Archana Jyoti
New Delhi, Oct 3 (PTI) Soon after their release into the wild of Rajasthan''s Sariska forests, relocated tigers surveyed intensly for three months the jungle spread over 881 sq km to finally settle in a "best home range" having less anthropegenic pressure and rich prey-base, found out scientists who were trailing them.
A tiger and tigress (T-1) were shifted from Ranthambhore in June and July, 2008, respectively while another female (T2) was reintroduced into the wild in March 2009, a move to repopulate the species in Sariska sanctuary which lost all the big cats almost six years ago to poachers.
It was the first ever successful translocation of big cats from wild to wild in the country.
The team of scientists comprising K Sankar, Qamar Qureshi, Parag Nigam1, P K Malik, PR Sinha from Wildlife Institute of India, R N Mehrotra, Rajasthan Chief Wildlife Warden and Rajesh Gopal, member secretary from National Tiger Conservation Authority had conducted study of home range, prey selection, and food habits of the reintroduced tigers for a year from July 2008.
They observed that the radio-collared tiger and tigress moved in two different directions (tiger toward the south and the tigress toward the north) soon after release into wild.
"They occupied different areas and did not meet each other till September 2008. In total, 437 locations for tiger, 463 locations for tigress-1, and 229 locations for tigress-2 were obtained using a hand-held Global Positioning System (GPS)," says the study highlighting the normal behaviour of the big cats when moved from their native home to another.
In this case, it was from Ranthambore to Sariska sanctuary.
After having surveyed the new areas in monsoon, the tiger and tigress were found to be settling in the best available habitats in winter with adequate prey base, water availability, and less anthropogenic pressure.
Researching over 115 kill sites made by them from July 2008 to June 2009, the wildlife experts noted that nearly half of the radio-collared tiger''s prey was made up of sambar deer, while nearly 20 per cent of it was livestock, which had been left unprotected far from human dwellings. There are around ten villages in the sanctuary.
Stressing on expediting relocation of the villages, the scietintists have estimated that once it is done a 274 sq km area will be available free from biotic interference which can support at least 15 adult tigers.
"The successful relocation of Bhagani vs illage can set as an example to expedite the entire relocation process.
The proposed supplementation of three tigers (one male and two females) in every two years for a period of six years and removal of anthropogenic pressure from the national park will be crucial for the long-term survival of tigers in Sariska," scientists have said.
To achieve success in making people less dependent on forest resources, implementation of eco-development programs in and around the tiger reserve with the involvement of NGOs is recommended.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Will state govt act on STPF for tigers?
NAGPUR: The state government did grant more space for tigers by notifying buffer zones of three tiger reserves, but much needs to be done on the protection front. The state is yet to comply with theNational Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) guidelines for raising, arming and deploying Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) in tiger reserves with 100% central assistance.
The STPF is to be set up in Pench and Tadoba-Andhari tiger reserves in Maharashtra; Dudhwa-Katerniaghat and Corbett in Uttar Pradesh, Ranthambhore in Rajasthan, Kanha, Bandhavgarh & Pench in Madhya Pradesh, Pakke in Arunachal Pradesh, Bandipur in Karnataka, Mudumalai in Tamil Nadu, Kaziranga in Assam and Similipal in Orissa.
The NTCA had initially issued the guidelines on February 5. It revised the norms on May 11, 2009 after detailed consultations with tiger states and ministry of home affairs. The STPF will be on the lines of India Reserve Battalion. The state is yet to respond positively.
Talking to TOI, DC Pant, principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) for wildlife, said the department has to raise two battalions of 120 each for Pench and Tadoba. Earlier, one battalion was to be headed by an assistant commandant, 3 PSIs, 6 head constables and 90 constables. But police department has declined to part with its staff.
In view of this, the NTCA revised norms and as a second option, the STPF is to comprise only forest personnel like ACFs, RFOs, foresters and forest guards. A 30% of the STPF guards will comprise locals.
The outsourced persons will be entitled to the same salary and other emoluments through the service provider, as regular forest guards. The structure of a company, command and control, recruitment, legal immunity and related issues remains the same.
Pant says now with the first option out, "we have to set up the STPF on our own". "The proposal is pending with the government and it will take time to create new posts. Till the STPF is not created, temporarily we will take help of home guards for protection," he added.
However, considering the endangered status of tiger and the need for urgently stepping up protection in reserves, STPF is a necessity. Conservationists are now asking, "What's the problem when 100% assistance will be given by the Centre?" The worst is that the state government has imposed a ban on recruitment in forest department.
The process is on for providing central assistance during the financial year and chief wildlife wardens have been requested to send the MoU for implementing the initiative in conformity.
The STPF is to be set up in Pench and Tadoba-Andhari tiger reserves in Maharashtra; Dudhwa-Katerniaghat and Corbett in Uttar Pradesh, Ranthambhore in Rajasthan, Kanha, Bandhavgarh & Pench in Madhya Pradesh, Pakke in Arunachal Pradesh, Bandipur in Karnataka, Mudumalai in Tamil Nadu, Kaziranga in Assam and Similipal in Orissa.
The NTCA had initially issued the guidelines on February 5. It revised the norms on May 11, 2009 after detailed consultations with tiger states and ministry of home affairs. The STPF will be on the lines of India Reserve Battalion. The state is yet to respond positively.
Talking to TOI, DC Pant, principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) for wildlife, said the department has to raise two battalions of 120 each for Pench and Tadoba. Earlier, one battalion was to be headed by an assistant commandant, 3 PSIs, 6 head constables and 90 constables. But police department has declined to part with its staff.
In view of this, the NTCA revised norms and as a second option, the STPF is to comprise only forest personnel like ACFs, RFOs, foresters and forest guards. A 30% of the STPF guards will comprise locals.
The outsourced persons will be entitled to the same salary and other emoluments through the service provider, as regular forest guards. The structure of a company, command and control, recruitment, legal immunity and related issues remains the same.
Pant says now with the first option out, "we have to set up the STPF on our own". "The proposal is pending with the government and it will take time to create new posts. Till the STPF is not created, temporarily we will take help of home guards for protection," he added.
