To curb tiger poaching, a course in wildlife crime management for foresters

In a bid to strengthen the prosecution against those involved in poaching tigers in India, the Gujarat Forensic Science University (GFSU) will organise a five-day wildlife crime management programme from Monday for forest officers.

GFSU is jointly organising the workshop with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and TRAFFIC-India. This is the first time GFSU is organising a workshop for the conservation of tigers in the country.

WII Dean B V Mathur said: “The current initiative is a part of the capacity-building process. Though WII has a forensic laboratory, it needs to increase its strength as far as analysing samples, parts, products, and skin of the tiger is concerned. This is the reason why our lab expert S P Goyal and other technicians will have sessions with the ground level staff. Wildlife crime is happening, but poachers in these cases are not being nabbed. The forest staff need to be more quick, and surveillance should be proper in collecting samples.”

He added: “Prosecution requires evidences, which come through precision. Like human beings, DNA analysis plays an important part in the investigation.”

GFSU Director General J M Vyas said: “We will train 30 conservators of forests and deputy conservators of forests in wildlife crime management. This initiative was taken following requests from NTCA and TRAFFIC-India.”

He said each tiger fetches Rs 2 crore in the international market as everything from the predator’s bones to the teeth has a value.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/To-curb-tiger-poaching--a-course-in-wildlife-crime-management-for-foresters/582761/

At Dudhwa, double jump in tiger cub sightings

There is finally some good news on tiger population. The Dudhwa Tiger Reserve situated on the Indo-Nepal border in Lakhimpur-Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh has reported sightings of two dozen tiger cubs — double the figure of the cubs that were sighted in 2008.

The forest department officials said that between January to December 2008, 12 cubs below two years of age were sighted at the tiger reserve, which is spread in an area of 884 sq km.

In 2009, the number of cubs sighted has jumped to 24.

The increase in tiger cub numbers has come as a welcome relief just ahead of a tiger census scheduled to be held this year.

“Basic things required for increase in tiger population are adequate security cover and proper green cover for the herbivores to thrive. In the last year, we have focused on these areas and as a result there in an increase in the tiger population in the state,” said Sanjay Pathak, Field Director, Dudhwa Tiger Reserve.

The tiger cubs are usually born between February and March but it is difficult to sight them for the next three months as they don’t move out in open during this period.

The forest department officials can only sight new cubs by June, once they start moving in the nearby areas. “We have regularly been monitoring the progress of the cubs and ensuring the safety of the big cats,” added Pathak.

In 2007, 64 tigers were spotted at Dudhwa Tiger Reserve — 21 male, 31 female and 12 cubs. In 2009, the total number of sightings of big cats rose to 99 — 48 male, 27 female and 24 cubs. In the month of January this year, three male and three female tigers have sighted along with three cubs. “We are still in the process of compiling figures for the month of February,” said the field director.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/At-Dudhwa--double-jump-in-tiger-cub-sightings/582084

India's 38th tiger reserve opens

PALAKKAD (Kerala): India's 38th tiger reserve and Kerala's second was Friday declared open by environment and forests minister Jairam Ramesh. It would be known as the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve.

There has been a sharp decline in the number of tigers in India, with only 1,411 of them left, according to official estimates.

The tiger reserve was known as the Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary when it was set up in 1973 in a 285-sq-km protected area in Chittur area of Palakkad.

Another 358 sq km of forests were added, and the tiger reserve now has an area of 643 sq km.

It has a rich diversity of animal life. It also has a variety of trees, including teak, neem, sandalwood and rosewood.

Kerala's first tiger reserve -- Periyar Tiger Reserve -- is situated in Thekkadi in Idukki district.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Indias-38th-tiger-reserve-opens-/articleshow/5595228.cms

40 tigers in Ranthambore, says survey

JAIPUR: There are 40 tigers in and around Ranthambore National Park and Sawai Madhopur wildlife sanctuary as per a census conducted in May 2009, a forest department release said on Wednesday.

