M F AHMAD
Daltonganj, July 8: The chief conservator of forest and field director of Palamu Tiger Reserve Kumar Ashutosh, quoting information from the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, told that the institute has confirmed the material evidence of the presence of two tigers in this reserve.
Ashutosh reiterated that the Wildlife Institute of India has informed him about two tigers based on the genetic analysis of their scat.
“We had sent a bunch of samples of 15 scat to the Wildlife Institute of India Dehradun a few months ago. Out of the total 15, 4 samples of scat were found unfit for genetic analysis and were discarded. 9 samples were found to be of leopard,” said Ashutosh.
“The remaining 2 samples’ genetic analysis has been described as that of the tigers,” added the field director.
However, he said that the scat has proved the presence of the tigers in the PTR but the personnel have so far not come across either the kill or the leftover of the kill of the tiger.
“We would be far happier if our tigers pass through our camera traps.”
Sources said there is an issue related to the tiger’s kill as if it is of the private cattle owned by the farmers and the killing field is in the core area of the reserve, then the affected farmers will never come to the PTR officials for compensation for their cattle. This is because grazing is not allowed in the core area and the farmers can be held responsible for allowing or taking down their cattle in the core area for grazing. It is an offence under the Wildlife Protection Act.
Ashutosh said such a kill of private cattle by tiger thus goes unreported if it occurs in the core area of the tiger reserve.
On being told that the forest guards or other personnel could try to get a hint of the kill, field director Ashutosh said, “We have been asking our personnel to fan out to find as to when and where the tiger has his food.”
