Bhopal, Dec 4: No tigers have been spotted in Madhya Pradesh's Panna National Park for over two months, but forest officials claim the presence of at least 30 tigers. Non-sighting of tigers in the 543 sq km tiger reserve has sent alarm bells among the villagers as well as tourist operators, who were concerned over decline in tourist arrival and suspected poaching.

In an unprecedented development, members of local eco-development committee at Panna tourist village adjoining the park adopted a resolution asking the Park authorities to reply why no tiger was spotted in recent days despite the official claim about presence of 30 tigers.

Gokul Prasad Raikwar of the village said today that the villagers were yet to get a reply from the Park authorities. Another villager Ghanshyam Prasad Tiwari alleged that the Park officials were busy in construction work neglecting wildlife protection, leading to tiger poaching. Tourists consoled themselves by spotting leopards, say tour operators.

''There is nothing unusual in non-sighting of tigers though the latest count put the tiger population in Panna park between 15 and 32'', state's Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Dr PB Gangopadhyay informed.

If the population of cubs in the park was taken together, then big cats would number 35, including 3 or 4 tigress'', Dr Gangopadhyay said, adding the exact figure cannot be determined but reaching at immediate conclusion that the beast is extinct is totally wrong.

''Non-sighting of tigers in Kanha and Bandhavgarh national parks would have been alarming'', he said, adding geographical condition in the three parks differed. Dr Gangopadhyay, however, admitted the possibility of decline in the number of tigress. Poaching of a tigress was reported in the Panna park more than a year ago.

He said tiger sighting was possible with the help of trained elephants and forest officials. At present, there are only 2-3 such elephants available. Admitting non-sighting of tigers in the reserve recently, Park Director G Krishnamurthy said arrangements for tiger sighting could be made for the benefit of tourists.

Citing reports of Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India, Forest department sources said 24 tigers were reported in the park in 2006 and 34 tigers in 2005. A group of tourists from Britain were disillusioned, as they could not sight any tiger despite one-week stay. Peter Penfold and Christopher said the only consolance was that they had sighted leopards many times.