Prerna Singh Bindra | Suhelwa (Balrampur)
Legendary conservationist Billy Arjan Singh described Suhelwa as “the finest forests imaginable”, waxing eloquent about its “plethora of wildlife and fine tigers”. It was here that Singh’s love for the wilds took root. It is just as well he is no longer around to see the ‘sanctuary’ now — the devastation rendered by years of negligence.
In the two days that I traversed Suhelwa, the destruction is evident: Rows of stumps, gutted vegetation, paucity of prey, grasslands degraded by cattle, constant traffic of people, silted water bodies, bone dry waterholes and the consistent, dull thud of the axe echoing in a silent forest. “Apathy and administrative weaknesses,” admits a forest official, “have in recent years led to destruction of a magnitude that will finish the forest. And, Suhelwa will be lost for the tiger.”
Suhelwa, a 127-km-long narrow strip of forest, is part of the Terai Arc Landscape, identified as one of the three most vital tiger habitats in India. The Terai Arc Landscape, over 20,000 sq km on the Indian side, is a network of protected areas and fragmented corridors which stretch from Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary in Haryana to Valmiki in Bihar, and beyond to Chitwan and Parsa in Nepal. Suhelwa, bordering Nepal, is a crucial link in the Terai. “Suhelwa cannot be viewed in isolation,” stresses Dr Bivash Pandav, Coordinator, Tiger and Asian Big Cats Programme, WWF-International. “It is contiguous to the forests of Nepal and through Banke and Bardia national parks maintains connectivity to Dudhwa Tiger Reserve that goes all the way up to Rajaji National Park in Uttarakhand.”
Animals do not recognise manmade borders. Scientists assert that tigers cannot survive in isolated islands. “To save free-ranging animals like tiger and elephant such movement and genetic exchange is vital,” says Pandav.
Recognising the significance of Suhelwa, the Central Government pushed for it to be declared as a tiger reserve but two years on, the state has taken little initiative. The indifference is evident with Chief Wildlife Warden BK Patnaik shrugging off Suhelwa as a “narrow forest”. He is also “unsure of the number of tigers and whether it (Suhelwa) can sustain tigers”, thus contradicting his own department, which gives the ‘official’ number of tigers in the sanctuary as 25.
The numbers seem inflated, with independent experts giving a conservative estimate of five to eight tigers in the sanctuary.
However, with no protection, the tigers are a sitting target. In July 2006, a tiger skin was seized in Tulsipur on the Indo-Nepal border near the sanctuary. “Preliminary questioning revealed that it was killed in the Baghelkhand beat of the Suhelwa range. Involvement of local politicians was also indicated and the accused are out on bail,” says Sarvesh Singh, a local journalist with ETV, who played a key role in the seizure. Another tiger skin was seized in November last year, also in Tulsipur. Later, in March 2010, forest guard Munnalal Tiwari heard a gunshot in Jodvania Nala, in the core zone, where he says, tiger pugmarks had been seen earlier in the day. Three leopard skins were also seized in the same month. Poaching of prey is common —the preferred method here being ‘obs’ or camouflaged pits, and easy access from across the border has only worsened the situation.
The cancer of apathy runs deep. The biotic pressure is immense; while ungulates are a rare sight, thousands of cattle roam in the forest. I came across a huge herd of buffaloes grazing in Pipra, Bankatwa the core area of the sanctuary, right next to the Forest department quarters. Sand mining and quarrying go on with impunity. The scale of illegal logging is massive. We met Shamu, a slight man dragging his cycle overloaded with wood. He is from Bhagwanpur and just one among the many villagers we encounter. Shamu is employed on a daily basis by the forest department, but though an attendance register is maintained, the payment, he says, is very irregular. Instead, he is allowed to take out wood for sale, a system called begar prevalent during the British times but unofficially continues till date, though Supreme Court ruling of February 2000 forbids even a blade of grass to be removed from a sanctuary. Sources say that hundreds of cycle loads are taken out in this manner mainly for commercial use, to be sold to dhabas, the dozens of brick kilns that dot the landscape or are loaded in trucks for markets in Balrampur and even Bahraich well over a 100 km away.”
Strangely, while the sanctuary lies neglected, and protection non-existent, forest roads — which only disturb wildlife — have been widened with NREG funds. Admits a senior official, “While there is negligible support for wildlife, there is pressure to do work under NREG from headquarters and political leaders. As it is the staff has little orientation towards wildlife, now their focus is on meeting NREG targets. So the sanctuary suffers.”
Even though a petition has been filed in the Supreme Court’s Central Empowered Committee in 2004 by Niharika Singh, a conservationist based near the sanctuary, highlighting Suhelwa’s plight, it has been of little avail. The CEC is yet to make a site visit to assess the situation, and meanwhile, the situation on the ground has only gotten worse.
UP has barely five per cent of forest cover, and Suhelwa represents the last remaining tracts of Bhabar forests in the country. Shikar lore hails the tigers of “Balrampore for their superior tawny coat”. The significance of Suhelwa, as a crucial link in amongst few promising tiger habitats in the world, cannot be stressed enough, especially at a time when there is international concern for critically endangered tigers. Unless, a concerted effort at three levels – local, State and Central — is made Suhelwa and its tigers will be lost forever.
Monday, July 19, 2010
2 mauled by tiger
Two persons were reportedly mauled by a caged tiger in Zoological Park, Rangaphar Sunday afternoon, leaving one grievously injured and another with minor injury.
According to sources, the attack occurred at around 12:30 p.m., while the victims had gone to Zoological Park for sightseeing.
The two injured persons were identified as one Kivixu Chophi (65) and Kukhazha Yepthomi (24) of Thilixu village.
Relating the sequence of tragic event, the victim’s relative said the tiger first attacked Kukhazha Yepthomi with its paws, however, he managed to move away quickly to safety.
While the other companion, Kivixu Chophi, was grabbed by the tiger and mauled him with its claws and teeth. He sustained more than ten injury marks on his head and face.
Kukhazha, then came to his rescue by pulling him to safety before the situation turned severe.
Kivixu Chophi, who was critically injured, fainted while he was attacked by the tiger, they said.
According to Civil Hospital pathologist Dr. Temsu, both the injured persons were rushed to the civil hospital, Dimapur immediately after the incident occurred.
The condition of Kivixu Chophi was stated to be stable though he was too weak to communicate or move around, while Kukhazha was released after administering first aid, they said.
According to sources, the attack occurred at around 12:30 p.m., while the victims had gone to Zoological Park for sightseeing.
The two injured persons were identified as one Kivixu Chophi (65) and Kukhazha Yepthomi (24) of Thilixu village.
Relating the sequence of tragic event, the victim’s relative said the tiger first attacked Kukhazha Yepthomi with its paws, however, he managed to move away quickly to safety.
While the other companion, Kivixu Chophi, was grabbed by the tiger and mauled him with its claws and teeth. He sustained more than ten injury marks on his head and face.
Kukhazha, then came to his rescue by pulling him to safety before the situation turned severe.
Kivixu Chophi, who was critically injured, fainted while he was attacked by the tiger, they said.
According to Civil Hospital pathologist Dr. Temsu, both the injured persons were rushed to the civil hospital, Dimapur immediately after the incident occurred.
The condition of Kivixu Chophi was stated to be stable though he was too weak to communicate or move around, while Kukhazha was released after administering first aid, they said.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Tiger relocation from Ranthambore to miss date
JAIPUR: Like the elusive monsoon, the tiger relocation too may miss its date with Sariska.
Sources at the Ranthambore national park informed that the park has not started any preparations to relocate the tigers to Sariska around July 18. The fresh date was announced by Rajesh Gopal, director, National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) after it failed to relocate the tigers on two previous dates-- July 4 and July 11.
Officials of the state forest department and NTCA reasoned the constant change in dates has been due to the elusive monsoon in the state. "We want some rain which would make the weather more conducive for shifting," Gopal had told TOI earlier and put July 18 as the next possible date.
"A whole lot of preparations have to be done before the tigers are relocated. Special teams have to formed and the tigers are closely monitored. Even the Indian Air Force has to be informed about the requirement of a helicopter. Nothing of such kind has happened till now. Therefore, it is not possible to relocate any tiger on Sunday," the source added.
