KAZIRANGA, Jan 5 - Sharing of vital information and data among law-enforcing agencies and forest managers of various countries across the globe is essential for devising effective strategies for the conservation and protection of tigers and other wild animals in the protected areas of India, stated Forest and Environment Minister Pramila Rani Brahma while talking to reporters on the sidelines of a meeting of chief wildlife wardens of tiger range States and field directors of tiger reserves of the country at the Forest Convention Centre in Kohora here today.
On the frequent conflict between man and tiger in the State, the Forest Minister said that people should not attack tigers and other big cats, adding that the recent incident at Kolaigoan in this regard was unfortunate. She said that the Deputy Commissioner concerned had been asked to file an FIR against those involved in the attack on the big cat.
Meanwhile, during the deliberations today, the Additional Director, General Forest, and Member Secretary, National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), BS Bonal said that with the formation of the NTCA, the population of other wild cat species along with tigers across the country had gone up as special emphasis was being given on the conservation of protected areas. More manpower is available with the creation of the NTCA, Bonal stated, adding that if the status of tigers in reserves and protected areas is satisfactory, it indicates a good ecosystem. If the tiger population is optimum in any forest area, there must be a good number of preys too, which again indicates that the particular forest area has a balanced number of other wild animals.
With reference to the Kaziranga National Park-cum-Tiger Reserve, Bonal stressed that the use of modern technology is vital for checking poaching activities. The e-surveillance system has paid off in Kaziranga, he said, adding that it is important to monitor the inter-State and international boundaries for checking the movement of poachers and their activities. Bonal said that the suggestions made by India at an international conference in Johannesburg about sharing of vital information related to wildlife and crimes against it, were accepted.
Paban Borthakur, Principal Secretary, said that there was the absolute need of conducting more awareness programmes with an objective to minimising the conflict between wild animals and human beings. He called for preventive actions in this regard. The time has come to work on serious ideas in India so that other countries of the world accept and implement these with respect to the conservation and protection of tigers and other wild animals.
Borthakur thanked the NTCA for conducting the meeting here which, he hoped, would help in getting new ideas for the betterment of the tiger reserves in the country.
