JoTT Review
2(3): 739-752
Past and present status of the Indian Tiger in northern
West Bengal, India: an overview
Jayanta Kumar Mallick
Personal Assistant to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Wildlife & Chief Wildlife Warden, West Bengal;
Office: Wildlife Wing, Directorate of Forests, Government of West Bengal, Bikash Bhawan, North Block, 3rd floor, Salt Lake City,
Kolkata, West Bengal 700091, India
Email: jayantamallick2007@rediffmail.com
Date of publication (online): 26 March 2010
Date of publication (print): 26 March 2010
ISSN 0974-7907 (online) | 0974-7893 (print)
Editor: L.A.K. Singh
Editor’s Note: See end of this article
Manuscript details:
Ms # o2212
Received 22 May 2009
Finally accepted 05 February 2010
Citation: Mallick, J.K. (2010). Past and
present status of the Indian Tiger in northern
West Bengal, India: an overview. Journal of
Threatened Taxa 2(3): 739-952.
Copyright: © Jayanta Kumar Mallick 2010.
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported
License. JoTT allows unrestricted use of this
article in any medium for non-profit purposes,
reproduction and distribution by providing
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of publication.
Author Details: Jayanta Kumar mallicK
Postgraduated in 1974, joined the Wildlife
Wing (Headquarters) in 1976 and has been
working as PA to PCCF, Wildlife, West Bengal,
for the last 33 years. Worked in the Project of
the North-East India Task Force, IUCN/SSC/
Elephant Specialist Group and also as project
consultant of the Indian Society for Wildlife
Research, Kolkata. He has been involved in all
departmental publications, has participated in
departmental workshops, undertaken a number
of studies, is looking after departmental data
bank and has more than fifty published articles
and study reports on wildlife conservation,
particularly of mammals.
Acknowledgements: I am grateful to Mr.
Indranil Mitra for providing the G.I.S. maps and
Mr. Somnath Chakraborty for retrieving relevant
data. I also express my thanks to those who
provided field information, to name a few – Mr.
Sampat Singh Bist, I.F.S., ex-PCCF, Wildlife,
West Bengal; Mr. N.C. Bahuguna, I.F.S., exDirector, Sundarban Biosphere Reserve and
Mr. Subrata Pal Chowdhury, Technical Assistant
(Wildlife Wing, Headquarters.
OPEN ACCESS | FREE DOWNLOAD
Abstract: Changes in the distribution range and the estimates of Tiger (Panthera tigris)
populations in northern West Bengal from the late 19th century to 2009 were examined
in detail. According to a 2004 census there were 70 tigers in the region, while a 2008
estimate put the number at 8-12. The tiger survives only in protected areas of terai and
duars extending over about 1000km2 of Buxa, Jaldapara, Neora Valley and Mahananda,
the Panighat and Bamanpokhri Ranges of Kurseong Division and the Chilapata and
Kodalbusty Ranges under Wildlife-III Division. Tigers became extinct in Chapramari
Sanctuary about a decade back; Gorumara sightings were recorded up to the 1980s.
The species has already lost about 1000km2 of its historic range in the territorial forest
divisions of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, Dinajpur and Malda Districts. The
State Forest Department has undertaken efforts involving regular monitoring, protection
measures and habitat improvements and tigers are now being sighted in areas where
they were absent for years. Resident tigers appear to be expanding their ranges to new
areas, sometimes at higher altitudes as in Neora Valley National Park and Buxa Tiger
Reserve crossing into Bhutan and Sikkim.
Keywords: corridor-development, dispersal, fragmented habitat, northern West Bengal,
Panthera tigris, range collapse, new sightings, livestock-depredation, status, threats.
InTroducTIon
The Indian Tiger, Panthera tigris tigris Linnaeus, 1758 (Carnivora: Felidae),
now occupies only 7% of its historic range. It is considered a “conservationreliant species” consequent upon its “range collapse” and threats of extinction in
small fragmented habitats due to extrinsic factors such as pathogens, poaching
and natural calamities, and intrinsic factors like demographic stochasticity and
genetic deterioration (Maraj & Seidensticker 2006). In northern Bengal tiger
population collapse is recorded during the imperial period involving about
1000km2 in the territorial Forest Divisions of Darjeeling district (Darjeeling,
Kalimpong, Kurseong) and Jalpaiguri District (Baikunthapur and Jalpaiguri);
and in Cooch Behar, Dinajpur and Malda Districts where the species was
recorded during the late 19th and early 20th century and became extinct due to
excessive anthropogenic pressures (Baker 1886; Campbell 1907; Lambourn
1918; Sengupta 1965, 1969; Burton 1989; Allen et al. 1993). In West Bengal
tigers are found in a variety of habitats that range from the hill forests of Neora
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739
Indian Tiger in northern West Bengal
J.K. Mallick
Valley and Mahananda, terai grassland of Jaldapara, the
dense sal forests of Buxa and the unique Sundarbans
mangrove forest (Yadav 2004b). Though the current
potential tigerland in northern West Bengal is estimated to
be not less than 1000km2 (S.S. Bist, pers. comm.), Jhala
et al. (2008) record tiger occupancy over only 596km2 in
the protected areas of Buxa, Jaldapara and Gorumara,
without considering the habitat of the resident tiger
population in Neora Valley National Park and Mahananda
Wildlife Sanctuary under Wildlife Circle (north). Estimates
of tiger populations in northern West Bengal on the basis
of averages computed for the total landscape (including
northeast) have been lower. The Wildlife Institute of
India has not taken into account tigers below 1.5 years
of age, which could have given rise to a lower count.
However, Gorumara has been devoid of tigers for the last
two decades, in spite of its potential suitability. Now that
tigers have become established in two reserve forests
of Baikunthapur and Jalpaiguri forest divisions, tiger
land has been extended beyond the protected areas in
northern West Bengal.
MATerIAls And MeThods
Data for this study in northern West Bengal were
collected from three sources: (a) survey of literature for
past records of tiger; (b) information gathered through
interviewing people from fringe villages, forest officials
and field staff with previous or present working experience
in the study area; and (c) the records on results of tiger
census from 1979 to 2004, which is based on pugmark
tracking. The locations of tigers in particular forest blocks
or compartments during different census operations in
the study area are shown in a forest map of northern
West Bengal. The present forest coverage is shown in
parentheses against each area within the tigerland.
The wandering and secretive nature of tigers make
direct sightings and observation difficult, particularly in
dense cover. Thus departmental surveys that provide
data on tiger numbers and locations are mostly based
on indirect evidence like pugmarks, kills, scats, scratch
marks, etc., gathered at the time of regular monitoring
and periodical census operations followed by computer
analysis.
study Area
Data for this study were collected from the three
districts of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar that
constitute northern West Bengal, and also from the
adjoining districts of Dinajpur (24°43’40”-26°23’N & 88°4’89°21’E) and Malda (24°41’-25°32’N & 87°48’-88°28’E)
which had tigers, historically (Image). The total recorded
forest area in northern West Bengal is 3051km2: 1204km2
in Darjeeling District, 1790km2 in Jalpaiguri District, and
57km2 in Cooch Behar District (Working Plans (North)
740
Division 2001). Out of this, the forest cover in the study
area in sub-Himalayan northern West Bengal is about
2,230km2, which is nearly 28% of the geographical area.
