EXPERTS LAUD SARISKA’S ROLE IN TIGER CONSERVATION

ALWAR: Wildlife experts taking part in the four-day international seminar on tiger conservation in Alwar have lauded the conservation efforts made in Sariska wildlife sanctuary.

“Sariska is a laboratory where tiger was relocated first time in the world. All tigers of Sariska were wiped out by poachers by 2005, no one expected a revival. But now, after the relocation of tigers from Ranthambore in 2008, there are 14 tigers in Sariska,” Anis Andheria, president, Wildlife Conservation Trust, said at the seminar.

Andheria said only 3,000 to 3,500 tigers are found in 13 countries. “Out of this, 70 percent of tigers are found in India. This is due to systematic monitoring done here,” he said.

The seminar, being organised by Global Tiger Forum, an international body working for the conservation of tigers, is being attended by two dozen forest officials and wildlife experts from India, Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh.

Habeeb Bilal of Wildlife Institute of India said, “If we have to preserve tigers for coming 100 years, we have to give 1,000 sqkm core area to them. We have no tiger reserve having so much area.”

“We have to make safe corridors by which tiger can go from Ranthambhore to Sariska which is very difficult. Hundred years ago we had such connections. If 40-50 tiger reserves are not connected, then we will not be able to save tigers,” Bilal said about tiger conservation in state.