Dr Ullas Karanth,undoudtedly the best field biologist in India, when it comes to tigers, has been developing new monitoring methodologies for tigers and prey species for over two decades working in tandem with Karnataka Forest Department. Now, National Tiger Conservation Authority in association with wildlife institute has decided to incorporate some of his key suggestions as a part of the official protocols.

Here are the salient features of the protocol

Annual monitoring of tiger source populations will be done using capture-recapture. Individual identification of tigers will be done using camera trap data or faecal DNA analysis. These protocols will work in close association with a national tiger photographic data base repository to be developed and maintained at NTCA.

Minimum sampling area will be 400 sq km at a time. Sampling intensity aimed at will be 1,000 trap nights per 100 sq km.

The annual camera trap survey will be completed in 45-60 days.

If deployment of camera traps in an entire reserve – or parts of it – is not feasible for any reason, faecal DNA samples will be collected within 45-60 day survey period and analysed to arrive at tiger numbers.

Protocols have been also laid down for estimating prey densities using line transect surveys and the use of DISTANCE software.

The next step that is urgently needed is to post men who are genuinely interested in wildlife in our wildlife reserves, men who are passionate about wildlife, and willing to do anything for wildlife. We do not have a single wildlife reserve in India where the entire band of forest officials is totally committed to wildlife. What we have are a few officers here and there who are really commited. It is high time the picture is changed.

Couple of years back I was talking to the wildlife institute guys and I was shocked to hear what is happening there. Wildlife institute runs an excellent post graduate programme in wildlife management for forest officers. The institute has infrastructure to take in 25 officers for a course. They were finding it difficult to get even 4 officers. Officers are not willing to come out of their cushy posting and undergo training. This has to be changed pronto

India is fortunate to have men like Dr Rajesh Gopal at the helm of affairs. I can vouch for his integrity. He was my batch-mate at the Wildlife Institute of India. He is soft spoken, self effacing and totally committed to wildlife conservation. Men like him should be given a free hand to run the affairs relating to wildlife conservation sans political interference.