Jaipur:
The repeated incidents of tigers straying out of the Ranthambhore forests--two such incidents were reported within last fortnight--have made the wildlife experts anxious. The wildlife experts have suggested measures in order to prevent the situations which result in tigers straying out, the forest department of the state has already sent proposal to increase the areas of Ranthambhore and Sariska tiger reserves.
Recently two tigers strayed out from the Ranthambhore national park within a short period of less than a fortnight. While the first incident occurred on October 4, the second such incident was reported on October 17 when another tiger, T-38, left the Ranthambhore tiger reserve area and reached Madhya Pradesh.This tiger is believed to have strayed out on Saturday. In the first incident, another tiger, believed to be T-7, had first reached the territory of Uttar Pradesh (UP) and then returned on his own to Rajasthan and reached Keoladeo National Park in Bharatpur. Earlier another tiger, Mohan had left the state and reached Madhya Pradesh.
Feeling concerned over such repeated incidents, the wildlife experts suggest measures to be taken to avoid such occurrences. Wildlife expert Dharminder Khandal, who runs a Non Government Organisation (NGO) Tiger Watch, told DNA, "As far as the area of Ranthambhore forest is concerned, it is adequate enough for the present number of tigers living there.
While this area can accommodate 35 to 40 tigers, presently there are about 27 tigers in this forest so the reason (for tigers straying out) is not limited area for the big cats."
Khandal stressed that a healthy composition of tigers' families was needed in order to retain the big cats in their reserved area.
"The male female ratio is also one of the reasons. The number of male tigers is more as compared to female tigers. Another reason is that the forest department itself has created such conditions which are unfamiliar for the animals. For example many constructions have been made in the forest areas by the forest department," the wildlife expert added.
Meanwhile the forest department, which too is trying hard to prevent the incidents of tigers straying out, has worked out a plan to prevent such incidents. According to sources in the forest department the proposal has already been sent to the government to increase the areas of tiger reserves of Ranthambhore and Sariska. For this land has also been identified to be acquired for increasing the forest areas.
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