Raipur, Dec 22 (IANS) A day after the decomposed body of a tiger was found with its head and claws missing, five villagers in Chhattisgarh were Wednesday arrested with the big cat's claws, police said.
The arrests were made from a remote village Amnia, a forested zone under Kawardha district, some 300 km from here. 'The main accused Govind was arrested along with his four associates in a raid,' a police officer said.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
REHABILITATION is a complex issue
A wildlife enthusiast, Mausam Noor has been a regular at various tiger reserves across the country. A first-time MP (from Malda, West Bengal), Noor is never without her Nikon N-67 during her numerous forest escapades. Mesmerised with the beauty of the tiger, she has been a tiger lover since her young days. Hardnews spoke to Noor on tiger conservation and what has gone wrong with it
How important is tiger conservation for India?
No doubt it is of utmost importance. In fact, it is one of the foremost priorities of the government as we have the largest population of this magnificent wild cat. The government is trying out every possible means to save the tiger.
What are the deterrents to tiger conservation?
I have visited more than 16 tiger reserves across the country. What I have understood is that if people are not shifted out from the tiger reserves across the country and rehabilitated elsewhere, we would not have any tigers left in the forests. I recently visited a national park and was told that people settled inside the park are not ready to move out of it. Activists, who supposedly work for the rights of these people, are actually misguiding them - they have political ends on their mind. Therefore, although the people are offered ample compensation, they always demand more.
Rehabilitation is a complex issue. The process followed by the government is slow and is in a complete mess. To resolve this, the government should consult wildlife experts and implement their suggestions.
The government should try to educate the people still living inside tiger reserves. They must be made to understand the importance of tigers and their natural habitats. Moreover, it is a fact that some of these villagers also indulge in poaching. The government should try to wean them away from this criminal way of life by offering them jobs. The forest department can take the lead in recruiting them.
You have visited many tiger reserves. Your views on the tourism around these reserves?
Tourism should be allowed, but only to a certain extent. It should not exploit nature or disturb the animals. However, if tourism is coupled with an ecological perspective, it could help generate awareness among the masses. Tourism also helps in curbing poaching as guards are more vigilant when the tourists come. Also, I have noticed that although some of the forest guards are sincere and honest, most are there only because of the commercial interests arising out of tourism.
Recently, a tiger relocated to Sariska was killed. Your comments.
There were no tigers in Sariska, anyway, and the ones that have been shifted there are being killed. Tigers have no sense of boundaries and once they move out of the park limits, they are always under the risk of being poached or killed. To address this, forest guards should be given more incentives and their working conditions must be improved.
Mining is threatening the tiger habitat. Your views.
This, indeed, is a major threat. If this continues unabated, a time would come when mining would still be going on but the tigers would have vanished. If this great predator goes extinct, it would be a big burden to live with. Our conscience would not let us live with the fact that we had the largest population of tigers, but we let them go extinct.
How important is tiger conservation for India?
No doubt it is of utmost importance. In fact, it is one of the foremost priorities of the government as we have the largest population of this magnificent wild cat. The government is trying out every possible means to save the tiger.
What are the deterrents to tiger conservation?
I have visited more than 16 tiger reserves across the country. What I have understood is that if people are not shifted out from the tiger reserves across the country and rehabilitated elsewhere, we would not have any tigers left in the forests. I recently visited a national park and was told that people settled inside the park are not ready to move out of it. Activists, who supposedly work for the rights of these people, are actually misguiding them - they have political ends on their mind. Therefore, although the people are offered ample compensation, they always demand more.
Rehabilitation is a complex issue. The process followed by the government is slow and is in a complete mess. To resolve this, the government should consult wildlife experts and implement their suggestions.
The government should try to educate the people still living inside tiger reserves. They must be made to understand the importance of tigers and their natural habitats. Moreover, it is a fact that some of these villagers also indulge in poaching. The government should try to wean them away from this criminal way of life by offering them jobs. The forest department can take the lead in recruiting them.
You have visited many tiger reserves. Your views on the tourism around these reserves?
Tourism should be allowed, but only to a certain extent. It should not exploit nature or disturb the animals. However, if tourism is coupled with an ecological perspective, it could help generate awareness among the masses. Tourism also helps in curbing poaching as guards are more vigilant when the tourists come. Also, I have noticed that although some of the forest guards are sincere and honest, most are there only because of the commercial interests arising out of tourism.
Recently, a tiger relocated to Sariska was killed. Your comments.
There were no tigers in Sariska, anyway, and the ones that have been shifted there are being killed. Tigers have no sense of boundaries and once they move out of the park limits, they are always under the risk of being poached or killed. To address this, forest guards should be given more incentives and their working conditions must be improved.
Mining is threatening the tiger habitat. Your views.
This, indeed, is a major threat. If this continues unabated, a time would come when mining would still be going on but the tigers would have vanished. If this great predator goes extinct, it would be a big burden to live with. Our conscience would not let us live with the fact that we had the largest population of tigers, but we let them go extinct.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
TATR abolishes zone system
CHANDRAPUR: In some good news for tourists of Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), the forest authorities have abolished the one-year-old zone system inside the park. Visitors are now free to roam in entire reserve. However TATR management has laid down some regulations to avoid congregation of tourists on one particular spot.
The zone system had come into the force early this year to regulate the traffic of tourists inside the tiger reserve. Likewise TATR was divided into three zones - Moharli, Tadoba and Kolsa - and the tourists were allowed to move in only one zone at a time. But, authorities have now come up with new plans under which zone restriction will be abolished but tourist movement will be regulated.
Confirming the abolishment of zone system field director and CF of TATR Vinay Sinha said, "The new regulation will come into force from Wednesday. Tourists will be allowed to move in the entire reserve, but they will have to follow some rules. There will be defined routes for every vehicle entering into the tiger reserve and one-way route pattern would be followed. Sinha said that the new plan is according to the NTCA guidelines.
Sources claimed that few other regulations such as restriction on use of mobile phones inside TATR, keeping a distance of at least 30 metres between two vehicles would be observed to ensure that place of tiger sighting is not crowded disturbing the tranquility of the wildlife.
Officials have also defined the carrying capacity in the tiger reserve. Only 60 vehicles would be allowed inside the tiger reserve during morning hours, while 57 vehicles would be allowed during evening shift. TATR management plans to decrease the number of entry gates gradually in coming months. At present tourists enter TATR through Moharli, Pangdi, Kolara, Jhari, Khutwanda and Navegaon gates, however three of these - Jhari, Khutwanda and Navegaon gates - will be closed in phases.
As per NTCA guidelines, park management needs to ensure maximum inviolate zones for the wildlife inside the tiger reserve. Authorities are chalking out two new tourists zones in buffer area. Once circuit routes and infrastructural development is accomplished in buffer, tourism would be gradually shifted to buffer zone.
The zone system had come into the force early this year to regulate the traffic of tourists inside the tiger reserve. Likewise TATR was divided into three zones - Moharli, Tadoba and Kolsa - and the tourists were allowed to move in only one zone at a time. But, authorities have now come up with new plans under which zone restriction will be abolished but tourist movement will be regulated.
Confirming the abolishment of zone system field director and CF of TATR Vinay Sinha said, "The new regulation will come into force from Wednesday. Tourists will be allowed to move in the entire reserve, but they will have to follow some rules. There will be defined routes for every vehicle entering into the tiger reserve and one-way route pattern would be followed. Sinha said that the new plan is according to the NTCA guidelines.
Sources claimed that few other regulations such as restriction on use of mobile phones inside TATR, keeping a distance of at least 30 metres between two vehicles would be observed to ensure that place of tiger sighting is not crowded disturbing the tranquility of the wildlife.
Officials have also defined the carrying capacity in the tiger reserve. Only 60 vehicles would be allowed inside the tiger reserve during morning hours, while 57 vehicles would be allowed during evening shift. TATR management plans to decrease the number of entry gates gradually in coming months. At present tourists enter TATR through Moharli, Pangdi, Kolara, Jhari, Khutwanda and Navegaon gates, however three of these - Jhari, Khutwanda and Navegaon gates - will be closed in phases.
