NATION | Monday, February 8, 2010 | Email | Print | 
Ranthambhore ups ante against poachers
Lokpal Sethi | Jaipur
Intelligence inputs suggesting that a staggering amount up to Rs 10 lakh is being offered to poachers for tiger skin, has worried wildlife authorities at Ranthambhore National Park. Numbers of the big cat have increased at the park following steps initiated by the authorities to protect the animal. There are now 45 tigers at Ranthambhore.
After learning a lesson from the illegal poaching of tigers in Sariska Tiger Sanctuary, which led to vanishing tigers in this forest five years ago, vigilance has been increased at Ranthambhore.
With the growing number of tigers in Ranthambhore, the territory of per tiger is shirking Last week, authorities in the park panicked when they found at least seven tigers were missing from their area. An extensive search was launched. They felt relief of sigh, when they were located in the adjoining forest, where they had strayed for want of more territory. Later five of them returned to their territory. Now round the clock vigil is being kept on the movement of tigers here.
“We have put at least 50 forest guards on the duty to continue to keep their eye on the tigers. Once any tiger strayed to new forest, he become vulnerable to the poachers,” said RN Mehrotra, Chief Wildlife Warden of the State. The services of some trackers and informers are also being used to get the information about the people, who in the past were engaged in illegal poaching of tigers and other animals in this forest.
Similar steps are being taken at Sariska, where three tigers from Ranthambhore were relocated two years back. There was a proposal to shift at least more tigers to Sariska, but the same has been delayed for one or the other reason.
According to well informed sources with declaration of tiger year from February 14, 2010 to February 2, 2011 by China, authorities apprehend more demand of the tiger skin, bones and other parts of the body of the animal there. This would lead to the illegal killing of tigers, they fear.
In the past, China had declared tiger year from January 1998 to February 99. During that period 14 tigers were found killed by poachers in various forests in India. Another two dozen were found missing.
Sources said that the seekers of tiger skin, through their connections, are touch with poachers in India and they are offering exorbitant price to get the same.
According to official sources, there is a proposal to construct about 200 km of high wall to protect the Ranthambhore park. The work would be carried out under NREGS. In the past, the forest department had construct about 50-km of wall in certain parts of the forest.
Email | Print | Rate:
|