Bhopal, Aug. 16: A right to information campaigner who had raised questions on several tiger deaths across Madhya Pradesh was shot dead as she got into her car moments after stepping out of home this morning.
Shahla Masood, known to be working on alleged malpractice in the state’s wildlife conservation, tourism and other departments, had before leaving home updated her Facebook account, urging people to support Anna Hazare’s movement against corruption.
Police said the 35-year-old was shot by an unidentified assailant as she sat in her Santro in the Koh-e-Fiza locality of the Madhya Pradesh capital.
“Shahla Masood was shot dead around 11am when she was sitting in her car,” senior superintendent of police Adarsh Katiyar said.
The SSP said a massive hunt had been launched to nab the assailant though the motive behind the murder wasn’t clear yet.
Ajay Dubey, a close associate of the slain RTI campaigner, said Shahla had “raised questions regarding several tiger deaths” across the state. “People involved in the racket may be responsible,” he added.
A former model, event manager and later a full-time RTI activist, Shahla was feared by many politicians and bureaucrats.
Dubey demanded a CBI probe into the murder. “We have no faith in the state government, so the matter should be investigated by the CBI.”
The killing of Shahla has again raised questions on the ability of governments to protect whistleblowers or rights activists.
In April this year, Niyamat Ansari, an RTI activist from Latehar, Jharkhand, was killed for exposing embezzlement of National Rural Employment Guarantee Act funds.
“The fact that a lady can be murdered like this in broad daylight outside her own house shows that there is no security worth its name in Bhopal,” leader of Opposition in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly Ajay Singh told PTI.
State police chief S.K. Raut visited Shahla’s residence, where a police force was deployed.
“I am sure…we will solve the murder soon,” PTI quoted IG Shailendra Shrivastava as saying.
Shahla’s body has been sent for post-mortem. Police have seized the car and locked her room.
Sources said the Bhopal-based activist had stayed up the whole of last night and watched the dramatic scenes of Hazare’s arrest this morning.
They said before leaving home, Shahla had updated her Facebook account, urging people to support Hazare’s movement.
Her last status update on Facebook read “Gandhi: ‘the purpose of civil resistance is provocation.’ Anna has succeeded in provoking the government and the opposition. Hope he wins us freedom from corruption. Meet at 2pm Boat Club Bhopal.”
A PTI report said Shahla’s aunt Rubab Zaidi came down to see why her niece hadn’t driven off even 15 minutes after stepping out of home. When she reached the car, Zaidi saw Shahla slumped inside. She then called Shahla’s father.
The activist was single and her only sister lives in America.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110817/jsp/frontpage/story_14385802.jsp
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Cabinet gives nod to cheetahs, more funds for Project Tiger
New Delhi, Aug 11 (IANS) The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) Thursday approved re-introduction of cheetahs in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan and hike in Project Tiger estimates from Rs.650 crore to Rs.1,216.86 crore due to rise in cost of relocation of villages from tribal habitats.
The CCEA also approved increased compensation in case of loss of human life in man-animal conflict.
According to a government release, increase in cost of Project Tiger has been necessitated due to "increased action for relocation of villages from the notified core/critical tiger habitats as also inclusion of additional components".
It said there will be a change in the funding pattern in respect of northeastern states by increasing the central share from the existing 50 percent to 90 percent for recurring expenditure.
The release said compensation for man-animal conflict has been raised to Rs.2 lakh in case of loss of human life.
Another component of Project Tiger approved by the CCEA is re-introduction of cheetahs in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Re-introduction of cheetahs in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan would benefit all the 40 tiger reserves falling in 17 tiger states, the statement said.
"Re-introduction of cheetahs in the states of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan under the scheme at a cost of Rs.50 crore after ensuring the historical co-existence of cheetahs with other carnivores, especially the tiger, would benefit all the 40 tiger reserves falling in 17 tiger states, besides the people living in the fringe areas (buffer), as well as communities opting for voluntary relocation from the core/critical tiger habitats," it added.
The tiger population in the country has registered an increase from 1,411 in 2006 to 1,706 in 2010.
India has the maximum number of wild tigers and tiger habitats in the world conserved due to Project Tiger.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) provides a statutory basis to Project Tiger and has an overarching role as provided in the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Project Tiger was launched by the government in 1973 in nine reserves of Assam, Bihar, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal over an area of approximately 14,000 sq. km.
http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=111772
The CCEA also approved increased compensation in case of loss of human life in man-animal conflict.
According to a government release, increase in cost of Project Tiger has been necessitated due to "increased action for relocation of villages from the notified core/critical tiger habitats as also inclusion of additional components".
It said there will be a change in the funding pattern in respect of northeastern states by increasing the central share from the existing 50 percent to 90 percent for recurring expenditure.
The release said compensation for man-animal conflict has been raised to Rs.2 lakh in case of loss of human life.
Another component of Project Tiger approved by the CCEA is re-introduction of cheetahs in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Re-introduction of cheetahs in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan would benefit all the 40 tiger reserves falling in 17 tiger states, the statement said.
"Re-introduction of cheetahs in the states of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan under the scheme at a cost of Rs.50 crore after ensuring the historical co-existence of cheetahs with other carnivores, especially the tiger, would benefit all the 40 tiger reserves falling in 17 tiger states, besides the people living in the fringe areas (buffer), as well as communities opting for voluntary relocation from the core/critical tiger habitats," it added.
The tiger population in the country has registered an increase from 1,411 in 2006 to 1,706 in 2010.
India has the maximum number of wild tigers and tiger habitats in the world conserved due to Project Tiger.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) provides a statutory basis to Project Tiger and has an overarching role as provided in the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Project Tiger was launched by the government in 1973 in nine reserves of Assam, Bihar, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal over an area of approximately 14,000 sq. km.
http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=111772
Thursday, August 11, 2011
TATR gets funds for village relocation -Mazhar Ali, TNN
CHANDRAPUR: The relocation of villages located inside Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) is going to get a boost with the receipt of pending funds released by National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) in the coming days. TATR is expected to receive the installment of Rs2.88 crore to initiate rehabilitation process of village Ramdegi (Navegaon) in the coming days.
Similarly, funds for relocation of Jamni village are expected to be released in October this year, sources said. After being rebuked by the high court in October last year, the government had accelerated the process of rehabilitation of villages out of TATR.
The rehabilitation committee headed by district collector had forwarded the proposals of rehabilitation of Ramdegi and Navegaon villages to NTCA collectively worth Rs43.2 crore. While NTCA readily approved both the proposals, it had released the funds only for Ramdegi village. The first installment of Rs2.88 crore for rehabilitation of Ramdegi was released in the final days of the last financial year.
But by the time it reached the state government for disbursement, the financial year had ended. "The funds cannot be utilized in next financial year unless revalidated by union government. PCCF had forwarded a proposal for revalidation of the funds, so that it could be utilized in current financial year. The funds is expected to be released soon," said CCF and field director, TATR, Vinaykumar Sinha. Funds for rehabilitation of Jamni village are expected by October, he added.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/TATR-gets-funds-for-village-relocation/articleshow/9559927.cms
Similarly, funds for relocation of Jamni village are expected to be released in October this year, sources said. After being rebuked by the high court in October last year, the government had accelerated the process of rehabilitation of villages out of TATR.
The rehabilitation committee headed by district collector had forwarded the proposals of rehabilitation of Ramdegi and Navegaon villages to NTCA collectively worth Rs43.2 crore. While NTCA readily approved both the proposals, it had released the funds only for Ramdegi village. The first installment of Rs2.88 crore for rehabilitation of Ramdegi was released in the final days of the last financial year.
But by the time it reached the state government for disbursement, the financial year had ended. "The funds cannot be utilized in next financial year unless revalidated by union government. PCCF had forwarded a proposal for revalidation of the funds, so that it could be utilized in current financial year. The funds is expected to be released soon," said CCF and field director, TATR, Vinaykumar Sinha. Funds for rehabilitation of Jamni village are expected by October, he added.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/TATR-gets-funds-for-village-relocation/articleshow/9559927.cms
Green groups seek tiger reserve tag for park
- Environmentalists hope status upgrade will help Dibru-Saikhowa get more funds from Centre
RIPUNJOY DAS
Dibru-Saikhowa National Park
Dibrugarh, Aug. 10: Environmental groups have urged the Centre to declare Dibru-Saikhowa National Park as a tiger reserve in the hope that it will attract funds.