As per NTCA guidelines, park management needs to ensure maximum inviolate zones for the wildlife inside the tiger reserve. Authorities are chalking out two new tourists zones in buffer area. Once circuit routes and infrastructural development is accomplished in buffer, tourism would be gradually shifted to buffer zone.
Jim Corbett Special tiger force to become reality
Shishir Prashant / New Delhi/ Dehra Dun December 22, 2010, 0:06 IST
When the Jim Corbett National Park, one of the world’s most popular wildlife reserves, celebrates its platinum jubilee next year, it will get a gift that it absolutely needed — a special tiger protection force.
With the Uttarakhand cabinet headed by Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank today giving its approval to the new force, the forest department is now hoping that the force will become a reality when the Corbett park, famous for its healthy tiger density, turns 75. Special functions will be organised in the first few months of 2011 to mark the 75th birth anniversary of the Corbett park.
After the cabinet meeting, top officials said the new tiger force will have one company comprising three platoons which will be headed by a forest officer of the rank of Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF). Each platoon will have one ranger, six foresters and 30 special guards. The hallmark of the new force will be the 30 per cent of the forest guards will be from the local communities living in the vicinity of the park like Van Gujjars, the nomadic tribes.
The main task of the force will be to protect the tigers from poachers and will be given similar role like police and will enjoy power under 197 section of the criminal procedure code (CrPC) where a case is only registered after proper magisterial inquiry. With the mounting concern over the dwindling tiger population, the Centre approved the plan for such a force last year and would spend Rs 4 crore every year on it.
There are only about 1,400 tigers left in the country, as a result of poaching, shrinking habitats and a decline in the prey base. The Jim Corbett National Park — named after the celebrated hunter-writer who shot dead many a maneater in both Kumaon and Garhwal regions of the hill state — has nearly 160 tigers. This is one of the highest populations of tigers anywhere in the country. The government, animal lovers and even some corporations are working overtime to save the animal.
When the Jim Corbett National Park, one of the world’s most popular wildlife reserves, celebrates its platinum jubilee next year, it will get a gift that it absolutely needed — a special tiger protection force.
With the Uttarakhand cabinet headed by Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank today giving its approval to the new force, the forest department is now hoping that the force will become a reality when the Corbett park, famous for its healthy tiger density, turns 75. Special functions will be organised in the first few months of 2011 to mark the 75th birth anniversary of the Corbett park.
After the cabinet meeting, top officials said the new tiger force will have one company comprising three platoons which will be headed by a forest officer of the rank of Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF). Each platoon will have one ranger, six foresters and 30 special guards. The hallmark of the new force will be the 30 per cent of the forest guards will be from the local communities living in the vicinity of the park like Van Gujjars, the nomadic tribes.
The main task of the force will be to protect the tigers from poachers and will be given similar role like police and will enjoy power under 197 section of the criminal procedure code (CrPC) where a case is only registered after proper magisterial inquiry. With the mounting concern over the dwindling tiger population, the Centre approved the plan for such a force last year and would spend Rs 4 crore every year on it.
There are only about 1,400 tigers left in the country, as a result of poaching, shrinking habitats and a decline in the prey base. The Jim Corbett National Park — named after the celebrated hunter-writer who shot dead many a maneater in both Kumaon and Garhwal regions of the hill state — has nearly 160 tigers. This is one of the highest populations of tigers anywhere in the country. The government, animal lovers and even some corporations are working overtime to save the animal.
Manhunt launched after tiger killing in Chhattisgarh
After a headless tiger carcass was found in Kawardha district of Chhattisgarh, state police have formed several squads to arrest the poachers, an official said on Tuesday. The killing was reported from Amnia village, a forested zone under Kawardha, the home district of Chief Minister Raman Singh.
The forest department has suspended two local forest officers and ordered an enquiry.
The forest department has also asked its senior officer Rakesh Chaturvedi to rush to the site, about 300 km from Raipur, to investigate the tiger kiling.
"Yes, a decomposed body of a tiger was found in Amnia village in Kawardha's Pandaria block. Prima facie it looks the tiger was killed by a poacher several days or may be weeks earlier," Chaturvedi told IANS on phone.
The forest department has lodged a complaint of tiger's killing with police in Kawardha district. "We are dealing the case with utmost seriousness and urgency, we are interrogating a few villagers to apprehend the poachers or anyone who hunted down the tiger," said HS Rathore, Kawardha district police chief.
An official source here at the forest department headquarters said that a few officials tried to cover up the tiger's killing by projecting it as a case of death. But when enough evidences emerged about the tiger's death, they suspended the two local forest staff - a deputy ranger and a forest beat guard - and decided to order an enquiry.
The source added that poachers have easy access to the state's vast forested areas, including all the three Project Tiger reserves of Indravati, Udanti-Sitanadi and Achanakmar. A total of 219 posts of the sanctioned 420 lie vacant at the reserves.
The forest department has suspended two local forest officers and ordered an enquiry.
The forest department has also asked its senior officer Rakesh Chaturvedi to rush to the site, about 300 km from Raipur, to investigate the tiger kiling.
"Yes, a decomposed body of a tiger was found in Amnia village in Kawardha's Pandaria block. Prima facie it looks the tiger was killed by a poacher several days or may be weeks earlier," Chaturvedi told IANS on phone.
The forest department has lodged a complaint of tiger's killing with police in Kawardha district. "We are dealing the case with utmost seriousness and urgency, we are interrogating a few villagers to apprehend the poachers or anyone who hunted down the tiger," said HS Rathore, Kawardha district police chief.
An official source here at the forest department headquarters said that a few officials tried to cover up the tiger's killing by projecting it as a case of death. But when enough evidences emerged about the tiger's death, they suspended the two local forest staff - a deputy ranger and a forest beat guard - and decided to order an enquiry.
The source added that poachers have easy access to the state's vast forested areas, including all the three Project Tiger reserves of Indravati, Udanti-Sitanadi and Achanakmar. A total of 219 posts of the sanctioned 420 lie vacant at the reserves.
Sariska Tiger killing: Suspect to undergo brain mapping test on Dec 27
ALWAR: The brain mapping test of Parsadilal Gujjar, suspected in the killing of the tiger, ST-1, will be held on December 27. He will be in Ahmedabad till December 31.
Officials of the forest department said that the department will be seeking production warrant of the suspect on Wednesday when he will appear at a court in Rajgarh. They will be seeking his custody from December 26 to January 1. The brain-mapping test will be done at Gujarat Rajya Vidhi Science laboratory. Assistant conservator of forests, Bhagvan Singh Nathawat, is in touch with the laboratory for the same.
"However, narco analysis test will not be done now. For that we will have to seek separate permission," said an official.
Meanwhile, test report of the polygrah test done on Parsadi is expected on Wednesday. "Prima facie it seems that the test report is in favour of the forest department. Officials have hinted that the suspect may be hiding facts in his confession," said a source.
Officials of the forest department said that the department will be seeking production warrant of the suspect on Wednesday when he will appear at a court in Rajgarh. They will be seeking his custody from December 26 to January 1. The brain-mapping test will be done at Gujarat Rajya Vidhi Science laboratory. Assistant conservator of forests, Bhagvan Singh Nathawat, is in touch with the laboratory for the same.
"However, narco analysis test will not be done now. For that we will have to seek separate permission," said an official.
Meanwhile, test report of the polygrah test done on Parsadi is expected on Wednesday. "Prima facie it seems that the test report is in favour of the forest department. Officials have hinted that the suspect may be hiding facts in his confession," said a source.
NTCA panel to study leopard mortality in state
NAGPUR: There have been several studies and projects to look into the man-tiger conflict, but the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), which monitors tiger reserves in the country, has for the first time set up a five-member panel for an appraisal of leopard mortality due to conflict with humans.
Sources said the committee, constituted on December 15, besides looking into the mortality of leopard arising out of conflict will suggest mitigation measures. The panel consists of NTCA members Brijendra Singh and Valmik Thapar, experts Vidya Atherya of Pune, Raghu Chundawat, Kartick Satyanarayan and NTCA member-secretary Rajesh Gopal.
