Guwahati: An adult tigress has been found dead at Agratoli range of Kaziranga National Park in Assam, the fourth such death in this month in the sanctuary.
Park officials said the carcass of the tigress was found on Friday in a highly decomposed state.
The reason behind the death is yet to be ascertained, they said.
It is the fourth tiger carcass to be found this month in Kaziranga National Park, which is a World Heritage Site.
Earlier, carcasses of three tigers, all in decomposed state, was found at Kohora, Agratoli and Bagori ranges of the Park. Officials had claimed that all deaths were natural.
Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/four-tiger-deaths-in-one-month-in-kaziranga-67446?
Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/four-tiger-deaths-in-one-month-in-kaziranga-67446?cp
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Sariska Tiger death not due to territorial fight or gun shot: Report
JAIPUR: The postmortem report of "ST-1", a translocated tiger found dead recently at Rajasthan's Sariska reserve, has ruled out any territorial fight or poaching as the cause of the death of the big cat.
"The postmortem report says that neigther it was a territorial fight or shooting which led to the tiger's death," Principal Chief Wildife Warden H M Bhatia said.
However, he said, it is not the final report and the exact reason for its death could be known only after the FSL report comes.
The carcass of "ST-1" was found by a forest department team in Sariska sanctuary on Sunday night.
On the other hand, Bhatia claimed, link through radio signals with the missing tiger ST-4 continues and the big cat is moving in the dense forest.
"We are constantly receiving radio signals but the tiger is not visible yet as the animal is moving in dense forest," he added.
"The postmortem report says that neigther it was a territorial fight or shooting which led to the tiger's death," Principal Chief Wildife Warden H M Bhatia said.
However, he said, it is not the final report and the exact reason for its death could be known only after the FSL report comes.
The carcass of "ST-1" was found by a forest department team in Sariska sanctuary on Sunday night.
On the other hand, Bhatia claimed, link through radio signals with the missing tiger ST-4 continues and the big cat is moving in the dense forest.
"We are constantly receiving radio signals but the tiger is not visible yet as the animal is moving in dense forest," he added.
Tiger corridor linking 3 states proposed
Authorities of the Palamau Reserve, which reportedly has only six tigers left, have suggested that a new corridor linking forests of Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh be set up to give more space to the endangered animal and boost its population.
"A proposal is being sent to the Centre requesting for sanction of a corridor connecting forests in the three states, which will help increase tiger population," Field Director Paritosh Upadhaya told PTI here today.
"We have also proposed to make the 10 km radius around the 1026 square km Reserve as an eco-sensitive zone," he said.Tiger census had taken place in 60 percent of Reserve area, which had put the big cat's population at six, he said, adding, another census will be taken up in the rest of the area soon to ascertain the exact number of the tigers there.
"The Centre for Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, has confirmed the scats sent by us were of six different species of tigers," he said.
In 2007, there were 17 tigers, he said."We have sent another proposal to the government to make arrangements for a three-month training at the Forest Research Institute, Dehradoon for field officers and employees of the forest department," Upadhaya said.
The Reserve has only one wildlife expert based in Latehar's Chhipadohar and it required more experts, he said.
"A proposal is being sent to the Centre requesting for sanction of a corridor connecting forests in the three states, which will help increase tiger population," Field Director Paritosh Upadhaya told PTI here today.
"We have also proposed to make the 10 km radius around the 1026 square km Reserve as an eco-sensitive zone," he said.Tiger census had taken place in 60 percent of Reserve area, which had put the big cat's population at six, he said, adding, another census will be taken up in the rest of the area soon to ascertain the exact number of the tigers there.
"The Centre for Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, has confirmed the scats sent by us were of six different species of tigers," he said.
In 2007, there were 17 tigers, he said."We have sent another proposal to the government to make arrangements for a three-month training at the Forest Research Institute, Dehradoon for field officers and employees of the forest department," Upadhaya said.
The Reserve has only one wildlife expert based in Latehar's Chhipadohar and it required more experts, he said.
New way to track tigers in the wild to ensure survival
Washington, Nov 19 (ANI): Indian experts have discovered that it is possible to accurately predict the number of tigers in the wild by monitoring both paw prints and feces.
“Tigers are cryptic, nocturnal and occur at low densities so they are extremely difficult to monitor. Unless we know how many tigers are left in the wild, and whether their numbers are increasing or decreasing, we will not be able to conserve them,” said Dr Yadvendradev Jhala of the Wildlife Institute of India, who led the study.
The big cats are among the most threatened species in the world, with less than 3,200 left in the wild. More than half live in India.
Jhala and colleagues assessed their method by collecting paw prints and faeces at 21 forest sites in central and northern India.
“Tiger faeces are the size of large beetroot and have a characteristic pungent, musky odour. Fresh tiger faeces are normally accompanied by urine sprays that smell like well-cooked basmati rice,” said Jhala.
When they compared this data with that from camera traps at the same sites, they found they could estimate tiger numbers as accurately by using the two tiger signs as they could with camera traps, but for a fraction of the price. By showing that it is possible to accurately estimate tiger numbers from their paw prints and faeces, we have opened up a new way of cost-effectively keeping our finger on the pulse of tiger populations and gauging the success of conservation programmes.”
He added that the finding could have crucial implications for conserving tigers and other endangered species worldwide.
The study is published in the Journal of Applied Ecology. (ANI)
“Tigers are cryptic, nocturnal and occur at low densities so they are extremely difficult to monitor. Unless we know how many tigers are left in the wild, and whether their numbers are increasing or decreasing, we will not be able to conserve them,” said Dr Yadvendradev Jhala of the Wildlife Institute of India, who led the study.
