‘Roar gets louder’: Evidence of tiger breeding brings cheer in Kaziranga despite floods

This is the first evidence of tiger breeding in the protected area, a buffer of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR).

Updated on: Jul 27, 2020, 07:35:10 IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | By Utpal Parashar

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Amid reports of wild animal deaths due to floods, photos of a tigress and two cubs captured on a camera trap inside Assam’s Laokhowa Burhachapori wildlife sanctuary have brought cheer to forest officials and conservation activists.

A tiger spotted at the Laokhowa Burhachapori sanctuary. (KNPTR)

This is the first evidence of tiger breeding in the protected area, a buffer of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR). “Roar gets louder. First ever camera trap evidence of successful breeding of tigers in Laokhowa Burhachapori wildlife sanctuary, buffer of Kaziranga Tiger Reserve. Result of more than 15 years of hard work and effort. Kudos,” KNPTR posted on Twitter on Sunday.

“The area was brought under KNPTR in 2007 and conservation efforts renewed. Before we started our efforts, the area was under grip of encroachers. There used to be around 240 cattle stations inside Laokhowa-Burhachapori. We removed the encroachments and now the area is protected” said P Sivakumar, director, KNPTR.

“The camera trap photo confirms breeding of tigers in Laokhowa Burhachapori for this first time. This is a significant development and will strengthen tiger conservation efforts,” said M Firoz Ahmed, head of tiger research and conservation division at Aaranyak, a Guwahati-based wildlife NGO.

Nearly 85% area of KNPTR, spread over 430 sqkm, is inundated by floodwater at present. This monsoon, 129 wild animals, including 14 rhinos have died in and around the park.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

Kaziranga National Park

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.