S P Yadav, deputy inspector general (NTCA), told TOI that the scope of the committee is to look into causes of high leopard mortality and suggesting mitigating measures. "The study also includes Maharashtra and other vulnerable states. A meeting will be called soon in which chief wildlife wardens of problem states will also be invited," he added.
Although inclusion of noted experts in the committee will make a difference, in Maharashtra, man-leopard conflict has gone down while man-tiger problem continues to be more severe than leopards. Two-three years ago, around 40-50 leopards were trapped but now it has come down to 8-10 animals.
Chandrapur district in Vidarbha is the worst-affected. If the official figures for last five years from April 2005 to December 2010 are considered, then only five villagers have been killed by leopards and around 10 have been killed owing to conflict in leopard-dominated areas like Junnar, Nashik and Borivali. On the other side, 62 persons have been mauled by tigers during the same period in the region.
If not by conflict, leopard deaths due to poaching are increasing in the state. In 2010, from January to December, 35 leopards have died in the state. Of this, 18 deaths were from Vidarbha while other deaths were reported in villages near Ratnagiri, Sinnar, Junnar, Jalgaon, Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SNGP), Borivali, Pune and Hingoli.
Last year (2009), 48 leopards had died in the state. Despite the crisis, the entire focus has been on tigers by the authorities. This is for the first time that leopard mortality reasons will be studied. Both tigers and leopards are listed under the Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.
Wildlife biologist Vidya Atherya says she is delighted to be included in the panel. She has studied the problem of leopards in Junnar for three years and measures suggested by her have come handy to curb leopard-human conflict in the state.
Atherya said, "My experience in Maharashtra will help in getting solutions in states like Uttrakhand and Gujarat where problem of leopard conflict is severe."
"We've found that leopard attacks on people are an aberration governed by complex factors which require us to increase our level of understanding. Leopards have always lived outside forests, be it tea gardens, fringes of forests, in croplands, and have also been reported from urban areas," Atherya said.
She added that people have not yet accepted that non-wilderness areas can support wildlife. Hence, they expect all leopards be confined in forests. So, leopards found outside forested areas are often trapped and moved to nearby forests.
"However, our work also found that leopards which had been living in village areas without attacking people started attacking them when they were released away from their territory. This was likely due to the stress they face during capture, release in an unknown area, and as we also found many instances, of translocated leopards homing back from where they were originally caught," Atherya stressed.
Sources said the committee, constituted on December 15, besides looking into the mortality of leopard arising out of conflict will suggest mitigation measures. The panel consists of NTCA members Brijendra Singh and Valmik Thapar, experts Vidya Atherya of Pune, Raghu Chundawat, Kartick Satyanarayan and NTCA member-secretary Rajesh Gopal.
S P Yadav, deputy inspector general (NTCA), told TOI that the scope of the committee is to look into causes of high leopard mortality and suggesting mitigating measures. "The study also includes Maharashtra and other vulnerable states. A meeting will be called soon in which chief wildlife wardens of problem states will also be invited," he added.
Although inclusion of noted experts in the committee will make a difference, in Maharashtra, man-leopard conflict has gone down while man-tiger problem continues to be more severe than leopards. Two-three years ago, around 40-50 leopards were trapped but now it has come down to 8-10 animals.
Chandrapur district in Vidarbha is the worst-affected. If the official figures for last five years from April 2005 to December 2010 are considered, then only five villagers have been killed by leopards and around 10 have been killed owing to conflict in leopard-dominated areas like Junnar, Nashik and Borivali. On the other side, 62 persons have been mauled by tigers during the same period in the region.
If not by conflict, leopard deaths due to poaching are increasing in the state. In 2010, from January to December, 35 leopards have died in the state. Of this, 18 deaths were from Vidarbha while other deaths were reported in villages near Ratnagiri, Sinnar, Junnar, Jalgaon, Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SNGP), Borivali, Pune and Hingoli.
Last year (2009), 48 leopards had died in the state. Despite the crisis, the entire focus has been on tigers by the authorities. This is for the first time that leopard mortality reasons will be studied. Both tigers and leopards are listed under the Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.
Wildlife biologist Vidya Atherya says she is delighted to be included in the panel. She has studied the problem of leopards in Junnar for three years and measures suggested by her have come handy to curb leopard-human conflict in the state.
Atherya said, "My experience in Maharashtra will help in getting solutions in states like Uttrakhand and Gujarat where problem of leopard conflict is severe."
"We've found that leopard attacks on people are an aberration governed by complex factors which require us to increase our level of understanding. Leopards have always lived outside forests, be it tea gardens, fringes of forests, in croplands, and have also been reported from urban areas," Atherya said.
She added that people have not yet accepted that non-wilderness areas can support wildlife. Hence, they expect all leopards be confined in forests. So, leopards found outside forested areas are often trapped and moved to nearby forests.
"However, our work also found that leopards which had been living in village areas without attacking people started attacking them when they were released away from their territory. This was likely due to the stress they face during capture, release in an unknown area, and as we also found many instances, of translocated leopards homing back from where they were originally caught," Atherya stressed.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Tiger census gets under way at Kaziranga
KOHORA, Dec 20 – The first phase of Tiger Census 2010, has been inaugurated by the Director of Kaziranga National Park Surajit Dutta today at Mihimukh.
The first phase of census is going to determine the basic factors such as availability of tiger habitat in all the ranges of Kaziranga National Park, any presence of co-predators, prey base, vegetation cover for scientific analysis for final phase of tiger census.
The first phase will continue till December 26. Altogether the Park is categorised into 38 blocks where the enumerators will survey the sign viz. pugmarks and rake marks of the tigers during the first initial three days followed by the determination of vegetation cover, transit mark.
The first phase of census is going to determine the basic factors such as availability of tiger habitat in all the ranges of Kaziranga National Park, any presence of co-predators, prey base, vegetation cover for scientific analysis for final phase of tiger census.
The first phase will continue till December 26. Altogether the Park is categorised into 38 blocks where the enumerators will survey the sign viz. pugmarks and rake marks of the tigers during the first initial three days followed by the determination of vegetation cover, transit mark.
MP CM opposes converting Ratapani sanctuary into tiger reserve
Bhopal, Dec 19 (PTI) Opposing the Centre''s plan to convert Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary into a tiger reserve, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today said he is not against protection of tigers but would not do it "at the cost of the poor".
"Madhya Pradesh is a tiger state. We are not averse to tiger and its protection. But we do not want it at the cost of the poor, especially tribals. Many villages will need to be shifted for turning Ratapani into a tiger reserve," Chouhan said at the 15th national conference of Akhil Bhartiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad here.
Chouhan said that Union Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh has been talking about turning Ratapani into Tiger Reserve but that would call for shifting large numbers of villages.
The land of tribals can not be taken away in Madhya Pradesh, which has tough laws to check it, he added.
Listing several steps taken for the tribals, he said that 21 per cent of the state budget was earmarked for tribal development.
"Madhya Pradesh is a tiger state. We are not averse to tiger and its protection. But we do not want it at the cost of the poor, especially tribals. Many villages will need to be shifted for turning Ratapani into a tiger reserve," Chouhan said at the 15th national conference of Akhil Bhartiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad here.
Chouhan said that Union Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh has been talking about turning Ratapani into Tiger Reserve but that would call for shifting large numbers of villages.
The land of tribals can not be taken away in Madhya Pradesh, which has tough laws to check it, he added.
Listing several steps taken for the tribals, he said that 21 per cent of the state budget was earmarked for tribal development.
Monday, December 20, 2010
'Tigers attack livestock due to poor prey base in Molem'
PANAJI: Goa's wildlife sanctuaries, especially Molem and Mhadei, are part of a corridor for tigers, but a poor prey base makes it attack livestock, says A J T Johnsingh, wildlife advisor, wildlife institute of India (WII).
"They come here occassionally because there is good forest cover, but rampant poaching forces them to go for livestock, and people come to know about it," says Johnsingh, eminent wildlife biologist.