The big cats are among the most threatened species in the world, with less than 3,200 left in the wild. More than half live in India.
Jhala and colleagues assessed their method by collecting paw prints and faeces at 21 forest sites in central and northern India.
“Tiger faeces are the size of large beetroot and have a characteristic pungent, musky odour. Fresh tiger faeces are normally accompanied by urine sprays that smell like well-cooked basmati rice,” said Jhala.
When they compared this data with that from camera traps at the same sites, they found they could estimate tiger numbers as accurately by using the two tiger signs as they could with camera traps, but for a fraction of the price. By showing that it is possible to accurately estimate tiger numbers from their paw prints and faeces, we have opened up a new way of cost-effectively keeping our finger on the pulse of tiger populations and gauging the success of conservation programmes.”
He added that the finding could have crucial implications for conserving tigers and other endangered species worldwide.
The study is published in the Journal of Applied Ecology. (ANI)
World leaders to gather in St.Petersburg to save the tiger
Moscow, Nov 19 (DPA) World leaders and top politicians, including from India, are set to gather in St. Petersburg Sunday in an effort to wrestle out an agreement on how to protect the world's approximately remaining 3,200 wild tigers.
The conference's organisers want the 13 countries in which the world's biggest cats still live in the wild to promise to try to double their numbers by 2022.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's guests at the four-day summit include US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, World Bank President Robert Zoellick and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.
According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) the conference will be the first at which leaders will discuss the preservation of a single species.
The adoption of an agreement is expected to take place Tuesday.
An estimated $350 million are needed to increase the tigers' habitat and up the fight against poachers and illegal traders in tiger parts.
A tiger was poisoned in the Sariska tiger reserve in northern India, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) said Wednesday, while another was shot dead by poachers in far eastern Russia. There are only 450 left in the region.
Gamekeepers arrested the poachers, but the punishment for killing tigers remains relatively lenient. They could receive a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a fine of $20,000, according to IFAW.
'We can't save the tigers unless we combat rampant poaching, which is the single greatest threat to the survival of this species,' said Masha Vorontsova, the director of IFAW in Russia.
'The summit is a last chance for tigers,' she added. We must make sure that talk translates into concrete action and effective, binding agreements that save tigers on the ground.'
Research by the WWF and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has shown that the border region between Myanmar, Thailand and China is playing a pivotal role in the illegal trade in tiger parts.
And a report by the WWF and conservationist group TRAFFIC published Friday to coincide with the upcoming conference reported that tiger parts were being offered openly on black markets in the region, especially in parts of Myanmar not under the direct control of the government.
'Tigers are easy money for everyone from mafia types to anti-government opposition groups,' TRAFFIC's south-east Asia regional director William Schaedla said.
The markets are particularly attractive to Chinese tourists, who want to buy tiger parts for use in herbal medicines, as lucky charms or simply for their fur.
Conservationists are particularly hopeful that the US, where 10,000 tigers live in captivity, will play a large part in pushing next week's conference forward.
Clinton's presence is regarded as a token of how seriously Washington is taking the issue.
The conference's organisers want the 13 countries in which the world's biggest cats still live in the wild to promise to try to double their numbers by 2022.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's guests at the four-day summit include US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, World Bank President Robert Zoellick and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.
According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) the conference will be the first at which leaders will discuss the preservation of a single species.
The adoption of an agreement is expected to take place Tuesday.
An estimated $350 million are needed to increase the tigers' habitat and up the fight against poachers and illegal traders in tiger parts.
A tiger was poisoned in the Sariska tiger reserve in northern India, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) said Wednesday, while another was shot dead by poachers in far eastern Russia. There are only 450 left in the region.
Gamekeepers arrested the poachers, but the punishment for killing tigers remains relatively lenient. They could receive a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a fine of $20,000, according to IFAW.
'We can't save the tigers unless we combat rampant poaching, which is the single greatest threat to the survival of this species,' said Masha Vorontsova, the director of IFAW in Russia.
'The summit is a last chance for tigers,' she added. We must make sure that talk translates into concrete action and effective, binding agreements that save tigers on the ground.'
Research by the WWF and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has shown that the border region between Myanmar, Thailand and China is playing a pivotal role in the illegal trade in tiger parts.
And a report by the WWF and conservationist group TRAFFIC published Friday to coincide with the upcoming conference reported that tiger parts were being offered openly on black markets in the region, especially in parts of Myanmar not under the direct control of the government.
'Tigers are easy money for everyone from mafia types to anti-government opposition groups,' TRAFFIC's south-east Asia regional director William Schaedla said.
The markets are particularly attractive to Chinese tourists, who want to buy tiger parts for use in herbal medicines, as lucky charms or simply for their fur.
Conservationists are particularly hopeful that the US, where 10,000 tigers live in captivity, will play a large part in pushing next week's conference forward.
Clinton's presence is regarded as a token of how seriously Washington is taking the issue.
Tiger census results to be out by month end
New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) The preliminary results of the tiger census will be released by the end of November, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said Friday.
'The broad preliminary numbers of the tiger population in the country will be available by the end of November. The final results will only be possible by early next year,' Ramesh told reporters here.
The last census in 2005-06 showed a sharp fall in tiger numbers. The census then conducted with an improved method revealed India had just 1,411 tigers left in the wild, raising serious concern about their survival.
'The broad preliminary numbers of the tiger population in the country will be available by the end of November. The final results will only be possible by early next year,' Ramesh told reporters here.
The last census in 2005-06 showed a sharp fall in tiger numbers. The census then conducted with an improved method revealed India had just 1,411 tigers left in the wild, raising serious concern about their survival.
