Karnataka is poised to fortify its position as the “Tiger State of India” with major reserves indicating an increase in the tiger population as per the annual census completed recently.
The State has five tiger reserves. Bandipur has reported 136 tigers, Nagarahole 91 and Bhadra 26. There are 58 tigers in the BRT Tiger Reserve. Preliminary estimates in the Anshi Dandeli reserve are being processed.
This is estimated to be a significant increase. For instance, at Nagarahole, 91 tigers were identified by their unique stripes through the camera trap method adopted for intensive monitoring of the source population. In 2015-16, the park had 81 tigers while their population was pegged at 72 in 2014-15.
The latest population estimate reinforces Bandipur and Nagarahole landscapes as having the highest tiger numbers in south India and can be ranked among the top three or four national parks in the country along with Jim Corbett, Kanha and Kaziranga.
“These are rough and broad estimates and subject to rigorous analysis which is currently on, but the final figures may not vary from the preliminary numbers,” P.S. Somashekar, Inspector General, NTCA (Southern Zone), told The Hindu . S. Manikandan, director, Nagarahole, attributed the general rise in tiger population to extensive protection of national parks for decades, coupled with high prey density.
Tiger population estimates were conducted under phase IV monitoring of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) protocols, which entails estimating the minimum numbers based on camera trap methods. All tiger reserves in Karnataka have completed the exercise.
Camera traps
As many as 380 cameras — donated by IT firm CSS Corps from its CSR funding — were installed in the park spread over 642 sq km with focus on areas with high probability of tiger sightings. The camera traps were left intact for a period ranging from 45 to 60 days. The images were subjected to analysis using WildID software programme, said Mr. Manikandan. “The software throws up unique ID for tigers based on their stripe patterns, etc., and eliminates duplicates as per which there are at least 91 tigers in Nagarahole,” he added.
