9 tigers killed in Tadoba tiger reserve since 2011

Pradip Kumar Maitra, Hindustan Times Nagpur, June 18, 2012 Lack of professional wildlife management by the state wildlife wing has made tigers vulnerable to poachers in Vidarbha. Nine tigers were killed in the buffer zone of the famous Tadoba Tiger Reserve since January 2011. Lack of funds both from the state and central government has made things worse. A mutilated body of a full-grown tiger was found in the Tadoba buffer zone and another tiger was trapped by poachers and killed in the reserve last month. What's even more a matter of concern is that 13 big cats were killed within Tadoba's core areas in last 10 years. Of these, two tigers were killed in 2002-2003 - one of them through poisoning by poachers in Mohrali jungle while another was killed in 2011-12 in core area of reserves as per statistics available with the state wildlife wing. Sources vehemently believe the presence of an inter-state poachers' gang in the area, who strike at will, in cahoots with the help of locals and forest personnel. Five persons arrested on Friday included three forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra (FDCM) employees in connection with a poaching of a tiger whose mutilated body was found in a buffer zone of Tadoba last month. Still, this did not alarm the state wildlife wing. It replaced Tadoba field VK Sinha with one Virendra Tiwari, who never worked in wildlife wing in his two decade service in the state forest department. Sinha too did not work a single day in wildlife wing in his forest career before joining as field director of Tadoba. Situation is the same in neighbouring Pench tiger reserve in the state. A Ashraf is the field director of the reserve. He too has no previous experience for working either in wildlife sanctuary or tiger reserves. Moreover, none of these officers underwent training at the Wildlife Institute of India (WII). The ongoing mess, particularly growing poaching cases in the Tadoba and other reserves are the result of inexperienced officers posted there who have hardly knowledge about the wildlife management, said a senior forest officer, who once worked in Tadoba. Only Sunil Limaye, CCF Borivoli National Park, Mohan Karnard, CCF (Wildlife), Kolhapur and field director of Chadoli Tiger reserve and KP Singh, the field director of Melghat tiger reserves, are the ones who have either worked in wildlife sanctuaries/tiger reserves, or trained by the WII. "There are 20 seats for the wildlife training in WII. Not a single officer from Maharashtra attended the training," informed Kishore Rithe, member of National Board for Wildlife. He cites inadequate staff as a reason why the government could not spare officers that compelled the institution to fill up the vacancies for the training from forest officers from Thailand, Bhutan and Bangladesh."Without proper training how can we expect appropriate wildlife management in sanctuaries and national parks?" he asked. "At a meeting of the National Board for Wildlife, held on June 13 adopted a resolution that if the state fails to send officers for wildlife training in next three years, the Central fund for the conservation and protection of wildlife should be stopped," Rithe informed. Lack of funds in another reason hindering scientific wildlife management, he claimed. "The state forest received just Rs. 176 crore as plan budget in this financial year. Of this, wildlife wing gets hardly Rs. 7-8 crore for its 36 wildlife sanctuaries and six national parks in Maharashtra. The wildlife wing also gets an additional 12 crore from Central government for conservation and protection of tiger reserves and sanctuaries," informed Shree Bhagwan. "The budget is a pittance. We tried convincing the state finance secretary for increasing the plan budget for state wildlife, but to no avail," said Rithe, who also runs Satupuda Foundation, an NGO dedicated for the conservation and protection of wildlife in central India. Under the scanner Five persons, including three employees of forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra were arrested in connection with tiger poaching in Tadoba's buffer zone near Mul-Channdrapur road last month. The involvement of forest employees shocked wildlife lovers. The poachers took away the head, paws and vital organs of the tiger, leaving behind a chopped tail and other body parts stuffed in gunny bags dumped on the road. The tiger was killed by way of electrocution and chopped the animal into pieces. Forest cover Maharashtra has around 50,650 sq kms forest cover which is 16.46% of the state's total geographical area. The state has 8,739 sq km of very dense forest while the area under moderately dense forest is 20,834 sq km and open forest in the state amounts to 21,077 sq kms. Maharashtra has six national parks and 36 wildlife sanctuaries. These protected forest areas constitute 2.5% of the state's total geographical area and 15% of the forest cover. Census According to the 2010 census, the population of tiger has gone up from 103 in 2006 to 169 in 2010. Wildlife experts estimate that the tiger population has now touched 200 mark in the state and in Tadoba tiger reserve it is 69 from 53 as compared to the last census. Tadoba is probably the first tiger reserve in the country to spot as many as 32 tiger cubs since January 2010. Fact file ** There are four tiger projects in the state --- Melghat, Tadoba, Pench (all in Vidarbha) and Sahyadri (Western Maharashtra). ** Tadoba tiger reserve, one of the country's oldest national parks, was in the news recently for better wild cat conservation and birth of 32 tiger cubs in the area since January 2010. The reserve is spread over 623 sq kms of high hills and lush valleys covered with dense teak and bamboo forests. It is also the home to wild dogs, leopards, sloth bears, bison and hyenas and jungle cats, apart from 69 tigers. ** Melghat is located on southern offshoot of Satpura Hill Range in Amravati district, bordering Madhya Pradesh with an area of about 1673.93 sq kms. The forest is home to around 50 tigers and an equal number of leopards. ** In Pench tiger reserves, bordering Madhya Pradesh is located at a distance of 70 kms from Nagpur and home for around 20 tigers. ** Sahyadri, the new tiger project of the state was set up by including Chandoli Natonal Park and Koyana Wildlife Sanctuary of western Maharashtra. The reserves spread over an area of 741.22 sq kms. It houses an appreciable variety of bird and animal life, including nine tigers and 66 leopards. http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Maharashtra/9-tigers-killed-in-Tadoba-tiger-reserve-since-2011/Article1-874434.aspx

An indefinite fast to save tigers

TNN | Jun 19, 2012, 01.23AM IST NAGPUR: What veteran Gandhian Sundarlal Bahuguna achieved with the 'Chipko' movement in the forests of the Himalayas in the 70s and more recently Anna Hazare with his hunger strikes against corruption, an unheralded wildlife lover from Chandrapur is trying to replicate to save tigers in Maharashtra. Bahuguna's 'Chipko Andolan' was a movement that practised the Gandhian methods of satyagraha and non-violent resistance by hugging trees to protect them. Hazare had the nation's attention on corruption in high offices with his hunger strikes and 'maun vrats'. Bandu Dhotre, founder president of Eco-Pro, an ecology protection NGO from Chandrapur, is planning to sit on an indefinite fast from July 2 in front of Van Bhavan, the state's forest headquarters here. Though this may perhaps be the first time someone is attempting such a thing for the protection of wildlife, fasting for a cause in not new to Dhotre. The 32-year-old wildlife activist hogged limelight after his fast unto death three years ago against allotment of coal blocks to power major Adani in Lohara in the buffer area of the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) buffer. Perturbed by the recent spurt in poaching, he wanted to do something to save wildcats. Dhotre, who works closely with the forest department, feels the series of measures announced by the government to save tigers are just cosmetic. "The government is beating about the bush and is treating the symptoms instead of the cause. The remedy is to treat the area around the reserve at par with the core area," he says. Dhotre, who has the support of the Nagpur Environment Protection Group (NEPG) and other NGOs, adds that the forest department's focus is on Tadoba when the "problems lie outside". "Tadoba tigers get VIP treatment while those outside live 'below poverty line," he says. Poaching is one issue but widening of roads, man-animal conflict, illicit bamboo felling, encroachments, open wells, mines and power projects further pose serious threat to tigers outside Tadoba. Dhotre, who has created a team of over 100 volunteers in Chandrapur some of who are former poachers themselves, feels Chandrapur district is one of the best tiger abodes in India. To protect tigers, he says the rich forest areas under the Forest Development Corporation of India (FDCM) should be handed over to the forest wildlife department. "The FDCM is into felling of timber and wildlife management practices are zero and that's causing problems," he said on Monday. The government should merge forest areas with FDCM and those with Chandrapur division to make it a large wildlife area. The wildlife lover feels transfers and postings are small steps. What is needed is creation of new posts and reorganization of beats by keeping it to 500-700 hectares under one guard instead of 1200-1800 at present. Dhotre's demands may be genuine but his counterparts in Chandrapur are wary of the stir. "We agree to his demands but his 'ekla chalo re' policy is unacceptable. His demands have been raised by us earlier," says Suresh Chopne, president of Green Planet, Chandrapur. Chopne heads a federation of 8-9 NGOs in Chandrapur. However, this doesn't dilute the efforts of Dhotre who would be one among the hundreds of NGOs sitting on hunger strike for the sake of tigers. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/An-indefinite-fast-to-save-tigers/articleshow/14250533.cms

Suspected poachers remanded to magisterial custody

TNN | Jun 19, 2012, 01.09AM IST CHANDRAPUR: Forest officials investigating the Borda tiger poaching case failed to obtain any concrete evidence about poaching from the five suspects during their forest custody remand. As their FCR ended on Monday, they were remanded to magisterial custody for a week by the court. Five accused poachers were arrested on June 15 on suspicion of their involvement in poaching a tiger whose carcass was found chopped into 11 pieces without head and paws at Borda jungle under Chandrapur forest range. Accused Mengorao Todase, his son Prakash Todase, Swarup Talande, Rambhau Gawde and Ashok Gawde belonged to village Ghanta Chouki and were connected to FDCM as waterhole watchers and casual labourers. Forest officers had managed to recover a bunch of wire snares and some antlers from the accused, but the investigators failed to get any concrete proof of their involvement in tiger poaching. Officers were hoping to gain clues about weapons used to chop the tiger, its missing body parts and other accomplices involved in the poaching. Sources claimed that the accused remained mute over the poaching and continued with evasive answers about closure of waterhole. After their FCR ended on Monday, all of them were produced before the court which sent them into magisterial custody till next Monday. Court will decide over the bail of the accused during next hearing, forest department sources claimed. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Suspected-poachers-remanded-to-magisterial-custody/articleshow/14250296.cms