However, considering the endangered status of tiger and the need for urgently stepping up protection in reserves, STPF is a necessity. Conservationists are now asking, "What's the problem when 100% assistance will be given by the Centre?" The worst is that the state government has imposed a ban on recruitment in forest department.
The process is on for providing central assistance during the financial year and chief wildlife wardens have been requested to send the MoU for implementing the initiative in conformity.
Census indicates tiger presence in Goa
PANAJI: Goa's forest department has come across an indirect evidence about presence of tiger in the state's forests during the recently concluded wildlife census.
State's additional principal chief conservator of forest Shashi Kumar said that the same would be confirmed only in the second phase.
"There is evidence of the tiger's presence which will be confirmed through camera trapping method," he said.
Kumar's statement assumes significance amid persistent denials by the department to move ahead with the proposal to declare Goa's wildlife sanctuaries as tiger habitat. In a recent meeting with members of the Western Ghat Conservation Panel, environmentalists had put up a proposal to declare Goa as a tiger reserve.
The forest department conducted a wildlife census with the help of Dehuradun based Wildlife Institute of India (WII), this year. Talking to reporters on the sidelines of Wildlife Week celebrations which began on Saturday, Kumar said that the camera trapping method will take the visuals and indicate the number of tigers in the forests.
Kumar said that the WII is yet to analyse the data collected from Goa since it is busy with the Tiger Census conducted at various wildlife sanctuaries in the country.
State's additional principal chief conservator of forest Shashi Kumar said that the same would be confirmed only in the second phase.
"There is evidence of the tiger's presence which will be confirmed through camera trapping method," he said.
Kumar's statement assumes significance amid persistent denials by the department to move ahead with the proposal to declare Goa's wildlife sanctuaries as tiger habitat. In a recent meeting with members of the Western Ghat Conservation Panel, environmentalists had put up a proposal to declare Goa as a tiger reserve.
The forest department conducted a wildlife census with the help of Dehuradun based Wildlife Institute of India (WII), this year. Talking to reporters on the sidelines of Wildlife Week celebrations which began on Saturday, Kumar said that the camera trapping method will take the visuals and indicate the number of tigers in the forests.
Kumar said that the WII is yet to analyse the data collected from Goa since it is busy with the Tiger Census conducted at various wildlife sanctuaries in the country.
Friday, October 1, 2010
1st regional NTCA office gets nod
NAGPUR: The Centre on Tuesday finally cleared the setting up of India's first regional office of theNational Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) in Nagpur.
The proposal was cleared on Tuesday, and an official communication issued by Rajesh Gopal, NTCA member-secretary, to this effect was received by PCCF (wildlife) on Wednesday. NTCA is the statutory body under the ministry of environment & forests (MoEF) monitoring all tiger reserves in India.
The NTCA has stated that the office at Nagpur will closely monitor all tiger reserves in Central India. There are 12 tigers reserves in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
CCF Shree Bhagwan, who is presently general manager at FDCM, has been asked to facilitate the setting up of the new office. Sources said the office premises has also been finalized and is situated opposite the VCA stadium in Civil Lines.
TOI had reported on January 10 NTCA's plans to set up a regional office at Nagpur. Later Jairam Ramesh confirmed it on January 27 in Nagpur. On September 13 while in the city, Ramesh said the proposal was pending with the finance ministry.
"Nagpur is known as the tiger gateway and hence our choice. The office will be in place this year itself," Gopal told TOI. The office will be handled by a CCF level officer.
"Setting up of regional office in Nagpur holds significance as there will be better coordination now and response time will be reduced," said Kishor Rithe, president of Satpuda Foundation.
"We will see to it that NTCA guidelines are implemented effectively and there is better cooperation between the tiger states," Gopal added.
This will be NTCA's first mega expansion plan in India. The authority, earlier known as Project Tiger, came into existence on September 4, 2006 after amendments to Wildlife Protection Act, 2006. Following the changes, a Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) was mulled in Nagpur but was instead taken to Jabalpur later.
Forest officials felt setting up of NTCA office would help streamline release of funds. Getting money in time is the biggest problem today. NTCA releases money in September and state government further delays it by another three months.
The office at Nagpur will facilitate implementation of normative standards for tiger conservation, providing information on several aspects which include protection, ensuring measures for addressing man-wild animal conflict and fostering preparation of tiger protection and conservation plans by neighbouring states among host of other things.
The NTCA office will coordinate with three tiger states having 12 tiger reserves. It will include Melghat, Tadoba-Andhari, Sahyadri and Pench in Maharashtra; Pench, Panna, Bandhavgarh, Kanha and Satpuda in Madhya Pradesh and Indravati and Achanakmar in Chhattisgarh. These reserves and part of its landscape, as per the Wildlife Institute of India ( WII) 2008 status report, has a presence of over 500 tigers. which is one-third tiger population of India.
The proposal was cleared on Tuesday, and an official communication issued by Rajesh Gopal, NTCA member-secretary, to this effect was received by PCCF (wildlife) on Wednesday. NTCA is the statutory body under the ministry of environment & forests (MoEF) monitoring all tiger reserves in India.
The NTCA has stated that the office at Nagpur will closely monitor all tiger reserves in Central India. There are 12 tigers reserves in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
CCF Shree Bhagwan, who is presently general manager at FDCM, has been asked to facilitate the setting up of the new office. Sources said the office premises has also been finalized and is situated opposite the VCA stadium in Civil Lines.
TOI had reported on January 10 NTCA's plans to set up a regional office at Nagpur. Later Jairam Ramesh confirmed it on January 27 in Nagpur. On September 13 while in the city, Ramesh said the proposal was pending with the finance ministry.
"Nagpur is known as the tiger gateway and hence our choice. The office will be in place this year itself," Gopal told TOI. The office will be handled by a CCF level officer.
"Setting up of regional office in Nagpur holds significance as there will be better coordination now and response time will be reduced," said Kishor Rithe, president of Satpuda Foundation.
"We will see to it that NTCA guidelines are implemented effectively and there is better cooperation between the tiger states," Gopal added.
