THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, the hindu, august 1, 2023
Kerala’s tiger population has increased to 213 in 2022 from 190 in 2018, according to an estimate released by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
While the Periyar and Parambikulam Tiger Reserves which fall under the Western Ghats landscape have recorded significant population growth, the former is also adjudged the best managed tiger reserve in the country for the second time on the trot by topping the Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) of tiger reserves.
According to the Status of Tigers: Co-Predators and Prey in India 2022 report released by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on the occasion of Global Tiger Day on July 29, the Periyar Tiger Reserve has recorded a tiger count of 31 with a standard error (SE) of 0.2. The number of tigers found to utilise the reserve is pegged at 43 (SE 4.5).
Floating population
The Parambikulam Tiger Reserve is found to have 31 residents (SE 0.3), while 42 tigers (SE 4.4) including the floating population make use of the protected area. The findings indicate an increase from populations of 26 tigers each found exclusively in both reserves in 2018.
Chief Wildlife Warden Ganga Singh attributes the increase in tiger population to the State’s wildlife conservation efforts derived from accepted global practices.
The Periyar reserve tops the fifth cycle of the MEE exercise of tiger reserves in 2022 with a score of 94.53% to be rated ‘excellent’.
The Parambikulam reserve comes 8th in the evaluation with a score of 84.09% and a ‘very good’ rating.
At the Global Tiger Day observance held at Corbett Tiger Reserve recently, Periyar was also among six tiger reserves to be accorded the Conservation Assured|Tiger Standards (CATS) accreditation by the global coalition of Tiger Range Countries. Parambikulam attained the coveted status for meeting a set of standards for effective conservation of big cats two years ago.
A model one
Periyar Tiger Reserve field director P.P. Pramod says the tiger reserve, being a pioneer in management and conservation efforts, welfare of local population and eco-development activities, is viewed by many others across the country as a model one.
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