Published: 27th October 2014
BHUBANESWAR: Even as Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) regains its status
of a prime tiger habitat - thanks to the successful relocation of human
habitations and reduction of human interference in its core - the
Wildlife Institute of India (WII) experts have arrived for the Phase III
estimation of the large cats.
This phase of tiger estimation will start from November 1 and the two-member team of WII will set up base camps for camera-trapping of the large cats. Three more research scholars are scheduled to arrive next week.
The WII is expected to set up at least 200 camera traps over a 400 sq km area in the critical core habitat of Similipal. During this phase, the national institute will hold consultation with the STR management and install cameras basing on tiger density.
Earlier this year, the STR management, which has been monitoring the tigers through camera trap evidence, had estimated the individual adult tiger number at 25 over a landscape level area of 318 sq km of the core.
What is more heartening is that tiger density appears to have improved significantly in more parts of the core area of STR from where the carnivores had moved away in the past. With human movement heavily restricted and protection measures strengthened, camera trap evidence has shown that tigers are re-occupying more and more areas.“In Bahagarh, where human settlements existed before relocation in December last year, we recently found a pair of male and female leopards has started inhabiting. This indicates that the inviolate character of the core is now being maintained,” Field Director of STR Anup Kumar Nayak told this paper.
In last five years, successful breeding has resulted in a healthy tiger density - six tigers per 100 sq km - which can be compared with some of India’s best tiger reserves in the Central Indian Tiger Landscape. Tigresses are even spotted successfully bringing up relatively large litters of cubs to adulthood over many areas.
It is an extremely positive development considering the fact that tiger population had collapsed in Similipal in the past decades. Now in parts of Kaptipada, Udala, Kendumundi and Thakurmunda ranges which did not see tiger presence for many years have once again started recording the big cats.
Experts are of the opinion that relocation of human settlements from Jenabil (2010), followed by Upper Barhakamda and Bahagarh (2013) from the critical tiger habitat has shown immediate and positive impact on wildlife, tigers to be particular. Improved protection and management initiatives of the tiger reserve management since the 2010 Maoist attacks have acted as supplements.
“Relocation of villages stranded in tiger reserves and protected areas is an imperative for both conservation of large mammals as well as welfare of communities which are denied development purely because of an accident of location. They have no future inside and survive in endless physical and legal conflict with wildlife conservation,” said wildlife conservationist Aditya Panda.
Now that 56 families of Jamunagarh and Kabatghai have given their consent to move, the protection measures are likely to get another boost. “Thanks to good leadership at Similipal, we are on the path of creating truly inviolate space for tigers. Similipal is bound to revive to its original glory if this good management is continued consistently. The State must replicate this in other tiger reserves, particularly Satkosia,” added Panda, who is a conservation partner of Bagh Foundation, Delhi.
source
This phase of tiger estimation will start from November 1 and the two-member team of WII will set up base camps for camera-trapping of the large cats. Three more research scholars are scheduled to arrive next week.
The WII is expected to set up at least 200 camera traps over a 400 sq km area in the critical core habitat of Similipal. During this phase, the national institute will hold consultation with the STR management and install cameras basing on tiger density.
Earlier this year, the STR management, which has been monitoring the tigers through camera trap evidence, had estimated the individual adult tiger number at 25 over a landscape level area of 318 sq km of the core.
What is more heartening is that tiger density appears to have improved significantly in more parts of the core area of STR from where the carnivores had moved away in the past. With human movement heavily restricted and protection measures strengthened, camera trap evidence has shown that tigers are re-occupying more and more areas.“In Bahagarh, where human settlements existed before relocation in December last year, we recently found a pair of male and female leopards has started inhabiting. This indicates that the inviolate character of the core is now being maintained,” Field Director of STR Anup Kumar Nayak told this paper.
In last five years, successful breeding has resulted in a healthy tiger density - six tigers per 100 sq km - which can be compared with some of India’s best tiger reserves in the Central Indian Tiger Landscape. Tigresses are even spotted successfully bringing up relatively large litters of cubs to adulthood over many areas.
It is an extremely positive development considering the fact that tiger population had collapsed in Similipal in the past decades. Now in parts of Kaptipada, Udala, Kendumundi and Thakurmunda ranges which did not see tiger presence for many years have once again started recording the big cats.
Experts are of the opinion that relocation of human settlements from Jenabil (2010), followed by Upper Barhakamda and Bahagarh (2013) from the critical tiger habitat has shown immediate and positive impact on wildlife, tigers to be particular. Improved protection and management initiatives of the tiger reserve management since the 2010 Maoist attacks have acted as supplements.
“Relocation of villages stranded in tiger reserves and protected areas is an imperative for both conservation of large mammals as well as welfare of communities which are denied development purely because of an accident of location. They have no future inside and survive in endless physical and legal conflict with wildlife conservation,” said wildlife conservationist Aditya Panda.
Now that 56 families of Jamunagarh and Kabatghai have given their consent to move, the protection measures are likely to get another boost. “Thanks to good leadership at Similipal, we are on the path of creating truly inviolate space for tigers. Similipal is bound to revive to its original glory if this good management is continued consistently. The State must replicate this in other tiger reserves, particularly Satkosia,” added Panda, who is a conservation partner of Bagh Foundation, Delhi.
source
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