Animal kingdom reels under a human invasion

Pinak Priya Bhattacharya, TNN | Jun 18, 2012, 06.51AM IST Scene 1 (On Murti bridge, NH-31 , Jalpaiguri district): It's homecoming time and the sprightly Murti roars along its gravelled pathway into the lap of the jungle . The sun, too, having finished its day's business, slides idly behind the horizon of towering willows that make up the fringes of the Gorumara National Park. As birds chatter and insects screech, the wind whips up the Dooars crescendo — a melody of cacophonic sounds that welcomes a visitor in these sylvan plains of North Bengal and Assam. This otherworldly charm is broken by a gruff, rasping voice, bringing the focus back on the business at hand. "The site is ready," says the weather-beaten face, a narrow smile on the pan-stained lips. It is Bhola (name changed), one of the 'land lords' of the region. "Let's go," he adds, "And please remember my commission, in cash." The second part of the sentence is spoken like a warning. Scene 2 (Two hours earlier, at a watchtower inside Gorumara): The speck of green on the white river is obviously what has caught the deer's attention. It sniffs at it, licks it and even gives it a playful poke with its sharp horns even as the foreign object — a green crushed beer can — floats downstream and bobs up in front of another couple of deer grazing a few hundred metres away. But not given to the free-spirited ways of their thirsty mate, they ignore the invader. The rare sights are captured in a flurry of clicks by excited tourists, oblivious to the alarm bells they set off in the mind. The contamination is spreading fast. Bhola and the beer can are representatives of the twin maladies that have infected the picturesque and richly bio-diverse Gorumara forest — unregulated tourism and an explosion of commercial activity around the forest's perimeter. Along with the Buxa and Jaldapara reserves, Gorumara forms Bengal's famous forest troika in the Dooars as the home of the one-horned rhinoceros and over a century-old forest retreat established during British rule. The upscale tourist's fantasy and the creative Bengali's muse, the lone bungalow deep inside the forest's belly was for long civilization's only window to Gorumara's animal kingdom — elephants, bisons, leopards, the rare hornbills and of course, the rhinos. Wildlife activist Belinda Wright's mother Anne has fond memories of the Gorumara of the 70s. "I knew the place well. In those days, the only place to stay there was the forest bungalow with its lovely viewing point that looked down on the jungle," she says. If Anne were to visit Gorumara today , she would understand the scale of the invasion. The forest bungalow and its viewing point remain intact but have lost their coveted status. What was for close to a century a forested stretch of highway interspersed with tea gardens is now home to about 90 resorts — average to plush, budget to luxury — that began sprouting at the turn of the millennium . At a vantage point in the Dooars, and a few hours' drive from Darjeeling , Kalimpong and Gangtok, Gorumara is a tour operator's dream. A dream that has been realized in the maze of resorts that now have the national park in a stranglehold and the number of tourists — at least 70,000 a year, according to Kamal Bhowmick, secretary of the Lataguri Resort Owners' Association. While officials like to harp on the development story and the fillip to the local economy, the source of the beer can floating inside the forest reveals the real danger of such a lopsided theory. On the partially dried up Murti river bed, at least a couple of kilometres past a 'No Entry' board that classifies the area as a part of Gorumara National Park, loud music blares from the decks of an SUV parked close to the river. A group of around 10 youths matches steps with 'Chammak Challo' and takes large swigs of beer, flinging can after can into the river that's flowing straight into the forest . "What better way than this to celebrate nature," one of the youths, an engineering college student, says. Curious case of Gorumara Gorumara has no buffer area. It may seem strange but, as forest officials point out, many protected areas, including reserve forests across India, have no buffer area. Yet, Gorumara is different. Some of the resorts in Lataguri — which alone hosts about 34 of the 90 that dot the region — Murti and Dhupjhora are right on the fringes of the forest, well within the range of a straying animal. The forest department says it has no right over the land and no control on construction activities on them. "Investors only need permission from the government's land department as these are private lands," says Bhowmick. Officials say in case of tribal lands, investors strike partnership deeds with local villagers, who have first ownership rights over the land, and give them a slice of profits. In short, there seem to be no legal hurdles to building a commercial establishment on the fringes of Gorumara, as is evident from the large-scale construction work visible on three sides of the forest. A senior state forest official points out that the Pollution Control Board (PCB) does have a rule that makes it compulsory for commercial premises within a kilometre of a national park to obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC). "It's the only real hurdle for investors . Unfortunately, there is no clarity on who should take action if the NOC rule is violated because the land technically does not belong to the forest department ," the official adds. While conservationist Raghu Chundawat blames this on "too many legislations , but no flexibility" , and green activists slam the authorities for ignoring the carrying capacity of the forest , the government argues Gorumara's core area is safe and tourism poses no threat. "Gorumara is a well-protected forest," says state forest secretary Subesh Das. "Our basic policy is that tourists will be only allowed in the forest's periphery, not in the core areas. There is also a demand that more tourism facilities should be allowed in the region," he adds. It's this demand that has made the land around Gorumara hot property. And brought into business Bhola and his growing clan. 'Land lords' : A big deal "This is the best site you can find to set up a resort," Bhola says, pointing to the river, which is less than 100 metres from the 15-bigha site he is trying to sell. "There will be nothing between your resort and nature. Perfect for honeymoons ," he adds with a wide, toothy grin. The meeting with Bhola was set up through some local contacts. The TOI correspondents met him and his two aides at a spot of their choice just outside Gorumara forest, posing as investors scouting for land. "Don't worry about the rules, just remember our commission , 4%, and everything will be taken care of," Bhola says as a possible 'deal' is discussed. Though he works as a tour operator's local partner, Bhola says fixing land deals is what earns him the big bucks. Agents like him hook up with potential buyers, show them the land, set the terms of the deal, bargain a price and finally set up a meeting with the actual land-owner . Land prices range anywhere between Rs 5lakh - Rs 10lakh per bigha, depending on the location and infrastructure . The 4% commission is charged from both the buyer and the seller . So, in a deal worth Rs 1crore, the 'fixer ' earns Rs 8 lakh. "It's good business," Bhola says. And it's brisk business, too. Plots on sale in Lataguri and Murti are advertized on prominent real estate sites and portals like Quikr. With the Gorkhaland agitation making Darjeeling an unreliable holiday spot and quake-shaken Sikkim still recovering from last year's tragedy, the Dooars has emerged as the preferred tourist destination in the east. A resort around Gorumara is, therefore, considered good investment with longterm profitability. Conservation vs Development The tourism dilemma is at the heart of a raging debate on how to protect natural wealth like forests and yet put them to profitable use. But the answers are lost in the din of political rhetoric, vested interests and highdecibel activism. Some of India's biggest tiger parks like Periyar, Ranthambore, Dudhwa and Mudumalai don't have buffer areas and are grappling with the same tourism conundrum as Gorumara. The area around Corbett national park was recently declared a silent zone — noise pollution is banned in a 500-metre radius around the forest — by the Uttarakhand government on the orders of the high court. But forest officials say every time a tourism project near a protected area is opposed, they are labelled "anti-development" . Many villagers around Gorumara, for instance, don't complain about the resort boom. "Earlier, a youth would make Rs 2,000 a month cutting wood. The same youth now makes Rs 5,000 a month driving tourist cars," one villager says. "But we don't like the Kolkata culture," he adds. "The tourists smoke, drink and cavort around here, it teaches our children bad things." A senior state forest official says the government is trying to raise awareness among local residents about the longterm impact on their livelihoods if the forest area dwindles. "But there should be more coordination between the PCB, the forest department and district officials to find a way to stop the unregulated growth of commercial structures," the official says, adding, "Of course, political will is required, too." The solution could come in the form of a national eco-tourism policy, the draft guidelines of which have been prepared by the MoEF. The carrying capacity of a forest is central to these guidelines. Gorumara, where tourists far outweigh the carrying capacity, can hope for a breather once the policy is notified. The state, too, has formed an eco-tourism development committee comprising experts and government officials to address these concerns. "The committee has been recently formed. A comprehensive policy is being formulated ," says forest secretary Das. Sumita Ghatak, DFO wildlife II, Jalpaiguri, adds, "We are trying to declare the area an eco-sensitive zone. The proposal is being readied and will be submitted soon." But proposals, guidelines and policies , however well-intentioned , must survive the scrutiny of committees, negotiate the hurdles of bureaucracy and finally pass the political acid test. Gorumara, with the noose of realty tightening around it, can't afford the long wait. Save the forest, it's the call of the wild. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Animal-kingdom-reels-under-a-human-invasion/articleshow/14225033.cms

Officials, civil society join hands to restore wildlife corridor

Subhash Chandra N S Bangalore: Govt declares Kaniyanapura and nearby villages as reserve forest This is one classic example of how concerted efforts by government officials and civil society can make a difference to conservation. Sustained pursuance of the case by a few bureaucrats and wildlife activists has ensured that revenue land, over 5,000 acres, falling in a critical wildlife corridor at Kaniyanapura is declared a reserve forest. The efforts bring to an end the two-decade old issue of protecting the Kaniyanapura elephant corridor - which links Bandipur Tiger Reserve and Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu. Kaushik Mukherjee, former additional chief secretary, B J Hosmath, field director, Project Tiger, Sanjay Gubbi, member, State Board for Wildlife, Basavaraju, assistant commissioner, Kollegal and Manjunath, tahsildar, Gundlupet have together got thousands of acres of revenue land, which had features of forest, declared reserve forest. “A notification under Section 4 of Karnataka Forest Act has been issued with an intention to provide legal status to this forest patch,” Kumar Pushkar, Chief Conservator of Forests, Bandipur Tiger Reserve, told Deccan Herald. The notification - dated February 2, 2012 - grants reserve forest status to more than 5,000 acres of revenue land to ensure their protection. Pushkar said the corridor was very important as far as wildlife protection is concerned as almost all animals, including tiger and elephant, use this stretch for their movement. He said declaring such a huge stretch of land as reserve forest was not an easy task. Not doing so would have been a great loss to wildlife as the notified area binds north and south ears of the corridor, he said. “This area had become a hub of numerous activities. We would have lost the habitat. By declaring it reserve forest, we have secured it for wildlife,” he said. “This is the patch which connects Biligirirangana Hills Tiger Reserve and Satyamangala forest with Nagarhole and Bandipur,” he added. The revenue land falling in the limits of Chikyelchetti, Bachalli, Kebbepura, Kaniyanpura, Mangala, Yeriyur, Heggavadi and Kundukere villages have forests that connected the two important protected areas within the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. “Despite a Supreme Court order that land with characteristics of forests should not be diverted for non-forestry activities without proper permissions, several resorts and private farms had come up here. Many of them were illegal and had reduced the corridor to a chicken neck in some locations,” explained a wildlife expert who has conducted a study of this corridor. Sanjay Gubbi conducted a quick survey of the area with the help of volunteers from Vanya and Aranya wildlife groups in 2011. An area of 9,662.3 acres was found to have forest cover and a report was submitted to the government recommending that these areas be declared reserved forest. Finding that an area of 5,599.05 acres was not diverted to private use, the department officials made a proposal to the government to declare it reserved forest under the Karnataka Forest Act, 1963. This finally led to the notification declaring the area as reserve forest. http://www.deccanherald.com/content/257712/officials-civil-society-join-hands.html

