Save the Tiger, Save the Forests - Sariska Relocation

What is the issue?

• Tiger happens to be at the pinnacle of the eco-system triangle. Saving tigers is much like saving the forests.
• Here is a look at the tiger conservation efforts in India, with particular reference to relocations made in Rajasthan.

Why are tigers, and conserving them, so significant?

• As top predators, wild tigers play an important role in maintaining the harmony of the planet’s ecosystems.
• The tiger moves in a big territory and requires a sizeable forest area.
• So, tiger conservation efforts with landscape connectivity and conservation involve measures in such a large range.
• Consequently, it leads to the betterment and strengthening of the entire biosphere.

What were the results of Project Tiger?

• At the beginning of the 20^th century, the number of Indian tigers was around 40,000.
• After Independence, tigers were killed mercilessly and the 1972 tiger census put their numbers at less than 1500.

• [The tigers were killed and their parts were sold to South-East Asian countries, for medicinal purposes.]

• To preserve the tiger, the Indian government banned their hunting and launched ‘Project Tiger’ in 1973.
• It created tiger reserves in the country.
• The viable tiger population in their natural habitat was also maintained.
• Starting with nine tiger reserves in 1973, there are now around 50 tiger reserves in India.
• The project totally covers an area of nearly 40000 sq. km.

What led to the constitution of the NTCA?

• At the beginning of the 21st century, the tiger population again started declining.
• The main Protected Area which was left without tigers due to hunting and poaching activities was the Sariska Tiger Reserve (Rajasthan) in 2004-2005.
• Subsequently, the Panna Tiger Reserve (M.P) faced the same in 2007-2008.
• This led to several inquiry commissions, at national and state levels to find out the reason behind it.
• Subsequently, the government reconstituted ‘Project Tiger’ and converted it into the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
• The NTCA had more power to check poaching and preserve the tiger population.
• Its mandate included setting up Tiger Protection Force and funding the relocation of villages from the protected areas.

What were the corrective measures taken in Sariska?

• The Rajasthan government took up the challenge to reintroduce tigers in Sariska and set up a task force in June 2008.
• The Wildlife Institute of India and World Wide Fund were approached.
• This was to plan and organize a population estimation exercise in Ranthambhore & Sariska.
• The genetic studies were undertaken to identify tigers suitable for translocation.
• For the first time in the history of tiger conservation, the wild cats were translocated from Ranthambhore to Sariska.
• The tiger population increased at a rapid speed from 1,411, as per the tiger census in 2006, to 2,226 in 2015 and 2,967 in 2018.

Why was relocation essential?

• Due to the loss of the forest corridors, tigers were surviving only in pockets like Sariska, Panna and Ranthambhore Tiger Projects.
• As these pockets were not connected, there was inbreeding of tigers.
• This, in the long run, would have affected their biological fitness, among other issues.
• Another factor important for tiger reserves is to have the right male and female ratio.
• These issues could only be corrected/addressed by relocation.

What are the other issues to be addressed?

• Every year, more than 100 tigers die due to several reasons (like health factors or poaching).
• Although protected areas are fundamental for their survival, a connecting landscape is also essential as they move between different habitats.
• These areas often have limited protection as many developments, mining, and extraction projects diminish the forest areas.
• It also gives additional opportunities to poachers to kill and hunt tigers and leopards.

What should be done?

• Engaging local communities should be a key component of conservation efforts.

Source: The Indian Express