ROARrrrr for Jungle Tiger
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The tiger repopulation programme – the first of its kind in the country – was initiated in the Sariska Tiger Reserve (STR) in 2008 at the behest of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
It was believed that the reserve that became tigerless in 2004, mainly because of poaching, would regain its past glory. But despite the phased translocation of six tigers ever since – including one who died after being poisoned by local villagers – the programme appears to have achieved little, thanks to the shoddy handling of the habitat.
It was only last Thursday that the forest department noticed that the radio collars put on two tigresses had not been working for the past six months.
The two male and three female tigers translocated during past three-four years have failed to reproduce, leaving experts flummoxed.
No hormonal imbalance, which could affect their fertility, has been detected. Successful mating was reported and research conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India even showed the onset of pregnancy but apparently the tigresses aborted.
Various reasons have been cited and solutions prescribed but authorities failed to take remedial measures.
Significantly, the Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh that had become tigerless in 2009, has reported arrival of 12 cubs in the past two years after one male and three females were shifted there.
India Today news….