According to official data, the national park, spread across Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts with a total area of 765 square km, including the 340 square km core zone, had 31 tigers in 2001-2002.
Although the number has gone down because of lack of conservation efforts and some other factors, it is roughly estimated that the park still has around 15 tigers.
During the 2010 tiger census — reports of which were released recently — pugmarks were found in three areas of the park. “We have seen that the many small reserves with only three or four tigers have been accorded the status of tiger reserve which has helped them receive crores of rupees. It is unfortunate that the Centre and the state government has so far neglected the park compared to other national parks of the state,” the secretary of Dibru-Saikhowa Conservation Society, Joynal Abedin, said.
In 2003, the then state joint secretary of forests and present Lakhimpur deputy commissioner Anwaruddin Choudhury had written to the then chief conservator of forests (wildlife) M.C. Malakar to take up the matter of according tiger reserve status to Dibru-Saikhowa National Park and Dhansiri reserve forest in Karbi Anglong.The proposal was forwarded to the Centre by Malakar. However, the Centre has failed to take any steps on the issue, which has irked nature lovers and also given them a chance to press for tiger reserve status for Dibru-Saikhowa.
“Despite being rich in its flora and fauna, apart from being a treasure hub of orchids, the Assam government has never given importance to the park. Therefore, we urge the government to accord the status of a tiger reserve to Dibru-Saikhowa so that conservation efforts can be carried out in the real sense,” Niranta Gohain, director of Wave Eco-Tourism, another NGO, said.
There are five tiger reserves in the Northeast — Kaziranga, Nameri and Manas in Assam, Namdapha in Arunachal Pradesh and Dampa in Mizoram.
With the formation of the National Tiger Conservation Authority and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh laying much stress on the conservation of tigers in India, the NGOs feel that according the status of tiger reserve is the only option for development of Dibru-Saikhowa.
However, the divisional forest officer of the national park, Vaibhav Mathur, said, “In the present circumstances it would be totally unscientific to declare Dibru-Saikhowa a tiger reserve.”
“There is a huge human population inside the core zone of the park, which has created a lot of pressure upon the national park. Firstly, this population of over 10,000 needs to be a relocated. There are several other issues like acute shortage in manpower as well which needs to be addressed,” he added.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110811/jsp/northeast/story_14362737.jsp
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
New Tiger Reserves
Ministry of Environment and Forests
The “in-principle” approval has been accorded by the National Tiger Conservation Authority for creation of six new tiger reserves, and the sites are: (i) Pilibhit (Uttar Pradesh), (ii) Ratapani (Madhya Pradesh), (iii) Sunabeda (Odisha), (iv) Mukandara Hills (including Darrah, Jawahar Sagar and Chambal Wildlife Sanctuaries) (Rajasthan), (v) Kudremukh (Karnataka) and (vi) Kawal Sanctuary (Andhra Pradesh). Besides, the States have been advised to send proposals for declaring the following areas as Tiger Reserves: (i) Bor (Maharashtra), (ii) Suhelwa (Uttar Pradesh), (iii) Nagzira-Navegaon (Maharashtra) (iv) Satyamangalam (Tamil Nadu), (v) Guru Ghasidas National Park (Chhattisgarh), and (vi) Mhadei Sanctuary (Goa). Under section 38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 State governments are authorised to notify an area as a tiger reserve on recommendation of the National Tiger Conservation Authority.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Environment and Forests (independent charge) Shrimati Jayanthi Natarajan in a written reply to a question by Shri Kanwar Deep Singh in Rajya Sabha today.
KP
(Release ID :74171)
The “in-principle” approval has been accorded by the National Tiger Conservation Authority for creation of six new tiger reserves, and the sites are: (i) Pilibhit (Uttar Pradesh), (ii) Ratapani (Madhya Pradesh), (iii) Sunabeda (Odisha), (iv) Mukandara Hills (including Darrah, Jawahar Sagar and Chambal Wildlife Sanctuaries) (Rajasthan), (v) Kudremukh (Karnataka) and (vi) Kawal Sanctuary (Andhra Pradesh). Besides, the States have been advised to send proposals for declaring the following areas as Tiger Reserves: (i) Bor (Maharashtra), (ii) Suhelwa (Uttar Pradesh), (iii) Nagzira-Navegaon (Maharashtra) (iv) Satyamangalam (Tamil Nadu), (v) Guru Ghasidas National Park (Chhattisgarh), and (vi) Mhadei Sanctuary (Goa). Under section 38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 State governments are authorised to notify an area as a tiger reserve on recommendation of the National Tiger Conservation Authority.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Environment and Forests (independent charge) Shrimati Jayanthi Natarajan in a written reply to a question by Shri Kanwar Deep Singh in Rajya Sabha today.
KP
(Release ID :74171)
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Tiger population increases in Sathyamangalam forest
PTI
The tiger population in Sathyamangalam forest has increased from 10 to 18 in the past two years, Conservator of Forests, Erode District, has said.
D Arun, the Conservator of Forests, said on Sunday that the recent census had shown an increase of eight tigers in the range in comparison with the 2009 figures.
Addressing a meeting organised by the Living with Nature Movement, Mr. Arun said strict vigil in the forest areas in the district had led to the increase in wildlife population.
He said the district has two forest divisions with vast forest cover: Sathyamangalam and Erode. As per the recent census, Sathyamangalam is home to 785 elephants, 564 Gaur, 212 Sambar variety deer, 309 spotted deer, 377 Black Buck deer, 127 wild boar, 19 panther and 18 tigers, he said.
Similarly, Erode forest division has 70 elephants, 20 bison, 645 spotted deer, 208 sambar variety deer and 20 panthers, he said.
Sufficient water and food were available for the wild animals inside the forest, but sometime due to migration, some elephants were entering private lands, causing damage to the crops, he said. In order to prevent such incidents, digging of trenches has already commenced in the forest areas, he added.
The tiger population in Sathyamangalam forest has increased from 10 to 18 in the past two years, Conservator of Forests, Erode District, has said.
D Arun, the Conservator of Forests, said on Sunday that the recent census had shown an increase of eight tigers in the range in comparison with the 2009 figures.
Addressing a meeting organised by the Living with Nature Movement, Mr. Arun said strict vigil in the forest areas in the district had led to the increase in wildlife population.
He said the district has two forest divisions with vast forest cover: Sathyamangalam and Erode. As per the recent census, Sathyamangalam is home to 785 elephants, 564 Gaur, 212 Sambar variety deer, 309 spotted deer, 377 Black Buck deer, 127 wild boar, 19 panther and 18 tigers, he said.
Similarly, Erode forest division has 70 elephants, 20 bison, 645 spotted deer, 208 sambar variety deer and 20 panthers, he said.
Sufficient water and food were available for the wild animals inside the forest, but sometime due to migration, some elephants were entering private lands, causing damage to the crops, he said. In order to prevent such incidents, digging of trenches has already commenced in the forest areas, he added.
Goa not keen on responding to MoEF letter on tiger sanctuary
PTI | 04:08 PM,Aug 08,2011
Panaji, Aug 8 (PTI) Even though the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) had asked the Goa government to submit a proposal to declare Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary as a Tiger Reserve, the coastal state might not respond to it as it is not sure whether there are tigers in the sanctuary. State Forest Minister Filipe Neri Rodrigues today hinted at it when he told reporters that the state government might not respond to the MOEF letter. "Why should we reply? We have not been asked to reply?" he questioned. The minister also said that the state government is not sure whether there are tigers existing in Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary. When the minister was told that the existence of tigers in the sanctuary was noticed during animal census, Rodrigues said, "It is the wildlife institute's and not my job to know whether there are tigers (in the sanctuary)." The Congress minister said that declaration of sanctuary as a tiger reserve would turn out to be "unpopular" as local people are opposing it. "We will have to take everyone into confidence," he said. In June, the MoEF had written to Goa chief minister Digambar Kamat asking him to submit a proposal for setting up a tiger reserve.
Monday, August 8, 2011
A Tigress and three tigers missing from Ranthambore
JAIPUR: Three tigers and one tigress are reportedly missing from the Ranthambore national park and are untraceable for the last few months.
"One tiger is untraceable since December last year and the others are missing since February this year. They do not have radio collars and our effort to trace them is on," Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and Chief Wildlife warden U M Sahai said.
No signs of territorial fight have been detected yet and the teams of forest department are making efforts to locate them, he added.
