crimes and human-wildlife conflict in and around this tiger stronghold. In South Central India, we helped train more than 200 park staff in tiger and prey monitoring techniques and in cataloging evidence of illegal activities. In India’s largest tiger reserve, Nagarjunsagar Srisailam, Panthera’s local partner - HYTICOS - worked closely with the Forest Department to produce this site’s first tiger population estimate from camera traps. These population data provide the means to chart conservation success in terms of the only metric that really counts - tiger numbers. In Kawwal Tiger Reserve, HYTICOS field teams also work tirelessly with Forest Department staff to remove snares and other traps, ensuring important tiger prey are protected from poachers. In Endau Rompin National Park, Malaysia, our partners at the Wildlife Conservation Society saw evidence that this small but important core tiger population remains stable, and photographic evidence of breeding reaffirmed that the team on the ground is providing safe areas in which tigers can rebound. Anti-poaching activities in this site have led to almost 70 pieces of poaching equipment, traps and hunting camps being found and destroyed. Thanks to support from the Robertson Foundation, Panthera also scaled up production of our own V4 PantheraCam, and delivered 1,780 new cameras to tiger sites for population monitoring. Camera trapping remains the best tool to count and monitor tiger numbers over time, which is critical for determining success. Panthera also grew our Tiger Task Force this year - a team of specialists which comprises leading experts in tiger ecology, population monitoring, environmental policy, conservation technology, law enforcement and human-tiger conflict mitigation. As
one of the world’s most accomplished tiger biologists, Dr. John Goodrich, Panthera’s Senior Tiger Program Director, brings over 25 years of experience to the team. Sanjay Gubbi was also recruited, bringing with him more than 20 years of experience in Indian tiger conservation, and significant expertise in conservation science and policy. As a direct result of Tigers Forever, critical infrastructure and processes have been implemented in sites where measuring and monitoring, as well as direct interventions, were absent or not effective. Across all of our sites, Panthera has been facilitating multi-stakeholder cooperation and enhancing local conservation efforts to ensure long-term sustainability. In 2013 and beyond, Panthera will continue to engage partners and help train local teams to utilize the successful Tigers Forever Protocol in the most critical sites for tigers. These efforts can only continue with the financial support from our donors, together with our proven ability to find and invest in the best people and partners on the ground to turn the tide for tigers.
FROM TOP © PANTHERA; STEVE WINTER/NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
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Sanjay Gubbi India Tiger Program Coordinator Sanjay Gubbi draws on his strong scientific background to work with key decision makers and influence conservation policy. He was one of 25 young people selected by the Times of India as a “Leader of Tomorrow” for his contribution to wildlife conservation in India and his unique focus on the socio-economic and political aspects of tiger conservation.
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