Thirty-four years after the launch of Project Tiger, there is little hope in sight for the future of tigers in the country.
NEW DELHI: Thirty-four years after the launch of Project Tiger, there is little hope in sight for the future of tigers in the country.
After the project was launched in 1973, several tiger reserves were set up on the basis of a core-buffer structure. The core areas were to be free from human activities and the buffer zones would be used for conservation of animals.
But in the past several years, the focus has been on the core areas only. As a result, whenever tigers leave the safety of their sanctuaries and enter the buffer zones they fall prey to poachers and villagers.
Project Tiger director Rajesh Gopal said: “The forest departments are making no effort to provide protection to animals that stray into buffer zones. There is also no wildlife conservation programme in place in the areas around the tiger reserves.”
Tiger expert Valmik Thapar feels the situation will worsen after the Tribal Bill is implemented as tribals and forest dwellers will be allowed to use the national parks and sanctuaries.
Restrictions would apply only to the critical wildlife habitats which are yet to be marked, he said.
A recent meeting at the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, discussed issues such as formulation of a Tiger Conservation Plan and demarcation of buffer zones.
Except for Kanha, no tiger reserve in the country has demarcated and well-managed buffer zones, said the Project Tiger director.
In all states, buffer zones cater to everything under the sun —agriculture, railway lines, roads and even highways —except for wildlife conservation.
The recent Tiger Task Force report also highlights the need for proper management of areas around tiger reserves to protect the animals, reduce pressure on forests and minimise man-animal conflict.
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