Dwindling tiger count reaches SC as it sends notices to govt, PM promises steps

The dwindling population of tigers has been highlighted by The Indian Express in a series of reports recently.

Calling the SC move encouraging, former Project Tiger director P K Sen said: ‘‘With the kind of initiative the SC is taking, I see hope. It is significant that the apex court wanted to ensure transparency and placed more faith on the PM than the Ministry of Environment and Forest.’’

The interim application filed by senior advocate Harish Salve lists 25 parks and sanctuaries. He said by constituting such a body, the authority would be able to coordinate the deployment of staff in checking poaching in national parks and sanctuaries.

‘‘Amid the worst tiger crisis we ever had, there couldn’t be a better order than this SC notice,’’ said Valmik Thapar, member of the SC’s Central Empowered Committee.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh too reiterated his concern over the dwindling tiger population today. Rajasthan Forest Minister L N Dave, on the other hand, announced in the state Assembly that a new wildlife census would be conducted from mid-May to ascertain the population of tigers.

‘‘I am deeply concerned about what is happening in our forests. Reports of the decline in the tiger population have once again alerted us to this grim reality. I had sought a CBI inquiry into this and our government will take all the required steps to protect the tiger and other endangered species,’’ he said at the release of Kaziranga Inheritance, a book by Ranjit Barthakur and Bittu Sahgal.

‘‘Unless those who live in forests acquire a stake in the protection of the eco-system and of all species, we cannot save them from the depredation of poachers and other intruders,’’ Singh said.

‘‘Every passing generation is but a mere trustee of this grand inheritance of nature and as trustees we are duty-bound to pass this inheritance on to future generations,’’ he added.