Centre for direct incentives to locals for preserving Tigers

NEW DELHI: In a first of its kind tiger conservation efforts, the Centre is mulling to give direct incentives to local communities.

Struggling to protect the endangered royal Tigers, the government seems to be viewing "payment for ecosystem services (PES)" as a new conservation instrument designed to provide direct incentives to the local communities living in the fringes of the sanctuaries.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Centre-for-direct-incentives-to-locals-for-preserving-Tigers/articleshow/5106148.cms

Rhino, tiger found dead in Kaziranga - TOI

GUWAHATI: A rhino and a tiger were found dead in Kaziranga on Wednesday, barely a fortnight after the national park suffered three casualties. With the latest deaths, the tiger toll has reached 12 since November 2008 while the rhino toll has risen to six this year alone.

The rhino carcass, with its horn missing, was found floating in a water body in the Bagori forest range. "The carcass was a few days old. The horn might have dropped off as the flesh started rotting,'' said Bagori range officer D Kalita. The animal was fished out from near Bimoli camp of Bagori range.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Rhino-tiger-found-dead-in-Kaziranga/articleshow/5099168.cms

Crimes against wildlife tabulated for better action - TOI

LUCKNOW: The planning related to wildlife conservation in the country might get a clear direction now, since the first national level database on wildlife crime has been compiled and completed. National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) which is the head organisation for wildlife conservation has got the crime figures compiled in collaboration with a private agency TRAFFIC-India.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/city/lucknow/Crimes-against-wildlife-tabulated-for-better-action/articleshow/5099571.cms

Tigers in sanctuaries to get ID cards - PTI news

Archana Jyoti

New Delhi, Oct 8 (PTI) Big cats housed in various sanctuaries across the country will soon have their own 'identity cards' specifying their profile, a step that will enable authorities keep track of their movement and help in tiger conservation.

"We have issued an advisory to all the 17-tiger range states to keep an ID card specifying the details of each tiger in their sanctuaries," Rajesh Gopal, member secretary National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), said.

The identity card will be have a photograph of the tiger and its skin print, a unique characteristic of each predator, kill data and camera trap as well radio collar records with regular updatate of its behaviour.

"Maintaining an ID of each tiger will help the officials particularly forest guards keep a track on the predator in their jurisdiction. The idea is to strengthen tiger conservation at the ground level," Gopal explained.

UP tiger numbers fall by 60%, state only following country wide trends say officials

After the recent tiger census conducted by WII estimated the tiger population to have fallen to 109 from 273 in the last 5 years UP govt officials attribute it to the new census method. A report on sify.com quotes chief widlife conservator taking refuge in dwindling tiger numbers across the country to justify the drastic fall in UP. Obviously the statement reflects complete apathy on part of the state government who dont treat stemming the rot as priority.

160 tigers short, Uttar Pradesh blames census technique!

http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?a=jkiiucaibii&title=160_tigers_short,_Uttar_Pradesh_blames_census_technique!

NTCA announces schedule for Tiger census

The latest tiger census gets underway this month with NTCA setting the ball rolling by announcing a detailed schedule that includes training workshops for forest staff across the country followed by field data collection, reports Times of India. As was reported earlier, this years' census will also include counting Sunderbans and will build upon the camera trap method used in the previous census.

NTCA announces schedule for estimation exercise

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/nagpur/NTCA-announces-schedule-for-estimation-exercise/articleshow/5091580.cms

International Tiger Year to be launched on Valentine's day

With the objective of spreading awareness about conservation of forests and wildlife in them, the forest ministry has decided to celebrate international year of the tiger starting Valentine's day in 2010 culminating into the World Tiger meet at Ranthambore in Nov next year. With Chinese demand for tiger parts in the danger of peaking next year on account of the Chinese year of the tiger, it might be a good time to bring the issue of loosing tigers into international limelight.

