As per official figures, tiger mortality during the last seven months stands at 46, as against the total of 72 last year. Of the 46 deaths, at least 15 tigers have died of poaching, while several deaths are shrouded in mystery and still under investigation.
In a bid to step up tiger protection mechanisms National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has decided to expand electronic -surveillance to Kaziranga Natonal Park in Assam, Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh and the Ramnagar division surrounding Corbett in Uttarakhand after a pilot study in the Kalagarh range of the Corbett National Park.
According to sources in NTCA, the advantage of e-surveillance is dual. One it keeps an eye on unauthorised people entering into the tiger habitat areas and second that of tigers straying into human habitat.