BI-MONTHLY OUTREACH JOURNAL OF NATIONAL TIGER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY s t rGOVERNMENTi OF INDIAp e s
Volume 1 Issue 1 Nov-Dec 2009 INITIATIVES LANDMARKS STRATEGIES CHALLENGES ACHIEVEMENTS PERSPECTIVES Shivalik-Gangetic Plain Landscape Complex Area 5177 sq km Tigers 297 (259-335) Uttarakhand — Corbett (822 sq km) Total tiger Area 1901 sq km Tiger number 178 (161-195) Uttar Pradesh — Dudhwa (1133.8 sq km after Katerniaghat extension) Total tiger Area 2766 sq km Tiger number 109 (91-127) Bihar — Valmiki (840 sq km) Total tiger Area 510 sq km Tiger number 10 (7-13) Central Indian and Eastern Ghats Landscape Complex Area 48610 sq km Tigers 601 (486-718)
Andhra Pradesh — Nagarjunasagar (2527 sq km) Total tiger Area 14126 sq km Tiger number 95 (84-107) Chhattisgarh — Indrawati (1258.4 sq km), Achanakamar (626.2 sq km), Udanti-Sitanadi (851.1 sq km) Total tiger Area 3609 sq km Tiger number 26 (23-28) Madhya Pradesh — Pench (411.3 sq km), Kanha (917.4 sq km), Satpura (1339.3 sq km), Bandhavgarh (716.9 sq km), Panna (576.1 sq km), Sanjay Dubri (831.3 sq km) Total tiger Area 15614 sq km Tiger number 300 (236-364) Maharashtra — Pench (257.3 sq km), Melhgat (1500.5 sq km), Tadoba-Andhari (625.8 sq km) Total tiger Area 4273 sq km Tiger number 103 (76-131) Orissa — Simlipal (1194.8 sq km), Satkosia (523.6 sq km) Total tiger Area 9144 sq km Tiger number 45 (37-53) Rajasthan — Sariska (681.1 sq km), Ranthambhore (1113.7 sq km) Total tiger Area 356 sq km Tiger number 32 (30-35) Jharkhanda — Palamau (414.1 sq km) Total tiger area 1488 sq km, tiger number Not Assessed Western Ghats Landscape Complex Area 34094 sq km Tigers 412 (336-487)
Karnataka — Bhadra (492.5 sq km), Bandipur (872.2 sq km), Dandeli-Anshi (814.9 sq km), Nagarhole (643.4 sq km) Total tiger Area 18715 sq km Tiger number 290 (241-339) Kerala — Periyar (881 sq km), Parambikulam (235 sq km) Total tiger Area 6168 sq km Tiger number 46 (39-53) Tamil Nadu — Kalakad Mundanthurai (895 sq km), Anamalai (958 sq km), Mudumalai (321 sq km) Total tiger Area 9211 sq km Tiger number 76 (56-95) North East Hills and Brahmaputra Flood Plains Area 4230 sq km Tigers 100 (84-118) Assam — Manas (840 sq km), Nameri (200 sq km), Kaziranga (625.8 sq km) Total tiger Area 1164 sq km Tiger number 70 (60-80) Arunachal Pradesh — Namdapha (1807.8 sq km), Pakke (683.5 sq km) Total tiger Area 1685 sq km Tiger number 14 (12-18) Mizoram — Dampha (500 sq km) Total tiger Area 785 sq km Tiger number 6 (4-8) Northern West Bengal — Buxa (390.6 sq km) Total tiger Area 596 sq km Tiger number 10 (8-12) Sunderbans (WB) Area 1699.6 sq km Tiger number Not Assessed
INDIA Tiger Area 93,697 sq km Reserve Area 32050 sq km Tiger Population 1411 (1165-1657)
Population estimates are based on possible density of tiger occupied landscape in the area, not assessed by double sampling. a Data was not amenable to population estimation of tiger. However, available information about the landscape indicates low densities of tiger in the area ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 per 100 sq km.
