UP to set up 'Tiger Society' to protect royal animal

Lucknow, Aug 2 (UNI) Following in the footsteps of the central government in its endeavour to protect tigers, the Uttar Pradesh government will setting up a 'tiger society' to supplement conservation of the royal animal.

Such a plan has been prepared for the first time by the state government in the country. It was considered necessary especially after reports that the number of tigers were fast depleting in the famed Sariska tiger reserve in Rajasthan. Even Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had to inetrvene to save the tigers from being killed or poached by the forest mafia.

The society would be headed by Principal Secretary (Forest), with Principal Conservator of Forest as its member secretary.The proposed society would work towards finding out ways to protect the tigers and extend any help in this regard.

As many as 273 tigers are present in UP as per the latest information available with the UP forest department, Chief Wild Life Conservator Md Ahsan told UNI here today.

He said the composition of the society was being worked out and it would function on the pattern of the recently constituted 'Saras Society' in UP.

The society, having already been approved in principle by the UP government, would aim at maintaning a coordination among various departments which are responsible for checking hunting of tigers and smuggling of their organs.

It would also establish a data bank for regular networking with the Central government and state government departments with an objective to nail down those involved in various illegalities with regards to tigers.

Mr Ahsan said the society would try to create awareness amongst the villagers residing near the forest areas and also to solicit their support to check the menace of poachers. Special attention would be given to Terai region of the state where most of the tigers are found, he said.

The society would also set up a crime data cell which would deal with the stringent punitive measures in connection with killing of tigers. The study of tiger habitat and progressive research on various aspects of the tiger conservation and protection would be another objective of the society.

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