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Status of tigers in India          Tiger in India   The Government of India released a most comprehensive, scientific and accurate report on the status of tigers in India this month. This report titled "Status of Tigers, Co-predators and Prey in India" was prepared by the Dehra Dun-based Wildlife Institute of India and the National Tiger Conservation Authority. It took two years of extensive data collection. It has been commended by a majority of tiger scientists for arriving at a number through a comprehensive documentation of big cats, their habitat and population trends.   Arrived at by using different methodologies and techniques, the latest count indicates how tiger numbers had been grossly misinterpreted in the past to suit the interests of those supposed to be looking after the welfare of the national animal. The 151-page report has been co-authored by Qamar Qureshi and Y.V Jhala of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and Rajesh Gopal from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) along with a research team that included 67 members. Open to scrutiny at all stages of data collection, this is the most scientific report that puts in place a transparent system that can be traced back to the beat level, says  Qureshi. Besides the report is not just about tigers, leopards and wild dogs but it also looks at the number and quality of prey like sambhar, cheetal and blue bulls. Tigers do respond well to quality and number of prey," he explains.       The report spells it all, state-wise, area-wise, dividing tiger habitat into regions like Shivalik-Gangetic flood plains, Central Indian landscape and Eastern Ghats, Western Ghats complex, North-eastern Hills and Brahmaputra Flood plains and the Sunderbans. Due to the Naxalite problem, Jharkhand and the Indravati reserve in  Chhattisgarh have not been covered, while the census in the Sundarbans is not yet complete. But the report does point out that Naxalism, subsistence poaching and fragmentation of forests have worked against big cats in areas that had the capability of holding larger numbers.                   Leopard                          Royal Bengal Tiger    The WII report is unambiguous that the tiger, the most exciting wildlife species on earth — is in danger in India and fighting a tough battle to survive. From 40,000 in 1900 to an all-time low of 1,411 in 2007, this is an emergency. Scientists say that in a scenario unlike any before, there could be, maybe 1657 big cats, which would still be lower than the 1800 tigers estimated in the first census in 1960. The current figures are definitely a climb down from 2002 when tiger population was 3,642. It shows that India has lost more than 2000 tigers to three basic reasons: incessant and ruthless poaching, loss of habitat and pressure of people. The report also exposes that the figure of 3,642 in 2002 was fudged to cover up the failure of the government to protect the tiger.    The report says that there are 178 tigers in Uttarakhand, 109 in UP, 10 in Bihar, 95 in Andhra Pradesh, 26 in Chhatisgarh, 300 in Madhya Pradesh, 103 in Maharashtra, 45 in Orissa, 32 in Rajasthan, 290 in Karnataka, 46 in Kerala and 76 in Tamil Nadu. In the north-eastern states, population estimates are based on possible density of tiger-occupied landscape in the area. They have not been assessed by double sampling. According to these estimates, there are 70 tigers in Assam, 14 in Arunachal Pradesh, six in Mizoram and 10 in northern West Bengal.    Safe Places for Tigers   According to the report, the only safe places where healthy population of big cats still exists are Corbett in Uttarakhand, Kaziranga in Assam and other habitats in Brahmaputra, besides Bandipur, Nagarhole, Madurai and Wyanand tiger reserves in the South, Kanha, Bandhavgarh in Madhya Pradesh and some parts of the North- East where tigers had a chance to breed and grow. This signifies that surveillance and good quality habitat and prey does work well for the magnificent predator.   Success stories like Corbett Tiger Reserve that recorded the highest tiger density as compared to other habitats show that if safe zones are created with inviolate core areas surrounded by a buffer, the tiger can survive. Corbett has 164 tigers in 1524 sq-km. Despite limited space, it appears to be doing well in comparison to some larger reserves.

Wildlife Crime Control Bureau   Now the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau to deal with illegal trade finally started functioning this January. The Ministry of Environment and Forests says that the Bureau, with four regional offices at New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai and three sub-regional offices, was fully operational. Set up at the behest of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to develop infrastructure and build capacity for scientific and professional investigation into wildlife crimes, the Bureau will have two joint directors, one from the IFS and another from the IPS rank, and will  be assisted by regional directors. Inspectors and constables will also be sent on deputation from customs and police departments.   But this set-up has not found favour with former Director of Project Tiger P.K. Sen. "The offices will be in Delhi while tigers are being killed in jungles," he says, terming the Bureau "bogus, a complete eyewash". "To deal with wildlife crimes you require a specialised force. You  need a specialised force on the lines of the Railway Protection Force or the CISF," he adds.  Forests for tiger reserves   Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forests Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights Act), 2006,  was passed by Parliament. The Act aims to provide forest rights to STs and other people, living and depending on forests for their livelihood for three generations. Some of major rights recognised under the Act include forestland up to four hectares, right to collect, use and dispose off minor produce and traditional rights like grazing inside  forests. Along with passing the bill the PMO issued a list of core notified tiger reserves that would be out of bounds for human beings. It stated that as many as 11 tiger range states had been identified as critical big cat habitats. The notification said that an area of around 31, 940 sq km of tiger reserves would be completely out of bounds to support a viable population of wild tigers in the country.   Funds for tiger reserves   The Government says it is doing all it can by providing enhanced funds and support to the states. There is a huge budget to resettle people from core tiger areas. This will help decrease the man-animal conflict and create inviolate zones for the big cats. The compensation for rehabilitation has been increased from Rs 1 lakh per family to Rs 10 lakh per family. Locals and ex-Army men are also being recruited as forest guards to step up the vigilance.

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