Tiger deaths: BJP seeks judicial probe
JAIPUR: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has demanded a judicial inquiry into the deaths of missing tigers from the Sariska and Ranthambore tiger reserves. Demanding a white paper on the incidents from chief minister Ashok Gehlot, the BJP raised nine questions.
Taking a cue from Union forest and environment minister Jairam Ramesh's official communications with the state government on the subject, the BJP's state spokesperson Sunil Bhargava alleged on Friday the chief minister was shirking responsibility for the mysterious killings and disappearance of tigers by just suspending forest officials.
"Can the government be absolved of its inaction and carelessness, as alleged by the Union minister, in tiger conservation simply by suspending two officials," Bhargava asked.
The BJP wanted the chief minister to tell people what steps his government took on the six letters that the union forest and environment minister has dispatched to him (Gehlot) in the past six months.
"Let us hear what the chief minister has to say on the Union minister holding the inactive and directionless' state government responsible for the carelessness towards tiger conservation," said Bhargava.
The spokesperson stated the Union minister has accused the Gehlot government of not sticking to the Centre's policy. "The Union minister has alleged that the state government was ignoring tiger conservation under pressure from the mine-mafia and influential persons," Bhargava pointed out, asking the chief minister to explain his position on the allegations from his own party minister.
Referring to the Union minister's statement the tiger at Sariska could have been a victim of poisoning, the BJP has asked the state government to tell if it was ready to own up responsibility for the same. Bhargava emphasised that even though the Centre has doubled the strength of forest officers in the state, why adequate number of inspectors were not deployed at the two tiger reserves. "The government is keen to translocate tigers, but it is indifferent in ensuring proper rehabilitation of the big cats. Why is this so?" the BJP wanted to know.
The BJP demanded the state government make it public its' scheme for shifting and rehabilitating the villagers from the tiger reserve areas, since the Centre has agreed to pay Rs 30 crore for the purpose.
Meanwhile, the Ranthambore Bachao Andolan made a representation before the Bharatpur divisional commissioner Rajeshwar Singh complaining against the Sawai Madhopur district administration apathy towards the killing and missing of tigers at Ranthambore. Singh was at Ranthambore to monitor the "Prashashan gaon ke sang" camp on Friday.
"The divisional commissioner assured us of action in the matter. We will now organise a mahapanchayat of locals to save the tigers and decide on shifting of villagers from the reserve," Andolan's president Akshay Sharma said.
Taking a cue from Union forest and environment minister Jairam Ramesh's official communications with the state government on the subject, the BJP's state spokesperson Sunil Bhargava alleged on Friday the chief minister was shirking responsibility for the mysterious killings and disappearance of tigers by just suspending forest officials.
"Can the government be absolved of its inaction and carelessness, as alleged by the Union minister, in tiger conservation simply by suspending two officials," Bhargava asked.
The BJP wanted the chief minister to tell people what steps his government took on the six letters that the union forest and environment minister has dispatched to him (Gehlot) in the past six months.
"Let us hear what the chief minister has to say on the Union minister holding the inactive and directionless' state government responsible for the carelessness towards tiger conservation," said Bhargava.
The spokesperson stated the Union minister has accused the Gehlot government of not sticking to the Centre's policy. "The Union minister has alleged that the state government was ignoring tiger conservation under pressure from the mine-mafia and influential persons," Bhargava pointed out, asking the chief minister to explain his position on the allegations from his own party minister.
Referring to the Union minister's statement the tiger at Sariska could have been a victim of poisoning, the BJP has asked the state government to tell if it was ready to own up responsibility for the same. Bhargava emphasised that even though the Centre has doubled the strength of forest officers in the state, why adequate number of inspectors were not deployed at the two tiger reserves. "The government is keen to translocate tigers, but it is indifferent in ensuring proper rehabilitation of the big cats. Why is this so?" the BJP wanted to know.
The BJP demanded the state government make it public its' scheme for shifting and rehabilitating the villagers from the tiger reserve areas, since the Centre has agreed to pay Rs 30 crore for the purpose.
Meanwhile, the Ranthambore Bachao Andolan made a representation before the Bharatpur divisional commissioner Rajeshwar Singh complaining against the Sawai Madhopur district administration apathy towards the killing and missing of tigers at Ranthambore. Singh was at Ranthambore to monitor the "Prashashan gaon ke sang" camp on Friday.
"The divisional commissioner assured us of action in the matter. We will now organise a mahapanchayat of locals to save the tigers and decide on shifting of villagers from the reserve," Andolan's president Akshay Sharma said.
Maneater' fear stalks Corbett after 2 deaths
Two incidents of local women being mauled and partially eaten by a tiger in and around the Corbett National Park have thrown the area into panic and left forest officials fearing that a big cat in India's most famous reserve may have turned maneater.
The key question officials are seeking to answer is whether the attacks came from the same tiger. They say if that is indeed the case, Corbett may have a maneater problem to deal with. ''At the moment, we have no conclusive evidence either way,'' park warden U C Tiwari told TOI on Friday, after spending the day in the field trying to track the killer.
The incidents have come within six days of each other; the spots separated by just 8-10km as the crow flies.
Reports said on Thursday 30-year-old Kalpha Mehra was mauled to death at Chukam village near the eastern boundary of Corbett when she had gone to the jungle to collect fodder. The site falls under the Ramnagar forest division.
The first incident took place in the Corbett buffer zone on November 12. The victim, Nanda Devi, was attacked in daylight as she was returning to Sundarkhal village with two other women. Significantly, both bodies were half-eaten when villagers found them.
