The Sunday Express
New Delhi, September 13, 2009


Jairam Ramesh said he would wait for the Madhya Pradesh to complete its probe in the disappearance of tigers from Panna reserve. Refusing to blame individuals for the big cat's disappearance, he said for years the census figures were exaggerated and incorrect because wrong methodology was being followed. "It was a system failure. Some pugmarks were counted over and over again," he said adding that a more scientific census will be carried out by October 2010. Citing an example, he said the Sunderbans were believed to have 250 tigers when the actual count was no more than 10.

Out of 37, only 9 tiger reserves are in good shape, 12 are in satisfactory condition and 16 in very poor shape," he said admitting that "there are many Panna and Sariskas waiting to happen".