chief
Prime VIP
Park has 40 tigers as against its capacity of 30
Jaipur/Sawai Madhopur, August 13
Even as the government is content after the completion of tiger relocation process in the Sariska Tiger Reserve, the Ranthambore National Park is facing a problem of plenty and experts feel that it is high time to initiate measures like extending the core area of the sanctuary.
Presently the park has around 40 big cats, as against its capacity of accommodating only 30 tigers. Though the park is spread over 1,000 sq km, its core area measures around 400 sq km. Experts believe that the strength of tigers in the park can be doubled in the next decade if the Forest Department provides proper security to the growing number of wild cats by increasing the core area of the reserve.
According to them, one way of doing so is by boosting the connectivity of Kaila Devi Sanctuary (in Karauli) and Sawai Man Singh Sanctuary (near Kota) with the Ranthambhore National Park so that the tigers can roam in their natural habitat. Though the Forest Department has recently included Baler range of Kaila Devi Sanctuary in the core area of the park, experts say the core area should be doubled to provide adequate space to the tigers.
According to Dharmendra Khandal of Tiger Watch (Ranthambore), Kaila Devi Sanctuary, with 51 per cent area of Ranthambhore tiger reserve, offers a great opportunity, which should be explored immediately.
Raghuraj Singh, honorary wildlife warden of the Keoladeo National Park, also feels that Kaila Devi is a natural habitat of tiger. “The development of core areas into Kaila Devi Sanctuary and developing water holes in the forest is needed. Also, protection will have to be ensured to the prey base in the sanctuary so that tiger can make its territory in new areas. The government should also contemplate developing old routes connecting the tiger reserves of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh seriously,” he added.
Jaipur/Sawai Madhopur, August 13
Even as the government is content after the completion of tiger relocation process in the Sariska Tiger Reserve, the Ranthambore National Park is facing a problem of plenty and experts feel that it is high time to initiate measures like extending the core area of the sanctuary.
Presently the park has around 40 big cats, as against its capacity of accommodating only 30 tigers. Though the park is spread over 1,000 sq km, its core area measures around 400 sq km. Experts believe that the strength of tigers in the park can be doubled in the next decade if the Forest Department provides proper security to the growing number of wild cats by increasing the core area of the reserve.
According to them, one way of doing so is by boosting the connectivity of Kaila Devi Sanctuary (in Karauli) and Sawai Man Singh Sanctuary (near Kota) with the Ranthambhore National Park so that the tigers can roam in their natural habitat. Though the Forest Department has recently included Baler range of Kaila Devi Sanctuary in the core area of the park, experts say the core area should be doubled to provide adequate space to the tigers.
According to Dharmendra Khandal of Tiger Watch (Ranthambore), Kaila Devi Sanctuary, with 51 per cent area of Ranthambhore tiger reserve, offers a great opportunity, which should be explored immediately.
Raghuraj Singh, honorary wildlife warden of the Keoladeo National Park, also feels that Kaila Devi is a natural habitat of tiger. “The development of core areas into Kaila Devi Sanctuary and developing water holes in the forest is needed. Also, protection will have to be ensured to the prey base in the sanctuary so that tiger can make its territory in new areas. The government should also contemplate developing old routes connecting the tiger reserves of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh seriously,” he added.
