MYSORE: It seems to be a never ending war of wits between conservationists and poachers as far as protection of tigers in country's sanctuaries is concerned. Poisoning of tiger in Nagarhole tiger reserve also called as Rajiv Gandhi National parkhas brought to fore the complications involved in protection of tigers especially in Karnataka where tigers are thriving .
According to official sources both Bandipur and Nagarahole tiger reserves are well managed and protected tiger reserves in the country in addition to having a healthy population of tigers . " These are the two sanctuaries in the country where tiger population is maximum and well shielded from poachers" claims project tiger director B J Hosmath refusing to give heed to theory of any foul play in the poisoning of tiger. Incident has happened by accident and there is no chance of any gang's involvement in it , he added. Neither the habitats are sinking nor there is decline in prey population which is forcing tigers to invade live stocks in human habitats, he clarified, adding that predator -prey ratio is well maintained.
However the wild life experts have a gut feeling that incident is the handiwork of poachers . " Poisoning of the left over livestock is the handiwork of gangsters as they only know the tiger behavior of returning to eat the remaining carcass" Tiger expert Ullas Karanth pointed out , disclosing techniques adopted by gangsters to poach tigers. " It is a chain of people and locals being at the lowest in the poachers rung with middlemen and 'big gun' remaining anonymous at the top of this chain" he disclosed, adding that only thorough investigation will bring out the truth as poisoning of tigers is common in north Indian sanctuaries.
Asked whether shrinking habitat and decline in prey population has made the tigers to invade human habitats and kill livestock, Karanth said as far as Karnataka is concerned neither the habitat has shrunk nor the prey population has dwindled. "Tigers attack the livestock as they are easy food for them compared to other preys" he pointed out adding that tigers killing livestock is not a new phenomenon. Another wild life activist Krupakar said the protection level in tiger sanctuaries of Karnataka is very high compared to other sanctuaries in North India. " In both Bandipur and Nagarahole there is a tiger for every 10 to 11 sq. kms of forest territory which is very high compared to other tiger reserves .
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