BENGALURU: Too much of funding, corruption and media attention is the root cause of tiger deaths in Karnataka, according to former wildlife officials and experts. The five tiger reserves in the state receive crores of rupees in the form of budgetary support, grants, tiger conservation foundation funds and from NGOs.
This financial year, they have received about `200 crore just for the installation of rail fence barriers which ideally could have been used for relocation of people from these reserves. There is no money for voluntary relocation programme and people have been waiting for years now, they pointed out.
Former officials added, “Adequate and realistic compensation is not paid to affected people and no attempts are made to relocate them. In the name of capture and relocation of tigers, funds are wasted and opinion is taken from experts who are non-professionals. In Bandipur-Nagarhole, they have on their panel ex-drivers, construction agents and even mechanics to advise them on capture and relocation of tigers, leopards and elephants. There is a total lack of professionalism when dealing with such issues.
The less said the better about veterinary capabilities.”
Another expert added, “It has become a ‘tamasha’ nowadays, unlike earlier times. With so much funding, everybody wants a share of the loot. It’s high time that funding for tiger reserves is reviewed as it is indiscriminately spent on non-issues while the poor animals either suffer or die.”
Tigress identified
Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) India has identified the tigress that died on Tuesday due to an overdose of tranquilliser when it was darted near the Antarsanthe Range of Nagarhole Tiger Reserve on Monday.
According to WCS, the dead tigress was almost 10 years old and has been identified as NHT-L114. Dr Ullas Karanth, Director-Science Asia, Wildlife Conservation Society, said, “As per camera-trap studies, the tigress was first sighted at Madanhalli-Kadagadal Katte Road in Antarsanthe range on February 18, 2008. It was photo-captured twice later in 2013 and 2014 in Sunkadakatte-Mastigudi Road.”
Based on the photos, individual size and physical appearance, the age of the tiger was estimated. The tigress was caught on camera in November 2016 by a tourist near the Kabini backwaters.
Interesting study
The recent tiger removal incidents from Nagarhole has brought out some interesting details from an earlier analysis done by Mysore Zoo. In December 2014, a 8-10 year old tigress (named Ramya) was captured and relocated from Metikuppe Range to Mysore Zoo. She was found in a very stressed condition with many wounds. She was kept in the zoo as she was unfit to be released in the wild.
In January 2015, the zoo received a tiger cub from the Metikuppe Range. The cub received treatment as its body condition was bad although it had no external injuries. Unfortunately, the cub, named Dhanush, succumbed to death in February 2015.
Since both Ramya and Dhanush were found in the same range and area, the zoo officials decided to verify whether there was a genetic correlation between the two animals and so samples were sent to the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad.
Tests proved that they had a parent-offspring relationship. Such scientific investigations are invaluable for conservation measures related to tiger protection strategies, experts said.