REPORT ON TIGER CENSUS (ESTIMATION) 1997 CONDUCTED INKAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK :

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1 REPORT ON TIGER CENSUS (ESTIMATION) 1997 CONDUCTED INKAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK : INTRODUCTION: Doubts have often been expresed in the media regarding coninued aurvival of Tiger in the Wild in India.The cause for this is attributed to increase traffic in Tiger products in the International market mainly in China,Hong Kong and Japan.Besides critics have raised serious questions on the officacy of the procedure of pug mark census. As the procedure and work schedules of the Pug mark census method have been standardised over the years,there is no substitute so far to it because of its wide applicability cost effectiveness and precision.besides,the biological aspect of Tiger in the wild is also revealed from the data obtained from pug mark census.alternative methods such as camera-trap which is under need may be cost prohibitive besides being liable to damage by wild animals and human beings. As there was a serious apprehension regarding the conservation of Tigers in India,due to illegal traffic in Tiger product and also habitat shrinkage,the census of Tiger was conducted all over India from 10 th March to 16 th march,1997. In pursuance of direction of Steering Committee Meeting of Project Tiger during January,1997,the exercise of Tiger Estimation in the State of Assam was undertaken during March,1997.Prior to taking up the actual Tiger Estimation,two numbers of workshops were organised to impart training to the Divisional Forest Officers and Asstt.Conservator of Forests of the protected Area networks and territorials Divisions of the State.Non Governmental Organisations,Research Scholars from Guwahati Universities.Veterinary College Professore etc. were also invited to attend Workshop so that they can participate in estimation exercise. The 1 st Workshop was organised at Assam Forest School,Jalukbari,Guwahati on and the Second one was held at the Auditorium Hall of Kaziranga National Park on Details of Estimation and field exerise was carried out during various session of the Workshop.The various Divisional Forest Officers and A.C. Forests were asked to train their staff before sending them to the field for taking Pug Marks of the tigers in their respective jurisdictions. For the purpose of estimation of tigers in the entire State, the State was divided into 4 district zones,namely:- 1. TIGER RESERVE AREA: This included the Zone I,e.Manas National Park and Buffer Zone consisting of Kachugaon, Haltugaon, Aie Valley,North Kamrup and Darrang Divisions of the State. 2.PROTECTED AREA NETWORK ZONE: The area consisted of Kaziranga National Park(Director KNP),Nameri Wildlife Sanctuary(D.F.O. Western Assam Wildlife Division),Barnadi Wildlife Sanctuary & Rajiv Candhi Wildlife Sanctuary and Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary (Nagaon Wildlife Division)and Dibru-Saikhowa Wildlife Sanctuary(Tinsukia Wildlife Division).

2 3.RESERVED FOREST AREAS UNDER THE DIRECT CONTROL OF ASSAM FOREST DEPARTMENT: The exercise was carried out by Divisional Forest Officers of Territorial Divisions. 4.CIVIL AREA: These areas were covered by the concerned Divisional Forest Officers only. The field exercise of tiger estimation was carried out from 10 th March 97 to March 97 simultaneously in the entire wherein the 1 st five days were for reconnaissance and the rest two days for taking pug marks,tracings etc. The area covared in Kaziranga National Park during Tiger Census(estimation),consists of the Following categories of land. Kaziranga National Park Proposed Addition areas Total- :430 sq.km. :455 sq.km sq.km. Three broad categories of vegetation are readily recognised within the notified area of the National Park. a) Acquatic plants in or near the perennial waterbodies b) Eastern wet Alluvial Savannah or grassland. c)woodlan or tree forest. The whole area within Forest division was divided into fourty-eight compartment.each compartment was covered extensively by a team consisting of a co-ordinator,assisted by at least two participants.besides,the staff of the camps located inside the National Park Also provided valuable clues to the census teams regarding existence of Tiger. METHODS: The census,as standerdised all over the country,is based on the method known as co-operation census evolved by Late S.R.Choudhury,founder Field Directore of Simlipal Tiger Reserve. Census was carried out in the month of March.During this month the weather is dry and cool.besides,as most of the grassland within the Park is burnt the visibility and accossibility within the Park is considerably enhanced. The Tiger pug-marks were searched along different routes around perennial waterbodies, river banks,beds of dry stream,forests roads,foot-paths and tracks. There were 48 census teams scattered all over the area of the Forest Division census was carried out for seven days. During this period information was collected from all sources regarding the eristence of tiger in each compartment.