Read more: 'Maneater' fear stalks Corbett after 2 deaths - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Maneater-fear-stalks-Corbett-after-2-deaths/articleshow/6957144.cms#ixzz15nnyn4RP
The key question officials are seeking to answer is whether the attacks came from the same tiger. They say if that is indeed the case, Corbett may have a maneater problem to deal with. ''At the moment, we have no conclusive evidence either way,'' park warden U C Tiwari told TOI on Friday, after spending the day in the field trying to track the killer.
The incidents have come within six days of each other; the spots separated by just 8-10km as the crow flies.
Reports said on Thursday 30-year-old Kalpha Mehra was mauled to death at Chukam village near the eastern boundary of Corbett when she had gone to the jungle to collect fodder. The site falls under the Ramnagar forest division.
The first incident took place in the Corbett buffer zone on November 12. The victim, Nanda Devi, was attacked in daylight as she was returning to Sundarkhal village with two other women. Significantly, both bodies were half-eaten when villagers found them.
Read more: 'Maneater' fear stalks Corbett after 2 deaths - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Maneater-fear-stalks-Corbett-after-2-deaths/articleshow/6957144.cms#ixzz15nnyn4RP
Maneater' fear stalks Corbett after 2 deaths
Two incidents of local women being mauled and partially eaten by a tiger in and around the Corbett National Park have thrown the area into panic and left forest officials fearing that a big cat in India's most famous reserve may have turned maneater.
The key question officials are seeking to answer is whether the attacks came from the same tiger. They say if that is indeed the case, Corbett may have a maneater problem to deal with. ''At the moment, we have no conclusive evidence either way,'' park warden U C Tiwari told TOI on Friday, after spending the day in the field trying to track the killer.
The incidents have come within six days of each other; the spots separated by just 8-10km as the crow flies.
Reports said on Thursday 30-year-old Kalpha Mehra was mauled to death at Chukam village near the eastern boundary of Corbett when she had gone to the jungle to collect fodder. The site falls under the Ramnagar forest division.
The first incident took place in the Corbett buffer zone on November 12. The victim, Nanda Devi, was attacked in daylight as she was returning to Sundarkhal village with two other women. Significantly, both bodies were half-eaten when villagers found them.
Read more: 'Maneater' fear stalks Corbett after 2 deaths - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Maneater-fear-stalks-Corbett-after-2-deaths/articleshow/6957144.cms#ixzz15nnyn4RP
The key question officials are seeking to answer is whether the attacks came from the same tiger. They say if that is indeed the case, Corbett may have a maneater problem to deal with. ''At the moment, we have no conclusive evidence either way,'' park warden U C Tiwari told TOI on Friday, after spending the day in the field trying to track the killer.
The incidents have come within six days of each other; the spots separated by just 8-10km as the crow flies.
Reports said on Thursday 30-year-old Kalpha Mehra was mauled to death at Chukam village near the eastern boundary of Corbett when she had gone to the jungle to collect fodder. The site falls under the Ramnagar forest division.
The first incident took place in the Corbett buffer zone on November 12. The victim, Nanda Devi, was attacked in daylight as she was returning to Sundarkhal village with two other women. Significantly, both bodies were half-eaten when villagers found them.
Read more: 'Maneater' fear stalks Corbett after 2 deaths - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Maneater-fear-stalks-Corbett-after-2-deaths/articleshow/6957144.cms#ixzz15nnyn4RP
Friday, November 19, 2010
Process on for big cat relocation to Panna
November 19, 2010 9:20:44 AM
Vivek Trivedi | Bhopal
Unfazed with the glaring controversy over notification of buffer zone at Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR), the Forest department is all set to translocate two tigresses to Panna next month, as part of the ambitious big cat revival plan.
Park Field Director RS Murthy told the media on Thursday that two semi-adult tigresses will be brought from Kanha Tiger Reserve to Panna next month. These are the hand-reared tigresses; aged between 5 to 6 years had lost their mother days after their birth in Kanha Tiger Reserve.
After sending these two tigresses to Panna, one more male will be translocated to Panna, which is infamous across the country for tiger wipe out. However, the Forest Department is yet to finalise the date of the tiger's translocation.
Under the ongoing big cat revival plan at Panna, two tigresses - one female feline from Bandhavgarh and another from Kanha were shifted to Panna on March 6 and 9 respectively last year. Besides, a male from Pench tiger reserve was also released in the wild of Panna in November last year.
According to the original big cat revival plan, Panna is scheduled to receive total half a dozen big cats, to re-populate this ignominious tiger reserve, which once had more than 30 tigers but lost all of them due to poaching and other reasons by the end of 2008.
The plan had received a major shot in the arm earlier this year, as the tigress brought from Bandhavgarh gave birth to four cubs in May. This was the first instance, in the country, when a translocated tigress gave birth to a litter.
However, out of these four cubs, only two have survived while the others are nowhere to be seen.
Under the ongoing ambitious big cat revival plan, the State Forest Department also plans to translocate one more male to Panna in future. The State Government has the permission for translocating six big cats to Panna; four females and two males.
Significantly, the Forest Department is pursuing the process to notify the buffer zones at tiger reserves of the State but the matter of Panna along with Satpura and Sanjay tiger reserves is yet to be decided. The notification of buffer zone in Panna has got embroiled in the controversy due to the opposition of mines' operators.
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Vivek Trivedi | Bhopal
Unfazed with the glaring controversy over notification of buffer zone at Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR), the Forest department is all set to translocate two tigresses to Panna next month, as part of the ambitious big cat revival plan.
Park Field Director RS Murthy told the media on Thursday that two semi-adult tigresses will be brought from Kanha Tiger Reserve to Panna next month. These are the hand-reared tigresses; aged between 5 to 6 years had lost their mother days after their birth in Kanha Tiger Reserve.