About 1,175km2 (53%) of this forest cover is designated
as protected areas (Image 2). The study area belongs
to the bio-geographical zones 2C (Central Himalaya) and
7B (Lower Gangetic plains) (Rodgers & Panwar 1988).
The study area is defined on the east by the river
Sankosh along the boundary of state of Assam, on the
west by the river Mechi along the international border with
Nepal, on the north with Bhutan and Sikkim on the south
with the northern part of Cooch Behar District.
Its northern limits are hilly or slightly undulating,
incorporating or adjacent to the foothills of the Himalaya
(Bhabar zone). The area between the Mechi and the
Teesta, comprising the forests of Kurseong Division,
Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary and western part of
Baikunthapur Division is known as terai. Traditionally, the
region between the Teesta and the Sankosh, including
eastern part of Baikunthapur, Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong,
Wildlife II and III Divisions and Buxa Tiger Reserve,
is known as Bengal duars. It is the erstwhile district of
Ambari Falakata within the territory of Cooch Behar Raj. In
Bengal duars, the reserve forests are mostly fragmented
with small isolated human populations and the corridorlinkages between these forest patches are missing in
the human-dominated landscape, thereby making them
vulnerable (Yadav 1998).
Numerous rivers and rivulets, flowing down from the
Himalaya, cut through the study area making a web of
water courses. The changes in the river courses during
monsoonal floods have induced formation of extensive
grassy savannas and riverine succession forest within
natural tropical moist forests. The general character of
the vegetation ranges from sandy riverbeds with grassy
patches, Khair Acacia catechu and Sissoo Dalbergia
sissoo on the recent formations, to Udal Sterculia villosa,
Simul Bombax ceiba and Siris Albizzia lebbeck further
inland. The grasses grown are Saccharum bengalensis,
Saccharum spontaneum, Aristida cyanantha, Neyrandia
arundinacea etc. This grassland habitat is preferred by
the tigers as it also harbours good prey population. Some
forest blocks experience frequent changes in the course of
the rivers, natural and man-made fires, etc., and therefore,
the characteristics of vegetation also changes. There are
areas away from the river courses, above the average low
land bearing dry mixed to wet mixed vegetation. Such
a vegetation mosaic has also fostered a variety of wild
herbivores (prey species) and carnivores (predators).
dimension and extension of ‘Tigerland’
The northern tiger habitat in West Bengal is confined
mostly to Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts (Hooker
1854; Sunder 1889-95; O’Malley 1907; Gruning 1911;
Wroughton 1916a, 1916b, 1917a, 1917b; Inglis et al.
1919; Peissel 1966; Ahmad 1981; Kurup 1989; Agrawal
Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | March 2010 | 2(3): 739-752
Indian Tiger in northern West Bengal
et al. 1992; Prasad 2002). Though Cooch Behar District
had population of tigers in the long past (Campbell 1907;
Nripendra Narayana Bhupa 1908; Narain 1927, quoted
by Pocock 1941; Peissel 1966), no record of this top
carnivore is available during the post-independence era.
During early 20th century, the tiger was common in the
sub-montane terai of Darjeeling District. O’Malley (1907)
observes: “The tiger is met with in fairly large numbers in
the plains portion of the District, as well as in the lower
hills up to the height of 2,000ft (606m); and it is said to
have been found, in a few instances, as high as 7,000ft
(2,121m). Man-eaters are scarce, and it is probable that
in the few cases in which human beings are killed by
tigers, they are not killed for the sake of food, as the place
is so well stocked with game and cattle that tigers have no
need to take to human flesh.”
During the same period, the jungles of Cooch Behar
were linked with the terai that extended up to Nepal,
and there was an uninterrupted ecological link between
Jaldapara and Buxa as well as Buxa and contiguous
Assam on the left bank of the Sankosh River. Regarding
the conditions of the Cooch Behar Raj forests, Gayatri
Devi, the princess of the Cooch Behar Raj, born in 1919,
records (Gayatri Devi & Rama Rau 1982) – “This was
superb terrain for wild animals, which could travel for
hundreds of miles without crossing a single man-made
path. All kinds of game abounded within a radius of a few
miles from our palace: tiger, rhinoceros, panther, bear,
wild buffalo, bison, hog deer, wild boar, and sambar…
elephant.”
Since the last century, the population of tiger and its
habitat has got reduced significantly in the study area.
Now the species is reported only from four protected
areas, two in Darjeeling District and two in Jalpaiguri
District, and very rarely from other territorial reserve
forests (Anon. 1998; Nandy 2006). These protected
areas are as below.
(i) Buxa Tiger Reserve (Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri) including
national park, wildlife sanctuary (core area) and reserve
forests (buffer area), lying between 26030’-26055’N &
89020’-89055’E;
(ii) Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary (Darjeeling), lying within
the 26055’33’’-26047’54’’N & 88033’31’’-88023’36’’E;
(iii) Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary (Jalpaiguri), situated
between 25058”-27045’’N & 89008’’-89055’’E; and
(iv) Neora Valley National Park (Kalimpong, Darjeeling),
lying within 26052’3’’-2607’35’’N & 80045’-88055’E.
Except for Neora Valley National Park, from the left
bank of Tista to Khairbari forest (the island forest patch
to the west of Jaldapara) in the east, there is unlikely to
be any tiger at present (Bahuguna & Mallick in press).
Two erstwhile tiger-bearing protected areas - Gorumara
National Park Park, situated between latitudes 26047’12.5”26043’25.6”N & 88047’7.3’’-88052’4.2’’E and Chapramari
Wildlife Sanctuary, located between 26054’50.6’’-
J.K. Mallick
26053’02.31”N & 88049’33.62”-88052’01.81’’E, have lost
the small tiger population decades ago, as ascertained from
management plans. It appears that, changes in habitat
characteristics and other anthropogenic disturbances are
forcing the resident tigers to leave their traditional ranges
and search for new grounds in the vicinity, sometimes
at higher altitudes as in Neora Valley National Park and
Buxa Tiger Reserve crossing into Bhutan and Sikkim
(Bahuguna & Mallick in press).
Out of the two new sites, Nathua forest block is under
Jalpaiguri Forest Division, situated on the eastern side
of Gorumara National Park. It is a flat and almost level
land located at an altitude of 104m. The river Jaldhaka
flows nearby. The natural crop is composed of riverine
forests, mostly Simul-Siris type. There are some patches
containing chiefly ‘kashia’, thatch grass and ‘dhadda’
Saccharum longisetosum. There are also some plantation
areas. The nearest tiger habitat is Neora Valley National
Park on the northwest.