The census done in the core division of these tiger project (from April 30, 2009 to May 10, 2009) reveals that there were 14 males, 16 females and 10 cubs, said a senior official.

As far as mortality is concerned, the official said that from January to November 30, 2009, only 1 tiger lost its life due to the struggle among the animals in Bakola forest area. Illegal activities in the protected areas have come down drastically and the department has collected Rs 74,000 as fine during the period, the department said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/40-tigers-in-Ranthambore-says-survey/articleshow/5586267.cms

Villagers angry as tiger kills 4 in 13 days in Tadoba

A day after a tiger on the prowl killed a fourth person in the same forest range, Shivni, in north Chandrapur forests adjoining Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), anger reminiscent of 2007 is returning to the conflict zone. Agitated villagers poured out into the street and marched to the residence of Range Forest Officer PT Brahmne, demanding immediate protection against the tiger which is now clearly appearing to stalk human beings.

Tuesday’s attack happened in the farm of the deceased, Eknath Dandekar, unlike the previous ones that happened inside the forest, turning it into a cause for concern.

Forest officials, however, have no concrete response to the situation that is all set to turn ugly like in 2007 when villagers had virtually put an official under “house arrest” after a tiger killed four persons in a month. The tiger was later shot dead.

The tiger has now killed four in just 12 days. Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) Alok Joshi, who hasn’t yet visited the problem area, agreed that all killings could be attributed to a single tiger. “But remember all attacks have happened inside forest,” he argued.

On their plans, Joshi said, “we will do whatever best can be done.” Asked to elaborate, Joshi repeated the reply.

“There are well-laid down options like what his predecessor B Majumdar had followed. First, the tiger can be lured away from the spot by putting a bait, or it can be scared away by drumming of beats (haka). If these things don’t work, the tranquilising option has to be explored. The last report is to shoot the animal dead,” an activist said.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Villagers-angry-as-tiger-kills-4-in-13-days/581253

Tigers not burning bright in India

New Delhi: How many tigers are actually left in India? If an advertisement featuring sport personalities like Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Baichung Bhutia is to be believed, India has 1,411 big cats. But the authorities in Delhi say the figure is exaggerated.

At a time when scientific data is increasingly found to be faulty, especially after the fiasco surrounding the vanishing of Himalayan glaciers, it seems the case is no different for tigers.

A day after Union environment and forest minister Jairam Ramesh admitted that India may not have 1,411 tigers, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), which had carried out a survey, said that it too did not know how the authorities in Delhi reached the figure.

Ramesh had said on Tuesday that the figure of 1,411 was exaggerated. “We never gave the figure of 1,411 to anyone. We had only given an estimation of 1,100-1,600 after the survey. We don’t know how the ministry arrived at that figure. It is not part of our research. If the ministry wants to reject its figures on tiger population, that is not our problem. If someone in the ministry finds a midpoint of the estimates, we can’t do anything about it,” YV Jhala, faculty member of WII, who was part of the tiger census in India, said.

“It is glamourous to quote a figure while speaking in front of a gathering in Delhi, but the fact is that it is impossible to find out the tiger population in India. A tiger census doesn’t happen like that. We can only give estimates and not specific numbers,” Jhala added.

The confusion surrounding tiger numbers deepened after World Wildlife Fund (WWF) used the figure of 1,411 given by the national tiger conservation authority (NTCA) in an advertisement to boost public awareness on the diminishing number of tigers in India. The campaign, featuring Indian cricket team skipper Dhoni, is on air and is being promoted by a telecom company.

“The minister was only trying to say that tiger numbers have gone down since the last census. The figure of 1,411 is an average and it was calculated in 2006. It has been four years since then and now a fresh census is under way,” said Belinda Wright, an expert on tigers.

Since the last census figures came out in 2006, over 127 tigers have died in India. The worst was 2009, when 66 tigers died and the start of 2010 was also not good, with six deaths reported so far.

