Forests around Bhopal lack ‘caring capacity’, prey for tigers

Bhopal, Sep 4 (PTI) Forests in and around Madhya Pradeshcapital lack caring capacity and necessary prey base, forcingthe tigers to move out of their natural habitat and come closeto human habitations in cities, according to a letter writtenby a top forest official to his senior. The observation has been made in a letter by a seniorforest official to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests ofthe state which mentioned movement of a tigress and its fourcubs, besides other big cats, outside the forests of Bhopaland neighbouring Sehore area. These tigers have come from Ratapani sanctuary, which isabout 30 kms from here. They have been spotted in outer areasof Bhopal and Sehore which are frequented by people. "The caring capacity and prey-predator base in theforests of these areas do not look appropriate. Kindly takeappropriate steps in managing the tigers," reads the letter, acopy of which was received in response to an RTI query filedby wildlife activist Ajay Dubey. Dubey said it is worrying to know that tigers are comingout of these forests due to lack of caring capacity and prey. "We want the government to constitute a fact finding teamto check reasons behind tigers’ movement out of their naturalhabitat. It appears that illegal activities like mining insidethese forests is disturbing their natural habitat," heclaimed. Dubey said the state government must notify Ratapanisanctuary as a tiger reserve which will go a long way inconservation of the big cats. There are six tiger reserves in Madhya Pradesh–Kanha,Bandhavgarh, Panna, Bori-Satpura, Sanjay-Dubri and Pench–which have about 308 big cats. There are about 2,226 tigers inthe country, as per 2014 census. PTI AKV SKMNG