Expenditure during IX plan Rs 73.18 crore
PROJECTExpenditure TIGER during X plan Rs 161.92 crore
Allocation during XI plan Rs 650 crore Volume 1 Thoughts Focus Issue 1 Jairam A scientific EDITOR Nov-Dec Ramesh Strategy protocol for Dr Rajesh Gopal 2009 Pg 5 Conservation effective Member-Secretary demands monitoring NTCA proper buffer Pg14 management CONTENT Pg12 COORDINATOR Inder MS Kathuria Landmarks The most FEEDBACK Achievements ambitious Initiatives Annexe No 5 conservation Project Tiger Three years Bikaner House project ever over three of NTCA Shahjahan Road decades Pg 6 First Person Pg 16 New Delhi P11 Fateh Singh [email protected] Rathore P18 Cover photo Dharm Khandal
BI-MONTHLY OUTREACH JOURNAL OF NATIONAL TIGER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY s t rGOVERNMENTi OF INDIAp e s
n o t e f r o m t h e e d i t o r
INDIA is one of the thirteen tional illegal market demand, ecologically tiger range countries having unsustainable land uses in tiger land- the maximum number of scapes, loss of connectivity between wild tigers. Launched in the source areas and ever increasing demand early Seventies, Project Tiger on our forests continue to challenge the has put the endangered tiger efforts to save the tiger. on a definite path of recovery. As far as the While our attempts to control poach- scale of implementation and the diverse ing and ensure a secure, inviolate home habitats under its coverage are concerned, for tigers is a priority, an equally daunt- the project has no parallel in the contem- ing task is to factor in the interests of the porary world. tiger in different sectors where tiger con- The recent All India Tiger Estimation servation is not the goal. using the refined methodology has high- Tiger conservation is a collective lighted that the source populations of tiger are present responsibility between the Centre, states and civil soci- in designated tiger reserves. These require active hand- ety institutions. We look forward to the active support holding through managerial interventions. The status of one and all for saving our wild tigers. of tiger in other areas is poor to very poor, which is cause for great concern. Dr Rajesh Gopal Loss of habitat, poaching fostered by an ugly interna- Member-Secretary, NTCA RECENT INITIATIVES NATIONAL TIGER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY
Implementing a tripartite MOU with tiger states, linked to fund flows for effective implementation of tiger conservation initiatives Revising Special Tiger Protection Force norms to involve local people like Van Gujjars in field protection Rapid assessment of tiger reserves done (12 good, 9 satisfactory and 16 poor) Special crack teams sent to tiger reserves affected by left wing extremism and low population status of tiger and its prey All India meeting of field directors convened on 25 and 26 July, 2009 under the chairmanship of the Minister for Environment and Forests for reviewing the status of field protection and related issues in tiger reserves Chief Ministers of tiger states addressed at the level of the Minister for Environment and Forests on urgent issues, implementation of tripartite MOU, creation of Tiger Conservation Foundation, stepping up protection etc Chief Ministers of states having tiger reserves affected by left wing extremism and low population status of tiger and its prey addressed for taking special initiatives Field visits to Bhadra, Corbett (photo on facing page), Sariska and Ranthambhore made by the Minister for Environment and Forests to review the initiatives and problems relating to tiger conservation Steps taken for modernising infrastructure and field protection Advisory issued for involvement of non-governmen- tal experts in the forthcoming all India tiger estimation Core Committee involving outside experts constituted for overseeing the forthcoming all India tiger estimation Report of Special Investigation Team, constituted for looking into the local extinction of tigers in the Panna Tiger Reserve, sent to Madhya Pradesh for action Issue of tiger farming and trafficking of tiger body parts discussed at the level of Minister for Environment and Forests with the Chinese authorities Initiatives taken for improving the field delivery through capacity building of field officials Decision taken to host the World Tiger Summit in October-November, 2010
4 | Nov-Dec 2009 | STRIPES ...Undoubtedly, Indira Gandhi was a visionary when it came to environmental issues. The extensive legislation that is in place today on environment and forests is almost entirely because of her personal initiatives and leadership. Project Tiger was launched in April 1973. If India has substantial forests remaining today, it is entirely because of the Forest Conservation Act of 1980 that she spearheaded...
Jairam Ramesh ‘Minister of State (Independent charge) for Environment and’ Forests
Jairam Ramesh during a field visit to Corbett Tiger Reserve in 2009
STRIPES | Nov-Dec 2009 | 5 PROJECT TIGER milestones The world’s most ambitious conservation project ever
DMIRED and feared alike across the world, the tiger A has captured the imagina- tion of millions down the cen- turies. In India, though wor- shipped in temples, the tiger has been the most prized trophy for the royalty and the powerful. To the ‘sportsman’ of yore, the tiger stood for India's wilderness. The awe and the beastly mystery sur- rounding this ‘phantom of the forest’ provided adventure, thrill DEPT FOREST RAJASTHAN and, of course, led to amazing shikar exploits. An estimate placed the popula- tion of tigers in India at the turn of the century at 40,000. The first-ever All India Tiger Census in 1972, however, revealed that only 1,827 survived. Even if the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh during a field visit to Rajasthan’s earlier figure was an exaggera- Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve in 2005 tion, the 1972 figure projected a dismal picture. Post-Independence, reclaimed for agriculture, direct- There was more than