Last week, a sambar was killed near Anjunem dam and forest officials were shown the carcass and pug marks of the tiger. A buffalo and a cow had been killed in February and September this year in ghat areas of Chorla. A tiger had been shot dead after being trapped near a stream in Keri last year.
"Tigers come occasionally and they are reported in Mhadei and Molem. They are looking for a home and keep migrating," he said.
But Johnsingh is concerned about the weakened prey base due to rampant poaching in Goa and Karnataka.
"The condition of sambar, the largest deer in Asia ,is very dismal and the barking deer and bison (Gaur) are affected by lot of poaching over the years," he said.
The wildlife biologist is conducting a study through Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysore, which has been funded by the Union ministry of environment and forests.
"The effort is aimed at looking at the landscape and corridor for large mammals, focussing on sambars, tiger, elephant, gaur among others, from Kanyakumari to Sahyadris," he said.
Johnsingh visited four wildlife sanctuaries of Mhadei, Bhagwan Mahaveer in Molem, Neturlim and Cotigao for his rapid survey. "There are a lot of settlements inside sanctuaries, and the residents wield political influence," he added.
The forest department census in 2004 had enumerated five tigers in Goa. But wildlife enthusiasts have been critical of forest department's denial mode of the tiger's existence in Goa in the past.
Human intervention in the form of mining, deforestation and growing settlement areas are seen as the biggest threats to this global bio-diversity hotspot. "For this reason, environmental bodies from three states had proposed to MOEF the creation of Sahyadri Ecologically Sensitive Area (SESA) in three states," Claude Alvares, an environmentalist said.
Nitin Sawant, director world wide fund for nature (WWF) Goa said the stress should be on saving the tiger habitat instead of saving the big cat. "Mining activities should not be allowed in and around the vicinity of the tiger corridor," he said.
Johnsingh said he had conveyed to Goa's chief wildlife warden Shashi Kumar his observation about the poor prey base. "We could see the bison only in Molem and not any other sanctuaries," he said.
Johnsingh, who will submit his report shortly, said the state has a good forest cover with the state's wildlife sanctuaries spanning a protective cover of 755 sq km. Bhimgad wildlife sanctuary and other forest areas in Karnataka form a contiguous passage for wildlife. Tigers from nearby Anshi tiger reserve are known to stray into Goa.
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has recognised the Goa corridor as Tiger Conservation Unit (TCU) mark 2, whereas major tiger habitats (Bandipur, Madamalai, Nagarhole) are graded on a higher scale."Goa is an important buffer zone if Anshi comes under some threat ," sources said.
Additional principal chief conservator, Shashi Kumar confirmed he had discussions with Johnsingh.
"We are waiting for assessment of preliminary data from WII," he said, and added. "A camera trap method as part of second phase of wildlife census will help clear a few aspects regarding tiger's movement in Goa."
But the WII advisor called for curbs on poaching. "Not much attention is given to it," he said, recalling Keri tiger poaching case. Further, he said any effort to increase the wild life will need lot of conservation.
"If the habitat is given good protection, it will take several years for the population to increase."
"They come here occassionally because there is good forest cover, but rampant poaching forces them to go for livestock, and people come to know about it," says Johnsingh, eminent wildlife biologist.
Last week, a sambar was killed near Anjunem dam and forest officials were shown the carcass and pug marks of the tiger. A buffalo and a cow had been killed in February and September this year in ghat areas of Chorla. A tiger had been shot dead after being trapped near a stream in Keri last year.
"Tigers come occasionally and they are reported in Mhadei and Molem. They are looking for a home and keep migrating," he said.
But Johnsingh is concerned about the weakened prey base due to rampant poaching in Goa and Karnataka.
"The condition of sambar, the largest deer in Asia ,is very dismal and the barking deer and bison (Gaur) are affected by lot of poaching over the years," he said.
The wildlife biologist is conducting a study through Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysore, which has been funded by the Union ministry of environment and forests.
"The effort is aimed at looking at the landscape and corridor for large mammals, focussing on sambars, tiger, elephant, gaur among others, from Kanyakumari to Sahyadris," he said.
Johnsingh visited four wildlife sanctuaries of Mhadei, Bhagwan Mahaveer in Molem, Neturlim and Cotigao for his rapid survey. "There are a lot of settlements inside sanctuaries, and the residents wield political influence," he added.
The forest department census in 2004 had enumerated five tigers in Goa. But wildlife enthusiasts have been critical of forest department's denial mode of the tiger's existence in Goa in the past.
Human intervention in the form of mining, deforestation and growing settlement areas are seen as the biggest threats to this global bio-diversity hotspot. "For this reason, environmental bodies from three states had proposed to MOEF the creation of Sahyadri Ecologically Sensitive Area (SESA) in three states," Claude Alvares, an environmentalist said.
Nitin Sawant, director world wide fund for nature (WWF) Goa said the stress should be on saving the tiger habitat instead of saving the big cat. "Mining activities should not be allowed in and around the vicinity of the tiger corridor," he said.
Johnsingh said he had conveyed to Goa's chief wildlife warden Shashi Kumar his observation about the poor prey base. "We could see the bison only in Molem and not any other sanctuaries," he said.
Johnsingh, who will submit his report shortly, said the state has a good forest cover with the state's wildlife sanctuaries spanning a protective cover of 755 sq km. Bhimgad wildlife sanctuary and other forest areas in Karnataka form a contiguous passage for wildlife. Tigers from nearby Anshi tiger reserve are known to stray into Goa.
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has recognised the Goa corridor as Tiger Conservation Unit (TCU) mark 2, whereas major tiger habitats (Bandipur, Madamalai, Nagarhole) are graded on a higher scale."Goa is an important buffer zone if Anshi comes under some threat ," sources said.
Additional principal chief conservator, Shashi Kumar confirmed he had discussions with Johnsingh.
"We are waiting for assessment of preliminary data from WII," he said, and added. "A camera trap method as part of second phase of wildlife census will help clear a few aspects regarding tiger's movement in Goa."
But the WII advisor called for curbs on poaching. "Not much attention is given to it," he said, recalling Keri tiger poaching case. Further, he said any effort to increase the wild life will need lot of conservation.
"If the habitat is given good protection, it will take several years for the population to increase."
Naxal threat affects tigers too
The national tiger reserve which is situated in this backward district has been affected by the activities of the Maoists. And now nobody knows whether there are any tigers left in the reserve.
Nationwide drive
Established in 1973 and spread across 1,014 sq.km., the reserve had 22 tigers. In spite of a nationwide drive to conserve tigers, the big cat's population in this district has been dwindling. The 2007 census put the Palamu tiger population at 17. This has further reduced to 13, according to a forest guard. However the actual figures are not known as the Maoist presence impeded survey.
Increased naxal activities are also affecting routine forest management. A senior official says more than 70 per cent of the reserve remains unprotected as the officials and staff have come under attack from the Maoists.
According to him, in May 1999 a ranger was abducted and robbed, in August 2003 a forest tracker was killed and in September 2004 a forester and driver were killed in a landmine blast. Last year the rebels killed a forest ranger and robbed him. A forest guard says: “Earlier the reserve used to be open till late at night but as the animal's eyes were being affected by the torch used by the guide to point at the animals, we close the reserve early.”
Water scarcity
Scarcity of water is also affecting the reserve. It is one of the poorest districts in India and classified by the State government as “food insecure.”
Keywords: Palamu tiger reserve, naxal threat
Nationwide drive
Established in 1973 and spread across 1,014 sq.km., the reserve had 22 tigers. In spite of a nationwide drive to conserve tigers, the big cat's population in this district has been dwindling. The 2007 census put the Palamu tiger population at 17. This has further reduced to 13, according to a forest guard. However the actual figures are not known as the Maoist presence impeded survey.
Increased naxal activities are also affecting routine forest management. A senior official says more than 70 per cent of the reserve remains unprotected as the officials and staff have come under attack from the Maoists.
