News of cubs birth in Ranthambhore increase poaching threat

Jaipur, Aug 3 (UNI) With the birth of seven tiger cubs in Ranthambhore National Park recently, a number of poachers have started camping in the area around the park, increasing the threats of poaching.

However, forest officials denied the existence of poachers in the area, saying these people being nomadic tribes from the neighbouring state of Madhya Pradesh.

R S Shekhawat, Deputy Forest Conservator (Core), Tiger project, Ranthambhore, told UNI, ''A number of nomadic tribes have migrated from Sheopur in Madhya Pradesh bordering Rajasthan to the area surrounding the park. One cannot term them as poachers.'' ''As such the forest administration is not taking any stringent steps to clear the tribes from the area,'' Mr Shekhawat said.

''In a democratic country, you cannot remove any tribe settled anywhere,'' added Mr Shekhawat.

He, however, admitted to the poaching threat to the park and said the forest administration conducts frequent raids to keep a check on their activities.

''We also monitor their movements constantly to ensure that they don't break into the park,'' he added.

He said most of these people are camping 15-20 km away from the park and don't pose immediate threat to the security of the park.

According to sources, around around 40-50 camps have sprung up in the area around the park in places like Indala-Badbas, Jhakhoda, Baoli, Lalsot and Amli after the news of birth of tiger cubs spread.

UNI RRT SI KP1522