The latest tiger census report says it all. Only 1,411 tigers left in the indian subcontintent according to the latest tiger census report by the Govt of India.
All the more tragic is the fact that India has lost more than 50% of its tiger population in the last five years, a grim testimony to the rampant poaching, lack of conservation, the feeble will of the government in getting proactive about an issue that needs urgent redressal. From 3,642 to 1,411, the tiger’s stock has plummetted like never before. And when one considers the fact that Geographical Information Systems (GIS), camera traps and DNA sampling was used for census gathering unlike that pugmark method which does’nt pass logical and scientific muster, it can only be said that the cupboard looks pathetically bare.
The only saving grace has been a 20% increase in the tiger population in Tamilnadu. It is pertinent to note that the above figures does not include the Sunderbands area where census is still going on..
The statistics cut a sorry picture. Statewise numbers show Andhra Pradesh with 95 tigers (as against 192 in 2001-02), Chhattisgarh 26 (227), Madhya Pradesh 300 (710), Maharashtra 103 (238), Orissa 45 (173), Rajasthan 32 (58). And Sariska? None. The north east has not fared better.Assam has only 70 tigers against 354 in the previous census.
Arunachal has 14 tigers against 61 last year, Mizoram only 6 (28) and North West Bengal 10 against 349 earlier.
Not even a day has passed since the report has been released and the Orissa Govt has rejected the national tiger census figures for the state. The state avers that the Simplipal National Park alone has more than 100 tigers.Well, the charade continues….
[…] The final nail on the denial coffin happened when special investigation team, headed by former chief of Project Tiger P K Sen, conducted an in-camera enquiry that established that Panna had no tigers. Left with no alternatives, the state forest minister has confirmed this sad fact bringing to end a saga of shameful proportions. […]