According to him, in May 1999 a ranger was abducted and robbed, in August 2003 a forest tracker was killed and in September 2004 a forester and driver were killed in a landmine blast. Last year the rebels killed a forest ranger and robbed him. A forest guard says: “Earlier the reserve used to be open till late at night but as the animal's eyes were being affected by the torch used by the guide to point at the animals, we close the reserve early.”
Water scarcity
Scarcity of water is also affecting the reserve. It is one of the poorest districts in India and classified by the State government as “food insecure.”
Keywords: Palamu tiger reserve, naxal threat
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Jairam writes to Orissa on low-flying chopper over tiger reserve
Union Minister for Environment and Forest Jairam Ramesh has written two separate letters to Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Minister for Civil Aviation Praful Patel, requesting their intervention in the matter of a chopper flying low inside a tiger reserve of the state.
In December 2009, National Board for Wildlife member Biswajit Mohanty had sent a letter to member-secretary of National Tiger Conservation Authority, complaining about a low-flying helicopter inside Satkosia tiger reserve.
In his reminder to the NTCA sent this month, the NBW member referred to a video aired by a local TV channel that showed the videos of the low-flying helicopter inside the tiger reserve. The report alleged that the chopper was being flown by an MP of the ruling BJD.
“The complaint regarding low-flying helicopters is a very serious one, since this causes considerable disturbance to wild animals and is an offence under the Wildlife Protection Act,” Jairam’s letter to Naveen said.
Taking objection to the reports that a tourist resort was operating inside the core area of the tiger reserve, Ramesh said that the core area of the tiger reserve needs to remain inviolate for tigers and its co-predators under Wildlife Protection Amendment Act, 2006. “Therefore it may please be ensured that the said Act may be implemented in letter and spirit by fostering eco-tourism ventures in the fringe/buffer area of Satkoisa as per the guidelines of Project Tiger,” he wrote.
In the letter to the Civil Aviation Minister, Ramesh said that low flight over wildlife habitats amount to hunting under the WP Act since it causes disturbance to wild animals. Referring to a complaint of the Orissa government lodged with Civil Aviation Ministry’s Calcutta-based Air Traffic Management Unit, he urged him for his intervention.
In December 2009, National Board for Wildlife member Biswajit Mohanty had sent a letter to member-secretary of National Tiger Conservation Authority, complaining about a low-flying helicopter inside Satkosia tiger reserve.
In his reminder to the NTCA sent this month, the NBW member referred to a video aired by a local TV channel that showed the videos of the low-flying helicopter inside the tiger reserve. The report alleged that the chopper was being flown by an MP of the ruling BJD.
“The complaint regarding low-flying helicopters is a very serious one, since this causes considerable disturbance to wild animals and is an offence under the Wildlife Protection Act,” Jairam’s letter to Naveen said.
Taking objection to the reports that a tourist resort was operating inside the core area of the tiger reserve, Ramesh said that the core area of the tiger reserve needs to remain inviolate for tigers and its co-predators under Wildlife Protection Amendment Act, 2006. “Therefore it may please be ensured that the said Act may be implemented in letter and spirit by fostering eco-tourism ventures in the fringe/buffer area of Satkoisa as per the guidelines of Project Tiger,” he wrote.
In the letter to the Civil Aviation Minister, Ramesh said that low flight over wildlife habitats amount to hunting under the WP Act since it causes disturbance to wild animals. Referring to a complaint of the Orissa government lodged with Civil Aviation Ministry’s Calcutta-based Air Traffic Management Unit, he urged him for his intervention.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Tiger pugmarks sighted at Anjunem
KERI: Despite the government so far refusing to admit it, there is once again evidence that Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary on the eastern border of Goa, is a tiger habitat. Pugmarks of the big cat were discovered by the remains of a fully grown sambhar at Anjunem last week. A forest department survey team on a visit to Anjunem noticed the sambhar carcass and the pugmarks on the hilly areas of Anjunem. Local guide Vithoba Gawas of Shiroli who accompanied the survey team said, "A carcass of a sambhar was lying on the ground and pugmarks of the big cat were near it."
When contacted Keri range forest officer Deepak Betkikar said, "I will inform the officials of the department and immediately visit the site in Anjunem where the sambhar's carcass is lying." Forest dept is likely to survey the area on Saturday. Earlier in Charavane village, situated within the Mhadei Sanctuary, a buffalo belonging to shepherd Babu Mano Phale was killed by a tiger on February 4, 2009.
Also on September 27, 2009 a cow belonging to Sai Pingle of Bamanwada-Vagheri was killed by a tiger at Ponsule. Findings of both incidents were documented by forest officials. Assistant conservator of forests Subhash Henrique had last year recorded pugmarks of a tigress and a cub in Anjunem dam area and the tiger census last summer had recorded pugmarks of the big cat. People travelling through Chorla Ghat area of the sanctuary at night have reported sighting a tiger several times.
When contacted Keri range forest officer Deepak Betkikar said, "I will inform the officials of the department and immediately visit the site in Anjunem where the sambhar's carcass is lying." Forest dept is likely to survey the area on Saturday. Earlier in Charavane village, situated within the Mhadei Sanctuary, a buffalo belonging to shepherd Babu Mano Phale was killed by a tiger on February 4, 2009.
Also on September 27, 2009 a cow belonging to Sai Pingle of Bamanwada-Vagheri was killed by a tiger at Ponsule. Findings of both incidents were documented by forest officials. Assistant conservator of forests Subhash Henrique had last year recorded pugmarks of a tigress and a cub in Anjunem dam area and the tiger census last summer had recorded pugmarks of the big cat. People travelling through Chorla Ghat area of the sanctuary at night have reported sighting a tiger several times.
Tiger pugmarks sighted at Anjunem
KERI: Despite the government so far refusing to admit it, there is once again evidence that Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary on the eastern border of Goa, is a tiger habitat. Pugmarks of the big cat were discovered by the remains of a fully grown sambhar at Anjunem last week. A forest department survey team on a visit to Anjunem noticed the sambhar carcass and the pugmarks on the hilly areas of Anjunem. Local guide Vithoba Gawas of Shiroli who accompanied the survey team said, "A carcass of a sambhar was lying on the ground and pugmarks of the big cat were near it."
When contacted Keri range forest officer Deepak Betkikar said, "I will inform the officials of the department and immediately visit the site in Anjunem where the sambhar's carcass is lying." Forest dept is likely to survey the area on Saturday. Earlier in Charavane village, situated within the Mhadei Sanctuary, a buffalo belonging to shepherd Babu Mano Phale was killed by a tiger on February 4, 2009.
Also on September 27, 2009 a cow belonging to Sai Pingle of Bamanwada-Vagheri was killed by a tiger at Ponsule. Findings of both incidents were documented by forest officials. Assistant conservator of forests Subhash Henrique had last year recorded pugmarks of a tigress and a cub in Anjunem dam area and the tiger census last summer had recorded pugmarks of the big cat. People travelling through Chorla Ghat area of the sanctuary at night have reported sighting a tiger several times.
When contacted Keri range forest officer Deepak Betkikar said, "I will inform the officials of the department and immediately visit the site in Anjunem where the sambhar's carcass is lying." Forest dept is likely to survey the area on Saturday. Earlier in Charavane village, situated within the Mhadei Sanctuary, a buffalo belonging to shepherd Babu Mano Phale was killed by a tiger on February 4, 2009.
Also on September 27, 2009 a cow belonging to Sai Pingle of Bamanwada-Vagheri was killed by a tiger at Ponsule. Findings of both incidents were documented by forest officials. Assistant conservator of forests Subhash Henrique had last year recorded pugmarks of a tigress and a cub in Anjunem dam area and the tiger census last summer had recorded pugmarks of the big cat. People travelling through Chorla Ghat area of the sanctuary at night have reported sighting a tiger several times.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Bid to relocate sambhars from Sarika goes awry
JAIPUR/ALWAR: It was another relocation bid that went awry. The animal in question this time was the meek sambhar.
Planned on the lines of the tiger relocation from Ranthambore tiger reserve to Sariska, it entailed relocating 70 sambhars from Sariska to Sajjangarh, Kumbhalgarh sanctuaries in Udaipur district and to Rajgarh in Alwar to help establish a bigger population of the animal there.
