India is translocating some of its tigers to Cambodia where the tiger population has become extinct, according to a memorandum of understanding signed between the two countries.

Following the translocation of African Cheetahs from Namibia in September last year, India signed an MoU with Cambodia in November, according to news reports, to assist it with “all technical details and knowledge’’ regarding the reintroduction of tiger in the country.

Cambodia has reportedly identified at least 90 acres of forest land at its Tatai Wildlife Sanctuary in the Cardamom rainforest to welcome tigers from India.

SP Yadav, chief of the National Tiger Conservation Authority [NTCA] told the media on Friday: “We have constituted a technical support group which is advising Cambodia to achieve certain levels of standards with respect to staffing, prey base, habitat and protection. Once these are achieved, further action will be taken.”

However, the number of big cats to be translocated to the Cambodian habitat remains unclear. The last time a tiger was spotted in Cambodia was more than 15 years ago.

Mr Yadav also didn’t clarify the exact date of the translocation of tigers from India. However, reports suggested that Cambodia is expecting tigers towards the end of this year.

“The translocation of our tigers to Cambodia is under consideration. This has never been done in India before, although we have been translocating tigers within the country as and when it has been required,” Mr Yadav added.

“For instance, we will be translocating tigers from Corbett [Uttarakhand], which has the largest tiger population in India, to Rajaji National Park in the same state. If we finally decide on translocating tigers to Cambodia, it will be done based on IUCN [International Union for Conservation of Nature] protocol,” he added.

In India meanwhile, Project Tiger — which was launched in 1973 at the Jim Corbett National Park — completes fifty years in April this year.

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi will release the new tiger census on 9 April as well. According to the last census, India has 2967 tigers. And it has been reported that tiger numbers have annually been increasing by about six per cent since. The numbers in this census are expected to be above 3500.

“We will have to look at many factors before taking a decision. To begin with, we have to verify whether the reasons for tiger disappearance in Cambodia have been addressed, whether they have the requisite facilities and infrastructure to support the tiger,” Mr Yadav said. Independent.co.uk