Police, courts must act to protect our wildlife
At a juncture, when the Union Environment Ministry and conservationists are brain-storming about how to enhance protection of wildlife, especially endangered species such as tigers and leopards, the Supreme Court almost awarded bail to poaching kingpin Sansar Chand. In a Jaipur jail for the past four years for the crime of trading in banned animal parts and skins, his plea for bail was reported to have elicited a sympathetic hearing from the two-judge bench. It remarked that he deserved bail because he had “not killed men but animals”. (Italics ours.) Then the recollection of his notorious past dawned upon one of the judges. The bench granted the Rajasthan Government four weeks time to file its response, and also allowed the Wildlife Protection Society of India and Wildlife Trust of India to file pleas against award of bail.
The previous year, the apex court had shockingly suspended the jail term of the habitual offender in August 2009. But, fortunately, he was not let out on account of numerous pending cases in trial courts. Over 40 cases relating to wildlife crimes have been filed against Sansar Chand, but he is said to have been convicted in only two. His criminal activities began in the mid-1980s. The man and his accomplices are an absolute menace, with CBI sources claiming that they controlled almost half of the illicit wildlife trade. The last time he was given bail was in mid-2004, a judicial decision that was to prove disastrous for the Sariska tiger reserve. On April 29, 2004, the Ajmer Government Railway Police arrested him. Though sentenced to a five-year prison term, his plea for bail was favourably heard by the Ajmer sessions court. He was let out of prison after about three weeks. Thereafter, he is charged with having engineered the poaching of Sariska’s 22 tigers.
He was again arrested in June 2005, and has been in prison since then; and should continue to remain there for the sake of our depleting wildlife. Bheema, a suspected accomplice of Sansar Chand, was arrested in November by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau. He had earlier been let out on bail in 2005 despite being charged in numerous cases. Clearly, the lax application of existing laws governing wildlife-related crimes is to blame for habitual offenders managing easily to get bail, and then resuming operations without worry. This is a comment not only on the police’s handling of such cases but the judiciary’s approach to them.
Now that Sariska reserve is struggling to rebuild its tiger population, with three big cats having been transferred from Ranthambore National Park, it needs to be emphasised repeatedly that Sansar Chand and others of his ilk should not be allowed to move about freely. Otherwise, these three tigers will also be targeted. In another disgusting instance of the ineptitude of wildlife custodians, and complicity of local people and guards in poaching, Panna reserve’s tigers were all found to have disappeared. This fact came to light early last year. The whole administrative system in place in wildlife reserves and national parks needs an immediate overhaul, the existing one having failed miserably.
Most important, cases involving crimes and violations under the Wildlife Protection Act need to be treated as seriously by the police, Interpol and courts as the most heinous offences. The proposed amendment to the act spells out penalties. A first crime against critical species will be punishable by a jail term of five-seven years and fine of Rs 5 lakh. Subsequent offences of the same nature will invite a seven-year prison sentence and Rs 25 lakh fine. An offence relating to trade in critical species incurs a seven-year jail term and Rs 25 lakh fine. Subsequent offence, again linked to such trade, will be punished with a seven-year prison sentence and Rs 50 lakh fine. Penalties for trade and crimes related to other species are also detailed. Those allowing space and place to be misused for wildlife crimes also come under the ambit of this law.
But the best intentions, put down on paper, can only work if offenders are actually convicted of the crimes that they are accused of, and sentenced. The Sariska and Panna examples bear testimony to the freedom with which poachers and their accomplices operate under the very nose, so to say, of the directors and other personnel of sanctuaries and parks. Once caught, they should be tried and given exemplary punishment so that they abandon poaching and illicit trade. But the practice of giving them a reprieve betrays the reprehensible laxity both of the police and courts.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Forests in Madhya Pradesh go hi tech
Madhya Pradesh is using a number of Information Technology applications, including personal digital assistants mobile phone, for conserving its forest and wildlife treasures, especially tiger reserves.
In Kanha and Satpura Tiger Reserve, the entire forest staff has been equipped with the PDA phones not just only to report sighting of wildlife, but also illegal felling of trees deep inside the forests.
"Also, various other Information and Communication Technology initiatives launched by the forest department for the conservation of forest and wildlife have resulted in effective monitoring of the two precious wealth of the state," additional principal chief conservator of forests, Anil Oberoi told PTI.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Mansingdeo sanctuary area to be reduced
NAGPUR: The state government has decided to reduce the area of proposed Mansingdeo Wildlife Sanctuary from 182.57 sq km to just around 132.73 sq km keeping out 49.84 sq km area with Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra (FDCM) and Nagpur Forest Division.
The government will also rename it as Pench Wildlife Sanctuary instead of Mansingdeo. Highly placed sources said that of the proposed three blocks, the government has excluded key Block I consisting of 4,256 hectares (14 compartments) of FDCM and 727 hectares (3 compartments) of Nagpur division totalling 49.84 sq km. As the excluded area includes Mansingdeo (a small temple inside the forests), the remaining area now will be called Pench Wildlife Sanctuary.
“The move is not in wildlife interest. It seems commercial considerations have triumphed over environment and wildlife concerns,” said conservationists.
“The FDCM area is prime tiger habitat and without it, the sanctuary will have no meaning. It's better not to notify it without Mansingdeo. The area is richer than 257 sq km Pench tiger reserve and Mansinghdeo actually helps in maintaining corridor continuity. The FDCM is ready to part with its area for four-laning of highways but not willing to give area for wildlife,” argued Prafulla Bhamburkar of Wildlife Trust of India (WTI).
Bhamburkar and Nitin Desai of Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) had first submitted the sanctuary proposal in 1993. Since then, it is hanging fire. The state wildlife board (SWB) headed by chief minister has already given a go-ahead to declare Mansingdeo as sanctuary but some vested interests were successful in excluding the FDCM area.
Mohan Jha, field director of Pench Tiger Reserve, was not available for comments. Chief wildlife warden A K Joshi said, “Yes, I've heard about some compartments being excluded but have no information in this regard. The National Board for Wild Life (NBWL) has asked the state to declare six sanctuaries including Mansingdeo in lieu of reducing 8,500 sq km Great India Bustard (GIB) Sanctuary in Nannaj (Kolhapur) to 1,200 sq km.”
Sources said on June 28, government filed an affidavit with the supreme court that it would declare Mansingdeo as a sanctuary but did not inform it about plans to exclude FDCM area. Senior forest officials refused to comment but said excluded area will be part of 500 sq km Pench buffer and hence wildlife interests would not be hampered.
Conservationists say there was difference between buffer and sanctuary. Keeping Mansingdeo in buffer zone would not stop FDCM from undertaking felling in the area in future. The excluded area is a reserve forests (RF) and felling should not be allowed in RFs. They felt the government should stop practice of giving RFs to FDCM. The corporation was handed over 5,900 hectares of RFs in Nagpur, Chandrapur and Bhandara on September 4 and July 14, 2009, respectively.
“Any move to exclude Mansingdeo area from original proposal will be fought in the court of law,” conservationist Kishor Rithe warned.
The government will also rename it as Pench Wildlife Sanctuary instead of Mansingdeo. Highly placed sources said that of the proposed three blocks, the government has excluded key Block I consisting of 4,256 hectares (14 compartments) of FDCM and 727 hectares (3 compartments) of Nagpur division totalling 49.84 sq km. As the excluded area includes Mansingdeo (a small temple inside the forests), the remaining area now will be called Pench Wildlife Sanctuary.
“The move is not in wildlife interest. It seems commercial considerations have triumphed over environment and wildlife concerns,” said conservationists.