This will be NTCA's first mega expansion plan in India. The authority, earlier known as Project Tiger, came into existence on September 4, 2006 after amendments to Wildlife Protection Act, 2006. Following the changes, a Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) was mulled in Nagpur but was instead taken to Jabalpur later.
Forest officials felt setting up of NTCA office would help streamline release of funds. Getting money in time is the biggest problem today. NTCA releases money in September and state government further delays it by another three months.
The office at Nagpur will facilitate implementation of normative standards for tiger conservation, providing information on several aspects which include protection, ensuring measures for addressing man-wild animal conflict and fostering preparation of tiger protection and conservation plans by neighbouring states among host of other things.
The NTCA office will coordinate with three tiger states having 12 tiger reserves. It will include Melghat, Tadoba-Andhari, Sahyadri and Pench in Maharashtra; Pench, Panna, Bandhavgarh, Kanha and Satpuda in Madhya Pradesh and Indravati and Achanakmar in Chhattisgarh. These reserves and part of its landscape, as per the Wildlife Institute of India ( WII) 2008 status report, has a presence of over 500 tigers. which is one-third tiger population of India.
Sunny side up for sanctuaries
JAIPUR: It is a promising season ahead for tourists to the Ranthambore national park and the Sariska sanctuary as the tiger reserves open up for tourists after a hiatus of three months from Friday. While two newborns await tourists at Ranthambore, Sariska has five tigers now for the first time since the cat population was wiped away from there.
According to R S Shekhawat, director of the national park, "It sure is a promising season for tourists. It is after a gap of two years that cubs have been bon here and they will fill the vacuum left by the relocation of two tigers from here to Sariska recently." As always all eye at Ranthambore would be scanning the Lady of the Lake or Machli. Now in her old age the tigress is one of the most popular cats at Ranthambore having been spotted by the maximum number of tourists. Despite her failing health there are many tourists who come to Ranthambore just to see her.
"For the first time we have had so many tourists coming to the national park so early. In fact the booking for October 2 is full and we have no capacity," Shekhawat added.
For the first time the park is giving the facility of current online booking.
"Those who come to the park can book their tickets for entry online on the same day. The booking will be on 24 hours. For the morning safari to the park visitors will have to book their tickets between 5 am to 5 pm while for the afternoon session booking will be on from 5 pm to 9 am," Shekhawat added.
Also for the first time the park has been divided into eight zones for safari rides. While five of these routes are within the national park two are at the Sawai Man Singh sanctuary and one at the Sawai Madhopur Park. For Sariska too the promises could not have been better. The gap after the relocation of three tigers to the reserve from Ranthambore ended a couple of months ago with the relocation of two more tigers taking the total to five. "Though it is difficult to say as to whether there will be a rush but with five tigers in the reserve we hope that more people come this time," said KK Garg, the field director of the reserve. Incidentally, the National Wildlife Week too begins from Friday and both the venues would hold numerous competitions.
"We would be hosting painting competitions, photography competitions and a host of other events in collaboration with the WWF and Stripes," said Shekhawat.
The WWF also plan to hold street plays in Ranthambore during the week to spread the message of a peaceful coexsistance between villagers, foresters and animals at the park.
According to R S Shekhawat, director of the national park, "It sure is a promising season for tourists. It is after a gap of two years that cubs have been bon here and they will fill the vacuum left by the relocation of two tigers from here to Sariska recently." As always all eye at Ranthambore would be scanning the Lady of the Lake or Machli. Now in her old age the tigress is one of the most popular cats at Ranthambore having been spotted by the maximum number of tourists. Despite her failing health there are many tourists who come to Ranthambore just to see her.
"For the first time we have had so many tourists coming to the national park so early. In fact the booking for October 2 is full and we have no capacity," Shekhawat added.
For the first time the park is giving the facility of current online booking.
"Those who come to the park can book their tickets for entry online on the same day. The booking will be on 24 hours. For the morning safari to the park visitors will have to book their tickets between 5 am to 5 pm while for the afternoon session booking will be on from 5 pm to 9 am," Shekhawat added.
Also for the first time the park has been divided into eight zones for safari rides. While five of these routes are within the national park two are at the Sawai Man Singh sanctuary and one at the Sawai Madhopur Park. For Sariska too the promises could not have been better. The gap after the relocation of three tigers to the reserve from Ranthambore ended a couple of months ago with the relocation of two more tigers taking the total to five. "Though it is difficult to say as to whether there will be a rush but with five tigers in the reserve we hope that more people come this time," said KK Garg, the field director of the reserve. Incidentally, the National Wildlife Week too begins from Friday and both the venues would hold numerous competitions.
"We would be hosting painting competitions, photography competitions and a host of other events in collaboration with the WWF and Stripes," said Shekhawat.
The WWF also plan to hold street plays in Ranthambore during the week to spread the message of a peaceful coexsistance between villagers, foresters and animals at the park.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Tiger population increases in Sathyamangalam forest
Erode (TN),Sept29 (PTI) The tiger population has almost doubled in the Sathyamangalam forest range here within a year as per a census in the region,a forest official said today. In 2007 there were only eight Tigers in the Sathyamangalam forest. It declined to seven in 2008 and increased to ten in 2009. Now as per the census going on in the area there are about 18 Tigers in the forest, District Forest Officer N Ramasubramaniam told PTI. This is due to the strict vigil maintained by the forest department against poaching and proper facilities for the animals care like adequate water, he said. "Exhaustive study in ascertaining tiger population in the entire Sathyamangalam forest division is going on�, he said. He said a fresh census would be taken soon on elephants.There were 866 elephants in 2009, compared to 815 in 2007. There were 672 Gaur in the forest in 2009 as against 630 in 2007. "There are 2348 spotted deer, 1068 black bucks (kasturi Maan), 304 Sambar deer and 77 Barking deer.Government plans to start a black Buck Sanctuary in the Bhavanisagar area," he said. The leopard population too has seen a rise with 27 inhabiting the forest now against 19 in 2007. "But the wild boar population is decreasing sharply due to climatic conditions.No one is hunting the variety." Compared to 2402 wild boars 2009, there were only 843 in 2009. There forest also has 43 sloth bears and 15 striped hyenas. A separate vigilance squad has been formed to prevent poaching in the forest. He also said over the past few days some Tigers from Karnataka have been migrating to Tamilnadu forests,especially Sathyamangalam.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
15 tigers in Buxa Tiger Reserve
Guwahati, Sept 28 (PTI) The Buxa Tiger Reserve in West Bengal currently has a minimum of fifteen tigers, as per a study by a wildlife body. "Of them, nine are female, three male and the gender of the rest cannot be ascertained", the head of 'Wildlife Genetics Laboratory of Aaranyak', Udayan Borthakur told PTI here today. He said the researchers used DNA based analysis techniques for the first time in the country to estimate population by using faecal (scat) samples of tigers in the Buxa Tiger Reserve.''Faecal samples collected by BTR authority were handed over to us and we used genetic markers to identify tiger scats from other sympatric carnivores such as leopard'', said Borthakur who runs the society for biodiversity conservation in the North East.A set of highly polymorphic microsatellite markers to identify individual tiger and sex chromosome linked markers to identify gender of the tiger scat samples were used and stringent laboratory conditions for assessing and minimizing error were maintained, he said. DNA-based techniques of identification of individual tigers might be considered as a practical and low cost option for population estimation and long term monitoring of this species in the protected areas of the country, Borthakur said.From geographical point of view, Buxa Tiger Reserve is contiguous with the Manas Tiger Reserve of Assam and Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan.
