Panna could be next Sariska, alarm bells ring over no tiger sightings

Government officials claim the sightings have gone down because of an anti-dacoit operation being carried out in the region and that hundreds of policemen inside the reserve has resulted in the displacement of tigers. But locals and tiger experts are expressing fears that there might not be many tigers left in Panna. Some go to the extent of comparing it with Sariska in Rajasthan, which is now completely devoid of tigers.

A team from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), which is carrying out a comprehensive study of the tiger population in the country, put the number of tigers in Panna at 24, in its preliminary estimations announced in May. But last week, shortly before it is due to submit its final report, the National Tiger Conservation Authority has asked the team to go back to Panna and reassess its figures.

This has been prompted by an increasing number of reports that Panna, at best, might not have more than four or five tigers left. A bigger question mark hangs over the presence of female tigers. In the last three months, starting October, there have hardly been any tiger sightings in the reserve.

Shyamendra Singh, who runs a tourist camp inside the reserve for the last 21 years and is a member of the MP Wildlife Board keeps a record of every tiger sighting by his guests. He vouches only for two sightings — of different tigers — since October. “It’s a serious crisis, I am convinced there are no more than five tigers left in the reserve. That would be the outer limit,” he says pointing out that not just sightings, but pugmarks, too, are absent.

Additional Chief Conservator of Wildlife in Madhya Pradesh H S Pabla claims as many as 20 sightings since October but, incidentally, all of them by the forest officials and not by tourists.

“Right now, we do not have much to worry about. But of course, we are constantly assessing the situation,” he said. Pabla was in Delhi yesterday and left for Panna the next morning on what he said was a “routine” visit.

... contd.