Has Manipur gone the Sariska way?
From correspondents in Delhi, India, 09:31 AM IST New Delhi – In Manipur, reports of tigers being killed by villagers pour in regularly even as officials claim there were no big cats left there. According to a news item published in the latest issue of the North East Sun magazine, fully grown tigers were being killed and their bones and skins sold in the international market. Statistics reveal that there were six tigers in Manipur in 1984, but the figure rose to a record 31 in 1989. No tiger census was conducted in the state in 1993 and 1997. However, the 2001-02 census report shocked every one – it said that there were no tigers left in Manipur. No census has been undertaken since then as the Manipur government has maintained that there are no tigers in the state. ‘But investigations proved that tigers exist in Manipur’s Tamenglong district and are being killed by villagers to protect their domestic cattle,’ the report said. ‘The Ibobi Singh government has been turning a blind eye to
