DALTONGANJ : In the Palamu Tiger
Reserve (PTR) , the number of
elephants has increased 10 times
since 1974 whereas the number of
tigers has gone down.
In 1974, when the PTR was set up
here , there were as many as 32
elephants and 22 tigers . With the
passage of time , the number of
elephants went up to as many as 225
while tiger count came down to six
only .
Wildlife experts opine that the tigers
are more exposed to poisoning and
poaching than elephants . Field
director (Project Tiger ) P Updahaya
recently said that there were still
many zones in the PTR where the
tigers have not been counted and
there could be a possibility of finding
more tigers in the reserve .
However , according to the steering
committee member of Project
Elephant , D S Srivastava, "PTR is now
more or less home to elephants
without tusks basically female though
some male elephants also do not
have tusks .
Elephants in PTR are also exposed to
life hazards like train tracks, over -
head high -tension electric wires .
However , contrary to popular belief ,
elephants of the reserve never move
out and go on rampage in Garhwa
and other neighbouring areas .
Srivastava said, "PTR' s elephants do
not move out but herds from
Chhatisgarh stray into parts of
Garhwa district. PTR's elephants do
only intra- migration that is within the
ambit of the reserve . "
Explaining the intra -migration of the
elephants , he said, "Elephants of
Betla National Park move out from
here to their summer resort Baresar
and Kujrum within the reserve where
there are perennial water bodies .