The sudden halt of the relocation programme has been attributed to the rising pressure from the tourism lobby at Ranthambore that is against removing any tiger from the forest fearing it may hit the tourism in the area.
Earlier in-breeding was cited as one of the reasons for putting a brake on the programme. Recently, the tourism lobby had filed a petition at a local court in Sawai Madhopur to prevent the relocation stating it would hit the sector. It however, failed to provide them respite.
"There is little else that explains the halting of the programme. To quell the fear of inbreeding, the NTCA had carried out the DNA tests of the probable tigers to be relocated. Even the results of the scat samples have arrived. So why stop the relocation," they asked.
Sources at the Ranthambore national park informed that the park has not started any preparations to relocate the tigers to Sariska around July 18. The fresh date was announced by Rajesh Gopal, director, National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) after it failed to relocate the tigers on two previous dates-- July 4 and July 11.
Officials of the state forest department and NTCA reasoned the constant change in dates has been due to the elusive monsoon in the state. "We want some rain which would make the weather more conducive for shifting," Gopal had told TOI earlier and put July 18 as the next possible date.
"A whole lot of preparations have to be done before the tigers are relocated. Special teams have to formed and the tigers are closely monitored. Even the Indian Air Force has to be informed about the requirement of a helicopter. Nothing of such kind has happened till now. Therefore, it is not possible to relocate any tiger on Sunday," the source added.
The sudden halt of the relocation programme has been attributed to the rising pressure from the tourism lobby at Ranthambore that is against removing any tiger from the forest fearing it may hit the tourism in the area.
Earlier in-breeding was cited as one of the reasons for putting a brake on the programme. Recently, the tourism lobby had filed a petition at a local court in Sawai Madhopur to prevent the relocation stating it would hit the sector. It however, failed to provide them respite.
"There is little else that explains the halting of the programme. To quell the fear of inbreeding, the NTCA had carried out the DNA tests of the probable tigers to be relocated. Even the results of the scat samples have arrived. So why stop the relocation," they asked.
Friday, July 16, 2010
MP govt rules out tiger relocation to Sariska
JAIPUR: Madhya Pradesh government on Thursday ruled out tiger relocation from the state to boost big cat population in Rajasthan's Sariska Tiger Reserve.
"We don't have surplus tigers,'' MP forest minister Sartaj Singh told reporters in Bhopal. The refusal came after Union environment and forest minister Jairam Ramesh wrote to MP and Maharashtra CMs and asked them to provide a few tigers to Sariska. Singh said he had no knowledge of Ramesh's letter. MP has the highest big cat population.
Officials said their plans of boosting tiger population in Sariska depends heavily on the relocation.
"We don't have surplus tigers,'' MP forest minister Sartaj Singh told reporters in Bhopal. The refusal came after Union environment and forest minister Jairam Ramesh wrote to MP and Maharashtra CMs and asked them to provide a few tigers to Sariska. Singh said he had no knowledge of Ramesh's letter. MP has the highest big cat population.
Officials said their plans of boosting tiger population in Sariska depends heavily on the relocation.
Jairam vs Kamal Nath again?
In what seems to be a season for sniping ministers, Jairam Ramesh (environment) and Kamal Nath (road transport) may be headed for a second round of confrontation. The reason: an Environment Ministry committee's refusal to allow seven coal mining projects in Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara district, the constituency Nath represents in Parliament.
Ramesh and Nath have already gone a round over the former's refusal to allow the widening of a national highway passing through Pench tiger reserve in Chhindwara, on the advice of the Supreme Court's central empowered committee.
This time, a committee constituted by the National Tiger Conservation Authority — which falls under the environment ministry — has said the seven projects shouldn't be allowed as they fall in the tiger corridor connecting Pench and Satpura reserves.
"Allowing coal mining will destroy a narrow corridor used by tigers to move from one reserve to another," a committee member said.
The state government hasn't notified the area as a tiger corridor but the committee based its recommendation on maps provided by the Wildlife Institute of India.
"During our field inspection we were told tigers frequent the corridor," the member said.
The committee was tasked with examining the impact of these projects on tiger conservation following protests by NGOs and conservationists.
The Environment Ministry's forest advisory committee is likely to examine the recommendation at its meeting this month, ministry officials said.
Nath had days ago taken on the Planning Commission, calling it an "armchair advisor" oblivious to "ground realities".
Ramesh has had his share of problems too - civil aviation minister Praful Patel accused him of being "overly obsessive" and delaying the proposed Mumbai airport while coal minister Sri Prakash Jaiswal held him responsible for delaying forest clearance for mining projects.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Jairam-vs-Kamal-Nath-again/Article1-573010.aspx
BNHS takes save forest plan to Tadoba, Pench hamlets
PUNE: Saving the tiger through as many ways as possible has become a mission with environmentalists.
The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) has set up a tiger cell' to save the wild cat's habitat by creating awareness among villagers living close to Tadoba-Andhari and the Pench tiger reserves to conserve the forest. The programme is a part of the Satpuda Landscape Tiger Project (SLTP) and is supported by the UK-based Born Free organisation.
The environmentalists believe that if the habitat is conserved, it will go a long way in saving the feline species that is on the verge of extinction.
Sanjay Karkare, education officer of the cell, who works in Tadoba and Pench (Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh) areas, said the mobile education unit focuses on undertaking activities in schools.
Last year, more than 229 programmes were conducted in schools in the peripheral areas of Tadoba-Andhari and Pench tiger reserves for over 10,000 children.
They were educated through lectures, slide-shows, paintings, competitions, nature camps and field outings. Besides, activities such as Nisarga Melawa' and Tadoba Mahostav' are also held.
Karkare said the villagers are completely dependent on forests for fuel wood, cattle grazing, bamboo, flowers (to make liquor) and leaves. For example, the villagers in Tadoba are dependent on bamboo to weave baskets that is sold.
"If we tell them about climate change and its impact, it may not percolate as 80-90 per cent are tribals, underprivileged and living below the poverty line. So we simply explain them the importance of forests for themselves and the need to conserve them for future generations,'' he said.
"We have to find an alternative to stop this dependency on forest wealth. In some villages we educated them and gave them bamboo shoots to grow near their huts instead of cutting the forest plants,'' said Karkare.
Mohan Jha, field director of the Pench tiger reserve, also stressed on the need for awareness among villagers. "They are the primary stakeholders of forest wealth and hence it is important to educate them," he said.
On the Tiger Cell' programme, Karkare said that one of the success stories was the orientation programme held for women at Tikade village. "They were educated through slide-shows, films and lectures. We covered forest fire, fuel wood and bamboo collection, water-forest relation, importance of forests for future generations. After the orientation, the women decided to repair bio gas units. Earlier, the education officers had visited this village thrice to repair the bio gas units but the villagers were unwilling to let them,'' he said. There are also instances where students put out forest fires, saved birds and took up plantation.
Karkare, who works in 62 village schools, said, "We plan to make a questionnaire and distribute it among teachers and students to know their awareness level about forests and its conservation. We will also get their feedback.''
The social forestry department supported the cell's activities by sponsoring a camp for students and teachers of the National Green Corps. Department director Prakash
The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) has set up a tiger cell' to save the wild cat's habitat by creating awareness among villagers living close to Tadoba-Andhari and the Pench tiger reserves to conserve the forest. The programme is a part of the Satpuda Landscape Tiger Project (SLTP) and is supported by the UK-based Born Free organisation.
The environmentalists believe that if the habitat is conserved, it will go a long way in saving the feline species that is on the verge of extinction.
Sanjay Karkare, education officer of the cell, who works in Tadoba and Pench (Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh) areas, said the mobile education unit focuses on undertaking activities in schools.
Last year, more than 229 programmes were conducted in schools in the peripheral areas of Tadoba-Andhari and Pench tiger reserves for over 10,000 children.
They were educated through lectures, slide-shows, paintings, competitions, nature camps and field outings. Besides, activities such as Nisarga Melawa' and Tadoba Mahostav' are also held.
Karkare said the villagers are completely dependent on forests for fuel wood, cattle grazing, bamboo, flowers (to make liquor) and leaves. For example, the villagers in Tadoba are dependent on bamboo to weave baskets that is sold.
"If we tell them about climate change and its impact, it may not percolate as 80-90 per cent are tribals, underprivileged and living below the poverty line. So we simply explain them the importance of forests for themselves and the need to conserve them for future generations,'' he said.
