Context:
The Manas Tiger Reserve in Assam has 2.4 tigresses for every tiger, the annual wildlife monitoring results of the trans-boundary wildlife preserve has revealed.
- According to the latest camera trapping assessment stipulated by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), the 2,837.31 sq. km reserve with a critical tiger habitat area of 536.22 sq. km has 52 adult tigers along with eight cubs.
Relevance:
GS III- Environment and Ecology
Dimensions of the Article:
- About Manas Tiger Reserve
- About the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)
About Manas Tiger Reserve
- Manas Tiger Reserve ( MTR ) is a very old animal habitat in India. More than a century ago, in 1905 it was proposed to be a Reserve Forest and later in 1907, it became Reserve Forest. Then in 1928, Manas became Wildlife Sanctuary (with 360 sq. km).
- In 1973, Manas was declared among Indis’s First Tigere Reserves under Project Tiger of Govt. of India. ie., Manas Tiger Reserve.
- Thereafter in 1985, Manas was declared a World Heritage Site (Natural) by UNESCO for Outstanding Universal Conservation Value.
- Manas with a large area of 2837.12 sq.kms was declared as a Biosphere Reserve in 1989.
- In 1990, Manas was declared a National Park with a core area of 500 sq.kms.. ie. Manas National Park
- Manas was also famous for its elephants and therefore in 2003, it was declared as an Elephant Reserve.
- Under Indian Rhino Vision 2020, Manas was re-introduced with famous One Horned Rhinoceros in 2006.
- Manas, being a strategic location for tiger corridor of the Eastern Himalayas, the Tiger Reserve was marked as its Critical Tiger Habitat for 804.04 Sq.Kms in 2008.
- Manas is also recognised as a Tiger Source Site for Conservation in 2014.
- The First Addition Area of 350.00 Sq.Kms was added to Manas National Park in 2016.
- Manas is also know to be a outstanding landscape variations within its territory which joins Bhutan in the north.
About the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)
- The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) was established in December 2005 following a recommendation of the Tiger Task Force, constituted by the Prime Minister of India for reorganised management of Project Tiger and the many Tiger Reserves in India.
- The Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 was amended in 2006 to provide for constituting the National Tiger Conservation Authority responsible for implementation of the Project Tiger plan to protect endangered tigers.
- The National Tiger Conservation Authority is set up under the Chairmanship of the Minister for Environment and Forests.
- The Authority will have eight experts or professionals having qualifications and experience in wildlife conservation and welfare of people including tribals, apart from three Members of Parliament of whom two will be elected by the House of the People and one by the Council of States.
- The Authority, interalia, would lay down normative standards, guidelines for tiger conservation in the Tiger Reserves, apart from National Parks and Sanctuaries.
- It would provide information on protection measures including future conservation plan, tiger estimation, disease surveillance, mortality survey, patrolling, report on untoward happenings and such other management aspects as it may deem fit, including future plan for conservation.
- The Authority would also facilitate and support tiger reserve management in the States through eco-development and people’s participation as per approved management plans, and support similar initiatives in adjoining areas consistent with the Central and state laws.
- The Tiger Conservation Authority would be required to prepare an Annual Report, which would be laid in the Parliament along with the Audit Report.
- Every 4 years the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) conducts a tiger census across India.
-Source: The Hindu
