Poaching a major threat to tigers in India: Experts - Economic Times

By Chinmayi Shalya, TNN | 30 Jul, 2013, 08.39PM IST MUMBAI: Poaching is the major threat to tigers in India, say wildlife experts. With low rate of detection and even lower rate of conviction, poaching is a wildlife crime massive ignored by government authorities across the country. Infrastructure projects which make inroads into forests are another key peril to the growth of tiger population in the country. Nitin Desai from the Wildlife Protection Society of India said that the lack of network to provent poaching is what is killing the tigers. Poachers are much ahead of the forest officials when it comes to planning and knowledge of tiger behavior. "Poachers are very seasoned. They know the when and at what intervals would new tigers appear at specific water holes. They have studied the animal behavior and are leagues ahead of forest officials," said Desai. "This is why we need a network of forest officials and police so that these crimes can be prevented. Linear infrastructural projects like roads, highways, canals cutting through the forest corridors also leave tigers vulnerable to poaching and unwanted contact with human beings. . Tadoba tiger reserve which is located in Chandarpur district is also surrounded by mining projects, roads and highways which prevent tigers from expanding their territory. They also make poaching more easy. "The forest is more accessible and there is a pressure of these projects on the tiger habitats. There has to be a personal concern on part of the government so save the tigers and ensure that the habitats are preserved," said Debi Goenka from Conservation Action Trust. Rithe also pointed out that Maharashtra has to follow the Gujarat-model in dealing with wildlife crimes by looking at setting up a special investigation team for detection and conviction to ensure that there are enough deterrents to poaching. Copyright © 2013 Times Internet Limited. All rights reserved. via Science - Google News http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNGu5XBtYxFN3eHST6RlaUrCqBVMLg&url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/environment/flora-fauna/poaching-a-major-threat-to-tigers-in-india-experts/articleshow/21489311.cms

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