Sunderbans left out of WWF 'tiger tour' Jayanta Gupta

KOLKATA: The WWF will organize two Wild India tours - one in December this year and the other in March next year - with the catchphrase "The search for a big cat on the brink". But surprisingly, one of Bengal tigers' unique habitats - the Sunderbans - does not feature in the itinerary. Evidently, tourists would miss out on the opportunity to explore the world's largest mangrove delta or look for the striped cat within the clumps of hetal. Instead, the tourists will spend a day in Kolkata, getting a feel of the city's literary, artistic and revolutionary heritage and its 'creative energy', before flying to Assam for a four-day trip to Kaziranga. According to sources, the idea is not to bring large groups and take them around the country. There will be about 14 people in each group. "The WWF is only interested in those who are keen to visit the tigers' habitat. The organization is dedicated to bring the wild tiger back from the brink of extinction and doubling its numbers. Tourists will see for themselves how protection of the big cat leads to care for forests and grasslands that shelter other animals, sequester carbon, filter water and provide food to humans," an official said. According to him, the Sunderbans has been left out as a day-trip to the mangrove forests is out of question. "Even if we were to arrange a two-day trip to the Sunderbans, there is no guaranteeing that a tiger can be spotted. Logistics is also a problem. Given the high-end tourists who would be part of these tours, making proper arrangements for them may also be a problem," he said. After all, the tourists are paying over Rs 4,00,000 per head for the two-week trip. This excludes air-fare to and from Delhi. The tour will start from Delhi. The next four days will be spent at Kanha. From there, they will be flown to Kolkata where they will spend a day before flying to Jorhat for the onward trip to Kaziranga. The tour will involve tiger searching expeditions under the leadership of experienced guides. Apart from tigers, tourists hope to see one-horned rhinoceros, Sambar deer, wild buffalo, elephants and monitor lizards. The WWF has promised that accommodation will be arranged at remote lodges that are in harmony with the surroundings. "Kanha has been selected as it offers India's best tiger viewing. Other animals that may be spotted are chital, sambar, common langur, wild boar, Indian bison, sloth bear, Asiatic jackal, wild dog, rhesus monkeys and leopards. This park also has the largest population of Barasingha, the endangered swamp deer with beautiful antlers. The tourists will be put up at the Singinawa Jungle Lodge in Kanha," a person associated with the tour said. At Kaziranga, they will be accommodated at the Diphlu River Lodge. The tourists will take jeep rides and attempt to spot wild buffalo, hog deer, Hoolock gibbon, elephants, pythons and tigers. There wouldn't be any problem in sighting the one-horned rhinoceros that abounds. The tourists would also be on the lookout for gharial and dolphins in Brahmaputra. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Sunderbans-left-out-of-WWF-tiger-tour/articleshow/9928651.cms

Orissa Similipal staff plan a foolproof count

BARIPADA: Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR), India’s second largest tiger reserve, is preparing for the national tiger count in November. This national park is in the news for its dwindling number of tigers and frequent elephant deaths. �Sources said the tiger reserve officials are planning to use both camera trap and pugmark methods to count the big cats. On earlier occasions, only pugmark method was used and it varied largely from the camera trap counting. Using pugmark method, the authorities had counted 101 tigers in STR in 2004. In 2009, the number came down to 61, including 16 males, 31 females and 14 cubs. But the report of National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and Wildlife Institution of India (WII) indicated that STR has an estimated 23 (12-34) tigers as per 2010 census, which was conducted by camera trapping methods. �Regional Conservator of Forests (RCF) Anup Nayak said NTCA this time was planning to count the big cats through both the methods. “It will be finalised after a meeting followed by a training of officials for the counting,” he said. �Sources said NTCA will prepare a protocol to be followed by all tiger reserves and it may rope in some NGOs besides the Wildlife Institute of India (WII). This time, the officials want a fool-proof count which shouldn’t be confusing like previous years. �Field trials have already begun __ the staff are getting good pictures from cameras put up at nine places. “We had fixed six cameras at Upper Barhakamuda, two at Jenabil and one at National Park. All have several pictures of tigers,” said a forest official. He said the WII last time also had used 10� cameras on a trial basis. �Besides tigers, the STR is home to about 432 wild elephants. The national park, with a total area of 2,750 sq km, is a treasure house of 1,076 species of plants belonging to 102 families. http://ibnlive.in.com/news/similipal-staff-plan-a-foolproof-count/182059-60-117.html

