Tiger Census Helped In Conservation

Tiger census programme was undertaken by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) with the help of a team of 88,000 forest staff and 50 field biologists. This huge team was led by Y.V. Jhala, senior faculty member and a carnivore biologist. A Tiger census report was prepared on the basis of this research work, till date this research is regarded as the biggest in the world. According to this research, number of Tigers in the country's protected area are between 1,165 to 1,657. This tiger census report is very significant as it provides vital information regarding the rapid depletion of Tiger through poaching and habitat loss.

In this research work, GPS mapping of Tiger signs in PAs supported by ''camera trapping'' was used to estimate population and density of Tiger . At first a group of researchers sampled a subset of those area where the the tiger population is more. Robust statistical approaches like mark-recapture and distance sampling to estimate absolute densities of tigers and their prey. Covariate information was generated using remotely sensed data and attribute data using GPS. Some other methods to count the number of tigers are the pugmark, DNA analysis, biometric data analysis, block counting, radio collaring, digital pugmark, prey base indicators, etc. The cheapest or most cost effective method remains the pugmark technique.

This research not only helped in scientific assessment of the Tigers but also it helped in documentation of its habitat loss. javascript:void(0)Tiger presence and Tiger numbers are the two major qualifiers of habitat conservation. According to Rajesh Gopal, secretary of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), the main reason behind the depletion of Tiger in India is the loss of habitat and the poaching.

So, to increase the strength of Tiger in India it is necessary to protect the habitat of these wild cat. Tigers are mostly found in those areas where there is minimum human impacts or low human disturbances. In India, there are only four healthy Tiger landscapes, with ‘inter connectivity and inviolate’ corridors can offer long term sustenance of the Tiger. Till date, only 20 - 25 corridor linkages have been drawn up for the four identified tiger landscapes based on the conservation recommendations.

On the basis of the research, P.R.Sinha, Director of the WII, has suggested that all the state governments should prepare action plans in accordance with the conservation recommendations for the four main Tiger landscapes of India.

This census has enabled conservators to see both the woods and the trees in the vast sub-continent. Also helps to reveal that the prey base in these forest areas are in good numbers, which in turn reflects the healthy Tiger numbers as well as sound ecosystem.