by Bhavesh, Thu 17 Sep 2009

New Delhi: The Union Government is convening a series of meetings from Thursday with the 17 tiger-range states to discus the reasons for the unabated deaths of the National Animal.

The Centre has expressed concern over the tiger deaths crossing the 50 mark this year.

According to National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) sources, the first meeting will be held with directors from tiger reserves from Northern India such as Corbett, Dudhwa and Kaziranga.

The NTCA is convening the meet on behalf of the Centre.

The meetings with the directors of tiger reserves of Central and Southern India will be held in a phased manner by October 6.

Though the government statistics maintains that at least 52 tigers have died so far this year in the country, but the NGOs involved in the conservation work estimates that, the toll would be over 60.

The conservationist attributed the tiger deaths to shrinking habitats, poaching and man-animal conflicts.

Though the official statistics shows that 15 tigers were succumbed to poaching, the NGO Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) puts the number at 23.

The NTCA says that out of 15 poaching incidents reported from different parts of the country, ten poaching cases took place outside protected areas.

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