“The FDCM area is prime tiger habitat and without it, the sanctuary will have no meaning. It's better not to notify it without Mansingdeo. The area is richer than 257 sq km Pench tiger reserve and Mansinghdeo actually helps in maintaining corridor continuity. The FDCM is ready to part with its area for four-laning of highways but not willing to give area for wildlife,” argued Prafulla Bhamburkar of Wildlife Trust of India (WTI).
Bhamburkar and Nitin Desai of Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) had first submitted the sanctuary proposal in 1993. Since then, it is hanging fire. The state wildlife board (SWB) headed by chief minister has already given a go-ahead to declare Mansingdeo as sanctuary but some vested interests were successful in excluding the FDCM area.
Mohan Jha, field director of Pench Tiger Reserve, was not available for comments. Chief wildlife warden A K Joshi said, “Yes, I've heard about some compartments being excluded but have no information in this regard. The National Board for Wild Life (NBWL) has asked the state to declare six sanctuaries including Mansingdeo in lieu of reducing 8,500 sq km Great India Bustard (GIB) Sanctuary in Nannaj (Kolhapur) to 1,200 sq km.”
Sources said on June 28, government filed an affidavit with the supreme court that it would declare Mansingdeo as a sanctuary but did not inform it about plans to exclude FDCM area. Senior forest officials refused to comment but said excluded area will be part of 500 sq km Pench buffer and hence wildlife interests would not be hampered.
Conservationists say there was difference between buffer and sanctuary. Keeping Mansingdeo in buffer zone would not stop FDCM from undertaking felling in the area in future. The excluded area is a reserve forests (RF) and felling should not be allowed in RFs. They felt the government should stop practice of giving RFs to FDCM. The corporation was handed over 5,900 hectares of RFs in Nagpur, Chandrapur and Bhandara on September 4 and July 14, 2009, respectively.
“Any move to exclude Mansingdeo area from original proposal will be fought in the court of law,” conservationist Kishor Rithe warned.
Corbett National Park Closes for Monsoon Break
orbett National Park in Nainital district of Uttarakhand is one of the oldest National Parks in the country and considered one of the best National Parks to spot a tiger. It was recently closed down for the monsoon period and will now re-open for tourists on 15th October.
The limited areas of the park, where night safaris are conducted have been closed down for tourist since 15th June and will re-open on 15th November.
Uttarakhand Forest Department has closed down Corbett National Park for tourist for the safety of visitors during the monsoon period. Numerous rivers, streams and rivulets pass through the park, many of which pass through the main road used by tourist. Due to heavy rains, the water levels of these rivers rise to dangerously high levels, sometimes causing floods thus making the roads dangerous for driving. As a result jeeps can get stuck or marooned and tourist may get hurt. Therefore in order to avoid any kind of discomfort or problems for the tourist, forest officials have close down the National Park for the monsoon period.
Corbett National Park named after hunter turned conservationist, Jim Corbett was the first National Park in the country to be declared as a Tiger Reserve under Project Tiger, for the protection of the endangered species of the Royal Bengal Tiger. The park located at the foothill of the Himalayas, gets maximum tourist and collects maximum tourist revenue among all other National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries in Uttarakhand. Corbett National Park receives the highest number of both domestic and foreign tourist in the state among others such as Rajaji National Park, Valley of Flowers National Park, Nandadevi Wildlife Sanctuary and others.
http://www.rang7.com/news/national-park/corbett-national-park-closes-for-monsoon-break-539.htm
Gandak River plays havoc with Valmiki tiger reserve
The internationally known and Bihar's sole tiger conservation unit, the Valmiki Tiger Reserve in West Champaran district, may soon be history. The changing course of the meandering Gandak river is fast eroding its western edges and devouring large parts of the sanctuary at a fast clip.
Admitting the danger to the sanctuary which was the first to be designated under Project Tiger, field director of the Valmiki Tiger Reserve JP Gupta said, "If immediate measures were not taken to prevent the erosion, the project area could be lost forever."
The project area is important, as it is spread over 840 square kilometres with a core area of 335.64 square kilometers consisting of sal and deciduous spread littered with cane breaks, lakes and swamps, live 53 species of mammals, 26 species of reptiles, 13 amphibian species and at least 145 species of birds besides tigers.
"We have already informed the higher authorities of the crisis with the request, that they take up the matter with the Bihar Water Resources Department," Gupta told Hindustan Times.
He, however, could not quantify the exact area of the reserve, already swallowed up by the river.
"The Gandak has developed a tendency to take a course towards its left. In the absence of any survey conducted in the past, we are not in a position to measure the area submerged by the river," a forest expert said on the condition of anonymity.
The forest department is carrying out a survey of the affected area presently, they added.
An appraisal team constituted by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) of the Union Government had also noted the development in its report of November last year and suggested remedial measures.
Confirming it, assistant manager of the Wild Life Trust of India and a member of the appraisal team, Samir Kumar Sinha, said, "A vast expanse of forest land has already been engulfed by the river. It is now posing a serious threat to the existence of the reserve."
A spot visit by the HT team to the sanctuary found that a substantial portion of Chunbhatta and Katraha areas of the Valmiki Nagar forest range and Naurangia and Sirsia falling in the Madanpur range were already submerged.
These are the mixed forests with alluvial grassland and canebrakes inhabited mainly by hog deer, wild dogs, spotted deer, leopard cats, black bucks and wild boars (a preferred food species of the tiger).
The submergence of the land has apparently forced the wildlife including tigers inhabiting the area to migrate to the Chitwan National Park across the border in Nepal, which has no physical barrier to hinder their movement.
"We have no authentic evidence to establish the migration of the animals but its possibility cannot be ruled out," said Gupta.
A part of the Chitwan-Parsa-Valmiki landscape, the Valmiki Tiger Reserve once attracted kings, zamindars and nawabs for hunting expeditions.
King George V and Kind Edward VIII of England are said to have visited the forest, which had a huge wildlife population.
Till 1997, the reserve was home to 53 tigers and 54 leopards. In the years that followed, the sanctuary came under tremendous poaching pressure and the number of the precious animals dwindled. As per a government figure now, the national park has only 10 tigers. The continuous erosion of the forest has also substantially contributed to the flight of the animals.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Gandak-plays-havoc-with-tiger-reserve/Article1-569002.aspx
Dead cub found in Pench Tiger Reserve
A dead cub has been found burnt after its paws were chopped off for some tantric ritual at the Pench Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh. It is found that the killing was done by forest caretakers along with a member of the village eco-development committee.
The news of the cub comes after a tiger was run over by a speeding vehicle in Bandhavgarh in the state. Some suspect the accidents to be a cover up for poaching. Madhya Pradesh whose name has been associated with such incidents is otherwise the ‘tiger state of India’ and maintains six tiger reserves, including Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench and Panna along with Satpura National Park and Sanjay Dubri Wildlife Sanctuary.
In the most shameful scenarios, the researchers, conservationists and by the Central Empowered Committee of the Supreme Court repeatedly warned about vanishing tigers at the Panna reserve but the officials did not do anything to protect the tigers and instead gave false census reports and faked pug marks. The reserve was finally declared tiger less.
In the Bandhavgarh incident, A tigress with her three young cubs were run over by the vehicle belonging to the sanctuary. The vehicle which ran over the tigress should have not been there in the first place because the movement of any vehicle is prohibited at night.
The state still has the highest number of tigers in the country but the lack of proper conservations efforts and indifference at the part of the authorities may cost it the title of the tiger state.
http://www.stockwatch.in/dead-cub-found-pench-tiger-reserve-28021
Indonesia to host meeting on tiger conservation
| 2010-07-06 22:20:00 | |||
| |||
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
More tigers likely in VTR
PATNA: From 81 in 1989 to just 10 in 2006. Bihar’s Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR), notified as the 18th tiger reserve of the country in 1989, has witnessed a continuous decline in number of tigers.
