Other States - Orissa   

State to conduct fresh tiger census

Bhubaneswar: The row over reduced tiger population in Orissa shown in a recent data intensified today with the State Government deciding to conduct a fresh census next month challenging the joint survey by National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and Wildlife Institute of India (WII).

Describing as “unacceptable” the number of tigers in the state put at 45 in the survey by NTCA and Dehradun-based WII, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden B K Patnaik said: “We will start a fresh census operation next month.”

Maintaining that the tiger population in the State stood at 192 in 2005, he said it was “just impossible” for the number to dwindle to 45 in a span of about two years.

“We have lodged a strong protest with the WII over the manner in which they undertook the survey.”

The method of photo imaging and other techniques used in WII-NTCA survey was not only done in an improper manner but the whole exercise was handled by “inexperienced, raw and amateur personnel,” Patnaik alleged.

When the joint survey was carried out, no expert and experienced scientist was included in the team, he claimed.

The fresh census operation by Orissa would use the traditional pug mark method, he said adding WII has been asked to send its officials to be present during the operation as independent observers to ensure that the entire exercise was conducted in a fair way.

The census is expected to be launched in the first week of next month, he added.

- PTI

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Legendary singer gets award posthumously
Ekamra festival to begin today
State to conduct fresh tiger census
Traditional healer assaults women
Efforts on to reduce pressure on the largest lagoon
RSP bags Gold Icon National Award
Four girls rescued
One killed, two hurt in accident
Hearing on culling put off to Feb. 27
Employees of Hirakud Industrial works launch stir
Niyogi joins SBI Bhubaneswar circle
Man dies in cylinder blast

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu