JAIPUR: Alarm bells have once again sounded at the Sariska Tiger Reserve (STR) due to the inexplicable absence of two male sub-adult cubs born to tigress ST-7. This puzzling disappearance has persisted for nearly two weeks.
These cubs, now approximately 20 months old and were in the Rod Kela, Narndi, Dabli, and Umri area within the park.
While higher-ranking officials attribute their absence to the taller grass within the park this season and the natural roaming behavior of young tigers seeking territory, environmentalists argue that the looming threat of poaching cannot be dismissed, primarily due to the continued presence of numerous villagers living within the tiger reserve.
The Sariska Tiger Reserve (STR), where a pioneering tiger translocation program was initiated in 2008 under the directive of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, has historically posed risks to its tiger inhabitants.
However, there had been improvements in recent years, reaching its most successful point in three decades.
Environmentalists are apprehensive that the failure to locate these big cats would constitute a significant setback. A member of the state wildlife board, speaking anonymously, conveyed, “Last year, in February, male tiger ST-13 vanished under mysterious circumstances from the tiger reserve, and the forest department could not ascertain the cause. Similarly, two persons were arrested for allegedly poaching three leopards in the buffer area surrounding STR. With villagers persisting within the reserve, the threat to tigers remains prevalent. The disappearance of male tigers is a grave concern.”
A source disclosed, “In 2018, a tigress was reported missing from the park, and a poacher, arrested by law enforcement, admitted to the killing of tigress ST-5 and the illicit sale of her skin.”
A senior official , however, claimed, “The last pugmark of these both big cats was recorded on September 17. Picture of one was also captured last week. We maintain hope that our teams will soon ascertain their whereabouts. The male sub-adults are in the process of establishing their own territories. In the past, they have temporarily eluded our sight but eventually resurfaced.”
These cubs, now approximately 20 months old and were in the Rod Kela, Narndi, Dabli, and Umri area within the park.
While higher-ranking officials attribute their absence to the taller grass within the park this season and the natural roaming behavior of young tigers seeking territory, environmentalists argue that the looming threat of poaching cannot be dismissed, primarily due to the continued presence of numerous villagers living within the tiger reserve.
The Sariska Tiger Reserve (STR), where a pioneering tiger translocation program was initiated in 2008 under the directive of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, has historically posed risks to its tiger inhabitants.
However, there had been improvements in recent years, reaching its most successful point in three decades.
Environmentalists are apprehensive that the failure to locate these big cats would constitute a significant setback. A member of the state wildlife board, speaking anonymously, conveyed, “Last year, in February, male tiger ST-13 vanished under mysterious circumstances from the tiger reserve, and the forest department could not ascertain the cause. Similarly, two persons were arrested for allegedly poaching three leopards in the buffer area surrounding STR. With villagers persisting within the reserve, the threat to tigers remains prevalent. The disappearance of male tigers is a grave concern.”
A source disclosed, “In 2018, a tigress was reported missing from the park, and a poacher, arrested by law enforcement, admitted to the killing of tigress ST-5 and the illicit sale of her skin.”
A senior official , however, claimed, “The last pugmark of these both big cats was recorded on September 17. Picture of one was also captured last week. We maintain hope that our teams will soon ascertain their whereabouts. The male sub-adults are in the process of establishing their own territories. In the past, they have temporarily eluded our sight but eventually resurfaced.”
