Indian Government press release on Sariska tigers

[Guest guest]

DECLINING POPULATION OF TIGERS IN SARISKA

------------------------------

*18:0 IST * *http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=32924*

**

*Lok Sabha*

 

The Wildlife Institute of India has conducted an assessment of status of

tigers in Sariska Tiger Reserve. This was based on the directives from the

Ministry. It has been reported that there is no evidence of tigers in the

said Tiger Reserve, this has been The Special Investigation Team of the

Central Bureau of Investigation has also reported the disappearance of

tigers from Sariska, primarily on account of poaching.

 

Government of India has taken multiple steps for conservation

of wild animals including tigers and to prevent poaching..

 

The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) was also mandated with

the task of suggesting a recovery strategy for Sariska Tiger Reserve,

following the disappearance of tigers from the said Reserve. The WII,

interalia, had suggested preparation of a detailed species recovery plan and

relocation of at least four villages (Haripura, Kankwari, Umri and Kriaska)

as a prerequisite for tiger reintroduction, forming part of the recovery

strategy. This Ministry has agreed in-principle for reintroducing tiger in

Sariska subject to conditions vis-à-vis the recovery strategy, on which

compliance is awaited from the State.

 

The Government has taken Legal , Administrative and Financial steps as

well as International Coopration for conservation of wild tigers .

 

*1.Legal Steps: *

 

Amendment of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 for providing enabling

provisions for constitution of the National Tiger Conservation Authority and

the Tiger and Other Endangered Species Crime Control Bureau. The punishment

in cases of offence within a tiger reserve has been enhanced. The Act also

provides for forfeiture of any equipment, vehicle or weapon that has been

used for committing any wild life offence.

 

*Administrative steps** *

 

2. Strengthening of antipoaching activities, including special

strategy for monsoon patrolling, by providing funding support to Tiger

Reserve States, as proposed by them, for deployment of antipoaching squads

involving ex-army personnel / home guards, apart from workforce comprising

of local people, in addition to strengthening of communication / wireless

facilities.

 

3. Constitution of the National Tiger Conservation Authority with

effect from 4.09.2006, for strengthening tiger conservation by, interalia,

ensuring normative standards in tiger reserve management, preparation of

reserve specific tiger conservation plan, laying down annual / audit report

before Parliament, constituting State level Steering Committees under the

Chairmanship of Chief Ministers and establishment of Tiger Conservation

Foundation.

 

4. Constitution of a multidisciplinary Tiger and Other Endangered

Species Crime Control Bureau (Wildlife Crime Control Bureau) with effect

from 6.6.2007 comprising of officers from Police, Forest, Customs and other

enforcement agencies to effectively control illegal trade in wildlife.

 

5. In principle approval accorded for declaring eight new Tiger

Reserves.

 

*Financial steps*

 

6. Financial and technical help is provided to the States under

various Centrally Sponsored Schemes, viz. Project Tiger and Development of

National Parks and Sanctuaries for enhancing the capacity and infrastructure

of the States for providing effective protection to wild animals. **

 

*International Cooperation** *

 

7. India has a Memorandum of Understanding with Nepal on controlling

trans-boundary illegal trade in wildlife and conservation, apart from a

protocol on tiger conservation with China.

 

8. A Global Tiger Forum of Tiger Range Countries has been created for

addressing international issues related to tiger conservation.

 

9. During the 14th meeting of the Conference of Parties to CITES, which was

held from 3 rd to 15th June, 2007 at The Hague, India introduced a

resolution along with China, Nepal and the Russian Federation, containing

directions to Parties with operations breeding tigers on a commercial scale,

for restricting such captive populations to a level supportive only to

conserving wild tigers. This was adopted as a decision with minor

amendments. Further, India made an intervention appealing to China to phase

out tiger farming, and eliminate stockpiles of Asian big cats body parts and

derivatives. The importance of continuing the ban on trade of body parts

of tigers was emphasized.

 

 

 

This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of

Environment and Forests, Shri S.Regupathy in a written reply to question in

the Lok Sabha today.