Jaipur: Even as India struggles to keep its tigers alive, in a shocking incident, two 17-month-old cubs were found dead, allegedly poisoned by villagers on the outskirts of Ranthambore Tiger Reserve on Sunday.

Intelligence inputs suggesting that a staggering amount up to Rs 10 lakh is being offered to poachers for tiger skin, has worried wildlife authorities at Ranthambhore National Park. Numbers of the big cat have increased at the park following steps initiated by the authorities to protect the animal. There are now 45 tigers at Ranthambhore.

Seventeen tiger states have, for the first time, simultaneously launched a massive year-long wildlife census to come up with an accurate estimate of the tiger population in the country.

New Delhi: A probe into illegal wildlife trade after some poachers and their associates were nabbed recently has revealed they were involved in an international racket and smuggled animal parts to various countries, including China.

PRAMOD KUMAR
Oct. 14: The CBI has arrested two poachers

Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Orissa, Tamil Nadu and Manas sanctuary in Assam have been given a financial package for the year 2008-09, according to an environment ministry official
The Centre has released nearly Rs 100 crores to five states to relocate villages in tiger reserves to free the animals from human interference with Madhya Pradesh getting almost half of the total fund share.

India will showcase its success story in re-introducing tigers in Rajasthan's Sariska reserve to the SAARC nations when their foreign ministers meet here next month.

Of the 37 tiger reserves in the country, there is no information available on the number of tigers

Sujay Mehdudia

NEW DELHI: The depleting population of tigers in the country is