(a) whether the cases of Tiger poisoning in Assam and in other North Eastern States are on the rise;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) the number of Tigers in the North Eastern hills and forests declined during the last three years, year-wise;
(d) the number of culprits brought to book during the said period; and
(e) the number of years after which periodic census of tiger and wildlife population is undertaken?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI S. REGUPATHY)
(a)&(b) Reports relating to poisoning of wild tiger, at times, are received from States.However,no definite trend can be
inferred from such figures. The State (Assam) has reported mortality of three tigers on account of suspected poisoning
(in Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park and Hatikhuli Tea Estate near Kaziranga National Park).However,no confirmation in
this regard has been received.
(c) Details of tiger mortality in the North Eastern Region within the last three years, and change in forest cover status,
in and around tiger reserves upto a radial distance of 10 km during 2000-2002, are given at Annexure-I.
(d) Action is taken by the Courts of Law having jurisdiction over the respective area within the concerned State, as per
legal provisions against offenders prosecuted by the enforcement agencies for poaching. Details of individual cases in this
regard are not collated at the Government of India level.
(e) All India Estimation of tiger is done once in every four years.