Lok Sabha Question No. 239 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-04-26
Subject: Radio-Collared Tigers
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: OM BIRLA, CHANDU LAL SAHU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 239 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.04.2016

## Radio-Collared Tigers

## 239. SHRI OM BIRLA: SHRI CHANDU LAL SAHU:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of tigers that have been radio-collared in the country especially in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh;
- (b) the costs of procuring each radio collar and process followed in finalising the standard of the device;
- (c) whether the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has undertaken any evaluation of the potential harm caused by the radio collar for the tigers and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the reaction of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE)  FOR  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

- (a) The number of tigers that have been radio-collared in the country is at Annexure-I. While  no  tigers  have  been  radio  collared  in  the  State  of  Chhattisgarh,  a  total  of  14 tigers have been radio-collared in the State of Rajasthan.
- (b) The cost of the radio-collar depends upon the purpose for which it is intended to be customized.  The  simple  VHF  radio-collar  with  battery  life  of  3  -  4  years  will  cost between 25,000 - 30,000 INR. This collar will help in tracking animals in the field. The  more  advanced  radio  collars  with  GPS,  activity  sensor,  mortality  sensor,  VHF, UHF,  automatic  drop-off  etc.,  which  are  used  to  study  space  use  pattern,  activity, movement etc., can cost almost between 3,00,000 - 4,50,000. This depends upon the research programme intended to be addressed.  Each collar is customized for particular species considering weight and neck girth.
- (c) & (d) National  Tiger  Conservation  Authority  (NTCA)  has  not  taken  any  evaluation  of  the potential harms caused by the radio collars for the tigers. One of the tigress of Pench Tiger Reserve (MP) has given birth to four litters after radio-collaring and has raised all the  cubs successfully. All the female tigers of Panna and Sariska Tiger Reserves are collared  and  are  doing  well.  The  information  provided  by  radio-collared  tigers  is critical for long term conservation of species.

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 239 ON RADIO-COLLARED TIGERS DUE FOR REPLY ON 26.04.2016

## Number of tigers radio-collared in the country

|   Sl. No. | Name of Tiger Reserve   | State          |   Number of tigers radio collared |
|-----------|-------------------------|----------------|-----------------------------------|
|         1 | Kanha                   | Madhya Pradesh |                                13 |
|         2 | Ranthambhore            | Rajasthan      |                                 6 |
|         3 | Sariska                 | Rajasthan      |                                 8 |
|         4 | Pench                   | Madhya Pradesh |                                 5 |
|         5 | Sunderbans              | West Bengal    |                                 6 |
|         6 | Sanjay-Dubri            | Madhya Pradesh |                                 1 |
|         7 | Panna                   | Madhya Pradesh |                                16 |
|         8 | Tadoba-Andhari          | Maharashtra    |                                 4 |

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