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_tigers-not-burning-bright-in-india_1349260

NTCA orders work on NH7 stopped

NAGPUR: The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), a statutory body under the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) monitoring tiger reserves in India, on Tuesday ordered work on four-laning of National Highway 7 (NH-7) in 15 km patch between Mansar and Kanhan in the district be stopped immediately.

The NTCA directions came on Tuesday afternoon after it came to know that work had already started with large-scale tree felling. TOI had on February 13 reported how NHAI started the work even as the issue was before the Supreme Court with a hearing on Feb 19.

Talking to TOI on Tuesday, Rajesh Gopal, membersecretary, NTCA, said, “After ascertaining the facts, I have issued letter to Krishna Mohan, chief conservator of forests (CCF), Nagpur Territorial Circle, to immediately stop the four-laning work from Mansar to Kanhan as it is a violation of Forest Conservation Act (FCA) 1980.” Gopal on Monday had asked Mohan Jha, field director of Pench Tiger Reserve, to ascertain the facts about violation by NHAI. Coand not aware of any communication to stop work. Kale did not come clear on stopping of work.

“The work to fell non-schedule trees was started after a go ahead from Ramtek sub-divisional officer (SDO). We have not done any work in the forest patch from Madhya Pradesh side to Mansar, forest clearance for which is pending,” Kale said. Work between Mansar and Kanhan could not be termed as waste as the road would link NH-7 and NH-6 near Mouda.

The FCA has decided that if a project involves forest as well as non-forest land, work should not be started untill approval under the FCA. pies of the letter have been marked to MoEF minister Jairam Ramesh and chief secretary and forest secretary of Maharashtra. “Even if it is on revenue land, NHAI cannot start work as the matter is subjudice,” Gopal said.

Krishna Mohan said orders were verbally communicated to the project director of NHAI and a letter is also being despatched to stop work. “We will examine the facts and see what action can be taken if violations are noticed,” Krishna Mohan said. Vivek Jaiswal, project director, NHAI, was not available for comments. Arvind Kale, manager (technical), NHAI, said he was in Delhi.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/NTCA-orders-work-on-NH7-stopped/articleshow/5582339.cms

Mining lobby stalling Tadoba buffer?

NAGPUR: After being thrown out from projects around Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), the mining lobby, in collusion with some forest officials, seems to be making last ditch efforts to see that reserve’s buffer zone is not notified.

Once the buffer zone is notified, mines will automatically not be permitted in the area. The 625 sq km TATR is proposed to have an additional buffer of over 1150 sq km that includes 79 villages. Notifying buffer around tiger reserves has become mandatory after September 4, 2006, amendment in Wildlife Protection Act (1972). Buffer areas with forest connectivity are imperative for tiger conservation as they foster tiger population. These areas also absorb poaching ‘shock’.

However, the state is not serious about notifying buffers. Forest minister Patangrao Kadam has called a meeting on February 25, in Chandrapur, to hear views of people representatives. The letter issued by the forest ministry on February 10 about the meeting doesn’t call it ‘public hearing’.

Yet, a section of forest officials, allegedly on behalf of by the mining lobby, are terming this as ‘public hearing’. It is being done to prompt opposition from villagers to the buffer zone. Actually, the process of consultation in all 79 villages in the proposed buffer has been done and people’s views have been submitted through a report to the committee on buffer.

The wildlife wing had promised to address their fuel wood and fodder issues through a comprehensive plan and finally the panel had recommended the buffer. Kishor Rithe, president of Satpuda Foundation, an NGO working for tiger conservation in Central India, has strongly objected to such ‘public hearing’. He says ‘public hearing’ or ‘public consultation’ is conducted under the Environment Protection Act (EPA) 1986 for certain projects and TATR buffer does not fall under such projects.