"We have to find an alternative to stop this dependency on forest wealth. In some villages we educated them and gave them bamboo shoots to grow near their huts instead of cutting the forest plants,'' said Karkare.
Mohan Jha, field director of the Pench tiger reserve, also stressed on the need for awareness among villagers. "They are the primary stakeholders of forest wealth and hence it is important to educate them," he said.
On the Tiger Cell' programme, Karkare said that one of the success stories was the orientation programme held for women at Tikade village. "They were educated through slide-shows, films and lectures. We covered forest fire, fuel wood and bamboo collection, water-forest relation, importance of forests for future generations. After the orientation, the women decided to repair bio gas units. Earlier, the education officers had visited this village thrice to repair the bio gas units but the villagers were unwilling to let them,'' he said. There are also instances where students put out forest fires, saved birds and took up plantation.
Karkare, who works in 62 village schools, said, "We plan to make a questionnaire and distribute it among teachers and students to know their awareness level about forests and its conservation. We will also get their feedback.''
The social forestry department supported the cell's activities by sponsoring a camp for students and teachers of the National Green Corps. Department director Prakash
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Send tigers for Sariska: Jairam to MP, Maharashtra
Conceding that the tigers of Ranthambhore may not be able to ensure “genetic vigour” in the population being raised in Sariska, Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh has written to the chief ministers of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra requesting them for a few tigers for Sariska.
HT reported ed how siblings were sent from Ranthambhore to repopulate Sariska. Following the report, the tiger relocation process was put on hold, a DNA analysis of Ranthambhore tigers was ordered and genetic tests proved that the tigers sent to Sariska were indeed siblings.
Forest and the wildlife establishment had so far resisted the demand for sourcing tigers from outside Rajasthan. While some argued that the purity of Rajasthan tigers was at stake, others felt inter-state talks on shifting tigers would hit roadblocks.
But in his letters sent this week to CMs Ashok Chavan and Shivraj Singh, Ramesh wrote: "To bring in genetic vigour, we need a few wild caught tigers (males and females) for Sariska from adjoining states…I would appreciate if two straying males are provided at the outset to Rajasthan…"
Welcoming the decision, conservationist Valmik Thapar said, "...We can also look at an exchange as the male that has so far failed to breed with his siblings in Sariska should now be sent to Panna (MP)..."
Sariska may get its fourth tiger much sooner if any of the three Ranthambhore tigers shortlisted for relocation are found to be genetically compatible. The DNA report of these tigers is expected from Bangalore-based National Centre for Biological Sciences this Friday. If the tests are negative Sariska, may have to wait for a positive response from Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Send-tigers-for-Sariska-Jairam-to-MP-Maharashtra/Article1-572513.aspx
Melghat buffer proposal ayed
NAGPUR: The state-level expert committee, on Wednesday, cleared the buffer proposal for 2,027 sq km Melghat Tiger Reserve (MTR) in Amravati. The panel headed by chief wildlife warden of Maharashtra AK Joshi and wildlife experts and senior officials held discussions at Van Bhavan before clearing the proposal with some minor corrections.
Joshi told TOI that the proposal would be sent to the state government in four to five days as he was busy with assembly related matters. The committee, on May 12, had cleared 500 sq km buffer proposal for Pench National Park and Tiger Reserve. However, the proposal is still pending with the state and has not been sent to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), a statutory body monitoring the tiger reserves.
The Melghat proposal was earlier discussed at a meeting but was put on hold as the panel members felt that some areas in East Melghat, Buldhana and Akola, which are contiguous to MTR, had been left out and should have been included as they act as cushion for wildlife.
The buffer proposal includes 118 villages in six divisions— Sipna (25), Gugamal (14), West Melghat (12), East Melghat (23), Akola (35) and Buldhana (9). The buffer area includes 92,065.49 hectare forested area and 34,738.18 hectare non-forested area, totalling 1, 26,803.67 hectares (1,268 sq km). The new buffer area includes 526 sq km multiple use area (MUA).
Presently, the MTR comprises Gugamal National Park (361 sq km), Melghat Wildlife Sanctuary (1,677 sq km), Wan (211 sq km), Ambabarwa (127 sq km) and Narnala (13 sq km). All these areas are critical tiger habitats (CTHs) and will now have a buffer zone.
The Wildlife Institute of India (WII), on the basis of exercise conducted in 2007, puts number of tiger in Melghat Tiger Reserve between 30-38. However, officials claim there may be over 50 tigers as situation has improved in the last three years.
Notifying buffer zone around tiger reserves has become mandatory under the tiger conservation plan (TCP) after amendments in section 38 V of the Wildlife Protection Act (1972) on September 4, 2006. The TCP aims at protection of tiger reserve and providing site specific habitat inputs for a viable population of tigers, co-predators and prey animals.
The committee included wildlife experts Kishor Rithe, Harshawardhan Dhanwatey and chief conservators of forest (CCF) A K Saxena, CCF for Nagpur wildlife circle Nandkishore, CCF S D Sontakke (Amravati), Melghat field director A K Mishra among other forest officials.
Joshi told TOI that the proposal would be sent to the state government in four to five days as he was busy with assembly related matters. The committee, on May 12, had cleared 500 sq km buffer proposal for Pench National Park and Tiger Reserve. However, the proposal is still pending with the state and has not been sent to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), a statutory body monitoring the tiger reserves.
The Melghat proposal was earlier discussed at a meeting but was put on hold as the panel members felt that some areas in East Melghat, Buldhana and Akola, which are contiguous to MTR, had been left out and should have been included as they act as cushion for wildlife.
The buffer proposal includes 118 villages in six divisions— Sipna (25), Gugamal (14), West Melghat (12), East Melghat (23), Akola (35) and Buldhana (9). The buffer area includes 92,065.49 hectare forested area and 34,738.18 hectare non-forested area, totalling 1, 26,803.67 hectares (1,268 sq km). The new buffer area includes 526 sq km multiple use area (MUA).
Presently, the MTR comprises Gugamal National Park (361 sq km), Melghat Wildlife Sanctuary (1,677 sq km), Wan (211 sq km), Ambabarwa (127 sq km) and Narnala (13 sq km). All these areas are critical tiger habitats (CTHs) and will now have a buffer zone.
The Wildlife Institute of India (WII), on the basis of exercise conducted in 2007, puts number of tiger in Melghat Tiger Reserve between 30-38. However, officials claim there may be over 50 tigers as situation has improved in the last three years.
Notifying buffer zone around tiger reserves has become mandatory under the tiger conservation plan (TCP) after amendments in section 38 V of the Wildlife Protection Act (1972) on September 4, 2006. The TCP aims at protection of tiger reserve and providing site specific habitat inputs for a viable population of tigers, co-predators and prey animals.
The committee included wildlife experts Kishor Rithe, Harshawardhan Dhanwatey and chief conservators of forest (CCF) A K Saxena, CCF for Nagpur wildlife circle Nandkishore, CCF S D Sontakke (Amravati), Melghat field director A K Mishra among other forest officials.
29 top forest officials shifted
NAGPUR: In a major reshuffle in Indian Forest Service (IFS) cadre, seven chief conservators of forests (CCFs), 19 conservators of forests (CFs) and three deputy conservators were shifted on Wednesday. Mantralaya officials claimed the transfers to be routine and said more were in the pipeline.
According to reliable sources, SWH Naqvi, CCF (HRM), Nagpur, has been shifted to Pune as social forestry director (SFD). He will be replaced by Prakash Thosre, who is SFD director. Amravati territorial CCF S D Sontakke has been shifted to Aurangabad. He will be replaced by Sarjan Bhagat, general manager of Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra (FDCM), Nagpur. Shree Bhagwan, CCF at Thane, will replace Bhagat at FDCM. Suresh Thorat has been shifted from Borivali to Thane while he will be replaced by Sarvesh Kumar from Aurangabad.
Sources informed that among CFs Mohan Jha, field director of Pench tiger reserve, has been shifted but his posting is awaited. He will be replaced by A Ashraf, joint director of social forestry, Aurangabad. Sanjay Thakre, field director of Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), has also been shifted to FDCM as regional manager (headquarters). V K Sinha, who is in FDCM, will replace Thakre. Thakre's exit comes as post of Tadoba CF is to be upgraded to CCF rank.