Warning roar for shabby tiger turf

A.S.R.P. MUKESH Ranchi, June 17: A three-member team of National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is expected to arrive in Jharkhand in July second week to take stock of Palamau Tiger Reserve (PTR) with the threat to stop central funds if the state did not get its act together to save the big cats. State forest department sources said that the NTCA was “very upset” over the dismal state of tiger conservation in Jharkhand (see chart). It might plug central funds — Rs 1 crore was earmarked in the last fiscal year — to punish the state’s poor performance. The PTR is one of India’s original nine tiger reserves. It has a core area of 414sqkm and a buffer zone of 600sqkm. Villages on the buffer and periphery exceed 100. Over the years, the number of tigers has dwindled to between six and 10, though “sightings” make occasional headlines. Worryingly, the presence of Naxalites and poachers makes more credible news. A senior forest official, who visited New Delhi earlier this month along with couple of other officials from the state wildlife division for nationwide meeting on tiger conservation measures, said Jharkhand had become “a joke” among other states. “Every state barring Jharkhand has more or less formulated a Tiger Conservation Plan in the past two-three years, details of which were discussed during the Delhi meeting. Representatives from Jharkhand had nothing to share, which irked NTCA officials,” he said. A high-level committee is expected to meet chief minister Arjun Munda and forest minister Sudesh Mahto to find out why not much headway was made in PTR for years. Though chief wildlife warden A.K. Malhotra and chief conservator of forests A.K. Gupta couldn’t be reached for comments, senior member of state steering committee (tiger conservation) D.S. Srivastava confirmed the upcoming visit and dwelt on its implications. “The exact date is not yet known. But during my meeting with NTCA member secretary Rajesh Gopal, I was told the visit would be around the second week of July. They also dropped hints about stopping funds this time.” Srivastava is also involved in tiger conservation plans for Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and so is in a position to compare. “These three states have almost prepared holistic plans. They are again holding a meeting with NTCA on June 22 to discuss the course of action. People make fun of Jharkhand, saying the state has not chalked any plan despite so much time,” said Srivastava. According to him, NTCA has two major gripes where the PTR is concerned. First, despite repeated directives Jharkhand has not formed a tiger conservation foundation. Second, its core and buffer areas are not declared under Section 23 of NTCA’s tiger reserve guidelines, which makes it mandatory to relocate human population from core areas. “Till these are done, conservation plans can’t start. Plus, no one in the department is serious,” he claimed. Premjit Anand, divisional forest official of PTR (core), said they had not received official intimation on the visit. “I know that the NTCA has written to headquarters about the foundation and other pending activities of the PTR,” he said. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120618/jsp/frontpage/story_15623442.jsp#.T961CLUkKSo

Sigur corridor caught in crossfire

MONDAY, 18 JUNE 2012 00:09 MOUSHUMI BASU | NEW DELHI The notifying of an elephant corridor connecting the Bandipur-Mudumalai landscape with rich bio-diverse Sigur plateau in Tamil Nadu has brought Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) face to face with National Board For Wildlife (NBWL). The issue that has figured in the last two standing committee meetings of the Board, is pending in the Supreme Court. Based on an expert committee report on the importance of Sigur, the Madras High Court had earlier upheld the issue of notifying of the elephant corridor. But the High Court order was challenged by a local group of high-end resort owners in the Supreme Court, which also includes a prominent Bollywood star. While ordering a stay on dispossession and demolition of the buildings of the petitioners till further orders, the SC stated “it is open to the NBWL to offer their comments on the report submitted by the committee set up by the High Court” and directed the MoEF to submit its report within a given timeframe. As per the directives of the court, NBWL members expressed their opinion on December 13 meeting and wrote a letter to the Environment Minister endorsing the HC panel report. But for reasons not known and much to the surprise of the members, the Ministry tried to set up a new committee to study the ground realities all over again. The High Court had, however, turned down the Ministry’s proposal to form a new panel. A further shock was in store for NBWL members, when the MoEF submitted its affidavit to the SC without including their opinion on the issue as directed by the apex court. Further, in the last meeting of the standing committee of NBWL, Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan pointed to the need for implementation of Forest Rights Act in the area, adding that she would submit any supplementary affidavit with views of members of the board. The affidavit, according to Praveen Bhargav, wildlife expert from Karnataka, raises doubts on the intentions of the MoEF. “Why was the written opinion of the non-official experts on the Standing Committee concurs with the recommendations of the High Court Expert Committee not filed before the Supreme Court,” he said. He further questioned on the necessity of constituting another committee ignoring the clear opinion of the non-official members of the Standing Committee when the Supreme Court had only sought the comments of the NBWL. Bhargav also asked when the land in the identified corridor belonged to the State, which is willing and fully competent to notify the protected areas, why were the Ministry officials raising extraneous issues like Forest Rights Act which will only benefit powerful tourist resorts in this area. As per the report of the expert committee, the importance of the Sigur plateau lies in the fact that it connects the contiguous ranges of Nagarhole, Bandipur, Wayanad and Mudumalai national parks, besides the Satyamangalam wildlife sanctuaries in the Eastern Ghats. These national parks and contiguous reserve forests in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, have the richest habitat and support nearly 8,000 Asiatic elephants besides tigers and other endangered species. Despite being the vital link to so many protected areas, Sigur corridor is largely unprotected. It is being regularly crossed by the elephants, tiger and other wildlife. The report notes that during the last two decades elephant habitats have been fragmented because of increased human activities including presence of 44 resorts within the proposed corridor. A number of them have solar electric fences obstructing the animal movement, it says. This has largely escalated the man-elephant conflict in the region, resulting in human deaths. Former NBWL member and wildlife filmmaker Shekhar Dattatri pointed out that “consolidation of the Sigur corridor is an extremely important conservation priority since it will ensure connectivity between some of the best habitats for the Asiatic elephant and the tiger. “Any attempt to derail the implementation of the landmark judgement of the Madras High Court will greatly benefit the many commercial resorts that have choked this extremely important elephant corridor,” he said. Sources in the MoEF, however, said that the local villagers are angry with the proposed corridor. It will affect five hamlets of Bokkapuram and parts of Masinagudi, Kadanadu and Hullathi panchayats. The conflict had originated with the order of the State Government in August 2010 to acquire 2,822 hectares (ha) for the proposed corridor. Of this, 1,710 ha is private land. However, the wildlife conservationists argue that the areas fall under the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Preservation of Private Forest Act. This prohibits sale, purchase, lease and mortgage of land including change in land use without the permission of the State Government. http://dailypioneer.com/nation/73886-sigur-corridor-caught-in-crossfire.html

3 nabbed with tiger cub pelt

TNN | Jun 15, 2012, 11.57AM IST MYSORE: A six-month-old tiger cub has fallen prey to poachers, and is suspected to have been killed at BRT Wildlife Sanctuary, a tiger reserve in Chamarajnagar, bordering Tamil Nadu. The poaching came to light following the arrest of three persons who were netted by a forest department vigilance squad posing as prospective buyers. They were arrested at Siddiahapura near Chamarajnagar and the tiger pelt and bones recovered from them. The officials are trying to locate where the cub was killed. Sources told TOI that the cub may have been killed three days ago, given the freshness of the pelt. "How it died is yet to be ascertained as there are no bullet marks on the pelt. It could have been poisoned too," the sources stated. The officials are sending the pelt and bones to the Bangalore-based National Centre for Biological Studies for further examination. The gender of the cub could not be ascertained from the pelt but said it could be a female. The three arrested are Mahadev from Boodipadaga, Mahesh from Kullur and Narayan from Coimbatore, while two others escaped. This is second case of poaching reported from tiger reserves in the Mysore-Kodagu-Chamarajnagar region. A tiger was killed in mid-February near Kushalnagar in the buffer zone of Nagarahole National Park, which came to light on April 7, after forest officials arrested one person at Naviluru in Periyapatna taluk in Mysore district. He later told police that they killed the tiger when they went hunting for deer and came across the big cat, and shot it. Attn: Mysore Desk/Political Desk This is story related to seizure of tiger pelt outside BR Hills tiger reserve in Chamarajnagar. This is second incident in recent times when the tiger pelt is seized in the area. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/3-nabbed-with-tiger-cub-pelt/articleshow/14144446.cms

Cops trap man trying to sell tiger skin at Porvorim

TNN | Jun 15, 2012, 11.18AM IST Mapusa: In a well-planned operation Porvorim police arrested one Sanjay Pawar for carrying a tiger skin on Thursday afternoon. Police suspect the skin to be that of a full-grown tiger. The skin will be sent for analysis to wildlife institute of India (WII), Dehradun. "This is done for legal purposes," a forest officer said. Police were tipped off around noon that a person would arrive in Porvorim in a blue car with a tiger skin to be sold. Accordingly Porvorim DySP Bossuet Silva and PI CL Patil formed two teams, including a decoy, to trap the seller. Police said that at about 12.30pm Pawar, holding a white polythene bag arrived at Porvorim and was waiting for the prospective customer. He was immediately surrounded by police and searched. "The skin of a full grown tiger was found in the polythene bag which has been seized. The car has also been attached," Silva said. He added that it was not a fresh skin, but an old and cured skin. Analysis by WII will help ascertain its age. From P 1 Pawar, presently residing at Pilerne, is originally from Sawantwadi, Maharashtra. He was arrested under Section 51 of Wildlife Protection Act and handed over to range forest officer at Campal for further action. Police said Sawantwadi police have been informed and Pawar's house was searched but no other skins found. PSI Vikram Naik, constables Shyam Mahale, Satish Sawant and Melvyn Cardozo were part of the operation. Mapusa based NGO Pratistha aided police in the operation. NGO president Deepak Gadekar said he provided information to police in the operation. The skin, sealed in the presence of witnesses, will be analyzed for various aspects. Investigations are in progress. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Cops-trap-man-trying-to-sell-tiger-skin-at-Porvorim/articleshow/14144006.cms