Another territorial forest block recently occupied by
the tiger after decades is Gourikone under Baikunthapur
Forest Division. A turnaround of the forest cover here has
started 10 years ago with the stepping up of conservation
activities. New forests came up at some places. The
grass is the first seral stage of vegetation succession
found in the Tista riverbed. The main grasses found here
are Phragmitis karka and Saccharum munja. This grassy
expanse of the Laltong Block of Mahananda Wildlife
Sanctuary on the right bank of the river Tista links up
Apalchand forest biotope under Baikunthapur and helps
bringing back the Barking Deer Muntiacus muntjak and
Spotted Deer Axis axis. It is assumed that the tiger has
returned here following the deer-trail.
local extinction and present distribution pattern
1. darjeeling district
Tigers, known to be very fond of baby elephants, seem
to follow elephant herds. Dutt-Mazumdar (1955) noticed
tiger pugmarks in the Darjeeling Hills on the elephant
tracks at elevations up to about 8,000ft (2,438m).
1.1. Past records
Wildlife division-I (277.34km2):
singalila national Park including Kalpokhri
(78.60km2): As reported in the management plan, formerly,
tigers were sometimes sighted at an altitude of 3,200m in
Singalila, lying between 27°13’15’’-22°1’46’’N & 83°1’91’’38°7’54’’E. The record of tiger at an altitude of 3186m in
Kalpokhri (26.41km2), known as the ‘valley of poison’ for
its medicinal resources, is also on record (Baldry 1926).
Gulma Valley (Mahananda Wildlife sanctuary)
(8.88km2): A narrow strip, covered with thatch and other
grasses, is found along the Gulma khola and Choklong
khola. Mr. Banerjee, Mr. Kar and Mr. Moitra went for
shooting on 15 December 1929 into Gulma forest and
bagged a tiger measuring 12’ (Anon. 1930).
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741
Indian Tiger in northern West Bengal
J.K. Mallick
darjeeling Forest division (178.63km2):
Tonglu (25.08km2): The records of occurrence of tiger
in this division were available up to 1930s. The tiger was
reported from the montane temperate forests of Tonglu
(27.030N & 88.090E) in the Singalila range, 11km trek
from Maneybhanjan (about 27km from Darjeeling) by
Baldry (1926). Wood (1937) also reported presence of
tiger at Tonglu forests. But, thereafter, no other record is
available regarding occurrence of tiger in the westernmost
forests of Darjeeling District.
Tista Valley (21.40km2): In the past, the forest tract
in the Tista River valley was a favourite habitat of the
tigers. They were sometimes reported from this range.
They used to migrate either from the forests of Sikkim by
crossing the gentler Rangit River, which meets with the
turbulent Tista in this valley, dividing Sikkim and northern
West Bengal, or from Kalimpong forests, after crossing
the Tista River (Yadav 2004a). Since those areas were
converted into agricultural fields long ago, the tigers living
there did not survive in such conditions.
Kurseong Forest division (164.27km2):
lohargarh (6.92km2) and Bamanpokhri including
Balason, lamagumba and Pankhabari (20.33km2):
Hooker (1854) recorded very few tigers left in Pankhabari
(26°50’N & 88°16’E) forests of upper Bamanpokhri
(1.60km2), causing depredation on the grazing stock
of domestic cattle. The tigers were also reported from
Lohargarh forests under Panighata Range (beyond
the Bengdubi Military Station) next to Bamanpokhri
Range and Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary. One person
was killed and another mauled by the tiger in 1987 at
Marianbari Tea Estate near Balasan riverine forests
(3.37km2) under Bamanpokhri Range, as recorded by Mr.
N.S. Rai in Bamanpokhri Rest House register (Bahuguna
& Mallick in press). In 2000 tiger census, an adult male
tiger, which was known to frequent the Koklong Forest
Block of Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary and contiguous
Lamagumba Forest Block (2.04km2) of Kurseong Forest
Division during 1999 census, was not found (Anon.
2001).
1.2. Present records
Wildlife division-I:
Mahananda Wildlife sanctuary (159.86km2):
Presence of the tiger in Mahananda is recorded by
Guhathakurta (1966). The top carnivore is widely
distributed all over the Sanctuary. The Management
Plan mentions that the frequency of footprints found here
reveals that the species mainly occupies the eastern and
central portions of the Sanctuary. It is concentrated around
Gulma Valley, where the prey species are in abundance
(Yadav 2004a). One can trace tiger pugmarks along the
shallow pools of Gulma Khola (a stream) and the rugged
reeds of meandering Mahananda riverbed. In February
and May 1995 and January 1996, tiger pugmarks were
742
recorded at Mohargong (male), Jogijhora (male) and
riverbed near hide out (male-female-cub) (WLW, WBFDCL
& NEWS 1996). Cases of Sambhar (Rusa unicolor) and
Chital (Axis axis) killed by the tiger have occasionally
been detected in this sanctuary.
Yadav (2001) has estimated a tiger population of more
than 20. As per 2002 census, the territory occupied by
the tigers (n=15) covered about 97.65km2 (61.08% of
sanctuary area), distributed in 21 forest blocks (out of
46), namely Punding (858.74ha) and Sukna (129.16ha)
[Female no.1]; Upper Champasari (316.87ha), Mahanadi
(395.78ha) and Singhimari (424.59ha) [Female no.2 and
Male no.1]; Jogi Jhora (470.65ha) [Female no.3]; Choklong
(520.82ha) and Gulma Valley (888.69ha) [Female no.4
and Male no.2]; Upper Ghoramara (937.32ha), Silivita
(171.59ha) and Ruyam (572.22ha) [Female no.5 and subadult]; Gola (605.82ha) [Male no.3], Chawa (479.55ha)
[Female no.6 and her cub], Lower Ghoramara (796.02ha),
north Sevoke (379.59ha) and Samardanga (267.09ha)
[Female no.7 and Male no.4] and Laltong-2, 5, 10, 12 and
13 [Male no.5 and Female no.8].
In 2004, the presence of tigers (n=16) was recorded
from Upper Ghorama (1 sub-adult male), Kuhi (1 adult
male), Ruyam (1 adult male and 1 adult female), Gola (1
adult female), Chawa (1 adult female), Lower Ghoramara
(1 adult female), Andera (1 adult female), Lower
Champasari and Mahanadi (1 adult female), Gulma (1
adult female), Bandarjhola (1 adult male), Sukna (1 adult
female), Laltong (1 sub-adult female), Panchnoi and
Punding (1 adult female and a cub), and Koklong (1 subadult female). Comparatively, some changes in individual
occupation of territory are observed.
Wildlife -II division (177.05km2):
neora Valley national Park (88km2): This park was
notified in December 1992. Prior to that, until 1988, only
one or two tigers were found straying into the high forests
of Neora Valley from the reserve forests in the foothills on
the south. Shri P.K. Das (retired IFS) first records tiger
pugmarks during a trekking trip in late 1980s. During
late 1990s, the tigers have established a new home
in the pristine forests of Neora Valley National Park
(Yadav 2004b). It is anticipated that the tigers inhabiting
the southern forests in the foothills preferred to move
northward to the dense cover of bamboo and oak forests
at Neora in search of a comparatively undisturbed and
safe niche with plenty of ungulate prey species and 18
numbers of tiger were recorded from this Park during
post-1998 period (Sanyal 2006).
