THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, July 19: International Tiger Day is on July 29 and Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR) ‘deserves’ to celebrate this day as tiger keeps coming in and going out at periodic intervals. The latest cynosure of the tigers is the Silli tiger that has been ‘soft released’ here in PTR.
The Jharkhand Story correspondent on Saturday spoke with the PTR’s Field Director and Chief Conservator of Forest Wildlife, S R Natesh, to know how he and his team plan to celebrate International Tiger Day here. Excerpts of the interview were taken on phone in two small sessions.
A: Tigers keep coming in and going out. It’s their guest appearance. How to make them stay here longer?
Natesh: Human disturbances have to be removed or contained. Habitat has to be inviolate. Tigers need freedom, peace and privacy. Tigers need a happy habitat. It’s a miss here. It is scarce in the PTR. The prey base has to be augmented. A 300-acre grassland is to be readied. We are to cater to the needs of the herbivores and carnivores as well.
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Q: Indian Gaurs and Sambhars are the most preferred prey of the carnivores. Here it is limited. How to enrich it?
Natesh: We are in touch with the reserves in Madhya Pradesh. It’s true that the numerical strength of the Gaurs and Sambhars has to be replenished. How it diminished, not many can claim not to know it.
Q: Palamu Tiger Reserve is unique, say many. What is your viewpoint?
Natesh: It is. This tiger reserve has forward security posts dotting it. Ever seen elsewhere? There are towers. This tiger reserve has multiple problems.
Q: It’s the same tiger reserve which in the eighties had 60-plus tigers. Today, not many fingers are counted for it. Why?
Natesh: Every history has its beautiful moments. As now there is a multi-fold challenge and problems, one needs to overcome them first instead of taking refuge in history.
Q: PTR is gender biased in the sense it has no female tiger for decades. Any plans to translocate them from other reserves?
Natesh: I reiterate it’s high time to first ready and prepare a good, happy and serene habitat for the tiger away from human noises and interference and disturbances, side by side a strong prey base. I want to replicate the good things of other reserves here instead of making a parade of what is not here.
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Q: Is CCL giving funds for it under its CSR?
Natesh: Under the CSR, the CCL is to give 2 crores. PTR will buy a fleet of 500 camera traps.
Q: People of core villages like Jaigeer and Kujrum have resettled at Polpol. Latu is also on the path of relocation. Will PTR salute their wise decision?
Natesh: We plan to felicitate these people having a second lease of life at Polpol on the International Tiger Day.
Q: Will International Tiger Day be a silent day like any other day?
Natesh. We will have on this Day the Tourism Minister as our chief guest. There will be a slew of other people and wildlife-friendly programmes.
