Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), June 11 (IANS) Two people, allegedly involved in illegal wildlife trade, were arrested here with tiger skins, police said Saturday.
The accused, identified as Sartaj and Dilip, both in their mid-40s, were nabbed Friday from Bhelupur locality following a joint operation by district police and forest officials.
"Three tiger skins were recovered from the duo's possession. Acting on a tip-off, we intercepted the two men while they were on their way to hand over the skins to some of their clients," police inspector R.M. Yadav told reporters Saturday in Varanasi, some 300-km from Lucknow.
"We are yet to ascertain where the tigers were killed. According to the two men, their gang members in the state's Lakhimpur district had handed over the hides to them for selling," he added.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the two have been involved in the trade of wild animal skins, antlers and other body parts for the last over five years.
"The two are natives of Uttar Pradesh. We are trying to nab other members of their gang based on the information provided by the two men," added Yadav.
http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=244302
Monday, June 13, 2011
Ranthambore tiger plays 'doting dad' to orphaned cubs-PTI
NEW DELHI: In an extremely rare display of parenting, a male tiger seems to be palying a "doting dad" to two orphaned cubs in Ranthambore tiger reserve in Rajasthan.
Forest officials in the tiger reserve said the behaviour of the tiger, named T25, reflects a "complete role reversal" as male tigers are known not to be protecting their offspring.
"It's an extremely rare case where a male tiger seems to be playing the role of a doting dad to the motherless cubs," U M Sahai, Rajasthan's chief wildlife warden, said.
"Normally, the mother takes care of the cubs till they are at least two years old, while the father is a visitor. The male is seen off and on, especially when he comes to mate with the tigress," he said.
The cubs, which are about eight months old now, lost their mother in February this year. And T25 is believed to be their father, officials at the tiger reserve said.
The tiger's behaviour has been recorded by hidden cameras fitted in the reserve. The most recent images show that T25 is walking just a metre behind one of the cubs, said Rajesh Gupta, field director of Ranthambore.
Since the death of their mother, he said, the cubs are being raised in the wild by forest department staff.
As they are too young to make a kill, they are being provided food -- usually goat meat -- with a bait by the staff, he said.
"I have recently noticed one of the cubs eating the kill provided by our staff," Gupta said.
"They are seen in good health and it appears that the male tiger is allowing them to eat and not taking it for himself," he added.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/environment/flora-fauna/ranthambore-tiger-plays-doting-dad-to-orphaned-cubs/articleshow/8827671.cms
Forest officials in the tiger reserve said the behaviour of the tiger, named T25, reflects a "complete role reversal" as male tigers are known not to be protecting their offspring.
"It's an extremely rare case where a male tiger seems to be playing the role of a doting dad to the motherless cubs," U M Sahai, Rajasthan's chief wildlife warden, said.
"Normally, the mother takes care of the cubs till they are at least two years old, while the father is a visitor. The male is seen off and on, especially when he comes to mate with the tigress," he said.
The cubs, which are about eight months old now, lost their mother in February this year. And T25 is believed to be their father, officials at the tiger reserve said.
The tiger's behaviour has been recorded by hidden cameras fitted in the reserve. The most recent images show that T25 is walking just a metre behind one of the cubs, said Rajesh Gupta, field director of Ranthambore.
Since the death of their mother, he said, the cubs are being raised in the wild by forest department staff.
As they are too young to make a kill, they are being provided food -- usually goat meat -- with a bait by the staff, he said.
"I have recently noticed one of the cubs eating the kill provided by our staff," Gupta said.
"They are seen in good health and it appears that the male tiger is allowing them to eat and not taking it for himself," he added.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/environment/flora-fauna/ranthambore-tiger-plays-doting-dad-to-orphaned-cubs/articleshow/8827671.cms
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