LOCAL NEWS THE RISING NEPAL (DAILY)

Research, not poaching, killing tigers in Bardiya?

BY NAVIN SINGH KHADKA

Kathmandu, May 2: A recent death of a radio-collared tigress at Royal Bardiya National Park (RBNP) has fanned a controversy surrounding the ongoing research on the big jungle cats in the biggest lowland protected area.

The adult tigress was found dead one fine day on the first half of March earlier this year —12 days after it was darted to have a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) radio tied around its neck. And, the incident has left two rival factions – one blaming the research for the death of the flagship species in the park and the other dismissing the theory.

The Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) together with King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation (KMTNC) and a Norwegian University has been conducting a research "prey predator relationship" in RBNP for the last few years. Under the program, three tigers inside RBNP have already been collared for their movement’s monitoring. A similar research underway in Royal Chitwan National Park also has one tiger radio-collared.

But, the focus of the controversy is on RBNP, for now. The reason: Two out of three collared tigers in the park are already dead. Interestingly, both the opposing sides — one supporting the research and the other not — are actively involved in the conservation of the park.

According to a highly placed source at RBNP, the tigress must have died because of some technical error while darting or anti-darting the animal. "Something must have gone wrong while darting or anti-darting the animal, perhaps over-dose. Otherwise why was the animal found dead with empty-stomach?"

The reliable source said that the tiger was not behaving normally after it was darted and therefore it had to die an unnatural death. "Or else, there is no reason for the tiger to die."

The Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, however, fends off the idea and maintains that the tigress died as a result of a clash with another tiger. "The remains of the tigress clearly shows that it had a violent fight with another tiger and had to die ultimately."

Even if there was an encounter between the two predators, asserts the source in the park, the tigress could not defend itself well, as it must have been still adversely affected by the darting. "One thing is for sure, the tigress was not behaving normally and therefore it was starving."

Narayan Poudel, Spokesman at the DNPWC, said that the technical examination of the tigress’ body did not show any signs suggesting that the animal was abnormal due to the darting. "Our findings show that it was purely an accident and the tigress died a natural death."

Dr. Santa Raj Gyawali of KMTNC said that the research team at RBNP uses internationally accepted tranquilizer to dart tigers. "There is no point blaming the darting because tigers do die due to tussles for their territory."

A similar controversy had cropped up at RBNP some two years ago when a collared tiger had died after being poisoned in the park. The highly-placed source at the park said that the death had direct connection with the radio-collaring research. "Since the darted and collared tiger had almost lost its sense, it ate up the poisoned food. Due to deaths like that, the victim tiger’s cubs also die and the consequences become dire."

The source claimed that 18 tigers have so far died at RBNP – that presently hosts around 50 tigers – since 1997 and that most of the deaths have direct or indirect nexus with the research works. DNPWC records, however, show the death of only 15 tigers, including two cubs, in the last 12 years — and all due to natural deaths or poaching.

"The death of some of the tigers was directly the impact of the darting while others were either dependent on the darted ones (that later died) or they acted abnormally to take revenge of their related one’s death due to the darting," said the source. "And, interesting of all, the officials have all the time reported the death of tigers as natural accidents whereas they had actually died due to the darting."

Scoffing at such charges, DNPWC officials point at four radio-collared leopards and 30 antelopes roaming about the RBNP. "There is also a radio-collared tigress at Royal Chitwan National Park that has been growing its four cubs all over these years."

Not all the collared projects have received clean chit, though. One tiger at the RCNP had died instantly after it was darted for radio-collaring few years ago. The darted tranquilizer had reached the abdomen of the tiger. "But, when such mistakes occur, the animal dies instantly. In Bardiya’s case the tigers have spent remarkable time healthily after being darted," DNPWC officials say.

The research work in RCNP, according to Poudel, dates back to early 70’s when there was the "Tiger Ecology Project." "And researches have been basically designed for the management of the park."

So, why the controversy? It all has to do with vested interests, say DNPWC officials. "There are rival tiger-researchers, especially foreigners, in the country who do not stand one another. Therefore you get to hear the propaganda against the tiger research."

They also point at what they call "propaganda" of the research-opposing quarters instigating tourism entrepreneurs around the RBNP. "Tourism operators around the park are already raising their voices against the research as it interferes with their sight-seeing packages in the park."

Who is to blame? Says an official of the World Wildlife Fund, which is also involved in RBNP’s conservation, "It is okay to conduct researches. But they should make sure that the lives of the endangered species is not put at stake."

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