Tiger to enliven Sarsiska environs once more

New Delhi, Mar 4 (UNI) Tigers from Ranthambhore may soon stalk the forests of Sariska.

The sanctuary, which had become infamous creating nationwide uproar for having lost all of its tiger population, will be made rehabitable for the species threatened with extinction.

The first task was to remove human habitation which were disturbing the life of the animals, and initially the Ministry of Forests and Environment had taken up four villages for relocation, Director Project Tiger Rajesh Gopal told UNI.

''We can put in cubs in Sariska even if we relocate two villages,'' Mr Gopal said.

The transfer may take about six months, as there will be no use of transporting tigers to Sariska if conditions conducive to their growth and survival were not created, he said.

Sariska forests are located in Alwar District of Rajasthan. It was a hunting preserve of the erstwhile Alwar state, but was declared a wildlife reserve in 1955 and a Tiger Reserve in 1978.

The reserve has an area of 866 sq km and is situated 107 km north east of the state capital Jaipur.

It was about three years ago that the news of Sariska having lost its tiger population started coming in, mainly from tourists. A year later in 2005, the state government and the Project Tiger authorities confirmed that the sepecies had disappeared from the sanctaury, in the wake of which a Tiger Task Force was created by the Prime Minister. The Task Force submitted its report in August 2005.

Mr Gopal said the core of the revised new strategy formulated by the Ministry in the light of the Task Force report involves local people in the protection of the threatened animals.

Suppose, for example if local people are recruited as forest guards, this will give them employment and ensure their greater and sincere involvement in their task.

The Task Force Report says "The protection of the tiger is inseparable from the protection of the forests it roams in. But the protection of these forests is itself inseparable from the fortunes of people who, in India, inhabit forest areas." It recommends that "The habitat must be shared between the people and the tigers, so that both can coexist, as they must. The poverty of one, otherwise, will be the destruction of the other." The Wildlife Institute of India has been asked to advise the government of Rajasthan to involve local people as far as possible, Dr Gopal said.

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