Tigers stage comeback in Jalgaon after a long gap Vijay Pinjarkar, TNN

NAGPUR: It should sound a good news for wildlife lovers. Tigers have staged a comeback in Jalgaon district in Dhule territorial circle after a long gap. However, Khandesh Nature Conservation Society (KNCS), working for tiger conservation in Jalgaon forest division, claims tigers were very much there but there was no serious monitoring by the department. Wadoda range forest officer (RFO) DR Patil has been monitoring a tigress with a cub for the past three months. Patil also claims presence of a male tiger in his range. The tigers have made densely forested Purna backwaters their home. "This is after 2001 that tigers have staged a comeback in Jalgaon division. In 2001, there was tigress with three cubs," Patil said. It seems tigers move from Melghat-Ambabarwa-Yawal-Western Ghats. However, Abhay Ujagare and Vinod Patil of KNCS say presence of tigers is there in Jalgaon district since 1993 but due to lack of serious monitoring their existence could not be ascertained. However, if official tiger figures are to be considered, there were 7 tigers in Yawal Wildlife Sanctuary in Jalgaon, followed by 3 in 1993, 4 in 1997 and 1 in 2001. Since then no tigers were recorded in the protected area (PA). Besides, the last official record of tigers in Jalgaon division was in 2005 when three tigers were recorded. "In past few years the newly added Wan and Ambabarwa to Melghat tiger reserve has improved protection and management. Several evidences of breeding tigresses have been recorded in camera traps from this cluster," said Kishor Rithe, member of National Board for Wild Life (NBWL). Rithe said there were unconfirmed tiger sighting reports in the past two years by villagers and local nature lovers in Jalgaon district. Presence of tigers shows that they are dispersing towards west in Jalgaon district. The forest range Kurha (Wadoda) includes Kurha, Charthana and Dolarkheda rounds. The area of three beats North Dolarkheda (2,100 ha), South Dolarkheda (1,500 ha) and Sukali (1,450 ha) of Dolarkheda round in Kurha range is the most potential area for tigers having 10 perennial waterholes. Rithe's Satpuda Foundation has urged the state government to provide necessary wildlife management inputs to this area. If you peep into history, tigers and lions used to live together in Gujarat. Tigers disappeared from Gujarat in the 1980s whereas lions could manage to survive. The last tiger seen in Gujarat is reported from Dang district bordering Maharashtra. Satpuda mountain is spread up to Dang district where it meets Western Ghats and Aravali mountain. The tiger habitat continuity link is considered from Kanha-Pench (Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh)-Satpuda-Melghat and Yawal. Local bird watcher Anil Mahajan from Varangaon (Jalgaon) had recorded a dead cub last year. This is a proof that tigers are breeding in Jalgaon district and earlier claims made by KNCS were also true. Conservationists were dreaming in last 20 years that tigers would again disperse towards west to Melghat. The state expert committee to declare critical tiger habitats (CTH) ex-PCCF B Majumdar, ex-APCCF Nandkishore and Kishor Rithe had recommended a compact cluster of Wan, Ambabarwa and Narnala sanctuaries adjoining Melghat to be included in MTR, which was accepted by the state and the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Tigers-stage-comeback-in-Jalgaon-after-a-long-gap/articleshow/9906583.cms

Tiger tourism focus shifts to Ramnagar, Terai West

THURSDAY, 01 SEPTEMBER 2011 23:26 PARITOSH KIMOTHI
The State Government is planning to encourage tourism in the buffer zones of Corbett National Park so as to lessen the negative effect of tourism in the core zone of the park with the start of the tourist season on November 15.

The authorities hope that in addition to improving the environment and reducing wildlife crime in the core zone, encouraging tourism in Ramnagar and Terai West forest divisions will also help in the socio-economical development of the local residents.

Speaking to The Pioneer, the State Forest and Environment Advisory Committee vice-chairman, Anil Baluni, said that more than two lakh visited Corbett National Park during the tourist season that ended in June this year. Though the tourism activity has some positive effect on the national park, it is also exploited by poachers who increase their activities in the core zone during the tourist season.

In order to decrease the pressure of tourists in the core area and to prevent wildlife crimes, the department will encourage tourism in the buffer zones from November 15 when it reopens for tourists. The wildlife including tigers, elephants, other creatures and the environment which attracts tourists to the national park can also be enjoyed in the Ramnagar and Terai west forest divisions.

Both guides and tourists will be encouraged to view the attractions in these forest divisions as this region will remain open for tourists throughout the year unlike Corbett which is open to tourists from November 15 to June 15. Baluni stressed that the State wants at least one person from each family living in Ramnagar to benefit directly from tourism activity as their development will correspond to the welfare of wildlife and environment in the national park and its buffer zone.

The tiger population in the Corbett Tiger Reserve landscape is estimated to be more than 200 with at least 30 tigers believed to be present in Ramnagar forest division. This area is also important as, according to the latest tiger survey conducted by the Wildlife

Institute of India, it is one of the few places in India where the tiger population has increased outside protected areas. Ramnagar was declared a tourism city by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' earlier this month.

http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/dehradun/2965-tiger-tourism-focus-shifts-to-ramnagar-terai-west.html

Brahmapuri, TATR officials' 'no' to mining in Bander Vijay Pinjarkar -TNN

NAGPUR: The Brahmapuri forest division and Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) officials have said 'no' to proposed mining in Bander coal blocks near TATR in Chimur tehsil in Chandrapur district.

A proposal for open cast and underground mining by Bander Coal Company Private Limited (BCCPL), Mumbai, a joint venture of Amar Iron & Steel, Yavatmal; Century Textiles Industries, Mumbai; and JK Cements Limited, Kanpur, was pending since May 2010 to seek comments of deputy conservator of forests (DyCF), Brahmapuri, and TATR field director prior to getting environment clearance. The company had issued several reminders to seek comments of forest officials.

