Once a roaring abode of the striped animal, the Palamau Tiger Reserve (PTR), is all set to host wildlife experts from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun by November this year. The institute besides others has been given mandate to focus primarily whether reduced prey base for tigers is taking a toll on its population in the reserve.
Officials of the Environment and Forest Department based on their experience went on maintaining that following the study the PTR may see even foreign entrants getting parachuted there.
“It all depends on the outcome of the study. We have seen population of Sambhar and Baison going down consistently inside the reserve, the main prey of tigers. If the WII finds that the prey base existing is not sufficient to sustain tigers residing in the PTR and increase their count then we may go bringing in additional animals from outside,” said lR Singh, Chief Wildlife Warden of Jharkhand.
As per a resent study it has been confirmed scientifically that number of the big cats in the State is not more than six. Though the Department is gearing up to start fresh tiger census from October this year with more precise techniques like DNA mapping of scats, GPS tracking and camera trapped to confirm about big cat numbers, it is not much hopeful for any quantum jump considering the facts about prey areas, reducing grassland cover and growing human interference into Betla national park.
“We are worried about biodiversity wealth of the PTR going down over the period of time. Naxal presence has also worsened the situation even further. Recent landmine blast causing death of an elephant is one such example. All these have paved way for a detailed study pinning down on the reasons and requirements for the future,” he said.
The Department is also learnt that inbreeding among Baison, Gaur etc may be one of the reasons behind their getting more prone to disease attacks. “Fatality among Bison and some other popular preys of tiger is on rise in the PTR. It may be because they are inbreeding which deteriorates them genetically. Fresh introduction of the breed from outside may improve the situation in the reserve,” said an official of the tiger reserve.
The WII, which is likely to be given the work order to conduct the study this week and complete it within one year, would also look whether in the worst case is there a need to implant even tigers from outside in order to restore the PTR’s past glory.
“It has been done in the past in different parts of the country. If the experts of the WII recommend for this, we may think over it. Moreover they would first explore all possible ways which can improve tiger population by its own resources,” added lR Singh.
As many as 54 scat samples from Betla were sent for forensic examination which has confirmed presence of at least six tigers there. They number is not encouraging considering over a dozen big cats roaming around in the PTR studding it among the most sought after wildlife reserves of the country.