But having relocated some sambhars on Wednesday, the brakes came with the ministry of forest and environment taking a strong exception to the relocation without the assistance of a technical person. Objections were also raised as this would destroy the prey base of tigers at Sariska where the ministry has already spent crores for reestablishing a tiger population.
While the Sajjangarh Wildlife Sanctuary, located 5 km from Udaipur, the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary is 65 km from City of Lakes. Rajgarh is 35 km from Alwar, spread amid lovely wooded valleys.
"We had relocated two sambhars on Wednesday from Sariska to Udaipur. But after objections from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) we have stopped," forest department officials said. However, sources added at least six Sambhars, two females and four males, may have already been relocated.
"The issue is all of them may not have reached there alive," the source added.
Similar attempts had been made twice earlier but the project had to be cancelled after strong objections from certain quarters due to the death of many of these animals.
"In case of sambhars, all animals tranquillised are not in the best of health. They may be suffering from disease and when tranquillised many fail to regain consciousness," said a forest official.
"Moreover, in the absence of a technical person what was happening was sambhars were being taken from the Kalighati area in Sariska which is the core area for tigers. This would not only disturb the prey base for tigers but the remaining sambhars may flee to the periphery leaving little food for the tiger," an expert said.
He suggested instead sambhars should have been caught from the outskirts of the forest. "Too many sambhars can be seen roaming in the periphery and are often hit by vehicles plying on the the nearby highway," he said.
Contacted, officials of the forest department said, "We were not for the project but often one has to act under pressure." In fact, sources revealed that Union minister for forest and environment Jairam Ramesh has written to chief minister Ashok Gehlot seeking his personal intervention to stop the project.
But reports are that the project is not shelved completely and officials from Udaipur were still in Sariska and might resume relocation of sambhars any time.
Forest officials refused to comment as the project was initiated at the behest of a senior state bureaucrat.
Read more: Bid to relocate sambhars from Sarika goes awry - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Bid-to-relocate-sambhars-from-Sarika-goes-awry/articleshow/7114435.cms#ixzz18LbdYZLM
Planned on the lines of the tiger relocation from Ranthambore tiger reserve to Sariska, it entailed relocating 70 sambhars from Sariska to Sajjangarh, Kumbhalgarh sanctuaries in Udaipur district and to Rajgarh in Alwar to help establish a bigger population of the animal there.
But having relocated some sambhars on Wednesday, the brakes came with the ministry of forest and environment taking a strong exception to the relocation without the assistance of a technical person. Objections were also raised as this would destroy the prey base of tigers at Sariska where the ministry has already spent crores for reestablishing a tiger population.
While the Sajjangarh Wildlife Sanctuary, located 5 km from Udaipur, the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary is 65 km from City of Lakes. Rajgarh is 35 km from Alwar, spread amid lovely wooded valleys.
"We had relocated two sambhars on Wednesday from Sariska to Udaipur. But after objections from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) we have stopped," forest department officials said. However, sources added at least six Sambhars, two females and four males, may have already been relocated.
"The issue is all of them may not have reached there alive," the source added.
Similar attempts had been made twice earlier but the project had to be cancelled after strong objections from certain quarters due to the death of many of these animals.
"In case of sambhars, all animals tranquillised are not in the best of health. They may be suffering from disease and when tranquillised many fail to regain consciousness," said a forest official.
"Moreover, in the absence of a technical person what was happening was sambhars were being taken from the Kalighati area in Sariska which is the core area for tigers. This would not only disturb the prey base for tigers but the remaining sambhars may flee to the periphery leaving little food for the tiger," an expert said.
He suggested instead sambhars should have been caught from the outskirts of the forest. "Too many sambhars can be seen roaming in the periphery and are often hit by vehicles plying on the the nearby highway," he said.
Contacted, officials of the forest department said, "We were not for the project but often one has to act under pressure." In fact, sources revealed that Union minister for forest and environment Jairam Ramesh has written to chief minister Ashok Gehlot seeking his personal intervention to stop the project.
But reports are that the project is not shelved completely and officials from Udaipur were still in Sariska and might resume relocation of sambhars any time.
Forest officials refused to comment as the project was initiated at the behest of a senior state bureaucrat.
Read more: Bid to relocate sambhars from Sarika goes awry - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Bid-to-relocate-sambhars-from-Sarika-goes-awry/articleshow/7114435.cms#ixzz18LbdYZLM
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Protection force for Pench, Tadoba ayed
NAGPUR: Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on Wednesday took top forest officials by surprise when he green signalled setting up of Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) for two tiger reserves in Maharashtra. At a meeting held at Van Sabhagruha, Pawar agreed to set up STPF by creating 224 posts.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), a statutory body under the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) monitoring the tiger reserves in the country, has mandated setting up of STPFs in tiger reserves with 100% central assistance. The STPF is to be set up in Pench & Tadoba-Andhari in Maharashtra, Dudhwa-Katerniaghat & 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 issue was hanging fire for over two years, with the state government taking no steps to set up STPF. The STPF will be on the lines of India Reserve Battalion. The guidelines were issued on February 5, 2009. Later, these norms were revised on May 11, 2009, with the condition of inducting policemen relaxed.
On Wednesday, top forest officials managed to convince Pawar, who issued orders to the finance department to create 224 posts for the STPF. Initially, a company of 112 in each reserve, headed by an assistant commandant and having three PSIs, six head constables and 90 constables is to be formed. Now the same battalion can be headed by forest officials.
Top forest officials told Pawar that the money towards salaries of the staff would come from the Centre. They also told the him that if, after 10 years, the Centre stops grants for STPF, many employees in the department would have retired and hence there will be no extra financial burden on the state.
Officials told Pawar that considering the danger to tiger and the need for urgently stepping up protection in sensitive areas having source populations of tiger with the active involvement of forest dwelling communities, the matter has been reviewed. The STPF would comprise of only forest personnel like ACF, RFOs, foresters and forest guards. However, 30% of the STPF guards would comprise local forest people. They will be entitled to same salary and emoluments through the service provider, as regular guards.
Among the other decisions, Pawar also agreed to set up a secret fund after he was told that Central Government was ready to give Rs 25 lakh for the purpose. He also directed the finance department officials to expedite release of money towards cattle and human kill compensation to save wildlife.
Officials also raised the issue of relocation of villages from tiger reserves in the state. Pawar was told that Rs 700 crore were needed to relocate all villages from the PAs in the state. Pawar managed to get Rs 80 crore to relocate villages in Koyna but relocation of villages in reserves in Vidarbha is completely stalled.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), a statutory body under the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) monitoring the tiger reserves in the country, has mandated setting up of STPFs in tiger reserves with 100% central assistance. The STPF is to be set up in Pench & Tadoba-Andhari in Maharashtra, Dudhwa-Katerniaghat & 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 issue was hanging fire for over two years, with the state government taking no steps to set up STPF. The STPF will be on the lines of India Reserve Battalion. The guidelines were issued on February 5, 2009. Later, these norms were revised on May 11, 2009, with the condition of inducting policemen relaxed.
On Wednesday, top forest officials managed to convince Pawar, who issued orders to the finance department to create 224 posts for the STPF. Initially, a company of 112 in each reserve, headed by an assistant commandant and having three PSIs, six head constables and 90 constables is to be formed. Now the same battalion can be headed by forest officials.
Top forest officials told Pawar that the money towards salaries of the staff would come from the Centre. They also told the him that if, after 10 years, the Centre stops grants for STPF, many employees in the department would have retired and hence there will be no extra financial burden on the state.
Officials told Pawar that considering the danger to tiger and the need for urgently stepping up protection in sensitive areas having source populations of tiger with the active involvement of forest dwelling communities, the matter has been reviewed. The STPF would comprise of only forest personnel like ACF, RFOs, foresters and forest guards. However, 30% of the STPF guards would comprise local forest people. They will be entitled to same salary and emoluments through the service provider, as regular guards.