Tiger number doubles in Kalakkad, pictures show
Sept. 28: More tigers are on the prowl the Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve in Tirunelveli district.
In what comes as a fillip to the ‘Save the Tiger’ campaign, the number of the big striped cats in the reserve is said to have doubled. Tiger reserve field director and chief conservator of forests H. Mallesappa said there are 13 big cats in the reserve as of date compared to six in 2006. This has been confirmed scientifically through camera traps, he added.
Wildlife sources said the census showed that there were three males, seven females and three cubs in the reserve at present. KMTR also supports about 60 panthers, two dozen elephants and more than 100 varieties of migratory birds.
The other flagship species that are found in KMTR include the giant squirrel and the lion-tailed macaque. The reserve forest also supports a healthy herbivore population comprising Indian gaur and spotted deer, wildlife sources added.
“The state forest department is currently using camera traps in all the three tiger reserves after the Centre allocated several crores of rupees for a holistic census,” said chief conservator of forests (wildlife) V.N. Singh, adding that the scientific results are encouraging.
Top wildlife officials and field directors of Project Tiger reserves in Tamil Nadu, however, admitted that an authenticated report would be available only after the scientific studies and camera trap images are released by the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun.
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chennai/tiger-number-doubles-kalakkad-pictures-show-237
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
NGO launches signature campaign to demand arrest over tigress' killing Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/ngo-launches-signature-campa
Bhopal: A local NGO has launched a massive signature campaign to demand the arrest of those involved in the killing of a tigress, Jhurjhura, in the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve of Madhya Pradesh.
"So far, the organisation had collected 36,145 signatures from all over the country in support of its demand," Secretary of NGO Udai, Shehla Masood told reporters at the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve on Monday.
Earlier, the NGO was planning to take out a rally but in view of imposition of prohibitory orders under Sections 144 of the CrPC in majority of towns in the state, the campaign seeking 'Justice For Death Of Jhurjhura' was changed to collection of signatures, she said.
Jhurjhura had died on May 18 this year after she was fatally wounded when some unidentified persons entered the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve for a night drive.
"Although nothing can be done to bring the tigress back to life, we demand that the perpetrators of this wicked crime are brought to book and made to pay for the playing of the tigress," Shehla added
"So far, the organisation had collected 36,145 signatures from all over the country in support of its demand," Secretary of NGO Udai, Shehla Masood told reporters at the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve on Monday.
Earlier, the NGO was planning to take out a rally but in view of imposition of prohibitory orders under Sections 144 of the CrPC in majority of towns in the state, the campaign seeking 'Justice For Death Of Jhurjhura' was changed to collection of signatures, she said.
Jhurjhura had died on May 18 this year after she was fatally wounded when some unidentified persons entered the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve for a night drive.
"Although nothing can be done to bring the tigress back to life, we demand that the perpetrators of this wicked crime are brought to book and made to pay for the playing of the tigress," Shehla added
Fake bail scam: SC seeks case papers from reserve officials Read more: Fake bail scam: SC seeks case papers from reserve officials - The Times of Ind
ALWAR: The Supreme Court has asked Sariska Tiger Reserve officials to produce the documents of the poaching cases against the accused Jugru, Teyab and Ramzan after the accused managed to get bail from the court producing fake documents.
Following a controversy on granting of bail to the accused by the apex court on September 6, the Supreme court had sent notice to the reserve officials and asked them to present the facts to the court.
The officials, on verification of the documents, found the accused had misled the court with forged and fake documents to get bail. The accused claimed they had already undergone four years and three months imprisonment while the mobile court had handed out only imprisonment for three years.
Bhaganwan Singh Nathawat, ACF, Sarika National Park, who appeared before the court in this connection, has sought seven days for a detailed report on the incident. He said that while the accused had only undergone one year 11 months and 18 days imprisonment of their five-year sentence. He said the accused got the bail on the basis of forged documents and certificates.
He said a bench of the Rajasthan Court in February had denied them bail and they approached the Supreme Court, bypassing a higher bench in the Rajasthan High Court.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Fake-bail-scam-SC-seeks-case-papers-from-reserve-officials/articleshow/6639563.cms
Following a controversy on granting of bail to the accused by the apex court on September 6, the Supreme court had sent notice to the reserve officials and asked them to present the facts to the court.
The officials, on verification of the documents, found the accused had misled the court with forged and fake documents to get bail. The accused claimed they had already undergone four years and three months imprisonment while the mobile court had handed out only imprisonment for three years.
Bhaganwan Singh Nathawat, ACF, Sarika National Park, who appeared before the court in this connection, has sought seven days for a detailed report on the incident. He said that while the accused had only undergone one year 11 months and 18 days imprisonment of their five-year sentence. He said the accused got the bail on the basis of forged documents and certificates.
