Patna, March 27 (IANS) At least 23 endangered tigers have disappeared from Bihar's only tiger reserve in the last three years, says the latest Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report.

Neither the officials of the Valmiki National Park - a part of India's Project Tiger - nor the state government has any information about the missing tigers.

According to the 2006 CAG report, the number of tigers was down to 33 in 2005 when the last census was conducted, from 56 counted in 2002.

The report also said that the estimation of tigers in the park was irregular as the census was conducted only thrice between 2000 and 2005.

The ratio of male to female tigers is also alarming. In 2002, there were 35 males, 17 females and four cubs, but by 2005, the number of males reduced to only 10, females to 22 and cubs to one.

In 1990, there were estimated to be 80 tigers and 31 leopards in the park. But their population decreased due to poaching as reported from time to time.

An absence of planning and inadequate funds were attributed as reasons for the irregularity in tiger estimates. The report recommended that the estimation of tiger population should be carried out on a regular and scientific basis for their protection and conservation.

The CAG report is, however, silent about the reason behind tiger disappearance.

Last year, the state government decided to relocate villagers living inside the park following an increased threat to wildlife and the declining green cover, said a forest official.

The total population of tigers in India, as estimated during the last census in 2001-02, was 3,642.

Loopholes in tiger conservation came under the international scanner and nationwide censure when in 2004 it was reported and proved that the famous Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan had actually no tiger left.