Gorewada zoo director A R Mande has been shifted to working plan, Amravati. He will be replaced by BSK Reddy, who is working in PCCF's office. Similarly, R S Yadav, who headed the North Chandrapur Circle, has been brought to PCCF's office as CF JFM-II. Yadav will be replaced by GRK Rao. C S Gajbhiye, who looked after JFM II, has been shifted to HRD in PCCF's office.
Sources informed that F S Jafry of working plan, Nagpur, has been shifted as joint director, social forestry, Pune. He will be replaced by T K Choubey. Virendra Tiwari, who was with working plan, Amravati, has been shifted as CF (tendu), Nagpur. YLP Rao, who headed Kolhapur wildlife division, will be replaced by M K Rao. YLP Rao has been shifted to Nagpur in land record department in place of PCS Singh. Singh has been transferred to Chandrapur in silviculture.
The three deputy conservators shifted include Anwar Jamal Ahmed to Alibagh, S U Hiwlekar to Shahapur and D B Shrikhande to Pandharkawda. Shrikhande has been posted in place of Gopal Kale, who had committed suicide a few months ago. Head of forest force C S Joshi was not available for comments.
According to reliable sources, SWH Naqvi, CCF (HRM), Nagpur, has been shifted to Pune as social forestry director (SFD). He will be replaced by Prakash Thosre, who is SFD director. Amravati territorial CCF S D Sontakke has been shifted to Aurangabad. He will be replaced by Sarjan Bhagat, general manager of Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra (FDCM), Nagpur. Shree Bhagwan, CCF at Thane, will replace Bhagat at FDCM. Suresh Thorat has been shifted from Borivali to Thane while he will be replaced by Sarvesh Kumar from Aurangabad.
Sources informed that among CFs Mohan Jha, field director of Pench tiger reserve, has been shifted but his posting is awaited. He will be replaced by A Ashraf, joint director of social forestry, Aurangabad. Sanjay Thakre, field director of Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), has also been shifted to FDCM as regional manager (headquarters). V K Sinha, who is in FDCM, will replace Thakre. Thakre's exit comes as post of Tadoba CF is to be upgraded to CCF rank.
Gorewada zoo director A R Mande has been shifted to working plan, Amravati. He will be replaced by BSK Reddy, who is working in PCCF's office. Similarly, R S Yadav, who headed the North Chandrapur Circle, has been brought to PCCF's office as CF JFM-II. Yadav will be replaced by GRK Rao. C S Gajbhiye, who looked after JFM II, has been shifted to HRD in PCCF's office.
Sources informed that F S Jafry of working plan, Nagpur, has been shifted as joint director, social forestry, Pune. He will be replaced by T K Choubey. Virendra Tiwari, who was with working plan, Amravati, has been shifted as CF (tendu), Nagpur. YLP Rao, who headed Kolhapur wildlife division, will be replaced by M K Rao. YLP Rao has been shifted to Nagpur in land record department in place of PCS Singh. Singh has been transferred to Chandrapur in silviculture.
The three deputy conservators shifted include Anwar Jamal Ahmed to Alibagh, S U Hiwlekar to Shahapur and D B Shrikhande to Pandharkawda. Shrikhande has been posted in place of Gopal Kale, who had committed suicide a few months ago. Head of forest force C S Joshi was not available for comments.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Rajaji National Park - Forest in a rat trap
Trapped from all sides by expanding towns, heavy traffic highways and railway tracks, mining and poaching, can the precious little strip of Rajaji National Park save its tigers?
Akash Bisht Chilla/Rishikesh
As the tussle between the Union ministries of environment and surface transport intensifies over environmental clearances for 17 highways across tiger reserves in the country, two choked highways - NH-58 and NH-72 - are piercing through the heart of the ecological hot spot, Rajaji National Park in Uttarakhand. It is effectively killing the twin hopes of repopulating tigers in the entire Shivalik Forest Region, while maintaining a healthy core population at the Jim Corbett National Park.
NH-58 connects Haridwar to Delhi, while NH-72 (A) connects Haridwar to Dehradun. Both witness heavy traffic and vehicular movement every day. Increasing tourism and developmental activities in recent years have led to massive increase of vehicles plying on these highways. "They bifurcate the park and obstruct the passage of animals from one forest division to another. This traffic is like a cancer which is spreading and eating into the park's vital organs," says SS Rasaily, Project Director, Rajaji National Park.
In 2007, park authorities conducted a survey to calculate the number of vehicles that pass through the two highways everyday. The results were shocking: 29,000 vehicles ply on these highways on a daily basis and as many as 600 from 1:30am to 2:30am. According to the National Highways Authority of India, these two highways witness a vehicular traffic growth of nearly 7 per cent each year. Rasaily pegs the current numbers at close to 50,000.
This virtual wall of fast moving vehicles deters the animals from passing through their natural habitat or even going to the nearby rivers to quench their thirst. Additionally, 40 trains plying on the same route during early mornings and late evenings - peak time for animals to move around the forests - are inflicting daily and long-term damage on their free movement.
"Human expressions are rude and animals do not understand them. Their natural environment is shrinking by leaps and bounds while traffic and railways play havoc on their well-being in Rajaji. A train engine's sound or a loud horn can be very discomforting for animals, but do we care?" asks SK Chandola, former Chief Wildlife Warden of Uttarakhand.
Nestled in the foothills of the Shivalik Range of Himalayas, Rajaji is blessed with some of the most pristine and picturesque forests in India. This 820 sq km park is precious ecological heritage that is home to magnificent biodiversity, flora and fauna, water bodies and streams. Wild animals like the tiger, elephant, leopard, sloth bear, deer and king cobra, among other species, inhabit the forest. The pristine wilderness is unmatched. Covering three districts of Uttarakhand, the park has more than 400 species of birds, including rare ones.
13 nations pledge to double tiger population by 2022
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Buxa Tiger Reserve to conduct joint exercise with Bhutan
Kolkata: The Buxa Tiger Reserve in north Bengal will undertake a joint exercise with neighbouring Bhutan for monitoring and protection of tigers and other wild life.
"Bhutan's joint participation with the Buxa Tiger Reserve will be mutually beneficial in the conservation of biological corridors and protection of big cats," field director of the reserve R P Saini said.
It was also decided that training facilities of all member-countries would be mutually shared, he said.
Asked about the time line of the programme commencing, he said first a study had to be conducted to find out facilities in the member-countries.
"One country may have better facilities for training range officers, while some other country may have better facilities for training forest guards," he pointed out and said it would take some time.
Saini said at present there was no pact with Bhutan for joint monitoring or sharing of each other's facilities.
"Only a bi-annual meeting was held between the two countries in which everything from trade to law and order and wildlife was discussed," he said.
A sub-adult tiger was photographed for the first time in Buxa in March this year.
"There was never a doubt that the forest had tigers. The only worry was that sightings had become rare. So, this was very reassuring," Saini said.
A tiger census was held in the 761-square-kilometre reserve this year using scat analysis and camera trapping method and the outcome is expected to be known by the end of the year, sources in the Buxa reserve said.
At the meeting of the Global Tiger Forum representatives of various countries had discussed the issues confronting tiger threadbare and underlined the need for trans-boundary cooperation to check poaching.
They also expressed concern that habitat loss, unabated smuggling of animal parts and bones and declining prey base continued to take toll on the tiger population which is now estimated to be less than 3,000 worldwide.
"Bhutan's joint participation with the Buxa Tiger Reserve will be mutually beneficial in the conservation of biological corridors and protection of big cats," field director of the reserve R P Saini said.
Saini, who had participated in a meeting of the Global Tiger Forum in Delhi on June 28, said it had been decided to forge close cooperation among officers of adjoining reserves of neighbouring counties for better monitoring and protection of tigers and other wild life.
It was also decided that training facilities of all member-countries would be mutually shared, he said.
Asked about the time line of the programme commencing, he said first a study had to be conducted to find out facilities in the member-countries.
"One country may have better facilities for training range officers, while some other country may have better facilities for training forest guards," he pointed out and said it would take some time.
Saini said at present there was no pact with Bhutan for joint monitoring or sharing of each other's facilities.