After sending these two tigresses to Panna, one more male will be translocated to Panna, which is infamous across the country for tiger wipe out. However, the Forest Department is yet to finalise the date of the tiger's translocation.
Under the ongoing big cat revival plan at Panna, two tigresses - one female feline from Bandhavgarh and another from Kanha were shifted to Panna on March 6 and 9 respectively last year. Besides, a male from Pench tiger reserve was also released in the wild of Panna in November last year.
According to the original big cat revival plan, Panna is scheduled to receive total half a dozen big cats, to re-populate this ignominious tiger reserve, which once had more than 30 tigers but lost all of them due to poaching and other reasons by the end of 2008.
The plan had received a major shot in the arm earlier this year, as the tigress brought from Bandhavgarh gave birth to four cubs in May. This was the first instance, in the country, when a translocated tigress gave birth to a litter.
However, out of these four cubs, only two have survived while the others are nowhere to be seen.
Under the ongoing ambitious big cat revival plan, the State Forest Department also plans to translocate one more male to Panna in future. The State Government has the permission for translocating six big cats to Panna; four females and two males.
Significantly, the Forest Department is pursuing the process to notify the buffer zones at tiger reserves of the State but the matter of Panna along with Satpura and Sanjay tiger reserves is yet to be decided. The notification of buffer zone in Panna has got embroiled in the controversy due to the opposition of mines' operators.
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Woman mauled to death by tiger
18/11/2010
Rishikesh, Nov 18 (PTI) A 30-year-old woman was mauled to death by a tiger at Chukam village near the eastern boundary of the Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve, the second such incident in the area within a week, officials said today.
Kalpha Mehra had gone to the jungle to collect fodder for cattle, when she was attacked by the tiger, said R K Mishra, Director of Jim Corbett National Park.
Half-eaten body of the woman has been recovered and sent for postmortem, he said, adding the park administration has put up a cage to catch the tiger.
Senior forest officials have reached the spot and are trying to ascertain whether the killer is the same tiger that had killed another woman on November 12, park sources said.
Last week, Nandi Devi was returning after collecting fodder when, she was attacked by a tiger in broad daylight, leading to panic among villagers living near the park.
Rishikesh, Nov 18 (PTI) A 30-year-old woman was mauled to death by a tiger at Chukam village near the eastern boundary of the Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve, the second such incident in the area within a week, officials said today.
Kalpha Mehra had gone to the jungle to collect fodder for cattle, when she was attacked by the tiger, said R K Mishra, Director of Jim Corbett National Park.
Half-eaten body of the woman has been recovered and sent for postmortem, he said, adding the park administration has put up a cage to catch the tiger.
Senior forest officials have reached the spot and are trying to ascertain whether the killer is the same tiger that had killed another woman on November 12, park sources said.
Last week, Nandi Devi was returning after collecting fodder when, she was attacked by a tiger in broad daylight, leading to panic among villagers living near the park.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Sariska villagers angered by official apathy
Anindo Dey, TNN, Nov 18, 2010, 12.41am IST
SARISKA: Having lived up to tough expectations imposed on them by forest officials since relocation of tigers from the Ranthambore tiger reserve began in 2008, villagers in and around the Sariska tiger reserve are now only looking back in anger.
It was an infringement of their new-found freedom that came along after the last tiger was poached from this reserve in 2005. Yet, they were willing to put with it all. But the deaths despite the apparent strictness of the forest officials now makes them feel cheated.
"What is the result of all our sacrifice. Day in and day out we were told to do this and refrain from that so as to keep the tigers safe and we obeyed. But now they are the ones who seem to have gone all wrong, failing in their duty to protect the tiger," said Hiralal Saini, former sarpanch of the Indok village here.
"If our cattle strayed into the forest by mistake they fined us Rs 500 per head of cattle but now we are told that the king of the forest is dead. It was their duty to protect the animal and they could not deal with just fiver tigers," points out D R Meena, another villager.
The anger is widespread. Another villagers Ram Avtar Meena recalled when a wedding took place in a forest village. "They would not let people accompanying the bridegroom enter the forest. The restricted their number and we had to accept it despite the shame we faced. They would not let us carry the goods inside too," he said.
"Just look at the road in front of the forest. It is full of potholes and the government is refusing to repair it. They have put curbs on traffic plying on it. This road, the forest, the tigers and the villagers have all existed since time immemorial. Prior, to 1995 we have seen up to two pairs of tigers every hour and they were safe. But the curbs they have brought in have evoked the anger of Bharthari Maharaj and Sariska's jinx with tigers are a result of it," said Bhadra Prasad Meena.
Even the visit of chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday following the death of the tiger has not gone down well with them.
"In 2007 about 50 persons from Indok village died after disease struck the village, but not one politician came down let alone the chief minister. And now the tiger's death has managed to bring officials from all across the country. No one cares for us, despite the fact that we generate revenue. There is no hopsital or school or even a post office here. Depsite generating revenue our lands are not being regularised and our houses contuinue to be a shanties. We are being forced to evacuate our village for the tiger. How can it survive after so much of wrath?" questions Hiralal.
SARISKA: Having lived up to tough expectations imposed on them by forest officials since relocation of tigers from the Ranthambore tiger reserve began in 2008, villagers in and around the Sariska tiger reserve are now only looking back in anger.
It was an infringement of their new-found freedom that came along after the last tiger was poached from this reserve in 2005. Yet, they were willing to put with it all. But the deaths despite the apparent strictness of the forest officials now makes them feel cheated.
"What is the result of all our sacrifice. Day in and day out we were told to do this and refrain from that so as to keep the tigers safe and we obeyed. But now they are the ones who seem to have gone all wrong, failing in their duty to protect the tiger," said Hiralal Saini, former sarpanch of the Indok village here.