hunting ing rural pressure of small tim- behind the tiger's sinking for- rural pressure of small ber, firewood and grazing to hith- tune. Mounting demographic timber, firewood and erto sparingly utilised reserved pressure gathering momentum grazing was directed forests. Hunting pressures both towards the latter part of the last at reserved forests. from villages and cities, legal and century, led to progressive diver- illegal, went up, depleting the sion of wilderness to agriculture. Hunting pressures prey base of the tiger. A perverse lust for shikar among from villages and As prey became scarce, the car- cities, legal and illegal, nivores turned to killing cattle. In (Top left) Then Prime Minister went up, depleting the retaliation, the villagers poisoned Indira Gandhi with Kailash the carnivores. Such shrinkage Sankhala, the founder director of prey base of the tiger and depletion of the wilderness Project Tiger; (centre) Dr Karan coupled with direct elimination Singh during an international the privileged hunters took a pressures caused all wild animal workshop in New Delhi; (left) Then heavy toll on wild animals. The populations, including the tiger, Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi during totalitarian controls of the colo- to dwindle. a field visit to Kanha Tiger Reserve nial-feudal era, nonetheless, pre- At the IUCN General Assembly in Madhya Pradesh vented the masses from such in Delhi, in 1969, anxiety was indulgence. voiced about the threat to several Archive courtesy: Ravi Singh/WWF-India, Post-Independence, even these rare species and wilderness areas Madhya Pradesh Forest department and Project Tiger Directorate controls crumbled. Private forests in India. Things began to move Background photo: Dharm Khandal and village pastures were rapidly thereafter because of an intensi-
STRIPES | Nov-Dec 2009 | 7 regarded it as a truly national endeavour: "The tiger cannot be preserved in isolation. It is at the apex of a large and complex biotope. Its habitat, threatened by human intrusion, commercial forestry and cattle grazing, must first be made inviolate." The architects of Project Tiger, a special task force of the Indian Board for Wildlife, conscious of this, thus enunciated its objec- tive: "To ensure maintenance of a viable population of tiger in India and to preserve, for all time, areas of biological importance as a national heritage for the bene- fit, education and enjoyment of the people." Hunting was banned in 1972. Till then, the tiger was the most sought A six-year plan involving an after game of the rich and the powerful outlay of no less than $5,900,000 was approved by the government. fying concern, spearheaded by TIGER PEOPLE Field work for soil and water con- the Indian Board for Wildlife. servation and for habitat restora- The IUCN offered to draft Karan Singh tion commenced simultaneously. plans for scientific management H M Patel The effort was initially supported and research if India were to sup- Peter Scott with vehicles, boats, wireless sets port them and create special and other equipment received Paul Leyhanson reserves. The WWF offered equip- through WWF assistance. ment worth $10,00,000 so that Zafar Futehally Subsequently, it became a fully the reserves could meet the Dilip Mathai national endeavour with no exter- highest standards. Anne Wright nal financial support. Technically, The year 1970 will be regarded M Krishnan it remained a religiously guarded as the cut-off year in the history Billy Arjan Singh Indian venture at all states — of conservation in India. Wildlife conception, formulation and Brijendra Singh had reached its lowest ebb by implementation. then, and the full implications of Fateh Singh Rao Gaekwad In its report, the first Tiger this devastation began to be felt. M K Ranjit Singh Task Force observed: “To main- In 1970, a national ban on tiger Peter Jackson tain a genetically viable popula- hunting was clamped and in Samar Singh tion of tigers, a considerably large 1972 the Wildlife (Protection) Act S Deb Roy number of tigers would be came into force. required than the reserves and Fateh Singh Rathore The Tiger Task Force was their contiguous forests can appointed under the chairman- Bittu Sehgal presently carry... it is necessary to ship of Dr Karan Singh, then min- Valmik Thapar increase the tiger population to ister for tourism and civil avia- Ullas Karanth optimum levels by the improve- tion. Project Tiger was launched Usha Rai ment of the biotope and stimula- in 1973, and this concern and the Ashok Kumar tion of its diversity, according to direction were reflected in the sound principles of conservation. Belinda Wright message for the occasion from This situation will, in addition, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi who Ravi Singh provide a breeding nucleus from R L Singh B R Koppikar Kailash Sankhala 1985 - 1991 1977 - 1981 1973 - 1977
H S Panwar 8 | Nov-Dec 2009 | STRIPES 1981 - 1985 which surplus animals can dled across its natural habitats migrate to surrounding forests.” in the neighbouring countries, This focus on the flagship the Project ensured that most of species was, in effect, meant to the source populations in India cover the entire ecological pyra- were intact.
mid the tiger represented. From Over more than three decades, Courtesy: The IndiaN Express the cold Himalayan high altitude Project Tiger has witnessed a forests to the steaming coastal number of milestones. From nine mangroves of the Sunderbans, tiger reserves in 1973, it expand- from the scorched arid scrub- ed to 37 tiger reserves in 2009. lands of Rajasthan to the lush The project drew strength from evergreens of the south and the the International Symposium on north-east, and from the flat terai Tiger Conservation and the first swamps to the rolling hard International Wildlife Workshop grounds of the peninsula, the in its early days. In the early tiger is very much at home. The Eighties, it undertook a path- well-being of the tiger was, and breaking radio-telemetry study.