Biswas et al. (1999) also record tigers in Thosum, East
and West Nar forest blocks. During February-March, the
movement of tigers along the river Neora up to an altitude
of 2300m in Rechila Block is reported in the 9th Working
Plan of Kalimpong Division (1997-98 to 2017-18). Yadav
(2001, 2004a) records at least 10 tigers in the virgin and
undisturbed Hemlock and Laural forests up to 2,438m
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Indian Tiger in northern West Bengal
J.K. Mallick
Image 1. Location map of the study area in northern West Bengal, India
and tracks to be seen at East Nar (21.43km2), West Nar
(20.43 km2) including Panchpokhri and Rechila (27.13
km2). A Himalayan Tahr was reportedly killed by a tiger
at about 2,727m altitude in 2002, where the forest is so
dense that it is impossible even for a rabbit to penetrate
the bamboo patches (Bahuguna & Mallick in press).
In 2004, the presence of tigers (n=20) was recorded
from East Nar (5: 3 adult males, 1 adult female and 1
cub), Rachila (11: 3 adult males and 8 adult females),
Rhenok (1 adult female) and Thosum (4: 1 adult male, 2
adult females and 1 cub) forest blocks.
During the tiger census 2008, evidences of tigers were
found at Reshit and Rachila in Upper Neora as well as
Thosum and East Nar of Lower Neora. The exact number
of tigers is not determined at the time of preparation of the
manuscript.
Kalimpong Forest division (429km2):
There has been an increase in the number of tigers in
the blocks under Chel Range (Anon. 1971). One forest
villager was alleged to have been killed by a tiger at East
Nar under Jaldhaka Range. At present, one or two tigers
are recorded from the forests of this division.
2. Jalpaiguri district
Tigers were common in Jalpaiguri District during the
early 20th century (Inglis et al. 1919). A population is now
present only in Buxa Tiger Reserve and Jaldapara Wildlife
Sanctuary (Wildlife Division-III), not in Gorumara National
Park and contiguous Chapamari Wildlife Sanctuary under
Wildlife Division-II. Except for Neora Valley National
Park under Wildlife Division-II, from the left bank of Tista
to Khairbari forest (under Baikunthapur, Jalpaiguri and
Wildlife III Divisions) in the east, there is unlikely to be any
tiger (Bahuguna & Mallick in press). Mr. Subimal Roy,
retired Chief Wildlife Warden, West Bengal, thinks that
this is due to poaching (pers. comm.). Recently, two new
habitats have been added in Jalpaiguri District.
2.1. Past records
cooch Behar Forest division (now Wildlife DivisionIII): Narain (1927) describes an encounter between a
wild buffalo and a pair of tigers in duars along a riverbed
on the borders of Bhutan: “…a magnificent bull buffalo
moving along leisurely with on each side a tiger (probably
tiger and tigress). Every now and then one tiger would
dash in to try and get a hold, and the buffalo would merely
sweep his horns. The tigers were evidently sparring for
an opening... This went on for about half a mile when
suddenly one of the tigers got too close, and the buffalo
immediately ripped it right up with his horns and the
beast died at once. The other tiger bolted and the buffalo
carried on unconcernedly”. In 1922, as reported by Victor
N. Narayan, two pure white tigers, a male and a female,
about three-quarters grown, with pink eyes were shot
in the former State of Cooch Behar (quoted by Daniel
2001).
Jaldapara: Ahmad (1981) describes a tiger shooting
in Chilapata forests during 1940s.
Jalpaiguri Forest division (429km2):
ramshai (14.89km2): Rowland Ward’s record of the
largest tiger, shot at Ramsai, duars in Bengal, by Colonel
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Indian Tiger in northern West Bengal
J.K. Mallick
Evans Gordon, was 10’7’’ (317cm) before skinning (Ward
1903). Presence of tiger here is recorded up to 1960s.
One man was killed and another one moulded at Ramshai
during 1968-69 (Anon. 1971).
Panjhora (22.54km2): A forest villager was killed by a
tiger in this forest block (Anon. 1971).
Moraghat (47.43km2): In 1999, a tiger was reported in
this forest area. Though Moraghat is not the usual habitat
of tiger, it is sometimes used as an old-age home of the
tiger. The old tigers, driven out by young tigers from the
neighbouring forests, take shelter there (Bahuguna &
Mallick in press).
Wildlife division-II division:
Gorumara national Park (79.45km2): No tiger is
recorded at present from this national park. Besides
the Great Indian One-horned Rhinoceros, Gorumara
National Park serves as an important biological corridor
for sustaining the population of wild elephants in northern
West Bengal between Tista and Torsa rivers. A large
number of Gaur also utilize this park along with other
herbivorous species. In the past, the tigers used to roam
in Gorumara forests and around (Sanyal 2006). Gupta
(1958) gave a dreadful account of tiger predation on rhino
calf in Gorumara: “About November, 1951, a cow-rhino
with a very small calf was frequently seen. A tiger was
after this calf, and one afternoon in early December…
the tiger went for the calf. The cow at once charged the
tiger, and a fearful battle ensued about 300 yards from
the platform… the battle was inconclusive. About three
weeks later I saw the cow-rhino and her small calf again.
The calf looked normal, but the cow was emaciated, bore
deep claw marks, on both flanks, and seemed to walk
slowly with some difficulty. In the third week of January
1952, the second and the concluding round of battle was
fought during the night, and the poor, much weakened
rhinoceros was killed together with her calf… I found
the remains of the two animals on the right bank of the
Indong, a little upstream of Gorumara. This time there
were two tigers, and the calf had been completely eaten
together with about a third of the cow.”
Anonymous (1976) records that only one big female
tiger is seen in Gorumara. A pair of young tiger and
tigress frequently used to visit this protected area.
Predation by tigers on rhino cows and calves as
a factor in keeping down the population of rhino is in
records, and the incidents were in Gorumara during 1952
when two (mother and calf) rhinos got killed; outside the
sanctuary one calf got killed in 1968-69; and in Jaldapara
during 1981 one calf got killed (Bist 1994).
Gorumara had its own core population of tiger up
to 1980s, which got decimated subsequently. A couple
of tiger was reported in Gorumara in the past but later
there were no direct sightings or indirect evidences
like pugmarks (Pratihar & Chakraborty 1996). The
management plan of Gorumara National Park (2007-08 to
744
2017-18) also records absence of the tiger since 1980s.
During census operations in 1992, 1993, 1997 and 1999,
no tiger was found in Gorumara (Anon. 2000). Again,
during tiger census in 2002 and 2004, no trace of tiger
was available in this park. Hence it was assumed that
the tiger is extinct in Gorumara and its surrounding areas.
