Five Tigers missing from Ranthambore National Park

Rajasthan Govt on Tuesday informed the state Assembly that as many as 5 out of 43 tigers in Ranthambore National Park (RNP) were missing. However, the officers concerned were directed to find them out.

While answering a question put by NPP legislator K L Meena, Minister of State for Mines and Wildlife R K Rinwa said 5 out of 43 tigers (22 male, 21 female) were missing from the RNP. They probably moved to adjoining forest areas including that of Madhya Pradesh, the Minister added.

Among the five missing big cats, four are males and two females.

According to May 2014 census, as many as 43 adult tigers along with 16 cubs were resided in the RNP and one of them had died in a fight with other felines, Rinwa said. The next wildlife census would be conducted in May-June. A new monitoring system of the park would be set up soon, he added.

It is asserted that the disappearance of big cats and the failure of the authorities to track their whereabouts certainly expose the poor system of management in the park. However, the possibility of poaching in the sanctuary can’t be ruled out.