In all likelihood, however, this trend would change when results of the ongoing tiger census are available by next year. This is evident from the outcome of the camera trap phase of the tiger census work, which was completed recently.
A total of six tigers were captured by cameras which covered around 200 sqkm area spread over Raghia, Gobardhana and Manguraha ranges of the reserve. The reserve, spread over 880 sq km, has nine ranges.
This is in addition to the two tigers captured on camera in the Ganauli range of the reserve under a separate project of Wildlife Trust of India (WTI). WTI has been selected by Wildlife Institute of India (WII) for conducting the camera trap phase of the tiger census in the VTR.
"We have camera trap evidence of eight tigers in the reserve and when this figure is extrapolated for the whole area of the reserve, the number of tigers would certainly be more than what it was when previous census reports came," a senior VTR official, preferring anonymity, told TOI.
Extrapolation work, on the basis of which WII releases its estimates about the number of big cats in a tiger reserve, is done by experts on the basis of other data gathered from the field. The factors which are taken into consideration, while estimating the number of tigers, are carnivorous sing, habitat features, pray encounter and anthropogenic disturbances.
Giving reasons for the likely increase in the number of tigers, the VTR official said, "Complete ban on mining activities, effective check on movement of poachers and improvement in the pray base due to better habitat management are some of the reasons which have allowed the tigers to live more comfortably here."
In all likelihood, however, this trend would change when results of the ongoing tiger census are available by next year. This is evident from the outcome of the camera trap phase of the tiger census work, which was completed recently.
A total of six tigers were captured by cameras which covered around 200 sqkm area spread over Raghia, Gobardhana and Manguraha ranges of the reserve. The reserve, spread over 880 sq km, has nine ranges.
This is in addition to the two tigers captured on camera in the Ganauli range of the reserve under a separate project of Wildlife Trust of India (WTI). WTI has been selected by Wildlife Institute of India (WII) for conducting the camera trap phase of the tiger census in the VTR.
"We have camera trap evidence of eight tigers in the reserve and when this figure is extrapolated for the whole area of the reserve, the number of tigers would certainly be more than what it was when previous census reports came," a senior VTR official, preferring anonymity, told TOI.
Extrapolation work, on the basis of which WII releases its estimates about the number of big cats in a tiger reserve, is done by experts on the basis of other data gathered from the field. The factors which are taken into consideration, while estimating the number of tigers, are carnivorous sing, habitat features, pray encounter and anthropogenic disturbances.
Giving reasons for the likely increase in the number of tigers, the VTR official said, "Complete ban on mining activities, effective check on movement of poachers and improvement in the pray base due to better habitat management are some of the reasons which have allowed the tigers to live more comfortably here."
Nothing but pugmarks
The furore over a tiger being knocked over by a speeding vehicle in Bandhavgarh had hardly settled when news of the carcass of a cub — burnt after its paws were chopped off for some tantric ritual by forest chowkidars and a member of a village eco-development committee at the Pench Tiger Reserve — filtered in. It is suspected that the killing might be a cover-up for poaching. Either way, it is bad news — it is just the latest instance where Madhya Pradesh has shown a shameful disregard for the national animal.
With the highest number of tigers in India at about 300 (the number is disputed), Madhya Pradesh is the ‘tiger state of India’. For years it has worn this badge with pride, nurturing its tigers and their sanctuaries. MP has no less than six tiger reserves, including Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench and Panna. In addition to the Satpura National Park, which is another haven for tigers, there’s also the Sanjay Dubri Wildlife Sanctuary.
Then came the Panna debacle. Enough has been written about Panna’s vanishing tigers. At Panna, tigers were poached, trapped and poisoned, even as state officials claimed that all was well in the face of repeated warnings by researchers, conservationists and by the Central Empowered Committee of the Supreme Court. There was evidence that the skins of Panna tigers were sold for profit. Rather than protecting its tigers, the state concentrated on concocting pugmarks, cooking up census figures and producing paper tigers. Eventually, in May 2009, Panna was declared ‘tigerless’. Till date, there have been no arrests, and the officials responsible for the decline — and the consequent cover-up — have not been held accountable.
This attitudinal indifference to tiger conservation has been witnessed repeatedly. The state government cleared the proposal for the expansion of NH7, which cuts through the critical Kanha-Pench corridor, threatening one of the four most vital tiger reserves in the country. The proposal for expansion has met with a strong refusal from the central government. As if pushing for the NH7 wasn’t bad enough, the Madhya Pradesh government then advocated a high-end private tourism proposal on the same corridor. While there is no denying the benefits of sensitive tourism, having a tourist resort that would cut through a tiger habitat was insensitive on the part of the state authorities.
The less said about the recent May 18 ‘accident’ in Bandhavgarh, the better. A tigress with her three young cubs was run over by a vehicle belonging to the sanctuary. One wonders how the vehicle with officials got there when vehicular movement in the park is banned at night. While the machinery to save the guilty is working overtime, an impartial CBI inquiry that was recommended has not been done yet. It’s important to note that this is allegedly the fourth incident, the third in Bandhavgarh, of a tiger being run over. The fourth tiger death, that apparently involved a forest administration vehicle in Kanha, remains unconfirmed.
The state is currently pre-occupied with plans to set up a captive breeding centre for white tigers in Rewa. It’s a fancy idea, bound to attract media attention and many tourists, but white tigers are the offshoot of a recessive mutant gene and have zero conservation value. Why concentrate on, and pour funds into, such inane schemes when our tiger reserves remain starved of funds and focus? So the question that arises at this point of time is whether MP still deserves its status of a tiger state. It’s true that it still has the maximum number of tigers in the country, but aren’t numbers really a moot point when it has failed to protect and respect its tigers.
Prerna Singh Bindra is an environment journalist and editor of TigerLink
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Nothing-but-pugmarks/Article1-568421.aspx
Monday, July 5, 2010
Tiger panel to review projects
NAGPUR: The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), a statutory body under ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) monitoring all 39 tiger reserves in India, will examine 15 mining and power project proposals impacting tiger conservation mostly in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
A three-member committee consisting of Urmila Pingle, NTCA member, Kishor Rithe, wildlife expert, and G N Wankhede, head of zoology department of Amravati University, has been constituted on July 2. This panel will be different from the one constituted on May 14, under P K Sen, former director of ‘Project Tiger’, to examine 17 projects in MP, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.
The list of 15 project proposals was sent to NTCA by the MoEF. The three-member panel will do site appraisals of coal mining and thermal power plants vis-Ã -vis the buffer and corridor areas of tiger reserves and study their impact on tiger conservation in the landscape. It is likely to start work immediately and submit report to the NTCA in a month. These projects are awaiting environmental clearance and much will depend on the report of the panel. Of the 15 proposals, nine are in Maharashtra including seven in Chandrapur, one in Andhra Pradesh and five in Madhya Pradesh.
The projects in Chandrapur district are in the landscape of Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR). The seven proposals in Chanda include Brahmapuri coal block of Push Steels & Mining (P) Limited, Dhorwara and Telwasa opencast mine projects of WCL in Majri (Bhadrawati); Gouri Deep opencast coal mine project of WCL, expansion of Pandharpaoni coal washery (from 1.6 mtpa to 2.6 mtpa) of Aryan Coal Beneficiation India in Rajura, coal washery of Fuelco Washeries and diversion of 50.47 hectare forest land for Majra coal block of Gondwana Ispat Limited. Apart from these, two projects for bauxite mine and iron ore are situated in the buffer of Chandoli National Park in Kolhapur district.