Sariska was a great tragedy. It was also a great opportunity RAJASTHAN FOREST DEPT for reforms. The Prime Minister set up the Tiger Task Force and its report led to the strengthening of the Wildlife Protection Act (1972) and creation of two Central agencies
Rajasthan Forest officials and scientists from Wildlife Institute of India prepare to release the first tiger — a male — airlifted from Ranthambhore to repopulate Sariska in June 2008
still is, synonymous with the Over the years, the Project health of the Indian wilderness. envisioned a core-buffer strate- Given the biotic pressure, gy. While the core area of a tiger however, many had predicted reserve is managed for wildlife the tiger would be extinct by the conservation, the buffer is treat- turn of the 20th century. Since ed as a multiple use zone to its inception, Project Tiger has provide vegetal connectivity for proved doomsayers wrong. spillover population of wild ani- While wild tiger numbers dwin- mals from the core conservation Arin Ghosh Rajesh Gopal 1991 - 1996 2001 onwards
P K Sen 1996 - 2001 BALENDU SINGH
Over four decades, Project Tiger’s biggest success has been the protection of a number of source populations in different landscapes across the country. With effective field manage- ment and conducive land use policies, these source populations will ensure that wild tigers never go extinct in India
NANAK DHINGRA unit. In addition, the buffer reserve (Sariska) losing all its provide statutory authority to zone also facilitates implemen- tigers in Rajasthan. Another tiger Project Tiger so that compliance tation of site-specific eco-devel- reserve, Panna in Madhya Pradesh, of its directives becomes legal. opmental inputs for eliciting the has since suffered the misfortune In the face of pressing chal- support of stakeholder indige- of local extinction of tigers. lenges of surging human popu- nous people towards tiger con- Considering the urgency of the lation and pressure on forest servation. situation, Project Tiger has been land, the Project’s biggest suc- In spite of its stellar record, the converted into a statutory cess has been to secure several Project faced periodic crises. In authority — National Tiger source populations of tigers. In the early 90s, a poaching spree Conservation Authority — by its new avatar as NTCA, the had threatened to undermine the providing enabling provisions in Project strives to streamline sci- Project. The spectre returned in the Wild Life (Protection) Act, entific modules of conservation 2005 when the Project suffered its 1972 through an amendment in and co-opt communities as biggest tragedy with a tiger 2006. Objectives of NTCA is to responsible stakeholders.
10 | Nov-Dec 2009 | STRIPES ACHIEVEMENTS
Q Project Tiger has saved the endangered tiger from extinction, and has put the species on an assured path of recovery by improving the protection and status of its habitat. Q The Project coverage has been increased from 9 tiger reserves in 1973 to 38 tiger reserves at pres- ent. Further, approval has been accorded for designating 4 more tiger reserves, based on proposals received from states. Q The core buffer strategy of Project Tiger has provided scope for eliciting local public support through site specific ecodevelop- ment in the buffer/fringe areas. Q The Project has contributed towards several intangible environ- Three decades of mental benefits to society, such as absorption of carbon dioxide, improvement of micro climate, rainfall and river flow. Q The Project has generated con- Project Tiger siderable wages for the benefit of fringe dwelling communities, who Resources (IUCN). are deployed as local work force Central funding Q The All India Estimation of tiger, for protection. co-predators and prey animals has Q While conserving the flagship The Government of India been refined by Project Tiger in species, the Project has saved provides 100 per cent funding collaboration with the Wildlife several other species of plants and support for non-recurring Institute of India, with a peer animals from extinction. items of expenditure, and 50 review mechanism comprising Q The local communities are per cent funding support for independent experts, both national benefiting from eco-tourism apart recurring items, based on and international (IUCN). from ecodevelopmental inputs in annual proposals received Q The tiger habitat of the country fringe areas. from states to implement the has been evaluated in the GIS Q The Project has served as a role Tiger Reserve specific man- (Geographical Information System) model for wildlife management agement plan for tiger conser- domain at the tehsil level. The planning, habitat restoration, pro- vation. An amount of Rs status and changes of forest cover tection and ecodevelopment. States 288.34 crore has been provid- within tiger reserves upto an outer have been provided funding sup- ed as Central assistance since surround of 10 km radius distance port for enhancing protection the inception of Project Tiger has been assessed in through deployment of local work (1973-74 to 2006-07). collaboration with the Forest force, ex-army personnel. The field Survey of India, for facilitating staff have been provided allowance restorative action. as an incentive for working in diffi- Q The Zoological Survey of India cult conditions. and the Botanical Survey of India Q Independent monitoring of tiger have been co-opted for bringing out reserves has been undertaken by a compendia on faunistic and floris- panel of experts, based on the tic surveys in tiger reserves. framework of the World Q In a pilot e-governance initiative, Commission of Protected Areas of five tiger reserves have been linked the International Union for with the Project Tiger Directorate in Conservation of Nature and Natural the GIS domain.
