Talking Tigers

 

 

In 1973-74, the tiger count was as low as 1000. By 1990s it was said to be 4000. Is it that the number was never 4000?

Yes, there has never been a very candid estimation of tiger numbers. At the turn of the century, estimating 40,000 tigers has no scientific background. Their number was not against the backdrop of the tiger cover i.e the space available. All this trumpeting about Project Tiger and its grand success was done way back in 1983 but at the same time there was a lot of scope for science to be factored in. We should have used modern statistical methods if they are available to us.

Attempts have been made for captive breeding of tigers and translocating them to Africa. What do you think about such projects?

I am in favour of captive breeding and reintroduction of these animals in the wild. It is also a kind of active management. I would go to the extent of doing it for the Asiatic lions too which are found only in Gujarat. So if you have pure bred in captivity, let’s standardise it. The first two generations can be reared in captivity in large natural setting so they learn the art of killing and by the third generation, they will be adept…so relocate them.

China has a demand for tiger products. Why not convince them to not use these products?

India has made an intervention appealing to China to phase out tiger farming and eliminate stockpiles of Asian big cat body parts and derivatives. The importance of continuing the ban on trade of body parts of tigers has been emphasised upon.

Many think Panna is the next Sariska. Your take?

I won't say that it is the next Sariska. Panna has tigers but they are fewer in number and also skewed in ratio. The problem with Panna is that the area is dacoit prone for the past two years with a lot of armed conflict inside the park. Though it is a beautiful and huge place, it is dry and rocky – not gifted like Corbett or Kanha. It is a difficult terrain to find food. So, there has been a drop in tiger number, maybe five to seven. It is not 35 or 40 or anywhere close to it. We plan to get more female tigers in the area to balance the ratio and breed more. It is not a Sariska.

Is there a principle to punish those who have failed to do their jobs in say Sariska and Panna?

In Panna there have been issues that have disturbed the natural habitat of the animal. Buffer management is not happening anywhere except Kanha. In the other places, we have taken suitable action and people are held responsible if they do not listen to the advisory board. It is a collective responsibility where several people are involved.

What about Palamao in Bihar?

Not only Panna and Palamao but five to six more such places exist where we do face real problems like translocating some animals or building of city enclosures. These places call for active management. For instance, Buxar in Bengal has tigers that travel down from the nearby Bhutan area, but then there are jobless people from plantations as well as extremist activities making it a disturbed area. So obviously tigers will be affected. So do you suggest armed resistence or private armies?

Armed resistence (pauses)...maybe a combination. Arms may not help everywhere. So, armed yes; 10% of our budget goes for that. But the poaching problem has two dimensions to it. One is commercial and the other is a social issue. We have to address both. The local workforce is the best force. They may not be adept at handling machine guns etc, but at least they will not connive with the local people to kill the animals.

The core area has been off limit to tourists and maximum poaching happens in the core areas. So why not open the entire jungle so that they are always scared?

No, I don’t agree to that philosophy. Tourists don’t help in controlling poaching. In fact, more tourists mean more disturbances to the habitat. You have to set aside some areas for tourists which certainly are not those areas which are called inviolate. So, you have to step up your protection through anti-poaching squads.

What is the number of tigers in Sunderbans? Is there a reliable way of calculating the numbers there?

We haven’t completed counting yet. It is a new methodology since the high tide and low tide system does not allow for any impression to stay. Also, the sharp needle-like grass pierces through the skin and mud is slushy. So, it is very difficult to set foot there and that’s why we work only through small boats. We have collared some tigers and we will collar more. Then we will work out the rate of decay of the impressions which they leave and using this rate and a particular formula we will extrapolate the results.

There is a vigilance problem. What about highways, railroads, temples in national parks? Is that not a problem?

This calls for regulation. Temples have been there for a long time, much before these areas were declared as tiger reserves or sanctuaries. So now that the population pressure on the vegetation has increased, it calls for regulation. Like putting a speed limit, sending convoys for group transportation. So you have to fine tune your conservation measures with that. Else you will develop more people with animosity towards what is happening.