"In monsoon season, tracking big cats becomes difficult. They are missing for months even then it would be too early to anticipate that they are dead because it (missing) happens many times due to various reasons," Deputy Conservator of Forest- Ranthambore Y K Sahu said.
"No dead body has been found yet," he said. "We are hopeful that they would be traced after monsoon gets over. Tigers T21, T29, T40 and tigress T27 are missing," Sahu said, adding, there are more than 40 tigers, tigresses and cubs (in all) in Ranthambore.
The famous Ranthambore national park is located in Sawaimadhopur district, 130 kms from here in Rajasthan.
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-08-06/flora-fauna/29858409_1_ranthambore-national-park-u-m-sahai-tigress
"One tiger is untraceable since December last year and the others are missing since February this year. They do not have radio collars and our effort to trace them is on," Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and Chief Wildlife warden U M Sahai said.
No signs of territorial fight have been detected yet and the teams of forest department are making efforts to locate them, he added.
"In monsoon season, tracking big cats becomes difficult. They are missing for months even then it would be too early to anticipate that they are dead because it (missing) happens many times due to various reasons," Deputy Conservator of Forest- Ranthambore Y K Sahu said.
"No dead body has been found yet," he said. "We are hopeful that they would be traced after monsoon gets over. Tigers T21, T29, T40 and tigress T27 are missing," Sahu said, adding, there are more than 40 tigers, tigresses and cubs (in all) in Ranthambore.
The famous Ranthambore national park is located in Sawaimadhopur district, 130 kms from here in Rajasthan.
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-08-06/flora-fauna/29858409_1_ranthambore-national-park-u-m-sahai-tigress
After 50 tiger deaths, 3 poachers convicted
For a country which wants to slap a fine of Rs 1-crore on citizens who are cruel to their pet dogs, chickens and buffalos, poachers of India’s national animal — tiger — have been let off rather lightly. But the unthinkable happened last week: For the first time in Karnataka, the nation's tiger capital, three tiger poachers were convicted and sentenced to three years' imprisonment by the 9th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's court in Bangalore.
Prior to this, it was only arrests of wildlife poachers that made news as conviction eluded sleuths of the CID Forest Cell and other police personnel.
Nabbing the culprits
A team from Upparpet police station comprising inspector M R Mudavi, sub-inspectors S D Shashidhar and Sridhar K Poojar and some constables nabbed a three-member gang on August 17, 2008, in Gandhinagar. Acting on a tip-off, the police contingent arrested M David Kumar (29), Kodandapani (29) of Koramangala and P Venkataswamy (33) of Krishnagiri and seized two tiger pelts, tiger paws and a few pieces of tiger bones worth Rs 15 lakh. The booty was sourced from Chandapura, on the city outskirts. The three were booked under various provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
Upparpet police station inspector Lokeshwar, who took over as investigating officer in the case, said, "We provided enough documents to the court and are happy that the poachers have been convicted. This will teach other poachers a lesson."
Conservationists smiling
The rare conviction has put the smile back on the faces of conservationists. Sanjay Gubbi, member of the Karnataka State Wildlife Board, said: "The conviction is a welcome change on the conservation front. All these years, it was only reports of arrests which made news but culprits would eventually go scot-free. Even though the punishment is inadequate, I am happy that it has started happening."
Upparpet: Wildlife trade hub
For years, areas within Upparpet police station limits including Gandhinagar, Majestic, KG Road, Avenue Road and the infamous Tulasi Thota were the hub of wildlife trade in IT city.
In 2008 alone, 24 cases relating to the wildlife trade were registered including the trading of six tiger pelts, nine leopard pelts and one rhinoceros horn. The numbers kept increasing over the years.
The high number of cases gave the area the dubious distinction of entering the national wildlife crime database managed by the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI).
Poaching unabated every year
Even though the dwindling tiger population set off alarm bells and led to calls for stringent laws, poaching in various national parks and tiger reserves continues unabated. Last year, in Karnataka alone, the forest department recovered as many as six tiger pelts and arrested a couple of poachers. And 50 tigers have fallen prey to poachers in the last 30 years, says Sanjay.
It's only in the last couple of years that tiger deaths have been properly tracked in India after the setting up of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). Till then, there were no efforts to keep track of the big cats' mortality rate even though their population was slowly being decimated.
Karnataka, with more than 390-400 big cats, has four tiger reserves including Bandipur, Nagarhole, Anshi-Dandeli and Bhadra Tiger reserves. Recently, the central government also notified Biligiri Ranga Temple Wildlife Sanctuary as a tiger reserve. Bandipur, Nagarhole and Dandeli were once the hub of poachers though such incidents have come down in the last one year due to the efforts of forest officials.
http://www.bangaloremirror.com/index.aspx?page=article§id=1&contentid=2011080720110807131257210a884b569
Prior to this, it was only arrests of wildlife poachers that made news as conviction eluded sleuths of the CID Forest Cell and other police personnel.
Nabbing the culprits
A team from Upparpet police station comprising inspector M R Mudavi, sub-inspectors S D Shashidhar and Sridhar K Poojar and some constables nabbed a three-member gang on August 17, 2008, in Gandhinagar. Acting on a tip-off, the police contingent arrested M David Kumar (29), Kodandapani (29) of Koramangala and P Venkataswamy (33) of Krishnagiri and seized two tiger pelts, tiger paws and a few pieces of tiger bones worth Rs 15 lakh. The booty was sourced from Chandapura, on the city outskirts. The three were booked under various provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
Upparpet police station inspector Lokeshwar, who took over as investigating officer in the case, said, "We provided enough documents to the court and are happy that the poachers have been convicted. This will teach other poachers a lesson."
Conservationists smiling
The rare conviction has put the smile back on the faces of conservationists. Sanjay Gubbi, member of the Karnataka State Wildlife Board, said: "The conviction is a welcome change on the conservation front. All these years, it was only reports of arrests which made news but culprits would eventually go scot-free. Even though the punishment is inadequate, I am happy that it has started happening."
Upparpet: Wildlife trade hub
For years, areas within Upparpet police station limits including Gandhinagar, Majestic, KG Road, Avenue Road and the infamous Tulasi Thota were the hub of wildlife trade in IT city.
In 2008 alone, 24 cases relating to the wildlife trade were registered including the trading of six tiger pelts, nine leopard pelts and one rhinoceros horn. The numbers kept increasing over the years.
The high number of cases gave the area the dubious distinction of entering the national wildlife crime database managed by the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI).
Poaching unabated every year
Even though the dwindling tiger population set off alarm bells and led to calls for stringent laws, poaching in various national parks and tiger reserves continues unabated. Last year, in Karnataka alone, the forest department recovered as many as six tiger pelts and arrested a couple of poachers. And 50 tigers have fallen prey to poachers in the last 30 years, says Sanjay.
It's only in the last couple of years that tiger deaths have been properly tracked in India after the setting up of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). Till then, there were no efforts to keep track of the big cats' mortality rate even though their population was slowly being decimated.
Karnataka, with more than 390-400 big cats, has four tiger reserves including Bandipur, Nagarhole, Anshi-Dandeli and Bhadra Tiger reserves. Recently, the central government also notified Biligiri Ranga Temple Wildlife Sanctuary as a tiger reserve. Bandipur, Nagarhole and Dandeli were once the hub of poachers though such incidents have come down in the last one year due to the efforts of forest officials.
http://www.bangaloremirror.com/index.aspx?page=article§id=1&contentid=2011080720110807131257210a884b569
Evaluation lists major threats to three Tiger Reserves
Up and coming development projects, increasing pressure from tourism and pilgrimage, increasing number of hotels and conflicts with local communities are the major threats faced by the three tiger reserves in the State.
The weaknesses include inadequate trained and competent staff in the tiger reserves, disturbance due to human settlements inside the reserves and fringes, exotic plantations, invasive species, increasing human – wildlife conflict in certain pockets and some corridors still falling outside the tiger reserves.
The ‘Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) of Tiger Reserves in India: Process and Outcomes 2010 – 2011,' brought out by the Wildlife Institute of India and National Tiger Conservation Authority, has listed the strengths of the tiger reserves as well.
Connectivity to adjoining areas, strong support of stakeholders, good scientific research information and strong eco-development programme have been identified as strengths of Kalakad – Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve.
Sound protection strategies, adequate baseline information, adequate support of local people, co-ordination and contiguity with Kerala are the strong points for Anamalai.
