Ranthambore Crisis

Tiger Census figures- 2004

       

- 47 Tigers in Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve

- 15 Tigers in Sariska Tiger Reserve

- No Tiger in Ramgarh Bisdhari Sanctuary (14 in 1982)

- No Tigers in Darrah (Seen occasionally in 1993)

- No Tigers in Vanbihar Ramgarh (Seen occasionally in 1993)

- No Tigers in Sitamata (Seen occasionally in 1993)

The truth !!!!!

- Current evidence from sightings and reports suggest Ranthambhore may have less than 20 Tigers left.

- Reports indicate that there are no Tigers left in Sariska, the only other Project Tiger reserve in Rajasthan.

- Every where else in Rajasthan the Tiger is finished.

Wood cutting

Hundreds of head loads go out unchecked many times a stones throw away from forest check posts.

Poaching is common in and around the park :

- Recently a dead jungle cat and some foot traps were seized only 50 m. from the main forest office.

- Khandar, Kundera, Sanwata, and Rajbag choki area of the park are famous for the bush meat, which is sold openly at prices much lower than that of mutton.

- Fishing in Mansarowar, Amli Deh is common.

- Number of cases registered vary according to officers in charge. A good officer means more arrests and a bad one means no cases. Between 2003 and 2004 only 3 cases were registered by the forest department in Ranthambhore. Between 29th Jan'05 and 1st Feb'05, 4 cases were registered by a joint team of volunteers and forest officials, under "Operation Co-Operation". The seizures included guns, sambar meat, turtle shells, traps, nets, cartridges, gunpowder etc. 5 persons were arrested. This Operation has since then totally fizzled out.