10 tigers sighted in Wayanad sanctuary

A survey of the tiger and co-predator population in the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary conducted by the Wildlife Department has reported sighting of 10 tigers.The three-day survey, which concluded on Monday, was conducted in association with the National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers of the veterinary colleges at Mannuthy and Pookode."Five tigers and a cub were sighted in the Tholpetty forest range, one tiger and two cubs in the Sulthan Bathery forest range and one each at the Kurichiad and Muthanga forest ranges under the Wayanad Wildlife sanctuary," said C.T. Joju, assistant wildlife warden, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary. "The sighting of the cubs is evidence of a healthy habitat of tigers in this region," Mr. Joju said. Though only 10 tigers were sighted during the survey, the exact number may vary from 20 to 25, said a Forest official. "We can ascertain the exact number only after a detailed analysis of the pug marks, droppings, hair, and scratches on the barks of trees by the tiger," he added.As many as 140 members, including Forest officials, NSS volunteers of the veterinary colleges at Mannuthy and Pookode and watchers of anti-poaching camps in the sanctuary, took part in the survey.The Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is spread over 344.44 sq. km. under four forest ranges. It was divided into 35 blocks for the survey.Each block was surveyed by a four-member team comprising a Forest official, an NSS volunteer and two watchers of anti-poaching camps in the sanctuary. Apart from direct sighting, the surveyors collected nearly 50 pug marks, droppings, hair and scratches of the animal on the barks of trees in its home region."The pug marks are mainly used for the distribution study of the animal," Arun Zachariah, assistant forest veterinary officer, told The Hindu."Once we identify the pugmarks with the help of Global Positioning System (GPS), we can map the exact locality of the animal," he added. "The droppings and hair of the animal are as important as direct sighting, since we can extract the DNA of the animal from it," Dr. Zachariah said."After the genotyping analysis of the DNA at the Wildlife Disease Diagnosing Laboratory under the Wildlife Department at Sulthan Bathery, we can confirm the sex, genetical relationship, prey preference, parasitic load and individual identity of the tiger population," he added.After the detailed analysis of the survey, the Forest Department will develop a strategy to strengthen the protective measures as part of forest management, V.K. Sreevalsan, Wildlife Warden, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, said. We are also planning to constitute a genotyping collection of the tigers based on this survey, he added.

 The Hindu, 12th May 2009