The ambitious e-eye surveillance system of tracking tigers has been made operational in key sanctuaries in the country including Kaziranga and Corbett reserves, the government said today.
"The e-eye is operational in Corbett Tiger Reserve in Uttarkhand and Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh. The same has also been installed in Kaziranga Tiger Reserve in Assam.
"Besides observing movement of tigers and other animals, this acts as an early warning system wherein movement of poachers and intruders can be viewed before they reach the sensitive areas of tiger reserves, thereby preventing poaching of tigers and other endangered animals," Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha.
He said that in India, tiger count has shown an increasing trend with subsequent estimations which was initiated in 2006, where the count was 1,411 in 2006, 1,706 in 2010 and 2,226 in 2014.
Replying to another question, Javadekar said the Special Tiger Protection Force is operational in six tiger reserves namely Bandipur (Karnataka), Pench, Tadoba-Andhari and Melghat in Maharashtra, Similipal (Odisha) and Ranthambhore in Rajasthan.
He said funding assistance to tiger reserves is provided for various activities including anti-poaching activities consisting of deployment of tiger protection force or squads including ex-servicemen and local workforce in all tiger reserves.