He said a bench of the Rajasthan Court in February had denied them bail and they approached the Supreme Court, bypassing a higher bench in the Rajasthan High Court.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Fake-bail-scam-SC-seeks-case-papers-from-reserve-officials/articleshow/6639563.cms
“Preserve tiger reserve”
TIRUNELVELI: The Kalakkad – Mundanthurai Tiger Conservation Foundation Tamil Nadu Trust, which has been established with the objective of conserving the fauna and flora, has appealed to individuals and institutions to donate liberally to preserve the forest of Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) and its flagship species.
Speaking to reporters here on Monday, Chief Conservator of Forests and Field Director, KMTR, H. Malleshappa, said that the tiger reserve, covering an area of 895.39 square kilometres, with 400 square kilometres of evergreen forests, has 448 endemic species of angiosperms, 17 genera and 161 species of ferns. As per the tiger census taken during last fiscal, the tiger reserve had 13 tigers, of which three were found through scat analysis.
“The number should have gone up further, which will be known exactly during the next census to be conducted scientifically,” said Mr. Malleshappa.
He suggested that the donors may provide solar fences to prevent wild animal invasion into adjoining farms, construction of watch towers and vehicles. He stated that the donors could adopt any wild animal species by bearing their protection costs or maintain the reserve hygienically. He said that the tiger reserve administration would give preference to the donors whenever they visit the sanctuary.
The names of the donors would be displayed at vantage points. The donors would get income tax exemption for their contribution to the trust.
He said that the Union Government had released Rs.1.94 crore which would be used various purposes.
Deputy Directors of KMTR, D. Venkatesh (Mundanthurai) and K. Sathyanathan (Kalakkad) were present.
http://www.hindu.com/2010/09/28/stories/2010092857980100.htm
Monday, September 27, 2010
Over 200 tribal families to be evicted from Dampa tiger reserve
The expansion of the area of Dampa Tiger Reserve in Mizoram’s Mamit district is going to evict 227 tribal families of Andermanik village. For the last one year, the villagers have been denied permission to cultivate Jhums (Shifting cultivation).
THE EXTENSION of Dampa Tiger Reserve in Mamit district in western beltof Mizoram is going to displace as many as 227 tribal families – all belonging to Chakma community from Andermanik village. All these are poor people without livelihood, except for Jhum cultivation upon which the forest officials have imposed restrictions. For the past one year, there has been no cultivation due to fear of the long hand of the law.
Incidentally, these villagers or their ancestors had been evicted once from the Dampa Tiger Reserve area in 1989 and resettled by the state government outside the DTR area in the present Andermanik village. However, all in the name of tiger protection, the forest department is all set to evict them once again.
As per the “Revised Guidelines for the Ongoing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Project Tiger” (February 2008) of the Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India, the Andermanik villagers have been offered two options: Option I – Take the entire package amount (Rs. 10 lakhs per family) and the Forest Department will not be involved in any rehabilitation / relocation process . Option II – The Forest Department will carry out relocation / rehabilitation of village from the tiger reserve.
The money being offered is lucrative – Rs 10 lakhs per family, that is a total of Rs 22,70,00,000 (Twenty Two Crores Seventy Lakhs) for the entire village. But thanks to the absolute lack of transparency and secretive attitudes of the officials, the villagers have been divided into supporters of Option I and Option II.
If the villagers opt for Option I, they take Rs 10 lakh per family but need to find their own homes – somewhere, somehow (so says the Guideline as per the interpretation of the officials). The officials also interpreted to them that their Village Council would be dissolved (Andermanik is a full-fledged Village Council/Court). The villagers are strongly opposed to the dissolution of their Village Council.
In case of option II, the following package is proposed, at the rate of Rs. 10 lakhs per family:
Agriculture land procurement (2 hectare) and development – 35% of the total package; Settlement of rights – 30%, Homestead land and house construction – 20%, Incentive – 5%, and Community facilities – 10% The District Commissioner of Mamit has allegedly told the village leaders in no uncertain terms that each family would be getting not more than Rs 2 lakhs if they opt for Option II. The rest (i.e. Rs 8 lakh from each family) would be used by the state government to provide land title, develop their lands, and create infrastructure in the new village site. The villagers feel they are being cheated.
The villagers have been completely kept in the dark about the land acquisition and relocation/rehabilitation. This displacement process absolutely lacks transparency; so much so that the villagers do not know about the fate of government servants such as teachers! The teachers fear that they may lose their jobs after relocation.
The local MLA and Deputy Speaker, John Rotluangliana has promised the Andermanik villagers a new life in a “model village”. But few are ready to buy his assurance. How can they forget so soon that in 1989 eviction they had received only Rs 5000 or so out of the promised Rs 1 lakh per family? No one knows where the money had gone. The politicians had promised everything. But even today the Andermanik village has no road connectivity and no health care centre. The villagers have to track hostile terrains to have access to PDS food grain or medicine from the nearest shop at Rajiv Nagar which is 18 km away!
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Leo on tiger mission
New York, Sept. 24 (PTI): Actor Leonardo DiCaprio will visit India soon to see tigers in the wild and promote global awareness about their dwindling numbers.
The Titanic star, who is an ambassador of the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF), met Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh in New York yesterday to discuss ways to get involved in tiger conservation.
“He is very keen to work on tiger conservation. He wants to take on a more visible role. Somebody like him could play an important role in sensitising the global community to the cause of the Indian tiger,” Ramesh said.
Earlier this year, DiCaprio had visited Nepal to assess the preservation programmes in the country to save the big cat which is on the brink of extinction.
There are only an estimated 3,200 tigers left in the wild and India’s tiger reserves are home to a sizeable chunk of the global tiger population.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100925/jsp/nation/story_12980241.jsp
Forest staff remove 45 traps in Bandipur
BANGALORE: In a swift and efficient operation forest department staff of Bandipur Tiger Reserve have detected and removed 45 wire snares in the Begur and Gundre ranges of the tiger reserve. These snares, mostly made of telephone wires, steel cables and even natural tree fibres, had been set to catch ungulates such as chital, sambar, wild pig, barking deer, mouse deer and other animals for meat.
