Experts laud wildlife protection in Madhya Pradesh

Bhopal: Noted wildlife experts have lavished praise for success achieved by Madhya Pradesh in wildlife protection, specially conservation of tigers, vultures and reindeer. The experts attending 12th meeting of Madhya Pradesh State Wildlife Board and its members also praised leadership and commitment of Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan to wildlife protection.

The Chief Minister said that along with wildlife protection, livelihoods of forest dwellers is also necessary. The Chief Minister said the better wildlife management has led to rise in their number. The government is totally committed to protecting wildlife and their habitats. He said that views and suggestion of wildlife experts will be included in policy directives.

The meeting was informed that number of State Animal Reindeer had dwindled to 60 in recent past. Due to better management, their number has risen to 600 now. During current year, 7 reindeer have been translocated to Van Vihar, Bhopal from Kanha tiger reserve. Similarly, a tiger and tigress from Bandhavgarh were translocated to Satpura tiger reserve. Antelopes have also been rehabilitated without any harm. Experts described increase in number of tigers in Panna from 0 to 30 as unprecedented. The Chief Minister congratulated department’s staff connected with wildlife protection.

Wildlife expert and Board’s member Sushri Belinda Wright informed that Panna’s tiger conservation is a talk of the town even in Kazakhstan and Cambodia. Panna has now attained status of an international level wildlife conservation school.

Declaring Panna National Park as winner for year 2015, American company Trippadvisor has conferred a certificate of excellence to it. Similarly, Travel Operators for Tigers have given status of best wildlife destination to Satpura tiger reserve.

The Chief Minister released a colourful illustrated book on vulture conservation in Panna National Park. It has been authored by photographer Shri Bhalu Monde and Shri Abhilash Khandekar. The Chief Minister also released photographs of tigers.

Forest Minister Dr. Gaurishankar Shejwar, Chief Secretary Shri Anthony de Sa, MLAs Shri Sudarshan Gupta, Smt. Shashi Thakur and Shri Nagendra Singh, Principal Secretary Forests Shri A.P Shrivastava, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Shri Ravi Shrivastava, Board’s member Dr. H.S. Pabla, Shri Ranjit Singh of Wildlife Trust of India, Sushri Belinda Wright, Dr. Surendra Tiwari and other board members and Principal Secretaries of concerning departments attended the meeting.