Representational Image | Photo: ANI
We hear a lot about tiger protection activities in our forests. There are special teams for anti poaching activities. Lakhs are spent for strengthening protection and conservation while on the other side tigers are killed.
In recent past how many tigers have been killed in our forests? the Supreme Court asked the Central Government.
The court was hearing a public interest litigation challenging the government action to relocate forest dwellers to outside areas from some of our tiger reserves. The PIL argued that the rehabilitation will not be conducive for them as they have been associated with the forests and depend on forest produces for their livelihood.
The SC then directed the Centre to inform about tiger deaths in different forest areas. There are incidents of poaching as well due to man-animal conflicts. There are incidents of poisoning of tigers by villagers. A detailed account is needed as well on the number of tigers present in Indian forests.
The census says that there are around 4000 tigers in 53 tiger reserves. The SC will examine tiger conservation activities and on the effectiveness of National Tiger Conservation Authority. The activities started in 1973 with the launching of Project Tiger to protect the cats as desired by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.