However, several instances of tigers and leopards getting killed in these snares are reported.In April this year, a tiger was found dead, caught in a similar snare in Gopalaswamybetta of Bandipur Tiger Reserve. 'It was found that notorious poacher Paapa and his associates Nagarajaswamy, Govinda, Shivaraju and Kumaraswamy were involved in setting the snare.The same gang had poached another tiger in Bandipur during February 2010 in a similar manner. In the last 18 months, five leopards have been reported killed, caught in snares in Karnataka (in Chikmagalur, Shirva, Mangalore and Virajpet).Since then, the forest department had increased foot patrolling to detect and remove snares.In the last three days of the intense combing operation led by field director BJ Hosmat and deputy conservator of forests KT Hanumanthappa, the forest department staff removed the snares which were laid on regular trails where wild animals are known to frequent.Assistant conservators of forests, Lingaraju and Ravishankar, range forest officers Chikka Rajendra and Bhagyavanth Masudi, forester Siddaramappa, guards Ravikumar, Lokesh, Puttaswamy and forest watchers Basavaraju, Krishna, Naaga Naika, Manjunath, Kumara, Maadu, Raju, Darshan and Rajeev were instrumental in this important fete.Snares have become a serious problem in our forests. These silent killers are very difficult to detect and unlike hunters with guns, these are extremely difficult to spot. This incident brings out the importance of foot patrolling in forests, which is the most crucial thing to detect snares and other illegal activities which are impossible to detect in vehicular patrolling.These kinds of unnatural losses of adult big cats will have a serious impact on the carnivore community in the area. For example, if a dominant male tiger is killed, other males which like to take over the territory held by the killed tiger, will kill all the cubs and young male tigers in its territory, so that they it can take over the territory.They will also kill cubs in anticipation that the female tigers can again come in oestrus for it to mate. Hence, the indirect losses of tigers or leopards dying in snares are colossal.It has been a cause for concern that the culture of foot patrolling is vanishing and the current detection by forest department in Bandipur is highly welcomed. The state government has already appointed staff for the Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) and this is one of the successes of STPF. Karnataka was the first state in the country to set up STPFs.Friday, September 24, 2010
45 snares laid for tigers and leopards found in Bandipur
Forest officials at the Bandipur Tiger Reserve have stumbled on as many as 45 metal traps to snare tigers and leopards, all laid by poachers following a combing operation on Thursday. The findings have shocked officials and come despite their massive vigilance drive.
Following the poaching incidents in February, April and July this year when two leopards and a wild boar were killed by poachers inside the Bandipur reserve, the forest department had launched a strict vigilance drive across the reserve. But, despite their intense efforts, poachers have managed to lay traps at strategic locations in the the park.Speaking to Bangalore Mirror, field director, Project Tiger, B J Hosmath, who led the combing operation said: “Based on a tip-off, our staff launched a combing operation in the ranges of N Begur and Gundre within the reserve and detected as many as 45 snares. After the poaching incidents, especially the one involving the tragic death of a young tiger on April 30 in Gopalaswamybetta region, we had further intensified our operations.”
Senior forest department officials said they were conducting vehicular patrol daily. However, following the spurt in poaching activities using snares, officials were asked patrol the reserve on foot to curb such practices.
“Most of these snares were made of steel cables, but a few were made of telephone cables and natural tree fibres. We suspect this to be the handiwork of poachers from neighbouring villages at the behest of professional poachers. Though snares are used to catch deer and boar for meat, on several instances tigers and leopards were caught and killed on the spot,” an official said.
The department suspects that the notorious poacher Paapa and his associates Nagarajaswamy, Govinda, Shivaraju and Kumaraswamy could have played a major role in setting these snares. The same gang had poached a tiger in February 2010.
Commenting on the trend, Sanjay Gubbi, wildlife conservationist and member of the state wildlife board said, “Snares have become a serious problem. Unlike major poaching equipments, these are difficult to detect. This incident highlights the importance of patrolling on foot.”
Hit by Staff crunch
The acute shortage of ground level staff in the department has marred plans to safeguard the population of big cats. According to officials in the forest department, Bandipur and the adjacent Nagarhole and Mudumali regions have the largest population of tigers – estimated to be about 300 – in the country.
“We have not given up despite the acute shortage of ground level staff,” an official said. “More staff would help us further augment the combing operation,’’ another senior official said.
Karnataka is the only state in the country which has a Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF).
NHAI officials to visit NH-6 today
NAGPUR: Forest officials, wildlife experts and National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) officers will undertake a site inspection of controversial patches between Sirpur and Lakhni on NH-6 on Friday.
The four-laning of the 80-km patch between Sirpur and Lakhni breaks the tiger corridor between Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary and Navegaon National Park. The corridor has immense importance as it connects nine tiger reserves and many protected areas (PAs).
Chief conservators of forests (CCF) AK Saxena and Nandkishore, wildlife expert Kishor Rithe, assistant conservator of forest (ACF) Kishore Mishrikotkar, NHAI project director Naresh Wadetwar and other officials will be part of the team visiting NH-6.
In the 80-km patch between Sirpur and Lakhni, work in three forest patches - Mohghata, Sasakuran and Maramjob - comprising 10km, has been stopped for want of forest clearance. Rest of the four-laning work has already been completed.
The NHAI had on August 17 submitted a report prepared by two ex-wildlife officials, to mitigate damage to wildlife due to the four-laning. On September 3, a meeting of NHAI and forest officials was held in which forest officials expressed reservations on the report.
The NHAI report doesn't comply with suggestions made by CCF Nandkishore, who was appointed by the Centrally Empowered Committee ( CEC) to inspect the four-laning work. Friday's visit seems to be a way for officials to point out their reservations on the four-laning.
Although NHAI is ready to construct eight underpasses of 10 feet height and 20 feet width in every 2km forest patch in vulnerable areas, sources said there is basic defect in the underpasses. Forest officials feel identical underpasses cannot be a solution on all the patches, they should be site-specific.
