Indian govt to meet & discuss tiger deaths

New Delhi, Sep 16: The government would hold a series of meeting with 17 tiger-range states to probe into reasons for tiger deaths, which crossed 50 mark in 2009.

"The first meeting will be held tomorrow with directors from tiger reserves from Northern India such as Corbett, Dudhwa and Kaziranga," said a senior official from National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), which is holding the meet on behalf of the Centre.

Phased meetings with directors of tiger reserves in Central and Southern India would be held by Tuesday, Oct 6.

The government maintained that at least 52 tigers died in 2009, while the NGOs estimated the toll to be 66 due to shrinking habitats, poaching and man-animal conflicts.

While the officials recorded 15 poaching deaths but the NGO Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) led by wildlife expert Belinda Wright stated the number to be 23.

OneIndia News