Scientists have now come up with a novel technique that they claim is better and more reliable than both the previous systems. This time, they’ll be following tiger feces.[break]
With a simple DNA test of the stool, the researchers suggest that the figures and the state of tigers they determine will be closer to the real picture than relying on an estimated figure through camera trapping system.
The Department of National Park and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) has stated that the new technique will come into effect in Nepal through the Nepal Tiger Genome Project. The pilot project is set to take off at Chitwan National Park (CNP) and gradually adopted in all the national parks and wildlife reserves of Nepal with tiger habitats.
The technique has proved effective in 13 different countries, including Russia and India. Researchers have also previously used this DNA testing technique in Nepal to determine the number of snow leopards.
According to ecologist Maheshwor Dhakal of DNPWC, if the pilot project in Chitwan proves successful in collecting reliable statistics of the tigers by this method, it can be further used to study other endangered wildlife, such as rhinos and Asian elephants.
The male tiger that was recently camera trapped in 2011 (22nd Feb 2011) across the foothills of Churia habitat in Chitwan National Park. (KANCHAN THAPA/VIRGINIA TECH/DNPWC)
“The previous data claim that there are 155 tigers in Nepal. This is an estimated figure, and it also doesn’t clearly show the male and female population of the animals,” says Dhakal. “As the DNA testing technique offers more information, like the sex of the animal, this will help in getting more important and reliable data.”
Moreover, as the technique is considerably cheaper and more reliable, Dhakal says it will be help in keeping a detailed and reliable record of the animals in all the national parks and wildlife reserves of the country. He adds that the required technology for the system is available within Nepal, and the project is likely to provide employment opportunities as well.
With a more scientific data collected through the DNA testing method, it is expected that it will help control poaching and illegal trade of animals as well as assist the government to form more viable plans and policies for biodiversity conservation in Nepal.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will be contributing a financial support of US$270,000 for the pilot project at CNP. USAID representative John Stamp states that the technique will be a great advantage to achieve the aim of doubling the tiger population by the year 2022.
“This technique can rightly determine if the feces is of a tiger or another animal, what sex it belongs to and whether it’s a local tiger or one that has migrated from outside,” says Kanchan Thapa, Principal Investigative Officer of the project.
He adds that the objective of the project is to prepare a scientific database of tigers in Nepal. According to him, people might not be able to track every single tiger but it is easier to track the feces and get detailed information of the animal.
So the technique is likely to be greatly effective as he mentions the feces also comprise of internal tissues of the animals to easily carry out a DNA test.
“As the test results will also help check and identify where the illegally sold animal parts and products are coming from, it will also be an advantage in making effective security plans,” Thapa adds.
For the first year of the two-year project, the plan is to collect feces samples from Chitwan, Parsa, Bardiya and Shuklaphanta National Parks. All the samples collected from the Tiger range landscapes in the Terai for the project will be brought to the Center for Molecule Dynamics Nepal (CMDN) in Kathmandu for the necessary tests.
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