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Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Shocking case of laxity at Tadoba

Indian express today reports cases of Sambhar poaching from inside the Todaba Tiger Reserve. Apparently tribals residing on the border of the reserve went hunting inside the park and killed two sambhar deer. Just to highlight how lax security inside the park is, the tribals came back two days after the killing to collect the carcass of the animal. Another incident of a wild boar being killed by villagers on the fringes of the park has been reported. As this blog has been saying ground level strengthening of protection systems is key to forest protection plans. With little of no money seeping through to the forest reserves for hiring security and buying tools it is hardly surprising incidents like these are taking place. one can safely imagine 3 such incidents take place for every one that is reported.

Ahead of NTCA visit, reports of tribal feast inside Tadoba reserve

Web based Tiger database on the anvil

A TOI report today cites NTCA and WWF officials preparing a comprehensive data base of tiger populations across the country with assocaited info related to tiger crimes and trade. Similar databases are used acros developed world to protect endangered species. Though theoritically a good concept the idea will work only if ground level protection is strengthened. If tiger reserves remain easily accessible to poachers tiger killings will continue how ever much we spend on latest tools and technology.