The Pandai riverbed. Picture by Satyendra N Sharma

Patna, Feb. 16: After a lull of more than a year, the birth of two tiger cubs has been reported from the Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR).

The report has come from the Manguraha range of VTR that falls in the eastern part of the reserve.

“Our field officials have collected records, including pugmarks, about the movement of the tigress along with her cubs,” VTR director J.P. Gupta told The Telegraph.

He added that the field officials have been asked to fit a camera trap at a lower height for capturing the picture of the cubs.

Birth of cubs in Manguraha range is an interesting development. Located near Pandai river, the range was one of the most disturbed areas of the reserve as mining was rampant in the bed of Pandai.

Thanks to the directive issued by the Supreme Court in T.N. Godavarman Thirumalpad vs Union of India case, mining on the riverbed was completely banned after 2002.

“Human non-interference in the past nine years has rejuvenated the flora of the area that has attracted a lot of herbivores and acts as a prey base for the tigers. We have noticed increase in the movement of tigers in the area due to this factor,” Gupta said.

Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) assistant manager Samir Kumar Sinha, who is stationed in the VTR for the past eight years for carrying out research projects, also agreed to the fact. “Tiger movement in Manguraha range has increased after the ban on stone mining in the area,” he said, adding that it has allowed the movement of tigers even across the Pandai river.

Though birth of tiger cubs has been reported from VTR at regular intervals, experts are sceptical whether these cubs, after growing up, could be retained by VTR or not.

“Tigers are territorial animals and they look for their own territory for roaming around but the low prey base in VTR may lead to their migration in the adjoining Chitwan national park of Nepal, which has a more conducive environment for tigers,” Sinha said.

He cited the low density of tigers in the VTR in support of his claim. “VTR is located in the terrai region and there should at least be five tigers in per 100sqkm of the area of the reserve. In case of VTR the said density is less than two, which indicates poor management,” said the WTI official.