However, Martin (1996) states that in 1994-95, a female
rhino calf was reportedly killed by the tiger in Gorumara.
chapramari Wildlife sanctuary (9.6031km2)
In spite of existence of a good habitat for large
carnivores, this sanctuary does not have any tiger,
which it once had. Tiger is, however, present in Neora
Valley and Mal Forest Block, to the north and northwest
of this sanctuary. However, there is possibility of the
tiger descending down from Neora Valley National Park,
exploring its new territories amidst the rich potential preybase of Chapramari.
Buxa Forest division
Known for the organized tiger hunts for the sahibs
during the pre- and post-independence era, tiger
population in Buxa is critically low (Ghosh 1998). Hunting
statistics of erstwhile Buxa Forest Division, the biggest
in north Bengal, show that within a period of 20 years
(1930-1950) 150 tigers were killed, whereas 36 tigers
were hunted between 1955-56 and 1967-68 due to the
restrictions imposed on hunting (Management Plan).
Tigers of northern West Bengal nullify the concept of
territorialism and owing to heavy concentration per unit
area several tigers were shot over one kill in course of
few hours (Chaudhuri & Chakrabarti 1979). The visitor’s
books of Rydak and Bholka Forest Rest House of Buxa
Forest Division testify to scores of tiger having been
shot by the Governor’s shooting party in a span of 3-4
days in early and mid-thirties (Chaudhuri & Chakrabarti
1979). In early 1933, the then governor of Bengal, John
Anderson, along with the Conservator of Forests, Edward
Oswald Shebbeare and a number of other high-ranking
officials, stopped for four days at the Rydak inspection
bungalow, which was built by the British in 1908 to serve
as a hunting and shooting camp. Between February 10
and 13, these hunters shot down two tigers in the nearby
Tiamari forest. On the afternoon of the 12th, a tiger killed
one Sergeant Adams in the same forest. While Anderson
left on the 13th, three police officers - Deputy Inspector
General P. Walker, Superintendent of Police E. Holdon
and Commissioner Drummond - stayed back for another
five days, killing two more tigers just behind the bungalow
on the bank of the Dhaowlajhora.
Ahmad (1981), who was the Divisional Forest Officer
of Buxa Division during 1939-42, writes: “The two eastern
ranges, Rydak and Sankos, were particularly suitable for
shooting tigers… The tigers frequently moved from one
area to another and could always be put up for the shoot.
Rydak was largely a tree forest but along the bank of the
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Indian Tiger in northern West Bengal
J.K. Mallick
Image 2. Past and present tiger habitats in northern districts of West Bengal
river Rydak on the east there were patches of grassland,
which could be beaten for the tiger. There were cane
breaks on the south interspersed by smaller rivers, which
were also good habitats for the tiger. V.I.P. shoots were
mostly organized in Buxa Division.” A 9’6” (285cm) tiger
was shot in this forest (Ahmad 1981).
2.2. Present records
Gourikone (9.68km2) under Baikunthapur Forest
division (226.29km2): It is reported that two Royal
Bengal Tigers have been sighted in the duars forests of
northern West Bengal. The tigers have been sighted by
the forest personnel in the Baikunthapur forests after a
gap of 20 years. Carcass of a cow was detected in the
Gourikone forest block under Belacoba Range and the
tiger’s presence in the secluded forest was subsequently
confirmed. Here, the forest areas are dotted with tall grass
and inhabited by deer and other herbivores, providing an
ideal habitat for this top predator.
The Conservator of Forests, Northern Circle, observes:
“I spotted the young tiger in January (2009) when I was
inspecting the forest along with the local beat and range
officers. The tiger stood on our path, gave us a close
look and then moved away. Initially we thought it was a
big leopard but the black stripes on its body and walking
style confirmed it was a Bengal tiger. The tiger was about
8’6” (2.6m) long and we have collected its pugmarks. It
seems the return of prey animals like the Barking Deer
and the Spotted Deer has lured the tiger back.”
Jalpaiguri Forest division, Jalpaiguri (429.km2)
nathua (21.38km2): Recently, another tiger sighting is
recorded in the Nathua Beat under Nathua Range. The
locals have spotted the tiger and the forest workers have
collected its pugmarks. A forest guard saw the tiger in
this forest near the Jaldhaka River on 02 November 2008
from a 50m distance and the locals spotted the predator
near the same spot the next day. On 06 November, the
Divisional Forest Officer, Jalpaiguri Division, visited the
spot and collected the pugmarks, which were 15.40cm in
length, and 14.30cm in breadth, suggesting that it is an
adult male, about 5’ (152cm) long. The tiger is roaming
in the forest between the Jaldhaka and Diana rivers. On
16 March 2009, the Divisional Forest Officer submitted
a report to the Conservator of Forests, Wildlife (North)
Circle. Subsequently, a team of forest officials including
the Chief Conservator of Forests, wildlife (North) and
the Divisional Forest Officer, Jalpaiguri Forest Division,
visited the Nathua forest to survey the situation. The area
between the rivers Diana and Jaldhaka is now covered
with natural grassland, which could further be extended
and developed into an ideal habitat for the tigers. Hence,
the forest officials have decided to develop this riverine
grassland. They are also deploying special vigilance for
the security of the endangered predator.
Wildlife-III division, cooch Behar (315km2)
Jaldapara Wildlife sanctuary (216.51km2): Though
Jaldapara is famous for the rhinoceros, it also provides
excellent habitat for the tiger. Both food and cover are
Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | March 2010 | 2(3): 739-752
745
Indian Tiger in northern West Bengal
J.K. Mallick
adequately available for the large carnivores. Here, the
tigers prefer open grassland with good water sources,
avoiding the dense savannah. They are concentrated
in parts of Malangi, Jaldapara, Torsa and Chilapata
blocks (Management Plan 1997-98 to 2006-07). These
blocks have good natural water sources like Chirakhawa,
Sissamara, Buritorsa, Sukta, Sukti, Malangi, Kalijhora
etc.
During the first enumeration conducted on 21 May
1964 in Jaldapara, more than two tigers were reported
(Das 1966), whereas the number of tiger is reported to
be 12 during the census conducted in the first week of
September 1968 (Anonymous 1971). But only one tiger
was recorded during the census on 19 and 20 February
1974 (Anonymous 1976). During 1975 and 1978 the
number of tiger in this Sanctuary was shown as four
(Management Plan 1997-98 to 2006-07). However, 12
numbers of tigers were reported in 1980. In 1985, only
three could be tracked from the pugmarks. The figures
recorded in subsequent census are seven in 1988, five in
1992, and in 2004 it was three (two adult males and one
adult female) from Jaldapara forest block (34.51km2),two
adult males in Hasimara forest block (16.42km2) and one
adult female in Barodabri forest block (6.09km2).
A tiger was reportedly poached in Torsa-1 compartment
of T.E.C. Beat in February 1990. The tiger seems to
avoid the adult rhinoceros. However, there are periodic
instances of rhino calf being killed by tiger in 1974, 1991
and 1995 in Jaldapara (pers. comm. S. Roy). One
elephant calf also died due to attack by a tiger in February
1992. Killing of two out of 6 numbers of ‘Gayals’, released
among the wild gaur herd in 1963-64, by tiger is also
reported (Anonymous 1969).
