NEW DELHI: The Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) in Tamil Nadu has been awarded for best communication strategy while the Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala has won the honour for local public support.
V T Kandasamy, Director Anamalai Tiger Reserve, said that an effective communication strategy has been evolved with support from local community that has ensured the improvement of the habitat and increase in prey base in the reserve which now has 23 tigers where as it was 13 in the year 2010.
Tamil Nadu reported 229 tigers, 66 more than 2010 when the number was 163. In the year 2006, the number was 76.
The Periyar Tiger Reserve has formed around 75 eco-development committees comprising of tribals population, local community and some people who previously were part of poaching network. Kerala has 136 tigers against 71 in 2010.
“These communities have been helping in preservation of tiger and they act as guides to people visiting the reserve. We have created 30,000 man days for local people saving `10 lakh to `12 lakh. We have made local people partners in conservation activities,” said Amit Mallick, Field Director Periyar Tiger Reserve.
Other awardees include Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh for active management and Melghat Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra for successful village relocation from buffer areas.