BHUBANESWAR: The Orissa Environment Society and Save the Elephant Foundation Trust organised a brain storming session Sunday to discuss the threats faced by big cats.
IFS Jitasatru Mohanty welcomed the guests participating in the event. Chief Guest NALCO CMD Tapan Chand, SEFT Chairman Rajanikant Jena, IFS P.K Mohan, Director of Nandankanan Biological Park H.S Upadhyay, IFS Debebrata Swain and President of the Orissa Environment Society attended the function.
Speaking on the occasion, Mohan said that there was a huge demand for ivory and animal skins in the international market. This is the main reason for the decrease in the number of elephants and big cats.
Upadhyay said that there were strict laws on crimes against wildlife. However, such crimes are continuing. Naxalites are one of the major reasons for loss of animal habitats and wildlife. They have killed many wild animals, he added.
The number of tigers is decreasing and they are in danger. Tiger habitats have to be improved to increase their population, Upadhyay said.
Debabarta Swain said big cats are facing danger and there was a rapid decline in the numbers of cheetahs as indicated in last year’s survey. Cheetahs are present in Africa in large numbers. We need to reintroduce cheetahs in India, and we are waiting for the decision of Supreme Court on this, he added.
There are only 4,000 tigers remaining in the whole world. The Indian subcontinent houses 2500 of them.
There are 500 lions in India. Leopards, snow leopards, clouded leopards found in the North East are safe now, Swain added.
Big animals like elephants are likely to disappear soon due to lack of food. It is necessary to supply adequate food and water to them, he said.
Deputy Conservator of Forests, Nandankan Biological Park, Kamal Lochan Purohit, Member, Odisha Biodiversity Board, Lalit Mohan Sahu and former vice president of the Vana Surakshya Samiti were felicitated at the programme.