Buxa Tiger reserve
Buxa Tiger Reserve is the largest chunk of forest in
north Bengal and has the second highest tiger population
in West Bengal after Sunderbans. Before creation of
Buxa Tiger Reserve in 1983, the tiger population in
erstwhile Buxa Forest Division was 17 in 1972 and 27
in 1979 (Mallick & Mitra 2002). The entire forest area of
Buxa Tiger Reserve, except for a small patch of upper
ridges between 1700m to 1800m latitude, is suitable
habitat for the tigers. The tiger is distributed over
Kumargram, Newlands, Bhutanghat, Phaskhawa, Jainty,
Tashigaon, Raimatang, Santrabari, south Rajabhatkhawa,
north Rajabhatkhawa, Dima and Nimati blocks as per
1997 tiger census. Chaudhuri & Sarkar (2004) record
distribution of the tigers in bhabar area around Jainti and
Raimatang. Yadav (2004b) estimated a population of 2530 individuals in the Sal (Shorea robusta) and riverine
forests and even in the hilly terrain. During 2005 sudden
decline of the tiger population in Buxa Tiger Reserve
to only 4 is anticipated by Sanyal (2006). During 2007
tiger census in Buxa Tiger Reserve evidences of tiger’s
existence were found in between Raimatang jhora, Dima,
746
Buxa jhora, Bala, Jayanti, Baje khola and Khururi jhora.
Presence of a minimum of 12 tigers (four adult males,
six adult females and two cubs) is recorded during this
census (Anon. 2008b).
Buxa serves as the critical corridor between the forests
of the adjoining Assam and Bhutan. This connection
should not be prima facie ruled out (Sanyal 2006). It is
apprehended that some of the tigers might have migrated
from Buxa to the adjacent higher hills of Bhutan.
cooch Behar district: Past records
Patlakhawa reserve Forest (16.48km2): A few tigers
were found in the Patlakhawa Game Reserve (erstwhile
hunting ground of the Maharaja of Coochbehar), located
just on the northern border with Jalpaiguri, having
ecological boundary with Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary
(Chaudhuri 1903; Nripendra Narayana Bhupa 1908;
Bhaduri 1966). There were shooting-camps two or three
times a year at one of the two reserves either at Patlakhawa
or at Takuamari (Gayatri Devi & Rama Rau 1982). The
Maharajahs only hunted primarily in February-March. On
18 February 1907, the Maharajah and party killed seven
tigers at Saralbhanga river in Kachugoan Division of
Assam, bordering Bhutan. On 16 March 1903 he and his
party hunted five tigers on the Jorai nullah at Barobisha
under present Buxa Tiger Reserve, in 12 minutes. In
1902, on two separate occasions, the day’s bag included
four tigers. Between 1871 and 1907, 365 tigers were killed
on the domains of the Maharajah (Barclay 1931). The
Maharajah of Cooch Behar showed Robert A. Sterndale
one of the skulls being 15” of a young tiger (Sterndale
1982). In 1890, he shot a 10’2½” (306.25cm) tiger and
a 9’3” (277.5cm) tigress. Long ago, white tigers were
reportedly killed in Cooch Behar (Chaturvedi 1970).
dinajpur district (18km2): Past records
Dinajpur has freshwater swamps. Burton (1989)
mentions one albino tiger shot at Dinajpur in early 20th
century.
Malda district (20km2): Past records
Malda along with contiguous Purnea on the west
(Santal Parganas, now in Bihar) was considered to be
one of the best localities for tiger shooting in Bengal
(Russell 1900).
Hinjal (Barringtonia acutangula) is
the characteristic species that occurs in the freshwater
swampy land (beel), low-lying trough-shaped basins
connected with various rivers and tributaries. The
undergrowth consists of various grasses like Saccharum
arundinaceum and Desmostachya bipinnata, Phragmites
karka, etc. However, no record of the tiger in this district
is available since the beginning of 20th century.
Tiger census
Tiger census operations are periodically conducted
in northern West Bengal by the forest department. The
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Indian Tiger in northern West Bengal
J.K. Mallick
Jaldapara WLS
(Jalpaiguri Dist.)
Mahananda WLS
(Darjeeling Dist)
Baikunthapur
Forest Divn.
Total
Source
07
27
12
10
07
63
Raha 1996
1984
16
151
09
10
08
58
1
Neora Valley NP
(Darjeeling Dist.)
Buxa NP
(Jalpaiguri Dist.)
Darjeeling Forest
Divn.
Gorumara NP
(Jalpaiguri Dist.)
1979
Kurseong Forest
Divn.
Year
Kalimpong Forest
Divn.
Table 1. Population of tiger in northern West Bengal during 1979-2004
2
Management
Plan 1997-98 to
2006-07
32
1985
Raha 1996
incomplete
census
1989
08
33
07
08
NA
56+
Raha 1996
1992
-
29
05
13
NA
47+
Raha 1996
1993
-
29
09
12
09
59
Raha 1996
3
3
1995
rhino
calf killed
by tiger
1997
-
Martin, 1996
314
4
32
13
12
1999
33
12
13
2002
31
09
15
2004
27
06
16
02
01
02
01
Management
Plan
-
63
Ghosh 1998
“Others” = 5
18
81
Thapliyal 2001
02
02
19
78
Anon. 2004
-
01
20
70
Anon. 2008a
Table 2. Population composition of tiger in northern West Bengal during 1997 (Ghosh 1998)
Division
Sub-adult
male
Adult
male
Sub-adult
female
Adult
female
Cub
Total
Buxa
11
02
12
06
01
32
Jaldapara
02
03
-
06
02
13
Mahananda
02
04
02
03
01
12
Kalimpong
-
01
-
-
-
01
Baikunthapur
-
02
-
-
-
02
Kurseong
-
01
-
01
-
02
Darjeeling
-
01
-
-
-
01
Grand total
15
14
14
16
04
63
*Neora Valley population was not discovered during 1997.
results are shown in Tables 1 to 5. As per 1999 tiger
census, the total tiger territory in Buxa comes to 343km2
or 45.20% of the total tiger reserve area and this time
tigers are found in six new forest blocks reportedly not
occupied during earlier censuses, whereas presence of
tigers in six blocks recorded earlier was not traced (Mallick
& Mitra 2002). Tigers were not found in the forests along
the fringe and dispersal of sub-adult tigers from their natal
areas towards unoccupied habitat was also observed
(Mallick & Mitra 2002).
During tiger census in 2007, Buxa Tiger Reserve had
a population range 12-20 occupying about 600km2 forests
and other areas of North Bengal 8-12 (Anon. 2008a). In
Wildlife Division-III alone, there were 10 reports of sighting
of tigers, five cases of killing of wild herbivores by tigers
and 20 cases of lifting of cattle by tigers during 2007.