“How can anybody call a ‘public hearing’ on this?” he asked. Rithe, who was also a member on the committee to notify buffer, has stated that TATR buffer has to be notified under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and not under the EPA, which needs a public hearing. Under WPA, the government can issue notification directly.

“We have already pointed out this delay to the forest secretary B P Pande in presence of union environment minister Jairam Ramesh during latter’s visit to Chandrapur last month,” Rithe said. Rithe felt arranging public hearing or public consultation again, may have legal implications.

“The possibility of some efforts by mining lobby to oppose the buffer by raising some irrelevant issues cannot be ruled out,” he apprehended. Sudhir Mungantiwar, BJP MLA from Ballarshah, agrees. “I’m not opposed to buffer. TATR buffer needs to be notified to keep mines away.

We have suffered a lot due to mining and people don’t want it. However, we want a written assurance from the state that even if buffer is notified, compensation towards cattle and human kills by tigers and damage to crop by wildlife will not be stopped. The government should also commit that villages coming in the buffer will be relocated in future,” Mungantiwar said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Mining-lobby-stalling-Tadoba-buffer/articleshow/5582367.cms

Parambikulam Wildlife sanctuary to be made Tiger Reserve

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Parambikulam wildlife sanctuary in Palakkad district in Kerala, home to some of the most endangered species of animals and birds, will be declared a tiger reserve on February 19 by union environment minister Jairam Ramesh.

"It will then become the second 'tiger reserve' in Kerala after Thekkady wildlife sanctuary and 38th in the country," state forest minister Binoy Viswam told reporters here.

The sanctuary will have a core area of 390.88 sq km and a buffer area of 252.77 sq km coming under Chalakudy, Vazhachal and Nermara forest division, he said.

Viswam said the government had taken all steps to ensure that functioning of plantations in the area was not affected due to the sanctuary being declared a tiger reserve.

He said the government had also taken number of steps to protect the environment and bio-diversity of the state, but did not specify what they were.

The sanctuary is home to animals like lion tailed macaques, Nilgiri Tahr and Gaur, reptiles like Indian rock python, Malabar pit viper, Travancore tortoise, south Indian forest ground gecko, 134 species of rare birds and 47 varieties of fish, of which seven have been listed as endangered.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Flora-Fauna/Parambikulam-Wildlife-sanctuary-to-be-made-Tiger-Reserve/articleshow/5579586.cms

Nath proposes new circuitous route to avoid Pench tiger reserve

Road transport and highways minister Kamal Nath has finally proposed an alternative route that circumvents the Pench Tiger Reserve to complete the North-South corridor. Earlier, his ministry had suggested widening an existing 18-metre road passing through the reserve, but this was opposed by the environment ministry because it endangered the tigers’ natural habitat in Pench.

The project hit a legal hurdle with the Supreme Court asking its Central Empowered Committee to study the proposal. The CEC had recommended that widening of the road to 30 metres should be avoided at all cost. The new route that Nath’s ministry has proposed entails an additional investment of Rs 650 crore and it passes through his constituency Chhindwara, Seoni, Multai, Narsinghpur and Amarawada.

The road ministry has just filed an affidavit suggesting the new route with the Supreme Court. The apex court will study it. A Bench had earlier asked officials of the two ministries to thrash out the differences and present a composite plan.

Government officials said the new route is proposed to leave the Pench Tiger Reserve untouched and would pass through Multai-Chhindwara-Seoni (National Highway 69A) and Narsinghpur-Amarawada-Chhindwara (NH 26B). The total cost for multi-laning the single-lane road is estimated to be Rs 1,575 crore now, and is likely to be awarded as an EPC project. About Rs 776 crore will be made available from the resources of the present Five-Year Plan. The ministry will soon approach the Public Investment Board with the fresh proposal.

“The new route will not only protect the reserve but also serve as a vehicle for economic development of the region. It has been charted out in a way so as to address the concerns of the CEC set up to take a look into the issue,” a government official said.

