By Akash Vashishtha
Mail Today, New Delhi       

March 19, 2015

The government on Wednesday announced a slew of measures to preserve the country’s tiger population including use of drones to keep an eye on poachers.

Introduction of e-surveillance is at the centre of the government’s new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) announced by Union Environment And Forests Minister Prakash Javadekar for the management of the tiger habitat. 

As per the All India Tiger Estimation Result 2014, India’s tiger population grew by around 30 percent from 1,706 in 2010 to 2,226 in 2014. There are 47 tiger reserves spread across 17 states in the country. Despite the significant increase in the species’ count, poaching remained a major cause of worry for sustaining the tiger population in the country.

The minister released the SOPs after interaction with chief wildlife wardens of tiger range states and field directors of tiger reserves. The National Tiger Conservation Authority devised the measures.

Besides e-surveillance, Javadekar said the government would soon set up a Special Task Force for rhinoceros.

read more