At Mudumalai, the landscape adjoining Bandipur and Wayanad has provided space for migration of large mammals and integration into the ecosystem. Protection system, with anti-poaching strategies in place, has been termed good.
In all three reserves, the study has viewed the establishment of tiger foundations, growing interest of research among individuals and institutions and increasing government support as opportunities.
Prepared under the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) framework, the outcome of the MEE process has categorised the three tiger reserves in the State as very good. The Western Ghats landscape has been rated 75 on the MEE score, 10 points above the average of 65 per cent for all five clusters.
However, the team chaired by State's former head of Forest Department C.K. Sreedharan with Yogesh Dubey and E.A. Jayson as members which evaluated Cluster IV covering nine tiger reserves (TR) in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu has found several shortcomings in management.
Management plan
While all TRs have an approved management plan, none of them has approved tiger conservation plan, the report noted. The present system of beat, section and range as unit of management, has to be evaluated to see if it was serving the twin major purposes of protection and implementation of developmental programmes.
While enforcing Acts, it was noticed that booking of wildlife offences, filing of charge sheets and taking them to logical conclusions in a time bound manner was also absent in most TRs.
Apart from inadequately trained staff, the motivational level was not very high due to lack of adequate incentives. Besides, there was lack of arms and ammunitions and efficient communication systems and other equipment.
Most of the TRs lacked true research and development support to make them sustainable, said the report. It has also found shortcomings in capacity building of staff in wildlife management, unorganised tourism management, lack of internal monitoring and evaluation systems, delayed release of funds. Another major drawback reported was the inadequate attention paid to local communities inside the TRs and in the immediate surroundings and failure to accept them as full partners in management practices.
Implementation of Forest Rights Act 2006 has been found to be quite tardy and poor in most of the TRs.
The report also emphasised the need for a comprehensive resettlement programme to reduce serious biotic interference, active management of animals straying into agricultural fields, steering of tiger foundations in proper direction and participation of stakeholders in management which was only moderate now.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article2334108.ece
The weaknesses include inadequate trained and competent staff in the tiger reserves, disturbance due to human settlements inside the reserves and fringes, exotic plantations, invasive species, increasing human – wildlife conflict in certain pockets and some corridors still falling outside the tiger reserves.
The ‘Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) of Tiger Reserves in India: Process and Outcomes 2010 – 2011,' brought out by the Wildlife Institute of India and National Tiger Conservation Authority, has listed the strengths of the tiger reserves as well.
Connectivity to adjoining areas, strong support of stakeholders, good scientific research information and strong eco-development programme have been identified as strengths of Kalakad – Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve.
Sound protection strategies, adequate baseline information, adequate support of local people, co-ordination and contiguity with Kerala are the strong points for Anamalai.
At Mudumalai, the landscape adjoining Bandipur and Wayanad has provided space for migration of large mammals and integration into the ecosystem. Protection system, with anti-poaching strategies in place, has been termed good.
In all three reserves, the study has viewed the establishment of tiger foundations, growing interest of research among individuals and institutions and increasing government support as opportunities.
Prepared under the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) framework, the outcome of the MEE process has categorised the three tiger reserves in the State as very good. The Western Ghats landscape has been rated 75 on the MEE score, 10 points above the average of 65 per cent for all five clusters.
However, the team chaired by State's former head of Forest Department C.K. Sreedharan with Yogesh Dubey and E.A. Jayson as members which evaluated Cluster IV covering nine tiger reserves (TR) in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu has found several shortcomings in management.
Management plan
While all TRs have an approved management plan, none of them has approved tiger conservation plan, the report noted. The present system of beat, section and range as unit of management, has to be evaluated to see if it was serving the twin major purposes of protection and implementation of developmental programmes.
While enforcing Acts, it was noticed that booking of wildlife offences, filing of charge sheets and taking them to logical conclusions in a time bound manner was also absent in most TRs.
Apart from inadequately trained staff, the motivational level was not very high due to lack of adequate incentives. Besides, there was lack of arms and ammunitions and efficient communication systems and other equipment.
Most of the TRs lacked true research and development support to make them sustainable, said the report. It has also found shortcomings in capacity building of staff in wildlife management, unorganised tourism management, lack of internal monitoring and evaluation systems, delayed release of funds. Another major drawback reported was the inadequate attention paid to local communities inside the TRs and in the immediate surroundings and failure to accept them as full partners in management practices.
Implementation of Forest Rights Act 2006 has been found to be quite tardy and poor in most of the TRs.
The report also emphasised the need for a comprehensive resettlement programme to reduce serious biotic interference, active management of animals straying into agricultural fields, steering of tiger foundations in proper direction and participation of stakeholders in management which was only moderate now.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article2334108.ece
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Tiger numbers in AP up or down
HYDERABAD: The number of tigers in the state has gone up from 53 in 2006 to 72 in 2010, according to the state forest department.� Speaking to Express, deputy conservator of forests A Shankaran said the state government has stepped up anti-poaching measures in the last two years and has seen a lot of improvement in the number of tigers.
Earlier, there used to be a single unarmed forest beat officer in a particular area who would not be able to do much in times of crisis. To rectify this problem, the state government has constituted protection camps with 6-8 local tribal youths. Also, it has set up mobile strike forces who patrol the forest area.
Also, whenever animals enter a village in search of water source or food, they either get killed by electric fences around farms or villagers poison them in an attempt to safeguard their cattle and crops.
To resolve this, the government pressed into service six animal rescue vans last year, according to the deputy conservator of forests. The rescue vans are equipped with tranquillisers so that, whenever there is an incident of wild animal straying into villages, these vans immediately go to the villages and take the animal back into forests.� Another eight vans will be added to the existing six by the end of this year. The forest department aims to have one such van for each district in the next three years, Shankaran added.� The government has also increased compensation for loss of life in case of wild animal attack. Earlier, the compensation was Rs 1 lakh and now it has been increased to Rs 2.5 lakh. Compensation for crop damage has also been increased to Rs 6000 per acre (from the earlier Rs 2000).
Apart from these measures, the state government has proposed to develop Kawal sanctuary in Adilabad district. As part of this, around 1200 sqkm around the sanctuary will be developed as the buffer area, in addition to development of 896 sq km of the core sanctuary area.� When asked about providing the forest guards with arms, Shankaran said though extremist activities in the forests have come down, the possibility cannot be ruled out completely. The government is cautious about providing weapons to forest officials as it might attract extremist groups’ attention.
However, environmentalists disagree with the government’s claim of increase in the number of tigers.
Imran Siddiqui, a wildlife biologist, Hyderabad Tiger Conservation Society, says according to the present estimated number of tigers in the state, at least 4 or 5 cubs should be added to the tiger population every year, which is not the case.� When there is a 12 percent decrease in the tiger habitat, how can there be a 20 percent increase in the number of tigers?� he asks.� He also found fault with the methodology in which tiger counting has been done.
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/tiger-numbers-in-ap-up-or-down/173193-60-114.html
Earlier, there used to be a single unarmed forest beat officer in a particular area who would not be able to do much in times of crisis. To rectify this problem, the state government has constituted protection camps with 6-8 local tribal youths. Also, it has set up mobile strike forces who patrol the forest area.
Also, whenever animals enter a village in search of water source or food, they either get killed by electric fences around farms or villagers poison them in an attempt to safeguard their cattle and crops.
To resolve this, the government pressed into service six animal rescue vans last year, according to the deputy conservator of forests. The rescue vans are equipped with tranquillisers so that, whenever there is an incident of wild animal straying into villages, these vans immediately go to the villages and take the animal back into forests.� Another eight vans will be added to the existing six by the end of this year. The forest department aims to have one such van for each district in the next three years, Shankaran added.� The government has also increased compensation for loss of life in case of wild animal attack. Earlier, the compensation was Rs 1 lakh and now it has been increased to Rs 2.5 lakh. Compensation for crop damage has also been increased to Rs 6000 per acre (from the earlier Rs 2000).
Apart from these measures, the state government has proposed to develop Kawal sanctuary in Adilabad district. As part of this, around 1200 sqkm around the sanctuary will be developed as the buffer area, in addition to development of 896 sq km of the core sanctuary area.� When asked about providing the forest guards with arms, Shankaran said though extremist activities in the forests have come down, the possibility cannot be ruled out completely. The government is cautious about providing weapons to forest officials as it might attract extremist groups’ attention.