Tiger found dead at Kaziranga

The carcass of a full-grown Royal Bengal tiger was found on a sand isle of the Brahmaputra to the north of the core area of the Kaziranga National Park (KNP) on Sunday.

A senior park official said the carcass would be sent for post-mortem on Monday.

A team of park officials, a veterinarian and an NGO worker would reach the location on Monday for a detailed investigation, the official said.

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article106661.ece

Ramesh locks horns with NCP in tiger territory

Union Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh is taking on the NCP again - this time in its den in Maharashtra. And the bone of contention is a proposed coal mining project inside a tiger reserve.

In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the minister has clearly stated that permission cannot be granted for coal mining in the buffer zone of the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) in the state.

This is the second instance of Ramesh not giving in to the NCP. He recently opposed the commercial cultivation of Bt brinjal, a proposal that had the support of Union Agriculture Minister and NCP chief Sharad Pawar.

The environment minister has been under tremendous pressure to permit mining in the Lohara West and Lohara Extension areas that lie within the TATR. The Adani group of industries was allotted captive coal mines at the sites in November 2007, when the prime minister himself held the coal portfolio.

The coal extracted from Tadoba will fuel a power plant to be set up by the Adani group in Tiroda in Gondia district. This is the constituency of civil aviation minister and NCP leader Praful Patel.

He has been vociferously demanding a captive coal mine because his constituency is reeling under a severe power crunch. A power plant is, therefore, urgently required in the region. But the environment minister clearly begs to differ.

Ramesh told Mail Today: "There is a rejection letter from my ministry saying that these mines cannot be permitted. I also visited the site on January 26 and have given the same opinion in a letter to the PM." Ramesh said mining could not be permitted in the region on four grounds. Firstly, the TATR was a tiger reserve and needed to be protected. Secondly, the entire region was thickly forested and rich in teak. The third reason cited by the minister was that even locals were strongly opposed to the project.

In addition to this, Chandrapur - the town closest to the TATR - was already an extremely polluted industrial cluster.

"Chandrapur is actually the fourth most polluted industrial cluster in the country with a large number of cement factories. Coal mining will add to this problem. The Western Coalfields, which carry out mining in the area, also have a very poor pollution record," Ramesh said.

The minister, however, has managed to stave off opposition from the NCP by seeking alternative coal mines for the Adani power plant in Gondia. "We have written to the coal ministry asking them to find an alternative site for the captive mines," he stated.

For his part, Patel told Mail Today: "We do need a power plant in Gondia, for which a captive coal mine is necessary. Alternative mines can be allotted to Adani and the respective ministries will take a call on the issue. I do not wish any harm to be caused to the environment." Earlier, Congress MPs from the Vidarbha region had written letters to party chief Sonia Gandhi, asking her to intervene and stop the mining project.

The BJP units in the area are part of the ongoing agitation against it.

When the Prime Minister's Office was apprised of the matter, Ramesh was asked to look into it. The environment ministry had earlier, too, refused permission to the mining project on January 7. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) also raised serious objections to it.

This is also the second time in the recent past that Ramesh has taken on his Cabinet colleagues over an environmental issue. He had opposed the project of another Cabinet colleague, road transport and highways minister Kamal Nath, to widen a national highway stretch that goes through the Pench tiger reserve.

The road connects Nagpur to Jabalpur and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) was very keen to widen it. The Supreme Court's central empowered committee (CEC) had observed that the widening of the road would cause harm to the sanctuary.

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/83949/India/Ramesh+locks+horns+with+NCP+in+tiger+territory.html

Tiger Farms in China Feed Thirst for Parts- NY Times

GUILIN, China — The crowd-pleasing Year of the Tiger, which begins Sunday, could be a lousy year for the estimated 3,200 tigers that still roam the world’s diminishing forests.

