India Rejects US Module Of Breeding Tigers in Captivity

Pugmark Tiger tracking dumped

Govt Rejects US Module Of Breeding Tigers in Captivity

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 

New Delhi: Environment and forest minister Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday told the Rajya Sabha that the old system of tiger census through pugmarks was "faulty" and a new statistical measure based on camera trap has been started. 

Stating that the number of tigers hovered between 1,150 and 1,600, Ramesh also made it clear that at no cost would India follow the US and Chinese model of breeding tigers in captivity. "All tigers in India are in the wild and will remain in the wild," he said. Though the estimation of tiger population took place once in four years, he will prefer to have it once in two years, he added. 

In a debate that saw members cutting across party lines express concern about the falling number of tigers, Ramesh said the best protectors of the environment and tigers were local communities. "We don't need policing. We need incentives for local communities to protect the ecosystem," he said. Ramesh said he had already spoken to 200 vangujar families who live in the Jim Corbett Park. "I am going to start social protection force with their help. If it works, we will take it elsewhere too. They will be paid and given mobility and connectivity," he said. 

Ramesh said according to the new plan, people living in tiger reserves would be moved to buffer zones while the core inviolate area would have no human habitation. He said about 80,000 to 1 lakh people will be moved to buffer zones and compensation had been increased from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 lakh. Responding to concerns expressed by nominated member Chandan Mitra that no poacher, including notorious Sansar Chand, had ever been punished, Ramesh said his ministry had proposed setting up a National Green Tribunal for speedy trials. "If the Act needs change, I am open to it."

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-- Mr. Chandan Mitra was ill informed that Sansar Chand has not been punished.In fact he is serving a five year term and facing trial in other wildlife cases also including a case under an organised criome case filed by Central Bureau of Investigation.

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