"If our cattle strayed into the forest by mistake they fined us Rs 500 per head of cattle but now we are told that the king of the forest is dead. It was their duty to protect the animal and they could not deal with just fiver tigers," points out D R Meena, another villager.
The anger is widespread. Another villagers Ram Avtar Meena recalled when a wedding took place in a forest village. "They would not let people accompanying the bridegroom enter the forest. The restricted their number and we had to accept it despite the shame we faced. They would not let us carry the goods inside too," he said.
"Just look at the road in front of the forest. It is full of potholes and the government is refusing to repair it. They have put curbs on traffic plying on it. This road, the forest, the tigers and the villagers have all existed since time immemorial. Prior, to 1995 we have seen up to two pairs of tigers every hour and they were safe. But the curbs they have brought in have evoked the anger of Bharthari Maharaj and Sariska's jinx with tigers are a result of it," said Bhadra Prasad Meena.
Even the visit of chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday following the death of the tiger has not gone down well with them.
"In 2007 about 50 persons from Indok village died after disease struck the village, but not one politician came down let alone the chief minister. And now the tiger's death has managed to bring officials from all across the country. No one cares for us, despite the fact that we generate revenue. There is no hopsital or school or even a post office here. Depsite generating revenue our lands are not being regularised and our houses contuinue to be a shanties. We are being forced to evacuate our village for the tiger. How can it survive after so much of wrath?" questions Hiralal.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Villagers poison tiger at Sariska; Jairam to probe
New Delhi, Nov 17: Following the report that the tiger in Sariska reserve died for poison, not for any territorial fight, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh will reach at sight in Rajasthan on Wednesday, Nov 17.
Buzz up!
Before moving to the Sariska reserve, Ramesh stated, "I admit that there has been a failure of governance and administration, and I take full responsibility for that. But to say that the relocation program is not working or not right is wrong."
After some continuous cases of illegal hunting in 2004, the Prime Minister ordered to relocate the tigers and since 2008, five tigers have been relocated to Sariska from Ranthambore.
In Sariska, a big cat, relocated from Ranthambore in 2008 was found dead and another tiger was missing from last week.
Buzz up!
Before moving to the Sariska reserve, Ramesh stated, "I admit that there has been a failure of governance and administration, and I take full responsibility for that. But to say that the relocation program is not working or not right is wrong."
After some continuous cases of illegal hunting in 2004, the Prime Minister ordered to relocate the tigers and since 2008, five tigers have been relocated to Sariska from Ranthambore.
In Sariska, a big cat, relocated from Ranthambore in 2008 was found dead and another tiger was missing from last week.
Sariksa Tiger ST-4 may be alive, claim officials
SARISKA: A day after ST-1's body was recovered, forest officials feel there is a ray of hope for the survival of the missing ST-4, as they have spotted fresh pug marks of a male tiger.
According to Rajpal Singh, member state wildlife board, "ST-4 has been traced. The team that specialises in tracking tiger sighted fresh pugmarks near Mataji Ka mandir at the Silibery outpost. The pug marks were sighted this morning much before the rains and stretches for 4 km between Silibery and Rotkella." In a major jolt to the first-ever bid to re-establish a tiger population by relocation in a reserve, Sariska on Sunday woke up to the rude shock of the death of one of the two males that were brought here from the Ranthambore tiger reserve. The only other male ST-4 has been missing since the past fortnight with no signals being emitted from its radio collar.
These apart, there are three females ST2, ST3 and ST5 that have been brought here. Officials say that they have received constant signals from all the three even on Tuesday. But with none of them having conceived since 2008, the relocation bid by state forest officials has come under scanner.
News of the fresh pugmarks arrived early on Tuesday after which an additional force was sent to track the tiger.
"These pugmarks are much bigger in size indicating that they are those of a male tiger. And since the only other male in the forest is ST4 we believe it is his pugmarks," Singh added.
However, suspicion still remains as to whether the pugmarks are that of ST4 as the tiger has not been physically identified yet. Moreover, officials of the forest department are yet to get any signal from the radio collar of the animal. However, one factor remains unanswered. If at all, it was a territorial fight, how come ST-4, which was assumed to be a weaker tiger is still alive? No confirmation on the health of the tiger ST4 (after the alleged territorial war) has been received. And if there was no territorial war then how did ST-1 die?
However, HM Bhatia, chief wildlife warden, said that additional teams would be sent on Wednesday to the forest to confirm the presence of the tiger. "It got late by the time the team got into action. On Wednesday, we will press in more specialists to track the animal. We will also confirm why the radio collar was not working," Bhatia said.
Officials accompanying the team that is tracking the pugmarks of ST4 have taken im-prints of the pug mark on plaster of paris to match it with the earlier imprints of ST4. Former director of Sariska tiger reserve S Somashekar who was here during the relocation of the first tiger and Rahul Kumar Bhatia, APCCF, are also accompanying other senior officials here.
Read more: ST-4 may be alive, claim officials - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/ST-4-may-be-alive-claim-officials/articleshow/6939257.cms#ixzz15WpueCcB
According to Rajpal Singh, member state wildlife board, "ST-4 has been traced. The team that specialises in tracking tiger sighted fresh pugmarks near Mataji Ka mandir at the Silibery outpost. The pug marks were sighted this morning much before the rains and stretches for 4 km between Silibery and Rotkella." In a major jolt to the first-ever bid to re-establish a tiger population by relocation in a reserve, Sariska on Sunday woke up to the rude shock of the death of one of the two males that were brought here from the Ranthambore tiger reserve. The only other male ST-4 has been missing since the past fortnight with no signals being emitted from its radio collar.
