By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net
Bhopal, May 24: The Indian Institute of Wildlife, Dehradun has released the preliminary figures of tiger’s census and a report on their habitation obtained through study being conducted over tigers of the states of central India. In this connection, information has been given in a workshop held at New Delhi on Wednesday.
Himmat Kothari, the Minister for Forest, based on the figures released by the institute informed that a maximum number of tigers are found in Madhya Pradesh and the state has the biggest tigers habitation area measuring 15614 square kilometers followed by Orissa- 9144 sq. kilometers, Andhra Pradesh- 8141 sq. kilometers, Maharashtra- 4273 sq. kilometers, Chhattisgarh- 3609 sq. kilometers and Rajasthan- 356 sq. kilometers.
The study conducted on national parks and sanctuaries of Madhya Pradesh has brought to the light an estimated healthy number of tigers in the state. At present the estimated figures of tigers population in national parks and sanctuaries located in Madhya Pradesh have been compiled. Moreover, the second phase will give the study results of the forest areas of general forest circles outside the protected areas. As per the information published, the maximum number of tigers in national parks and sanctuaries of the state has been put at 340 whereas the average number has been put at 275. These figures do not include the number of cubs below the age of 18 months. Presently, the number of such cubs is over 50 and after taking into account these numbers, the total estimated population of tigers is nearly 390.
Kothari further informed that Madhya Pradesh is quite rich in respect of wildlife. This is very much evident from the report brought out by the Indian Institute of Wildlife. He pointed out that Madhya Pradesh has also registered the presence of a good number of other wildlife. Apart from the presence of tigers in an area of 15614 sq. kilometers, leopards are also spotted in 34736 sq. kilometers, which is more than the double of the tiger’s area. Similarly, wild dogs and bears are found in 28508 sq. kilometers and 40959 sq. kilometers respectively apart from other wild animals including Cheetal, Neel Gaay, wild pig etc. which is very encouraging.
The report also reveals that national parks and sanctuaries of Madhya Pradesh have satisfactory number of tigers but owing to increasing population, its dependence on forests and pressure of grazing of domestic animals is resulting in division of habitation of tigers. ([email protected])