The WTI has disapproved of the report, claiming that mitigation measures in such important areas needs a group of wildlife biologists, geologists, engineers, architects, wildlife managers and conservationists to evolve specific and acceptable designs for wildlife crossings
.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/NHAI-officials-to-visit-NH-6-today/articleshow/6617257.cms
The four-laning of the 80-km patch between Sirpur and Lakhni breaks the tiger corridor between Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary and Navegaon National Park. The corridor has immense importance as it connects nine tiger reserves and many protected areas (PAs).
Chief conservators of forests (CCF) AK Saxena and Nandkishore, wildlife expert Kishor Rithe, assistant conservator of forest (ACF) Kishore Mishrikotkar, NHAI project director Naresh Wadetwar and other officials will be part of the team visiting NH-6.
In the 80-km patch between Sirpur and Lakhni, work in three forest patches - Mohghata, Sasakuran and Maramjob - comprising 10km, has been stopped for want of forest clearance. Rest of the four-laning work has already been completed.
The NHAI had on August 17 submitted a report prepared by two ex-wildlife officials, to mitigate damage to wildlife due to the four-laning. On September 3, a meeting of NHAI and forest officials was held in which forest officials expressed reservations on the report.
The NHAI report doesn't comply with suggestions made by CCF Nandkishore, who was appointed by the Centrally Empowered Committee ( CEC) to inspect the four-laning work. Friday's visit seems to be a way for officials to point out their reservations on the four-laning.
Although NHAI is ready to construct eight underpasses of 10 feet height and 20 feet width in every 2km forest patch in vulnerable areas, sources said there is basic defect in the underpasses. Forest officials feel identical underpasses cannot be a solution on all the patches, they should be site-specific.
The WTI has disapproved of the report, claiming that mitigation measures in such important areas needs a group of wildlife biologists, geologists, engineers, architects, wildlife managers and conservationists to evolve specific and acceptable designs for wildlife crossings
.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/NHAI-officials-to-visit-NH-6-today/articleshow/6617257.cms
Tiger's pelt recovered from man
CHIKMAGALUR: Rural police arrested a person for possessing a tiger's pelt, which they recovered from him, in Lakshmipura of Chikmagalur taluk.
Police sub-inspector Sathyanarayan and his team arrested Anwar when he was wandering suspiciously at Mallenahalli and found the tiger skin on him, which is valued at Rs 1.50 lakh. Police are investigating how and where he got the pelt and if he is working for somebody.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysore/Tigers-pelt-recovered-from-man/articleshow/6615613.cms
Police sub-inspector Sathyanarayan and his team arrested Anwar when he was wandering suspiciously at Mallenahalli and found the tiger skin on him, which is valued at Rs 1.50 lakh. Police are investigating how and where he got the pelt and if he is working for somebody.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysore/Tigers-pelt-recovered-from-man/articleshow/6615613.cms
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Two tiger cubs spotted in Ranthambore
JAIPUR: For the wild life enthusiasts, there is just a week to go before the Ranthambhore National Park is thrown open to the tourists for tiger sighting. Now, after a span of two years, two tiger cubs, barely three months old, are spotted in the park.
According to sources, tourists from Hyderabad were the lucky firsts to spot a tigress strolling with her two cubs in the Kundal area in Sultanpur, near Zone 1 of the national park on Wednesday morning. While the national park is closed at this point of time, the Sultanpur area is open to the tourists throughout the year.
Eyewitnesses said they saw the tigress carry one cub in her mouth while the other trailed along. According to sources, the tigress has been identified as T-13. However, what is the cause of concern is that the male tiger (T-12) father to the cubs, was the last tiger to be shifted to Sariska National Park. With the male tiger not there to protect the cubs, there could be some threat to the cubs from another male tiger -- T-24 -- which was seen around the tigress (T-13).
Even though the official figures of the new census have not yet been declared, this would take the tiger count up to 34 in the park after five tigers have been shifted to Sariska National Park. Besides, two tigers are said to be in the Kaila Devi area and one in Kota. Incidentally, in March this year, two male cubs, about a year old, were poisoned by villagers in for killing their goats. The T-13 has also had a litter earlier, which is now in zone two, said sources.
According to sources, tourists from Hyderabad were the lucky firsts to spot a tigress strolling with her two cubs in the Kundal area in Sultanpur, near Zone 1 of the national park on Wednesday morning. While the national park is closed at this point of time, the Sultanpur area is open to the tourists throughout the year.
Eyewitnesses said they saw the tigress carry one cub in her mouth while the other trailed along. According to sources, the tigress has been identified as T-13. However, what is the cause of concern is that the male tiger (T-12) father to the cubs, was the last tiger to be shifted to Sariska National Park. With the male tiger not there to protect the cubs, there could be some threat to the cubs from another male tiger -- T-24 -- which was seen around the tigress (T-13).
Even though the official figures of the new census have not yet been declared, this would take the tiger count up to 34 in the park after five tigers have been shifted to Sariska National Park. Besides, two tigers are said to be in the Kaila Devi area and one in Kota. Incidentally, in March this year, two male cubs, about a year old, were poisoned by villagers in for killing their goats. The T-13 has also had a litter earlier, which is now in zone two, said sources.
Improved habitat can double tiger count
Eighteen sites in India can support up to 1,500 tigers more than the country’s present big cat’s population, provided resources are utilised for rejuvenating these sites, a global study on tigers has found. There are less than 3,500 tigers in wild around the world of which 1,411 are in India withits habitat falling by over 50 per cent in last 30 years. Globally, tigers now occupy less than seven per cent of their historical geographical landscape.
“India provides powerful, contrasting examples of what works and what does not for saving tigers,” said the report, Bringing the Tiger Back from Extinction. It described India’s bid to save tigers as “confused”.
“Instead of announcing new tiger reserves (which increased from 27 to 39 in two years) the government should focus on providing on best habitats where tigers can survive,” said an expert.
The study by 23 global wildlife experts under the aegis of Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) provides solutions and will be released by Russian president Vladimir Putin in November as part of Global Tiger Initiative, to which India is a signatory.
For India, the recommendation is clear: concentrate on 16 source sites, which have 1,000 tigers over one year of age and can support up to 1,500 tigers, rather than “over wider landscapes”.
The study has identified 42 “source sites”, each with over 25 breeding tigresses, of which 18 are in India.