Among the other decisions, Pawar also agreed to set up a secret fund after he was told that Central Government was ready to give Rs 25 lakh for the purpose. He also directed the finance department officials to expedite release of money towards cattle and human kill compensation to save wildlife.
Officials also raised the issue of relocation of villages from tiger reserves in the state. Pawar was told that Rs 700 crore were needed to relocate all villages from the PAs in the state. Pawar managed to get Rs 80 crore to relocate villages in Koyna but relocation of villages in reserves in Vidarbha is completely stalled.
Tiger killing: Suspect undergoes polygraph test
ALWAR/JAIPUR: The man suspected in the killing of male tiger ST-1 at the Sariska tiger reserve, Parsadilal Gujjar, was on Wednesday taken to the CBI's Centre for Forensic laboratory for a polygraphy test. The test will ascertain the extent to which the suspect is involved in the poisoning of the tiger.
"Parsadilal left for Delhi from Sariska in the wee hours this morning. On reaching Delhi, he was taken to the forensic laboratory at about 10.30. The tests will be done on him and in about two days we will get to know whether he was involved in he killing of the tiger," said an official.
While the state forest department has been suspecting Parsadilal of poisoning the tiger, the suspect has so far just accepted that he had chanced upon the carcass of the big cat after which he cut off the whiskers from the body in the hope of selling it later a high price. But the fact that Parsadilal had the whiskers with him has made the forest department suspect him of having killed it too.
However, the department's breakthrough in the investigation met a road block when local MLA Hem Singh Bhadana warned the officials not to harass the villagers of Kalakhet in Sariska merely on suspicion. It was at this point that the forest department decided to bring things to light with the help of a polygraphy test.
The needle of suspicion rested on Parsadilal when the forest department during initial investigation saw him behaving uncomfortably when quizzed on the killing of the tiger. Thereafter the department has been keeping a tab on him and made him yield eventually.
"Parsadilal left for Delhi from Sariska in the wee hours this morning. On reaching Delhi, he was taken to the forensic laboratory at about 10.30. The tests will be done on him and in about two days we will get to know whether he was involved in he killing of the tiger," said an official.
While the state forest department has been suspecting Parsadilal of poisoning the tiger, the suspect has so far just accepted that he had chanced upon the carcass of the big cat after which he cut off the whiskers from the body in the hope of selling it later a high price. But the fact that Parsadilal had the whiskers with him has made the forest department suspect him of having killed it too.
However, the department's breakthrough in the investigation met a road block when local MLA Hem Singh Bhadana warned the officials not to harass the villagers of Kalakhet in Sariska merely on suspicion. It was at this point that the forest department decided to bring things to light with the help of a polygraphy test.
The needle of suspicion rested on Parsadilal when the forest department during initial investigation saw him behaving uncomfortably when quizzed on the killing of the tiger. Thereafter the department has been keeping a tab on him and made him yield eventually.
Fire threatens Sariska reserve
Alwar: As a forest fire approached the Kyara village, situated in vicinity of Sariska Tiger Reserve, officials of state forest department and district administration of Alwar locked horns, each shirking responsibility.
According to villagers, the forest fire started in the bushes near Thanagazi on Sunday but the authorities were clueless even after 48 hours as the fire kept raging in more than 15 square kilometres within miles of the Sariska reserve until shepherds going into the hilly terrain reported it.
"We were informed about the fire on Tuesday morning but it did not fall within our jurisdiction. However, we informed the local administration about it as it's their responsibility," Jai Kishan, assistant conservator of forest (ACF), Alwar said.
On the other hand, the local administration said that they were busy in a camp organised under Prashsahn Gaon ke Sang campaign in the nearby Kishori village, which is 2 km away from the site.
"We received the information about the fire today [Tuesday] but could not reach the spot as we were busy in the camp. I don't know if the fire is still raging," Vinay Nagayach, sub-divisional magistrate (SDM), Thanagazi said.
Allegedly the fire started from a pyre ignited by woodcutters to get rid of the chilly winds.
When DNA reached the spot late on Tuesday evening the fire was still simmering at many places near the Golradi area.
"The villagers had spotted the fire on Sunday evening but forest officials did not come until Tuesday. And even when the forest official did arrive on Tuesday they refused to act as the area did not fall under their jurisdiction. Later, the villagers doused the fire," Laxmikant Meena, a village
According to villagers, the forest fire started in the bushes near Thanagazi on Sunday but the authorities were clueless even after 48 hours as the fire kept raging in more than 15 square kilometres within miles of the Sariska reserve until shepherds going into the hilly terrain reported it.
"We were informed about the fire on Tuesday morning but it did not fall within our jurisdiction. However, we informed the local administration about it as it's their responsibility," Jai Kishan, assistant conservator of forest (ACF), Alwar said.
On the other hand, the local administration said that they were busy in a camp organised under Prashsahn Gaon ke Sang campaign in the nearby Kishori village, which is 2 km away from the site.
"We received the information about the fire today [Tuesday] but could not reach the spot as we were busy in the camp. I don't know if the fire is still raging," Vinay Nagayach, sub-divisional magistrate (SDM), Thanagazi said.
Allegedly the fire started from a pyre ignited by woodcutters to get rid of the chilly winds.
When DNA reached the spot late on Tuesday evening the fire was still simmering at many places near the Golradi area.
"The villagers had spotted the fire on Sunday evening but forest officials did not come until Tuesday. And even when the forest official did arrive on Tuesday they refused to act as the area did not fall under their jurisdiction. Later, the villagers doused the fire," Laxmikant Meena, a village
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Another tiger birth in Ranthambore?
JAIPUR: Close on the heels of the birth of two new cubs at the Ranthambore tiger reserve in the recent past, there could be some more good news in store. Indications are that another big cat may have given birth to some cubs. Though officials did not confirm it, pugmarks of cubs are said to have been seen in the area.
"The tigress was recently sighted in the Kachida area and it seems she has given birth to some cubs. The inference gained credence after pugmarks of some cubs were also sighted in the area."
The tigress may be the T-5, said to be the mother of male tigers T-6 and T-7. The area also houses the T-8 tigress. But sources say that all the three big cats are out of the area currently and so there will not be any threat to the new born cubs.
Officials of the forest department, however, refuted the claims on the grounds that there were no scientific evidences suggesting the birth of the cubs. But what officials have done is to fit camera traps in a large portion of the reserve to take pictures of the cubs and tigers.
"We have about 30 camera traps and we have borrowed some from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in Dehradun. These have been fixed at the park. But this is not for taking pictures of the cubs. This is an annual thing that scientists of the WII are doing. It would take about 20 days to cover the entire park," said RP Gupta, DFO Ranthambore.
Sources also said that the T-5 tigress was seen mating during the monsoon and the forest department has been expecting the birth of these cubs. "Tiger cubs come out in the open only after about four months of their birth. And till there is actual sighting or a picture, we cannot say that cubs have been born, and in this case we have neither," officials added.
The birth of the cubs would be a big respite for officials of the state forest department that has been fighting hard to explain numerous tigers straying away from the Ranthambore tiger reserve. Added to that, the death of the first relocated tiger ST-1 to Sariska has been a big jolt.
Moreover, there has been a lull at Ranthambore after 2008 that saw the birth of some cubs. The next two years failed to see any new born allegedly due to a skewed sex ratio at the park.
"The tigress was recently sighted in the Kachida area and it seems she has given birth to some cubs. The inference gained credence after pugmarks of some cubs were also sighted in the area."
The tigress may be the T-5, said to be the mother of male tigers T-6 and T-7. The area also houses the T-8 tigress. But sources say that all the three big cats are out of the area currently and so there will not be any threat to the new born cubs.
Officials of the forest department, however, refuted the claims on the grounds that there were no scientific evidences suggesting the birth of the cubs. But what officials have done is to fit camera traps in a large portion of the reserve to take pictures of the cubs and tigers.
"We have about 30 camera traps and we have borrowed some from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in Dehradun. These have been fixed at the park. But this is not for taking pictures of the cubs. This is an annual thing that scientists of the WII are doing. It would take about 20 days to cover the entire park," said RP Gupta, DFO Ranthambore.