These apart, there are three females ST2, ST3 and ST5 that have been brought here. Officials say that they have received constant signals from all the three even on Tuesday. But with none of them having conceived since 2008, the relocation bid by state forest officials has come under scanner.
News of the fresh pugmarks arrived early on Tuesday after which an additional force was sent to track the tiger.
"These pugmarks are much bigger in size indicating that they are those of a male tiger. And since the only other male in the forest is ST4 we believe it is his pugmarks," Singh added.
However, suspicion still remains as to whether the pugmarks are that of ST4 as the tiger has not been physically identified yet. Moreover, officials of the forest department are yet to get any signal from the radio collar of the animal. However, one factor remains unanswered. If at all, it was a territorial fight, how come ST-4, which was assumed to be a weaker tiger is still alive? No confirmation on the health of the tiger ST4 (after the alleged territorial war) has been received. And if there was no territorial war then how did ST-1 die?
However, HM Bhatia, chief wildlife warden, said that additional teams would be sent on Wednesday to the forest to confirm the presence of the tiger. "It got late by the time the team got into action. On Wednesday, we will press in more specialists to track the animal. We will also confirm why the radio collar was not working," Bhatia said.
Officials accompanying the team that is tracking the pugmarks of ST4 have taken im-prints of the pug mark on plaster of paris to match it with the earlier imprints of ST4. Former director of Sariska tiger reserve S Somashekar who was here during the relocation of the first tiger and Rahul Kumar Bhatia, APCCF, are also accompanying other senior officials here.
Read more: ST-4 may be alive, claim officials - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/ST-4-may-be-alive-claim-officials/articleshow/6939257.cms#ixzz15WpueCcB
Nepal Police seize tiger skin, arrest three people
Kathmandu, Nov 16 (PTI) Nepal Police have seized tiger skin, which was reportedly being smuggled to India, and arrested three persons in this connection.
The three were arrested yesterday while they were carrying tiger skin on a motorcycle from Bardibas of Mohottari district in southern Nepal.
The arrested men are: Ram Ekbal Yadav, Jitendra Mahara and Mahadev Maul, according to the National News Agency (RSS). Their mobile telephones have also been confiscated by the police.
The three were arrested yesterday while they were carrying tiger skin on a motorcycle from Bardibas of Mohottari district in southern Nepal.
The arrested men are: Ram Ekbal Yadav, Jitendra Mahara and Mahadev Maul, according to the National News Agency (RSS). Their mobile telephones have also been confiscated by the police.
Four held for poaching tiger, smuggling wildlife goods
Kolkata, Nov 16 (IANS) Four people, involved in poaching of the Royal Bengal tiger and smuggling of wildlife goods, were arrested in West Bengal's South 24-Parganas district, an official said Tuesday.
'A trap was laid to catch the culprits red-handed. Posing as customers, we contacted the gang members and asked them to deliver the tiger's skin at Baruipur area of the district on Monday,' said Sunderbans Tiger Reserve (STR) field director Subrat Mukherjee.
'We recovered one tiger skin and two deer's skins. The accused were presented before Alipore court this (Tuesday) afternoon and remanded to judicial custody for seven days,' Mukherjee said.
Three of the four accused have been identified as Moumen Gazi, Biren Naskar and Umapati Naskar.
'A trap was laid to catch the culprits red-handed. Posing as customers, we contacted the gang members and asked them to deliver the tiger's skin at Baruipur area of the district on Monday,' said Sunderbans Tiger Reserve (STR) field director Subrat Mukherjee.
'We recovered one tiger skin and two deer's skins. The accused were presented before Alipore court this (Tuesday) afternoon and remanded to judicial custody for seven days,' Mukherjee said.
Three of the four accused have been identified as Moumen Gazi, Biren Naskar and Umapati Naskar.
Poacher held with tiger skins
Lucknow, Nov 16 (IANS) A poacher was arrested from Uttar Pradesh's Chandauli district with skins of tigers and a leopard, police said Tuesday.
'Rakesh Kumar, 28, a native of Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi district, was nabbed late Monday from the Sayedraza town following a joint operation conducted by police and forest officials,' police inspector R.K. Ram told reporters in Chandauli.
'We arrested Kumar while he was on his way to Bihar, where he was supposed to hand over the skins to his clients. Skins of three tigers and one leopard were seized from him,' he added.
Preliminary investigations reveal Rakesh was involved in the illegal wildlife trade for the last six years,' he said.
'Rakesh Kumar, 28, a native of Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi district, was nabbed late Monday from the Sayedraza town following a joint operation conducted by police and forest officials,' police inspector R.K. Ram told reporters in Chandauli.
'We arrested Kumar while he was on his way to Bihar, where he was supposed to hand over the skins to his clients. Skins of three tigers and one leopard were seized from him,' he added.
Preliminary investigations reveal Rakesh was involved in the illegal wildlife trade for the last six years,' he said.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Skewed sex ratio, overcrowding may mar ranthambore
JAIPUR: Overcrowding and a skewed sex ratio at the Ranthambore tiger reserve could leave a telling effect on the future of the sanctuary. According to experts, the anomalies could even leave a mark on the number of tigers at the park in the days to come.
In fact, experts are linking these two factors directly to the drop in the number of litters that the park has been seeing for the past two years. As compared to figures, five tiger cubs that were born in 2008 and 12 that were born between 2006 and 2007. However, in the past two years, either the park has drawn a blank or had to satisfy itself with two new borns a couple of months back.
"Ideally, the male-female ratio should be 1:3. But Ranthambore has a skewed sex ratio and the male to female number may not even be 1:1. As a result, mating and conception has been badly affected. The stronger male tigers might be getting a companion but then due to the smaller sex ratio and overcrowding, competition and fights might have marred Sariska prospects, '' experts say.
