A 3-fold rise in Manas tiger population creates a conservation record

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Over a three-fold rise in the number of adult tigers in the Manas National Park in a decade has created a national record in tiger conservation in the country.

The National Park once ravaged by the problem of insurgency can now boast of having 38 adult tigers. The park had only 10 adult tigers in 2010.

The 12th annual camera trapping survey conducted this year has revealed the presence of 48 tigers, of which 38 are adults, 3 sub-adults and 7 cubs in Manas. Among the adult tigers, 21 are females, 16 males and 1 unidentified sex. The extensive systematic camera trap survey was carried out for the first time in Manas Tiger Reserve covering Manas National Park, First Addition to Manas National Park and Barnadi Wildlife Sanctuary-together covering a total area of 876 sq. km approximately.

"Manas is among the few remote Protected Areas in the world that have successfully recorded and achieved the global endeavour of doubling the tiger numbers by 2020. In the last 10 years there has been a three-fold increase in tiger population in the Manas National Park," Amal Chandra Sarmah, field director, Manas Tiger Project said.

Sarnah who led the core camera trapping survey team said tigers are potentially flourishing in Manas and this significant recovery has become a global example. The increase of breeding females and cubs signifies that Manas has proved to be a healthy breeding ground for tigers, its co-predators and booming population in the coming years.

It may be mentioned here that in 2020 Pilibhit tiger reserve in Uttar Pradesh had won an international award, TX2, for more than doubling the number of tigers in four years from 25 in 2014 to 65 in 2018.

The recent camera trapping survey has also found the presence of 37 leopards in Manas including 31 adults and 6 sub-adults. Five other species of wild cats, leopard cat, clouded leopard, marbled cat, golden cat and jungle cat, were also found in the park and adjoining areas.

The 12th annual camera trapping survey has also recorded 4 species of endangered, 9 species of vulnerable, 4 species of near threatened and 11 species of least concern mammals as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) status.

Among them are Asian elephant, hog deer, hispid hare, wild buffalo, rhino, sambar deer, swamp deer, spotted deer, barking deer, Himalayan black bear, Himalayan serow, Goral, black panther and binturong.

Also Read: Royal Bengal Tiger Population Increased in Manas National Park

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