Counting tigers: NTCA asks MP to correct data entry errors

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has asked Madhya Pradesh to enter correct data related to tigers in its state in an online platform, according to an RTI document.

A letter has been sent to the Chief Wildlife Warden of the state by the NTCA to re-enter the data.

Certain data entry errors were pointed out in information given by the state during a meeting held in Nagpur in May.

Following which, the NTCA had also provided technical assistance to Madhya Pradesh on the basis of a request from the state in this regard.

"You are requested to kindly re-enter data in the manner as suggested at the earliest," said the NTCA letter, a copy of which was received in response to an RTI application filed by Bhopal-based wildlife activist Ajay Dubey.

There are six tiger reserves in Madhya Pradesh -- Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Panna, Bori-Satpura, Sanjay-Dubri and Pench -- which have about 308 big cat, as per a central government report of 2014.

There are an estimated 2,226 tigers in India, it said.