In their comments forwarded to the senior officials, DyCF Brahmapuri and TATR field director have opined that coal mining should not be allowed in Bander, whether it underground or opencast.

It is reliably learnt that both the officials concerned have clearly said 'no' to mines in Bander. "It is the only corridor left on the northern side connecting TATR and Melghat landscape through Nagpur, Wardha and Bor wildlife sanctuary. The existing coal mines in Murpaar have already damaged the tiger corridor. More mining would completely destroy the entire corridor," the officials said.

They have further said that proposed mining area is a good tiger habitat and in the past 3-4 human deaths have been reported due to man-animal conflict. The forest is such a rich habitat that it cannot be restored once damaged. Now the senior wildlife wing officials in city have to take a call. A three-member National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) committee comprising Kishor Rithe, Urmila Pingle and GN Vankhede in its report last year had also opposed to the proposed mining.

BCCPL was allotted coal blocks in Bander on May 29, 2009 to extract 175.110 million tonnes of coal. Although the proposed mining area falls in Brahmapuri division, the coal blocks are between 7.5km and 9km from the TATR boundary. Over 1,170 hectare of forest land will have to be diverted if mining is allowed.

Bandu Dhotre, president of Chandrapur-based NGO Eco-Pro, had also raised the issue with union environment minister Jairam Ramesh on July 19, 2010 requesting him to save the only corridor connecting TATR-Melghat.

"Khadsangi reserve forest and adjoining forest area, located towards the northern side is the narrowest bottleneck among all. Already degraded due to human habitation and agricultural activity, it will be disastrous to allow mining in Bander," Dhotre said.

He said that the buffer area of TATR is demarcated only up to 7.5km from the TATR core boundary. Therefore, apparently mining area seems to fall outside buffer area (touching the buffer boundary).

In 1999, the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) had rejected proposal for the same blocks citing its adverse impact on wildlife around Tadoba. Now, after 10 years, the corridor is already degraded and shrunk. It will be highly irrational to re-llot, the once rejected block for coal mining when wildlife problem remains the same, experts felt.

Sources said that TATR management plan had identified this area as a threatened degraded corridor and proposed its restoration. Under such circumstances it will be unwise and disastrous to degrade it further by allocating it for coal mining.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Brahmapuri-TATR-officials-no-to-mining-in-Bander/articleshow/9829427.cms

Tiger fear stalks Kerwa, Kaliasot villagers -TNN

BHOPAL: A tiger is stalking the dark shadows on the outskirts of the state capital. Villagers residing in the area have got indications to this effect due to two recent incidents.

On August 12, a half-eaten carcass of a cow and its calf was found near the Kerwa Dam-Kaliasot area. Local residents were so terrified that they locked themselves inside their homes during Raksha Bandhan and Independence Day and returned to their normal lives only after the forest department assured that the big cat had gone back into the forests of Ratapani, 40 km away.

However, the fear returned anew when the half-eaten carcass of a buffalo was found there Thursday evening. Pug marks have been traced after both the cattle killing incidents. But the tiger remains unspotted.

"Our concern in on two fronts. First, to guard the local population and avoid any human loss and second, to protect the tiger from poachers that might kill the animal,'' explained assistant conservator of forests Suresh Bagmare. "The spot where the tiger is hunting would be approximately seven km from Kolar Road. This means that the animal is five km from the densely populated areas of Bhopal city.''

Forest guards are guiding the local population on ways to avoid a confrontation with the wild cat. Villagers of Kaliasot have been instructed to avoid the forest areas especially after the sunset hours and to go into the forests in groups if necessary during the daytime.

"Tigers generally do not deviate from their own territory and always follow a track,'' Bagmare said. "Though the tiger has been reported to visit the Kaliasot vicinity in the past two years, it has not come into the human habitations.'' According to the assistant conservator of forests, this is a male tiger which has "presumably'' strayed to Bhopal from the adjoining Ratapani sanctuary. To be sure that it is from Ratapani, the forest department needs to conduct a DNA. If it was a feline, there would be cubs with the tigress and pugmarks of the cubs would also be found. But there were no cub pug marks.

Ratapani's tiger population is close to 20. The 435 sq km wildlife sanctuary is being considered as a possible tiger reserve.
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-08-28/indore/29937681_1_pug-marks-tiger-population-pugmarks

Forest dept. re-establishing tiger corridors: Natarajan

Minister of State for Environment and Forests (independent charge) Jayanthi Natarajan told Rajya Sabha on Tuesday corridors for the safe movement of tigers were being re-established.

The 2010 country level assessment says that as per the status of tigers, co-predators and prey in the country, the tiger landscapes have potential for metapopulation existence but require corridor connectivity.

Cretain areas like Srisailam (Andhra Pradesh), Similipal - Satkosia (Orissa), Ranthambhore - Kuno Palpur - Sheopur (Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh), Indravati - Northern Andhra Pradesh - Chandrapur - Nagzira - Navegaon (Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra), and Bandhavgarh - Sanjay - Guru Ghasidas - Palamau (Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand) are in greater need of such corridor.

