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Tiger population: WII recommends partnership with neighbouring states

BHUBANESWAR: Even though Orissa Government continues to reject the Tiger Census, conducted by Wildlife Institute of India (WII), the report has recommended forging partnership with neighbouring states particularly Jharkhand and Chhatisgarh to save its dwindling tiger population.

Pointing out that Similipal where tiger population has gone down drastically, the WII report said due to its large size and good habitat it could potentially sustain a viable population for long-term conservation.

“Similipal also has the potential to connect with the forests of Saranda in Jharkhand. However, currently the tiger population occurs at low density. This needs to be rectified by better protection, and enhancement of prey populations through reduction of anthropogenic pressures,” the report ‘Status of Tigers, Co-predators and Prey in India’ emphasised.

The institute said Saranda National Park, that falls in Jharkhand, is about 7400 square kilometre. This forest has the potential for connectivities towards the south with forested districts of Sundargarh, Sambalpur, Dhenkanal, Puri, Phulbani and Ganjam, covering an area of about 15,000 sq km.

Similarly, the tiger population in Sunabeda has to be conserved through inter state cooperation and coordination with Chattisgarh, WII said.

The report found that tiger population in the tehsil of Malakanagir comprising the sanctuary of Balimela and Kondakamberu comprises a part of the forested patch of 6254 sq km that extended from East Godavari, Khammam and Vishakapatnam of Andhra Pradesh. “Tiger occupancy in this forest patch in Orissa was reported in 879 sq km.” “The southern tiger population shares its gene pool with the tiger populations of eastern Andhra Pradesh and need to be managed as a meta population,” the institute recommended.

The WII in its report said Orissa was estimated to have 45 tigers as per 2006 census against state government’s claim of 192 tigers (57 males, 75 females and 60 cubs) in 2004. The big fall in feline population has made officialdom worried.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday rejected the tiger census figures for the State. Chief Wildlife Warden Bijay Ketan Patnaik who was in New Delhi already made it clear that the State would lodge its objections with the centre.

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