Chandoli is part of the newly-formed Sahyadri Tiger Reserve. In Madhya Pradesh, of the five projects, three are in Umaria, in the landscape of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. One in Andhra Pradesh is about constructing a memorial to late chief minister of Andhra Pradesh YSR Reddy in a wildlife sanctuary. Most of the 15 projects in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra are lilely to affect corridor between Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Kanha-Pench-Tadoba and Satpuda-Pench tiger reserves. These areas and its landscapes are estimated to have over 250 tigers or just over one-fifth the wild tiger population in India.
A three-member committee consisting of Urmila Pingle, NTCA member, Kishor Rithe, wildlife expert, and G N Wankhede, head of zoology department of Amravati University, has been constituted on July 2. This panel will be different from the one constituted on May 14, under P K Sen, former director of ‘Project Tiger’, to examine 17 projects in MP, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.
The list of 15 project proposals was sent to NTCA by the MoEF. The three-member panel will do site appraisals of coal mining and thermal power plants vis-Ã -vis the buffer and corridor areas of tiger reserves and study their impact on tiger conservation in the landscape. It is likely to start work immediately and submit report to the NTCA in a month. These projects are awaiting environmental clearance and much will depend on the report of the panel. Of the 15 proposals, nine are in Maharashtra including seven in Chandrapur, one in Andhra Pradesh and five in Madhya Pradesh.
The projects in Chandrapur district are in the landscape of Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR). The seven proposals in Chanda include Brahmapuri coal block of Push Steels & Mining (P) Limited, Dhorwara and Telwasa opencast mine projects of WCL in Majri (Bhadrawati); Gouri Deep opencast coal mine project of WCL, expansion of Pandharpaoni coal washery (from 1.6 mtpa to 2.6 mtpa) of Aryan Coal Beneficiation India in Rajura, coal washery of Fuelco Washeries and diversion of 50.47 hectare forest land for Majra coal block of Gondwana Ispat Limited. Apart from these, two projects for bauxite mine and iron ore are situated in the buffer of Chandoli National Park in Kolhapur district.
Chandoli is part of the newly-formed Sahyadri Tiger Reserve. In Madhya Pradesh, of the five projects, three are in Umaria, in the landscape of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. One in Andhra Pradesh is about constructing a memorial to late chief minister of Andhra Pradesh YSR Reddy in a wildlife sanctuary. Most of the 15 projects in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra are lilely to affect corridor between Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Kanha-Pench-Tadoba and Satpuda-Pench tiger reserves. These areas and its landscapes are estimated to have over 250 tigers or just over one-fifth the wild tiger population in India.
Youth-killer not a maneater: Experts
JAIPUR: Officials of the forest department have ruled out the possibility of a maneater mauling a 22-year-old youth at the Ranthambore reserve on Saturday. They say it is just a sad accident.
”There is no way we can call the tiger a man-eater. It so happened that the youth came in the way of the tiger and so he was mauled by the animal for self-protection. It is just a sad accident," said RN Mehrotra, chief of forest force.
On Saturday, Ghamamdi Saini was mauled to death near the Jhoomar Bawdi at the Ranthambore forest reserve. Saini had gone to the forest to cut wood when he was attacked.
”The person did not know the tiger was in the vicinity and ventured close to it only to be killed," added Mehrotra.
Forest officials are awaiting reports to confirm whether Saini was mauled by a tiger or a leopard. "The reports are awaited and so we cannot say conclusively the youth was killed by a tiger. There is a leopard that also roams the area. But definitely it was a big cat that killed the youth," said RS Shekhawat, DFO, Ranthambore.
On Saturday night after the news of Saini's death spread, locals had expressed their ire by blocking road in the area. They were demanding compensation. However, they were assured of all help and pacified.
"We have been monitoring the movement of all animals in the area and they look normal. We have to study them more to come to a conclusion to identify the animal responsible for the death," added Shekhawat.
Alerted by the second of its kind of incident this year at Ranthambore, officials are contemplating putting up signboards in the forest warning people to stay off.
"We would be putting up signboards warning people of the presence of tigers in the region. This apart we would also be putting up boards asking people not to venture into the forest after sunset and before sunrise," added Mehrotra.
”There is no way we can call the tiger a man-eater. It so happened that the youth came in the way of the tiger and so he was mauled by the animal for self-protection. It is just a sad accident," said RN Mehrotra, chief of forest force.
On Saturday, Ghamamdi Saini was mauled to death near the Jhoomar Bawdi at the Ranthambore forest reserve. Saini had gone to the forest to cut wood when he was attacked.
”The person did not know the tiger was in the vicinity and ventured close to it only to be killed," added Mehrotra.
Forest officials are awaiting reports to confirm whether Saini was mauled by a tiger or a leopard. "The reports are awaited and so we cannot say conclusively the youth was killed by a tiger. There is a leopard that also roams the area. But definitely it was a big cat that killed the youth," said RS Shekhawat, DFO, Ranthambore.
On Saturday night after the news of Saini's death spread, locals had expressed their ire by blocking road in the area. They were demanding compensation. However, they were assured of all help and pacified.
"We have been monitoring the movement of all animals in the area and they look normal. We have to study them more to come to a conclusion to identify the animal responsible for the death," added Shekhawat.
Alerted by the second of its kind of incident this year at Ranthambore, officials are contemplating putting up signboards in the forest warning people to stay off.
"We would be putting up signboards warning people of the presence of tigers in the region. This apart we would also be putting up boards asking people not to venture into the forest after sunset and before sunrise," added Mehrotra.
Now, sloth bear goes on rampage, injures five
CHANDRAPUR: Incidents of man-animal conflict continue to take place in the district. On Saturday, a blind tigress that had strayed close to villages along the border of Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve and injured three people was captured after two days of efforts.
Just a day later, a sloth bear went berserk and mauled five people at a small settlement along Adegaon-Masele road on Sunday morning. Like the tiger incident, the situation turned tense and heavy police force was rushed to the area to control the mob.
Around 40 families of farmers and farm labourers live in a settlement located some distance away from Adegaon village in Chimur tehsil. A bear strayed into this settlement around 5 am and attacked one Indira Nannaware, who was up early for her morning chores. Neighbours and family members of Indira woke up on hearing her cries.
However, the bear directed its fury at the rescuers and mauled three others --Annaji Nannaware, Nandkishor Nannaware and Bhauji Nannaware – before fleeing the spot. Later, all the four injured were admitted at Chimur rural hospital for treatment. Meanwhile, the bear escaped to a nearby zudpi jungle and took shelter in the shrubs near Adegaon. A group of people soon tracked the beast down and tried to capture it with the help of a net made of ropes.
However, the beast foiled their attempt and mauled one Murlidhar Gajbhiye. He too was taken to Chimur rural hospital for treatment. Forest officials from Chimur and Talodhi range also reached the spot. However, the villagers were enraged due to the delay of forest officials in reaching the spot. Efforts were on by the forest department staffers to capture the bear with the help of net till late in the evening, but the beast kept eluding the pursuers.
aThe heavy mob of over two hundred villagers kept following the foresters and bears in Zudpi jungle during the exercise. In a couple of instances, the annoyed bear charged at the crowd. In the panic that ensued, one Ankush Sonwane, 19, fell down and broke his leg. RFO, Chimur range, BS Padve confirmed the incident and said that the forest department staffers are trying hard to net the bear. “The place falls under Talodhi forest range. However being close a team of Chimur range too has come to assist the Talodhi foresters. We have brought a cage to the spot, so that after bear was captured in the net she could be caged safely,” said Padve.
Just a day later, a sloth bear went berserk and mauled five people at a small settlement along Adegaon-Masele road on Sunday morning. Like the tiger incident, the situation turned tense and heavy police force was rushed to the area to control the mob.
Around 40 families of farmers and farm labourers live in a settlement located some distance away from Adegaon village in Chimur tehsil. A bear strayed into this settlement around 5 am and attacked one Indira Nannaware, who was up early for her morning chores. Neighbours and family members of Indira woke up on hearing her cries.
