Problem pugmarks

THE methodology used in conducting tigercount in several sanctuaries and nationalparks in India has currently come underfocus and has given rise to a stormydebate. The focus has shifted from howmany tigers are there in the country towhat method should be adopted tocount the animal's population. At presentthe census is taken by examiningpugmarks, which is increasingly beingheld by many as 'inaccurate and cumbersome' as it is subject to human error.

"in the present circumstances, it isthe best alternative. After all, the tigeris a shy and nocturnal animal, and onecannot just walk up to it and take itsdetails," says the director of CorbettTiger Reserve, R C Gautam. The methodentails lifting tiger pugmark impressions along water courses and junglepaths. As every tiger has its distinctivepugmark, on examination, the impressions give a fair idea of the number oftigers that are present in the particularsanctuary. The 1993 census which wascompiled after adopting such a method,put the tiger population of the countryat more than 3,750.

Usually, pugmarks are traced during the dry season as rain does notwash them away. In places where thereis no surface on which clear impressionsmay be obtained, special pug pads arelaid, said R Talwar of the World WideFund for Nature-India.