STRIPES | Nov-Dec 2009 | 11 STRATEGY these sub-adults (known as young floaters, the animals end up floaters) do not easily find space running into people. Such encoun- unclaimed by adult tigers. ters usually trigger conflict and Without forest buffers At this stage, a floater may kill the animals are eventually killed or and connectivity, our or chase away a resident tiger or captured and sent to zoos. get killed or chased away. If alive, (A zoo tiger may sound better reserves will remain the displaced weakling or the than a dead tiger, but in terms of islands of conservation, young floater moves towards the ecological loss, both amount to one pushing fringe tigers to forest periphery and may circle the tiger less in the wild.) forest till it gets lucky and finds a As our forests get increasingly death, stagnating gene slot. Otherwise, it may find a patch fragmented, face-offs between pools, and fuelling that connects its native forest to humans and tigers become more an adjoining forest where it may frequent. What is worse, our han- man-animal conflict try to shift. If there is no peripher- dling of conflict has always been ad al forest (known as buffer) or con- hoc, determined by assumptions, Text: Jay Mazoomdaar necting patches (known as corri- media hype and public pressure. Be Graphic: Ananda Banerjee dors) to temporarily accommodate it in Sunderbans, Corbett or Tadoba, these displaced weaklings or the picture does not change. Buffer is the core issue HE latest national census conducted by Project Tiger T using refined methodology showed that tigers are doing well inside most of our reserves, but have gone down in numbers outside Project areas. This gives us some serious food for thought. While it reflects on the success of Project Tiger in sav- SURESH SINGH/Courtesy WWF-India ing a few source population within reserves, it also tells us why our tigers will eventually be doomed even inside our better protected reserves if we fail to restore forest buffers and connectivity. The tiger is a territorial animal. The larger territory of a male over- laps with several smaller territories of females. But no two adult males or females usually share space. If they are lucky to survive their first two years, tiger cubs leave A young male tiger killed by poachers in the buffer of Corbett Tiger their mothers and go looking for Reserve on the banks of Dhela river in September 2006. The poachers their own territories. However, intended to hunt wild boars and accidentally ran into the tiger
12 | Nov-Dec 2009 | STRIPES Thankfully, the National Tiger Conservation Authority has come up with a scientific protocol to guide state forest departments in handling conflict situations. One expects that the protocol will be updated over time to accommo- date the latest scientific inputs available from the field. In the short-term, simple steps — like monitoring animals to ascertain if an attack is accidental or follows a deliberate pattern, effective people management to allow safe passage to animals Minimum population in breeding age needed for a viability (80-100) caught in the middle of a crowd which requires 800-1000 sq km of habitat etc — can minimise cases of ani- mal and human mortality. In the long-term, however, we Road need to take a hard look at land use patterns around our forests if we are serious about creating space for feasible co-existence. In natural circumstances, disper- sal and deaths maintain the bal- ance in a tiger population. But external disturbances such as min- ing or highways or habitation inside a forest reduces the size of the prime habitat (known as core area) and pushes too many tigers towards the buffer. Railway These dispersed tigers are Village doomed if we allow agriculture, Core Area Forest land Coffee/Tea estate resorts and other human activities Buffer Area Fisheries Mining Industry right at the edge of the forest, if Revenue Land Private Land Temple we cram the animals for space and push them into conflict, if we con- Land use dynamics around a tiger habitat fine them to small fragmented forests in small numbers and SOURCE-SINK/META POPULATION INDICATE ANIMAL make the gene pool stagnate. Over PRESENCE time, this combination of a dis- turbed core, a non-existent buffer and no connectivity between forests makes a tiger population locally unsustainable. Almost all tiger states have already notified the core critical areas. The next big test lies in institutionalising buffer manage- ment and restoration of corridors. That is the only way forward for NTCA to realise the full potential of its landscape approach.
Mazoomdaar and Banerjee are conservation journalists Source-sink dynamics in a tiger population
STRIPES | Nov-Dec 2009 | 13 FOCUS A scientific protocol for effective monitoring
Monitoring tigers is a process, the end product of which is not the number of tigers but an indication that there has been a change in number of tigers, says Dr Rajesh Gopal
HOUGH there is no escaping standing of the factors that have from the number game, there been responsible for this change. T are more important ques- We wanted to device a methodology tions that beg answers from the for detecting this change, establish- point of view of tiger conservation. ing its direction, and measuring its These are: What are the trends in extent and intensity. the tiger population, in the country There has been considerable as a whole, at the landscape level, amount of field data recording of and within tiger reserves? Where wildlife especially in protected have tigers gone locally extinct and areas in the past three decades. But which new areas have they colo- for lack of uniform data collection nised? What is the quality of the methodology and information on habitat, prey availability, and other survey effort, more often than not, characteristics of these areas? it becomes difficult to make com- Where are the source populations parisons or draw inferences from of tigers located? What kind and such data. quality of habitat contiguity exists There is no substitute for an between these source populations? objective-oriented, well-designed, Which mortality factors operate in monitoring program. Though indi- sink and source vidual scientists, areas of tiger popu- For lack of uniform ecologists, and scien- lations? How often data collection tific organizations do tigers move may develop effec- between these pop- methodology and tive monitoring ulations? information on schemes for individ- Answers to these survey effort, more ual tiger reserves, or questions are vital often than not, it tiger population esti- for planning land becomes difficult to mation methods, use, forming policy, make comparisons these would serve and implementing only an academic conservation man- or draw inferences purpose and con- agement for tigers from such data tribute little to tiger and their habitats. conservation unless However, with the exceptions of they become institutionalized with- some tiger reserves, answers to the in the system responsible for imple-
HR KHANDAL DHARM above were hard to find. menting tiger conservation. Institu- Monitoring tigers is a process, tionalisation of these protocols and the end product of which is not the monitoring designs is currently pos- number of tigers but an indication sible only when the Forest that there has been a change in the Department is a major stakeholder number of tigers, with an under- in implementing these protocols.