"Only a bi-annual meeting was held between the two countries in which everything from trade to law and order and wildlife was discussed," he said.
A sub-adult tiger was photographed for the first time in Buxa in March this year.
"There was never a doubt that the forest had tigers. The only worry was that sightings had become rare. So, this was very reassuring," Saini said.
A tiger census was held in the 761-square-kilometre reserve this year using scat analysis and camera trapping method and the outcome is expected to be known by the end of the year, sources in the Buxa reserve said.
At the meeting of the Global Tiger Forum representatives of various countries had discussed the issues confronting tiger threadbare and underlined the need for trans-boundary cooperation to check poaching.
They also expressed concern that habitat loss, unabated smuggling of animal parts and bones and declining prey base continued to take toll on the tiger population which is now estimated to be less than 3,000 worldwide.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
MoEF panel against mining in MP area
If Project Tiger has its way, there will be no more coal mining in Chhindwara — on a forest corridor nestling Pench and Satpura tiger reserves in Madhya Pradesh — in what is likely to be the first standoff between coal mining and tiger reserves. A Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) special committee, instituted for the express purpose of examining mining proposals both in and around tiger reserves, has turned down all mining proposals for the area.
The report prepared by the committee has also suggested that existing coal mines in the area be shut down. Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh introduced the controversial concept of ‘go’ and ‘no-go’ areas, including tiger reserves as the ‘no-go’ areas. Recently, Ramesh said he may expand the amount of ‘go areas’, working with the Coal Ministry. But with a slew of mining project proposals and lease extension proposals around tiger reserves, the MoEF settting up the committee is seen as a bid to introduce specialists in the controversy.
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/moef-panel-against-mining-in-mp-area/645652/1
Thirteen countries meet for tiger summit
Representatives from 13 countries have gathered in Bali to develop a plan to preserve their tiger populations from extinction due to massive habitat destruction and illegal trading.
The three-day Pre-Tiger Summit Partners Dialogue Meeting, which was opened Monday by Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan, is a preparatory meeting in advance of a heads of government meeting to be held in St. Petersburg, Russia, in September.
“It is alarming that only six of the nine tiger sub-species in the world still exist. In Indonesia, only Sumatran tigers are left. The other two sub-species in Indonesia have become extinct,” Zulkifli said in his opening remarks.
Participants will jointly formulate a draft Global Tiger Recovery Plan which will propose a plan to double the world’s tiger population by 2022, according to a representative.
The summit will also draft a declaration for the heads of government meeting, which will be attended by Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand and Vietnam.
Zulkifli said that Indonesia still lacked monitoring on the ground to preserve tigers, even though the country has a zoning system for conservation.
Accordingly, the ministry is proposing stricter penalties for forestry crimes that will sentence offenders to a minimum of five years in prison for crimes such as destruction of endangered species’ habitats, he added.
“We have not had the Bali tiger since the 1940s nor the Java tiger since the 1980s. The continued existence of the Sumatran tiger is precarious. We are working to save them through a mix of strategic policy, regulation and action,” Zulkifli said.
There are currently about 400 Sumatran tigers, which comprise 12 percent of the world’s total population of wild tigers. Tiger habitats have decreased by half over the last 25 years, according to Forestry Ministry data.
A World Wildlife Fund (WWF)report shows that the global tiger population has dwindled from more than 100,000 to about 3,200 over the past century.
Illegal trading and trafficking of tigers has been worsening, said Keshav Varma, World Bank Program Director for the Global Tiger Initiative.
Rampant hunting to meet demands for tiger parts in traditional medicine and health tonics or for decoration and fashion has also emerged as a major threat to tigers, Keshav said.
“Illegal traders and poachers have become more sophisticated and better equipped. These people are present in many tiger habitats, thanks to loopholes and weak law enforcement. Governments must become more aware by making their laws much stricter.”
Besides providing loan schemes, World Bank and its partners are encouraging countries to come up with research projects.
The GEF (Global Environment Facility) gives grants to countries to strengthen their biodiversity networks and policy implementation on habitat protection and management.
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/07/13/thirteen-countries-meet-tiger-summit.html
Monday, July 12, 2010
World tiger population lowest ever
Tigers are on the brink of extinction because only about 3,200 tigers are left in the world today, a report has said.
The still existing ones included six sub-species: Sumatran, Bengalese, Amurese, Indo-Chinese, South Chinese, and Malayan tigers, said the report released by the Indonesian Forestry Ministry yesterday, a day before delegates of 13 countries met for talks to save tigers here today.
The main threats facing the tigers around the world included damage of natural habitats, drastic decrease of natural predators, hunting and illegal trading, as well as conflicts between tigers and people living in the tigers’ habitat, the report said.
The Bali meeting, that would officially be opened by Minister of Forestry Zulkifli Hasan, was held before the World Tiger Summit in St Petersburg, Russia, from September 15 to 18, 2010.
In their a joint press statement, Chairman of the HarimauKita (Our Tiger) Forum Hariyo T Wibisono and Director of Bio-Diversity Conservation Harry Santoso said there are now only about 400 Sumatran tigers left.
These Sumatran tigers account for about 12 per cent of the world’s tiger population, making Indonesia a key country for tiger conservation in the world, they said.
“Ironically, the habitats of these Sumatran tigers have declined up to almost 50 per cent over the past 25 years.
About 70 per cent of their remaining habitats exist outside the conservation areas.”
Wibisono said the remaining habitats were located in 20 separated forests. This condition was vulnerable to the remaining tigers because they were not in good protection.
“To save these endangered Sumatran tigers, the entire stakeholders in Indonesia need to work together in taking concrete and effective conservation measures,” he said.
If not, the Sumatran tigers would follow the fates of Javanese and Balinese tigers, Wibisono said.
In paving the way for the Sumatran tiger conservation efforts, Executive Director of WWF-Indonesia Dr Efransjah said the remaining natural habitats should be saved.
The critical forest areas need also be restored and sustainable development-strategies should be put in place so that the tigers have enough habitats, he said.
“How to minimize potential conflicts between tigers and people should also be a common agenda for related parties,” he said.
Saving forests and Sumatran tiger habitats are relevant to the Indonesian government’s commitment to reduce carbon emission from deforestations and forest degradation, Efransjah said.
http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/article512278.ece
Similipal reserve under threat, panel to keep eye
Worried over Similipal Tiger Reserve turning into a second Sariska, the National Tiger Conservation Authority has pressed panic buttons to save the wildlife there facing extinction.
The fourth largest tiger reserve in the country reported a staggering 40 per cent decrease in its tiger population (from 101 to 61) in 2009 census. Now it is at the centre of a fresh controversy after 10 elephants were found poached, one of which was felled by gunshot.
A two-member team of NTCA, which toured the reserve between June 6 and 11 to probe the elephant deaths, found proof of seven deaths. A few days later, wildlife conservationists from Mayurbhanj district found three more elephant carcasses. The committee has already submitted its report to the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
With such a bleak scenario of the wildlife there, the NTCA last week formed a seven-member committee comprising experts, senior police officers and the chief wildlife warden to monitor the status/progress of the recommendations made by tiger reserve officials.
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Similipal-reserve-under-threat--panel-to-keep-eye/645189
Sunderbans Lodge on hold, tiger haven safe for now
KOLKATA: Construction of the new tourist lodge at Sajnekhali in the Sunderbans has been stalled under instructions from the forest department after a TOI report highlighted how the structure would flout a number of environment and forest department norms.
Being built by the state tourism department inside the forest office complex, the two-storey, upcoming structure stands within ten feet of a sweet water pond frequented by wild animals, including tigers and experts fear it could endanger both animals and tourists.
A site survey was conducted by senior forest officials led by Sunderban Tiger Reserve (STR) director Subrat Mukherjee and a report is expected next week. On Friday, ToI had reported how the structure — claimed by the tourism department to be just an extension of the existing lodge — threatens to disrupt the movement of animals and the ecological stability of the mangrove forest.
"Our officials are now conducting a survey to check if there has been a violation of the rules. In case any breach of law is detected we will take corrective measures immediately," said Pradip Vyas, director, Sundarban Biosphere Reserve. Asked if the new structure could be demolished, Vyas said a decision will be taken on the basis of the report.