However, environmentalists disagree with the government’s claim of increase in the number of tigers.
Imran Siddiqui, a wildlife biologist, Hyderabad Tiger Conservation Society, says according to the present estimated number of tigers in the state, at least 4 or 5 cubs should be added to the tiger population every year, which is not the case.� When there is a 12 percent decrease in the tiger habitat, how can there be a 20 percent increase in the number of tigers?� he asks.� He also found fault with the methodology in which tiger counting has been done.
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/tiger-numbers-in-ap-up-or-down/173193-60-114.html
Friday, August 5, 2011
Tiger poaching: Sariska probe resume - TNN
SARISKA: The state government on Thursday resumed a probe that had been ordered in 2005 after it came to light that all tigers in the Sariska reserve have been poached.
Additional chief secretary and development commissioner B B Mohanty arrived at the tiger reserve on Thursday morning and began the probe. He is being helped by the assistant conservator of forest Bhagwan Singh Nathawat. Officials revealed Mohanty took possession of all records dating back to the period before all the tigers had been poached.
"Statements of various forest officials, including many of those working here in 2005, were recorded. The statements of NGOs working for tiger conservation were also recorded," officials said.
"We have written to all involved that whosoever has any information on the incident can give us their side of the story. We will also be sending notices to people who were engaged here but are now retired, including field directors, DFOs and other officials, and get information from them," Mohanty said.
"We will be look into the matter carefully so that whosoever involved does not go scot-free. In addition to this we will also be giving our recommendations so that the incident is repeated," he said adding the report by the R N Mehrotra committee will be a great help.
Officials explained the probe is being resumed now because the person who was heading the probe team then retired eventually.
"This was revealed recently and we decided to resume the probe and have sought details of all officers who were at Sariska between 1995 and 2005. The idea is to trace those responsible for dereliction of duty," officials said.
Highly placed sources said after it came to light in 2005 that all the Sariska tigers had been poached, the state had ordered an independent probe into it. However, the probe remained incomplete after a preliminary stage as the then additional chief secretary Alka Kalla who was heading the probe failed to make much progress. She retired about two years ago.
Subsequently, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) also probed into the incident while an empowered committee set up by the centre to also look into it. Both the agencies have submitted the report and have not found any official guilty in particular though it has rapped the all concerned authorities of negligence. Later, notorious poacher Sansar Chand was arrested.
While state forest department officials explain the resumption of the probe as a natural process after the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Rajasthan assembly recently traced the order to be incomplete. Incidentally, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had also pointedly put in its report on the incompletion of the probe. In perhaps one of the biggest setback to conservation, the entire tiger population was wiped out due to poaching from Sariska before the whistle was blown in 2005.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Tiger-poaching-Sariska-probe-resumes/articleshow/9488179.cms
Additional chief secretary and development commissioner B B Mohanty arrived at the tiger reserve on Thursday morning and began the probe. He is being helped by the assistant conservator of forest Bhagwan Singh Nathawat. Officials revealed Mohanty took possession of all records dating back to the period before all the tigers had been poached.
"Statements of various forest officials, including many of those working here in 2005, were recorded. The statements of NGOs working for tiger conservation were also recorded," officials said.
"We have written to all involved that whosoever has any information on the incident can give us their side of the story. We will also be sending notices to people who were engaged here but are now retired, including field directors, DFOs and other officials, and get information from them," Mohanty said.
"We will be look into the matter carefully so that whosoever involved does not go scot-free. In addition to this we will also be giving our recommendations so that the incident is repeated," he said adding the report by the R N Mehrotra committee will be a great help.
Officials explained the probe is being resumed now because the person who was heading the probe team then retired eventually.
"This was revealed recently and we decided to resume the probe and have sought details of all officers who were at Sariska between 1995 and 2005. The idea is to trace those responsible for dereliction of duty," officials said.
Highly placed sources said after it came to light in 2005 that all the Sariska tigers had been poached, the state had ordered an independent probe into it. However, the probe remained incomplete after a preliminary stage as the then additional chief secretary Alka Kalla who was heading the probe failed to make much progress. She retired about two years ago.
Subsequently, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) also probed into the incident while an empowered committee set up by the centre to also look into it. Both the agencies have submitted the report and have not found any official guilty in particular though it has rapped the all concerned authorities of negligence. Later, notorious poacher Sansar Chand was arrested.
While state forest department officials explain the resumption of the probe as a natural process after the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Rajasthan assembly recently traced the order to be incomplete. Incidentally, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had also pointedly put in its report on the incompletion of the probe. In perhaps one of the biggest setback to conservation, the entire tiger population was wiped out due to poaching from Sariska before the whistle was blown in 2005.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Tiger-poaching-Sariska-probe-resumes/articleshow/9488179.cms
'Tiger reserve only way to check mining' TNN
BICHOLIM: Strongly backing the suggestion of union ministry of environment and forests for a tiger reserve in the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary, environmentalists from Sattari taluka have asserted that this will not only help protect the tiger but will also protect the forest cover which in turn provides water security.
Ranjit Rane from Sonal, Sattari, Vishwash Parab, Rajendra Kerkar and Deepaji Rane from Kumbharkhand told mediapersons in Valpoi that the tiger reserve must become a reality as it will benefit Goa and Goans. They pointed out that Sattari taluka faces the threat of new mining leases.
"To curtail this looming danger, the only alternative is to transform Mhadei wildlife sanctuary into Mhadei tiger reserve," said Parab.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Tiger-reserve-only-way-to-check-mining/articleshow/9486459.cms
Ranjit Rane from Sonal, Sattari, Vishwash Parab, Rajendra Kerkar and Deepaji Rane from Kumbharkhand told mediapersons in Valpoi that the tiger reserve must become a reality as it will benefit Goa and Goans. They pointed out that Sattari taluka faces the threat of new mining leases.
"To curtail this looming danger, the only alternative is to transform Mhadei wildlife sanctuary into Mhadei tiger reserve," said Parab.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Tiger-reserve-only-way-to-check-mining/articleshow/9486459.cms
Naxals posing no threatto tigers, says report Neha Shukla, TNN
LUCKNOW: Naxals are not posing any threat to tigers. This is the outcome of report submitted by the National Tiger Conservation Authority. The authority has come up with its final report of the detailed survey and study of all 39 tiger reserves conducted in 2010. The report, handed over to the MoEF last week, states that naxals are not posing any threat to tigers and wildlife in the reserves situated in Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Bihar.
The reserves in naxal-affected belts were clubbed separately in Cluster III for study. Unlike Manas in Assam, which had reported instances of rhinos getting auctioned by armed locals, tigers in the reserves lying in naxal affected states are not under threat by naxals. "We did not find any such instance," said RL Singh, former director, project tiger and chairman of the committee which studied cluster III reserves.
But this has not stopped the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) from recommending a security set up different from the remaining reserves for the said cluster. The reserves in the naxal-belt have come up with their own ways to boost the conservation of wildlife. Satkosia tiger reserve in Orissa, which was founded in 2007, has employed tribals and traditional forest dwellers in the conservation of wildlife.
In Andhra, tribals, 'chenchus', man the reserve. The forest departments have employed at least one young men or a women from each tribal family to patrol the area on a daily wage. A tribal earns some Rs 2,700 per month for patrolling and protecting the reserve area.
The ever-rising man-animal conflict, increasing incidence of wildlife crime, poaching threat and subsequent decline in number of tigers led NTCA to evaluate the reserves. All the 39 tiger reserves were divided into five clusters, state-wise and region-wise, for the exercise.
The five separate committees have studied the management plan of reserves, breedable population of tigers, status of staff, water conservation, prey base, utilisation of funds, the activities taken up by people living within and on the periphery of the forest, cattle-lifting incidents, amount of compensation decided for the victims of tiger attacks by different states and efforts taken up the states for village translocation.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Naxals-posing-no-threatto-tigers-says-report/articleshow/9486868.cms
The reserves in naxal-affected belts were clubbed separately in Cluster III for study. Unlike Manas in Assam, which had reported instances of rhinos getting auctioned by armed locals, tigers in the reserves lying in naxal affected states are not under threat by naxals. "We did not find any such instance," said RL Singh, former director, project tiger and chairman of the committee which studied cluster III reserves.
But this has not stopped the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) from recommending a security set up different from the remaining reserves for the said cluster. The reserves in the naxal-belt have come up with their own ways to boost the conservation of wildlife. Satkosia tiger reserve in Orissa, which was founded in 2007, has employed tribals and traditional forest dwellers in the conservation of wildlife.
