According tiger reserve status to the Rajaji national park will strengthen monitoring and facilitate additional funds which could be used to further extend the range of tigers in Rajaji which is the western most limit of tiger population in Asia, said the Rajaji field director SP Subudhi. The tiger reserve status could also help develop Rajaji into the second destination for tiger tourism in the State apart from Corbett tiger reserve.
It is worth mentioning here that recently on the 40th anniversary of Project Tiger, chief minister Vijay Bahuguna had said that the State will strongly advocate making Rajaji a tiger reserve. Subudhi informed The Pioneer that according to Wildlife Institute of India estimate, there are 15 tigers- 13 in the eastern and two in the western part of Rajaji. “Since the relocation of Van Gujjars was started six of the nine ranges are now free of Van Gujjars and this in turn has resulted in a revival of the prey base in the national park. They used to take up fodder and water for their cattle and lop fruit trees which prevented seeding. However, the ecological revival following their exit has increased the ratio of does and fawns of spotted deer from 31 fawns per 100 does in 2004 to 70 fawns per 100 does in 2011-12,” he said. Making Rajaji a tiger reserve will result in improved monitoring as the National Tiger Conservation Authority will also monitor the management plan and tiger conservation plan which has to be implemented in a tiger reserve. The tiger reserve status will also facilitate budgetary support which would be used for both relocating of remaining Van Gujjar families and improving wildlife protection. With tiger population in Corbett increasing, the number of tigers venturing to other areas including Rajaji has also increased. Tigers move between Rajaji and Corbett through lansdowne forest division.
The national park director futher states, “Though tigers from Corbett used to venture into Rajaji in the past too, they started breeding here since 2009 which is a sign of conducive environment for the big cats here. Since tigers are apex predators, ensuring their conservation will also facilitate protection of other wildlife and environment,” added Subudhi.