Nope, no tigers in Nagaland – just a passerby that got shot

EMN
Dimapur, March 23

The unfortunate tiger that got killed in Medziphema, notwithstanding the fact that it was probably the first sighting of the endangered cat in Nagaland in years as long as anyone can remember, was a lone travelling animal.
A group of surveyors and conservationists have said that there are no tigers in the areas as initially rumoured. Soon after the shooting of the tiger by villagers, rumours of a second tiger surfaced in Medziphema, a subdivision under Dimapur district.
In collaboration with the Wildlife Conservation Society of India, the Nagaland Forest department set up camera traps to “confirm the rumours,” a press release from the organizers said on Tuesday. “Seven days of camera-trapping with 17 units allayed fears of tiger presence,” the press release stated.
Nagaland threw up a surprise for wildlife conservationists, particularly those involved with tigers in the country. A dispersing tiger, which found itself in Medziphema, a small village near Dimapur, was shot dead by panicked villagers on February 29.
“Tigers have not been officially recorded from the area in over a decade. Two days later, residents of the same village received news of another tiger in their area––three youngsters walking inside nearby forest reported catching a fleeting glimpse of a large, cat-like animal that they had surprised while it was feeding on a wild pig,” the press release stated.
“As the news spread, Medziphema village again witnessed tense moments. The Nagaland Forest Department immediately visited the site. But without concrete evidence of a tiger in the village, the forest department had their hands tied. Wildlife Conservation Society India Program, facilitated by Nagaland Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation Trust (NWBCT), stepped in to provide technical assistance at this stage, and set up camera-traps near the kill-site and around the village along with the forest department.”
“It is unlikely that there is a resident population of tigers in the area. There is habitat for tigers, but little prey,” said Dr. Varun Goswami, scientist at the Wildlife Conservation Society of India, who led the effort.
“Tigers, however, can disperse into Nagaland from multiple directions––the forests of Karbi Anglong towards the northwest, or perhaps, Myanmar to the southeast”, he added. In fact, on closer interaction, residents of Medziphema revealed that tigers do occasionally pass through the area.
Tigers can move large distances when they are dispersing, according to Dr. Ullas Karanth, renowned tiger expert from Wildlife Conservation Society. “Our long term research shows evidence of tigers travelling up to 300 km or more,” the press release quoted him as having stated.
“The last time a tiger came into the village, it was shot. But this time things were different, and for the better,” said BanoHaralu, a conservationist from NWBCT who partners WCS India Program in Nagaland. The locals, now more aware of tiger conservation issues, immediately informed the authorities of their concern. The forest department, in turn, was able to take quick action. After seven days of camera trapping with 17 units, there was no evidence of a tiger.
“What is promising is that the villagers, the forest department, and NGOs worked together and acted immediately. This gave the villagers confidence that the next time also, they will receive similar help”, said Haralu, who is from Nagaland. “This will go a long way in ensuring that the next time a tiger disperses through our state, it will be able to successfully move through.”