However, the bear directed its fury at the rescuers and mauled three others --Annaji Nannaware, Nandkishor Nannaware and Bhauji Nannaware – before fleeing the spot. Later, all the four injured were admitted at Chimur rural hospital for treatment. Meanwhile, the bear escaped to a nearby zudpi jungle and took shelter in the shrubs near Adegaon. A group of people soon tracked the beast down and tried to capture it with the help of a net made of ropes.
However, the beast foiled their attempt and mauled one Murlidhar Gajbhiye. He too was taken to Chimur rural hospital for treatment. Forest officials from Chimur and Talodhi range also reached the spot. However, the villagers were enraged due to the delay of forest officials in reaching the spot. Efforts were on by the forest department staffers to capture the bear with the help of net till late in the evening, but the beast kept eluding the pursuers.
aThe heavy mob of over two hundred villagers kept following the foresters and bears in Zudpi jungle during the exercise. In a couple of instances, the annoyed bear charged at the crowd. In the panic that ensued, one Ankush Sonwane, 19, fell down and broke his leg. RFO, Chimur range, BS Padve confirmed the incident and said that the forest department staffers are trying hard to net the bear. “The place falls under Talodhi forest range. However being close a team of Chimur range too has come to assist the Talodhi foresters. We have brought a cage to the spot, so that after bear was captured in the net she could be caged safely,” said Padve.
Tadoba villagers vent tiger attack ire on forest officers
Mumbai: A mob of angry villagers beat up two forest officers in Satara village on the periphery of the Tadoba Andhari tiger reserve (TATR) in Chandrapur district after an old and ailing tigress attacked a villager on Friday, seriously injuring him.The villagers were angry that the officials allegedly did not do enough to drive the animal back into the forest in time. Officials said the villagers intimidated the tigress by getting too close to her.
The tigress, which has been ailing, and according to sources in the forest department, is partially blind, was sighted at around 8am in a pond on a farm belonging to Janardan Vaidya.
The news spread, and the villagers made a beeline to see the tigress. Intimidated, the animal attacked Vaidya when he went too close to drive it away, despite being warned against it by the villagers.
When range forest officer Umesh Dhotekar and a forest guard reached the village late afternoon, the angry villagers gave them a thrashing.
Vaidya, meanwhile, managed to free himself from the tigress' grip, but sustained serious injuries in the confrontation. Forest officials are now monitoring the situation and the movement of the tigress, who is still moving around the village.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Tigers kill 2 fishermen
KOLKATA: Two fishermen, who had gone fishing deep in the Sunderbans were mauled to death by tigers on Thursday. Their bodies are yet to be recovered. While one of them had gone in a group of five and had set out from home on Monday, the other was part of a father-son duo that had set out on Thursday morning. Victims Bapi Mondal, 35, and Ajit Dhali were from Gosaba's Sonagaon and Jharkhali respectively.
Bapi had had gone fishing with his neighbours Bapi Maji, Sanatan Mondal, Khagendranath Mondal and others. Residents of Gosaba's Sonagaon, they had gone to the Panchamukhani river that flows by the Panchamukhani forest — a prime tiger zone — for fishing. Ajit, on the other hand, had gone fishing with his father to Storekhali jungle.
Since Monday, the haul of Bapi's group had been satisfactory and the group had decided to start early on Thursday, too. The group had retired early on Wednesday and started cooking their morning meal early on of Thursday. While two of were cooking, Bapi Mondal and Sanatan were trying to push the boat into the nearby creek.
"Bapi was on the other side and I couldn't see him. Suddenly there was a roar and I looked up to see that the tiger had already nabbed him. It had bitten into his neck and was pulling him away into the forest. By the time we collected our wits and ran after the tiger, it was nowhere in sight," a trembling Sanatan said.
The assistant field director of Sunderban Tiger Reserve (STR), Anjan Guha said, "The group had a valid permit to go fishing. We fear that the tiger has moved deep into the jungle. The nature of this part of the forest is such that many tigers come to feast on a prey. We'll launch a search but it might be difficult to trace the body."
Bapi had had gone fishing with his neighbours Bapi Maji, Sanatan Mondal, Khagendranath Mondal and others. Residents of Gosaba's Sonagaon, they had gone to the Panchamukhani river that flows by the Panchamukhani forest — a prime tiger zone — for fishing. Ajit, on the other hand, had gone fishing with his father to Storekhali jungle.
Since Monday, the haul of Bapi's group had been satisfactory and the group had decided to start early on Thursday, too. The group had retired early on Wednesday and started cooking their morning meal early on of Thursday. While two of were cooking, Bapi Mondal and Sanatan were trying to push the boat into the nearby creek.
"Bapi was on the other side and I couldn't see him. Suddenly there was a roar and I looked up to see that the tiger had already nabbed him. It had bitten into his neck and was pulling him away into the forest. By the time we collected our wits and ran after the tiger, it was nowhere in sight," a trembling Sanatan said.
The assistant field director of Sunderban Tiger Reserve (STR), Anjan Guha said, "The group had a valid permit to go fishing. We fear that the tiger has moved deep into the jungle. The nature of this part of the forest is such that many tigers come to feast on a prey. We'll launch a search but it might be difficult to trace the body."
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Protectors turn tiger-killers
BHOPAL: Tiger conservation in Madhya Pradesh is suffering at the hands of its protectors. From speeding forest jeeps to guards believing in the occult, tigers continue to succumb at the hands of those who swear to shelter them.
Three forest chowkidars of Pench National Park in Chhindwara district were arrested last week after a six-month-old female cub was found dead with its paws sawed off. Investigation revealed the chowkidars in collusion with the president of a local environmental committee had supplied four tiger paws to a 'tantrik' for an exclusive puja.
The cub was last spotted with her mother on June 9. Two weeks later, the forest department found its burnt carcass without its paws. Nine people have been arrested in this connection.
Earlier, on the morning of May 19, tourists found an eight-year-old tigress and mother of three cubs badly injured and gasping for breath at Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Umaria district. The forest department identified her as Jhurjhura. She died a few hours later. The postmortem report stated she died of haemorrhage and internal injuries caused by a vehicle hit.
Jhurjhura's death became sensational with allegations that the jeep which hit her belonged to a resort owned by a cabinet minister in the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government. The forest department suspended three officials for negligence but failed to track down the vehicle or the persons travelling in it.
Three forest chowkidars of Pench National Park in Chhindwara district were arrested last week after a six-month-old female cub was found dead with its paws sawed off. Investigation revealed the chowkidars in collusion with the president of a local environmental committee had supplied four tiger paws to a 'tantrik' for an exclusive puja.
The cub was last spotted with her mother on June 9. Two weeks later, the forest department found its burnt carcass without its paws. Nine people have been arrested in this connection.
Earlier, on the morning of May 19, tourists found an eight-year-old tigress and mother of three cubs badly injured and gasping for breath at Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Umaria district. The forest department identified her as Jhurjhura. She died a few hours later. The postmortem report stated she died of haemorrhage and internal injuries caused by a vehicle hit.
Jhurjhura's death became sensational with allegations that the jeep which hit her belonged to a resort owned by a cabinet minister in the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government. The forest department suspended three officials for negligence but failed to track down the vehicle or the persons travelling in it.
Amravati NGO creates model for tiger buffers
NAGPUR: The Nature Conservation Society, Amravati (NCSA), an NGO engaged in wildlife conservation in Central India, has created a model for the development of buffer villages in tiger reserves.
