Lagatar24 Desk
Ranchi: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has tabled a report in the Jharkhand Assembly pointing out a decline in forest land and wildlife numbers in the state. The report cites lack of staff, poor fund utilization, and delays in execution of conservation works as major reasons behind the worrying trend.
Forest Area Shrinking Between 2017 and 2021
According to the audit findings, tree-covered forest land shrank by 2.60% between 2017 and 2021, while vacant forest land rose by 13.51%. Built-up areas also increased by 22.35%, underscoring encroachment and developmental pressure. The report states that the lack of regional master plan implementation, insufficient security measures, and inadequate conservation initiatives have aggravated the situation.
Wildlife Numbers Show Disturbing Trends
The CAG report also revealed that wildlife populations have not improved in protected areas. Between 2017–18 and 2020–21, the number of wild animals declined from 20,028 to 19,882. Alarmingly, in 2018–19 alone, the population dropped by 7,660 — nearly 38% of the total count. Though the numbers showed a sharp rise of 64% in 2020–21, the drastic fluctuations indicated that wildlife counting exercises lacked accuracy and proper methodology.
Tigers in Palamu Tiger Reserve on Verge of Extinction
One of the most concerning findings was the situation in Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR). Between 2000 and 2005, PTR had 34–46 tigers, but the numbers dwindled steadily to just one tiger in 2022. The estimated prey base in PTR also fell drastically from 85,666 in 2012–13 to only 4,411 in 2022–23. The shrinking prey base has been identified as the key reason for the tiger’s near extinction in the reserve.
