Fifty nine tigers have been killed so far this year, the highest in the last three years. In a written reply in Rajya Sabha, the Environment and Forest Minister, Mr. Jayaram Ramesh said that till the 13th of this month,out of 59 tigers out of them 13 were killed in Madhya Pradesh, 10 in Assam and 9 in Karnataka. Twenty two tigers were killed, in 2006, 30 in 2007and 28 last year. According to the recent findings, the total number of tigers tigers across the country is somewhere between 1165 and 1657. He said that the findings indicate the poor status of tiger population in areas other than tiger reserves and protected areas. Our correspondent says that central assistance is provided to the states under the Project Tiger scheme for their protection.<br/>