The state of Kerala's tiger population alone has increased from 71 to an incredible 136, based on data sourced from the latest technology, including camera traps, digital imaging of pug marks, tagging and satellite data. But I've been told we'd be extremely lucky – or perhaps unlucky – to spot a tiger in this large, dense terrain, with the big cats extremely elusive, well camouflaged, and of course, extremely rare.Īccording to the latest census conducted in 2014, India's tiger population has risen by nearly 30 per cent in three years from 1706 to 2226 - great news indeed and a triumph for wildlife conservation. We are on an early-morning walking safari through the reserve – yes, on foot, not in a jeep: hence my reticence. And while I long to see the jewel in this park's ecosystem – the Bengal tiger – I'm quietly relieved that so far, we haven't had to make a dash for our lives. Here, in the dark, misty wilds of Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala, southern India, every animal, from the smallest insect to the largest predator, is part of the food chain – including the most invasive presence, man.
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