Question : TIGER HABITAT AND POPULATION EVALUATION SYSTEM

(a) whether the Directorate of Project Tiger in the Ministry of Environment and Forests has introduced a new state-of-the art technology to develop a `Tiger Habitat and Population Evaluation System` in the country to indicate the trend of tiger population;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the exact figure of tiger census in the country is not available with the Government; and

(d) if so, to what extent the new technology is likely to project accurate tiger census and to protect the endangered species?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS(SHRI DILIP SINGH JU DEV)

(a) & (b) The Project Tiger Directorate has taken initiatives for evolving a `Tiger Habitat and Population Evaluation System` with the following details:

1) Assessment of the habitat and status of tigers in the country.

2) Developing appropriate (site specific) census and monitoring protocols.

3) Developing spatial, aspatial models and database for risk assessment and persistence of existing tiger populations

4) Collation, analysis, storage, updation and dissemination of this information to decision makers and field managers.

5) Disseminating the census, habitat evaluation and monitoring techniques to field personnel by conducting regional training workshops and preparing manuals.

(c) & (d) The tiger estimation data since inception of the Project is available with the Government. The perceived system would be an ecologically audited technique with spatial attributes, leading to region specific tiger estimation protocols, which would be a refinement on the present time tested method in vogue.