Panna was different': Ullas Karanth questions Cambodia's readiness for tigers
India is preparing to send wild tigers to Cambodia in what would be the world's first international tiger reintroduction, nearly 15 years after the successful Panna reintroduction.
While Panna is often cited as a model, senior conservation scientist Dr. Ullas Karanth warns that Cambodia faces far greater challenges. Based in Karnataka, Karanth is a globally respected authority on tiger ecology, known for pioneering camera-trap studies and advising governments across Asia. In an interview with P. Naveen, he explains why Cambodia must first restore its prey base, strengthen protection, and avoid political shortcuts before moving a single tiger.
Q: India has signed an MoU with Cambodia to translocate tigers for reintroduction. What is your overall assessment of this plan?
Karanth:
Tigers in Cambodia went extinct from lack of prey and direct poaching 25 years ago. I was involved in advising the Wildlife Conservation Society's camera trap surveys there. As I expected, tigers soon went extinct. If large protected areas with abundant wild prey are not available—which is my worry—any reintroduced tigers will also meet with the same fate.
Q: You have expressed skepticism about Cambodia's ability to support a thriving tiger population. What specific ecological or management factors make the project risky?
Karanth:
Although extensive suitable deciduous forests are there in the northern plains and Mondulkiri and other provinces of Cambodia, the prey base has been hunted out. Mere presence of prey species is not a useful yardstick. Prey densities of at least 10–15 large ungulates over extensive areas are needed to support even a handful of tigers, let alone a viable tiger population.
Second, Cambodia has a deep-rooted hunting culture, like we have in the northeastern hill states. Wild animals are snared, trapped, or shot and then eaten or sold all over the country. Strong anti-poaching efforts exist in at least some areas of India and Thailand, which has led to tiger recovery. These are not typical of Cambodia. These are the risks.
Q: The Cambodian government claims to have restored prey populations and secured habitats for the reintroduced tigers. Do you think these efforts are adequate?
Karanth:
I have not been to the forests of Cambodia in decades.
I am skeptical of such claims based on history. My former colleague Colin Poole will have better knowledge of the current status of prey animals and conservation there.
Q: What lessons can be drawn from previous tiger reintroduction efforts in India, such as those in Sariska and Panna, and how do they apply to Cambodia?
Karanth:
Tiger reintroduction efforts have mostly failed and caused serious human–tiger conflicts in India if you look at the overall track record.
Undoubtedly, the Panna effort worked because a large protected area with wild prey (and domestic prey left at site by relocated villagers) existed even after all tigers had been selectively hunted and gone extinct by 2009. Protection was improved, and tigers which were already experienced in hunting (and I think a pregnant tigress too) were introduced and reestablished the population in Panna successfully.
The Sariska experiment is an ego trip driven by local tourism interests.
Crores have been spent in establishing a small unviable population amidst a sea of humanity. That is hardly the model for Cambodia. Hyping a few successes while hushing up far more failed reintroductions is not a scientific approach to the issue.
Q: Are there alternative strategies you would recommend to Cambodia to rebuild its tiger population, rather than relying on translocation from India?
Karanth:
Thailand has a large 20,000 sq km forest in the Western Forest Complex, which had lost most of its tigers by 1990.
After 2000 they set up effective patrols as well as rigorous scientific monitoring of prey and tigers under my guidance, and today after two decades tigers have recovered. These include tigers moving in to recolonize the better-protected areas. Cambodia should patiently restore prey in extensive habitats in a scientifically provable manner first.
Once that is done, tigers can naturally move in from Thailand or even be brought in carefully controlled experiments.
Q: Some conservationists argue that such international projects enhance global collaboration and bring funding for habitat protection. Do you see any positive aspects in India's decision to export tigers?
Karanth:
No, only grandstanding by officials on both sides. Cambodians have to do the hard work first.
Q: What safeguards should be in place—in terms of habitat management, prey base, and protection against poaching—before a single tiger is released in Cambodia?
Karanth:
I have covered all this above.
Q: Finally, what message would you like to give policymakers in India and Cambodia regarding this ambitious reintroduction plan?
Karanth:
Who cares about my messages? Indian policymakers should focus on the problems that they face at home first before trying to preach to other countries about tigers. They should start by totally revamping the current non-transparent tiger-prey monitoring system that is poorly designed and unscientific.
Raw data generated are hidden from public view and tiger numbers appear to be changed according to political needs.
