Lens Eye on Tigers in Satkosia Reserve

ANGUL: Satkosia wildlife sanctuary authorities have installed ultra modern infrared cameras in the tiger reserve in a bid to preserve the tiger population.

At present, 42 cameras are functioning in the reserve. As many as 52 cameras were installed a month ago, but 10 of those were damaged by elephants, according to the DFO of the sanctuary division, S Md Rahman.

“The installation of such cameras became necessary to constantly monitor the movement of tigers, track their prey base and determine correct census. The cameras   are also helpful in tracking number of elephants and birds in the sanctuary area.

Besides tracking the wild animals, these cameras keep a tab on the poachers who remain active in the sanctuary though many of them have been nabbed, said Rahman. “We need to install more cameras to cover the entire sanctuary area. Presently, about half of 500 square kms of core area is monitored by these cameras.

After the sanctuary was declared a national tiger reserve in 2005 - the second after Similipal in the State - wildlife activists and authorities hold different views on the population of tiger in the two reserves.

However, referring to the latest census of tigers in Satkosia, the DFO said two Royal Bengal Tigers (RBTs) have been traced in Satkosia besides about 30 leopards. The two tigers are located at Ranigoda and Purunakote.

Blaming the biotic disturbances for their slow population growth, Rahman said efforts are on for increasing their number.

The wildlife lovers have demanded stern steps to prevent poaching. “There should be an intensive research on the factors responsible for poor population growth of RBT in Satkosia and Similipal and the steps to be taken to increase their number,” said Prasanna Kumar Behera, district wildlife warden.