3 The National Park is dotted with numerous Beels and criss crossed by several river.as the tigers frequently visit such waterbodies and river banks in search of food and water of the tracing were collected from such areas. The tracings done in prescribed forms and casts,mainly from these areas were brought for analysis,however along the sandy banks of river brahmaputra and riverine islands,as strong wind blow away the mark of tiger. The following was the work schedule for the Tiger census,1997 in Eastern Assam wildlife Division. Preparation staried - 1 st February - 19 th February 1997 Training of staff -20 th February - 5 th March,1997 in the field Distribution of - 6 th March - 8 th March, 1997 equipments to census teams. Census dates - 10 th March - 16 th March,1997 Completion of - 18 th April. Analysis. During census 1997 about 528 picees of information were brought in the shape of plaster casts and tracing for analysis. Step by step date were compiled from tracings. Similar tracings and data from adjacent areas were compared and duplication were discarded through meticulous and rigorous elimination process. After initial stages of manual work date were collected to compile preliminary reports were utilised for matching and final elimination work which involve the consideration of a number of parameters including practical field knowledge. A novelty of tiger census'97 was the participation of N.S. Sunit of J.D.S.G. College, Bokakhat and members of three other N.G.O's in the programme. N.G.O's participation was ensured in Tiger census.

4 T A B L E NC. II AREAS COVERED BY TIGER IN KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK :. SL. NO Name of the NO. of Area Area sq. Areae Tiger km./ Tiger Kaziranga Weastarn Eastern Burapather # Area Coover/Tizer = 5.6 Sq.Km. # 445 Sq. Km. Total Area Including Panbari R.F.& Part of 1st Addition. Annual increment 72 -> 80 in 3 years Increment in population from 1993 co 1997 = 11% RESULT : The result of Tiger census 97 in this division indicate that there are 35 males, 37 females and 8 cubs total 80 Nos. of Tigers against 72 Nos. in 1993 (Table No. 1). It is partiment the mention here that during the both the census in 1993 and the total figer population were found to be resident of the area within the National Park. The increase in the total population may be attributed to probability of the tigers from other R.f. arease. Owing to pressures of deforestation, encroachent and increased human activites have taken shelter in the National Park. TABLE I ESTRIMATION OF TIGER IN KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK DURING 1997 ( 10th March to 16 th March ) :::

5 Sl. No. Name of the Male Female Calf Total areas Kaziranga Western Eastern Suranapanar Ratio : 1 : 1.05 :.2 % Adult : % = Male = 43.75% 90% Female = 40.25% Calf : 10% Calf = 10.00% INFERENCE : The estimated population of Tiger in Kaziranga National Park registered a increase of 11 percent over a period of three years and four months from November 95 to March 97. The rise in the no. of tigers may be attributed to hogh defree of protection, abundance of prey and absence of may biotic interference within the National Park. The peaching problem s cestried to the flag- ship species of the National Park i.e. Rhinoceros. There is no instance of other animal being killed by poaches in the National Park. The population of tiger is expected registor steady increase and this might lead to intran ecine struggle as the animals exhibits atrange territorial behaviour. Therefore it is imperative that the inelusion of the proposen sddition areas National Park is finelised so that the ecological density of tigers is not reduced The conversation efforts in Kaziranga National Park at present is rhinoceros oriented. The cenrally aponsored schemes for Rhino Conservation was discontinued ans since then management of the Park has been gripped by servere financial crunch. The estimated population of Tigers is higer then no of other to Tiger Reservcs presently included in project tiger, Kaziranga is free from problem like, biotic interference, human settlement etc. which

6 plaques several Tiger Resorves Areas. (B.S. Bonal) IFS Kaziranga National Park, Bokakhat :: :: Assam. xxxxxxxxxxxxx