Tigers face extinction in Panna reserve

Panna (MP), Feb 19: No female tiger has been spotted by tourists in the Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR) in the past four months sparking fears of the animal being wiped out of the tiger reserve.

Loss of natural habitat due to pressure of increasing population and poaching has caused dwindling of number of tigers in the Panna reserve -- once home to about 500 tigers. A male tiger is spotted only once in a while.

Wildlife expert Raghu Chundawat, who had carried out research in the Panna Tiger Reserve for a long time, believes that Panna reserve was heading on the path of Rajasthan's Sariska, where no tiger remains.

He said the management of the Panna reserve must admit truth and bring a female tiger from outside so that tigers could be protected from being wiped out.

Madhya Pradesh Wildlife Board member Shyamendra Singh said the Panna reserve management should ensure that radio collar equipment is tied to tigers so that their situation could be ascertained.

Poaching had to be dealt firmly to protect tigers. Panna tiger reserve sources said a tiger was shot at and injured by poachers near Parasmania Pathar recently. The tiger could now not be set free in to roam in the forest.

UNI