Bengaluru: The dwindling tiger population in India is a cause for worry. 

At this crucial juncture, it is important and heartening to note that the tiger population at Assam’s Manas National Park and Tiger Reserve has increased three-fold in the last 10 years, notes the Times of India.

In fact, the park has bagged the first-ever international award for conservation excellence.

So what has led to the increase in tiger population? 

The website notes that the primary reason for this achievement is smart patrolling, which includes Android-based monitoring software M-STeIPES.

“This achievement has been the result of very coherent teamwork by many extremely dedicated forest personnel and sincere efforts of some wildlife NGOs,” field director of Manas Tiger Project Amal Chandra Sarmah was quoted by the website as saying.

The tiger population now includes 26 adults and 4 cubs. 

Furthermore, the happy story extends itself to rhinos as well. 

Its population has increased to 44, from zero in 2002-02 due to the “extremist” movement in Bodoland. 

“This commendable performance has been a possible due to adoption of smart patrolling like that of M-STeIPES and regular vehicle and boat patrolling. As a result of this, there has been no incidence of rhino poaching inside the park since 2016,” Sarmah said further. 

The award has been jointly conferred on Manas National Park and its Bhutanese counterpart the Royal Manas National Park.

“This honour bestowed upon the tiger reserve has recognized years of hard work and conservation efforts of the Manas Tiger Project,” Sarmah said. 

“Manas provides habitat to 22 of India’s most threatened species of mammals. This includes 1034 elephants, 12 clouded leopards, five black panthers, 400 golden langurs, 502 wild buffalos and 706 Indian bisons. Recently, the park has also translocated two wild buffaloes to Chhattisgarh and also started a pygmy hog reintroduction programme,” Sarmah added.