K'taka forest department to add two more Tiger Projects

Bangalore, Feb 26 (UNI) Karnataka Forest Department has 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 today.

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

He said in BRT there were 32 tigers spotted and it qualified to become Tiger Project. In Kudremukh, after mining operation had been stopped in 2005 following closure of Kudremukh Iron Ore Company, about 10 tigers were spotted and there was all possibilities of increase in population of the 'Super cat' in this area.

Karnataka already had four Tiger reserves located in Bandipur and Nagarhole National Parks, Badra and Dandeli/Anshi forest areas.

Karnataka had more than 300 tigers in the wild.

UNI MSP RS GM1643