Corbett reserve faces a host of intractable problems

June 15, 2012 By Rashme Sehgal Correspondent Corbett National Park (uttarakhand) Corbett Tiger Reserve may boast of the world’s highest density of tigers but it is beset by a host of problems that may soon see it lose its premier status. CTR’s director Rajan Mishra admits that CTR has witnessed an intensification of man-animal conflict with as many as eight humans being killed by a man-eater in 2010. One of the main reasons for this conflict is the massive construction of hotels and luxury villas blocking of the entire eastern boundary with only two passages available for wildlife to approach the Kosi river. Joseph Vattakaven, tiger coordinator for WWF-India pointed out that tigers are constantly spilling over outside tiger reserves and presently 13 tigers are using the Kosi river corridor to cross over to the Ramnagar forests. The WWF has employed 86 traps on either side of this corridor which show the corridor is being used by several animals, including elephants. CTR’s other problems relate to the removal of the villages of Chukam and Sunderbhal which are cutting off the animals access to the Ramnagar forests. The problem is that although these villages are not located in core tiger habitat, the National Tiger Conservation Authority realises only too well that the buffer area is also rich in wildlife. “The entire Sunderkhal area, comprising a 10-km stretch, has been encroached upon and presently has 144 families living there. Former environment minister Jairam Ramesh had made an exception and agreed to grant compensation of `10 lakh per family even though they were not in the core area,” said Mr Mishra. “Removing the villages of Chukam is an easier task since they are inside a territorial division of a tiger reserve area,” Mr Mishra explained. But though villagers from both these villages are clamouring to be relocated, the NTCA has yet to act on the ground. Another major problem facing CTR is that stone and sand quarry is no longer restricted to the Kosi river but is being done in stretches of the Ramganga river as well. http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/nation/north/corbett-reserve-faces-host-intractable-problems-847

Maharashtra denotifies 1/4th of Koyna sanctuary land

TNN | Jun 15, 2012, 04.55AM IST MUMBAI: The National Wildlife Board has approved the denotification of nearly 100 sq km of the Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary. Residents of 14 villages will now be able to cultivate their fields without any fear of action from the forest department. The sanctuary created in the 1970s is spread over 423 sq km. The area that has been denotified is private forest land and has always been cultivated. Pravin Pardesi, principal secretary, revenue and forests, said the land, which is a part of the Deccan plateau, is on one side of the Koyna lake while the larger and actual forest is on the opposite side along the Sahyadri range. The forest is in layers and is a rain forest. It is home to a large number of birds that are endemic to this forest. There are tigers, barking deer, bison, wild dogs and other animals as well. Union minister of environment and forests Jayanti Natarajan, while allowing the denotification, said it was being done on the condition that the state would develop new forest areas. The state government pointed out that recently, it had declared five new protected areas in Vidarbha. "Also, eight villages in the core forest area are being shifted out. The 100 sq km of land thus freed will be used for forest development,'' said Pardesi. Sanctuaries to have successfully done this before are Kanha in Madhya Pradesh and Ranthambore in Rajasthan. Maharashtra has been witnessing a spurt in poaching and man-animal conflict as its tiger population has soared in comparison to the protected areas, which has halved ever since the government denotified 7,000 sq km of he Nanaj Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary last year. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Maharashtra-denotifies-1/4th-of-Koyna-sanctuary-land/articleshow/14140661.cms

Tiger poached in BRT wildlife sanctuary

HM Aravind, TNN | Jun 13, 2012, 10.49PM IST MYSORE: A six months old tiger cub has fallen prey to poachers. The cub is suspected to have been killed at BRT wildlife sanctuary, a tiger reserve in Chamarajnagar bordering Tamil Nadu. The poaching came to light following arrest of three who were netted by the forest department staff vigilance squad which posed as prospective buyers to lure them out. They were arrested at Siddiahnapura near Chamarajnagar and tiger pelt and bones recovered from them. The officials are trying to locate as to where the cub was killed. Sources told The Times of India that the cub is felled three days back given the freshness of the pelt. "How the big cat is felled is yet to be ascertained as there are no bullet marks on the pelt. It could be poisoned too," the sources stated. The officials are sending the pelt and bones to the Bangalore-based National Centre for Biological Studies for further examination. The sources stated that the gender of the cub could not be ascertained from the pelt but said it could be a female. Three arrested are Mahadev from Boodipadaga, Mahesh from Kullur and Narayan from Coimbatore. Two others escaped, the officials stated. This is second case of poaching reported from tiger reserves in Mysore-Kodagu-Chamarajnagar region. A tiger was killed in mid-February near Kushalnagar in the buffer zone of Nagarahole national park, which came to light on April 7 when the forest officials arrested one person at Naviluru in Periyapatna taluk in Mysore district. The arrested had later told the police that they killed the tiger when they went hunting for deer and came across the big cat. It was shot at and killed. eom http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysore/Tiger-poached-in-BRT-wildlife-sanctuary/articleshow/14102783.cms

Lion Lights Invention by 13-Year-Old Kenyan to Save Big Cats? - Can India follow this for Tigers!

13-year-old Kenyan innovator Richard Turere saves endangered lions with his lion lights invention. Video by Paula Kahumbu In this video report, National Geographic Big Cats Initiative grantee Paula Kahumbu reports on a bright idea by 13-year-old Kenyan innovator Richard Turere to save endangered lions with his “lion lights” invention. Big Cats Initiative and its grantees have a near-uniform shared theme of conservation via deep engagement with local communities and stakeholders. The connection between Paula Kahumbu, a BCI grantee and recipient of the National Geographic -Howard G. Buffett Award for African Conservation, and young Richard Turere is a shining of example of how the BCI’s grassroots-based conservation actions collaboratively find and implement the most imaginative, yet simple and effective conservation techniques. http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2012/05/18/lion-lights-invention-by-13-year-old-kenyan-to-save-big-cats/ related article 13 year old Kenyan innovator saves cattle from lions with lights http://www.afrigadget.com/2012/04/18/13-year-old-kenyan-innovator-saves-cattle-from-lions-with-lights/

Almost 50 tigers dead in six months in India

CNN-IBN New Delhi: Close to 50 tigers have died in the past six months in India, 19 of which were killed in poaching incidents. It's a shocking figure, specially when compared to the 56 tiger deaths reported in all in 2011. The National Tiger Conservation Authority has sounded an alert in all tiger reserves with an order that all the big cat deaths must be treated as poaching cases unless proven otherwise. It has identified Corbett in Uttarakhand and Tadoba in Maharashtra as poaching hot spots. Efforts are on to step up monitoring and foot patrolling in the monsoon season when the parks are shut down, making them more vulnerable to poachers. Tiger conservation activist Rajesh Gopal said, "There have been several tiger deaths. We are considering all deaths as cases of poaching unless proven otherwise." Tiger conservation activist Sunita Narain said, "The government must focus on rehabilitating poachers in order to save the tigers." http://ibnlive.in.com/news/almost-50-tigers-dead-in-six-months-in-india/265555-3.html

Night vision cameras to keep track of tigress, cubs

TNN | Jun 12, 2012, 01.20AM IST BHOPAL: Rattled by the poaching of a tiger last week in state capital forest circle, the hard-pressed authorities have some six night vision cameras installed around water bodies to protect a tigress and its two cubs. "We have placed around six cameras around the water bodies in the forest region of Sehore, Raisen and Bhopal divisions, where the tigress along with two cubs has formed its territory," a top forest department official said. The forest authorities decided to keep a watch on the water bodies given that the wild animals go to such places to quench thirst. It was near a well where the tiger was electrocuted by poachers recently in neighbouring Sehore district, some 40 km from here. Besides, the forest department's ground duty staffers were keeping a watch on the overhead electric wires to ensure that poachers don't make use of it especially near the water bodies, officials said. "We are checking a water body thrice daily in the forested areas. Furthermore we have put up camps at different places and using four-wheelers to keep a watch on the big cat and two cubs," he added. The tiger, now dead, and tigress had entered into forested areas of the state capital forest circle from Ratapani wildlife sanctuary in Raisen. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/Night-vision-cameras-to-keep-track-of-tigress-cubs/articleshow/14035243.cms

Stray tiger relocated into Dudhwa Tiger Reserve

PTI Jun 10, 2012, 11.54AM IST LAKHIMPUR KHERI: The Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR) is witnessing the successful relocation of a stray tiger into the wilds again. Forest authorities had tranquilised and captured a stray tiger on April 26 last after it became a threat to human lives on the outskirts of the state capital Lucknow. Named as 'Baadshah', the stray tiger had ventured into human populated areas and created panic in a number of villages. After catching the tiger, the authorities were in a fix about the future of the stray tiger and after weighing all pros and cons, they decided to try to re-introduce it into the wilds of Dudhwa again. The authorities were wary of the tiger's behaviour in the wild as it had been exposed to human activities. Due to this, they decided to put a radio-collar round the its neck so as to maintain a close watch on its movements after its relocation. However, the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR) environment appealed to the stray tiger so much that it lost all the abnormal behaviour it had shown in Rahmankhera (Lucknow), Field director, DTR Shailesh Prasad told PTI. "The stray tiger has been sighted happily settled in Sathiana range of the reserve with no abnormality in its behaviour at all," Prasad said. Ganesh Bhat, deputy director, told PTI that "Close monitoring on the movements of the stray is being kept through satellite". "The tiger seems to have fully adapted itself to the natural wild environment of Dudhwa," he said. "The successful relocation of this stray tiger would pave a new path of reintroducing the stray animals into the wild," he hoped. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-10/flora-fauna/32155141_1_stray-tiger-dudhwa-tiger-reserve-stray-animals

Karnataka green activists save tiger corridor

TAGS: Karnataka green activists | Western Ghats | Tiger corridor | Moorkangudda Reserved Forests | Sakleshpur Taluk | Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary | Kudremukh National Park It required the intervention of a court and conservationists for Karnataka's forest department to stop the destruction of a critical tiger corridor. A private firm had been permitted to set up windmills at the spot in the Western Ghats, in violation of rules. Recently, the government withdrew the permission given to a Bangalore-based hydropower firm to install windmills to generate 25 MW power in the Moorkangudda Reserved Forests in Sakleshpur Taluk of Hassan district. Moorkangudda acts as a critical link between Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary and Kudremukh National Park and is home to endangered wildlife, including tiger, leopard, wild dog, gaur, sambar and several other species protected under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. The area has grassland, shola forests and matches Bababudangiri area in its natural beauty. Despite concerns raised by Karnataka's energy department in its order that "the area falls within forest area and that it was unlikely to get forest clearance", the forest department had permitted to start testing work for the power firm. However, in response to a public interest litigation filed by Prashant Yavagal and Western Ghats Environment Forum, the forest department withdrew the permission for extension of the testing period. "This is a positive step by the forest department to save this excellent tiger habitat. Though this area could have low densities of large carnivores, it acts as a critical corridor between southern and northern Western Ghats" wildlife biologist Sanjay Gubbi said. Last year, the forest department had proposed the inclusion of a few reserved forests in this area to the Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, including Moorkangudda because of its high ecological value. "In the interest of long-term tiger conservation efforts in the state it is critically important to connect all protected areas through existing corridors or else once these corridors are lost the concept of source-sink model for tiger conservation will be obsolete," Gubbi added. Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/karnataka-green-activists-save-tiger-corridor/1/200131.html http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/karnataka-green-activists-save-tiger-corridor/1/200131.html

