The fourth phase of the intensive ‘Tiger Monitoring Programme,' envisaged by the Tiger Task Force of the Union Government, began at the Kalakkad - Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) in Tirunelveli on Friday.

Giving details about the programme H. Malleshappa, Chief Conservator of Forests and Field Director, KMTR told The Hindu that the work on three phases had been completed. In the fourth phase, the setting up of 100 cameras in every four sq.km. area had begun.

The weaknesses include inadequate trained and competent staff in the tiger reserves, disturbance due to human settlements inside the reserves and fringes, exotic plantations, invasive species, increasing human – wildlife conflict in certain pockets and some corridors still falling outside the tiger reserves.

For protection of elephant population

Report submitted to Union Ministry for Environment

Seeks proper maintenance of elephant corridors

KOCHI: The Elephant Task Force has recommended the acquisition of defunct estates in the heart of the elephant habitat in the Periyar-Kalakkad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) for the conservation and protection of the elephant population.

The task fo

2010 0 010 tiger census in the Kalakkad-Mundanthurai The first phase of the 20 k Tiger Reserve has begun and volunteers are streaming in, notes Shobha Menon Involving students in the tiger census has proved a remarkable awareness exercise to reach out to the community and encourage their participation in conservation

The six-day wildlife census with focus on tigers began on Saturday.

Chief Wildlife Warden R. Sundararaju told The?Hindu at Kotagiri on Sunday that five tigers had been sighted in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve. He said that one tiger was sighted in the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve and pug marks were seen at many places.

TIRUNELVELI: Naturalists here want the Department of Forest and Tamil Nadu Electricity Board to join hands to avoid electrocution of wild animals by power cables passing through the Kalakkad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve.

The tiger reserve is known to be one of the best protected reserve for plants and animals and a hotspot for endemic flora and fauna within the Agasthyamalai range.

Rajkamal Goswami

ATREE, which has long-term presence and stake in biodiversity conservation of KMTR along with the Tamil Nadu Forest Department has been actively campaigning to reduce plastic use in the reserve and monitor the impact of such a large congregation of people inside the forest for the last three years.