International Year of the Tiger to kick off on V-Day: Ramesh

http://www.ptinews.com/news/311756_International-Year-of-Tiger--on-Valentine-s-Day--Ramesh

Centre acts fast on relocation - Funds released for Ranthambore and Manas

Just a month after Rajasthan and Assam signed the tripartite agreement with centre, funds have been cleared for relocation of villagers living in and around the tiger reserves in the two states. According to reports in TOI and Assam Tribune, Ranthambore is set to get a sum of over 100 crs and Manas Nattional park in Assam another 6.5 Crs. Humans living in and around tiger reserves has been cited as the biggest reason for decline in forest cover and wild animal numbers. With poachers getting easy shelter and know how from these communities and villagers themselves sometimes poisoning wild animals to save their cattle, moving human settlements out of sanctuaries has become top priority for conservationists. The new minister MOEF having recognizing the gravity of the problem has moved swiftly and has within months of taking over streamlined the system to ensure money is no more an obstacle and adequate legal provisions are in place to prevent misuse of funds. With these two states taking the lead hopefully other states like MP, Karnataka, Kerala and Uttarakhand will follow.

Rs 104 crore grant for Ranthambore

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/jaipur/Rs-104-crore-grant-for-Ranthambore/articleshow/5079246.cms

Move to relocate human settlement

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=oct0209/at08

Tadoba activists decry villagers move as Sonia Gandhi takes note

After villagers around Lohara, the location of Adani mines, came out in support of the project, green activists questioned their stand as per a report on TOI. According to activists the company has managed to lure a handful of people through money power to get them to endorse setting up the plant at the expense of the forest. As pointed out by some NGO activists, the forests are not the property of villagers living in the area but a natural resource that belongs to the country and saving it is of prime importance. It is relevant to note that residents of Chandrapur, the distt headquarters, a few months back had come out strongly against the mines having suffered the ill effects of mines in their area for decades.

In a related development Sonia Gandhi has taken note of a letter written by Rajya Sabha MP Shri Vijay Darda for pointing out adverse effects of the mine. He has also suggested setting up a committee to look into granting of the license. Mr Darda had used his offices to good effect last year when a similar letter by him to Sonia Gandhi against widening of Nagpur-Jabalpur highway cutting thru Pench tiger reserve saw the scrapping of the ecologically disastrous project.

Greens say forest, wildlife governed by laws not villagers

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/nagpur/Greens-say-forest-wildlife-governed-by-laws-not-villagers/articleshow/5079370.cms

Man Tiger conflict continues across the country as two more die

In separate incidents, two people were killed, apparently by tigers, one in Sunderbans and another in Almora Distt. Sunderbans has recently been in news for increased tiger attacks on humans. The forest department had had suggested that cycloe Aila earlier this year had killed prey in large numbers making tigers attack humans more often. Do study the issue in detail, forest dept had also initiated a study of prey base in the area but months after the first incidents were reported, there is no sign of the study. Sunderbans is also going to be included this year in the tiger census survey to be carried out starting next month.

Tiger kills fisherman in Sunderban

http://www.ptinews.com/news/308517_Tiger-kills-fisherman-in-Sunderbans

Tiger kills child in Simalkhet

http://www.ptinews.com/news/309698_Tiger-kills-child-in-Simalkhet

Let down by govt, villagers around Tadoba back Adani Mines

The fight going on between environmentalists on one side and Adani corp & state govt on the other, took a new twist on Wednesday when villagers from Lohara, the location of mines addressed a press conference in support of the mines. It is clear that the villagers donot see any future for themselves in preserving the forest and wildlife esp given how other families in and around Tadoba have been shoddily treated on resettlement matters. It is a shocking case of govt failure that locals are willing for their surroundings to be destroyed rather than let tourism drive the economy and become stake holders in development. As pointed out by them during the meet, there are many other mines in the area right on the edge of the park and perhaps they have seen the economic benefits those mines have brought to people in those areas, notwithstanding the damage it has caused to the ecology as a whole. The govt needs to provide alternate employment and means of livelihood if locals have to be made stakeholders in preservation of wildlife and forests. As long as villagers see forest conservation as an urban cause, india's efforts will be doomed. In a related development a bunch of NGOs filed petitions in the high court asking for the govt to stay granting of mining licenses to Adani. The high court has issued notices to the govt asking for status on the project. As no go ahead has been given yet, the court termed the petitions untimely.