Experts also feel that of late, Ranthambore has been exposed to a lot of tourists and that may have "poached" on the tiger privacy. "A study on cheetahs carried out in Africa revealed that cat population growth graph took a nosedive in areas where tourists flocked. The case may be the same for Ranthambore," said Rajpal Singh, member state wildlife board.
Singh felt that even the road that connects Madhopur in Rajasthan to Sheopur in Madhya Pradesh and divided the Sawai Man Singh Sanctuary and the Ranthambore park sees a lot of traffic throughout the year. "Ideally, all routes in a park should not be opened for tourism," he felt.
In fact, forest department officials do not rule out the fact that may have been killed and eaten also. "The litters come out in the open only after four months. Till then, they remain with their mother and are also in a vulnerable position as they may be easily killed by male tigers," officials felt.
However, RS Shekhawat, DFO, Ranthambore, provided the much-needed silver lining. He said, "It is true that there have been less litters currently as compared to the past years. But there are several reasons for this. But on the positive side, two cubs were born this year and in January we might just see more," he added.
In fact, experts are linking these two factors directly to the drop in the number of litters that the park has been seeing for the past two years. As compared to figures, five tiger cubs that were born in 2008 and 12 that were born between 2006 and 2007. However, in the past two years, either the park has drawn a blank or had to satisfy itself with two new borns a couple of months back.
"Ideally, the male-female ratio should be 1:3. But Ranthambore has a skewed sex ratio and the male to female number may not even be 1:1. As a result, mating and conception has been badly affected. The stronger male tigers might be getting a companion but then due to the smaller sex ratio and overcrowding, competition and fights might have marred Sariska prospects, '' experts say.
Experts also feel that of late, Ranthambore has been exposed to a lot of tourists and that may have "poached" on the tiger privacy. "A study on cheetahs carried out in Africa revealed that cat population growth graph took a nosedive in areas where tourists flocked. The case may be the same for Ranthambore," said Rajpal Singh, member state wildlife board.
Singh felt that even the road that connects Madhopur in Rajasthan to Sheopur in Madhya Pradesh and divided the Sawai Man Singh Sanctuary and the Ranthambore park sees a lot of traffic throughout the year. "Ideally, all routes in a park should not be opened for tourism," he felt.
In fact, forest department officials do not rule out the fact that may have been killed and eaten also. "The litters come out in the open only after four months. Till then, they remain with their mother and are also in a vulnerable position as they may be easily killed by male tigers," officials felt.
However, RS Shekhawat, DFO, Ranthambore, provided the much-needed silver lining. He said, "It is true that there have been less litters currently as compared to the past years. But there are several reasons for this. But on the positive side, two cubs were born this year and in January we might just see more," he added.
Tiger skin seized on city outskirts
TNN, Nov 16, 2010, 04.28am IST
Article
Comments
Tags:Tiger Reserve|Alipore Court
BARUIPUR: The skin of a Bengal Tiger was seized by a special team of Sunderbans Tiger Reserve (STR) officials from Baruipur in South 24-Parganas on Monday night. Three persons were arrested in this connection.
Police suspect the trio to be part of a big tiger parts racket. On Monday evening, they were waiting for a customer at Baruipur Bazar with a tiger's skin in a bag. The STR team, led by senior forest officer Anjan Guha, got a tip about the trio's location and immediately contacted police.
A joint police and forest department team arrested the suspects and seized the skin. The trio will be produced in Alipore court on Tuesday, said an official.
Article
Comments
Tags:Tiger Reserve|Alipore Court
BARUIPUR: The skin of a Bengal Tiger was seized by a special team of Sunderbans Tiger Reserve (STR) officials from Baruipur in South 24-Parganas on Monday night. Three persons were arrested in this connection.
Police suspect the trio to be part of a big tiger parts racket. On Monday evening, they were waiting for a customer at Baruipur Bazar with a tiger's skin in a bag. The STR team, led by senior forest officer Anjan Guha, got a tip about the trio's location and immediately contacted police.
A joint police and forest department team arrested the suspects and seized the skin. The trio will be produced in Alipore court on Tuesday, said an official.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Setback in Sariska as translocated tiger found dead
Alwar (Rajasthan): One of the five tigers translocated to Sariska reserve to revive their population has been found dead.
The carcass of the tiger was found on Sunday night, Rajasthan Forest Minister Ramlal Jat said on Monday.
He said injury marks indicate that the tiger might have been killed in a territorial fight. However, the exact cause of death will be clear only after a post-mortem.
The Sariska tiger reserve in Rajasthan lost all its tigers by 2004-05, mostly to widespread poaching.
In a bid to revive tiger population in the reserve, three tigers a male and two females were shifted from Ranthambore reserve, also in Rajasthan, in 2008 and 2009.
However, they failed to produce any offspring and it was later found that they were siblings.
After an intense genetic analysis, a tiger and a tigress were translocated this year.
The carcass of the tiger was found on Sunday night, Rajasthan Forest Minister Ramlal Jat said on Monday.
He said injury marks indicate that the tiger might have been killed in a territorial fight. However, the exact cause of death will be clear only after a post-mortem.
The Sariska tiger reserve in Rajasthan lost all its tigers by 2004-05, mostly to widespread poaching.
In a bid to revive tiger population in the reserve, three tigers a male and two females were shifted from Ranthambore reserve, also in Rajasthan, in 2008 and 2009.
However, they failed to produce any offspring and it was later found that they were siblings.
After an intense genetic analysis, a tiger and a tigress were translocated this year.
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