Environment activists and NGOs working in the forest hailed the decision. It would have been a disaster if the lodge was constructed in the heart of tiger territory, they said. "It is inexplicable how the forest department could allow the West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation (WBTDC) to go ahead with the construction. The Sajnekhali forest complex already has a two-storey structure which is bad enough. This lodge would have spelt doom for tigers and animals in the area," said Mrinal Chatterjee of the Institute of Climbers and Nature-lovers, an NGO. In the last fortnight, two tigers had sneaked into the forest office complex.
Members of the state Wild Life Advisory Board, too, welcomed the decision to halt the construction work. They have called upon the forest and tourism departments to lay down the plan for the lodge and hold a discussion on the necessity of a lodge in the Sajnekhali forest area.
"As it is, the area is in a mess due to the multiple structures that already exist there. It is surprising how the authorities could permit a tourist lodge in the midst of a biosphere reserve that also happens to be a heritage site. The structure should be pulled down immediately," Purnima Dutta, a member.
Fellow member A K Ghosh alleged that even though several suggestions have been put forward to the forest department, none have been considered or even taken up for discussion. "They have held just one meeting in the last one year which is a joke. It makes no sense to have the advisory board if they are not going to let us function. This construction violates the rules. We were kept in the dark about it and came to know only from media reports. The forest department must lay down the plan for the construction and explain why they planned it there," said Ghosh.
Others like Chatterjee pointed out that the lodge could easily have been constructed across the river at Pakhiralaya. "There are several private lodges there and the tourism department could have built one. It is a mystery why this particular area — which is frequented by tigers — was chosen," said Chatterjee.
Objections have also been raised against the way mud and earth were scooped up for the construction work from an adjoining plot. It loosened the roots of scores of mangrove trees and left many more uprooted. "Excavation is strictly prohibited in forest areas so this is a serious violation of rules. The forest department should own up responsibility for this," said Chatterjee.
Vyas, on the other hand, said his department was not aware of the excavation. "The site has been inspected by our officers and we are waiting to hear from them. Based on their report, we shall take corrective measures," he said.
Two weeks ago, a tiger had climbed on to a mound of earth at the construction site and jumped over the fencing into the forest office complex. Last Wednesday, a tigress, that had been lurking around menacingly in the area, was trapped on the bank of the pond. Both were released elsewhere in the mangrove forest.
Experts felt the construction should have been preceded by a proper survey. "Even if we assume that the lodge was built legally and does not endanger humans and animals, a study was necessary," said P K Sen, former director, Project Tiger.
Being built by the state tourism department inside the forest office complex, the two-storey, upcoming structure stands within ten feet of a sweet water pond frequented by wild animals, including tigers and experts fear it could endanger both animals and tourists.
A site survey was conducted by senior forest officials led by Sunderban Tiger Reserve (STR) director Subrat Mukherjee and a report is expected next week. On Friday, ToI had reported how the structure — claimed by the tourism department to be just an extension of the existing lodge — threatens to disrupt the movement of animals and the ecological stability of the mangrove forest.
"Our officials are now conducting a survey to check if there has been a violation of the rules. In case any breach of law is detected we will take corrective measures immediately," said Pradip Vyas, director, Sundarban Biosphere Reserve. Asked if the new structure could be demolished, Vyas said a decision will be taken on the basis of the report.
Environment activists and NGOs working in the forest hailed the decision. It would have been a disaster if the lodge was constructed in the heart of tiger territory, they said. "It is inexplicable how the forest department could allow the West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation (WBTDC) to go ahead with the construction. The Sajnekhali forest complex already has a two-storey structure which is bad enough. This lodge would have spelt doom for tigers and animals in the area," said Mrinal Chatterjee of the Institute of Climbers and Nature-lovers, an NGO. In the last fortnight, two tigers had sneaked into the forest office complex.
Members of the state Wild Life Advisory Board, too, welcomed the decision to halt the construction work. They have called upon the forest and tourism departments to lay down the plan for the lodge and hold a discussion on the necessity of a lodge in the Sajnekhali forest area.
"As it is, the area is in a mess due to the multiple structures that already exist there. It is surprising how the authorities could permit a tourist lodge in the midst of a biosphere reserve that also happens to be a heritage site. The structure should be pulled down immediately," Purnima Dutta, a member.
Fellow member A K Ghosh alleged that even though several suggestions have been put forward to the forest department, none have been considered or even taken up for discussion. "They have held just one meeting in the last one year which is a joke. It makes no sense to have the advisory board if they are not going to let us function. This construction violates the rules. We were kept in the dark about it and came to know only from media reports. The forest department must lay down the plan for the construction and explain why they planned it there," said Ghosh.
Others like Chatterjee pointed out that the lodge could easily have been constructed across the river at Pakhiralaya. "There are several private lodges there and the tourism department could have built one. It is a mystery why this particular area — which is frequented by tigers — was chosen," said Chatterjee.
Objections have also been raised against the way mud and earth were scooped up for the construction work from an adjoining plot. It loosened the roots of scores of mangrove trees and left many more uprooted. "Excavation is strictly prohibited in forest areas so this is a serious violation of rules. The forest department should own up responsibility for this," said Chatterjee.
Vyas, on the other hand, said his department was not aware of the excavation. "The site has been inspected by our officers and we are waiting to hear from them. Based on their report, we shall take corrective measures," he said.
Two weeks ago, a tiger had climbed on to a mound of earth at the construction site and jumped over the fencing into the forest office complex. Last Wednesday, a tigress, that had been lurking around menacingly in the area, was trapped on the bank of the pond. Both were released elsewhere in the mangrove forest.
Experts felt the construction should have been preceded by a proper survey. "Even if we assume that the lodge was built legally and does not endanger humans and animals, a study was necessary," said P K Sen, former director, Project Tiger.
White tigers to be brought to Rewa: CM
United News Of India
Rewa, MP, July 11
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that a Breeding Centre for white tigers would be established at Govindgarh in the district.
''The erstwhile royals of Rewa had first located the White tiger in the region and since then Rewa's name became synonymous with white tigers across the world,'' he told reporters here on Saturday.
He said that white tigers would be brought to Rewa for breeding purposes.
Rewa, MP, July 11
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that a Breeding Centre for white tigers would be established at Govindgarh in the district.
''The erstwhile royals of Rewa had first located the White tiger in the region and since then Rewa's name became synonymous with white tigers across the world,'' he told reporters here on Saturday.
He said that white tigers would be brought to Rewa for breeding purposes.
Steps needed to save tigers: NGO
PUNE: An exhibition of around 150 photographs showcasing India's rich heritage of biodiversity was organised by NGO Tiger Action Force at the Balgandharva Art Gallery on Sunday.
The idea was to create awareness about the International Year of Bio-Diversity being celebrated this year.
A section of photographs focused on the decline in wildlife population because of poaching and road accidents. Screening of the documentary Truth about Tigers' and lectures on wildlife conservation were also a part of the exhibition.
An attraction of the exhibition was the display of handicraft items made by tribals Mogya Handicrafts by Tiger Watch', and T-shirts made by SPROUTS, an NGO.
Gaurav Mahajan, a member of Tiger Action Force, told TOI that the photographs were taken by 17 wildlife photographers across the country.
"Immediate steps need to be taken to save the dwindling number of tigers. Through our NGO, we call upon the youth to come forward voluntarily to help protect our pride, the tiger," he said.
Members of Tiger Action Force are from all walks of life. Their interest in environment brought them together to start this NGO last year. They organise awareness programmes in educational institutes.
Mridula Vijairaghavan, a first year B Com student of Symbiosis and a member, says that incidents of wild animals killed in tiger reserves are reported all over the country. "Big animals like nil gai, tigers, leopards and even elephants are hit by running vehicles. It is all because of internal fragmentation of forests by roads and highways."
The NGO is also working to make tribals residing in forest areas self-reliant. Another member, Utpal Tongo says, "Efforts are made to help tribals be less dependent on forest produce. We are encouraging them in bamboo art and see that they get a market to sell their produce. All these tribals are from Melghat area."
Closer home, Tiger Action Force is working towards conservation and protection of the Pashan lake. Members Siddharth Pai, an engineer, and Bhagyesh Pidyar, an insurance consultant, say that they are preparing a draft on the water quality, bird count and plantation to be taken up in Pashan lake.
