The Government today said it is aware of the reported spread of a deadly virus in tiger sanctuaries and only a single case of tiger death due to Canine Distemper Virus has been confirmed in Pilibhit area of Uttar Pradesh in 2013.
Environment minister Prakash Javadekar informed the Rajya Sabha in a written reply that tiger deaths due to Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) and Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) have not been reported from tiger states.
"Yes. While tiger deaths due to KFD and FMD have not been reported from tiger states, only a single case of tiger mortality due to Canine Distemper Virus has been confirmed in Pilibhit area of Uttar Pradesh in November 2013," Javadekar said.
The Minister said that based on discussions with experts, advice from Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) and Wildlife Institute of India (WII), the tiger states have been advised by National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) for monitoring and taking precautionary measures against the spread of CDV.
He said that on receiving alert from Regional Office of the Bengaluru-based NTCA regarding prevalence of FMD and CDV in Bandipur Tiger Reserve in Karnataka, tiger states have been advised regarding preventive and control measures.
Javadekar said that a single case of death of Bonnet Macaque (Macaca Radiata) due to KFD was reported during the summer of 2013 in Bandipur Tiger reserve in Karnataka. Under Project Tiger, central assistance is provided to tiger states which includes funding support for prophylactic immunization against diseases communicable to the wildlife, he said.
Replying to another question, he said that under Project Tiger, 100 per cent central assistance is provided to states for raising, arming and deploying the Special Tiger Protection Force.
The Minister said that an amount of Rs 93 lakhs was provided to Rajasthan in 2008-09 under Project Tiger to raise the Force in Ranthambore Tiger Reserve. However, he said amount has been adjusted against further allocation under the said scheme owing to the fund remaining unutilized by the state, he said.