14 | Nov-Dec 2009 | STRIPES So we needed a simple, field- multiple regression density friendly, protocol that required model was developed. minimal technical skill for col- The multiple regression equa- lecting data that would meet the tion developed for density esti- scientific rigour for analysis and mation was run on the entire appropriate inferences. Thus, unknown grids for obtaining National Tiger Habitat and density estimates of all grids Population Evaluation System showing tiger presence (except took shape, with Wildlife grids having disagreement Institute of India and two young between logistic prediction and scientists, Dr YB Jhala and Dr departmental value). Qamar Qureishi. Tiger densities were then pre- In this system, the entire land- dicted using regression equa- scape was sampled at beat level tion developed at 100 sq km. (on an average around 20 sq km) resolution. Tiger densities were for tiger sign indices, ungulate averaged for grids with contigu- abundance indices and human ous tiger habitat (forest patches disturbances. A sub-sample (5% separated by less than 5 km on of the tiger occupied landscape non-forest were considered con- in 29 sites) of the landscape was tiguous). This average density again sampled for absolute den- was multiplied by the area of sity of tiger. This constituted the the contiguous landscape to double sampling approach. The arrive at the tiger population indices were then calibrated estimation of that landscape (regression) against absolute unit. Separate population of densities, and used for extrapo- tigers were then added to arrive lation in the entire landscape. at a total figure within a land- Logistic regression is a gener- scape unit and states. alised linear model for modeling The latest assessment using As revealed by the latest binary response variables against refined methodology highlights findings of the All India Tiger categorical or continuous predic- the achievement of Project Tiger Estimation using this refined tors. The grids showing tiger by showing that viable tiger methodology, Project Tiger has presence/absence were put the endangered tiger on an regressed against covariate data population exists only in Project assured path of recovery by to understand the variables Tiger areas, while outside saving it from extinction. The responsible for tiger occupancy populations are highly depleted total country-level population and predict tiger presence in a of tiger is 1411 (mid value); the landscape. The predicted (logistic lower and upper limits being regression based) tiger occupancy a month to two, so as to capture 1165 and 1657 respectively. and observed occupancy (field sam- most of the animals in the area. Since this assessment of tiger pop- ple at beat level) were compared for Every tiger captured was given a ulation is based on determining spa- any misclassification. Misclassified unique identification number (eg MT- tial occupancy of tigers throughout grids were then subjected to field 002), after examining stripe pattern potential tiger forests and sampling verification. on flanks, limbs, forequarters. such forests using camera traps in a The occupancy modelling resulted Following tiger identification, cap- statistical framework, it is not com- in a tiger detection probability ture histories (X matrix) were devel- parable to the earlier total count between 70-80%, and identifies the oped and analysed using the pro- using pugmarks owing to several covariates which explain tiger occu- gram MARK, CAPTURE and CARE. shortcomings in the latter, and pancy. Prey abundance have positive Beats with tiger presence were hence no comparison regarding the influence and human disturbance mapped along with all other vari- trend can be made. indices have negative impact. ables and data in GIS domain. A 10 The new findings indicate a poor In the field, sites were selected as km x 10 km grid was superimposed status of tiger population in areas representatives of high, medium and on this map. Information regarding outside tiger reserves and protected low tiger density landscapes. Then 2 predictor variables were extracted areas. The tiger population, by and km x 2 km grid was overlaid on the and averaged for this grid (100 sq large, in tiger reserves and protected map of the area (1 camera/4 sq km.). km.). Logistic regression was used to areas are viable, while requiring Cameras were allowed to operate for remove ambiguity in the data and a ongoing conservation efforts.
STRIPES | Nov-Dec 2009 | 15 INITIATIVES
ROJECT Tiger is an ongoing centrally sponsored scheme, P under which technical guid- ance and funding support is provid- ed to states for conserving tigers in designated tiger reserves. However, several constraints affect field implementation of the project. The events in the recent past have highlighted the fact that there is a need in the states for greater commitment to conservation goals and vigilance. There is also an urgent need to strengthen the system at the Project Tiger Directorate, which has the mandate to oversee and guide tiger conservation in the country. Considering the urgency of the situation, Project Tiger has been converted into a statutory authority — National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) — by providing enabling provisions in the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 through an DHARM KHANDAL amendment. The Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2006 has come into force from September 4, 2006, and the NTCA has also been constituted on the same date. The Securing the amendment also provided enabling provisions for constitution of the Tiger and Other Endangered Species Crime Control Bureau and enhance- ment of punishment in cases of tiger’s future offences relating to a tiger reserve. The revised Project Tiger guide- mating tiger (including co-predators, OTHER INITIATIVES lines have been issued to states for prey animals and assessment of Strengthening of anti-poaching strengthening tiger conservation, habitat status) has been evolved activities, including special strategy which apart from ongoing activities, and mainstreamed. The findings of for monsoon patrolling, by provid- include funding support to states this estimation/assessment are ing funding support to tiger reserve for enhanced village rehabilitation benchmarks for future tiger conser- states, as proposed by them, for package for people living in core vation