Thumbs up! Bhutan’s tiger conservation efforts
Earlier this year, Bhutan hosted international symposium to extensively discuss on threat posed on Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) due to exploitation of the forests by increasing human population. The wild cat is one on the list of WWF with possibility of extinction in near future. Bhutan, India’s northern part and Nepal are core habitat area. The international symposium made several decisions to protect the animal and drew attention of the animal conservationists to go out in the field for conservation.
According to Bhutan government’s research reports, Royal Manas National Park alone has 25-35 tigers still living. Such number is rare in any other conservation parks in the region and demonstrates the efforts Bhutan made towards wildlife protection. The park has a total area of 1,057 km square and spans to Zhemgang, Sarpang and Pemagatshel districts. Bhutan’s conservation reports say the wild cats roam freely as high as 4200m.
Now Bhutan government is planning for nationwide census of the animal to find out how many actually live in Bhutan. Though tiger conservation efforts were in place since 60s, a formal conservation mechanism was brought in place after 1995 when act was passed and Forests and Nature Conservation Act of Bhutan labelled the tiger as “totally protected.”
However, conservation of the threatened animal is not easy. With habitation being attacked by the increasing human population, living tussle has occurred between the human and the animal. Since 2003 people in Bhutan lost 543 domestic animals to tiger for which the conservation division has to pay a compensation of Nu 2,352,250. This would contravene with the constitutional provision of keeping 65 percent of the country’s land under forest cover. The increasing incidents show Bhutan’s forest cover is withering.
The Manas also hosts number of species of the cat. The conservationists have figured out nine species of cat in the park so far.
This news might be good not only for the conservationists but also for animal hunters. Lack of knowledge on hunters of this fact led to unplanned conservation of the animal. As news come out, the area will be under attack from the smugglers. That was the story of rhinos from Chitwan national park in Nepal where hundreds of one-horned rhinos have been killed in the last few years.
Bhutan has, in its effort for tiger conservation, signed agreement with Assam government. At present, India has a MoU with Nepal on controlling trans-border illegal trade in wildlife and conservation, apart from a protocol on tiger conservation with China. However, the trade with Nepal and the efforts made so far failed to yield anything on protection of rhinos.
Indian officials have been encouraging Bhutan that initiatives be taken to nominate Royal Manas Park as a World Heritage Site being the safest place for tiger to this date.
Bhutanese and Indian officials held discussion on exchange of support and expertise on conservation during a meeting held in Guwahati on Sunday. And India is offering for a feasibility study on possible extension of the park across border.
Be there any support from India or international community, Bhutan’s conservation efforts must continue. Thumbs up the good efforts!