The year 2009 saw 59 tigers falling prey to poaching and man-animal conflicts, the highest figure in the past three years.

A government report also showed that 17 tiger reserves in the country are under population depletion threat.

Painting a grim picture of what holds in the future for them, the government assessment of 38 tiger reserves notes that 17 sanctuaries are in a very precarious condition and could be on the way to become like Sariska and Panna, both infamous for loss of resident big cats.