strategy. deployment of anti-poaching squads or critical tiger habitats An area of 29284.76 sq km involving ex-army personnel/home (from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 has been notified by 15 guards, apart from workforce com- lakh per family), rehabili- tiger states as core or prising local people, in addition to tation of communities critical tiger habitat strengthening of communication/ involved in traditional under section 38V of wireless facilities. hunting, mainstreaming the Wildlife (Protection) Declaration of eight new tiger livelihood and wildlife Act, 1972, as amended reserves and in-principle approval concerns in forests out- in 2006. These states are accorded for creation of four new side tiger reserves and fos- Andhra Pradesh, Aruna- reserves — Sahyadri in Maharashtra, tering corridor conservation chal Pradesh, Assam, Chhat- Pilibhit in Utter Pradesh, Ratapani through restorative strategy to tisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, in Madhya Pradesh and Sunabeda arrest habitat fragmentation. Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maha- in Orissa. A scientific methodology for esti- rashtra, Mizoram, Orissa, Rajasthan,
16 | Nov-Dec 2009 | STRIPES Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, and West ive only to conserving wild tigers. Bengal. Two tiger states (Bihar and The resolution was adopted as a Utter Pradesh) have taken a decision decision with minor amendments. to notify the core or critical tiger As part of active management to habitats (2765.04sq km). Madhya rebuild Sariska and Panna tiger Pradesh has not identified/notified reserves where tigers have become the core/critical tiger habitat in its locally extinct, reintroduction of newly constituted tiger reserve tigers have been done. (Sanjay National Park and Sanjay The policy initiatives announced Dubri Wildlife Sanctuary). by the Finance Minister in his India made an interven- A tripartite memorandum of Budget Speech of 29.2.2008, inter- tion, appealing to China understanding has been implement- alia, contains action points relating to phase out tiger farm- ed for concerted implementation of to tiger protection. Based on the ing, and eliminate stock- conservation in tiger reserve states. one-time grant of Rs 50 crore pro- Financial and technical help is pro- vided to the NTCA for raising, arm- piles of Asian big cats’ vided to the states under various ing and deploying a Special Tiger body parts and deriva- centrally sponsored schemes, viz. Protection Force, the proposal for tives. The importance of Project Tiger and Integrated the said force has been approved by continuing the ban on Development of Wildlife Habitats for the competent authority for 13 tiger trade of body parts of enhancing the capacity and infra- reserves. Rs 93 lakh each has been tigers was emphasised structure of the states for providing released to Corbett, Ranthambhore effective protection to wild animals. and Dudhwa tiger reserve for cre- India has a memorandum of ation of STPF during 2008-09. guidelines for reserve-specific secu- understanding with Nepal on con- Special advisories issued for in-situ rity plan has been evolved. trolling trans-boundary illegal trade build-up of prey base and tiger pop- There are four immediate issues in wildlife and conservation, apart ulation through active management in tiger conservation: from a protocol on tiger conserva- in tiger reserves having low popula- Poaching and depletion/isolation tion with China. tion status of tiger and its prey. of source population A Global Tiger Forum of Tiger Based on India’s strong interven- The existing or potential distur- Range Countries has been created tion during the 58th meeting of the bance from activities, such as con- for addressing international issues standing committee of the CITES at struction of infrastructure, presence related to tiger conservation. Geneva during 6-10 July, 2009, the of settlements, and extraction of During the 14th meeting of the CITES Secretariat has issued a notifi- minerals or produce. Conference of Parties to CITES, cation to parties to submit reports Disruptions in traditional liveli- which was held from 3rd to 15th on compliance of decisions 14.69 hoods of the local people, curtail- June 2007 at The Hague, India intro- and 14.65 (progress made on ment of their pre-existing entitle- duced a resolution along with China, restricting captive breeding opera- ments due to conservation. Nepal and the Russian Federation, tions of tigers etc) within 90 days Providing resource for manage- with directions to parties with oper- (with effect from 20.10.2009). ment, including protection, of tiger ations breeding tigers on a commer- In collaboration with TRAFFIC- reserves, protected areas and other cial scale, for restricting such cap- INDIA, an online wildlife crime data tiger bearing forests. tive populations to a level support- base is being created, and generic The task, no doubt, is formidable. For the future, status of tigers out- side the protected areas and linkages Central assistance is in the landscape (with the communi- being given to states to ties, and also between the forests) are important. Sustainable land- set up STPF in remaining scapes are more relevant in the pres- 10 tiger reserves in ent scenario rather than advocating 2009-10. Since then, the isolated management of protected guidelines of the STPF areas. This calls for reorienting the have been revised for sectoral priorities in such selected deploying forest landscapes keeping in mind the inclusive- exclusive agenda recom- personnel in place of mended by the Tiger Task Force police, with scope for chaired by Sunita Narain. involving local people — INDER KATHURIA
STRIPES | Nov-Dec 2009 | 17 FIRST PERSON Need not be such