At a time when respective state governments are hesitating to notify buffer zones for tiger reserves due to confusion among villagers and politicians, the NCSA has actually created a model to explain the development plan for villages in the buffer. The NCSA model has been set up on a 20-acre private land on the outskirts of Melghat Tiger Reserve in Amravati district. Known as ‘Muthawa’ Community Resource Centre (MCRC), it has now become a resource centre for communities living in the buffer of the tiger reserve. Muthawa is the name of God for Korku tribals. The 20-acre area has regenerated 60 indigenous plant species of Melghat reserve. There are 3,000 standing trees on this plot of 20 feet. “We did nothing but simply provided protection to this area,” said Kishor Rithe, one of the architects of MCRC. Birds responded well to this protection. Quails, partridges and around 20 local species of birds started nesting in this area. “Their three generations now have started pest controlling in the organic farming plot,” he added.
“It took four years to create a model of activities to be carried out in the buffer villages of the tiger reserve. The NCSA is busy creating trainers who will go to villages in the buffer of any tiger reserve with the conservation and livelihood agenda for tribals,” claimed Nishikant Kale, president of NCSA. The centre grows jowar, rice, udad and vegetables like brinjals, chilli, tomato and turmeric as first crop and gram as the second crop. Focus has been given on agroforestry and horticulture. “We’ve planted forest produce like charoli, amla, bamboo, mahua and sagargoti which can give us forest produce and fruits like mango, orange, tamarind, citrus, papaya, banana, karvanda, drumstick, guava and custard apple as fruits.
There are 500 trees of these varieties. To support this kind of pesticide-free agriculture a strong natural pest controlling mechanism has been created within the centre. The centre produces manure from urine, agricultural waste and composting. A unique nursery grows saplings based on the agro-forestry model in tribal villages.
“To explain eco-tourism in buffer specially benefiting the locals, we have created a wildlife habitat within the campus. Many wild animals have started visiting waterholes and the meadow in the centre,” says Rithe.
“Many leading organisations, government departments, banks, micro finance institutes, university departments and research organisations are visiting the centre and have started many programmes with our collaboration in their own areas,” Kale said.
At a time when respective state governments are hesitating to notify buffer zones for tiger reserves due to confusion among villagers and politicians, the NCSA has actually created a model to explain the development plan for villages in the buffer. The NCSA model has been set up on a 20-acre private land on the outskirts of Melghat Tiger Reserve in Amravati district. Known as ‘Muthawa’ Community Resource Centre (MCRC), it has now become a resource centre for communities living in the buffer of the tiger reserve. Muthawa is the name of God for Korku tribals. The 20-acre area has regenerated 60 indigenous plant species of Melghat reserve. There are 3,000 standing trees on this plot of 20 feet. “We did nothing but simply provided protection to this area,” said Kishor Rithe, one of the architects of MCRC. Birds responded well to this protection. Quails, partridges and around 20 local species of birds started nesting in this area. “Their three generations now have started pest controlling in the organic farming plot,” he added.
“It took four years to create a model of activities to be carried out in the buffer villages of the tiger reserve. The NCSA is busy creating trainers who will go to villages in the buffer of any tiger reserve with the conservation and livelihood agenda for tribals,” claimed Nishikant Kale, president of NCSA. The centre grows jowar, rice, udad and vegetables like brinjals, chilli, tomato and turmeric as first crop and gram as the second crop. Focus has been given on agroforestry and horticulture. “We’ve planted forest produce like charoli, amla, bamboo, mahua and sagargoti which can give us forest produce and fruits like mango, orange, tamarind, citrus, papaya, banana, karvanda, drumstick, guava and custard apple as fruits.
There are 500 trees of these varieties. To support this kind of pesticide-free agriculture a strong natural pest controlling mechanism has been created within the centre. The centre produces manure from urine, agricultural waste and composting. A unique nursery grows saplings based on the agro-forestry model in tribal villages.
“To explain eco-tourism in buffer specially benefiting the locals, we have created a wildlife habitat within the campus. Many wild animals have started visiting waterholes and the meadow in the centre,” says Rithe.
“Many leading organisations, government departments, banks, micro finance institutes, university departments and research organisations are visiting the centre and have started many programmes with our collaboration in their own areas,” Kale said.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tiger kills another man in Uttar Pradesh
Lucknow, June 24 (Calcutta Tube) A tiger killed a man in a village adjoining a forest area in Pilibhit district of Uttar Pradesh, an official said Thursday.
The partially eaten body of Bulakiram, 55, was recovered Wednesday evening from the fields on the outskirts of Akora village, which is near Deuriya area of the Pilibhit forest reserve.
‘Pugmarks found at the site indicate that the man was attacked by a male, adult tiger,’ said Divisional Forest Officer V.K. Singh.
‘Significantly, the Deuriya area of the forest reserve is not considered as tigers’ territory. Field investigations carried out following the incident now indicate that two tigers are present in Deuriya,’ Singh told IANS over telephone from Pilibhit, some 250 km from Lucknow.
Bulakiram had left his house Tuesday to collect wood and had been missing since then.
It’s the third such incident in the district in the last two months.
As per the last census, Pilibhit forest reserve was home to 36 tigers.
http://calcuttatube.com/tiger-kills-man-in-uttar-pradesh-2/101563/
6 tiger cubs spotted in Tadoba reserve
There is now hope for India’s tiger conservation programme. Six tiger cubs have been spotted in three ranges (two in each) in Maharashtra’s Chandrapur forest area, bordering the Tadoba Tiger Reserve, 160 km from Nagpur.
At the end of April a tiger census had found that there were 11 tiger cubs in the reserve (this is apart from the six in the forest area abutting the reserve).
Sources at the state wildlife headquarters said three tigresses missing from the north Chanda circle a few months ago, had each given birth to two cubs.
Conservator of Forests (North Chanda circle) RS Yadav said the tigresses may have moved to desolate places for breeding. The six cubs were seen over the past two months, the latest sighting was on Sunday, he said.
“We then installed cameras in the area to know the positions and movements of the tigresses and their cubs,” Yadav added.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/6-tiger-cubs-spotted-in-Tadoba-reserve/Article1-565071.aspx
Tribals to be moved out of state’s tiger reserve
New Delhi, June 30: The Union ministry of environment & forests (MoEF) has beefed up a detailed plan to relocate 1,000 Chenchu tribal families from the core area of the Nagarjungsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve reserve.
The reserve is home to 82 tigers and tiger experts have been pressing for the need to create an undisturbed forest base for these animals. The tribals are likely to be relocated to the fringe areas of the sanctuary and every family member above 18 years is being offered Rs 10 lakh for the relocation.
Anthropologists question whether these hunter gatherer Chenchus who do not practise agriculture will be able to adjust to these changed circumstances.
The environmentalist, Mr Shekar Dattarati, who has personally interviewed many Chenchus, pointed out, “They do not want to remain marooned inside a forest with no prospects. Nor do they want their children to suffer as they have done in the past.” But he did admit, “Resettlement is a sensitive topic. The Chenchus worship the tiger and are known not to attack it. Keen to utilise their tracking and protecting skills, the MoEF has hired 400 young Chenchu boys as forest guards.”
The minister, Mr Jairam Ramesh, confirmed, “The younger generation must be given a stake in conserving the forests. Relocation will not be forced down people. Our aim will be to create a consensus on this move.”
The other tribe living in the forests are the Lambadas who are practising agriculture right in the heart of the tiger reserve. Most of the Lambadas have migrated from Mahrashtra as Andhra Pradesh was the only state that offered them ST status.
The Integrated Tribal Development Authority is working with these tribals at a local level. NGOs regret that the MoEF and ITDA have been working at cross purposes with little co-ordination between them.
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/hyderabad/tribals-be-moved-out-state’s-tiger-reserve-087
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Revision in Wildlife Act to speed up trials
For nearly two decades, a haul of tiger bones and skins has been rotting at the Delhi wildlife division, while the case against the accused has been stuck at the Tees Hazari court.
