Scientists to file rebuttal against Oxford study
NEW DELHI: A 30% rise in India’s tiger population has led to a war of words between Wildlife Institute of India scientists and independent experts with the former deciding to rebut an Oxford University study questioning the methodology used to calculate the number of the big cats.
Scientists from the University, the Indian Statistical Institute and Centre for Wildlife Studies claimed the index-calibration method used to arrive at 2,226 tigers in 2014, could produce inaccurate results.
“The index-calibration model was shown to be unreliable again, with any high degree of success shown to be down to chance…that could not be replicated,” says the research, published in journal Methods in Ecology and Evolution.
The lead scientist on tiger estimation Qamar Qureshi termed the research as full of factual inaccuracies done with an intention to discredit high tiger numbers in India. In an email response to HT, Qureshi and his WII colleague VY Jhala said the authors reached “extraordinary conclusions” without reading methods used in the tiger estimation 2014 and added that a response in a scientific forum will be issued soon.
WII scientists said the theoretical model – by CWS director Ullas Karanth - suffered from poor sampling design and low reliability and it was not surprising that they have never found a strong relationship of tiger density with tiger signs or any other variable. Karanth said the paper brings out flaws in the methodology which the WII should be willing to address. The WII scientists said that a population of 2,226 tigers is small and vulnerable and that conservation issues were getting sidelined. Karanth concurred saying tiger estimation should lead to better conservation measures outside the protected areas.