Efforts on to retrieve stolen trapping camera at Palamu Tiger Reserve

TNN | Jun 11, 2012, 10.09AM IST DALTONGANJ: The state forest department has begun efforts to retrieve the stolen trapping camera of the Palamu Tiger Reserve. Villagers have been asked to return the cemara without any fear of legal action. An appeal has also been made to those in jungles armed with weapons (read extremists) to return the stolen camera to forest officials without any problem. A trapping camera was stolen from the Barwahee dam in Betla Range of Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR) a couple of days back. PTR DFO Core Premjit Anan, while confirming the theft of the trapping camera from Barwahee dam a couple of days back, said efforts were on to get it back. Anand reiterated that appeals have been made to all sections of people to return it without fearing any legal/punitive action in this regard. He said PTR was more interested in its trapping camera than initiating any legal action. The official said it is believed the trapping camera was stolen more in misunderstanding and confusion as the camera is used solely for trapping carnivores and not for any other activity in the jungle at all. He said the PTR was not being soft with those who stole the trapping camera. Instead, it is to spread a message among the populace living in the vicinity of the reserve the trapping camera will do them no harm, he added. A total of 122 trapping cameras is to be installed in the PTR's core and buffer zones for the 4th phase monitoring of tigers which is to start on Monday. As per an earlier announcement, the 4{+t}{+h} phase of tiger monitoring would state on June 10. However, it had to be delayed by a day because of the positioning of trapping cameras and trackers for the job, Anand said. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ranchi/Efforts-on-to-retrieve-stolen-trapping-camera-at-Palamu-Tiger-Reserve/articleshow/14015494.cms

Tiger strays into village

PTI | 10:06 PM,Jun 10,2012 Canning (WB), Jun 10 (PTI) A tiger strayed into Satjelia village in the Sundarbans and killed a cow this evening, forest department sources said. The tiger entered the village under Gosaba police station and killed a cow owned by Swapan Sardar. Forest department personnel reached the village but details were not yet available, the sources said. PTI COR http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/tiger-strays-into-village/1010021.html

MP not safe anymore for man's striped friend

MONDAY, 11 JUNE 2012 00:22 PIONEER HITS: 221 Once bearing the status of a tiger State, it has now lost 454 big cats to poaching and accidents in the past decade. ZAFAR ALAM KHAN reports Once a tiger State and safe haven for big cats, Madhya Pradesh no longer remains safe for the exotic animals. In the past decade, over 100 tigers have been killed in the State at an average of 10 tiger deaths a year and poaching of the striped feline continues unabated to this day. The carcass of a full grown male tiger was found on Tuesday in the Keeldas forests of Kathotia village in Sehore district, about 40 kilometres away from the State capital. Unable to carry away the body of their kill due to its large size, the poachers cut it into two pieces and hid it in the jungles with the intent of coming back to retrieve it but, as luck would have it, before they could return the corpse was spotted by the villagers. As usual, the forest department arrived to the rescue of the real culprits and termed the death an accident. Some villagers were arrested immediately to hush up the case. Sehore District Forest Officer Vijay Nema said that it was an "unfortunate incident" and the villagers had laid a trap for some smaller animals near the water body and, by some mischance, the tiger fell in it and lost its life. It seemed a shameless lie to many ears. The department has intensified patrolling inside the jungles, Nema added. The State has lost 454 big cats during the last decade. According to the 2002 census, the number of tigers in the State was 711 and that came down to just 257 in 2011. This is not the first occasion that a tiger was found dead under mysterious conditions in the forests of Sehore. Earlier this year, a big cat was killed in Ichhawar in the same district and as usual the forest department held the villagers responsible for the killing. Wildlife activist Ajay Dube, while talking to Viva City, said, "With the killing of the full grown tiger near the State capital on Tuesday the Government's talk of security measures for the big cat stands exposed." Dube further said that tigers in the State are at threat as the morale of the poachers are so high that they do not hesitate to strike near the State capital. The lives of the tigress and her two cubs roaming in the vicinity of Bhopal almost in the same areas where this male tiger used to roam are also in danger, if the State Government does not wake up and make proper security arrangements for this tigress. State Forest Minister Sartaj Singh, however, ridiculed the fears expressed by wildlife activists. He said, "The tigress and both its cubs are safe and are under surveillance of the department round the clock. Special teams have been formed to protect the feline and her cubs." A couple of days ago, the National Tiger Conservation Authority had asked the State to step up monitoring of the tigress and other endangered animals in the wake of tiger poaching in adjoining Sehore district. A year ago, when the now dead tiger and the tigress were noticed in the forested area on the outskirts of the State capital, the NTCA issued an advisory to the State Government to strengthen the monitoring of the two adult animals. The 2011 tiger census revealed there were only 257 tigers left in the State's six tiger reserves, namely, Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Panna, Bori-Satpura, Sanjay Dubri, and Pench. The situation is especially worrisome at the famous Kanha National Park which is now left with just 60 tigers. Madhya Pradesh's tiger conservation efforts were hit for the first time in 2009 when it was suddenly revealed that Panna, one of the State's premier tiger reserves, had lost its entire big cat population. The report says that there were about 20 tigers in 2006. Further doubts on the State's conservation efforts were cast by a confidential report of the Panna Tiger Reserve's field director, who claimed that forest officials were acting in collusion with poachers, thus placing a consistent threat to the revival of the tiger population in the reserve. A high was registered in 1999 when 42 tigers were killed. In 1995, poachers killed 16 tigers. A senior forest department official lamented that it was very hard to nab the kingpins of the poaching gangs. "Old methods of killing tigers using guns are outdated. The gangs now employ villagers living near the forests to kill the animals. The villagers generally poison or electrocute the tigers as it reduces their chances of being caught," the official said. Sadly, the tigers are critically endangered. Yet, there is hope. MP is one of the last places left in the world where relatively large and unfragmented wild tiger populations have the opportunity to have a sustainable and secure future. As per Wildlife Institute data, the tiger habitat in the State has shrunk by nearly 3,000 square kilometres. The Opposition is blaming the Government for the decline in the numbers. "The falling numbers of wild animals in Madhya Pradesh is a cause for concern. Our State had the highest numbers of tigers at one point. The Forest Minister and the Chief Minister are responsible for this," State Congress media department chairman Manak Agarwal said. Various social activists and wildlife experts had written to both the State and Central Governments to order a CBI inquiry into cases of tiger death in Panna Tiger Reserve but the Madhya Pradesh Government declined to order a CBI probe and instead formed a committee to investigate into the alleged disappearance and poaching of wild cats from PTR. When contacted, Madhya Pradesh Forest Minister Sartaj Singh said, "I have given my proposal (for a CBI inquiry). The decision (to form a committee) is taken by another department (Home)." As per the norms, the decision to constitute a CBI inquiry is taken by the Department of Personnel of training, a Central Government nodal agency in Delhi, on the recommendation of the State Government's Home Department. Even as the overall tiger count has gone up in the latest census, the falling numbers of the animal in the State has emerged as a big concern. Due to the steep fall in tiger numbers, Madhya Pradesh lost its 'Tiger State' tag last year. http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/bhopal/72173-mp-not-safe-anymore-for-mans-striped-friend.html

MoEF to push for closure of units around Kaziranga

Chetan Chauhan, Hindustan Times After 16 years, the environment ministry will ask the Assam government to shut down industrial units operating within the 10-km radius of the Kaziranga National Park— a natural habitat for tigers, elephants and single-horn rhinos. In 1996, the ministry had declared the national park an eco-sensitive zone and thus it became a no-development zone for any industrial project. It was part of the ministry initiative to protect as many as 600 national parks and sanctuaries across the country. This would have meant that Assam government should have cancelled mining and stone crushing licences. But this did not happen. Hearing a petition filed by an RTI activist, the National Green Tribunal recently asked the ministry to close all units operating in the no-development zone around Kaziranga. A National Tiger Conservation Authority report in 2008 found that stone crushers were blocking a key tiger and elephant corridor. It suggested stopping of all stone crushers on forest corridors linking Kaziranga to Manas wildlife sanctuary. "Implementing the eco-sensitive zone regulations is the responsibility of state governments, not ours," a ministry official said, asking what they could do if the regulations were not implemented. "We have no powers to push state governments." The regulations, however, require that any project in an eco-sensitive zone should be cleared by the ministry. But the Assam government overlooked it and granted approval to stone-crushing units. The same had also happened in case of approval to mining firms around Sariska Tiger reserve in Rajasthan and Panna tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh, the only tiger reserves to have lost their tiger populations. "We will be writing to the Assam government soon," an official said. "...After going through the affidavit, filed by MoEF, wherein it has been clearly stated that 64 units are existing in the zone as on date, we have no hesitation to direct the authorities to take necessary action with regard to functioning of the aforesaid units," the NGT said. Only 12 tea estates can function without processing units or boilers. http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/MoEF-to-push-for-closure-of-units-around-Kaziranga/Article1-869044.aspx

Abandoned cub rescued at Kanha tiger reserve

TNN | Jun 9, 2012, 04.28AM IST BHOPAL: An injured cub that turned feeble after being abandoned by a tigress was rescued at the world famous Kanha tiger reserve (KTR) in eastern Madhya Pradesh, forest department officials said on Friday. This was the second cub that had been rescued by the forest staff, after being abandoned by tigress in the state's tiger reserve, in last two months. In the first week of April, a cub was rescued in Panna tiger reserve (PTR). "The cub was abandoned by tigress that gave birth to it around 10 months ago in Kanha range of the reserve. It was left by the tigress some 10 days ago. We tranquilized the cub and shifted it to an enclosure in Gurila are under Mukhi range of the reserve on Thursday", KTR field director J S Chauhan told TOI. This cub had grown weak and sustained injuries to his legs possibly after being attacked by some animal, officials said. "We have kept the cub under observation and are feeding it with mutton and chicken," they said adding that the cub was in good health, now. The ground duty officials are trying hard to locate the tigress that gave birth to this cub. Officials said they are going to rehabilitate the cub- once it turned healthy and starts going for the kill. Felines usually abandon their cubs when they turn too weak, according to wildlife experts. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/Abandoned-cub-rescued-at-Kanha-tiger-reserve/articleshow/13943382.cms

