Steps to improve habitat, security at Buxa as experts doubt presence of tigers

Kolkata: With tiger experts raising doubts about the presence of big cats in Buxa Tiger Reserve (BTR) in north Bengal, authorities have decided to improve habitat, prey base and ensure protection in the reserve before considering their relocation in it.

"Decision has been taken to improve the habitat, prey base and ensure surveillance and protection," chief wildlife warden of the state Azam Zaidi told PTI here.

It was taken at a recent high-level meeting at Buxa which was attended by member secretary of National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) B S Bonal and state forest officials.

Zaidi admitted that the prey base in BTR is not upto the mark and grassland is also scarce.

"Steps were being intiated to improve grassland as well as improve surveillance and security in the reserve," Zaidi, also principal chief conservator of forest (general), said.

Asked about the possibility of relocating tigers to BTR from other reserves, he said, "Once we improve the habitat such decisions have to be taken by NTCA."

The last census based on cat sample analysis indicated that there are three tigers in BTR, which borders Bhutan and Manas tiger reserve in Assam.

"Three is not a sacrosanct figure. Phase four census will be conducted this year and the exact number of big cats will be known," Zaidi said.

However, the tiger experts have raised doubts about the presence of the big cats in the reserve.

Tiger expert and conservationist Valmik Thapar told PTI, "No tiger should be relocated to Buxa till all cattle and livestock are removed. All human disturbances must be stopped. The density of prey should be scientifically monitored for two years. If after five years situation improves, then review for relocating tigers there."

Thapar, a former NTCA member said, "In fact, Buxa today has no tigers and it seems this has been the case for many years. Like Sariska and Panna Buxa many years ago."

He said that monitoring of the area must be done by non-governmental specialists to ensure transparency.

Former director of Project Tiger P K Sen also questioned any move to relocate tigers in Buxa saying that three things needed to be done in BTR.

"Protection has to be ensured, cattle grazing and illegal firewood collection in the reserve have to be stopped, else tigers will not survive there," he said.

On improvement in habitat and prey base, Sen said "It cannot be done overnight. Buxa never had viable tiger population. Now they talk of the presence of three tigers in BTR but in the last 10 years sighting is zero."

BTR authorities, however, refused to admit that Buxa has

gone the Sariska and Panna way and asserted big cats still roamed in the reserve.

Bittu Sahgal, environmental activist and editor of 'Sanctuary Asia', a well known wildlife and photography magazine, said it is not easy to airlift cats from one place to another.

"It take years of work to build up the prey base, which can only happen when the habitat is protected from grazing, wood cutting, quarrying, dams, canals and roads," he said.

Biswajit Roychowdhury, a state Wildlife Board member, expressing doubts about presence of tiger in BTR said "If tiger is relocated in the reserve after improvement in habitat, prey base and security, it will be good. But first and foremost thing is security has to be tightened there."

Joydip Kundu, a member of the state wildlife advisory board said that "Sariska and Panna where tigers were reintroduced have shown us the way. It will be good if big cat is reintroduced in Buxa after proper improvement in habitat".

Relocation of villages in the core and buffer areas of BTR is another key issue to be addressed by the authorities.

Zaidi said the central government is ready with the fund for relocation of villages from the tiger reserve but "We have to talk to the local people first for that purpose."

Roychowdhury who is also a member of the committee to look into the solutions to the problems faced by BTR, said to make central funds available for relocation of the villages, the core area has to be extended by 42 sq km because such funds are not available for relocation of villages from buffer areas.