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Tamil Nadu
Novel ways: K. Shankar, second from left, Professor and Research Co-ordinator, Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, showing cameras used during the tiger census, in Tirunelveli on Thursday. TIRUNELVELI: The third phase of the scientific census conducted in 80 sq. k.m. of the 895 sq. km, Kalakkad – Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) to ascertain the tiger population has revealed the presence of two tigers inside as well as outside the study area apart from exposing the presence of 10 panthers in the region. The study was conducted by a team headed by K. Shankar, Professor and Research Co-ordinator, Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun. Speaking to reporters here on Thursday, Dr. Shankar said that scientific census methods were being followed during the recent past following the sudden disappearance of tigers from the Sariska tiger sanctuary in Alwar district of Rajasthan and also to arrive at near accurate minimum and maximum number of big cats living in the sanctuaries. The traditional method -- direct sighting, pug mark, scat identification, claw marks -- was not reliable and had to be cross-checked. Since tigers are active early in the morning and late in the evening, Deer Cam, weather-proof heat-sensor cameras, were placed in every two sq. km. during the exercise to monitor the movement and estimate the population of the animal. Whenever an animal crossed the camera, it would capture its image automatically. Moreover, DNA extracted from the mucous of fresh scat was also used to ascertain the number of tigers present in a particular area. “When we followed similar method at Mudumalai, we could get evidence of the presence of 22 tigers in 120 sq. k.m. Here a male tiger was sighted in the Kannikatti area falling under the Mundanthurai range while the second one, a tigress, was found at Veerapuli Beat in the Thirukkurunkudi Range, which is outside our study area. And we are also so happy with the panther population at KMTR since we could get evidence for the presence of 10 panthers during this census,” said Dr. Shankar. Detailed report“After the end of our exercise, we’ll submit the report by December-end. We’ll also provide them with a map, showing the concentration of the big cats in each of the seven ranges under KMTR. Moreover details on the prey-base of the tiger and other carnivores and the quantum of human pressure on the wildlife of KMTR will also be given in this report.” During the fourth phase of the programme, which will be an intensive assignment, radio-collaring of tigers living in the jungles of ten different places across the country would be done and the KMTR could be one among these spots, he said. The Field Director and Conservator of Forest, KMTR, A. Ramkumar; District Forest Officer, A.V. Venkatachalam; Deputy Director, Kalakkad Tiger Reserve, D. Venkatesh; Eco Development Officer, V. Pasupathiraj, forestor, Kalakkad, Jabez and others were present.
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