Sources also said that the T-5 tigress was seen mating during the monsoon and the forest department has been expecting the birth of these cubs. "Tiger cubs come out in the open only after about four months of their birth. And till there is actual sighting or a picture, we cannot say that cubs have been born, and in this case we have neither," officials added.
The birth of the cubs would be a big respite for officials of the state forest department that has been fighting hard to explain numerous tigers straying away from the Ranthambore tiger reserve. Added to that, the death of the first relocated tiger ST-1 to Sariska has been a big jolt.
Moreover, there has been a lull at Ranthambore after 2008 that saw the birth of some cubs. The next two years failed to see any new born allegedly due to a skewed sex ratio at the park.
Tourism in Madhya Pradesh at the cost of the tigers?
While the "warning" to tiger conservationists against the PIL might seem puzzling, it has long been an open secret that many conservationists run highly profitable tourism enterprises.
A recent email written by the Chief Wildlife Warden (CWLW) of Madhya Pradesh, asking tour operators to “take whatever steps you think will be appropriate to protect your interests” in the core areas of the tiger reserves of the State, has brought the forest department's conservation efforts under scrutiny.
The email was written by CWLW H.S. Pabla on November 14, five days after a public interest litigation (PIL), filed in the Madhya Pradesh High Court by Ajay Dube of Prayatna, an environment group, sought, among other things, a complete ban on tourism in core areas of tiger reserves.
The email asks international wildlife tour organisations to make sure the PIL “does not succeed” by impleading themselves as affected parties. Subsequently, a number of intervention applications have been filed in the High Court by the tour operators “concerned” as affected parties.
The addressees who have been asked to protect their interests include representatives of the Taj Hotels and those of Travel Operators For Tigers (TOFT), an international wildlife tour organisation, among others.
TOFT was reportedly instrumental in getting the State forest department to push a proposal in the Ministry of Environment and Forests to allow for patches of forest reserves to be handed over to them to be run as South African-style safaris where rich tourists could be catered to. The Ministry rejected the proposal.
CONSERVATIONISTS' ROLE
The list includes renowned tiger experts and conservationists Dhruv Singh and Hashim Tyabji, with one of them holding top positions at TOFT and being owner-partners of Baghvan, a tourist resort in the Pench Tiger Reserve, the scenic backdrop of Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book.
While the “warning” to tiger conservationists against the PIL might seem puzzling, it has long been an open secret that many conservationists run highly profitable tourism enterprises.
Tourist activities in core areas have been clearly stated as inimical to tiger conservation under Section 38V (4) (i) of the Wild Life Protection Act, and under the revised guidelines (2008, para 4.17) of Project Tiger, the Centrally sponsored tiger conservation scheme launched in 1972.
The NTCA's response to the PIL maintains this stand while defining the word inviolate to mean “any disturbance by humans” and emphasising that the word needs to be read in toto following the 2006 amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) response also states that the amendment has “strengthened the hands of the Chief Wildlife Warden to achieve the same.”
While sources in the NTCA maintain that the CWLW's actions are in direct conflict with his role as the chief conservationist of the State, Mr. Pabla clarified to The Hindu that as a professional, he had to maintain correspondence with all stakeholders in such matters, but refused to comment further since the matter was sub judice.
The sources told The Hindu that senior officials of the Madhya Pradesh forest department and several other retired and serving senior bureaucrats had interests in tourism activities in and around the Panna, Kanha and Pench Tiger Reserves.
When asked, Mr. Pabla refuted such allegations. “Neither I, nor any relative of mine anywhere in the world, have any interests in tourism activities in core areas, and to the best of my knowledge, none of the forest officials in M.P. does,” he said.
‘We like tourism'
“We like tourism — it gets us revenue and supports conservation. The State government will be opposing the PIL officially,” a senior forest official told The Hindu.
The Madhya Pradesh government has consistently maintained a pro-tourism stand for the core areas of tiger reserves. It recently gave the ‘Tourism Friendly Forester' award to Mr. Pabla, who was instrumental in launching the ‘Patrolling the Tiger land' initiative, allowing tourists to visit core areas of tiger reserves from October.
Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh had expressed shock at the initiative and requested the State government to stop it. However, forest officials maintain that the initiative is “suspended temporarily.”
“We don't want to throttle tourism, but it needs to be regulated and gradually phased out of core areas in keeping with the Wildlife Protection Act,” NTCA member secretary Rajesh Gopal told The Hindu.
Keywords: tiger reserves, National Tiger Conservation Authority, Madhya Pradesh tourism
A recent email written by the Chief Wildlife Warden (CWLW) of Madhya Pradesh, asking tour operators to “take whatever steps you think will be appropriate to protect your interests” in the core areas of the tiger reserves of the State, has brought the forest department's conservation efforts under scrutiny.
The email was written by CWLW H.S. Pabla on November 14, five days after a public interest litigation (PIL), filed in the Madhya Pradesh High Court by Ajay Dube of Prayatna, an environment group, sought, among other things, a complete ban on tourism in core areas of tiger reserves.
The email asks international wildlife tour organisations to make sure the PIL “does not succeed” by impleading themselves as affected parties. Subsequently, a number of intervention applications have been filed in the High Court by the tour operators “concerned” as affected parties.
The addressees who have been asked to protect their interests include representatives of the Taj Hotels and those of Travel Operators For Tigers (TOFT), an international wildlife tour organisation, among others.
TOFT was reportedly instrumental in getting the State forest department to push a proposal in the Ministry of Environment and Forests to allow for patches of forest reserves to be handed over to them to be run as South African-style safaris where rich tourists could be catered to. The Ministry rejected the proposal.
CONSERVATIONISTS' ROLE
The list includes renowned tiger experts and conservationists Dhruv Singh and Hashim Tyabji, with one of them holding top positions at TOFT and being owner-partners of Baghvan, a tourist resort in the Pench Tiger Reserve, the scenic backdrop of Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book.
While the “warning” to tiger conservationists against the PIL might seem puzzling, it has long been an open secret that many conservationists run highly profitable tourism enterprises.
Tourist activities in core areas have been clearly stated as inimical to tiger conservation under Section 38V (4) (i) of the Wild Life Protection Act, and under the revised guidelines (2008, para 4.17) of Project Tiger, the Centrally sponsored tiger conservation scheme launched in 1972.
The NTCA's response to the PIL maintains this stand while defining the word inviolate to mean “any disturbance by humans” and emphasising that the word needs to be read in toto following the 2006 amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) response also states that the amendment has “strengthened the hands of the Chief Wildlife Warden to achieve the same.”
While sources in the NTCA maintain that the CWLW's actions are in direct conflict with his role as the chief conservationist of the State, Mr. Pabla clarified to The Hindu that as a professional, he had to maintain correspondence with all stakeholders in such matters, but refused to comment further since the matter was sub judice.
The sources told The Hindu that senior officials of the Madhya Pradesh forest department and several other retired and serving senior bureaucrats had interests in tourism activities in and around the Panna, Kanha and Pench Tiger Reserves.
When asked, Mr. Pabla refuted such allegations. “Neither I, nor any relative of mine anywhere in the world, have any interests in tourism activities in core areas, and to the best of my knowledge, none of the forest officials in M.P. does,” he said.
‘We like tourism'
“We like tourism — it gets us revenue and supports conservation. The State government will be opposing the PIL officially,” a senior forest official told The Hindu.
The Madhya Pradesh government has consistently maintained a pro-tourism stand for the core areas of tiger reserves. It recently gave the ‘Tourism Friendly Forester' award to Mr. Pabla, who was instrumental in launching the ‘Patrolling the Tiger land' initiative, allowing tourists to visit core areas of tiger reserves from October.
Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh had expressed shock at the initiative and requested the State government to stop it. However, forest officials maintain that the initiative is “suspended temporarily.”
“We don't want to throttle tourism, but it needs to be regulated and gradually phased out of core areas in keeping with the Wildlife Protection Act,” NTCA member secretary Rajesh Gopal told The Hindu.
Keywords: tiger reserves, National Tiger Conservation Authority, Madhya Pradesh tourism
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