Police probe ordered into Panna tiger crisis

TNN | Jun 9, 2012, 04.21AM IST BHOPAL: The state government has ordered a police inquiry into the Panna tiger crisis, wherein more than 35 tigers had vanished from the tiger reserve from 2003 to 2008. The tigers were reportedly poached. According to sources, the IG of Sagar will hold an inquiry. Though there was a demand to order a CBI inquiry, the state government did not recommend one. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/Police-probe-ordered-into-Panna-tiger-crisis/articleshow/13943310.cms

Tadoba to be partially closed from July 1

TNN | Jun 8, 2012, 04.43AM IST CHANDRAPUR: In view of monsoon the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) is expected to be partially closed for tourists from July 1. A proposal to this effect has been forwarded to APCCF (wildlife) for approval by the TATR authorities. Earlier, TATR used to be the only tiger reserve in state that remained open for tourists during monsoon. But, since last year forest department had decided to close the TATR for tourist during monsoon albeit partially. Partial closure of Tadoba last year had came to effect from July 15, however this year it would be 15 days earlier. ACF of TATR Ajay Pillariseth said, "Only eight vehicles each will be allowed to enter the park in each shift form the Moharli gate. The tourist vehicles would follow only pucca road between Moharli and Tadoba during restricted period." The patch of pucca road between Moharli and Tadoba is 19 km long. Tourists will not be allowed to visit any waterhole inside the jungle in their vehicle. The guide accompanying vehicle would ensure that vehicles stick to the pucca road. This closure will remain in effect till next three months and park would reopen fully for tourists from October 1. All other gates other than Moharli will be closed for tourists during monsoon. However closure would not effect the movement of state transport's bus that ferries passengers across tiger reserve or the villagers residing inside the park from any gate. TATR management would observe monsoon patrolling programme to increase security arrangements in the reserve during the semi-closure period. Ends http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Tadoba-to-be-partially-closed-from-July-1/articleshow/13913651.cms

Move to set up tiger reserve

SARAT SARMA Nagaon, June 5: Dispur plans to set up a tiger reserve covering 1,050 square km in the eastern Bokajan subdivision of Karbi Anglong district. Four wildlife sanctuaries and five reserve forests will be included in the area, which is connected to Kaziranga. Forest minister Rakibul Hussain told The Telegraph that the plan, which will be implemented in collaboration with the Tiger Foundation of India, also aims at making the area tourism friendly. “We met the leaders of the local autonomous council last Thursday and the department officials were instructed to prepare a detailed project report. We shall have another discussion with forest department officials, representatives from the WWF and Tiger Foundation in Diphu shortly, where the proposed project will be given final shape,” Hussain said. Four wildlife sanctuaries in bordering Bokajan subdivision of the hill district — Garampani, Nambor, Karbi Anglong East and Karbi Anglong North — are known for the various species of animals found there. The WWF had traced the movements of the Royal Bengal tiger, golden cat, clouded leopard and other animals a few months ago. “Our target is to uplift the current ecological condition in the area to make the region favourable for tiger movement,” said the chief conservator of forests Abhijit Rabha. A high-level source of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council said the recent discussion with the forest minister regarding the tiger reserve was held after long study and research. “It is an initiative that might make Karbi Anglong more attractive to tourists. We are designing the tiger reserve project keeping tourism in mind,” the source said. Hussain said Dispur has planned two other important programmes for Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao — one to curb jhum cultivation and the second, a mass plantation scheme. “Farmers involved in jhum cultivation will be centred in an area and involved in some other ways of cultivation. All line departments, including agriculture, forest, DRDA and soil conservation, will be involved,” Hussain said. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120606/jsp/northeast/story_15572450.jsp#.T9GPetVo3Qs

Combing operations on in Corbett Tiger Reserve

PTI | 02:06 PM,Jun 07,2012 Dehra Dun, Jun 7 (PTI) Intensive combing operations were today carried out at the Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR) following the arrest of three suspected poachers. "We are continuing our combing operation for some more time," CTR Director R K Mishra said. Following the combing operation, a CTR team with the assistance of local police arrested three suspected poachers with four snares, pieces of meat, steel chains and other materials used for killing wild animals from Bijrani range on Tuesday. However, five of their accomplices managed to flee from the spot taking advantage of darkness, Mishra said. "We will continue the operation till the other poachers are also nabbed," said Mishra. He said 24-hours patrolling and combing is being done in Corbett to nab the poachers. Day and night patrolling in the reserve forest areas in Uttarakhand, including the Rajaji Park, would continue as the security of tigers is a challenge especially when the maximum density of 214 tigers have been reported from Corbett in 2012, Sharma said. Mishra said the forest department has prepared a long-term proposal of intensive patrolling in tiger areas with an estimated cost of Rs 9.80 crore. http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/combing-operations-on-in-corbett-tiger-reserve/1008660.html

Five detained for poaching tiger in MP

PTI | 02:06 PM,Jun 07,2012 Bhopal, Jun 7 (PTI) Five persons were today detained by forest officials days after poaching of a tiger came to light in neighbouring Sehore district. A three-year-old male tiger was found cut into two parts that were found strewn at two different locations near Kathotia village, about 32 km from here, on Tuesday. The forest officials suspect that the big cat might have been electrocuted by poachers. The detainees have been identified as Hiralal, Ther Singh, Naval Singh and Kamal, while the identity of the fifth detainee is not known yet, they said, adding search for two of their accomplices is on. The officials had last week received reports about a tiger as well as a tigress roaming with her cubs in the forest areas adjoining Kervan and Kaliasot dams, following which they set up a cage with a bait to trap the feline but their efforts proved futile. PTI AS NSK http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/five-detained-for-poaching-tiger-in-mp/1008663.html

Vigilant watchers foil intrusion attempt into Tadoba

Mazhar Ali, TNN | Jun 8, 2012, 04.29AM IST CHANDRAPURndrapur: Even as red alert is in place in all tiger bearing territories, Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) appears to be high on the radar of poachers. Yet another instance of trespassing attempt by poachers into TATR has come to light. Poachers had tried to intrude from Katezari side of tiger reserve on Saturday night, but their bid was foiled by alert watchers stationed at machan and protection hut. There was a lot hue and cry over intrusion of a gang of suspected poachers from Wamangaon side of TATR on Sunday night. The gang was seen by labourers deployed on protection hut and came to fore on following day. However, poachers' attempt to trespass into TATR on Saturday night, previous to Wamangaon side intrusion, went unreported as TATR officers remained tight-lipped over it. Around 10-12 poachers on four bikes along the canal of Mendhli pond were seen by watchers stationed on machan at pond on Katezari side of TATR on Saturday night. The poachers were reportedly armed with sticks and spears. The watchers on machan immediately called Katezari protection hut and four forest labourers stationed there rushed to the pond for their help. Sensing trouble, poachers fled back towards village Sonegaon's direction. Patrolling in the area was intensified in the area since then. RFO (Protection), TATR Luche confirmed the incident. "We have recorded statements of the two watchers who had seen the poachers from their machan. We also recorded statements of police patils of Sonegaon and Ashta villages as the poachers had come from this direction. This incident has also been mentioned in complaint filed with Chimur police station," he said. It is, however, strange that despite the two serious incidents, no offence has been registered in this regard. TATR authorities have not bothered to register primary offence report (POR) on their own about the two incidents. Instead, they washed their hands off the issue by submitting a simple complaint to Chimur police. Cops have taken little cognisance of the matter and have not bothered to file first information report (FIR), but kept the TATR's complaint under investigation. Both RFO Luche and Chimur PSO Panjabrao Madavi said they have registered no offence in connection with the two trespassing incidents. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Vigilant-watchers-foil-intrusion-attempt-into-Tadoba/articleshow/13913354.cms

Four more tiger sanctuaries in Maharashtra

Ketki Angre | Updated: June 07, 2012 22:01 IST There's good news for wildlife conservation efforts in Maharashtra. The state has notified four new wildlife sanctuaries in Vidarbha, areas that will now get legal protection against any commercial activities. Addressing the media, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said, "There are a large number of tigers in reserves like Tadoba (Andhari Tiger Reserve). Many do move from one forest to another. That's why tiger corridors are crucial. These new sanctuaries will help in strengthening tiger corridors." Spread over a 60 sq. km area, the new Bor sanctuary is an important corridor that connects the Tadoba and Pench Tiger Reserves. Navegaon Sanctuary will mean an additional 122 sq. km area apart from a National Park of the same name. New Nagzira further extends 151 sq. km area near the Nagzira Sanctuary. And Karandla with 189 sq. km area is a crucial link between Tadoba Tiger Reserve and the Navegaon Park. Executive Director of the Wildlife Protection Society of India, Belinda Wright says it's a proactive step other states could do well to follow. "They (wildlife) cannot breed, live or have a future without corridors. You need corridors for individuals to go from one area to another. So this is an absolute critical need for our wildlife at the moment and if it isn't done now, it will never be done." Dipankar Ghose, Director of Species, Conservation Programme with WWF told NDTV, "It's always good to have extra space for wildlife which can act as a corridor or as a buffer for the existing tiger habitat." With these new sanctuaries, Maharashtra has added over 500 sq. km to its protected forest cover. That's almost as good as adding another Tadoba reserve in terms of the area. Experts also feel that legal protection for forest cover combined with people's participation is the best way forward to make conservation a reality, a real possibility if governments and citizens work together keeping their common goal in mind. http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/four-more-tiger-sanctuaries-in-maharashtra-228727

Four tiger cubs claimed by forest fire near Corbett

DS Kunwar, TNN | Jun 8, 2012, 03.20AM IST DEHRADUN: In a horrendous tragedy, the lives of four male tiger cubs aged between 10 to 15 days were snuffed out in a forest fire near Corbett National Park, one of India's finest and most visited reserves, on Wednesday, with forest officials not ruling out poachers' involvement in the fire and ordering an inquiry. The cubs' post-mortem revealed they died of suffocation. Chief forest conservator (Kumaon) Paramjeet Singh described the distressing incident near Udham Singh Nagar district's Nathwali village in Uttarakhand as one that has "shaken wildlife lovers". He said Nainital-based forest conservator Kapil Joshi will hold an inquiry to find out the reasons behind the fire. He added that Joshi will inquire whether the fire was accidental or if poachers had lit it to trap the cubs. Three poachers were arrested from Savalde under Corbett's Bijrani forest range on Tuesday while trying to sneak into the reserve. Officials said local residents had seen the cubs getting caught in the fire, but watched helplessly as a roaring tigress, who could be their mother, scared them away. Another forest officer Nishant Verma told reporters in Ramnagar that he rushed rescuers to the spot but the cubs had suffocated to death by the time they reached there. A senior forest officer in Nainital said the cubs had crossed into Tarai forest area from Corbett and were caught in the fire. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Four-tiger-cubs-claimed-by-forest-fire-near-Corbett/articleshow/13912342.cms

