Centre sends teams to assess situation in 8 tiger reserves

In an attempt to avoid repeat of Panna and Sariska-like situations where the big cats were wiped out, the Centre has send three teams to assess the scenario in eight "critical" tiger reserves and take adequate steps to save the carnivores

In an attempt to avoid repeat of Panna and Sariska-like situations where the big cats were wiped out, the Centre has send three teams to assess the scenario in eight "critical" tiger reserves and take adequate steps to save the carnivores

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The move comes after it was felt that tigers in sanctuaries like Dampa tiger reserve(Mizoram), Buxa (West Bengal), Namdapha( Arunanchal Pradesh), Valmiki( Bihar), Palamau (Jharkhand) and Manas in Assam would become extinct if adequate and timely interventions were not initiated to save the last species.

Indiravati in Chattisgarh and Nagarjunasagar Srisailam tiger parks in Andhra Pradesh have also been identified for the study purpose by the teams comprising experts from NGOs.

"The teams will review the protection efforts initiated by the state governments vis-a-vis advisories issued by us," a senior official from National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) told PTI.

NTCA, an autonomous body under the Environment Ministry, oversees Project Tiger in the country and doles out Central assistance to over 37 tiger reserves across the country.