However, Jhala et al. (2008) show only 8-12 (average 10)
tigers for the whole region, though this report has excluded
four known tiger habitats, viz. Neora Valley National
Park, Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary, Kurseong Division
(Panighata and Bamanpokhri ranges) and Chilapata and
Kodalbusty ranges under Wildlife-III Division of the tiger in
the region. A person was reportedly killed on 05 February
2006 by a tiger in Kalabari forest village under Kurseong
Division. In November-December 2007, tiger scats and
pugmarks were collected in Buxa Tiger Reserve mainly
from Bhutri, Pana, Adma, Chunabhati, Raimatong,
Santrabari, Tashigaon, Tobgaon, Phaskhawa, Jainti,
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747
Indian Tiger in northern West Bengal
J.K. Mallick
Table 3. Population composition of tiger in northern West
Bengal during – 1999 (Thapliyal 2001)
Protected Areas
Buxa
Male
Female
Cub
Total
15
16
02
33
Jaldapara
05
07
-
12
Mahananda
06
06
01
13
Neora Valley
06
09
03
18
Others
04
01
-
05
Grand total
36
39
06
81
Table 4. Population composition of tiger in northern West
Bengal during 2002 (Anon. 2004)
Adult
Sub-adult
Protected
Areas
M
F
M
F
U
Buxa
04
07
09
07
Mahananda
05
08
-
Neora
07
10
-
Cub
Total
-
04
31
-
01
01
15
-
02
-
19
Jaldapara
03
05
-
-
-
01
09
Baikunthapur
01
01
-
-
-
-
02
Kalimpong
-
01
-
-
01
-
02
Grand total
20
32
09
07
04
06
78
M - Male; F - Female; U - Unsexed
Table 5. Population composition of tiger in northern West
Bengal during 2004 (Bhutia 2005; Anon. 2008a)
Areas
Male
Female
Cub
Total
Buxa*
09
15
03
27
Mahananda
05
10
01
16
Neora Valley
07
11
02
20
Jaldapara
04
02
-
06
Baikunthapur
-
-
-
-
Kalimpong
01
-
-
01
Grand total
26
38
06
70
*The hilly forest tract bordering Bhutan could not be fully covered during
the census, because of operation “ALL CLEAR” in Bhutan.
Panbari, South Rajabhatkhawa, Damanpur, Nimati,
Newlands, Kumargram and Sankos forest blocks, mostly
located in the northern part of the reserve (Bhutia 2005;
Anon. 2008b).
dispersal/Migration records
Wherever wild tigers still exist, their habitat often
encompasses national borders, such as the Sundarbans
between India and Bangladesh, and the border between
Buxa and Manas Tiger Reserves in the east and Bhutan
in the north. However, tiger migration, which is often
reported every year within the state and across the
border, has not so far been monitored or studied. Habitat
destruction is forcing the endangered tigers to seek for
new grounds, including high mountains which have a
748
good prey-base but are not known to be the natural home
of the big cats.
A number of cases of movement of tigers to nontraditional areas have been reported in the country in
recent years. (a) The researchers of the Wildlife Institute
of India, while combing the Trishna Reserve Forest in
Tripura for census of Gaur, had seen one tigress and two
cubs on several occasions in May 2005. Tigers have
not been seen in this forest earlier since 1976; (b) In
September 2007, experts sighted up to 20 tigers in a hilly
tropical rainforest in Maharashtra, almost three decades
after it was thought that poaching had wiped them out
there; (c) Increase in the density of tiger (3-5 tigers per
100 km2) in Rajaji National Park is recorded by Harihat
et al. (2009), probably due to immigrating tigers from the
nearby Corbett Tiger Reserve; (d) In November 2008,
pugmarks of an adult tigress and cubs have been found
in Nagra Village in Shahjahanpur, some 250km from
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, which has no forest around.
The tigers have strayed from the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve,
located in the neighbouring Lakhimpur Kheri District; (e)
Pugmarks of an adult female tiger were reportedly found
in April 2009 in the high altitude Pangolakha, Sikkim,
along the Bhutan border.
Similarly, tigers are reported to migrate in between
northern West Bengal, Bhutan and Sikkim. Normally they
enter the state from Lava (2,126m), which is 33km from
Kalimpong towards northeastern Sikkim. As reported,
tigers have been located in Baikunthapur Division east
of Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary and Nathua forests
under Nathua Range of Jalpaiguri Division south of Neora
Valley National Park. It is presumed that the tigers tend to
migrate through the corridor along the riverine tract (westeast or north-south) in the study area.
A biological corridor to maintain the movement of tiger
is reported to exist between Arunachal sub-Himalayan
forests, Assam and Bhutan to Buxa Tiger Reserve in
West Bengal (MOEF 2000). Phipsu Wildlife Sanctuary of
Bhutan is situated in the northern boundary of Buxa Tiger
Reserve (Management Plan). Considering the continuous
distribution and ranging of wild animals in the Tiger
Reserve and in its vicinity, it is seen that the ecological
boundary on the north extends upto approximately 2.0km
within Bhutan across the Indo-Bhutan border along the
contiguous forest. The natural saltlick at Khurul/Kalikhola
is also situated beyond this international border. Like the
elephants and gaurs, tigers in Bhutan move from Phibsoo
Wildlife Sanctuary to the Manas Tiger Reserve and three
reserved forests of Assam and to Buxa Tiger Reserve and
Chilapata Range of Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary of West
Bengal (Anon. undated). They might be pioneer explorers
and may have returned to the previous locations.
Threats
The tiger crisis is now reasoned to be solely
anthropogenic (Sanyal 2006; Dinerstein et al. 2007;
Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | March 2010 | 2(3): 739-752
Indian Tiger in northern West Bengal
Reddy 2008). Over the last century, major and rapid
changes took place in the topography of the study
area due to expansion of human habitation, increased
agriculture, establishment of tea gardens, urbanization,
fragmented wildlife habitat, added to which were large
scale hunting by the British administrators and Indian royal
family members, and depletion of major prey species and
poaching (Ahmad 1981; Nandy 2006).
In northern Bengal, the shooting of tigers was controlled
by three game associations from 1926 to 1958 and the
practice was banned from December 1962.
These
associations were Darjeeling Shooting and Fishing Club,
Teesta-Torsa Game Association, and Torsa-Sankosh
Fishing and Shooting Association. No rewards, however,
were paid and two tigers were allowed per permit per
annum (Bist 1997; Management Plan 2000; Daniel 2001).
In 1991-92, one tiger was poached in Panighata block of
Kurseong Forest Division and another tiger at Laltong-14
in Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary in 1993-94.
Many of the savannahs and grasslands, particularly
those outside the protected areas, have been converted
to valuable timber species during the colonial period. For
example, most of the grasslands by the side of the Rydak
and other rivers in Buxa had been planted with valuable
teak trees before this area was declared as tiger reserve
(Sanyal 1992).
