Tiger count on, but where’s the field director?

By Nischith N | NT

Bengaluru: Karnataka hopes to roar once again as the tiger census begins by coming out on top in the country. But interestingly, Bandipur has had no permanent field director for more than a month!

The state government had in 2020 posted SR Natesh as field director but he left in December 2021. Since December, the Bandipur tiger reserve has not seen a permanent field director even as the tiger census began on Sunday.

“The census has just begun, and we don’t have a permanent field director or an in charge for the tiger reserve. SR Natesh, who was on deputation, left for his hometown and now we have DCF Karikalam as in-charge for BRT. But an officer posted in this manner cannot give his 100 percent to the department because he will be handling many other departments. The tiger census is on and the field director holds a lot of importance in tiger reserves. In spite of many government orders, such frequent transfers of field directors are on and it reduces the overall effectiveness of management of the tiger reserve and will have a negative impact on tiger conservation” says Gautam, a wildlife activist. Sources say transfer and posting in tiger reserves/ protected areas during this period should be avoided at all levels.According to reports, in September 2013, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) wrote to the Additional Chief Secretaries of all states that a minimum tenure of three years should be ensured for forest officers posted in tiger reserves. In 2009, the Union cabinet had approved a proposal for implementing a tripartite agreement among the environment ministry, state governments and tiger reserves to strengthen tiger conservation efforts.

Reacting to this, Sanjay Mohan, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) for information and technology told News Trail: “We are aware of this and are following the orders made by NTCA. The field director post has been vacant in Bandipur for only one month and we have referred a few names to the government which has to take further action. I hope this will be solved in a few days and the present in-charge official will take care of the ongoing work”.