Provision exists in the ongoing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of ‘Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats’ for supporting such areas, Natarajan said.

Besides this, active management for tiger translocation is also done on a site-specific basis to repopulate suitable low tiger density habitats from other well populated reserves within a landscape, she said.

http://www.indiablooms.com/EnvironmentDetailsPage/environmentDetails300811a.php

Project Tiger to get Rs 6.35 crore in 2011-12 PTI

CHENNAI: The Project Tiger in Tamil Nadu is proposed to get Rs 6.35 crore for its implementation during 2011-12.

A policy note tabled in the assembly said the project, was presenty receiving 100 per cent central assistance for non-recurring works and 50 per cent for recurring works.

According to the latest census, Tamil Nadu has 163 big cats within its territory.

The state also proposes to spend Rs 3.09 crore for implementing various schemes in Project Elephant. Of the 26,000 elephants estimated in India, Tamil Nadu had 4,015 tuskers.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Project-Tiger-to-get-Rs-6-35-crore-in-2011-12/articleshow/9797359.cms

Tiger protection hit as staff engaged in recruitment process

TNN | Aug 30, 2011, 03.29AM IST

NAGPUR: Tiger and forest protection in Nagpur division is likely to take a beating with field staff from tiger-bearing areas being pushed for recruitment work.

A major drive to recruit 1,200 forest guards in 11 territorial circles in the state is under way. Out of this, 73 posts will be filled in the Nagpur division. A target of September 20 has been set to complete entire recruitment exercise.

To accomplish the Herculean task, over 100 field staffers including range forest officers (RFOs), forest guards and foresters have been summoned to the headquarters in city to sort out forms, verification and other works, said sources.

Staff from sensitive Bhiwapur, Umred, Kondhali, Hingna, Kalmeshwar, Kuhi, Deolapar and Paoni ranges has been pressed into service in city for recruitment work. All the above areas are not only sensitive but have identified population of tigers, with 15 tigers in the city division.

"If so many staffers are engaged in clerical work, what about tiger and forest protection," asked a section of wildlife conservationists.

On the contrary, deputy conservator of forests, PK Mahajan said employees are not being engaged in recruitment work at the cost of protection.

"Only educated staffers in other ranges are engaged in recruitment work. Till now over 12,000 forms have been received and sorting and verifying them is a tough task," said Mahajan. "It's true that team of RFOs have been made for speedy procedures," he added.

Tiger Reserves

Tiger Reserves
 
There are 40 tiger reserves in the country.  The details are at Annexure-I.
 
                        The Biligiri Ranganatha Temple Sanctuary has already been notified by the State as a Tiger Reserve, while ‘in-principle’ approval has been accorded by the National Tiger Conservation Authority for constituting the Kudremukh Tiger Reserve.
                        As reported by the State, there are 504 families residing in the Biligiri Ranganatha Temple Tiger Reserve, and 1339 families in the Kudremukh National Park.  The package for voluntary village relocation / rehabilitation from the core / critical tiger habitat has been enhanced to
Rs. 10 lakh / family in the ongoing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Project Tiger.
            The funding support is provided to States based on their Annual Plan of Operation / Tiger Conservation Plan, which interalia includes provisions to reduce the dependency of fringe people on natural resources
 
Annexure-I
 
LIST OF TIGER RESERVES IN INDIA (STATE-WISE)
 
Sl. No.
Year of creation
Name of Tiger Reserve
State
1
1973-74
Bandipur
Karnataka
2
1973-74
Corbett
Uttarakhand
3
1973-74
Kanha
Madhya Pradesh
4
1973-74
Manas
Assam
5
1973-74
Melghat
Maharashtra
6
1973-74
Palamau
Jharkhand
7
1973-74
Ranthambore
Rajasthan
8
1973-74
Similipal
Orissa
9
1973-74
Sunderbans
West Bengal
10
1978-79
Periyar
Kerala
11
1978-79
Sariska
Rajasthan
12
1982-83
Buxa
West Bengal
13
1982-83
Indravati
Chhattisgarh
14
1982-83
Nagarjunsagar
Andhra Pradesh
15
1982-83
Namdapha
Arunachal Pradesh
16
1987-88
Dudhwa
Uttar Pradesh
17
1988-89
Kalakad-Mundanthurai
Tamil Nadu
18
1989-90
Valmiki
Bihar
19
1992-93
Pench
Madhya Pradesh
20
1993-94
Tadoba-Andheri
Maharashtra
21
1993-94
Bandhavgarh
Madhya Pradesh
22
1994-95
Panna
Madhya Pradesh
23
1994-95
Dampa
Mizoram
24
1998-99
Bhadra
Karnataka
25
1998-99
Pench
Maharashtra
26
1999-2000
Pakke
Arunachal Pradesh
27
1999-2000
Nameri
Assam
28
1999-2000
Satpura
Madhya Pradesh
29
2008-2009
Anamalai
Tamil Nadu 
30
2008-2009
Udanti-Sitanadi
Chattisgarh
31
2008-2009
Satkosia
Orissa
32
2008-2009
Kaziranga
Assam
33
2008-2009
Achanakmar
Chattisgarh
34
2008-2009
Dandeli-Anshi
Karnataka
35
2008-2009
Sanjay-Dubri
Madhya Pradesh
 

36
2008-2009
Mudumalai
Tamil Nadu
37
2008-2009
Nagarahole
Karnataka
38
2008-2009
Parambikulam
Kerala
39
2009-2010
Sahyadri
Maharashtra
40
2011-2012
Biligiri Ranganatha Temple
Karnataka
 
 
This information was given by the Minister of State for Environment and Forests (independent charge) Shrimati Jayanthi Natarajan in a written reply to a question by Shri Abdul Rahman in Lok Sabha today.