In Andhra, tribals, 'chenchus', man the reserve. The forest departments have employed at least one young men or a women from each tribal family to patrol the area on a daily wage. A tribal earns some Rs 2,700 per month for patrolling and protecting the reserve area.
The ever-rising man-animal conflict, increasing incidence of wildlife crime, poaching threat and subsequent decline in number of tigers led NTCA to evaluate the reserves. All the 39 tiger reserves were divided into five clusters, state-wise and region-wise, for the exercise.
The five separate committees have studied the management plan of reserves, breedable population of tigers, status of staff, water conservation, prey base, utilisation of funds, the activities taken up by people living within and on the periphery of the forest, cattle-lifting incidents, amount of compensation decided for the victims of tiger attacks by different states and efforts taken up the states for village translocation.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Naxals-posing-no-threatto-tigers-says-report/articleshow/9486868.cms
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Tiger population rises in Assam's Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park
Guwahati , Wed, 03 Aug 2011ANI
Guwahati, Aug 3 (ANI): The endeavor of the government and the locals has finally yielded desired result, as the population of the endangered tiger rose to 143 in Assam's Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park.
However, Assam has been able to set an example for the neighbouring states, which still shows a dwindling population of the endangered cat.
Briefing mediapersons, Additional Director General (Wildlife), Ministry of Environment and Forests, Jagdish Kishwan termed it as a success story for Assam and gave the credit to the locals.
"This success story is not only for Assam but for the whole of northeast region. You can see the population of tigers has not increased to that extent in other states of northeast region. However the population of the tigers has risen in Assam. So, I would like to say that the locals of this region, who take keen interest to conserve the wild life, forests and environment, have made a major contribution," said Kishwan.
In a meeting, the officials from the forest and wildlife department suggested to increase the area of these national parks in order to protect the wildlife and the environment.
"Bodoland Territorial Council has proposed that around 34,000 hectares of forestland would be added to this park (Manas National Park). So, when we would take such a step, it would increase the area of the forest and conservation of wild animals would take place (in the forests)," he said.
He praised the steady and exhaustive effort made by the Assamese, Bodoland Territorial Council, Forest Department, Civil Society and the state government for the protection of the tigers as their population dwindled in the past few years. (ANI)
http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/233605
Guwahati, Aug 3 (ANI): The endeavor of the government and the locals has finally yielded desired result, as the population of the endangered tiger rose to 143 in Assam's Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park.
However, Assam has been able to set an example for the neighbouring states, which still shows a dwindling population of the endangered cat.
Briefing mediapersons, Additional Director General (Wildlife), Ministry of Environment and Forests, Jagdish Kishwan termed it as a success story for Assam and gave the credit to the locals.
"This success story is not only for Assam but for the whole of northeast region. You can see the population of tigers has not increased to that extent in other states of northeast region. However the population of the tigers has risen in Assam. So, I would like to say that the locals of this region, who take keen interest to conserve the wild life, forests and environment, have made a major contribution," said Kishwan.
In a meeting, the officials from the forest and wildlife department suggested to increase the area of these national parks in order to protect the wildlife and the environment.
"Bodoland Territorial Council has proposed that around 34,000 hectares of forestland would be added to this park (Manas National Park). So, when we would take such a step, it would increase the area of the forest and conservation of wild animals would take place (in the forests)," he said.
He praised the steady and exhaustive effort made by the Assamese, Bodoland Territorial Council, Forest Department, Civil Society and the state government for the protection of the tigers as their population dwindled in the past few years. (ANI)
http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/233605
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Tiger tourism surges in MP, drops in state Vijay Pinjarkar, TNN
NAGPUR: Pench in Madhya Pradesh may have achieved the distinction of being the best tiger reserve in India but Kanha and Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) turned out to be the most visited tiger reserves in central India.
Official figures reveal that in 2010-11, over 1,74,773 tourists, including 34,078 foreigners, visited Kanha. This was followed by 78,881 tourists to TATR and 65,449 including 5,421 foreigners to Pench (Madhya Pradesh).
Compared to 2009-10, MP Pench and Kanha saw an increase in number of tourists by 9,336 and 20,749 respectively but strangely, TATR saw a drop. This is despite the fact that both the parks in MP have high-end tourism.
Last year, 1,03,616 tourists had visited TATR but the number dropped by 24,735 this year. A K Saxena, additional principal chief conservator of forests (APCCF), wildlife, East Maharashtra, called it a good development.
"The drop has to be considered against the backdrop of strict implementation of norms. We stuck to the carrying capacity and there was proper enforcement. It should not be taken in a negative way," Saxena said.
TATR witnesses traditional visitors. It is frequented due to promised tiger sightings besides other animals that are sighted in abundance, Saxena added.
On the other hand, on the success of Kanha H S Pabla, principal chief conservator of forests (PPCF) for wildlife, Madhya Pradesh, said Kanha had essential infrastructure needed for tourists besides guaranteed tiger sightings. "We also score from word-of-mouth publicity by tour operators and tourists," he added.
One of the tour operators V P Singh said while Kanha was visited for its beauty, Tadoba for assured tiger sightings. "Kanha is a sal forest and is lush green all round the year. The park is well managed with good facilities for tourists. Besides, parks in MP have advantage of strong marketing strategies under 'Incredible India' campaign," Singh said.
Himanshu Bagde and Sandeep Gujar, frequent visitors to Kanha, feel it was because Kanha started tiger tourism early. It is now part of international tourism circuit. Besides, those wanting to sight a tiger at any cost are shown with the help of elephants.
"Yet, Tadoba is better choice as you sight tigers in their natural habitat," Gujar said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Tiger-tourism-surges-in-MP-drops-in-state/articleshow/9461306.cms
Official figures reveal that in 2010-11, over 1,74,773 tourists, including 34,078 foreigners, visited Kanha. This was followed by 78,881 tourists to TATR and 65,449 including 5,421 foreigners to Pench (Madhya Pradesh).
Compared to 2009-10, MP Pench and Kanha saw an increase in number of tourists by 9,336 and 20,749 respectively but strangely, TATR saw a drop. This is despite the fact that both the parks in MP have high-end tourism.
Last year, 1,03,616 tourists had visited TATR but the number dropped by 24,735 this year. A K Saxena, additional principal chief conservator of forests (APCCF), wildlife, East Maharashtra, called it a good development.
"The drop has to be considered against the backdrop of strict implementation of norms. We stuck to the carrying capacity and there was proper enforcement. It should not be taken in a negative way," Saxena said.
TATR witnesses traditional visitors. It is frequented due to promised tiger sightings besides other animals that are sighted in abundance, Saxena added.
On the other hand, on the success of Kanha H S Pabla, principal chief conservator of forests (PPCF) for wildlife, Madhya Pradesh, said Kanha had essential infrastructure needed for tourists besides guaranteed tiger sightings. "We also score from word-of-mouth publicity by tour operators and tourists," he added.
One of the tour operators V P Singh said while Kanha was visited for its beauty, Tadoba for assured tiger sightings. "Kanha is a sal forest and is lush green all round the year. The park is well managed with good facilities for tourists. Besides, parks in MP have advantage of strong marketing strategies under 'Incredible India' campaign," Singh said.
Himanshu Bagde and Sandeep Gujar, frequent visitors to Kanha, feel it was because Kanha started tiger tourism early. It is now part of international tourism circuit. Besides, those wanting to sight a tiger at any cost are shown with the help of elephants.
"Yet, Tadoba is better choice as you sight tigers in their natural habitat," Gujar said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Tiger-tourism-surges-in-MP-drops-in-state/articleshow/9461306.cms
Special status to villagers under buffer zone of tiger reserve
Here is some good news for villages falling under the buffer zones of tiger project of Tadoba reserves in Chandrapur district of eastern Maharashtra. The Maharashtra minister for environment Sanjay Deotale has said that such villages will be accorded a special status. The 1,150 sq kms
Tadoba buffer area would include about 80 villages in Chandrapur, Warora, Mul, Bhadrawati, Sindewahi and Chimur tahsils. A notification was issued in this regard a couple of months ago.
According to the Wildlife Institute of India, every critical tiger habitat should have a 1000-3000 sq kms of buffer zone for effective forest conservation and wildlife protection.
