Accurate monitoring and investment in areas of 'source population' of tigers is needed for conservation of the big cats, says an expert.
'Source populations' are the sites where a big number of breeding females can be hosted in a larger landscape which enjoys protection.
Around 90 per cent population of tigers is concentrated in the 'source population' areas and only 10 per cent is spread outside the reserves, conservation zoologist and tiger expert Dr K Ullas Karanth said here yesterday.
He was delivering a lecture on 'methods in ecology', with tiger as the case study.
Karanth stressed on investment in areas of source population of tigers as this approach would give optimal results in conservation of these big cats.
Pointing out that most of the tigers deaths are not detected, he said, "The mortality rate is very high among cubs due to various factors."
He stressed on tiger monitoring through camera trapping, and also training and capacity building of resources for the conservation of these carnivores.
"Depletion of prey is the single biggest threat to decline in tiger population," he pointed out.
He also suggested that regular snap shots should be taken by concerned authorities of the tiger habitats across the landscape.
On the future of tiger conservation, Karanth said he is quite optimistic about the rise in numbers of the striped animals.
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