Tiger fear lurks in Bhopal suburb

August 29, 2011 By LALIT SHASTRI Correspondent BHOPAL
Villagers living very close to Bhopal, in an area which is densely forested and stretches between Kaliyasot and the Kerwan reservoirs on the periphery of the state capital, have spotted pugmarks of a tiger repeatedly between August 12 and last Saturday.
When contacted, chief conservator of forest (Bhopal circle) S.S. Rajput confirmed the movement of a tiger. The presence of a tiger was registered in this area between August 12 and 15. The tiger was spotted once again on August 24 and after that it has been moving in this area. The territorial forest staff on beat duty had sighted the same tiger on the Kerwan hill on Saturday night. Earlier in the afternoon, there was also a cattle killed near the village. This forested area, contiguous with the Ratapani Sanctuary, is so heavily forested that it is difficult to spot a tiger moving in the area even from a short distance of about 20 meters.
Mr Rajput pointed out that this landscape forming the tri-junction of three districts — Bhopal, Sehore and Raisen — has very good quality forest with lot of trees and rock shelters. The forest belt is contiguous with Ratapani Sanctuary, which has witnessed a 70 per cent increase in tiger population from nine to 16 in two successive tiger census operations — one conducted in 2006 and the next in 2010.
On the prolonged movement of a tiger in a territory close to Bhopal, principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife) H.S. Pabla said that this could be incidental or due to territorial issues as the tiger population has gone up considerably in the Ratapani Sanctuary. Last December and January also, a tigress was seem moving in this area with two cubs, he added. Since there is no pray base in this area, chances of predatory attacks and man-animal conflict are high in this territory, Dr Pabla emphasised.
Two major educational institutes are located in this territory which was proposed to be declared as a PSP (public-semi-public) area in the latest city master plan which could not see the light of day due to court intervention. The state government has tried to declare this area as PSP despite objections raise by the concerned forest department authorities on the ground that this forested belt is contiguous with the forests of Kathotia, Jhiri, Imlana and Delawadi.
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/nation/north/tiger-fear-lurks-bhopal-suburb-994

Centre rues lack of review at Pakke

- Hydel projects pose threat to the tiger reserve in Arunachal Pradesh
ROOPAK GOSWAMI
Guwahati, Aug. 28: The Centre has indicated that there has been no systematic assessment of threats to Pakke tiger reserve in Arunachal Pradesh from power projects.

This has been pointed out in the management effectiveness evaluation report of Pakke tiger reserve prepared by the Wildlife Institute of India and the National Tiger Conservation Authority.

“The threats have been identified in a systematic way, but there have been no systematic assessment,” the report said.

It said power houses and hydel projects, which pose as new threats, would affect the protection efforts because of the increased biotic pressure, pollution and others.

The biological corridors currently used by animals would also be affected, it said.

The 861.95 square km Pakke tiger reserve lies on the foothills of the eastern Himalayas in the East Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh.

A park official said of the four power projects coming up in the vicinity, two would require diversion of the core area of the reserve.

“We have been raising these issues constantly with the authorities at the Centre as these are threats to the reserve,” the official said.

The report said the state government has signed an MoU with Mountain Fall Company based in Delhi for construction of 1,200MW power project across Kameng river near Pinjuli where the Pakke tiger reserve, Eagle Nest wildlife sanctuary and Thenga reserve forest merge.

“Though the Mountain Fall Company has not submitted its report, the pre-feasibility report of the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (Neepco) reportedly suggests 27 hectares of the tiger reserve will be submerged in addition to the expected disturbance during construction,” it said.

“We are being constantly pressurised to give clearance to the projects as MoUs have been signed with the state government,” the official said.

The report said the construction of 600MW power house at Kimi in the north western part of the reserve has brought in thousands of labourers leading to several settlements in the fringes, which could be a threat in future. “A diversion tunnel at Pakke side under the dam will also affect the reserve,” it said.

The tiger population of Pakke, which it shares with Nameri in Assam, is estimated to be nine.

The reserve forms a part of larger landscape with adjoining Sonai Rupai sanctuary and Nameri tiger reserve and also reserve forests such as Tenga, Doimara and Pappum.

The Sessa Orchid wildlife sanctuary and Eagle Nest wildlife sanctuary are also adjacent, though on the other side of the river.

