Ranjha, Feb 9 : Sixteen cameras installed at the Banke and Bardiya National Parks for the tiger census have reportedly been stolen. Similarly six have been damaged by elephants, according to National Trust for Nature Conservation, Bardiya chief Dr Rabin Kadariya. This has affected the census. Nine cameras were stolen from the Block ‘1’ followed by four each from Block’2’ and ‘3’. The cost of cameras is Rs 40,000 each.  

The first and second blocks entirely stretch through the Bardiya National Park while the third block covers parts of both national parks and the fourth block totally lies in the Banke National Park. Tentatively, a camera is put for around 15 months at certain locations to track the possible movement of wild animals.    

As Dr Kadariya believes, those visiting the park areas to collect fodder and poachers might have taken away the census gadgets.    

So far, the census has been over at the first and second block and it is underway at third and fourth block, aid Banke National Park Chief Conservation Officer Shyam Kumar Shah.   

The census based on camera trapping method had begun some two months ago (December 15, 2021). “While assessing the recorded movements of tigers, we expect a rise in its population this time,” Shah added.