New tiger sanctuary to come up in Vidarbha

TNN | Jun 8, 2012, 01.29AM IST MUMBAI: The state government on Thursday gave an in-principle approval to a new tiger sanctuary in Vidarbha's Umred-Karandla, nearly 50 km from Nagpur. With this, the total sanctuaries in the state have now gone up to 33. The protected areas (PAs) of four other sanctuaries—Nagzira, Bor, Navegaon and Maldhok—were extended to boost the dwindling protected areas of Maharashtra. The total area extended in the reserves amounts to 520 sq km. The notification of new protected areas was necessitated after the government last year de-notified over 7,000 sq km of the Nanaj Sanctuary. Following a meeting of the State Wildlife Board, chief minister Prithviraj Chavan said the tiger population in the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) in Chandrapur district has increased substantially, leading to a spillover. As a result, many animals are straying outside the park, causing accidents and increasing the man-animal conflict. "The extended corridors will now act as a crucial buffer for the animals and reduce the number of accidents caused by such spillovers," said Chavan. The tiger population in TATR has jumped from 30 in year 2000 to over 100 in 2012. Special measures were also announced to provide relief to the animal habitat around the highway corridors—including the Mumbai-Delhi Dedicated Freight Corridor and Mumbai-Goa National Highway. A proposal to create underpasses on these corridors has been forwarded to the National Animal Welfare Board. It was also decided to provide additional vehicles to forest officers in Naxal-dominated areas. The state has also decided to rope in the irrigation and power departments for measures like building cross-canals and enhancing high-tension electric lines. Maharashtra has reported a number of tiger deaths and increased cases of poaching in the recent past, forcing the state to contemplate issuing shoot-at-sight orders. The issue also gained political undertones following a three-day visit by MNS chief Raj Thackeray to the TATR. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/New-tiger-sanctuary-to-come-up-in-Vidarbha/articleshow/13911014.cms

Tiger killing: Seven poachers sent to jail

TNN | Jun 8, 2012, 01.47AM IST BHOPAL: Seven persons, including six tribals who were arrested on the charge of killing a tiger that was found dead two days ago in Veerpur range of the Bhopal forest circle, were sent to jail till June 26 by a court on Thursday. MP forest department officials are looking for two more persons wanted in connection with tiger poaching case. Accused Bhagwan Singh Bhel, Bhaina Bhel, Kare Singh Bhel, Mor Singh Bhel, Kamal Bhel, Jagdia Bhel and Naval Singh were produced before Sehore district's chief judicial magistrate's court (CJM) which remanded them to judicial custody. "The accused have been charged under relevant sections of wildlife protection act (WPA). One section under which the accused have been charged could attract a punishment of 10 years imprisonment," forest department officials, said. "We have recovered the equipment used in poaching the tiger and other evidences from the accused," a top forest official said. He said one of the accused - Kher Singh is being prosecuted for the second time under WPA. Earlier, he had killed a barking deer, he added. All the accused have confessed to poaching, forest officials said adding that they have told the forest department officials that they had killed the big cat accidentally as it walked into the electric trap which was laid for some herbivore, he said. After coming out of the court, one of the accused Kher Singh claimed that they have been falsely implicated in the poaching case. He said that they were not having any connection with the tiger killing. The accused had electrocuted the big cat close to a water body at Kathotia area possibly on Sunday. As the tiger was too heavy they chopped it into two pieces in a vain attempt to dispose it off. Carcass of this tiger was found on Tuesday. This tiger, weighing about 200 to 300 kg and aged about four-year-old, has formed its territory in the forested area on the outskirts of the state capital. Earlier, this tiger had strayed into National Judicial Academy (NJA), located in the outskirts of Bhopal. With the number of big cats swelling in Ratapani wildlife sanctuary in adjoining Raisen district, this tiger had formed it territory outside. State forest department is looking for two more persons wanted in connection with tiger poaching case. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/Tiger-killing-Seven-poachers-sent-to-jail/articleshow/13911263.cms

Four tiger cubs burnt to death in forest fire

Press Trust of India / Dehra Dun June 07, 2012, 16:11 Four tiger cubs were burnt to death in a forest fire in the jungles of Aampokhara near Hempur area of Nainital district, a top official today said. The fire broke out last evening and when the army and forest personnel reached the area to douse the blaze, they found the carcasses of three burnt tiger cubs, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (wildlife) S S Sharma said, adding, another tiger cub was found alive but during treatment, it also succumbed to burn injuries. All the cubs were less than one-year-old, he added. Sharma said the forest department is making all possible efforts to check incidents of forest fires like clearance of dried pine leaves, formation of fire lines, seeking cooperation from Van Panchayats and the local residents besides setting up crew stations and regular patrolling in forest area especially in reserve forest areas. The issue of forest fires and safety of wild animals from fires also echoed in the state Assembly with Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal directing the state government to take necessary steps in this direction. Describing the issue as a serious matter, Kunjwal asked the government to make a comprehensive fire management action plan to check the incidents of forest fire. Kunjwal's directive came after BJP member Bishan Singh Chufal raised the issue. Chufal said lives of several birds and wild animals have lost in these forest fires and the state government must take serious steps to control them. http://www.business-standard.com/generalnews/news/four-tiger-cubs-burnt-to-death-in-forest-fire/18071/

Combing operations on in Corbett Tiger Reserve

Tags: Poaching, Corbett Tiger Reserve, Dehradun Dehradun: Intensive combing operations were today carried out at the Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR) following the arrest of three suspected poachers. "We are continuing our combing operation for some more time," CTR Director R K Mishra said. Following the combing operation, a CTR team with the assistance of local police arrested three suspected poachers with four snares, pieces of meat, steel chains and other materials used for killing wild animals from Bijrani range on Tuesday. However, five of their accomplices managed to flee from the spot taking advantage of darkness, Mishra said. "We will continue the operation till the other poachers are also nabbed," said Mishra. He said 24-hours patrolling and combing is being done in Corbett to nab the poachers. Day and night patrolling in the reserve forest areas in Uttarakhand, including the Rajaji Park, would continue as the security of tigers is a challenge especially when the maximum density of 214 tigers have been reported from Corbett in 2012, Sharma said. Mishra said the forest department has prepared a long-term proposal of intensive patrolling in tiger areas with an estimated cost of Rs 9.80 crore. PTI http://zeenews.india.com/news/eco-news/combing-operations-on-in-corbett-tiger-reserve_780326.html

One held for smuggling tiger-skin

TNN | Jun 7, 2012, 04.20AM IST COIMBATORE: In an early morning operation, forest officials arrested a person carrying a bag with tiger skin at the Thiruvalluvar Bus Stand in the city on Wednesday. Officials suspect the skin to belong to that of a tiger cub less than a year old. Conservator of Forests, of Coimbatore Circle, VT Kandasamy told reporters on Wednesday afternoon, that officials, led by assistant conservator, R Jayaraj, had gone to the spot based on a tip off. They arrested Palanisamy(47), a resident of Kumaranthapuram in Tirupur. The estimated cost of the skin is around Rs 5 lakh, officials said. The skin will be sent to the centre for cellular and molecular biology, Hyderabad, for verification. Kandasamy said that there are around 125 to 150 tigers in the Nilgiris biosphere reserve. The government has allotted more staff and vehicles to curb the smuggling of tiger skin and poaching, he added. Despite control measures, he said many people continue to obtain and sell tiger skin because of the high demand in the international market. "Because of the high demand even fake tiger skins and being sold," he said. A special team has been formed to identify those involved in the business. Officials suspect Palanisamy to be part of a racket with international links. An official who was part of the team said that Palanisamy had got the skin from someone in Madurai. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/One-held-for-smuggling-tiger-skin/articleshow/13879834.cms

Three poachers nabbed in Corbett Tiger Reserve

Reported by Tania Saili Bakshi, Written by Amit Chaturvedi | Updated: June 06, 2012 23:29 IST Dehradun: With more than half a dozen tigers killed in less than two weeks in the Corbett National Park, there is at last some good news. In a major breakthrough, three poachers were caught with equipment from within the reserve in a joint operation by the Uttarakhand Forest Department and the Special Task Force (STF). The poachers were caught during a search exercise. However, five of this eight-member group were able to get away. "We conducted a search operation after reports that a tiger has been killed in the Bijrani range. Three people - Ramesh Bagdi, Giniya Bagdi and Tarachand Bagdi - have been arrested. They belong to Panchkular in Haryana," said SS Sharma, the Chief Wildlife Warden. Also Read E-eye to keep a tab on tigers in Corbett Hunt on for Corbett's wounded tigress Also See 1:43 Govt declares complete silence zone around Corbett Tiger Reserve 1:58 Corbett: Tiger conservation faces issue of protected areas Mr Sharma said that these poachers were living in a rented room. Residents of Chandigarh, they all belong to the Bagdi group, a gang known for its skill in wildlife poaching. "We recovered a few traps and steel chains from them. They were living in the forest for the past 4-5 days. The Forest Department has intensified search and combing operations," he added. The 2012 tiger census reported that the park has 214 tigers. But there were also reports of sudden spurt in the poaching rate, and the department had to face flak because of its failure to stop it. So, they sounded a red alert, and heightened vigil across all the tiger reserves in the state. Heaving a sign of relief, the state Forest Department is now interrogating them to know about their network so that more such poachers can be nabbed and tigers be saved. http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/three-poachers-nabbed-in-corbett-tiger-reserve-228283

Cops clueless about suspected poachers gang in Tadoba

TNN | Jun 7, 2012, 01.07AM IST CHANDRAPUR: Forest department has failed to trace a suspected poachers' gang that is reported to have intruded into Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) three days ago. Forest officials have sought the help of police department to investigate the intrusion of a gang inside the tiger reserve. A formal complaint has been filed with Chimur police station asking the cops to look into the matter. A gang of 8-10 people clad in black dresses had intruded from Wamangaon side of TATR into the tiger reserve on Sunday night. The gang was seen by three forest labourers deployed at Wamangaon protection hut in reserve territory. The gang had fled deeper into the reserve jungle. Since then, patrolling, both by vehicles and on foot, has been intensified. However, TATR staffers have failed to trace the gang inside the tiger reserve. Even forest officers are clueless whether they are still inside the reserve or left the jungle. "We have searched the entire territory, but have found no trace of the gang. It is likely that it was gang of thieves which had sought shelter into the jungle. The possibility of them being poachers appears weak but we have not ruled it out," said an official. He said that they have filed a complaint with Chimur police station and sought help of police to investigate into the matter. Chimur PSO Panjabrao Madavi said a complaint about intrusion of the gang was received, but held that no offence had been registered into the matter so far. "We have received the complaint, which has been kept under investigation. We have mobilized our informers and are also checking whether there is anybody, other than protection hut labourers, who had seen the gang," he said. Madavi also pointed out flaws in the forest department's theory of intruders being gang of thieves or robbers. "Thieves are shrewd and usually their hideout is secluded. Such people could have never walked to the protection hut where they were seen by labourers. Moreover, what is point in hiding in the jungle where there is serious threat of being attacked by tigers, sloth bears and other predator?" he said. He held that possibility of gang belonging to poachers is high, still cops are investigating to find any clue about their whereabouts. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Cops-clueless-about-suspected-poachers-gang-in-Tadoba/articleshow/13876065.cms

