Maharashtra govt to deploy special force for tigers outside reserves

While the recent deaths of tigers in Maharashtra sparked off concerns, the state government is planning to deploy a special tiger protection force (STPF) for big cats outside the reserve areas. The presence of a specialised force will strengthen the conservation measures in non-tiger project areas and prevent poaching of these animals.

"At present, STPF has been deployed only in reserve areas with sizeable tiger population. Now, we will deploy them in areas outside the core and buffer areas," said Maharashtra finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, who is also the state's forest minister.

The move is expected to control poaching in non-tiger reserve areas, which account for a sizeable tiger population. A senior state forest department official said the force was specially trained and armed, like the police and paramilitary forces. It will move around in groups, as opposed to the forest guards who walk their beats in the jungles, he added.

At present, STPF has been stationed in the Pench, Melghat, Navegaon Nagzira and Tadoba tiger reserves. Maharashtra has a total of six tiger reserves, including Sahyadri and Bor. The forest department officials, however, pointed out that since the Centre provided funds only for STPF personnel deployed in tiger reserve areas, the state government would have to pay for the salaries of personnel deployed in areas outside the core and buffer zones.

Meanwhile, Mungantiwar said it was likely that the tiger found dead at Deolapar near Nagpur recently had strayed into Maharashtra from the neighbouring Madhya Pradesh and stressed on the need for public awareness to ensure tiger conservation.

According to the National Tiger Conservation Authority's (NTCA) database, in 2015, the country's tiger mortality figures were marginally up from 66 in 2014 and stood at 69, of which Maharashtra accounted for 12 deaths due to various reasons. This is a rise from just seven tiger deaths in the state in 2014. Actor Amitabh Bachchan has consented to be Maharashtra's tiger ambassador to help boost the conservation efforts.

Maharashtra has six national parks, 47 wildlife sanctuaries and four conservation reserves with a tiger population of around 190 in 2014, up from 169 in 2010. According to the tiger census, results for which were released in 2014, India has 2,226 tigers, up from 1,706 in 2010.

According to the India State of Forest Report -2015 (ISFR), published by the Forest Survey of India (FSI), India's recorded forest area (RFA) covers 23.26 per cent of the 32,87,263 sq km geographical area.

The report said Maharashtra has RFAs of 20.01 per cent of the total geographical area. The National Forest Policy 1988 has set a target of 33 per cent.

Deaths
In December, four tiger cubs were found dead, reportedly due to hunger in Chandrapur district. In January, a dead male tiger was found in the Deolapar range near Nagpur.