Strict fire control measures have also resulted in
invasion of woodland over grasslands. These have
caused reduction of the preferred habitat of both the
prey and predator species. In northern West Bengal,
the affected areas are Sankosh, Bholka, Bhutri and
Godamdabri in Buxa Tiger Reserve, Titi and Khairbari
in Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary, Gorumara National
Park, parts of Baikunthapur and Jalpaiguri Divisions in
Jalpaiguri District, Patlakhawa and Garodhat reserves in
Cooch Behar District.
During the 20th century, estimated loss of the pure and
mixed grassland areas was 150-190km2 in the protected
areas of duars in northern West Bengal (30-40km2 in
Sankosh-Rydak in Buxa, 70-90km2 in Torsa in Jaldapara
and Cooch Behar and 50-60km2 in Jaldhaka-Diana in
Gorumara) (Bist 1994). Mineral (dolomite) extraction
industries have also threatened the tigers in Buxa Tiger
Reserve (Mishra 1998; Rajvanshi 2001).
The first case of tiger-train collision was reported
“recently”. One adult male tiger, nearly 13 years old, 8’5”
(2.6m) in length from nose-tip to tail-tip, was found dead
at Barasoulmari Village near the Dolong Tea Estate in
Falakata on railway track between 94/3 and 94/4 km, P.S.
Ghoksadanga, Coochbehar District. The post mortem
report revealed that the facial bones of the tiger had been
smashed due to the impact of this collision. Moreover,
four ribs were discovered to be broken and the lungs were
damaged. The carcass was burnt later near Shiltorsha in
Jaldapara forests. It is anticipated that this victim could
have strayed from the Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary into
J.K. Mallick
the area about 6km away.
However, unlike the Sundarbans, man-tiger conflict is
not so acute in northern West Bengal. Sometimes the
livestock of the villagers are left to graze freely in the
forests and they are prone to tiger depredation, especially
in areas where the prey is scarce and such conflict has
led to retaliatory activities like poisoning of carcasses for
eliminating the predator without realising the importance of
prey-predator relationship and the impact of retaliation in
the wild, leading to increasing population of the ungulates
and intensity of crop-raiding by these herbivores.
dIscussIon
The existence of a minimum core breeding number of
adults is required to start with and sustain even a small
population, as was the case in the successively added
and ameliorated area of Kanha in 1970s and 1980s
(Panwar 2007). According to Kurup (1980), standing
ungulate crop in a minimum area of 5.18km2 is needed
to sustain one tiger for one year in a sample habitat, and
annual biomass increment of prey species per 2.59km2
of habitat is about 336kg. Based on this, it is estimated
that tiger population would require about 24km2 of habitat
per adult tiger to be stable and viable, using only the food
increment and not the food capital stock. Such area is
not available to the individual tigers in the small protected
areas of northern Bengal. Only Buxa Tiger Reserve is
the exception. Hence biological corridors may provide
opportunities for linking protected areas lying adjacent to
each other across international boundaries, and create
habitat linkages for the tigers (Anon. 2006).
Chapramari and Gorumara have the potential for
revival as tiger habitats. These two areas have a good
population of herbivores like Gaur, Sambar, Chital,
Barking Deer, Hog Deer, Wild Boar, etc. which form an
excellent prey-base for prime carnivores like tiger. Such
prey base is also available in Neora Valley and Mal
Forest Block to the north and northwest of Chapramari,
connecting corridors between these blocks, the relevant
forests of Khumani Block of Kalimpong Forest Division
and Panjhora, Selka, Sipchu and Hillajhora forest blocks
of Jalpaiguri Forest Division. With increased measures of
conservation, the entire area could help in protecting the
rhinoceros and elephant populations in the context of their
habitat and migration, and also open up the possibility of
tiger descending down from Neora Valley National Park
exploring its new territories amidst the rich potential preybase of Gorumara and Chapramari.
Again, an area of 30.82km2 of the erstwhile 7th Mile
Range of Baikunthapur Forest Division has been included
in Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary since August 1996.
This is also considered as a tiger habitat. Dispersal of
individuals from this area to the east into the forest blocks
of Baikunthapur is also not unlikely. This corridor may
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749
Indian Tiger in northern West Bengal
J.K. Mallick
also be developed for the facility of conservation of the
predator and prey species in this tract.
In addition to explorations for developing corridors and
managing landscapes, it is also necessary to augment
publicity programs in fringe areas to increase people’s
awareness on the tiger’s ecological and cultural significance
and the benefits of their conservation, notwithstanding
their occasional depredation on the village cattle, for which
compensation is being paid. The local Forest Protection
Committees (FPCs) and Ecodevelopment Committees
(EDCs) may also be involved in such programs as well
as protection of the wildlife including the tiger and their
habitat in northern West Bengal.
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Editor’s Note:
Corridors and landscapes for tiger and sympatric species
“The concept of forest corridors, specially conceived for elephant management, could
additionally ensure the exchange of genes from adjacent areas so that ……the majestic tiger in
tawny and black continues to reign in the forest habitat.” Although written about ten years back in
the context of elephant and tiger (Singh 1999: pp. 56), the concept applies for conservation of tiger
and its other sympatric species. The present account on tigers of northern West Bengal highlights
potentialities for landscape-level management of tiger by encompassing the entire area of NeoraChapmari-Mahananda-Gorumara, and also through Jaldapara-Buxa. This is expected to benefit
elephant and rhinoceros, as well. Landscapes listed in the work edited by Jhala et al. (2008) across
‘North East Hills and Bramhaputra Flood Plains’, particularly the Manas - Ripu Chirang - Buxa/
Jaldapara - Gorumara - Singhalila landscape, offer a base for further evaluation and development
of management prescriptions for tiger across national and international borders. Trans-boundary
prescriptions are assuming increased significance in the light of improving vegetation in and around
habitats of isolated tiger populations and increasing information about tigers moving out to newer
areas.
Young tigers, after passing through their cub-hood in the company and guidance of mother
tigress, may move away a lot from the natal area while exploring to reach and establish a ‘territory’
of their own. In the state of Orissa, after gap of ‘several decades’, tigers have been tracked and
seen outside Similipal Tiger Reserve in Satkosia RF of Karanjia Forest Division in January 2004,
and in Kuldiha Sanctuary in March 2009. These are viewed as consequences of southward shifting
of tigers and confirm to the observed behaviour of the tiger population in Similipal (Singh 1995;
Prusty & Singh 1996; Srivastava & Singh 1997). Efforts are on for consolidating a corridor through
Similipal-Hadgarh-Kuldiha in this landscape. The present study on northern West Bengal chronicles
a few instances within the study area and elsewhere in India which may appear as stray movements.
There may be more records elsewhere in the tiger range, which have skipped serious attention
and analysis from managerial view point. Possibly, too much of ‘anthropocentric management
activities’, in whatsoever form, have already reached within most of the “tiger-rich” areas, as a result
of which tiger, as an evolutionary survival strategy, is on a spree of exploration and evaluation of new
homes. The qualified corridors through which straying tigers move and the habitats still supporting
reminiscent isolated populations of tiger constitute the nuclei for directing and developing strategies
for management of tiger landscapes in future.
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