Tiger believed sacrificed at Corbett

Chetan Chauhan, Hindustan Times Big cats in some of India’s most well-known tiger reserves are under threat. Around 20 tigers are believed to have died in tiger reserves ranging from Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand and Tadoba in Maharashtra to Bandipur in Karnataka — indicating an increase in poaching activity. The remains of a poached animal, which wildlife activists claim was a tiger, was found in Corbett last week. Forest department officials, however, deny their contention, stating that the animal was either a porcupine or a jackal. Nevertheless, the mystery behind the incident lay in the fact that a prayer ceremony was performed at the site before the killing. This was confirmed when forest officials found clothes, an empty box of sweets and ash at the Bijrani range site, deep inside Corbett. Denotified tribes such as Bawarias usually conduct pujas before sacrificing wild animals. “What they left behind was a portion of the small intestine as an offering to the deity. The tiger was skinned, and most of its body parts were taken away,” said Anil Baluni, former chairperson of state environment and forest advisory committee. Ranjan Mishra, director of the Corbett Tiger Reserve, denied the claim. “There is a huge difference in the small intestine of tigers and other animals. We are sure that this animal was not a tiger. We have sent the body part for further analysis,” he said. Meanwhile, a red alert has been issued and unpaid forest guards have been placed on round-the-clock patrolling. "We don't have funds, not even to buy fuel for patrol vehicles," a senior official said. As per the 2010 tiger estimation, Corbett landscape had 214 tigers — the highest in the world. However, the open landscape of Corbett provides easy access to poachers, whose activities have intensified recently. About 2,000 km south-west, the Tadoba tiger reserve is facing a similar threat. Wildlife activists have reported the death of around eight tigers in the last few months. The silver lining, however, comes from the fact that Maharashtra has witnessed a 30% jump in tiger population over the last few years. http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Tiger-believed-sacrificed-at-Corbett/Article1-866527.aspx

Tiger found dead in MP

PTI | 07:06 PM,Jun 05,2012 Bhopal, Jun 5 (PTI) A tiger was found dead today near Kathotia village about 32 km away from here in the neighbouring Sehore district, forest officials said. The officials suspect that the male tiger, which was about 3-years-old, might have died due to electrocution while roaming in the area. Its carcass was found in two parts, with one portion found on a hillock and another in the nearby bushes, they said. According to forest officials, they had received reports about a tiger as well as a tigress roaming with her cubs in the forest areas adjoining Kervan and Kaliasot dams. The officials had undertaken steps to catch the tiger and had deployed a cage with a bait in the area, even though the efforts had proved futile. The security staff of the National Judicial Academy had spotted the tiger some time back on their campus, but had failed to nab the animal despite efforts. In view of the presence of the tiger in the vicinity of the state capital, forest officials had put up signboards in Kervan, Kaliasot and Kolar areas to warn people, especially those keeping domestic animals, not to venture into the forest areas, they said. Forest officials suspect that the villagers might have cut the body of the dead tiger into two pieces to easily dispose it off. The post-mortem of the animal was conducted in the presence of senior officials, sources said adding that the remains of the tiger would be consigned to flames. PTI MAS NP http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/tiger-found-dead-in-mp/1007966.html

Move to set up tiger reserve

SARAT SARMA Nagaon, June 5: Dispur plans to set up a tiger reserve covering 1,050 square km in the eastern Bokajan subdivision of Karbi Anglong district. Four wildlife sanctuaries and five reserve forests will be included in the area, which is connected to Kaziranga. Forest minister Rakibul Hussain told The Telegraph that the plan, which will be implemented in collaboration with the Tiger Foundation of India, also aims at making the area tourism friendly. “We met the leaders of the local autonomous council last Thursday and the department officials were instructed to prepare a detailed project report. We shall have another discussion with forest department officials, representatives from the WWF and Tiger Foundation in Diphu shortly, where the proposed project will be given final shape,” Hussain said. Four wildlife sanctuaries in bordering Bokajan subdivision of the hill district — Garampani, Nambor, Karbi Anglong East and Karbi Anglong North — are known for the various species of animals found there. The WWF had traced the movements of the Royal Bengal tiger, golden cat, clouded leopard and other animals a few months ago. “Our target is to uplift the current ecological condition in the area to make the region favourable for tiger movement,” said the chief conservator of forests Abhijit Rabha. A high-level source of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council said the recent discussion with the forest minister regarding the tiger reserve was held after long study and research. “It is an initiative that might make Karbi Anglong more attractive to tourists. We are designing the tiger reserve project keeping tourism in mind,” the source said. Hussain said Dispur has planned two other important programmes for Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao — one to curb jhum cultivation and the second, a mass plantation scheme. “Farmers involved in jhum cultivation will be centred in an area and involved in some other ways of cultivation. All line departments, including agriculture, forest, DRDA and soil conservation, will be involved,” Hussain said. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120606/jsp/northeast/story_15572450.jsp#.T8751dVo2No

38 hotels built in Ranthambore Tiger Reserve's safety zone

CNN-IBN Ranthambore: A blatant violation of the wildlife protection norms and a Supreme Court order has come to light. An RTI query has revealed that as many as 38 hotels and luxury resorts are operating within the Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve. These are located along the 500 metre safety zone in the park. Ranthambhore is home to 42 tigers and at least 20 cubs as per the last tiger census. "The Wildlife Board has declared that no activity will be allowed in a 1 km radius of the sanctuary and wildlife area. But here there are several hotels which have been built without keeping these guidelines in mind," forest department lawyer MH Kachawa said. The hotels are reportedly allowing tourists, mostly foreigners, to view the tigers from their terrace and from viewing towers. Reports say some hotels throw meat over the fence to lure the tigers out so that tourists can get to see them. http://ibnlive.in.com/news/38-hotels-in-ranthambore-reserves-safety-zone/264544-3.html

Poaching lens on cub death in Sunderbans

TNN | Jun 6, 2012, 04.34AM IST KOLKATA: The Sunderbans faces its first poaching probe since the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) notified new rules last month. The carcass of a two-month-old female tiger cub was found floating near the mangroves on the Raimangal river on Tuesday, creating a flutter in the forests as, according to NTCA rules, all tiger deaths are to be treated as poaching cases until proven otherwise. Officials of the Sunderbans Tiger Reserve will now conduct a detailed probe and send the post-mortem and viscera reports to the NTCA. The body was spotted near Jhingakhali by an STR patrolling team. Vet and representatives from World Wildlife Fund and NTCA were called in to assist in the probe. The cub might have died a day or two back. As of now, it is suspected to be a drowning case as water was found in the cub's lungs. Since it was only two months old, it didn't even have teeth," said Joydip Kundu, member, NTCA Schedule I animal handling committee. Acting field director of STR and a joint director of Sunderbans Biosphere Reserve, Ravi Kant Sinha, told TOI the cub's lungs and stomach had been sent to laboratory for detailed reports. "We are searching the forests of Arbesi and Jhingakhali for the mother and other cubs. Traces of minced food, chewed by its mother, was found in the stomach. There was no injury mark on the body and all the body parts were intact. It seems a natural death by drowning during the high tide," Sinha added. Sunderbans Biosphere Reserve director Pradeep Vyas said two to three teams, led by the range officers, have already launched combing operations in the nearby jungles. "They are trying to track the mother. If they notice anything unusual, they will report us immediately." Though Sinha claimed that initial reports have been sent to the NTCA, a senior NTCA official said they are yet to receive any report. "We haven't received any communication from the Sunderbans officials. Unless we receive the detailed reports and are satisfied with those, this tiger death will be treated as an official case of poaching, as mentioned in a recent directive by the NTCA," said S P Yadav, deputy inspector general (DIG), NTCA. Biswajit Roychowdhury of Nature Environment and Wildlife Society (NEWS) said the officials should probe the case properly as Bagna, Kumirmari are vulnerable areas, from where cases of poaching have been reported earlier. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Poaching-lens-on-cub-death-in-Sunderbans/articleshow/13859529.cms

Wildlife Trust of India gives 1L to Bor tiger attack victim kin

TNN | Jun 6, 2012, 01.49AM IST NAGPUR: In a considerate gesture, the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), an NGO working for tiger conservation in the country, gave 1 lakh to the kin of a tiger attack victim in Bor Wildlife Sanctuary, 60km from here in Wardha district. Sitaram Wadhve, a permanent forest labourer posted in Pendhri beat of Bor, was mauled to death by a tiger on April 19, in the sanctuary while he was filling a water hole in Chichkhori area. It was assumed that Wadhve, being a daily wage forest labourer (van majoor), would not get welfare benefits from the government. However, WTI has launched unique initiative to provide insurance cover of 1 lakh each to field staff of all the national parks and sanctuaries in Maharashtra. This has come as a succour for Wadhve's family. As Wadhve was covered under the scheme, a demand draft of 1 lakh was handed over to his wife Malti by conservator of forests M S Reddy recently. Assistant conservator of forests Uttam Sawant and WTI manager Prafulla Bhamburkar were also present. Apart from the 1 lakh aid by WTI, Wadhve's family received 2 lakh from Forest Welfare Fund and another 2 lakh is expected towards human kill compensation. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Wildlife-Trust-of-India-gives-1L-to-Bor-tiger-attack-victim-kin/articleshow/13858031.cms

Carcass of tiger cub found at Sundarbans

PTI | 07:06 PM,Jun 05,2012 Sundarbans (WB), June 5 (PTI) The carcass of a three-month-old female tiger cub was found today from a spot near Jhila jungle at Sundarbans tiger reserve. Local fishermen informed the forest department officials after spotting the carcass on the bank of the Roymangal river at Basirhat range of the mangrove forest, officials said. "After carrying out a post-mortem, it was found that the tiger cub drowned in the river after the water level suddenly rose in the river following high tide," Dr Utpalendu Mondal veterinary surgeon of Sundarban Tiger Project said. PTI COR AMD