Tiger numbers in AP up or down?

HYDERABAD: The number of tigers in the state has gone up from 53 in 2006 to 72 in 2010, according to the state forest department.  Speaking to Express, deputy conservator of forests A Shankaran said the state government has stepped up anti-poaching measures in the last two years and has seen a lot of improvement in the number of tigers.Earlier, there used to be a single unarmed forest beat officer in a particular area who would not be able to do much in times of crisis. To rectify this problem, the state government has constituted protection camps with 6-8 local tribal youths. Also, it has set up mobile strike forces who patrol the forest area.Also, whenever animals enter a village in search of water source or food, they either get killed by electric fences around farms or villagers poison them in an attempt to safeguard their cattle and crops.To resolve this, the government pressed into service six animal rescue vans last year, according to the deputy conservator of forests. The rescue vans are equipped with tranquillisers so that, whenever there is an incident of wild animal straying into villages, these vans immediately go to the villages and take the animal back into forests.  Another eight vans will be added to the existing six by the end of this year. The forest department aims to have one such van for each district in the next three years, Shankaran added.  The government has also increased compensation for loss of life in case of wild animal attack. Earlier, the compensation was Rs 1 lakh and now it has been increased to Rs 2.5 lakh. Compensation for crop damage has also been increased to Rs 6000 per acre (from the earlier Rs 2000).Apart from these measures, the state government has proposed to develop Kawal sanctuary in Adilabad district. As part of this, around 1200 sqkm around the sanctuary will be developed as the buffer area, in addition to development of 896 sq km of the core sanctuary area.  When asked about providing the forest guards with arms, Shankaran said though extremist activities in the forests have come down, the possibility cannot be ruled out completely. The government is cautious about providing weapons to forest officials as it might attract extremist groups’ attention.However, environmentalists disagree with the government’s claim of increase in the number of tigers.Imran Siddiqui, a wildlife biologist, Hyderabad Tiger Conservation Society, says according to the present estimated number of tigers in the state, at least 4 or 5 cubs should be added to the tiger population every year, which is not the case.  When there is a 12 percent decrease in the tiger habitat, how can there be a 20 percent increase in the number of tigers?  he asks.  He also found fault with the methodology in which tiger counting has been done.