• Donate Now
  • Volunteer
  • Contact Us
Big Cat Rescue
  • Get Involved
  • Cub Facts
  • The Sanctuary Cats
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Donate
No Result
View All Result
  • Get Involved
  • Cub Facts
  • The Sanctuary Cats
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Donate
No Result
View All Result
Big Cat Rescue
No Result
View All Result
Home News World

Uneven prey base behind straying: Officials

Carole by BCR
June 9, 2010
in News World
0 0
0
0
SHARES
0
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Email

Uneven prey base behind straying: Officials

Krishnendu Bandyopadhyay & Monotosh Chakraborty, TNN, Jun 10, 2010, 04.40am IST

KOLKATA: In 2001, tiger straying in the Sunderbans broke all records with 26 incidents. In 2010, less than half a year gone by, the number has crossed the 26 mark. Last month, as many as five tigers raided several villages over just two days. The trigger, apparently, is Cyclone Aila.

Uneven distribution of prey base and depletion of the vegetation favoured by tigers are the biggest reasons behind straying in the Sunderbans, say experts. “Post-Aila disturbance is a crucial factor,” the state’s chief wild life warden S B Mondal said.

Analysis of recent radio-collar inputs says that the prey base has not dwindled. It is the uneven distribution that is leading tigers to drift in search of prey, say forest officials. The study, carried out Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve (SBR), also shows a steady decline in the tiger’s favourite vegetation, the vanishing mangrove species of Hetal (phoenix paludosa).

On an average, 12 to 18 tigers stray in a year in the Sunderbans. “We first weed out the common factors a tiger strays if it is old and cannot hunt, if it’s the mating season when the big cats look for easy prey, or of it’s a tigress with cubs,” said SBR director P K Vyas.

No other tiger habitat in the world, says Vyas, is impenetrable by cattle like cow and goat. In the Sunderbans, the only prey available to tiger are deer and wild boar. “There is no absence of prey, but there certainly is an imbalance in the distribution of prey base in the tiger-islands. In Dobanki, we got deer five years ago. The third generation deer were released in the forest after being completely acclimatised with the food and ecology of the mangroves. Since our first experience was a success, we want to replicate it on other islands too,” said Vyas.

Senior forest officials suggest radical changes, like restricting tourism or shifting tourism hubs on the basis of new tiger zones. Animesh Sinha of Sundarbans Environment and Eco Development Society (SEEDS), who has been working in the islands for a long time, vouched that there has been a steady increase in the tiger population. “With this growth, each tiger now has a smaller territory. So straying is on the rise.”

Wildlife expert Pranabesh Sanyal said: “Rivers and creeks in the sea facing islands have witnessed an alarming rise of salinity, specially after Aila. This is forcing tigers into the southern core area, with declining prey density in the northern zone.”

Botanical Survey of India (BSI) officials feel global warming and increasing salinity of Sunderbans rivers is triggering a major change in the habitat vegetation of the mangroves. “We have studied the phenomenon. Now we will have an in-depth study how the vegetation is undergoing rapid changes in the Sunderbans, one of the most sensitive biodiversity zones in the world,” said Dr H K Debnath, principal investigator of Lead Institute of BSI.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Uneven-prey-base-behind-straying-Officials-/articleshow/6030110.cms

http://bigcatrescue.org


Tags: News World
Previous Post

Two tigers trapped in Sunderbans reserve

Next Post

Rare tiger eats 3 of 4 cubs

Next Post

Rare tiger eats 3 of 4 cubs

Leave a Reply

  • Default Comments (0)
  • Facebook Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Help Feed Big Cats

One of the best ways to help is through general donations that can be used however it is most needed at the time.To make a general donation just click the Donate Now button below.  This is the best way to give as it has the lowest credit card processing fees and is immediate help for the cats.

Give to Big Cat Rescue

If you prefer to donate via Pay Pal, please use this link: Pay Pal

Recent Articles

  • Summer Bobcat LIVE! June 26, 2022
  • Cat VS Dog…Fennel? June 22, 2022
  • Black Leopard Bath time! June 22, 2022

Save Big Cats

Donate to Big Cat Rescue

Sanctuary Cats

  • Jaguars
  • Leopards
  • Lions
  • Tigers
  • Bobcats
  • Canada Lynx
  • Cougars
  • Ocelots
  • Savannah Cats
  • Servals

More from Big Cats

  • Big Cat Rescue is Live 24/7 on Webcams
  • Rescue Missions
  • About Big Cat Rescue
  • Big Cat Rescue News
  • Reviews
  • Our Recent Work
  • Sanctuary FAQs
  • Big Cat TV
Summer Bobcat LIVE!

Summer Bobcat LIVE!

June 26, 2022
Cat VS Dog…Fennel?

Cat VS Dog…Fennel?

June 22, 2022
Black Leopard Bath time!

Black Leopard Bath time!

June 22, 2022
  • Donate Now
  • Volunteer
  • Contact Us

© Copyright 2022 BigCatRescue.Org. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • 2018 Appeal
  • About BCR
  • About our Cookies
  • Account
  • BCR in the Media
  • Big Cat NFTS
  • Big Cat Rescue Caring for Cats and Ending the Trade
  • Big Cat Rescuers
  • Big Cat Times
  • Blog
  • Board of Directors
  • Browse Submissions
  • Connections
  • Contact Us
  • Cookie Policy
  • Credentials
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
  • Donate Crypto
  • Embed Link
  • Followers
  • Following
  • GET THE REAL TRUTH ABOUT CUB PETTING
  • Global Big Cat News
  • Intern Program
  • Join Us
    • Registration
  • Kids
  • Latest from Big Cat Rescue
  • Licensing
  • Login
  • Login
  • Logout
  • Logout
  • Malaya Bobcat
  • Map
  • Map of Big Cat Owners
  • Member Directory
  • Members
  • My Profile
    • Edit Profile
  • Netflix
  • News about Big Cats
  • News Gallery
  • News@BCR
  • Our Live Feeds
  • Password Reset
  • PressRoom
  • Privacy Policy
  • Register
  • Register
  • Register
    • Edit Your Profile
    • Update Billing Card
    • Welcome
    • Your Membership
  • Rescues
  • Search result
  • Series Archive – Default header
  • Shop
  • SnowLeopard
  • Social Stream
  • Staff
  • Submission Confirmed
  • Teachers
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Terms of Use
  • User
  • USFWS
  • Vets
  • Videos archive
  • Get Involved
    • Automatic
    • Sponsorships
    • Volunteer
      • AdvoCats
      • Click to Feed
      • Intern
    • Legacy
    • Roar! Speak Out for Big Cats
    • Ink
  • Finances
  • How We Started
  • Abuse Issues
    • Issues
      • Exhibitions
      • Private Ownership of Big Cats
      • Zoos
      • White Tigers
      • Circus
      • Fur
      • Trophy Hunting
      • Canned Hunting
      • Why Regulations Don’t Work
  • Our Evolution
  • Photos & Facts
  • Videos
  • Our Volunteers
  • Your Privacy
  • Donate
  • Site Map
  • Field Trips

© Copyright 2022 BigCatRescue.Org. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist