Jalpaiguri: Following incidents of trap cameras capturing tigers at Neora Valley National Park, forest officials have written to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to include the forest in Project Tiger. The 2023 all-India tiger census report didn’t mention tiger presence at Neora Valley.
Trap cameras across the national park have photographed tigers in the northern reaches of the forest, beyond 11,000ft, this year.The forest is contiguous with Sikkim’s Pangolakha Wildlife Santuary and Bhutan’s Toorsa Strict Reserve Forest. Recently, a tiger was photographed at 11,942ft in Pangolakha, making it the highest spot in India where the animal has been spotted.
“A recent survey by the Zoological Survey of India reported regular tiger movement in Neora Valley National Park. We, therefore, want this forest to be included in Project Tiger and have started communicating accordingly,” said Dwijja Pratim Sen, DFO, Gorumara Wildlife Division.
“The places where the pictures were taken are very remote and have zero human encroachment. Even our staff find it difficult to go to those areas,” Sen said.
Trap cameras were installed at Neora Valley in December 2016, following which there have been quite a few instances of tigers being caught on camera.
The first photo of a tiger near Neora Valley was taken in January 2017 by a driver, some 3.5km from Lava on the way to Pedong. Only four days later, a trap camera photographed a Bengal tiger.
In February, again, an adult tiger was captured on camera. On all occasions, the tigers were spotted at different locations. Sporadic incidents of cattle-lifting have also been reported from the area.
We also published the following articles recently
Trap cameras across the national park have photographed tigers in the northern reaches of the forest, beyond 11,000ft, this year.The forest is contiguous with Sikkim’s Pangolakha Wildlife Santuary and Bhutan’s Toorsa Strict Reserve Forest. Recently, a tiger was photographed at 11,942ft in Pangolakha, making it the highest spot in India where the animal has been spotted.
“A recent survey by the Zoological Survey of India reported regular tiger movement in Neora Valley National Park. We, therefore, want this forest to be included in Project Tiger and have started communicating accordingly,” said Dwijja Pratim Sen, DFO, Gorumara Wildlife Division.
“The places where the pictures were taken are very remote and have zero human encroachment. Even our staff find it difficult to go to those areas,” Sen said.
Trap cameras were installed at Neora Valley in December 2016, following which there have been quite a few instances of tigers being caught on camera.
The first photo of a tiger near Neora Valley was taken in January 2017 by a driver, some 3.5km from Lava on the way to Pedong. Only four days later, a trap camera photographed a Bengal tiger.
In February, again, an adult tiger was captured on camera. On all occasions, the tigers were spotted at different locations. Sporadic incidents of cattle-lifting have also been reported from the area.
We also published the following articles recently
Ranthambore tiger ventures close to a village; forest dept on its toes
Officials of Ranthambore National Park are concerned as a male tiger has ventured close to a village, causing sleepless nights for the forest department. Monitoring teams are working to prevent human-animal conflict. The tiger, suspected to be a male sub-adult, has not been identified yet. The department is waiting for the tiger to return to the forest before considering tranquilization. The park’s population exceeds its carrying capacity, and steps are being taken to increase the region’s capacity for tigers.
Officials of Ranthambore National Park are concerned as a male tiger has ventured close to a village, causing sleepless nights for the forest department. Monitoring teams are working to prevent human-animal conflict. The tiger, suspected to be a male sub-adult, has not been identified yet. The department is waiting for the tiger to return to the forest before considering tranquilization. The park’s population exceeds its carrying capacity, and steps are being taken to increase the region’s capacity for tigers.
Surgery performed on injured tiger
A team of 20 experts from the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, operated on the injured man-eater tiger that was shifted from Wayanad to Thrissur Zoo. The surgery, which lasted two-and-a-half hours, involved complete facial reconstruction due to multiple injuries. The tiger is now under observation and has been given antibiotics and vaccines. The injuries, including maggots and necrosis, were cleaned. The risky surgery required total anesthesia considering the tiger’s violent nature and advanced age. Its food intake has improved post-surgery.
A team of 20 experts from the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, operated on the injured man-eater tiger that was shifted from Wayanad to Thrissur Zoo. The surgery, which lasted two-and-a-half hours, involved complete facial reconstruction due to multiple injuries. The tiger is now under observation and has been given antibiotics and vaccines. The injuries, including maggots and necrosis, were cleaned. The risky surgery required total anesthesia considering the tiger’s violent nature and advanced age. Its food intake has improved post-surgery.
India has 10 black tigers, all in Odisha
The government informed the Rajya Sabha that there are 10 melanistic tigers in India, all exclusively found in Odisha’s Similipal tiger reserve. The 2022 All India Tiger Estimation recorded a total of 16 tigers at Similipal Tiger Reserve, with 10 of them being melanistic. Minister of State for Environment, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, stated that Similipal Tiger Reserve is the only place where melanistic tigers have been observed and it is considered a distinct genetic cluster for conservation.
The government informed the Rajya Sabha that there are 10 melanistic tigers in India, all exclusively found in Odisha’s Similipal tiger reserve. The 2022 All India Tiger Estimation recorded a total of 16 tigers at Similipal Tiger Reserve, with 10 of them being melanistic. Minister of State for Environment, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, stated that Similipal Tiger Reserve is the only place where melanistic tigers have been observed and it is considered a distinct genetic cluster for conservation.