Madhya Pradesh seems to have finally woken up to the threat of a depleted tiger population. Though the state believes it is better off than most other states as far as tiger population is concerned. It now plans to set up an independent Wildlife Crime Bureau, a research wing and engage an external agency to analyse its current conservation approach.The preliminary census released by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) had shown a drastic decline in the tiger population in central India, especially in Madhya Pradesh. The census, which covered protected areas, said MP had just 265 big cats. The final figures are not likely to be available before DecemberThe State Government, however, has taken solace in the fact that it still has the biggest population of tigers and the largest area where the big cats are found. “We are not contesting the WII figures because a different technique was used. Moreover, our forest officials were very much part of the process in the initial stages,” a senior forest official said. The Government says cubs in the protected areas were not counted. The officials said when tigers located outside the protected areas are counted, the census would not be very different from the official figure of 700.But, around two weeks after WII data was released the Forest Department has come out with a response. A preliminary scheme will be shortly submitted to the Government.The state already has a tiger cell, supposed to coordinate between the forest and police departments, but it has done precious little for even authorities to know about its existence. The preliminary scheme talks of setting up a new bureau to deal exclusively with wildlife crime.Additional PCCF H S Pabla told The Indian Express on Friday that an external agency that will take an objective look at the conservation techniques used in the state could be appointed to find out gaps in the present policy. The scheme also talks of imparting wildlife training to forest officials, adequate vehicles for patrolling, resettlement of human population and conservation and management of corridors linking tiger reserves.However, one of the ambitious recommendations is the constitution of a research wing. “There are hundreds of varieties of mammals, birds and reptiles and only one research agency (WII),” said D P Dwiwedi, a retired forest officer. He said fixing accountability of forest staff, both inside and outside the protected areas, in the case of a wildlife crime like poaching was also discussed at the meeting to chalk out the new strategy. “At the moment forest officials are held accountable only if trees are felled in their beats and for them one tree is more important than wildlife,” he said.Another interesting suggestion discussed at the meeting was releasing zoo-bred animals into the wild. For different reasons wild animals are brought to open zoos like Bhopal’s Van Vihar, but no one considers releasing zoo animals into the wild, fearing they will be blamed if the animal dies.
