The results of the latest survey on tiger population published by the Karnataka Forest Department and the all-India figures published by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) indicate that the number of big cats has grown in the State. According to the NTCA status report, Karnataka has the second highest number of tigers (563) after Madhya Pradesh (785). While authorities are happy with this development, there is also anxiety over the way forward.
The minimum tiger estimates for Karnataka have been pegged at 435 by the State’s Forest Department, based on camera trap images, and 563 by the NTCA, based on direct and indirect evidence apart from camera trap images.
But the growth is skewed. It is high in areas such as the Bandipur Tiger Reserve where tigers have been protected ever since the inception of Project Tiger 50 years ago. Besides, Bandipur was brought under protection by the maharajas as early as in 1941 when 800 sq km of forest was notified as the Venugopal Wildlife Park. Nagarahole, too, has enjoyed such protection since the 1950s. The Bandipur and Nagarahole reserves together account for 290 out of the 563 tigers in the State.
