‘Healthy tigers make a good ecosystem’

By Sridhar Punati

Tigers are our pride and in the forest service, our team takes up tasks strategically to preserve their population in their habitats. Habitat management and poaching prevention have made a huge difference in tiger conservation and are the key reasons for an increase in their numbers.

Patrolling groups composed of the locals monitor every square kilometer making it almost impossible for poachers to enter the reserve territory. Talking about the importance of these wild cats in our ecosystem, a check on tiger health is the principal way to keep a check on the overall ecosystem well being. ‘Healthy tigers signify a healthy ecosystem.’

An increase in the tiger population is a positive development but one challenge we face is the reduced tiger territory from 12 square kilometers to 7 square kilometers, resulting in territorial fights that in turn increases their mortality rate. Such issues are taken care of with strategic management techniques, and interventions are also made to balance the predator-prey balance.

A few other strategies are introducing local species into the territory, overall comprehensive management, humananimal conflict management, and maintenance of water bodies so the species in the reserve do not have to go out looking for it. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has taken stringent management techniques consisting of dos and don’t.

It is important to stop destruction before development. If we lose natural forests, we will never be able to make up for them; each square inch of it is vital. To preserve and protect what we already have is the need of the hour.

My advice to the young Forest officers is to do your best and give your all. You will face challenges but they will be your staircase to success. Forest preservation is essential for the welfare of our country.

(THE AUTHOR IS A FORMER PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS)