(a) whether a team of Indian and American Scientists have in their recent report commented upon the approach of collecting data regarding the tiger population in the country which led to poor conservation practices and doubtful assessment of the tiger population;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the reaction of the Government thereto?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI DILIP SINGH JU DEV)
(a), (b) & (c) - A paper on monitoring of tiger population in India co-authored by nine persons, which includes scientists and non-scientists, has appeared in an international journal recently. The paper criticizes the time tested, field friendly, cost efficient, methodology in vogue for tiger estimation in the country which is unparalleled in the world, and advocates an alternative sampling based costlier method not feasible for a country level estimation in diverse habitats. The density of tigers in most of the tiger habitats is low or moderate, hence, it is not feasible to adopt a universal statistical design for estimating a territorial animal like tiger at the national level. The methodology being followed is capable of giving reliable results which meet the needs of the field management for conservation of the species. The Project Tiger Directorate has taken initiatives for evolving a `Tiger Habitat and Population Evaluation System` with the following objectives:
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.