Lohara villagers back proposed mines

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/nagpur/Lohara-villagers-back-proposed-mines/articleshow/5074199.cms

Pleas early, but HC wants status of Adani mines

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/nagpur/Pleas-early-but-HC-wants-status-of-Adani-mines/articleshow/5074194.cms

Forest dept indicates presence of tigers in Shivpuri

Shivpuri: There are indications of presence of tigers and their cubs in this district's Pohari subdivision's forest as a tribal shepherd claimed to have seen the big cats in the jungle.

Ramhet Adivasi, a resident of Umrai village, said he had sighted a tiger, a tigress and their two cubs moving in the jungle about a fortnight back, and when he went to the forest for grazing cattle on September 25, the tigers killed one of his cattle. He also informed the forest officials about the incident.

Some journalists, who visited the area along with forest officials of Pohari, also found bones of the cattle scattered in the forest. The villagers also confirmed that cattle were being killed by the tigers.

Pohari region is situated adjacent to Kuno-Palanpur forest that has been set up for providing habitat to tigers and other animals.

The presence of the tiger family in this region is being considered significant due to the dwindling population of big cats, cheetahs and leopards over the past few years.

The forest department sources said after confirmation of the presence of tiger family in the forest and gathering other related information, they would initiate further action.

http://www.mynews.in/News/Forest_dept_indicates_presence_of_tigers_in_Shivpuri_N26869.html

Centre’s aid to relocate villages from tiger habitats

New Delhi: The Centre has released nearly Rs 100 crore to five states to relocate villages in tiger reserves to free the animals from human interference with Madhya Pradesh getting almost half of the total fund share.

Besides, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Orissa, Tamil Nadu and Manas sanctuary in Assam have been given financial package for the purpose for the year 2008-09, according to a senior official in Environment Ministry.

http://www.zeenews.com/news567113.html

Dreaded poacher let out on bail by court - India cant enforce its laws

In a shocking case of apathy displayed by public prosecutors and police, India's most famous and dreaded poachers has been granted bail by the Supreme court pending final decision of a case against him in the apex court. It is relevant to note that Sansar Chand has numerous cases going on against him in trial courts across India for having killed numerous tigers, leopards and other wildlife. He is behind bars in Jaipur after being convicted in one case by a trail court a judgement that was upheld by the Rajasthan. Releasing such a dreaded criminal on bail smacks of insensitivity towards protection of wildlife. Despite all the media pressure and hype such criminals getting away using loopholes in the justice delivery system smacks of unwillingness to tackle serious crime head on. If the govt was serious of restraining him they would have vociferously appealed against granting of bail to a person who has and still has potential to afflict enormous damage to the country's wildlife. One hopes the central MOEF takes note of this development and a petition is filed at the earliest to revoke the bail order.

Wildlife activists shocked at jail suspension of Sansar Chan

http://www.samaylive.com/news/wildlife-activists-shocked-at-jail-suspension-of-sansar-chand/658780.html

Orrisa asks centre for more money for Similipal as it refutes WII tiger census numbers

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik met Central MOEF Jairam Ramesh and is reported to have requested for expediting sanctioning of funds for Similipal Tiger reserve as part of the annual plan according to Orrisadiary.com. This blog yesterday highlighted the tug of war going on between state govt and Centre appointed Tiger Conservation bodies on number of tigers inside Similipal tiger reserve. For the last couple of years WII has been indicating decline in population of big cats where as state govt has been repeatedly denying the facts. State govt officials apparently have no reason to feel accountable to either the centre or tiger conservationists as the chief minister himself has been speaking against WII numbers to avoid publicly accepting the embarrassing truth of not being able to save the national animal from slaughter. Similar denials in Panna over the last few years ensured the disappearance of tigers from the reserve and orrisa seems to be following in the footsteps of MP govt.

