Chhattisgarh has 24 to 30 tigers, claims minister

RAIPUR - Chhattisgarh has a total of 24-30 tigers while a count could not be held at Indravati tiger reserve for some years because Maoists were active in the area, the state assembly was told Thursday.

Forest Minister Vikram Usendi told Congress member Mahant Ramsunder Das, in a written reply, that there were six to eight tigers at the Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve while 18 to 22 at the Achanakmar Tiger Reserve.

He said that the government has no data of tigers at Indravati Tiger Reserve located in Bijapur district because a tiger count had not been undertaken for several years due to the Maoists’ presence.