It all started with setting the absurdly low number of 1,400 tigers in 2006, down from 3,600 in 2002, to serve political needs after extinctions in Sariska. India can have at least 10,000 tigers spread more evenly over 400,000 sq km of potential habitats we have in the country
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Representative Image India is preparing to send wild tigers to Cambodia in what would be the world's first international tiger reintroduction, nearly 15 years after the successful Panna reintroduction. While Panna is often cited as a model, senior conservation scientist Dr. Ullas Karanth warns that Cambodia faces far greater challenges. Based in Karnataka, Karanth is a globally respected authority on tiger ecology, known for pioneering camera-trap studies and advising governments across Asia. In an interview with P. Naveen, he explains why Cambodia must first restore its prey base, strengthen protection, and avoid political shortcuts before moving a single tiger. Q: India has signed an MoU with Cambodia to translocate tigers for reintroduction. What is your overall assessment of this plan? Karanth: Tigers in Cambodia went extinct from lack of prey and direct poaching 25 years ago. I was involved in advising the Wildlife Conservation Society's camera trap surveys there. As I expected, tigers soon went extinct. If large protected areas with abundant wild prey are not available—which is my worry—any reintroduced tigers will also meet with the same fate. Q: You have expressed skepticism about Cambodia's ability to support a thriving tiger population. What specific ecological or management factors make the project risky? Karanth: Although extensive suitable deciduous forests are there in the northern plains and Mondulkiri and other provinces of Cambodia, the prey base has been hunted out. Mere presence of prey species is not a useful yardstick. Prey densities of at least 10–15 large ungulates over extensive areas are needed to support even a handful of tigers, let alone a viable tiger population. Second, Cambodia has a deep-rooted hunting culture, like we have in the northeastern hill states. Wild animals are snared, trapped, or shot and then eaten or sold all over the country. Strong anti-poaching efforts exist in at least some areas of India and Thailand, which has led to tiger recovery. These are not typical of Cambodia. These are the risks. Q: The Cambodian government claims to have restored prey populations and secured habitats for the reintroduced tigers. Do you think these efforts are adequate? Karanth: I have not been to the forests of Cambodia in decades. I am skeptical of such claims based on history. My former colleague Colin Poole will have better knowledge of the current status of prey animals and conservation there. Q: What lessons can be drawn from previous tiger reintroduction efforts in India, such as those in Sariska and Panna, and how do they apply to Cambodia? Karanth: Tiger reintroduction efforts have mostly failed and caused serious human–tiger conflicts in India if you look at the overall track record. Undoubtedly, the Panna effort worked because a large protected area with wild prey (and domestic prey left at site by relocated villagers) existed even after all tigers had been selectively hunted and gone extinct by 2009. Protection was improved, and tigers which were already experienced in hunting (and I think a pregnant tigress too) were introduced and reestablished the population in Panna successfully. The Sariska experiment is an ego trip driven by local tourism interests. Crores have been spent in establishing a small unviable population amidst a sea of humanity. That is hardly the model for Cambodia. Hyping a few successes while hushing up far more failed reintroductions is not a scientific approach to the issue. Q: Are there alternative strategies you would recommend to Cambodia to rebuild its tiger population, rather than relying on translocation from India? Karanth: Thailand has a large 20,000 sq km forest in the Western Forest Complex, which had lost most of its tigers by 1990. After 2000 they set up effective patrols as well as rigorous scientific monitoring of prey and tigers under my guidance, and today after two decades tigers have recovered. These include tigers moving in to recolonize the better-protected areas. Cambodia should patiently restore prey in extensive habitats in a scientifically provable manner first. Once that is done, tigers can naturally move in from Thailand or even be brought in carefully controlled experiments. Q: Some conservationists argue that such international projects enhance global collaboration and bring funding for habitat protection. Do you see any positive aspects in India's decision to export tigers? Karanth: No, only grandstanding by officials on both sides. Cambodians have to do the hard work first. Q: What safeguards should be in place—in terms of habitat management, prey base, and protection against poaching—before a single tiger is released in Cambodia? Karanth: I have covered all this above. Q: Finally, what message would you like to give policymakers in India and Cambodia regarding this ambitious reintroduction plan? Karanth: Who cares about my messages? Indian policymakers should focus on the problems that they face at home first before trying to preach to other countries about tigers. They should start by totally revamping the current non-transparent tiger-prey monitoring system that is poorly designed and unscientific. Raw data generated are hidden from public view and tiger numbers appear to be changed according to political needs. It all started with setting the absurdly low number of 1,400 tigers in 2006, down from 3,600 in 2002, to serve political needs after extinctions in Sariska. India can have at least 10,000 tigers spread more evenly over 400,000 sq km of potential habitats we have in the country
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