Tiger state MP lost 23 big cats in 2019

Bhopal, December 31

Madhya Pradesh lost 23 big cats in 2019, months after reclaiming the coveted tiger state tag. According to the data on the NTCA website, 81 tiger deaths were reported in India this year, of which a whopping 23 were from Madhya Pradesh.

Seven big cats died due to poaching and as many due to natural causes in state. The website listed the last tiger death on December 16 in Uttarakhand. “Madhya Pradesh was prompt in reporting every death whether it was of tiger, panther or sloth bear,” Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Dr U Prakasham said.

With nearly six tiger reserves, Madhya Pradesh had the highest number of tigers as per the 2006 census.

However, it slipped to no. 2 position in 2010, losing the title to Karnataka. According to the latest tiger count, the big cat population in the country has increased from 2,226 in 2014 to 2,967 in 2018. PTI

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HP prepares for white New Year

Sub-zero temperatures in Manali, Kufri, Solan

Shimla, December 31

Kufri, Manali, Dalhousie, Solan and Kalpa shivered at sub-zero temperatures in Himachal Pradesh on New Year’s Eve with the state’s lowest temperature recorded in Keylong at minus 8.2 degrees Celsius, the Meteorological Department said, predicting rain and snowfall in the middle and higher hills between December 31 and January 4.

Snowfall is likely to occur in Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur districts on December 31 and January 1and on January 2 and 3 in the middle hills of Shimla, Kufri and Manali. In Shimla, a large number of tourists have already gathered at the historic Ridge to usher in 2020. PTI