Orissa asks centre to approve forest clearance for irrigation project

http://www.orissadiary.com/CurrentNews.asp?id=14631

72 tigers killed this year, highest in a decade

An HT report today quotes figures circulated by WPSI claiming 72 tigers having been killed this year and 150 since 2006. NTCA's estimates are lower at 54 and 100 respectively but unmistakably point out to the alarming situation. These numbers of course would not include cubs who have lost their mothers to poaching and are unable to survive in the wild. Hence the actual numbers of tigers lost would be even higher. Given the pressures on wildlife and forest and ever expanding human encroachment it is a tough challenge for central govt to stem the slide. With most states apathetic towards the cause time is running out for the stripped cats.

End of the roar?

http://www.hindustantimes.com/End-of-the-roar/H1-Article1-457712.aspx

Orrisa refuses to trust WII tiger count for Similipal - Orders another one

Despite two surveys by credible organisations over as many years pointing out to decline in tiger numbers in Similipal Tiger reserve, state govt of Orrisa refuses to believe the news. After the 2007 tiger census pointed out low tiger density, Chief minister Navin Patnaik himself had questioned the validity of the numbers. Now after another count conducted by WII recently found tiger population to have fallen to just 41, down from almost 100, the chief wildlife officer taking a cue from his boss has questioned the figures again. Similipal has been in news recently due to maoist problems and local mafia along with villagers having taken over the park. In fact chief minister Navin Patnaik himself had asked the centre to deploy CRPF to protect the park from being raided by poaching gangs. Now that a credible nodal body has laid bare the facts, the least state govt can do is get out of its denial mode. Our readers would remember similar denials issued by park directors of Panna in MP doomed the tigers there. One hopes a similar story is not unfolding in Similipal. The centre should push Orrisa govt to sign the tripartite agreement which will put an end to such blatant attempts at cover ups.

Orissa to recount Tigers in Similipal Tiger Reserv

http://orissadiary.com/Shownews.asp?id=14597

8yr old caught Poaching tiger!

Times of India reports a boy and his grand mother caught around the Valmiki national park in Bihar waiting for a tiger to walk into a metal trap laid by them. The duo apparently belong to a tribe of hunters most famous of whom goes by the name of Dhariya who is in jail for a poaching case. According to forest officials quoted in the report the entire family is involved in poaching and smuggling along the Indo-Nepal border and is key to preventing trade in banned wildlife parts.

8-year-old, grandmom held poaching big cat

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/india/8-year-old-grandmom-held-poaching-big-cats/articleshow/5048209.cms

Melghat tiger reserve conflict symbolic of botched up conservation efforts

The Indian express reports villagers around Melghat Tiger reserve in Maharashtra pressurizing politicians to allow cattle grazing inside the park despite it being a notified tiger sanctuary. With elections in the state around the corner, public servants are caught in a bind. After Maharasthra recently signed a tripartite agreement with Centre and NTCA for conservation of tiger reserves, cattle grazing inside reserves which hitherto attracted a penalty has been made a punishable offence and the forest director has made accountable to prevent it. Officers are hence caught in a bin, with politicians on one hand pressurizing them to allow villagers to use the park whereas the new law makes them accountable for such illegal acitivities. The conflicts also highlights the poor planning underneath tiger conservation plans in India. Villagers have been living around the area for generations and to suddenly ask them to discontinue activities linked to earning their livelihood without providing any alternate means of sustenance is criminal negligence. With the centre having cleared a lucrative resettlement package for each family to be relocated, Melghat park officials would be well advised to quickly implement it rather than let the issue simmer and reach a flash point. For the recently formed committee under NTCA tasked to evaluate conservation efforts inside sanctuaries, proper resettlement of villagers should be a priority area.

Another tiger cub found abandoned in Tadoba

Days after two cubs were caught by wildlife officials apparently after having lost their mother to poachers,wildlife officials trapped another 3rd cub around the same area in Tadoba reports The Indian Express. The story also quotes wildlife officials having seen pugmarks of a big tiger around the area where the 3rd cub was caught indicating the mother's presence there till recently. DNA samples are being sent for examination to verify if the three cubs are siblings. As this blog posted yesterday,NTCa officials have sent a detailed set of guidelines to the park director for immediate action to prevent any further loss of tigers.