The best sites in India (see graphic) are Kaziranga tiger reserve in Assam with density of 16.8, where the density can increase to 18 and three sites in Central India and two in Western Ghats, where the density can increase by 60-70 percent.
“These sites have potential for providing safe homes to tigers but we need specific policy framework for this,” said Ravi Chellam, Director of WCS India, whose research contributed to the study.
Protecting and conserving these habitats could mean that number of tigers increases to 3,000 tigers in only 10 per cent of suitable habitat.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Improved-habitat-can-double-tiger-count/H1-Article1-603540.aspx
Tigers don't need wildlife boards to survive; they need to be left alone
I have been roaming in the forests of India for over 40 years and in the first 20 years, in spite of my best efforts the tiger or even its shadow eluded me.
Then, a few years ago I had a distant glimpse at Ranthambore. It either preceded me or showed up after I had left. Since I am a Leo, I was somewhat convinced that a tiger was reluctant to appear before a lion!
Nevertheless, for the last 30-odd years, photographing tigers in the wild has been my all consuming passion and temperatures of 46 degrees are no deterrent. I’m off to Tadoba-Andhari, a tiger reserve situated 155 km from Nagpur and 35 km from the mining town of Chandrapur in Maharashtra.
May and June are the ideal months to encounter a tiger at close quarters. In an open jeep, despite being garbed like a terrorist (head wrapped beyond recognition!), the hot winds blow straight into my face and the dust fully dyes my attire, merging it with the khaki landscape of the forest at this time of the year.
It is 8 am and the sun’s rays are like the needles of an amateur acupuncturist. But I am committed and it is only a committed person who will have the courage to venture under such hostile conditions.
The fear of dehydration is uppermost on my mind and I ensure that enough stocks of water and packets of rehydration powder are handy.
For the next 45 minutes we are patiently waiting at a waterhole for a miracle to happen. There is an eerie silence, punctuated by the occasional mating call of a cheetal deer. There is a rumbling of parched, dried teak leaves and my first reaction is to get the camera ready.
My eyes are focused in the direction of the sound. Suddenly the crumpling of the leaves stops and there is once again that old silence. Then suddenly the forest comes alive with the call of the sambhar, a perfect indicator of a tiger’s presence.
In a few minutes, a full grown two year old female cub emerges from the vegetation and heads straight to the waterhole, totally ignoring our presence in the jeep. We are just 20 ft from this magnificent cat.
A few sips of water, and it settles down to cool off in the muddy pond. It is a God-sent opportunity to be so close to it, in wonderful light and nobody else, except us. The shutter of my camera goes berserk;
Picture upon picture, capturing it’s every conceivable pose. The cub poses for us for a good half an hour and then with a few stretches walks off leisurely into the open. But not before marking its territory by first scratching itself, and then spraying on the tree (a rare sight).
This cub is one of three, and I am given to understand that by the onset of this monsoon, they will all separate from the mother, who unfortunately eludes us. We find the other two, however, blissfully having a nap under a thick forest cover.
The next evening, we are at the beautiful lake inside the sanctuary and set off once again to see the cubs and tigress. Dusk falls and after half an hour, a cute little 8 month old male cub emerges from the thick bamboo vegetation. He heads straight to its personal swimming pool and submerges itself.
This is one of four cubs I learn, and a notorious male. Generally, one cub in a litter is always more active than the others. A few minutes later a second one emerges and then the other two also. They all head for the pool, where their brother has taken centre stage.
Then, a few years ago I had a distant glimpse at Ranthambore. It either preceded me or showed up after I had left. Since I am a Leo, I was somewhat convinced that a tiger was reluctant to appear before a lion!
Nevertheless, for the last 30-odd years, photographing tigers in the wild has been my all consuming passion and temperatures of 46 degrees are no deterrent. I’m off to Tadoba-Andhari, a tiger reserve situated 155 km from Nagpur and 35 km from the mining town of Chandrapur in Maharashtra.
May and June are the ideal months to encounter a tiger at close quarters. In an open jeep, despite being garbed like a terrorist (head wrapped beyond recognition!), the hot winds blow straight into my face and the dust fully dyes my attire, merging it with the khaki landscape of the forest at this time of the year.
It is 8 am and the sun’s rays are like the needles of an amateur acupuncturist. But I am committed and it is only a committed person who will have the courage to venture under such hostile conditions.
The fear of dehydration is uppermost on my mind and I ensure that enough stocks of water and packets of rehydration powder are handy.
For the next 45 minutes we are patiently waiting at a waterhole for a miracle to happen. There is an eerie silence, punctuated by the occasional mating call of a cheetal deer. There is a rumbling of parched, dried teak leaves and my first reaction is to get the camera ready.
My eyes are focused in the direction of the sound. Suddenly the crumpling of the leaves stops and there is once again that old silence. Then suddenly the forest comes alive with the call of the sambhar, a perfect indicator of a tiger’s presence.
In a few minutes, a full grown two year old female cub emerges from the vegetation and heads straight to the waterhole, totally ignoring our presence in the jeep. We are just 20 ft from this magnificent cat.
A few sips of water, and it settles down to cool off in the muddy pond. It is a God-sent opportunity to be so close to it, in wonderful light and nobody else, except us. The shutter of my camera goes berserk;
Picture upon picture, capturing it’s every conceivable pose. The cub poses for us for a good half an hour and then with a few stretches walks off leisurely into the open. But not before marking its territory by first scratching itself, and then spraying on the tree (a rare sight).
This cub is one of three, and I am given to understand that by the onset of this monsoon, they will all separate from the mother, who unfortunately eludes us. We find the other two, however, blissfully having a nap under a thick forest cover.
The next evening, we are at the beautiful lake inside the sanctuary and set off once again to see the cubs and tigress. Dusk falls and after half an hour, a cute little 8 month old male cub emerges from the thick bamboo vegetation. He heads straight to its personal swimming pool and submerges itself.
This is one of four cubs I learn, and a notorious male. Generally, one cub in a litter is always more active than the others. A few minutes later a second one emerges and then the other two also. They all head for the pool, where their brother has taken centre stage.
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