The area is also important in terms of watershed with several streams originating from the landscape leading to Pakke and Kameng rivers. It also forms part of the Kameng elephant reserve.

The area is rich in wildlife with 40 species of mammals, 300 species of birds, 20 reptile species, 8 amphibian species and 12 species of fishes and butterflies.

The report said the communities in the fringe area are exerting some pressure in the form of collection of non-timber forest products and tribal hunting to a limited extent.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110829/jsp/northeast/story_14409008.jsp

NTCA suggests minor changes in Tadoba plan TNN

NAGPUR: The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) on Friday suggested certain changes in the tiger conservation plan (TCP) of Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR).

A meeting to discuss the plan was held at Delhi on Friday morning by the expert committee. The committee appreciated the detailed plan but suggested to incorporate some minor changes and come back again.

A presentation was made by chief conservator of forests (CCF) and field director of TATR VK Sinha.

Talking to TOI, SP Yadav, joint director of NTCA, said the plan has not been approved and the experts have asked to make some changes.

Sinha said that minor changes were suggested though the plan was by and large applauded. "The changes will be made after we receive NTCA communication," he added.

The amended Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 enables provision for preparing a TCP for proper management of a tiger reserve which includes staff development and deployment plan.

Of the four tiger reserves in Maharashtra, TCPs for Pench and TATR were prepared and sent to the state government in 2009. The government approved the TCP for TATR and sent it to the NTCA while TCP of Pench is still lying with the government. Preparation of plan for Melghat is under process.

Once approved, the TCP will take care of ecologically compatible land uses in tiger reserves and areas linking it to another for addressing the livelihood concerns of locals so as to provide dispersal habitats and corridors for spill over population of wild animals from the designated core areas.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/NTCA-suggests-minor-changes-in-Tadoba-plan/articleshow/9753628.cms

Dead tiger may be victim of revenge killing Mazhar Ali, TNN

CHANDRAPUR: Even as the death of a tiger in Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserves appears to be a natural death, forest officers are probing the angle of revenge killing. Tiger bones were recovered from Moharli range of the tiger reserve on Thursday on the basis of a tip-off given by Wildlife Protection Society of Indian (WPSI).

Assistant conservator of forests Ajay Pillariseth said that 84 bones were recovered, scattered in 32 clusters, in the circumference of 117 meters in compartment no. 249 in Moharli range. The place is 5km from Karva village. The nearest road is 1.5km away.

The recovered material includes three nails, skull and lower jaw apart from the various bones in the body. "There was no meat left with the bones and the scavengers had scattered them all around. The scene suggests that the tiger might have died 8 to 12 months back. The entire meat and skin of tiger got decomposed and later could have washed away in the rains," Pillariseth said.

He ruled out the angle of poaching stating that had it been poaching for tiger's body part, then they would have not recovered any nail or teeth. "We have found three nails, entire lower jaw and skull along with other bones. If professional poachers had killed the tiger, they would have buried the bones, hence there is little chance of poaching. However, we have not ruled out the possibility of revenge killing," he said.

The place where the bones have been found falls between Karva and Palasgaon villages. Hence, forest officials are probing the possibility of villagers killing the tiger to avenge cattle killings. "Karva is closest to the place where the bones were found. As the village falls in territorial forest, we have sought details of cattle kills in the village from Chandrapur forest division, to evaluate the possibility of revenge killing," he added. Pillariseth, however, maintained that as the tiger reserve is prohibited for grazing, there is low possibility of tiger falling prey to revenge killing inside the reserve.

He said that their prima facie investigations suggest that it was a full grown male tiger. "The large size of skull and sturdy bones indicate that it could be a full grown male tiger. Moreover, there was recorded presence of male tiger in the area," he added. He claimed that they are forwarding a tooth of the tiger for forensic tests seeking confirmation of sex, species, age of the tiger, span since death and DNA profile of the animal from the lab.

When inquired about failure of staffers to report the missing tiger from the particular territory, he explained that the territory is still occupied by a full grown tiger particular area and its presence misled the guard manning the area. "It is likely that soon after the death of tiger, some other male tiger occupied its territory and the staffers mostly monitoring the signs of presence never got a clue that a tiger had died and other tiger had moved in. A tigress with three sub-adult cubs, a male and two female, had its presence in the same area and the chances of its male cub taking up the empty territory after attending adulthood could not be ruled out," he said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Dead-tiger-may-be-victim-of-revenge-killing/articleshow/9745351.cms

Cameras spot `missing` tigers at Ranthambore

JAIPUR: At least three out of five tigers, that were `missing` for sometime at Ranthambore sanctuary, have been found. They were spotted at the Sawai Man Singh sanctuary, adjoining the national park.

"The trap cameras at Sawai Man Singh sanctuary have captured tigers T-13, T-43 and T-34. While T-13 was caught on the camera on August 18, the other two were caught on August 21," said U M Sahai, chief wildlife warden, Rajasthan.

Sahai, however, refuted that the tigers were missing and choose to term it as "natural process of migration of the tigers."

