Dehradun: The Corbett Tiger Reserve has one of the densest tiger
populations in the country. But now with the number of big cats on the
rise, the new worry for the forest department is that many tigers are
going beyond the park boundaries in search of fresh territory.
This brings them in conflict with people and also makes them easy targets for poachers.
"With
the population of tigers going up; their area of movement has decreased
due to which they are moving away from the Corbett Tiger Reserve in
search of water, food and rising temperature as well," said SS Sharma,
the Chief Wildlife Warden.
Uttarakhand has shown a big jump in tiger numbers - from 178 in 2008 to
235 - in the latest census. Now, efforts are being made to provide
protection to tigers in the adjoining Lansdowne and Ramnagar forest
divisions.
"Better management in parks is required. Basic
facilities like food and water needs to made available," said Anand
Singh Negi, a tiger expert.
While rising number of tigers has
brought good news for Uttarakhand, limited tiger territory and shrinking
habitat has seen a rise in tigers moving to the upper reaches in the
Corbett Tiger Reserve. And if this trend continues, man and animal
conflict will be inevitable - something the forest department has to
think off before it's too late.
NDTV
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