Hamlets in Buxa responsible for decline in tiger populations: Forest Minister

KOLKATA: The increasing number of hamlets along the Buxa Tiger Reserve are responsible for the declining number of the big cats, West Bengal Forest Minister Benoy Krishna Barman today said

Replying to a question in the Assembly, the minister said Buxa's environment does not favour the tigers now because small hamlets have surrounded the forests.

As a result the number of tigers in Buxa is not increasing, he said, adding according to the 2011 census there were 20 tigers in the reserve.

On attacks on crops by elephants in north Bengal, Barman said the government has increased the compensation amount from Rs 7500 to Rs 15000 per hectare for farmers.

He said around 150 elephants are there in north Bengal districts where their habitat has become small and fragmented over the years affecting the psychology of the animals.

Referring to raids by elephants, he said the smell of food cooking in the villages attracts them and they raid them at night.