Bengaluru: There is increase in tiger population in Nagarahole Wildlife Reserve in Karnataka giving a boost to conservation efforts. According to Nagarahole Tiger Project Director Manikantan 91 big cats were spotted in 2016-17 against 83 reported in the previous year. " Abundant food availability, conducive landscape, protection and cover has helped increase in tiger population. The camera trap method also supports the sightings to confirm the numbers and other variables," he added.
The 61 day Census conducted in November-December last year has confirmed the increase of tiger population in the reserve. After making installation of Cameras to assess the number of wild animals, hundreds of cameras were installed. It not only helped to trap the tigers and to understand its behavior and numbers. The cameras were installed in the area where tigers are frequently spotted and also near the water sources. Based on the data collected and pictures captured the experts analyse the data on the basis of the stripes on the tiger’s body, to find out age and gender of the big cat.
The officials say male tiger marks its territory in an area of 2500 acres and female in an area of five kilometres. Nagarahole Tiger Reserve with abundant population of deer, bison and other animals, has become a safe breeding place for the tigers. According to a CAG report tabled recently in the Legislative Assembly, 102 animals have died in Karnataka since last five years.
The report also remarked that the Men in Anti-Poaching Camps (APCs) are poorly trained and unable to do their jobs in protecting the animals from poachers. The Highest death of 50 animals was reported in M M Hills Reserve forest in the last five years, followed by 18 animals each had died in each Nagarahole and Dandeli Forest. The poachers have killed 27 Deer, 15 wild boars, One tiger, two leopards and eight elephants. (UNI)