Deliberating at the Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT)-supported consultation on tiger conservation in the Central Indian Landscape (CIL), they said "world's 70% tiger population is in India and if India fails then no hopes remain for tigers".

"Average size of parks in India is 239 sqkm and hence there is an urgent need to protect corridors. The biggest threat to corridor in CIL is road network and hence taking to smart infrastructure is need of the hour," said YV Jhala, tiger scientist from Wildlife Institute of India (WII).

He also cautioned park managers not to allow tiger population remain small for long time from going extinct. Jhala said though country has 2,226 tigers, there is scope to increase their numbers by another 1,500. Poaching and depletion of prey were two major factors for dwindling tiger population. He called for strong political will to save tigers.

Jhala also spoke about relationship between tiger ecology and the need for landscape-level management plans. He stressed the importance of protecting corridors.

Experts said if corridors are destroyed, tigers will face problem of immigration and outbreeding depression (a condition when tigers face sterility and weakness).

Chief wildlife wardens of Maharashtra and MP Shree Bhagwan and Ravi Srivastava, respectively, who opened the deliberations called for a long-term partnership between the two state forest departments on tiger conservation and corridors.

Bhagwan said in Maharashtra saving corridors have great significance as more population of big cats and wildlife is outside the parks causing man-animal conflict. He called to make landscapes more safe and viable and did not hesitate to seek corporates help to save them.

"Linear projects like expansion of roads and rail network and laying of transmission lines have fragmented corridors badly. Capacity building of communities by way of livelihood options and low energy consumption activities hold key to save corridors. The MP forest department has also prepared a management plan for Kanha-Pench corridor.

Experts also stressed on voluntary relocation of villages from designated tiger reserves. Both PCCFs highlighted various areas where states and NGOs could collaborate, including capacity-building of guards and strengthening protection infrastructure.

The duo also launched an initiative by WCT to distribute custom-made posters on wildlife law in anti-poaching camps in the country.

Filed directors of Maharashtra and MP PenchSubhoranjan Sen and MS Reddy spoke on Pench landscape and several solutions and suggestions were shared. Both emphasized need to strengthen exchange of information and collaborative patrolling between the two states to enable long-term viability of the landscape.

TillotamaVerma, additional director of Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) also spoke on poaching. The discussions will feed into sessions planned for Tuesday when a road map for CIL will be designed.