GUWAHATI: Manas National Park (MNP) in Assam has the potential to facilitate further growth of tiger population in coming years given that the prey population in the Park grows at a natural rate.
It has been inferred by a study carried out by Aaranyak (www.aaranyak.org) and WWF-India to estimate the abundance of prey species over three seasons during 2014-2017.
This study highlighted the population density of the prey species and how disturbances due to human activities affect them. The study was limited to the Bansbari and Bhuyanpara ranges of the Park only (total area of 398 km2); as these areas have remained largely conflict-free since 2003.
The prey population of Manas compared to several other well-protected forests across India and Nepal is of less density. To be precise, it is 42.66 individuals/km2 in Manas Vs 65.2 in Bardia, 60.13 in Chitwan and 60.00 in Shuklaphanta (all three are National Parks in Nepal), and 58.10 in KNP. Still it can be considered as a recovering population in Manas National Park.
Given the population density of prey animals, this study predicts that Bansbari-Bhuyanpara ranges of Manas itself can support a potential tiger density of 8.77/100 sq. km, corresponding to a population of 35 tigers.
“This means number of tigers in these two ranges can grow two-fold given that 15-20 tigers are known to thrive there as per estimates of 2015,” the study says.
As global effort is mostly focused on recovery of large carnivores like tigers, the study recommends that any such recovery programme needs to address critical issues like non- lethal human disturbances on prey and habitats while the focus is on halting direct threats like poaching and retaliatory killing of tigers and co-predators.
Manas National Park has recovered steadily since peace was restored in the landscape in 2003 through the efforts of different government agencies including Forest Department of BTC. The efforts received tremendous support from local communities, grassroots community-based organizations, non-profit organizations and institutions along with support from national and international organizations and donors for the cause.
The study was facilitated by Directorate of Manas Tiger Reserve and the Forest Department of BTC and Assam. It is supported by Panthera, IUCN-KFW, Assam Government and NTCA.
“Manas has gone through a serious troubled phase since the late 80s and it has been due to a long-drawn effort of B.T.C. and other stakeholders since 2003, the depleted habitats and populations of animals are increasing steadily now. This study will definitely help us to manage the habitats further,” Amal Chandra Sarmah, Field Director, Manas Tiger Reserve.
In addition to being a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site, Manas National Park (MNP) is nationally recognised as a Tiger Reserve, an Elephant Reserve and a Biosphere Reserve–thereby receives significant conservation attention.
“Knowledge about population and distribution of a species is the key for its conservation planning and management. Aaranyak has been involved in such studies across NE India and we are glad to share this scientific research outcome,”Dr. M Firoz Ahmed, Head, Tiger Research and Conservation Division, Aaranyak.
It is estimated that as much as 78% of local communities are unable to fulfill their annual requirements from agriculture. This has resulted in a high dependency on forest products including firewood, building material and food for household needs as well as for sale.
The Manas Tiger Conservation Programme (MTCP) was established in 2015 and is implemented by Aaranyak in partnership with the Forest Department BTC, Wildlife Conservation Trust and Panthera.
The MTCP integrates multiple approaches (Livelihoods, Law Enforcement support, Conservation Education and Biological Monitoring) to improve tiger habitats and support tiger, co-predators and prey population in the Manas National Park which had only a few tigers in 2010.