Across the country, lakhs of similar cases pertaining to crimes against wildlife have been ensnared in magistrate courts because of the low priority accorded to these offences.
To remedy the situation, the ministry of environment and forests has now suggested an amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act (1972), which will remove one tier in the cumbersome legal system and reduce delays in deciding wildlife cases.
The amendment proposes that cases involving serious offences - including trading in protected species and their products or trying to manipulate the boundaries of national sanctuaries and tiger reserves - be fasttracked to the sessions court, instead of going through a magistrate's court.
"Wildlife cases, including those against poachers and traders in wildlife products, take 10-12 years to be disposed of through the trial cases," Wildlife Trust of India vicechairman and senior wildlife activist Ashok Kumar said.
He added: "By reducing one tier - the burdened magistrate courts that try all petty crimes - the provision will speed-up trials and ensure the accused are punished."
Activists have pointed out that in several wildlife cases, the seized material either vanishes from government depositories or rots in the long time taken by the courts. "So finally, when the judge does ask to see the seized products as evidence before handing out punishment, the material is not there at all," Kumar explained.
Another modification proposed by the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment bill is imposing stiffer fines for wildlife offences.
The amendment would make trading in critical species, such as the tiger, punishable by a minimum imprisonment of seven years and a fine of Rs 25 lakh. For a second offence, the fine is hiked up to Rs 50 lakh.
The stiff penalties have drawn mixed reactions with some wildlife activists welcoming it and others expressing doubts over whether the changes can be implemented.
Activist Belinda Wright of the Wildlife Protection Society of India said: "It is important to increase the penalties as the old ones were not a deterrent to those selling tiger parts. The traders make huge profits and the earlier fines were mere pittance.
"But Kumar believes that even the earlier fines were not imposed on the accused by the various courts. "It needs to be a figure that the society will accept and judges also find reasonable," he said.
One proposal in the draft bill which has unanimous approval is the ban on the manufacture of leg traps, which are indiscriminately used by poachers.
Wildlife researcher and activist Jose Louies pointed out that poachers carry any number of leg traps or manufacture them with impunity, as the possession of such an instrument is not an offence.
"By banning the manufacture, all the people carrying or using the leg traps will become liable for punishment," he pointed out.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Kerala govt runs into tiger panel
The Kerala government has filed a petition in the Supreme Court opposing a ban on night traffic on stretches of two National Highways that pass through Karnataka’s Bandipur tiger reserve.
Following reports of tigers, deer and elephants being run over by vehicles, the Karnataka High Court in March ordered stopping of night traffic on NH 212 and NH 67. Resulting from the order, traffic has been banned between 9 pm and 6 am over 13 km of NH 212 and 20 km of NH 67.
In its appeal, Kerala has called Karnataka’s stand as “smacking of romantic notions and myopic”, arguing the ban will “seriously” impact the state’s economy. Interestingly, among the suggestions the Kerala government has offered as alternatives to the ban are: a convoy of vehicles from the forest department can accompany commercial trucks at night or a new elevated road that can be made on pillars.
The issue now promises to snowball as the National Tiger Conservation Authority is set to become a party and oppose the petition. The Authority, helmed by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, has decided to oppose the petition in the apex court. “This is an issue of all kinds of animals dying because of traffic through the tiger reserve. This is one of the best areas that we have. We have decided to appeal against this (petition) in the Supreme Court,” said Rajesh Gopal, Member Secretary, National Tiger Conservation Authority.
While Kerala has said in its petition that the ban on night traffic on the two highways will lead to discomfort of lakhs of people in that state and would also affect the vegetable market there, wildlife activists said there are existing routes which create a diversion of 30-40 km which should instead be used.
Nightmare for tourists as tigress enters lodge
GOSABA (SOUTH 24-PARGANAS): They had gone there for a taste of the Sunderbans: mangrove jungles, surging tides and maybe, a whiff of wildlife. When they returned on Sunday, they had lived through a nightmare, their picture postcard holiday marred by a close encounter with the Bengal tiger — right inside the Sajnekhali Tourist Lodge.
Four tourists were at the lodge, a popular haunt of visitors, when a full-grown tigress, reportedly being chased by two tigers in heat, jumped over the boundary fence of the forest department complex twice in the space of 24 hours.
The animal was finally tranquillised on Sunday morning, but not before it had run amok inside the compound, its roars sending the tourists and the handful of forest staffers running for cover. Apart from the lodge, the complex houses a forest office and quarters.
As the tourists stayed trapped, fear of the tigress kept boats away from the Sajnekhali jetty on Saturday. The quartet was sent back on Sunday on a boat that had come with drinking water.
The lodge is currently being renovated and a section of forest officials felt the construction work triggered the breach. According to them, a pile of rubble had been placed just outside the boundary fence. The 9 ft-high barrier is enough to keep tigers out. But the rubble lowered this critical hei-ght, with the tiger climbing atop the rubble heap, before jumping into the compound.
Sunderban Tiger Reser-ve deputy field director Ri-cha Dwibedi said: "It seems to have climbed atop the rubble and leaped inside."
But West Bengal Forest Development Corporation MD PBN Rao claimed he did not know how the breach took place. "I have no information if rubble was kept outside the fence. I'll have to ask my manager at the spot for details."
Four tourists were at the lodge, a popular haunt of visitors, when a full-grown tigress, reportedly being chased by two tigers in heat, jumped over the boundary fence of the forest department complex twice in the space of 24 hours.
The animal was finally tranquillised on Sunday morning, but not before it had run amok inside the compound, its roars sending the tourists and the handful of forest staffers running for cover. Apart from the lodge, the complex houses a forest office and quarters.
As the tourists stayed trapped, fear of the tigress kept boats away from the Sajnekhali jetty on Saturday. The quartet was sent back on Sunday on a boat that had come with drinking water.
The lodge is currently being renovated and a section of forest officials felt the construction work triggered the breach. According to them, a pile of rubble had been placed just outside the boundary fence. The 9 ft-high barrier is enough to keep tigers out. But the rubble lowered this critical hei-ght, with the tiger climbing atop the rubble heap, before jumping into the compound.
Sunderban Tiger Reser-ve deputy field director Ri-cha Dwibedi said: "It seems to have climbed atop the rubble and leaped inside."
But West Bengal Forest Development Corporation MD PBN Rao claimed he did not know how the breach took place. "I have no information if rubble was kept outside the fence. I'll have to ask my manager at the spot for details."
Wildlife rangers rescue tiger cub in Jim Corbett National Park
Wildlife rangers rescue tiger cub in Jim Corbett National Park | |||
| 2010-06-27 23:30:00 | |||
| |||
Fisherman killed by tiger in Sunderban Reserve Canning (WB):
Fisherman killed by tiger in Sunderban Reserve
Canning (WB): A fisherman was killed by a tiger while another tigress was captured after it strayed into the Sajnekhali office campus of Sunderban Tiger Reserve. About 10 fishermen had ventured from Basanti area into the Sunderban jungles ten days ago. They entered the Tiger Reserve's Core Area when one of them Dilip Baidya was attacked by a tiger on Saturday. The tiger was chased away by other fishermen but Baidya succumbed to his injuries. In a separate incident, a tigress entered the Sajnekhali Tiger campus on Saturday evening. The animal was again spotted on Sunday on the campus. The tigress was later tranquilised and then put in a cage.
Sariska may see two more tigers this rainy season
JAIPUR: Call them monsoon tigers, for this time round too the rainy season will mark the arrival of tigers in Sariska. As soon as the season's first showers lash the slopes of the mighty Aravallis, another pair of wild tigers would be shifted to Sariska Tiger Reserve from Ranthambhore National Park. The twosome—a male and a female—would join the group of one male and two females which have already made the Sariska woods their home since the first ever tiger re-location in the country two years ago.
