlife biologist Vidya Athreya, who placed the collar on the Tass tigress.

Athreya says there will always be accidents but with more and more such scientific activities happening, it will also allow us to improve our skills. "It is likely that the Panna tigress had a wound on her neck which the collar did not allow for healing," Athreya says.

Athreya adds that in a place like Africa, where visibility is good and there are not as many people as in India, you can drive up to the animal, see it clearly and then intervene if the animal has a problem with the collar etc.

"But if you ask me about the scene 10 years back and now, things with respect to understanding, management and the use of new tools have really improved in Maharashtra. I think this is a very good thing," Athreya said.