We all know NGOs can never match the scale of government a lonely battle operation, funds or manpower. But NGOs Conservation demands sound public-private can help with infor- mation, expertise and passion. But partnerships; they work wonders with a little the government agencies have to trust and courage, feels Fateh Singh Rathore be ready to benefit from such help. There has to be mutual trust and honesty for this. In Ranthambhore, our NGO Tiger Watch has done excellent work with the police department in get- ting several poachers arrested. The list is too long. But the experience with the forest department has not always been so good. Sometimes, Courtesy: The Indian Express when we have a good range officer available, who is dedicated and reacts fast to our leads, we have done great work together. Otherwise, many forest officers are more interested in suppressing our leads — they fear arrest of a poacher and his confession would bring them bad publicity. At the same time, NGOs also have to be accountable and dedi- cated. Many NGOs need a tiger cri- A joint anti-poaching operation by TigerWatch and Rajasthan police sis, so to say, to keep their funds flowing. I have heard instances of We cannot function Centre is not liked by many states certain NGOs planting skins for without accepting the who are still in the old mindset of fake seizures. Many forest officials denial. We heard how several states are wary of NGOs plotting with the truth. I congratulate Dr were reluctant to accept the new media to defame the forest depart- Rajesh Gopal and NTCA numbers. This attitude is the ment. But NGOs go to forest offi- for showing courage biggest problem. If we still don’t cials first. Only when the forest and honesty in declar- show the courage to face the truth, department tries to silence NGOs, ing that India has only we will lose many more tigers. they are forced to go to the press. about 1500 tigers. But We have to look for innovative Effective enforcement is possible solutions. In Ranthambhore, we only when NGOs or governments many of our states are have embraced the Mogiyas, a tra- do not have anything to hide. If a still in denial and want ditional hunting tribe, to help tiger is poached here today we to count paper tigers integrate them into the main- must accept it and try to arrest the stream. Our effort is to help edu- poacher before he kills another. cate their children and find alter- But if we want to save our skin by Tiger Conservation Authority for native source of income for their denying the first poaching incident, the courage and honesty to accept families so that they can give up the poacher will continue to kill that tiger numbers are down to poaching for good. more. That is how we lost most of less than 1500. We need to accept our tigers. the truth and only then we can A retired wildlife officer, Here, let me congratulate Dr move ahead. But what Dr Gopal the writer is one of India’s Rajesh Gopal and the National and NTCA are trying to do at the most experienced tiger experts
18 | Nov-Dec 2009 | STRIPES Change in Tiger Distribution
Historical distribution based on reports Present distribution of tigers based from the 18th and the 19th century on Tehsil reports (1999-2004)
Human Population 2,384 Lakhs 10,270 Lakhs
High potential tiger habitat
Modelled using logistic regression
Landscape characteristics and attribute data STRIPES | BI-MONTHLY OUTREACH JOURNAL OF NATIONAL TIGER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY, A STATUTORY BODY UNDER MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA VOLUME ONE ISSUE ONE
Water harvesting WHY TIGER? The forest growth reduces the sur- face run-off and facilitates water Since tigers are at the top of the storage as well as loss of top soil due ecological “food-chain”, their con- to erosion, which may other wise servation results in the overall lead to reduction of impoundment in storage conservation of all other species of plants and devices. The layer of decaying organic matter animals occupying the ecosystem. Tigers are on a forest floor and the root system of the indicators of the well being of the ecosystem. vegetation growing on it facilitate infiltration A healthy tiger population indicates that the of water. other ecological components in its habitat are equally robust, since tigers need large amount River flow of prey and good habitat. The investments The forest trees conserved in a tiger made in a project of this kind are more than reserve and other protected areas justified. Tiger conservation results in several regulate the water flow. The presence intangible but yet life–supporting benefits too! of trees in a catchment area absorb Some such environmental externalities are: the water and release the same gradually. This is beneficial, since on one hand the risk of Carbon di-oxide absorption (carbon extreme flooding is reduced, and on the other sequestration) the flow season is also extended. Tons and tons of fuel wood are used by us which release the carbon diox- No singular sustainable livelihood ide back into the atmosphere. project can deliver such benefits in a Presence of a large quantum of carbon in the “stand alone” manner, since the lev- atmosphere due to several such emissions at a els of sustainability are difficult to larger scale increases the “green house” effect define, and such levels even when contributing to the depletion of the ozone defined always entail compromises, and the layer which is lethal, and hence the absorption net outcome of such trade–offs may not be of carbon by the forest vegetation becomes tiger conservation! The fringe dwellers living important for our survival, facilitated to a large around tiger reserves are dependent on forests extent by the forest cover conserved in tiger for their livelihood. Though many of them are reserves and other protected areas. Presence of not in the food gathering stage, the resource continuous forest cover to a depth of about dependency of such people needs to be reck- ten km impacts the climate of the nearby area oned for safeguarding the ecological viability (almost upto hundred km). This phenomenon of the habitats. is beneficial to both human beings as well as agriculture crops, since they are protected The strategy of “core-buffer” pro- from climatic extremes. vides scope for ecodevelopment inputs. A small investment, based on Rainfall site specific participatory planning in The evapotranspiration from trees consultation with the people, comple- contribute to marginal increase in mented by sectoral integration of inputs in the rainfall in the area, and becomes an larger surrounding landscape, is important to additional advantage wherever the reduce the resource dependency through liveli- ground water is also sufficient. hood opportunities to such people.
Published and printed by Inder Mohan Singh Kathuria on behalf of National Tiger Conservation Authority. Published at Annexe No 5, Bikaner House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi - 110011 and printed at Astha Packaging, 122 DSISC Sheds, Okhla Phase I, New Delhi - 110020