Space for endangered tiger shrinks

New Delhi, June 30 (UNI) The tiger has lost substantial area of its habitat during recent years, mainly due to human activities.

The deterioration in the forest cover in the areas inhabited by the endangered species has taken place despite stringent rules that were incorparated in 1991 in the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.

As many as 11 tiger reserves in the country out of 28 have shown a decrease in forest cover during the five year period between 1997-2002, Environment and Forest Ministry officials said here quoting a report of the Forest Survey of India.

The loss has been very high in Nameri, Buxa, Indravati, Manas and Dampa sanctuaries. These places lost 45 square km, 22 square km, 11 square km, 11 square km and 7 square km respectively.

The remaining six have shown a marginal decrease of one to four square km. These include Bandipur-Nagarhole, Dudhwa-Katarniaghat, Palamu and Sunderbans.

Buxa Tiger Reserve has shown more decrease in forest cover during 2000-2002 in comparision to 1997-2000, and this has been mainly due to the flooding of the rivers flowing through and adjacent to the reserve.

However, the loss of forest cover in Nameri, Manas and Inravati reserves was because of illicit felling of trees leading to human encroachment.

Shifting cultivation is considered as the main reason for the decrease in forest cover in Dampa and Pakhui, while the change in the course of Mohana river seems to be the cause for the green cover loss in Dudhwa-Katarniaghat Tiger Reserve, says the Survey.

In Sunderbans, the erosion in the Mayadweep island was the most likely reason for the decrease in forest cover, while felling and encroachment in Kanha and Palamau were probably the reason for the loss.

In Bandipur Tiger Reserve, the establishment of Nagpura rehabilitation centre inside the forest seems to be the major reason for the deterioration in the tiger habitat.

However, Bandavgarh, Corbet, Nagraunsagar-Srisailam, Namdapha and Valmiki Tiger Reserves had registered an increase in forest cover between 1997-2002 Tiger Reserves of Bhadra, Bor-Satpura, Kalkad-Mundanthurai, Melghat, Panna, Pench(MP), Pench(Maharashtra, Periyar, Ranthambhore, Sariska, Similipal and Tadoba-Andheri have shown no change in the forest cover during this period.

UNI NAZ YA BD1505