"With the guidance of Professor Sanjeev Nalavade, faculty at Fergusson College, we are preparing this draft, which will be submitted to the Pune Municipal Corporation. The bird count of the lake has drastically gone down because of the habitat modification in the lake," they said.
The idea was to create awareness about the International Year of Bio-Diversity being celebrated this year.
A section of photographs focused on the decline in wildlife population because of poaching and road accidents. Screening of the documentary Truth about Tigers' and lectures on wildlife conservation were also a part of the exhibition.
An attraction of the exhibition was the display of handicraft items made by tribals Mogya Handicrafts by Tiger Watch', and T-shirts made by SPROUTS, an NGO.
Gaurav Mahajan, a member of Tiger Action Force, told TOI that the photographs were taken by 17 wildlife photographers across the country.
"Immediate steps need to be taken to save the dwindling number of tigers. Through our NGO, we call upon the youth to come forward voluntarily to help protect our pride, the tiger," he said.
Members of Tiger Action Force are from all walks of life. Their interest in environment brought them together to start this NGO last year. They organise awareness programmes in educational institutes.
Mridula Vijairaghavan, a first year B Com student of Symbiosis and a member, says that incidents of wild animals killed in tiger reserves are reported all over the country. "Big animals like nil gai, tigers, leopards and even elephants are hit by running vehicles. It is all because of internal fragmentation of forests by roads and highways."
The NGO is also working to make tribals residing in forest areas self-reliant. Another member, Utpal Tongo says, "Efforts are made to help tribals be less dependent on forest produce. We are encouraging them in bamboo art and see that they get a market to sell their produce. All these tribals are from Melghat area."
Closer home, Tiger Action Force is working towards conservation and protection of the Pashan lake. Members Siddharth Pai, an engineer, and Bhagyesh Pidyar, an insurance consultant, say that they are preparing a draft on the water quality, bird count and plantation to be taken up in Pashan lake.
"With the guidance of Professor Sanjeev Nalavade, faculty at Fergusson College, we are preparing this draft, which will be submitted to the Pune Municipal Corporation. The bird count of the lake has drastically gone down because of the habitat modification in the lake," they said.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Madhya Pradesh govt put on hold plan to relocate tiger to Panna sanctuary
New Delhi: Worried over safety of four new-born tiger cubs, the Madhya Pradesh government has put on hold its plan to relocate a new male big cat to Panna sanctuary.
"If we shift a male tiger as planned earlier, it might devour the hapless cubs which are less than two months old," HS Pabla, principal chief conservator (wildlife), Madhya Pradesh, toldPTI.
"Panna currently has one male and two female big cats, including the lactating one. The cubs will face survival threat if a new alien tiger is introduced...The unrelated male may even kill them if they are not their off-springs...This is a natural tendency among the predators," tiger expert K Shankar said.
The state government on its part has beefed up security with the entire area being closed for tourists to ensure safe habitat to the cubs.
Overly cautious and secretive, tigresses are often reluctant to let a stranger male go near their litter and immediately move them far from the area which they feel becomes disturbed or threatened, Shankar said.
A tigress spend nearly 70% of their time nursing its cub for the initial few days after birth. This reduces to 30% by the time the cub reaches one-month-old. Approximately half of the litters do not survive to attain the age of two, the scientist from Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India said.
For instance, Shankar said, last November an 11-month-old female cub was killed inside the Kanha National Park by an adult tiger. In another incident, a two-year-old tigress was attacked and killed by a tiger while trying to protect her cubs.
Young tigers become independent from their mothers around 17 to 24 months of age, when they first settle temporarily in marginal habitats and then take a permanent territory of their own.
Spread over 542 sq km, Panna tiger reserve, which lost all its native predators to poachers a few years back, is again witnessing a rise in their numbers after a translocated tigress gave birth to four cubs last May, indicating success of the programme.
However, while decision to shift one more male tiger has been kept in the back-burner, the state government has plans to relocate two female big cats by the end of the monsoon season as per schedule.
Sariska tigers may yet hope for company
JAIPUR: Tigers at the Sariska reserve may yet hope for company. Just when most wildlife enthusiasts had given up on the fresh bid to relocate two more tigers from the Ranthambore reserve to Sariska, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has reiterated that the relocation would definitely take place.
According to the Rajesh Gopal, director, NTCA, "The relocation would certainly take place. We are looking at a possible date somewhere around July 18."
Pessimism had crept in after an earlier date of July 4 for the relocation was not adhered to. Officials explained they were waiting for the rain. But even after a few showers there are few signs of relocating the tigers. Even people who should know had given up hope assuming that scales have tilted once again in favour of the tourism lobby which opposes removal of tiger from Ranthambore.
"We are just waiting for a few showers before the relocation takes place. Our experts are still at Ranthambore and are keeping track of the possible tigers that could be relocated. We have sent samples of these tigers to a laboratory in Bangalore and have got the results. The tigers to be relocated this time are not siblings of the ones that are already at Sariska," added Gopal.
In fact, it was this fear that had encouraged a debate halting the original relocation plans. Some wildlife enthusiasts had expressed fears that a blind shifting of tiger without a study of its DNA will encourage in-breeding among the cats resulting in weak cubs.
And though the ministry had earlier rejected such arguments and declared the Ranthambore tigers as healthy and such fears were unfounded, but eventually gave in to rising pressure halting the relocation. Since then attempts at relocation have fallen through.
This time the NTCA, to be doubly sure, is carrying out DNA test of scat samples of young tigers for their possible relocation.
According to the Rajesh Gopal, director, NTCA, "The relocation would certainly take place. We are looking at a possible date somewhere around July 18."
Pessimism had crept in after an earlier date of July 4 for the relocation was not adhered to. Officials explained they were waiting for the rain. But even after a few showers there are few signs of relocating the tigers. Even people who should know had given up hope assuming that scales have tilted once again in favour of the tourism lobby which opposes removal of tiger from Ranthambore.
"We are just waiting for a few showers before the relocation takes place. Our experts are still at Ranthambore and are keeping track of the possible tigers that could be relocated. We have sent samples of these tigers to a laboratory in Bangalore and have got the results. The tigers to be relocated this time are not siblings of the ones that are already at Sariska," added Gopal.
In fact, it was this fear that had encouraged a debate halting the original relocation plans. Some wildlife enthusiasts had expressed fears that a blind shifting of tiger without a study of its DNA will encourage in-breeding among the cats resulting in weak cubs.
And though the ministry had earlier rejected such arguments and declared the Ranthambore tigers as healthy and such fears were unfounded, but eventually gave in to rising pressure halting the relocation. Since then attempts at relocation have fallen through.
This time the NTCA, to be doubly sure, is carrying out DNA test of scat samples of young tigers for their possible relocation.
'Reduce tourist vehicles to Corbett' - Jairam Ramesh
India best tiger reserve Corbett National Park has caused another face-off between Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh and Uttaranchal Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal. For better conservation of tigers, Jairam Ramesh wants Pokhriyal to reduce the inflow of tourist vehicles into the park which has highest tiger density per square km of forest area. More than two lakh tourists visited the National Park in the past year with a daily average of 400 through four tourist gates.
The high inflow of tourists, according to Ramesh, has caused higher air and noise pollution inside the park, a probable cause for stress to tigers. The noise created by vehicular movement is said to be a reason for poor breeding of tigers.
“It had happened in Sariska,” said a senior scientist with Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India, giving high tourist inflow as a possible reason for poor breeding of tigers in Sariska before they vanished in 2004.
Ramesh had also sounded a similar caution for Corbett, while asking the Chief Minister to reduce the number of vehicles allowed inside the park. Data with National Tiger Conservation Authority indicates that tourist influx inside the park has increased because of its close proximity with Delhi.
Uttaranchal government, however, contended that the tourists being allowed inside the parks were within the permissible limits and no fresh restrictions can be imposed. “Livelihood of a large number of locals is dependent on tourists... We cannot impose unrealistic restrictions just because the Centre wants it,” said Anil Baluni, deputy advisor with the state environment advisory committee.
