Karnataka to add two more Tiger projects

Bangalore, Feb 27: Karnataka Forest Department had proposed to have two more Tiger projects in the State to take the number of such projects to six from the present four, State Principal Chief Conservator of Forests A K Verma said.

Talking to newspersons yesterday on the sidelines of a workshop organised by state-owned Jungle Lodges and Resorts here, he said a proposal had been sent to the government to set up Biligiri Ranganathaswamy Temple Sanctuary (BRT), while plan was afoot to set up another at Kudremukh forest area in Western Ghats.

MR Verma said 32 tigers were spotted in BRT and it should be treated as a Tiger Project. In Kudremukh, after mining operation had been stopped in 2005, following closure of Kudremukh Iron Ore Company, about ten tigers were spotted and there was a possibility of an increase in population of the 'Super Cat' in the area, he added.

Four Tiger reserves were located at Bandipur, Nagarhole National Parks, Badra and Dandeli/Anshi in the State.

Karnataka had more than 300 tigers, he added.

UNI