Tiger population rises in Madhya Pradesh: CM
Bhopal. Through effective wildlife management, tiger population is increasing constantly in Madhya Pradesh. According to Indian Wildlife Institute, Dehradun, number of tigers in the state was 300 in year 2006, which declined to 257 by year 2010. Their number rose again to 307 in year 2014. Of these, 237 tigers are in tiger reserves and 71 outside them. This was informed at a meeting of Tiger Range Countries’ Ministers inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in New Delhi today.
The meeting was informed that as per World Wildlife Fund and Global Tiger Forum, more than half population of tigers dwells in India. Central India Landscape is most important for existence of tigers. It is due to Madhya Pradesh Corridor that Tiger Reserves of North and South India are connected with each other. Continuity and constant improvement in tiger management in Madhya Pradesh is very necessary to achieve target to double number of tigers in the country by year 2022.
Special efforts have been made in the state to increase tiger population. With the assistance of the state government, over 50 villages have been relocated from tiger reserve and large number of land has been freed from biological pressure . Till date, all villages have been relocated from Kanha, Pench and Kuno-Palpur’s core areas. About 90 percent core area of Satpura tiger reserve has been freed from biological pressure . After relocation of villages, grasslands are being developed there with the help of experts so that carnivores continue to get prey. Besides, habitat development programme is also being implemented in all protected areas. Due to effective management, over 500 antelopes have been translocated in last one year from areas with high population to less populated areas devoid of antelopes. It is being done with the objective of increase in number and spread of antelopes over large landscape. Antelopes are main prey of tigers.
Tigers increasing even outside protected areas
Camera traps have detected tigers at several places in Dewas and Omkareshwar outside protected areas. From reserved areas, tigers have also strayed to Shajapur and Bhopal and sent back to protected areas. The state government and Forest Department are making constant efforts to increase tiger population and effective wildlife management is leading to constant increase in tiger population. Habitats of wild animals have expanded due to relocation of villages from reserves and poor and tribal people of those areas have been brought to mainstream of development.