The environment minister had earlier asked the state government to restrict construction of resorts in and around Corbett. Ramesh has opposed construction of hydel projects in the upper reaches of Ganga river basin and wants to declare the 130-km stretch of Bhagirathi river in the state as ecologically sensitive. Ministry panels have also opposed hydel projects on Gori Ganga and Mandakini rivers in the state.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Reduce-tourist-vehicles-to-Corbett/Article1-570495.aspx
Friday, July 9, 2010
Forest Rules Flouted In Tiger Lair
SAJNEKHALI: A three-storey luxury lodge for tourists, with spacious rooms and an expansive lobby, spread over 15,000 sq ft in the heart of tiger territory in the Sunderbans. This might sound shocking to conservationists and nature-lovers, but not the state tourism department. It has wrapped up about half the construction work, next to the forest department office at Sajnekhali, which saw tiger intrusions twice in the last fortnight.
What's worse, the building is less than 10 feet from a sweet water pond that is frequented by tigers, deer, fishing cats, wild boar and sundry other animals. Apart from driving away the creatures who will obviously be forced to look for quieter pastures once tourists move in, the environmental impact of such a facility could be crippling for the mangrove forest, experts warn.
The signs of construction-induced damage are already visible and have set alarm bells ringing. Tonnes of soft earth has been scooped up from an adjacent plot for the lodge although it is illegal to excavate forest land. It has left dozens of mangrove plantations in a precarious state with their roots hanging loose. Many have already toppled while the rest could fall soon.
Heaps of iron beams, wooden planks, bamboo poles and other construction material lie piled up at the site. Tonnes of nails are regularly dumped into the muddy ground around the building which could injure animals, say forest officials who are aghast at the decision to let the construction work go ahead. Two storeys of the building have already been built.
There are also concerns that the lodge may be airconditioned (the existing lodge at Sajnekhali has no air-conditioners). The tourism department denied it but site supervisors admitted that they have been ordered to create AC vents. The department also claims that no new construction is happening in the area and that the existing lodge was "merely being extended".
"Our old lodge is in a deplorable state so we are redesigning it and adding an extra wing. The construction is happening within the tourism zone and not within the forest area," said TVN Rao, managing director, West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation. Tourism minister Manab Mukherjee termed it as a renovation work, but cryptically added that he was not sure if it was a tourism zone. "It is a forest department complex and we are renovating the existing lodge which is in a bad shape," said Mukherjee.
Conservationists say this is not in the rule book. "According to a Supreme Court order, no construction is allowed within 500 metres of sanctuaries, certainly not inside forests. This particular area is a tiger habitat. So, this is a gross violation of the rule," said F S Rathod, veteran conservationist.
The big cats regularly come to Sajnekhali. A tigress in fact jumped the walls and prowled the lodge complex for nearly a day, scaring a bunch of tourists and foresters out of their living daylights.
Sunderban Biosphere Reserve director Pradip Vyas confirmed that no new construction was permitted within a notified sanctuary. "As far as I know, the tourism department had sought permission to extend the existing facility and they have been allowed to do that. No new structure is being built," said Vyas.
The reality, however, was quite different. The "extension" is at least three times the size of the old lodge and should qualify as a new structure since it is not connected to the old one. "We shall take care to ensure minimum interference with nature. Also, this will be run by the tourism department and won't be handed over to any private organization," Rao clarified.
"It is surprising that a construction of this scale has been allowed inside Sunderbans. You need a clearance from the West Bengal Bio-diversity Board and a no-objection certificate from the Pollution Control Board for this. These clearances have to be preceded by an environment impact assessment which a project like this is bound to fail," said Sudipto Bhattacharya, an environment activist and pollution expert.
Tiger expert Valmik Thapar agreed. "Even though I am not a legal expert, it seems a little weird. There should have been an impact study undertaken by the forest department and the tourism authorities before allowing construction. I wonder if it is legally and environmentally justifiable. Having a big lodge on a Sunderbans island cannot be beneficial for wild animals," said Thapar.
The lodge could also endanger tourists. Two weeks back, a tigress had used a mound of mud created for the construction work to jump the perimeter fence. The new lodge is right next to a sweetwater pond. Last Tuesday, a tiger that had been lurking in the area and making forays into a neighbouring village was trapped barely 100 yards from the new lodge. Its male companion is still hovering around the complex. Forest employees have pictures of tigers taken at the sweet water pond. At least two tigers now visit the pond regularly, they say.
"The lodge will lead to more man-tiger encounters and eventually the latter will have to retreat from the area. It could also lead to more strayings as tigers will look for alternative pastures," warned Rathod.
Union minister of state for tourism Sultan Ahmed has expressed concern at the project. "I have asked for the details and will find out if there has been a violation of the rules," said Ahmed.
What's worse, the building is less than 10 feet from a sweet water pond that is frequented by tigers, deer, fishing cats, wild boar and sundry other animals. Apart from driving away the creatures who will obviously be forced to look for quieter pastures once tourists move in, the environmental impact of such a facility could be crippling for the mangrove forest, experts warn.
The signs of construction-induced damage are already visible and have set alarm bells ringing. Tonnes of soft earth has been scooped up from an adjacent plot for the lodge although it is illegal to excavate forest land. It has left dozens of mangrove plantations in a precarious state with their roots hanging loose. Many have already toppled while the rest could fall soon.
Heaps of iron beams, wooden planks, bamboo poles and other construction material lie piled up at the site. Tonnes of nails are regularly dumped into the muddy ground around the building which could injure animals, say forest officials who are aghast at the decision to let the construction work go ahead. Two storeys of the building have already been built.
There are also concerns that the lodge may be airconditioned (the existing lodge at Sajnekhali has no air-conditioners). The tourism department denied it but site supervisors admitted that they have been ordered to create AC vents. The department also claims that no new construction is happening in the area and that the existing lodge was "merely being extended".
"Our old lodge is in a deplorable state so we are redesigning it and adding an extra wing. The construction is happening within the tourism zone and not within the forest area," said TVN Rao, managing director, West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation. Tourism minister Manab Mukherjee termed it as a renovation work, but cryptically added that he was not sure if it was a tourism zone. "It is a forest department complex and we are renovating the existing lodge which is in a bad shape," said Mukherjee.
Conservationists say this is not in the rule book. "According to a Supreme Court order, no construction is allowed within 500 metres of sanctuaries, certainly not inside forests. This particular area is a tiger habitat. So, this is a gross violation of the rule," said F S Rathod, veteran conservationist.
The big cats regularly come to Sajnekhali. A tigress in fact jumped the walls and prowled the lodge complex for nearly a day, scaring a bunch of tourists and foresters out of their living daylights.
Sunderban Biosphere Reserve director Pradip Vyas confirmed that no new construction was permitted within a notified sanctuary. "As far as I know, the tourism department had sought permission to extend the existing facility and they have been allowed to do that. No new structure is being built," said Vyas.
The reality, however, was quite different. The "extension" is at least three times the size of the old lodge and should qualify as a new structure since it is not connected to the old one. "We shall take care to ensure minimum interference with nature. Also, this will be run by the tourism department and won't be handed over to any private organization," Rao clarified.
"It is surprising that a construction of this scale has been allowed inside Sunderbans. You need a clearance from the West Bengal Bio-diversity Board and a no-objection certificate from the Pollution Control Board for this. These clearances have to be preceded by an environment impact assessment which a project like this is bound to fail," said Sudipto Bhattacharya, an environment activist and pollution expert.
Tiger expert Valmik Thapar agreed. "Even though I am not a legal expert, it seems a little weird. There should have been an impact study undertaken by the forest department and the tourism authorities before allowing construction. I wonder if it is legally and environmentally justifiable. Having a big lodge on a Sunderbans island cannot be beneficial for wild animals," said Thapar.
The lodge could also endanger tourists. Two weeks back, a tigress had used a mound of mud created for the construction work to jump the perimeter fence. The new lodge is right next to a sweetwater pond. Last Tuesday, a tiger that had been lurking in the area and making forays into a neighbouring village was trapped barely 100 yards from the new lodge. Its male companion is still hovering around the complex. Forest employees have pictures of tigers taken at the sweet water pond. At least two tigers now visit the pond regularly, they say.
"The lodge will lead to more man-tiger encounters and eventually the latter will have to retreat from the area. It could also lead to more strayings as tigers will look for alternative pastures," warned Rathod.
Union minister of state for tourism Sultan Ahmed has expressed concern at the project. "I have asked for the details and will find out if there has been a violation of the rules," said Ahmed.
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