The
latest national tiger estimation showing a 20 per cent increase in the
number of big cats to 1706 from 1411 is cause for cheer, but leading
experts and conservationists say the next focus should be on
protecting its habitats and retaining their continuity and overall
ecological quality.
"Though the latest national tiger population estimation shows an
increasing trend, we need to focus on protection of tiger habitats,
retaining habitat contiguity and the overall ecological quality of
tiger habitats," says Ravi Chellam, a scientist with the Wildlife
Institute of India.
The All India Tiger Estimation - conducted every four years - in 2010
showed a 20 per cent increase over the figure in 2006 which was 1411.
Notwithstanding the increase in the numbers, experts feel the big cats
are constantly under threat due to development related infrastructure
expansion into tiger habitats.
"Though we still have a few large tiger habitats, expansion of
infrastructure into tiger habitats like laying of railway lines and
roads have a very negative impact on their habitat as well as on
direct mortality of animals and also increased human access to these
habitats," says Chellam.
"Data only shows the number of tigers left in the wild, but it is
other deeds like conserving habitats and preventing their
fragmentation and restoring connectivity that will ensure the tiger
population survives and proliferates in the long run," he said.
Tamil Nadu along with Uttarakhand, Maharashtra and Karnataka leads in
tiger density, says the estimation.
