Jairam Ramesh inaugurated the 38th tiger reserve of the country last Friday, i.e., Feb 19, 2010.
Parambikulam Tiger Reserve in Kerala in Kerala. The park has 390 sq km of core area and another 252 sq km as buffer zone.
The tiger density is estimated at 15. Recently 5 sub adult tigers have been sighted in the park which has raised hope of the forest department in developing tourism in the area.
However, the minister sounded grim about the chances of tiger in India. He feared that 18 tiger reserves in the country "may die out any time". He felt only 9 tiger reserves were actually functioning tiger reserves in the country.
He further confirmed that tiger population in Sariska and Panna had become extinct due to poaching, mining and operation by real estate mafia.
If you know these two places well, you would know that the Field Directors of these tiger reserves live away from the park and visit the park only with dignitaries and VIPs. The parks have long been left to lowly ranked officers. The forest officers will have to be pulled up and located near the parks if the minister wants to save the tigers.
