The National Tiger Conservation Authority has red flagged a proposed tiger safari project in Uttarakhand’s Corbett National Park and asked the State government to first comply with wildlife norms.
The NTCA and Central Zoo Authority (CZA), under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, feel that the proposed safari project may expose tigers to poaching.
The Uttarakhand Forest department had in August last year sought permission of the CZA to start a tiger safari inside the famous national park.
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It may also be looked into that if the proposal is in conformity with and as per tiger conservation plan prepared for Corbett reserve, said a letter by the CZA to the State, a copy of which was received in reply to an RTI query filed by wildlife activist Ajay Dubey.
The CZA has cited NTCA’s recent decision to stop tiger safari project in Madhya Pradesh’s Pench National Park as it may have negative effect on the big cats including their likely poaching.
The tiger population in the country was estimated at 1,706 in 2010. It rose to 2,226 in 2014. Uttarakhand ranks second — after Karnataka — in tiger population in the country.
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It has an estimated 340 tigers, as per the latest government data.
“We want that the Centre should come out with a national policy on tiger safari to help in better conservation of the big cats,” said Mr Dubey.
- PTI