Experts hail ‘good’ show by three tiger reserves of Rajasthan

JAIPUR: Wildlife lovers and experts in the state have expressed happiness after Rajasthan's three tiger reserves, including Ranthambore, Sariska, and Mukundra Hills showed a steady improvement in the Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) scores, indicating that our conservation efforts are bearing fruit.
While Ranthambore remained on the borderline and missed the "Very Good" category, experts are happy about Sariska reserve, which has shown massive improvement.
Sunil Mehta, a member of the state wildlife board, and president of Sariska Tiger Foundation, said, “It is heartening to note the statistics recently released by Hon'ble PM. Three of Rajasthan's parks feature in "Good" category with Ranthambore narrowly missing out on "Very good" status in terms of management practices. I am happy, especially for Sariska, long considered as a "sick" park, but is today standing shoulder to shoulder with Ranthambore despite facing huge odds".
As Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve (MHTR), which was declared a tiger reserve in 2013, received the "Good" tag too after it scored 60.16%, stakeholders demanded to shift more big cats at the reserve.
"Despite all tigers mysteriously dying at the Darrah range of MHTR in 2018, the new MEE ranking has given hope that big cat population can flourish here. As there is only one pair, more tigers should be released in this tiger habitat," said Tapeshwar Singh Bhati, president, Mukundra Hills Environment and Wildlife Society.
Experts also believe that ranking of STR might have increased if timely action was taken on many parameters including village relocation.
Mehta alleged, “Sariska still faces step-brotherly treatment in terms of implementation of important decisions. Files related to village relocation, introducing electric buses for pilgrims to cut down on huge carbon emission, etc., are needlessly delayed, and that too apparently for no reason. Village relocation deserves utmost priority and attention. Once the villagers have agreed, the implementation should be swift before negative factors influence them to change their minds. Sadly, this has not been done for Sariska bringing huge efforts to a naught”.