MOTIHARI: The Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) has installed, for the first time, a string of electronic cameras in reserve area in Valmikinagar forest in West Champaran district of Bihar to count the number of big cats and monitor their movement. The VTR is the only tiger reserve in Bihar spread over 840 sq km located in the northwestern corner of state adjoining Chitwan National Park of Nepal.
The director of VTR, Santosh Tiwari, said that in all, 100 automated surveillance cameras have been fixed at various locations and along wild paths, known to be frequented by tigers in Maguraha, Madanpur and other areas of the forest.
When the big cats come within the range of the camera, they will be photographed, enabling foresters to identify individual cats by the unique marking on their bodies.
The census work of big cats in VTR through camera was started in February and would be completed in April end. By this time, the final counting of the big cats will be complete.
Earlier the census of big cats was based on pugmarks in this wildlife sanctuary up to 2010.
But after getting allotment, these cameras were purchased and installed in the forest area. Wildlife lovers in state are concerned over the declining number of big cats.
The pug mark-based count of big cats had put the figure at 10 in 2006 census which declined to 8 in the 2010 census. Overall, the number of big cats has increased and the VTR director is hopeful that the number will go up to 18. VTR officials are doing their best for habitat management, habitat improvement and protection of the big cats in the area.
This VTR is close to wildlife reserve of Parsa (Nepal) as well as Chitwan National Park of neighboring Nepal in the northern side and the big cats cross the forest off and on.
Director general of Nepal wildlife conservation and national park Megha Bahadur Pandey said the Nepal forest authority also has installed remote sensitive cameras in their national park and wildlife reserve adjoining Valmikinagar forest for individually identifying big cats. This means the big cats will not be counted twice either in Bihar and Nepal, thus making the population estimate far more accurate.
The chief minister, Nitish Kumar, visited Gaunaha and Valmikinagar forest on Friday and reviewed development-related work with officers. Keen to beautify VTR, Nitish has asked the Tharu population to protect the big cats.
The director of VTR, Santosh Tiwari, said that in all, 100 automated surveillance cameras have been fixed at various locations and along wild paths, known to be frequented by tigers in Maguraha, Madanpur and other areas of the forest.
When the big cats come within the range of the camera, they will be photographed, enabling foresters to identify individual cats by the unique marking on their bodies.
The census work of big cats in VTR through camera was started in February and would be completed in April end. By this time, the final counting of the big cats will be complete.
Earlier the census of big cats was based on pugmarks in this wildlife sanctuary up to 2010.
But after getting allotment, these cameras were purchased and installed in the forest area. Wildlife lovers in state are concerned over the declining number of big cats.
The pug mark-based count of big cats had put the figure at 10 in 2006 census which declined to 8 in the 2010 census. Overall, the number of big cats has increased and the VTR director is hopeful that the number will go up to 18. VTR officials are doing their best for habitat management, habitat improvement and protection of the big cats in the area.
This VTR is close to wildlife reserve of Parsa (Nepal) as well as Chitwan National Park of neighboring Nepal in the northern side and the big cats cross the forest off and on.
Director general of Nepal wildlife conservation and national park Megha Bahadur Pandey said the Nepal forest authority also has installed remote sensitive cameras in their national park and wildlife reserve adjoining Valmikinagar forest for individually identifying big cats. This means the big cats will not be counted twice either in Bihar and Nepal, thus making the population estimate far more accurate.
The chief minister, Nitish Kumar, visited Gaunaha and Valmikinagar forest on Friday and reviewed development-related work with officers. Keen to beautify VTR, Nitish has asked the Tharu population to protect the big cats.
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