KOLHAPUR: The latest tiger census has revealed a marginal increase in the animal population in the state in the paste four years, a trend reflected across the country. The Sahyadri Tiger Reserve (STR), which was included in the census for the first time, has reported the presence of five tigers and improved its status from fair to good.
The data released by union ministry of environment, forests and climate change (MoEF) on Tuesday shows that the tiger population in Maharashtra has been increased from 169 to 190 in four years. The tiger census was conducted across India in January and February 2014.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and Wildlife Institute of India (WWI), two statutory agencies which conducted the mammoth survey in 18 states, have said that the figure is estimation of the exact population. Instead of relying on the traditional pugmark identification method, agencies for the first time adopted sophisticated technologies such as capturing images of tigers using camera traps and analysing DNA using collected scat samples.
Since the last census in 2009-10; two more tiger reserves have been notified in the state taking the total count to five. The STR was added to the list last year, Bor and Navegaon wildlife sanctuaries were converted into tiger reserves.
The STR, which is the only tiger reserve in Western Maharashtra, had sent 13 scat samples. The agencies approved 5 and estimated the tiger population to be between five and eight.
The Tadoba-Andhari tiger reserve in Chandrapur district reported maximum big cat presence, STR is at the bottom in tiger estimations.
The report stated that the Western Ghat tiger populations are more connected with each other when compared to tiger populations in Central India and the Shivalik-Gangetic Plains landscapes. The habitat matrix in the Western Ghats is more conducive for tiger occupancy. However, the habitat connectivity is threatened by plantations, agriculture, industrial and infrastructural development.
'It would be prudent to timely identify and legitimize the minimal corridors needed for the conservation objective of ensuring gene flow between the Western Ghats tiger populations in time to come. The major impediments to tiger conservation in this zone are the existence of hydro-electric projects, hunting and deforestation of large areas for commercial plantations,' the report stated.
Forest officials, who are pleased with the performance, said that drastic natural landscape variation between Vidarbha region, where five tiger sanctuaries are located and Western Ghats is the reason for the difference in numbers.
"Tigers here have territory of more than 150 sq km compared to 40 sq km territory of big cats in Vidarbha. Estimating their number is extremely difficult since entire STR is hilly area and having peaks of Sahyadri ranges. In 2010, we had reported the same number of tigers; however the estimation was based on pugmarks. This time we have camera traps, scat and DNA samples along with the pugmark," said M M Panditrao, divisional forest officer (wildlife) of Koyna.
Forest officials are happy since the ranking of STR has been upgraded from 'fair' in 2010 to 'good' in 2014.
The department is keen on increasing the joint forest management committees in STR in the future. At present, there are only five committees in Satara district; while department is planning to establish at least 60 more in buffer zone to protect the tigers.
Tiger experts warned that the forest department will have to remain on high alert and not to lose its grip over the protected and unprotected area. Experts warn that increasing number of tigers in the state would lure the poachers to Maharashtra.
"I think increasing number of tigers have increased the responsibility of the government. Central India has huge forests and also the Western Ghats. Increased tiger presence might lure the poachers to Maharashtra. So, government should be on high alert all the time," said Nitin Desai, director, Central India, Wildlife Protection Society of India, New Delhi.