“The temperature has to come down. We cannot release the tigers if the temperature is above 40 degrees C. The ideal situation to carry out the exercise is the rainy season,” says the Chief Wildlife Warden of Rajasthan, R. N. Mehrotra.
“Now that the Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests has given clearance for another round of re-location, we have started the preparations. It can happen some time in the first fortnight of July,” Mr. Mehrotra reveals.
Environmentalists and tiger lovers are happy about the end to the impasse over tiger-shifting as after an unsavoury controversy over the wisdom of bringing together the tigers from the same gene pool the National Tiger Conservation Authority had started acting tough on the issue. Though still positive about the re-introduction of the tiger population in Sariska – after the reserve lost all its tigers some time in 2004-05-- the Authority had asked the State forest officials to catch the young tigers which have been straying outside the Ranthambhore Park.
The change in the attitude of both the Authority and Union Minister Jairam Ramesh appears to be due partly to a recent report from environmentalist Aparajita Datta of the Mysore-based National Conservation Foundation which termed the attempt to catch the tigers outside the Park “difficult” due to their elusive nature as well as the tough terrain they are stalking. Ms. Datta, also a member of the National Tiger Conservation Authority, suggested depending on the knowledge of the field staff as the basis for the selection of the “suitable pair”.
“She has recommended the selection of a pair from the 10-odd young tigers identified by us already. They have to be young, transient in nature and unsettled,” says Mr. Mehrotra. As far as possible the attempt would be to carry out the genetic analysis of the chosen tigers so that the new ones are not related to the three tigers already in Sariska.
The first tiger—a male—was airlifted from Ranthambhore and released in Sariska on June 28, 2008. The second, a female, was moved to the new area through the same process in July the same year. The third, another female feline, was flown in in February 2009. All three have lived happily since then but the only complaint seems to be that there are no little ones snorting around even when the couple re-located to the Panna tiger reserve in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh much later has multiplied.
Though dates are not official yet, July 4 could be an ideal day to watch out for the tiger to burn bright in Sariska once again!
http://www.hindu.com/2010/06/27/stories/2010062757810100.htm
Simlipal reserve: Poachers’ haven, foresters’ shame
The controversy over elephant deaths in Simlipal Tiger reserve in Odisha has deepened further with the discovery of three more carcasses — two of these charred, another in a decomposed state. While, in a report, a team set up by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has confirmed seven jumbo deaths, information is coming in about possible deaths of at least eight more pachyderms.
The Pioneer had reported on the series of jumbo deaths on June 2, following which the NTCA had ordered a probe into the incident by a two-member committee. Accord-ing to sources, the recently-submitted report mentions of seven confirmed deaths of tuskers in the reserve.
However, sources said this is not the end of the story. “Three more carcasses, including charred bones of two jumbos and decomposed carcass of another, were found.”
Their samples have been brought from the area, informed the sources. “There is definite evidence of at least seven-eight more deaths,” they asserted.
The sources also confirmed having sighted at least 50 chulhas in the core area, near Jodapal, which were estimated to have been used in cooking meals for at least 300 persons. Bones of sambar, bison and barking deer have also been found there.
Meanwhile, Field Director of the reserve, HS Upadhyay, told The Pioneer that a team, comprising Deputy Field Director VR Das, Assistant Conservator DK Samal and informers, found several bones in the forest. But he added these bones could not be said to be parts of the three carcasses. “They need to be examined thoroughly,” he said.
Upadhyay said the team would visit the forest next week once again, to check out for more such carcasses and maintained that the department is in full control of the situation with senior officers undertaking frequent visits to reserve areas.
However, others don’t agree with Upadhyay’s contention that the situation was under control. “How much is the forest department in the know of things happening in the reserve?” questioned an expert. “If such a situation continues, Simlipal may also be destined to go the Sariska way.”
The most disturbing factor, according to experts, is that though it is a tiger reserve, but there seems to be little or no response from the forest department on elephant deaths. They claim that it was left for the independent teams of wildlife activists and enthusiasts to venture into the deep and scout out information and reports, which often forces the department to act.
The sources further pointed out that the three revenue villages in the core area are proving to be major threats to the wildlife there. “They are keen to be relocated from the forests, but the department unfortunately does not seem to be as much interested,” they regretted.
The Pioneer had reported on the series of jumbo deaths on June 2, following which the NTCA had ordered a probe into the incident by a two-member committee. Accord-ing to sources, the recently-submitted report mentions of seven confirmed deaths of tuskers in the reserve.
However, sources said this is not the end of the story. “Three more carcasses, including charred bones of two jumbos and decomposed carcass of another, were found.”
Their samples have been brought from the area, informed the sources. “There is definite evidence of at least seven-eight more deaths,” they asserted.
The sources also confirmed having sighted at least 50 chulhas in the core area, near Jodapal, which were estimated to have been used in cooking meals for at least 300 persons. Bones of sambar, bison and barking deer have also been found there.
Meanwhile, Field Director of the reserve, HS Upadhyay, told The Pioneer that a team, comprising Deputy Field Director VR Das, Assistant Conservator DK Samal and informers, found several bones in the forest. But he added these bones could not be said to be parts of the three carcasses. “They need to be examined thoroughly,” he said.
Upadhyay said the team would visit the forest next week once again, to check out for more such carcasses and maintained that the department is in full control of the situation with senior officers undertaking frequent visits to reserve areas.
However, others don’t agree with Upadhyay’s contention that the situation was under control. “How much is the forest department in the know of things happening in the reserve?” questioned an expert. “If such a situation continues, Simlipal may also be destined to go the Sariska way.”
The most disturbing factor, according to experts, is that though it is a tiger reserve, but there seems to be little or no response from the forest department on elephant deaths. They claim that it was left for the independent teams of wildlife activists and enthusiasts to venture into the deep and scout out information and reports, which often forces the department to act.
The sources further pointed out that the three revenue villages in the core area are proving to be major threats to the wildlife there. “They are keen to be relocated from the forests, but the department unfortunately does not seem to be as much interested,” they regretted.
Stress on better tiger protection steps in Assam
GUWAHATI, June 27 – Proactive action on the part of the Forest Department could place Assam in the forefront of the tigerconservation programme in the country. This would be possible due to the advantages that the state already possesses, which include a stable and growing population of the highly protected species.
A well-placed source in the Forest Department told The Assam Tribune that there was a need for “more focused thinking and intervention” to protect the tiger, which has a sizeable population in Kaziranga and few other protected areas. He favoured a policy that embraced more areas in the state where the presence of tigers was documented by independent observers.
There are reports which indicate that apart from tigers being located in Kaziranga, Manas and Nameri, the range of the animal extends into a number of eeserve forests in Assam and adjoining states. In total, the state could now possess a tiger population hovering around 180.
Dr Bibhab Talukdar of the biodiversity conservation group Aaranyak acknowledging the presence of the tiger in reserved forests said that better protection was required in those areas to ensure the survival of the animals. “I would say that the time has come to treat those reserved forests in a different way. It would be seriously limiting if we treat those merely as sources of timber,” he remarked.
Dr Talukdar pointed out that the net of tiger conservation should extend to other areas including parts of eastern Assam and some sand bars close to Kaziranga where the presence of the big cat has been located.
“While tigers are being surveyed in key protected areas, there are other areas where the animal’s presence has also been proved. Any serious conservation programme concerning the species must take into account those areas where monitoring is yet to take place,” he noted.
He was of the view that there was a dispersed population of tigers in areas across Assam, which has never been documented. “There is a genuine need for a scientific study to know about this population,” he asserted. Experts are of the belief that nearly 50 animals could be scattered in parts of the state, which are not within any protected area.
http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun2810/city07
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)