Tiger pugmarks ‘left behind’

26 Mar 2008, 0735 hrs IST,Vijay Pinjarkar,TNN

NAGPUR: In a bid to keep abreast of modern conservation methods and, at the same time, address an array of parameters related to the survival of tigers, ‘Project Tiger’ (now called the National Tiger Conservation Authority) has decided to discard the age-old pugmark method of counting tigers and adopt new techniques from this year.

Nandkishore, chief conservator of forests (CCF), wildlife, Nagpur, confirmed the development saying his office has received a notification from the chief wildlife warden on this issue. “The decision has been taken at a meeting with NTCA member-secretary Dr Rajesh Gopal. The issue had even come up for discussion in the meeting of top forest officials at Kanha on March 14-15.”

Nandkishore informed that tigers, co-predators, prey and their habitat monitoring would now be done with the help of line transact method wherein field data collection protocols will be followed in consultation with field managers and scientists. “It’ll be like knowing about the species with the blend of best available science and technology,” he said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Tiger_pugmarks_left_behind/articleshow/2900168.cms

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