Speaking at a function in Chandrapur – which houses the famous Tadoba tiger reserve and where villagers are up in arms against inclusion of buffer zone in their nearby forest areas -- Deotale assured the villagers that they would get benefits of various state government schemes to achieve development of their area.
Tadoba tiger reserve is renowned for its rich natural habitat and is one of the oldest national parks of the country. The reserve is also credited of being one of the best-managed wildlife projects in the country that led to an increase the tiger population from 42 to 69 as per the latest tiger census. It was said that as many as 28 tiger cubs were born in Tadoba-Andheri tiger reserve in 2010 alone.
The minister said that the government has chalked out various schemes and asked villagers to draw maximum benefit for their progress as well as that of the village.
Special benefits for the villagers come under buffer zone include: special thrust on alternative employment to unemployed youths, vocational training for students at free of cost and one-third of the revenue that generates from tourists for entry in the park, would be spent for the development of those villages.
Deotale appealed to them to actively contribute in protection and conservation of flora and fauna for maintaining environmental balance.
Talking to Hindustan Times, the chief conservator of forests and field director of Tadoba, VK Sinha informed that the government was also making all efforts to provide villagers alternatives for fuel, bamboo, small timber etc in order to reduce pressure on the forests.
He claimed that the villagers of affected villages are extending all necessary support to the wildlife wing for the conservation and protection of wildlife in the reserves.
Spread over 625.40 sq kms, Tadoba-Andhari is one of the oldest national parks in the country that was upgraded as tiger reserve in 1995. With some of the best of forest tracks endowed with rich biodiversity Tadoba is considered an important wildlife habitat of the country with a growing big cat population.
Apart from an approximately 69 tigers, it is home to rare Indian wildlife animals like leopard (28), wild dog (1758), wild boar (195), sloth bear (165), bison (1052), deer (2039) and others. Moreover, Tadoba is also an ornithologist's paradise with a varied diversity of aquatic birdlife and raptors.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Special-status-to-villagers-under-buffer-zone-of-tiger-reserve/Article1-728558.aspx
Tadoba buffer area would include about 80 villages in Chandrapur, Warora, Mul, Bhadrawati, Sindewahi and Chimur tahsils. A notification was issued in this regard a couple of months ago.
According to the Wildlife Institute of India, every critical tiger habitat should have a 1000-3000 sq kms of buffer zone for effective forest conservation and wildlife protection.
Speaking at a function in Chandrapur – which houses the famous Tadoba tiger reserve and where villagers are up in arms against inclusion of buffer zone in their nearby forest areas -- Deotale assured the villagers that they would get benefits of various state government schemes to achieve development of their area.
Tadoba tiger reserve is renowned for its rich natural habitat and is one of the oldest national parks of the country. The reserve is also credited of being one of the best-managed wildlife projects in the country that led to an increase the tiger population from 42 to 69 as per the latest tiger census. It was said that as many as 28 tiger cubs were born in Tadoba-Andheri tiger reserve in 2010 alone.
The minister said that the government has chalked out various schemes and asked villagers to draw maximum benefit for their progress as well as that of the village.
Special benefits for the villagers come under buffer zone include: special thrust on alternative employment to unemployed youths, vocational training for students at free of cost and one-third of the revenue that generates from tourists for entry in the park, would be spent for the development of those villages.
Deotale appealed to them to actively contribute in protection and conservation of flora and fauna for maintaining environmental balance.
Talking to Hindustan Times, the chief conservator of forests and field director of Tadoba, VK Sinha informed that the government was also making all efforts to provide villagers alternatives for fuel, bamboo, small timber etc in order to reduce pressure on the forests.
He claimed that the villagers of affected villages are extending all necessary support to the wildlife wing for the conservation and protection of wildlife in the reserves.
Spread over 625.40 sq kms, Tadoba-Andhari is one of the oldest national parks in the country that was upgraded as tiger reserve in 1995. With some of the best of forest tracks endowed with rich biodiversity Tadoba is considered an important wildlife habitat of the country with a growing big cat population.
Apart from an approximately 69 tigers, it is home to rare Indian wildlife animals like leopard (28), wild dog (1758), wild boar (195), sloth bear (165), bison (1052), deer (2039) and others. Moreover, Tadoba is also an ornithologist's paradise with a varied diversity of aquatic birdlife and raptors.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Special-status-to-villagers-under-buffer-zone-of-tiger-reserve/Article1-728558.aspx
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Tiger numbers up, but habitat of big cats, co-predators and prey shrinks in TN
B. ARAVIND KUMAR
‘Status of Tigers, Co-predators and Prey in India, 2010' has both good and bad news
While tiger numbers have more than doubled in the past four years in the State, the habitat of the big cats, as well as co-predators and prey has shown a considerable decrease.
Statistics from ‘Status of Tigers, Co-predators and Prey in India, 2010' officially released by the Ministry of Environment and Forests last week reveal that the tiger population in the State has risen by 114 per cent from 76 in 2006 to 163 in 2010. As the tiger count is not absolute, the upper limit is pegged at 173 and the lower limit at 153.
As per the report, the tiger occupancy, or habitat, area within the Tamil Nadu part of Nagarahole – Mudumalai – Wayanad population landscape which has the highest tiger numbers in the country is 4,261 sq.km with an estimated 97 to 113 tigers. Tiger densities within the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve were high at 11.06 per 100 sq.km. And surprisingly, camera traps have revealed that the reserve forests of Moyar gorge – Segur plateau region surrounding the tiger reserve had high abundance of tigers at 7.65 per 100 sq.km.
In the Parambikulam – Eravikulam – Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary landscape, the Tamil Nadu side has between 32 and 36 tigers. The landscape has shown good recovery due to good management of several reserves constituting the complex, lower human pressure due to difficult terrain and contiguous nature of the tiger habitat, the report states.
On the Tamil Nadu side of Kalakad – Mundanthurai – Periyar population, the estimated tiger population is between 36 to 40 with the occupancy at 1,691 sq.km.
However, the tiger habitat in the State has come down from 9,211 sq.km to 8,389 sq.km but it is still considered stable. But the status of co-predators and prey with regard to the occupied areas has shown considerable decrease which could pose problems for conservation.
In the past four years, the habitat of leopards have come down from 14,484 sq.km to 10,060 sq.km; that of Dhole from 19,658 sq.km to 10,217 sq.km; and that of Bear from 13,224 sq.km to 9,736 sq.km.
Among the prey, the area occupied by Chital has decreased drastically from 13,567 sq.km to 4,027 sq.km and that of Sambar from 15,909 sq.km to 9,008 sq.km. Encouragingly, the Western Ghats complex, comprising Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, has also shown an increase in tiger numbers from 402 to 534 in the past four years. Here again, the tiger occupancy has decreased by about 5,000 sq.km registering a decline of about 11.5 per cent compared to that of 2006, the report reveals.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article2314251.ece
‘Status of Tigers, Co-predators and Prey in India, 2010' has both good and bad news
While tiger numbers have more than doubled in the past four years in the State, the habitat of the big cats, as well as co-predators and prey has shown a considerable decrease.
Statistics from ‘Status of Tigers, Co-predators and Prey in India, 2010' officially released by the Ministry of Environment and Forests last week reveal that the tiger population in the State has risen by 114 per cent from 76 in 2006 to 163 in 2010. As the tiger count is not absolute, the upper limit is pegged at 173 and the lower limit at 153.
As per the report, the tiger occupancy, or habitat, area within the Tamil Nadu part of Nagarahole – Mudumalai – Wayanad population landscape which has the highest tiger numbers in the country is 4,261 sq.km with an estimated 97 to 113 tigers. Tiger densities within the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve were high at 11.06 per 100 sq.km. And surprisingly, camera traps have revealed that the reserve forests of Moyar gorge – Segur plateau region surrounding the tiger reserve had high abundance of tigers at 7.65 per 100 sq.km.
In the Parambikulam – Eravikulam – Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary landscape, the Tamil Nadu side has between 32 and 36 tigers. The landscape has shown good recovery due to good management of several reserves constituting the complex, lower human pressure due to difficult terrain and contiguous nature of the tiger habitat, the report states.
On the Tamil Nadu side of Kalakad – Mundanthurai – Periyar population, the estimated tiger population is between 36 to 40 with the occupancy at 1,691 sq.km.
However, the tiger habitat in the State has come down from 9,211 sq.km to 8,389 sq.km but it is still considered stable. But the status of co-predators and prey with regard to the occupied areas has shown considerable decrease which could pose problems for conservation.