However, T-43, the second Jhailkho male cub, had not been sighted for a long time and one of the tasks in the sanctuary during the recent census was to spot the tiger along with four others -- T-21 or the Chiroli male, T-27 or the Gilai Sagar female, T-29 of Berda and T-40 or the Berda male.

But the census failed to spot the tigers till officials at Ranthambore choose to use trap cameras for scanning the forests. The department has procured 17 additional cameras for the purpose.

"The tigers have not been spotted but that did not mean that they were dead. They might have strayed to some place," said an official. The state government, meanwhile, had ordered an inquiry into the missing tigers.

The hopes of the department come from its new method of tracing tigers through the trap camera method. "Now, three tigers have been traced at the Sawai Man Singh Sanctuary and we believe that if a proper search is done then other tigers too would be traced there," sources said.

There are 26 tigers at the reserve excluding 17 cubs that have been born recently, sources said. However the Wildlife Institute of India ( WII) in its census in 2010 has made a count of 31 tigers in the reserve.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/environment/flora-fauna/cameras-spot-missing-tigers-at-ranthambore/articleshow/9738576.cms

Tiger bones recovered in Tadoba

CHANDRAPUR: The staffers of Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) on Wednesday discovered bones of a dead tiger in Moharli range. The search for the tiger bones was reportedly carried out on the basis of information given by NGO Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI).

Sources said that TATR staffers searched for the bones in Moharli range on Tuesday evening, but failed to trace them by nightfall. The search was taken up afresh on Wednesday morning and soon they traced the place, some 2 km from Karva village, where bones were lying. Sources said a total of 70 pieces of bones of tiger have been recovered from the spot. The bones appeared to be that of an old tiger and might be lying there since quite some time. ACF, TATR, Ajay Pillariseth supervised the formalities of inquest and seizing the bones in the jungle.

Sources said that TATR staffers searched for the bones in Moharli range on Tuesday evening, but failed to trace them by nightfall. The search was taken up afresh on Wednesday morning and soon they traced the place, some 2 km from Karva village, where bones were lying. Sources said a total of 70 pieces of bones of tiger have been recovered from the spot. The bones appeared to be that of an old tiger and might be lying there since quite some time. ACF, TATR, Ajay Pillariseth supervised the formalities of inquest and seizing the bones in the jungle.


Prima facie, foresters are treating it as a case of natural death, but other angles have not been ruled out so far. It is also learnt that foresters have recovered a few nails of the tiger from the place, but it is still not clear whether any teeth or piece of skin has been recovered. They are mulling DNA and forensic tests of the bones to confirm the cause of death, sources said. CCF and field director, TATR, could not be reached for comment.

Prima facie, foresters are treating it as a case of natural death, but other angles have not been ruled out so far. It is also learnt that foresters have recovered a few nails of the tiger from the place, but it is still not clear whether any teeth or piece of skin has been recovered. They are mulling DNA and forensic tests of the bones to confirm the cause of death, sources said. CCF and field director, TATR, could not be reached for comment.
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-08-25/nagpur/29926710_1_tiger-bones-ccf-and-field-director-tatr

Manas link Buxa’s boon & bane Krishnendu Mukherjee, TNN

KOLKATA: Buxa's bane - low tiger density - may prove to be its boon as foresters hunt for a suitable home for tiger cubs that have been abandoned or orphaned. "Apart from Kaziranga, the northeast doesn't have a healthy tiger density in any of its reserves. The same is the case with Buxa. So, these could be preferred sites for the reintroduction," said Y V Jhala of the Wildlife Institute of India, adding the exercise was inspired by the ongoing Caspian tiger reintroduction campaign (to repopulate Iran and Russian jungles).

So far, only Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh have reported abandoned cubs. S B Mondal, principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife), said the Centre was welcome to reintroduce tigers in Buxa. Though a recent study based on fecal DNA analysis by Guwahati-based NGO Aaranyak projected the number of tigers in Buxa at 15, there have been no sightings to back the claim. Based on scat and pugmark analyses, forest officials believe tigers do frequent the park, but never settle down due to pressure from 37 villages within the park. Buxa has excellent connectivity with the larger tiger landscape at Manas Reserve in Assam and Bhutan's Royal Manas National Park, which causes big cats to disperse. Manas has seven to 10 Tigers while Royal Manas has a cat count of around 15.

However, not all wildlife experts are upbeat about the idea to reintroduce tiger cubs into the wild. "You must have infrastructure before carrying out such things. Nobody patrols or even visits low-density tiger reserves and not even the project tiger director. So how can you introduce a young or sub-adult tiger there? Inter-state tiger transfer is another hurdle," said Valmik Thapar.

Rajasthan tiger reserves get thumbs up

Jaipur: Amid the official reports of half a dozen missing tigers and relocation of tigers in Sariska failing to produce any tiger cub, the ministry of environment and forest in its latest report on effectiveness of tiger reserve management has given satisfactory rating to the tiger reserves in Rajasthan.

From June 2010 to July 2011, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) in partnership with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) undertook an independent Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) of all 39 tiger reserves in the country in which the management of Ranthambhore tiger reserve has been categorised as good. Sariska has earned satisfactory remarks which have recently lost all the tigers but in the same category Panna tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh has been categorised as very good.

