Central tiger census method under scanner

The State and Centre are at loggerheads over the dwindling number of triggers in Similipal, as found in a Central-sponsored census. The state has raised doubt over the authenticity of the census conducted through camera tapping in Similipal Tiger Reserve recently.

As per the Central census 2008, total 20 tigers were present in Similipal. This came in stark contrast with the state census done through pugmark of tigers which put the figure at 61 in Similipal. In 2006, around 101 tigers were present in Similipal.

“The camera tapping is under scanner. We don’t believe in the Centre’s camera tapping method,” Lala Aswini Kumar Singh, the senior research office of Forest and Environment department.

Stating that the new technique is elusive, Singh said that ‘the Centre had been adhering to the pugmark method for last 34 years’. “The census through camera tapping may be okay for research. But it cannot be tested for counting of the tigers,” he told.

Of the total 3824 sq km Similipal, around 2297 sq km fell under the test of the Centre’s camera tapping method, sources said. The census found that total 45 tigers were present in Orissa. Besides the 20 in Similipal, the Central team found 9 tigers in Sunabeda and 6 in Satakosia.

“How can someone count the exact number of tigers by covering only few portions of the vast STR area,” asked an animal rights activist.