Aajab Desh ki gajaab kahani ..
Now, more Tigers a problem?
TNN, 11 February 2010, 03:46am IST
NEW DELHI: Despite being seen as a "success'' story in tiger conservation, the Corbett Tiger Reserve now presents a man-animal conflict scenario aggravated due to rising big cat numbers and rampant encroachment by tourist resorts that has pushed up human incursions into the reserve and its buffer zones.
Things came to a head last week with two attacks, one of a woman being killed by a tiger and another of a leopard striking a group of three boys. The incidents around Dhikuli led to a furious uprising of villagers who besieged forest officials demanding that the big cats be declared "adam khor'' or maneaters and be destroyed.
The fear that has gripped the villagers is not surprising given the threat posed by big cats breaking out but what has riled conservationists is that the situation has been in the making for sometime now. CTR is facing pressures on both counts -- a teeming tiger population and the high volume of tourists at so-called resorts that offer weekend parties and birthday bashes instead of wildlife viewing. PI
Corbett, with a tiger population of 164 according to the last census in 2007, is counted as one of India's rare successes. But in recent years, massive commercialisation has been posing an ecological and environmental threat and the attacks, which some say were waiting to happen, have highlighted the state government's failure to notify the park's buffer zone, as required under the Wildlife Protection Act.
The boys who had been attacked by a leopard, pointed out officials, were a good 1.25 km in the core area of the park while the tiger had killed its victim in the fringe area. The tiger appears to have been surprised as it had made a kill. Sources in National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) told TOI that unbridled tourism was proving to be a bane for the park. "The number of tourist resorts has gone up manifold in the past few years, now numbering about 70, a majority of which are located between Ramnagar and the Dhangarhi gate.''
The NTCA official said, "In a situation where there are humans and animals living in such close proximity, such incidents are bound to happen. The government is trying to take steps to reduce the conflict.'' The attack seems to have shaken up authorities as CTR director R K Mishra said the park's buffer zone is likely to be notified in the coming week.
The buffer zone would give the park management more teeth to make rules for the adjoining areas. "The entire area is 288 sq km of which 88 sq km comes under the UP government and the remaining under Uttarakhand. Both governments are working on the final stages of notification which is expected to be announced in the coming week,'' said Mishra.
Noted film-maker on conservation Krishnendu Bose argues the buffer zone needs careful thought. It could impose restrictions on locals and, in fact, increase the conflict with the tiger bearing the brunt. "This has not happened overnight. Were the authorities sleeping when the resorts to come up?'' he asked. There is need for a proper plan instead of knee-jerk reactions, said Bose who has followed Corbett over the last 25 years.
"The tiger corridor is shrinking due to rapid encroachment and growth of habitation even in the buffer area. While tiger conservation needs immediate attention, government should also be equipped to deal with the fight for space between man and animal,'' said a local conservationist.
On this issue, park officials remain in denial, perhaps aware that many resorts enjoy political patronage. "As far as our knowledge goes, there is no encroachment in the tiger corridor. But we need regulations on the spread of human presence in the area, all the more as very often humans don't respect the animals territory,'' they said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Now-more-tigers-a-problem/articleshow/5557859.cms
TNN, 11 February 2010, 03:46am IST
NEW DELHI: Despite being seen as a "success'' story in tiger conservation, the Corbett Tiger Reserve now presents a man-animal conflict scenario aggravated due to rising big cat numbers and rampant encroachment by tourist resorts that has pushed up human incursions into the reserve and its buffer zones.
Things came to a head last week with two attacks, one of a woman being killed by a tiger and another of a leopard striking a group of three boys. The incidents around Dhikuli led to a furious uprising of villagers who besieged forest officials demanding that the big cats be declared "adam khor'' or maneaters and be destroyed.
The fear that has gripped the villagers is not surprising given the threat posed by big cats breaking out but what has riled conservationists is that the situation has been in the making for sometime now. CTR is facing pressures on both counts -- a teeming tiger population and the high volume of tourists at so-called resorts that offer weekend parties and birthday bashes instead of wildlife viewing. PI
Corbett, with a tiger population of 164 according to the last census in 2007, is counted as one of India's rare successes. But in recent years, massive commercialisation has been posing an ecological and environmental threat and the attacks, which some say were waiting to happen, have highlighted the state government's failure to notify the park's buffer zone, as required under the Wildlife Protection Act.
The boys who had been attacked by a leopard, pointed out officials, were a good 1.25 km in the core area of the park while the tiger had killed its victim in the fringe area. The tiger appears to have been surprised as it had made a kill. Sources in National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) told TOI that unbridled tourism was proving to be a bane for the park. "The number of tourist resorts has gone up manifold in the past few years, now numbering about 70, a majority of which are located between Ramnagar and the Dhangarhi gate.''
The NTCA official said, "In a situation where there are humans and animals living in such close proximity, such incidents are bound to happen. The government is trying to take steps to reduce the conflict.'' The attack seems to have shaken up authorities as CTR director R K Mishra said the park's buffer zone is likely to be notified in the coming week.
The buffer zone would give the park management more teeth to make rules for the adjoining areas. "The entire area is 288 sq km of which 88 sq km comes under the UP government and the remaining under Uttarakhand. Both governments are working on the final stages of notification which is expected to be announced in the coming week,'' said Mishra.
Noted film-maker on conservation Krishnendu Bose argues the buffer zone needs careful thought. It could impose restrictions on locals and, in fact, increase the conflict with the tiger bearing the brunt. "This has not happened overnight. Were the authorities sleeping when the resorts to come up?'' he asked. There is need for a proper plan instead of knee-jerk reactions, said Bose who has followed Corbett over the last 25 years.
"The tiger corridor is shrinking due to rapid encroachment and growth of habitation even in the buffer area. While tiger conservation needs immediate attention, government should also be equipped to deal with the fight for space between man and animal,'' said a local conservationist.
On this issue, park officials remain in denial, perhaps aware that many resorts enjoy political patronage. "As far as our knowledge goes, there is no encroachment in the tiger corridor. But we need regulations on the spread of human presence in the area, all the more as very often humans don't respect the animals territory,'' they said.
http://timesofindia.indiat
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