The MEE is the assessment of how well protected areas, such as national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, conservation reserves, community reserves and tiger reserves are being managed and their effectiveness in conserving the flora and fauna.

"India has not only independently assessed the effectiveness of 28 tiger reserves in 2005-2006, but has taken this process forward, by extending this evaluation in 2010-11 to all 39 tiger reserves. The outcomes of this assessment are encouraging and despite all odds, our park managers and frontline staff are putting up valiant efforts to conserve our natural heritage," Jayanthi Natarajan, Union minister for environment and forest said in the forward of the report released last week.

But the next assessment of the tiger management in the country is going to be more hi- tech.

The NTCA in collaboration with WII and Zoological Society of London (ZSL) has developed a 'Monitoring System for Tigers- Intensive Patrolling and Ecological Status' (MST-IPES) for managers to assess the status of protection, ecological and biotic pressures and when adaptive management is necessary.

http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/RAJ-JPR-rajasthan-tiger-reserves-get-thumbs-up-2380891.html

NTCA may clear Tadoba tiger plan on Aug 26 Vijay Pinjarkar, TNN

NAGPUR: The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is likely to approve the tiger conservation plan for Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) on August 26.

The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, was amended in 2006 and a separate chapter added on to the NTCA which replaced 'Project Tiger'. This chapter has provisions (Section 38V) for preparing a tiger conservation plan (TCP), which includes staff development and deployment plan, for proper management of a tiger reserve.

The TCP of TATR will be discussed by NTCA on Friday. Along with TATR, TCP of Naxal-infested Indravati tiger reserve in Chhattisgarh will also be taken up. Prior to this, a meeting is scheduled on August 25 to discuss the TCPs of Satpura-Bori and Pench tiger reserves in Madhya Pradesh.

Chief wildlife wardens and respective field directors will attend the meeting. A representative from Wildlife Institute of India (WII) will also be present.

Of the four tiger reserves in Maharashtra, TCPs for Pench and TATR were prepared in 2009. While the government approved the TCP for TATR and sent it to NTCA, it is learnt that TCP of Pench is still with the government.

"TCPs for Melghat and Sahyadri tiger reserves have not been prepared yet," officials said. The objectives of the TCP is to ensure protection of reserves and provide site specific habitat inputs for a viable population of tigers, co-predators and prey animals without distorting the natural prey-predator ecological cycle in the habitat.

Once approved by NTCA, the TCP will also aim at ecologically compatible land uses in the tiger reserves and areas near it for addressing the livelihood concerns of local population, so as to provide dispersal habitats and corridors for spillover population of wild animals from the designated core areas.

"The TCP will also ensure that forestry operations of regular forest divisions and those adjoining tiger reserves are not incompatible with the needs of tiger conservation," officials stated.

Marathoner tiger killed in territorial fight

Subhash Chandra N S, Bangalore, Aug 23, DHNS:

Wildlife biologists have confirmed that the tiger found dead a week ago in Bhadra Tiger Reserve was the same animal released into the wild after much fanfare by former Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh.

The tiger had hit the headlines for travelling a record 280 km from Bandipur to Esoor (Gama) village in Shikaripur.

But the animal has been found dead three months after being captured, radio-tagged and released back into the wilderness in May. Its death has been attributed to a territorial feud with a fellow tiger.

B K Singh, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests - who confirmed the tiger’s death in Mutthodi last week - said the post-mortem had revealed that it had died after suffering serious injuries in a territorial fight.

“The tiger suffered multiple fractures on both its forelegs and hind legs. It also sustained claw and canine injuries on the neck and other parts of the body. During the fight, both the animals have rubbed against each other. Since the ground is wet due to monsoon, we could see a lot of pug marks,” he explained. He said the post-mortem report had revealed that the tiger was healthy and able to hunt before it died.

A wildlife expert confirmed that the dead animal had been matched with the picture of the one released into the wild.

Top wildlife biologists confirmed that it was the same three-year-old tiger that had perplexed scientists by travelling 280 km from Bandipur and had strayed into Esoor village.

The animal killed one person and injured two before it was captured and released back into the forest following consultation with senior scientists of the Wildlife Conservation Society.

The tiger was released at Hipla Hadlu in Bhadra reserve on May 7, 2011, by Ramesh, who is said to have voluntarily come to Bhadra to release it.

WCS scientists compared the stripe patterns of the animal by photo-matching it with their database of tiger pictures and confirmed that the beast was BPT-241, which was last camera-trapped in Gundre area of Bandipur Tiger Reserve on February 11 and 18, 2010.
The database of tiger pictures has been the result of the Society’s two-decade research initiative.

A GIS map showed that the “straight line” distance travelled by the tiger from Bandipur to Shikaripur was about 280 km, which the animal had covered since it was captured on camera. However, it could have taken a far more round about route.

This was considered one of the longest scientifically recorded dispersals of a wild tiger in the world, based purely on the camera-trapping data. WCS scientists were intensively camera-trapping the Bhadra area in the hope that the animal would settle down there.
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/185879/marathoner-tiger-killed-territorial-fight.html