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The thriving tigers

By Marcus Dam

KOLKATA, FEB. 19. Even as a delegation of wildlife experts engaged with the West Bengal Government prepares to join its counterpart in Bangladesh for a comprehensive tiger census in that country, there are indications of a rise in the tiger population in the Sunderbans mangrove forests in the southern tip of the State. Preliminary results of a census conducted last month reveal that "there is a rising trend in breeding, which could mean an increase in the young tiger population." The final results are expected by May.

The Deputy Field Director, Sunderbans Tiger Reserve, Nilanjan Mallick, said: "Going by the pugmark count findings, it is likely that breeding has increased since the last census in 2001. Between 20 to 25 per cent of the pugmarks belonged to the young category."

According to the last census, the Sunderbans had 245 tigers. "Considering the prey base in the tiger habitats in both the Sunderbans Tiger Reserve area and the South 24 Parganas division, there has been a tendency towards equilibrium, the tiger population having stabilised between 245 and 260 over the past eight years," Mr. Mallick said.

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