In the past four years, the habitat of leopards have come down from 14,484 sq.km to 10,060 sq.km; that of Dhole from 19,658 sq.km to 10,217 sq.km; and that of Bear from 13,224 sq.km to 9,736 sq.km.
Among the prey, the area occupied by Chital has decreased drastically from 13,567 sq.km to 4,027 sq.km and that of Sambar from 15,909 sq.km to 9,008 sq.km. Encouragingly, the Western Ghats complex, comprising Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, has also shown an increase in tiger numbers from 402 to 534 in the past four years. Here again, the tiger occupancy has decreased by about 5,000 sq.km registering a decline of about 11.5 per cent compared to that of 2006, the report reveals.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article2314251.ece
Roar! More room for Palamau tigers
- Reserve to get 300sqkm from Latehar, Ranchi forests
A.S.R.P. MUKESH
Call for conservation
Ranchi, Aug. 1: Three hundred cheers for the majestic big cat!
The state forest department has, finally, moved to raise a territory toast to the endangered Royal Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) by honouring a 12-year-old central notification that recommended an additional 300sqkm room at the Palamau Tiger Reserve.
Adhering to the notification, forest belts of Latehar and Ranchi West division will now be integrated into the reserve to ensure better conservation of its 11 striped denizens and management of their habitat. The exercise will stretch the total reserve area from the present 1,026sqkm to 1,326sqkm.
Sarju, Manika, Kumandi and Netarhat Hills in Latehar and Mahuatand and its adjoining areas in Ranchi West will add to the reserve buffer zone. The transfer of forest areas from these two divisions is likely to be completed in a month’s time.
DFO (core), Palamau Tiger Reserve, Premjit Anand said formalities with respective divisional officers had been completed and pockets of Latehar would be merged within 10 days flat. “The rest will happen gradually over a month,” he added.
In 1997, the Centre had issued a notification to the erstwhile Bihar government to increase the area of the reserve, but the state forest department had been sitting on the directive since. The litany of excuses had ranged from manpower crunch to the designated areas (in Latehar) being Naxalite strongholds and thus inaccessible. However, the truth arguably is lackadaisical approach to a project that entails extra burden.
Reserve director S.E.H. Kazmi refused to comment on why the exercise had been delayed for 12 years despite several hard-hitting reminders from the Centre. “When I assumed office a few months ago, I came to know of the notification and began working in that regard. I can’t say why others didn’t do it,” Kazmi, who took charge in April, said.
He underscored that the important thing was that the ambitious proposal was finally taking shape. “It is a positive step towards tiger conservation. We will be able to extend funds and habitat management schemes like building enclosures (15-20sqkm on an average) to the extended areas. This, in turn, will ensure better monitoring of buffer zones and reduce man-animal conflict, particularly poaching,” he explained.
DFO (buffer) A.K. Mishra, who is pursuing the proposal along with Anand, conceded that a few technical concerns had hindered the merger process earlier. “For instance, there were discrepancies between the central notification and the directives from principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) on areas to be included. So, Latehar division officials weren’t ready to part with some villages. But now, things are moving,” he said.
Another senior official, requesting anonymity, said some department officials weren’t interested in the first place. “Increase in reserve area means more work in terms of patrolling, monitoring and habitat management. With 90 per cent posts of forest guards lying vacant, no one wanted to take the burden. They merely completed their tenure and went away,” he said.
PCCF A.K. Singh admitted manpower crunch. “Now, we have prepared rules and regulations for recruitment of forest guards. Also, the proposal for a tiger foundation has been drafted a couple of months ago. It is waiting for the state government’s nod,” he said.
Ironically, half of the existing reserve is beyond control because there are not enough guards while DFOs for buffer and core areas were appointed only some time ago. Most importantly, funds for conservation are delayed every year in the absence of a tiger foundation. No wonder, the big cat count has dropped from 17 to 11 in a decade.
Under the Wildlife Protection Act, it is mandatory for all states with reserves to have a tiger foundation, which is an autonomous body to facilitate habitat management. Having a foundation will help the Palamau reserve get money from the Centre directly for conservation work.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110802/jsp/frontpage/story_14321080.jsp
A.S.R.P. MUKESH
Call for conservation
Ranchi, Aug. 1: Three hundred cheers for the majestic big cat!
The state forest department has, finally, moved to raise a territory toast to the endangered Royal Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) by honouring a 12-year-old central notification that recommended an additional 300sqkm room at the Palamau Tiger Reserve.
Adhering to the notification, forest belts of Latehar and Ranchi West division will now be integrated into the reserve to ensure better conservation of its 11 striped denizens and management of their habitat. The exercise will stretch the total reserve area from the present 1,026sqkm to 1,326sqkm.
Sarju, Manika, Kumandi and Netarhat Hills in Latehar and Mahuatand and its adjoining areas in Ranchi West will add to the reserve buffer zone. The transfer of forest areas from these two divisions is likely to be completed in a month’s time.
DFO (core), Palamau Tiger Reserve, Premjit Anand said formalities with respective divisional officers had been completed and pockets of Latehar would be merged within 10 days flat. “The rest will happen gradually over a month,” he added.
In 1997, the Centre had issued a notification to the erstwhile Bihar government to increase the area of the reserve, but the state forest department had been sitting on the directive since. The litany of excuses had ranged from manpower crunch to the designated areas (in Latehar) being Naxalite strongholds and thus inaccessible. However, the truth arguably is lackadaisical approach to a project that entails extra burden.
Reserve director S.E.H. Kazmi refused to comment on why the exercise had been delayed for 12 years despite several hard-hitting reminders from the Centre. “When I assumed office a few months ago, I came to know of the notification and began working in that regard. I can’t say why others didn’t do it,” Kazmi, who took charge in April, said.
He underscored that the important thing was that the ambitious proposal was finally taking shape. “It is a positive step towards tiger conservation. We will be able to extend funds and habitat management schemes like building enclosures (15-20sqkm on an average) to the extended areas. This, in turn, will ensure better monitoring of buffer zones and reduce man-animal conflict, particularly poaching,” he explained.
DFO (buffer) A.K. Mishra, who is pursuing the proposal along with Anand, conceded that a few technical concerns had hindered the merger process earlier. “For instance, there were discrepancies between the central notification and the directives from principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) on areas to be included. So, Latehar division officials weren’t ready to part with some villages. But now, things are moving,” he said.
Another senior official, requesting anonymity, said some department officials weren’t interested in the first place. “Increase in reserve area means more work in terms of patrolling, monitoring and habitat management. With 90 per cent posts of forest guards lying vacant, no one wanted to take the burden. They merely completed their tenure and went away,” he said.
PCCF A.K. Singh admitted manpower crunch. “Now, we have prepared rules and regulations for recruitment of forest guards. Also, the proposal for a tiger foundation has been drafted a couple of months ago. It is waiting for the state government’s nod,” he said.
Ironically, half of the existing reserve is beyond control because there are not enough guards while DFOs for buffer and core areas were appointed only some time ago. Most importantly, funds for conservation are delayed every year in the absence of a tiger foundation. No wonder, the big cat count has dropped from 17 to 11 in a decade.
Under the Wildlife Protection Act, it is mandatory for all states with reserves to have a tiger foundation, which is an autonomous body to facilitate habitat management. Having a foundation will help the Palamau reserve get money from the Centre directly for conservation work.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110802/jsp/frontpage/story_14321080.jsp
Tigress trapped -TNN
PIRKHALI (SUNDERBANS): A six-year-old tigress, which frequently strayed into a village adjoining Sunderbans' Pirkhali forest, was lured and trapped on Monday.
Sundarban Tiger Reserve (STR) officials said that the animal is in good health and will be released back into the forest in a day.
The tigress has strayed into Mathurakhand village from Pirkhali forest across the river as many as eight times since July 8. The tigress had tasted easy prey. It killed two goats, a cow and some dogs. On Saturday, STR officials laid a trap and caught it early on Monday.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Tigress-trapped/articleshow/9449432.cms
Sundarban Tiger Reserve (STR) officials said that the animal is in good health and will be released back into the forest in a day.
The tigress has strayed into Mathurakhand village from Pirkhali forest across the river as many as eight times since July 8. The tigress had tasted easy prey. It killed two goats, a cow and some dogs. On Saturday, STR officials laid a trap and caught it early on Monday.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Tigress-trapped/articleshow/9449432.cms
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