Forest department officials and wildlife experts have got some clinching evidence that more tigers could be visiting Bannerghatta National Park (BNP) in the near future. The first ever camera trapping exercise in the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS) and MM Hills Wildlife Sanctuary , which are contiguous with BNP , has revealed the presence of about 20-25 tigers in the area.

While CWS is spread over Ramanagaram, Mandya and Chamarajnagar districts, MM Hills is located in Chamarajna gar district.

Wildlife conservationist Sanjay Gubbi, who carried out the cam era trapping exercise, credited the presence of tigers to successful conservation efforts. "The forest department, in association with NGOs, has done good work in setting up anti-poaching camps, a patrol system and other management systems from a wildlife conservation perspective," he added.

Forest officials in BNP put it down to expansion of the protected area, which has created enormous space for young, dispersing tigers from neighbouring forests. "The wild tiger sighted in Bannerghatta recently could be from Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary or the forests of Tamil Nadu. We are hoping to see the movement of more such big cat in future," said an official with BNP.

Tigers with cubs have been sighted moving around the forests, which is an encouraging sign, says KV Vasanth Reddy, deputy conservator of forests, CWS. "We have 30 anti-poaching camps and increased vigil for better conservation of wildlife here," he added. Javed Mumtaz, DCF of MM Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, listed similar measures that had contributed to the increase in tiger population.