Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a reference to Soligas of Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Tiger Reserve (BRT) in the 119th edition of Mann Ki Baat which was broadcast on 24th February and appreciated their contribution to tiger conservation.
- The Soligas’ deep-rooted cultural links with the forest ecosystem are well documented, and given their knowledge of the terrain, the Forest Department takes their assistance in various forest-related activities, including fire protection.
- The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) report on the tiger population for BRT Tiger Reserve indicated the presence of 69 tigers in 2014. This number went up to 86 in the 2018 report. However, the NTCA’s 2022 report on the “Status of Tigers, Co-Predators, and Prey” noted a decline in the tiger population.
(Source: The Hindu)
