Tiger reserve in Jharkhand to adopt Sariska model

RANCHI: Faced with declining number of tigers, authorities at the Palamau Tiger Reserve will adopt the Sariska model of mating felines in enclosures to increase their numbers.

The numbers of tigers in the reserve has declined from 45 in 2007 to 17 according to the last census in the 10,026 sq km reserve.

"We have been directed by the Centre to increase the tiger population by adopting the model followed in Sariska to increase the population of tigers," chief conservator of forest (Wildlife) and biodiversity, S K Sharma, said.

Two enclosures of 50 hectares would be set up with a tigress each which would have exits to a larger enclosure of 200 hectare which would house a tiger, he said.

"We will leave tigers in the enclosures and after birth of cubs radio-collar them before translocating them," he said.

"Let us see how feasible it is," Sharma said. He said tigers were spotted only twice in the span of a year, which was a matter of concern, he said.

On other methods of determining the number of tigers in reserve, he said the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad has confirmed that 45 of the samples of scats sent to it for examination were that of tigers.