By IANS,
New Delhi : The tiger census will be released on March 28, Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh said Wednesday, adding that it will be a comprehensive and scientific study of the country’s tiger population.
“I hope that some good news is out in the census, which is being co-ordinated by the Wildlife Institution of India in Dehradun. It is the most comprehensive and scientifically conducted census of the tiger population,” Ramesh told reporters.
Though the minister said he was expecting good news, he had recently informed the Lok Sabha that 161 tigers have died – 51 due to poaching – since 2008.
“As many as 14 tigers have died in the country this year till February, including two due to poaching,” he had told the Lok Sabha.
The tiger census this time is being conducted in a more scientific manner, using DNA sampling, as compared to census based on pugmarks earlier.
The last census in 2008 showed a sharp fall in tiger population, showing India had only 1,411 tigers in the wild.
India was home to about 3,000 tigers around two decades ago.