Strategy Paper for Tiger Conservation and Promotion | 16 Feb 2022

Why in News?

• Recently, Rajasthan Forest Minister Hema Ram Chaudhary told the Legislative Assembly that a strategy paper for tiger conservation and promotion has been approved by the state government, is being implemented.

Key Points

• The Forest Minister informed that an inquiry has been conducted by the State Government regarding the death of tigers in Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve in the year 2020. A task force is examining the suggestions made to strengthen the management of tiger projects in the investigation reports received.
• The Forest Minister said that in the cases of disappearance of tigers, poaching and mutual conflict over jurisdiction and deaths in the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve forest area, investigations are being done by the committee constituted by the Government of India on March 13, 2020.
• After the establishment of Ranthambore Tiger Reserve in 1973, the number of tigers at present is maximum. The number of tigers and their cubs in Ranthambore Tiger Reserve and adjacent areas has increased to 66 in the year 2019, 68 in the year 2020 and 81 in the year 2021.
• At present the ratio of male to female tigers is also 1:1.3, which is unusual. Most of the 32 female tigresses are of reproductive age, which has led to an increase in the number of new cubs. Between 2019 and 2021, 44 cubs have been born.
• Currently there are 25 tigers in the Sariska Tiger Reserve. There were 16 tigers in the year 2019, 23 tigers in 2020 and 25 tigers in 2021. At present the ratio of male and female tigers is also 1:1.22 here, which is unusual. Between 2019 to 2021, 9 cubs have been born.
• Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve currently has 1 tigress. There were 4 tigers in the year 2019, 1 tiger in 2020 and 1 tiger in 2021. In this interval, 2 tigers and 1 tigress died here and between 2019 and 2021, 3 cubs have been born.
• In a research conducted by Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun from 2006 to 2014 in Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, it was mentioned that tiger density in Ranthambore National Park and Sawai Mansingh Sanctuary area of Ranthambore Tiger Reserve has reached equal to Kering capacity.
• At the time of research, there were 43 adult tigers in the area of Ranthambore Tiger Reserve I, whereas at present it has increased to 53 adult tigers including 23 males and 30 females.