Nagpur: If the BJP government at the Centre thinks tiger numbers in the country have gone up as it is taking ample steps to protect the flagship species, then it is under an illusion. With 47 incidents of poaching in just first quarter of this year (January-March), poaching has beaten the record of last 15 years. The end of the year could reveal shocking figures too.
This certainly isn't the news that Indian wildlife lovers would love to hear five days before World Environment Day on June 5 which is being observed with the theme 'Go Wild for Life', propagating 'zero tolerance for illegal wildlife trade'.
According to statistics gathered by Wildlife Protection Society of India ( WPSI ), working for wildlife crime enforcement in the country, in 2001, during the same period, there were 33 cases of tiger body parts seizures and death shrouded in mystery. However, in 2016 first quarter, 47 cases have been reported. If deaths in May are added, the total is 48.
The total tiger toll in last five months this year since January 1 to May 31, 2016, is 67, implying that more than 75% tiger deaths are due to poaching.
Contrary to this, the government website shows mortality of 44 tigers till May 28. This includes 13 cases of skin and body parts seizures. Interestingly, many tiger deaths have not been updated in the website.
Take for example Maharashtra where 8 tiger deaths have been reported this year but the website mentions only 6. The two tiger deaths — one in Zari in Pandharkawda and another in Melghat is missing in the list.
While the death on May 27 in Melghat figures in the list, the tiger that died on May 22 is missing in the list. This itself shows that the website is not updated properly.
Similarly, deaths in other states have also not been updated. The worst part is that states are hiding causes of death and reason as every tiger death is awaited to be confirmed owing to non-receipt of reports. Highest number of 15 deaths have been reported from Madhya Pradesh.
Programme manager of WPSI Tito Joseph says, "Despite many new reforms being implemented since 2005 on tiger front, things have not changed. I doubt whether these reforms are being implemented in right spirit or not. Most of the tiger reserves are equipped with special tiger protection force (STPF), still poaching is at its peak. It is high time an evaluation by some outside agency is done."
"Our figures are perfectly based on incidences of tiger deaths, poaching and seizures. In Corbett alone five skins and 125kg tiger bones were seized in March followed by similar seizures in Bihar. In MP Pench too four tigers died due to poaching. This has swelled the list of poached tigers," Joseph said.
The WPSI official said large-scale seizures also indicate there is detection but "it is also our failure to stop demand for tiger skins and bones throughout the world, especially China".
Even a look at last five years figures for first quarter (January-March) show that this year seems to be worst as far as tiger deaths and poaching is considered. In 2012, there were 19 cases followed by 32 in 2013, 19 in 2014, 26 in 2015 and 47 in 2016.
