Big cats
vanishing from Satkosia Tiger Reserve - Written by Siba Mohanty - Courtesy
of Wildlife Protection Society of India
April 2013. Satkosia Tiger Reserve seems to be headed the same way as Sariska.
Dwindling tiger signs and absence of breeding over the last two years have rung
alarm bells for Odisha's second tiger reserve.
In the 2010
survey conducted by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), the tiger
population was estimated at eight. A host of factors now indicates that even
that low number may have declined drastically. Although the management of the
tiger reserve is collecting tiger signs from the prime habitats, they have been
declining and are discouraging to say the least.
Just 1-2
tigers left
According to sources, camera traps installed in the tiger reserve have shown some signs of the large cats, but the population is reported to have hit a nadir. Already designated a low tiger density reserve, the drop in population may push tigers into extinction in Satkosia soon. The number at present could well be just one or two and unless urgent measures are taken, there would be none left in near future.
According to sources, camera traps installed in the tiger reserve have shown some signs of the large cats, but the population is reported to have hit a nadir. Already designated a low tiger density reserve, the drop in population may push tigers into extinction in Satkosia soon. The number at present could well be just one or two and unless urgent measures are taken, there would be none left in near future.
‘'The tiger
population does not seem to be thriving since there are no signs of cubs with
mothers or even juveniles to suggest that breeding is taking place and the
cycle is going on. This could be fatal to the population,'' said a source in
Satkosia.
Prey animals
aplenty
Interestingly, the prey base in the tiger habitat, which is connected to the tiger habitats of Central and Southern Odisha and onwards to theCentral India tiger landscape, has improved over the last
few years. The population of wild boar, spotted deer and sambhar has jumped
significantly, but there has been no sign of an improvement in tiger
population.
Interestingly, the prey base in the tiger habitat, which is connected to the tiger habitats of Central and Southern Odisha and onwards to the
The Satkosia
Reserve management too is aware of the impending crisis. "Prey base has
improved and so has the habitat and there is no record of poaching but no sign
of repopulation. It may have to do with the sex ratio of the existing
population," said Field Director Pandav Behera.
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