Oct

07

17 tigers lost in Madhya Pradesh in 2017

• Posted 7th October 2017

Statistics produced by India's National Tiger Consevation Authority (NTCA) show that at least 17 tigers have been lost this year in the once popularly known 'tiger state' of Madhya Pradesh. According  to NTCA figures over 71 tigers have been reported lost in India from the beginning of this year up until the 29 September. However in reality the figure is probably considerably higher with many tiger losses going unreported. Sadl ...

Oct

04

India and Nepal are co-operating on a joint tiger census

• Posted 4th October 2017

For the first time India and Nepal are shortly to carry out a joint tiger count in their respective tiger reserves and protected areas. Camera traps will be installed in tiger habitats and buffer zones which should avoid the duplication of tigers that stray between both countries.  The last tiger census in Nepal took place in 2013 when about 200 tigers were recorded.  More on this report can be found by following this link to

Sep

16

Another interesting article on the importance of tiger corridors.

• Posted 16th September 2017

Although in recent years we have seen a modest increase in tiger numbers within India the worry that many conservationists have put forward is the lack of connectivity beween the protected areas. A good example is Ranthambhore which arguably is the most recognised tiger reserve in India and contains an estimated population of 60 tigers.  However the lack of a contiguous forest area between the reserve and its near ...

Sep

11

Kazakhstan to be the first country to reintroduce tigers into the wild

• Posted 11th September 2017

It has been reported in The Guardian that Kazakhstan is to make ready a former tiger habitat where tigers are to be reintroduced after the last tiger was lost some 70 years ago.  Tigers will be introduced into an arra known as Ili-Balkhash which forms part of the tigers former historical range.  Much work needs to be carried out before the first tigers arrive ...

Sep

04

Mukundra reserve to receive 3 tigers very shortly

• Posted 4th September 2017

It has been reported in the Hindustan Times that Mukundara Hills tiger reserve which is about 300 km south of Jaipur is to have 3 tigers that are to be relocated from Ranthambhore tiger reserve. The go ahead has been given to the State authority b ...

Sep

03

The increasing importance of forest corridors for tigers

• Posted 3rd September 2017

Scientists from 5 Indian institutes have carried out a detailed study of genetic variation in a sample of India's tigers. In particular concern has been raised over the comparitively isolated tiger population of Ranthambhore where the risk of inbreeding due to their isolation from tigers in other areas is great. 6 ...

Sep

01

Five tiger deaths in eight months but highest tiger density in India.

• Posted 1st September 2017

Corbett reports the highest density of tigers in India where numbers have increased from 163 last year to 208 in 2017. However, within the last 8 months 5 tigers have been found dead at Corbett and a total of 12 tigers died in different circumstances throughout Uttarakhand. It is reported in the Hindus ...

Aug

24

Possibly more tigers for Cambodia

• Posted 24th August 2017

A joint effort between the Cambodian goverment and a group of non government organisations are discussing the possibilty of increasing the numbers of wild tigers in the northeastern region of Cambodia.  By increasing tiger numbers and therefore greater tourist numbers to the region local people would benefit from the income produced as can be seen from other countires that have developed tourism on the back of tiger conservation ...

Aug

20

The tragedy and blessing of the severe floods at Kaziranga

• Posted 20th August 2017

Over 300 animals have drowned so far after the second wave of floods hit Kaziranga. Flooding each year as the the mighty Bramaputra river rises during the monsoon period brings huge benefits to the eco system of the park allowing the grass plains to thrive which in turn provides food for the large herbivore popultion. However at the same time many of its animals cannot escape the rising ...

Aug

12

Why forest connectivity is essential in reducing human/tiger conflict.

• Posted 12th August 2017

In the past 3 months 6 human deaths have been reported at Pilibhit.  In 2014 Pilibhit was declared a tiger reserve and this helped create a sucess story for tiger conservation with the big cat population increasing from 28 to about 50. However at Pilibhit and a small number of other tiger reserves a common denominator can be recognised as the main causes of human injury and deaths.  As an example at Pilibhit villagers are grow ...

Aug

08

Tigress from Ranthambhore to be relocated to Sariska

• Posted 8th August 2017

The fourteen tigers at Sariska are soon likely to be joined by a fifteenth tigress from Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve.  During 2005 Sariska lost all its tigers to poaching. Since then the authorities have been working to reintoduce the big cats from neighbouring Ranthambhore that enjoys an excellent density of tigers.  At present there are two dominant male tigers at Sariska and to maintain the ideal ratio of one male tiger to thre ...

Aug

06

Has the carrying capacity of the Sunderbans arrived?

• Posted 6th August 2017

Published In a recent journal by the Society of Population Ecology the Indian section of the Sunderbans has a carrying capacity of 4.68 tigers per 100km basen on Chittal numbers and biomass within the mangoves. Given that the total habital area for the tiger amounts to about 2,325 sq km and that the latest tiger estmates for the area amount to about 90 aminals then there is concern that the carrying capacity has almost arrived.  More tigers could possibly lead to overcrowding and cause th ...

Aug

02

No more than 100 tigers found on the Bangladesh side of the Sunderbans

• Posted 2nd August 2017

At a recent census in the Bangladesh section of the Sunderbans no more than 100 tigers were reported. During the previous census in 2004 around 400 tigers were logged but that was before the latest methology of using camera traps to photograph and record the movements of the big cats.  Previously the pug mark method was used which was renound in providing an unreliable count of wildlife.  Therefore although the latest figure is disappointing it has to be said that the 2004 figure did ...

Jul

29

Global Tiger Day and the tragedy of Ustad

• Posted 29th July 2017

As the 29 July arrives and known to all tiger lovers as Global Tiger Day I would particularly like to remember Ustad T.24  no longer the proud and dominant male tiger of Ranthambhore National Park but instead languishing in captivity at a zoo in Udaipur.  Slated by some as a 'man-eater' in yet within his former home range was acess to a fort and temple where thousands of pilgrims walked each year and not on one ocassion did Ustad ever show ...

Tigers of the Sunderbans

• Posted 22nd July 2017

In India's Sunderbans National Park there is good news for the tiger as their numbers are holding up with a population of about 86 excluding sub-adults and cubs. In addition less human lives are being lost due mainly to the excellent work being carried out by the dedicated staff of the Forest department.  The Sunderbans which is spread over both India and Bangladesh is a UN listed World Heritage site containing the world's largest mangrove forest. In the Bangladesh area of the for ...