The year gone by has been bad for our national animal, the tiger.
A report suggests that we lost as many as 120 tigers in 2009. National Tiger Conservation Authority has made much ado about projects to revive the tiger population. Some exemplary work was done by translocation of tigers in the "dry" Tiger Reserves like Sariska and Panna. Only time will testify to the success of the project.
What is worrying is that poachers are able to have free access to the parks and can target the big cat either in connivance with the forest officials or by their absence from the Parks! In most of the surveys and analysis, which are conducted by the Forest Deptt officials themselves, the findings blame everybody. There is no introspection at the level of forest staff.
It would be shocking for some to learn that most of the parks are left to a Range Officer with senior officers including the Park Field Director living away from the Reserve! There is talk of relocating the communities that have lived in the forest for centuries. I believe it will be much better if the minister Mr. Jairam Ramesh opts for a simpler and cost effective option of shifting all concerned officials in or near the Park. At a fraction of the cost of relocating the communities, Field Directo and his city based staff can be shifted where they are needed the most. It will automatically result in better supervision and monitoring.
Hope Mr. Jairam Ramesh is listening.
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