Cubs can save themselves

The Times of India
New Delhi
19 Apr 2010

Amid reports of tiger deaths, there seems to be light at the end of the tunel with wildlife officials spotting over 112 tiger cubs in national parks across the country. "This is one good sign of breeding among the female tigresses which we hope would check the decline of the endangered animals," a senior official from National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) said.

"There have been sighting of 112 cubs in reserves like Nagarhole (10 cubs) and Bandipur (12) in Karnataka, Nagarjunsagar (10) in Andhra Pradesh and Kanha (22), Bandhavgarh (12) and Pench (10) in Madhya Pradesh," he said. In core forest areas of Tadoba reserves in Maharashtra, Dudhawa in UP and Ranthambore national park in Rajasthan, 13, 16 and 10 cubs respectively, were sighted with their mothers. There are 39 tiger reserves in the country.Though the cubs aged between one month to two years will not be counted in the ongoing census, officials pray for their safety as they are prone to various illnesses and poaching.

In Pench Tiger Reserve last December, severe cold condition leading to lung congestion proved fatal for two cubs.Also, the mother tigers have to protect the cubs from their partners who sometimes kill them. The officials have installed camera traps and intensified patrolling to monitor their movement.