2016 was a bad year for wildlife in the state. With 17 tiger deaths in the year and 4 elephant deaths in December alone, the focus is back on the state’s failure to protect its wildlife. Experts say as the government’s solutions are ad hoc, the problem continues. However, forest officials say they are doing their best to ensure forest areas are well preserved
HUBBALLI: 2016 brought more trouble for tigers in Karnataka. Against 15 tiger deaths in 2015, the tiger state of India lost 17 big cats this year. And shockingly, 30-40% of the deaths are caused by suspected poisoning. While India has reported about 98 tiger deaths in the last 12 months, about 20% mortalities have been reported from different tiger areas of Karnataka. Though the forest department and some tiger experts do not call this as a panic situation yet, concerns are raised over repeated instances of big cats being poisoned by the villagers living close to the tiger areas.
Karnataka has 406 tigers (highest in India) and five tiger reserves. About 30% of the state tiger population lives in reserves other than declared tiger reserves. Wildlife conservationists are demanding consolidation of wildlife habitats to support the increasing tiger population. Figures show that there has been a steady increase in the tiger population in Karnataka in the last ten years. But a little lethargy on the protection front could spell doom, caution experts.
“The tiger areas of Karnataka, forests in particular, are coming under tremendous pressure from various kinds of activities. Poaching or poisoning of tigers, unplanned tourism, uncontrollable forest fires and delay in voluntary relocation of settlements in the core areas of tiger reserves -- all pose a threat to the tiger population in the state. The government needs to be more serious when it comes to solving the issues related to forests and forest dwellers before the issues are politicised,” says P M Muthanna, a wildlife conservationist from Kodagu.
Conservationists say that forest areas which have tiger population must be given better protection status. This not only helps the tiger population increase, but also regulates the incidents of human-wildlife conflicts.
The five tiger reserves - Bandipur, Bhadra, Kali, Nagarhole and BiligiriRangana Temple Reserve - are, however, well protected. Besides the populated tiger reserves, the big cats are also found in Kudremukh, Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, MM Hills, Bhimghad and Shivamogga forests.
“There are issues when it comes to protecting the large forest areas. We are doing our best to ensure forest areas are well preserved. Karnataka is the first state to have tech-based forest monitoring system and the exercise is helping the Park directors to take better assessment about managing the tiger areas,” said B J Hosmat, Chief Wildlife Warden of Karnataka. “We are confident about retaining the number one position in tiger population in the country,” he added.
