Call for roaring focus on tiger conservation

Due to good conservation efforts taken over the years via project-tiger schemes, the population of tigers has risen in Nilgiris, said S. Jayachandran, joint secretary, Tamil Nadu Green Movement.

When tiger population rises, cubs and sub-adults need more space and food. The government, therefore, should focus on improving the habitats and remove encroachments in forest lands to accommodate the new entrants. “Two incidents of man-animal conflict over the last two years in Nilgiris have shown that new mechanisms have to be evolved to manage this issue,” he said.

Also, there is increased threat from poachers. Some poachers are trying to reach out to tribal villages in the guise of gypsies and then invade the forests to poach tigers. He urged the forest department to form a special task force to deal with this issue.

Invasive weeds proliferating in the jungles in an alarming way also pose a threat for tigers, said Dr S. Rajan, executive committee member, Nilgiris Wildlife and Environment Association.

“The weeds may play havoc with the herbivore health and any decline in herbivore population would tend to affect lives of tigers. So, if the tiger conservation has to be successful one need to think about managing the threat from weeds and exotic flora and the herbivore health,” he said.