Visakhapatnam: Absence of Tiger Habitat Suitability study in the backdrop of endangered habitat, inbreeding depression besides poaching are attributed to the decline in the population of tigers in the state. In order to live in the wild, tigers need water to drink, animals to hunt, and vegetation to hide. As the mountains, jungles forests and long grasses that have long been home to tigers are disappearing, the tigers are too.
“Andhra Pradesh has to prepare Habitat Suitability Index for the tiger forest reserve areas like Ranthambore and Kanha National Park has chartered one. The Habitat Index helps to understand the habitat area required for each male tiger and ensure vacant niche for them. Male tigers cannot stay in the same territory. One tiger needs about 100 sq km area with respect to the presence of prey. Reduction in the habitat area leads to infighting and also inbreeding depression following mating between related species owing to less genetic variation," said former deputy director of Nallamala Reserve Forest B Vijaya Kumar.
The fragmentation of tiger reserve forests is also one of major reasons behind tigers getting killed. “For instance, the discontinuity of habitat of tigers between Nallamala and Seshachalam due to human settlement and construction of roads is resulting in a lot of disturbance in the child eco-system,” he added. The Recognition of Forest Rights (ROFA) Act has affected the eco-system of tigers and other animals too.
“Lack of water in the reserve forest is also inviting many dangers. Many tigers are gathering at the same place, leading to infighting. The poachers are also targeting water bodies for easy hunt. Artificial water sources should be constructed to sort out this issue,” Mr Kumar added. Instead of Umbrella Species concept, special conservation concept for each species should be carved out to protect the eco-system, he added.