With as few as 20 in the wild in China, the country’s tigers are a few gun blasts away from extinction, and in India poachers are making quick work of the tiger population, the world’s largest. The number there, around 1,400, is about half that of a decade ago and a fraction of the 100,000 that roamed the subcontinent in the early 20th century.

Shrinking habitat remains a daunting challenge, but conservationists say the biggest threat to Asia’s largest predator is the Chinese appetite for tiger parts. Despite a government ban on the trade since 1993, there is a robust market for tiger bones, traditionally prized for their healing and aphrodisiac qualities, and tiger skins, which have become cherished trophies among China’s nouveau riche.

With pelts selling for $20,000 and a single paw worth as much as $1,000, the value of a dead tiger has never been higher, say those who investigate the trade. Last month the Indian government announced a surge in killings of tigers by poachers, with 88 found dead in 2009, double the previous year. Because figures are based on carcasses found on reserves or tiger parts seized at border crossings, conservationists say the true number is far higher.

“All of the demand for tiger parts is coming from China,” said Belinda Wright, executive director of the Wildlife Protection Society of India. “Unless the Chinese change their attitude, the tiger has no future on this earth.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/13/world/asia/13tiger.html

Goa tribals killed tiger after trapping it in wire snare

The investigation into a tiger poaching case in Goa has revealed that the big cat was shot dead by tribals of Majik community after trapping it into a wire snare.

The state forest department, which is investigating the case, in its probe report has reconstructed the entire sequence of incidents that led to the killing. “Three women were amongst the half a dozen Majik community members, who witnessed the killing, which happened in February last year. While two main accused shot the tiger to death after trapping it in wire snare, others witnessed the cold-blooded killing sitting atop a tree fearing that the tiger may jump on them,” the report said.

A Royal Bengal Tiger was killed at Keri February last year and the incident was brought to light in April after a picture of the dead animal was published in a local newspaper.

“The group of villagers fearing the aftermath later burnt the tiger by dragging it for almost 250 metres in the same cashew plantation,” the probe further stated.

A senior forest department official said that the killing might not have been exposed, if not for the act of one of the local youth to click the dead tiger on his mobile.

Forest department officials stated that it took almost one-and-a-half months for the forest officials to locate the spot, which borders Mhadei wildlife sanctuary in state’s Sattari taluka.

The department officials, accompanied by volunteers, had to comb the entire area to locate the two boulders visible in the photograph. “Finally when the spot was identified the task became more arduous because there was no evidence to establish the poaching,” a senior officer stated. It was only after thorough interrogation of the accused that the sequel to the killing in the form of burning the carcass was revealed.

Forest department’s records indicate that the two accused, Ganesh and Naguesh Majik, killed the tiger. Both have however feigned innocence in the case stating that they were not involved and instead had not even visited the cashew the area on the fateful day, officials said.

Investigation records mention that nearly twenty samples like burnt bones, fur, broken lower jaw were recovered from the site.

Keywords: Keri tiger, tiger poaching, Majik tribe

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/states/other-states/article105532.ece

Corbett steadily turning into disaster zone

As the Union Minister of Forest and Environment, Jairam Ramesh, gets ready to preside over the inauguration of the two-day All India Tiger conference to be attended on Friday by top forest officials and wildlife experts from various Indian States in Jim Corbett National Park, wildlife poaching and environmental degeneration will not only be part of the discussion but appear as practical problems affecting the very venue of the meet.

According to a survey undertaken recently on the directions of the Union Tourism Secretary, Sujeet Banerjee, the tigers and other wildlife in Corbett Tiger Reserve area are facing problems resulting from uncontrolled human activities in the adjoining 77 tourist lodges.

While land in the Sunderkhal corridor linked with CTR has been taken over by those relocated from Tehri, another corridor area has been taken over by the tourist lodges, greatly affecting the movements of wildlife in CTR.

The survey revealed that though a maximum of 600 persons are allowed in a day to enter the CTR area, the tourist lodges provide boarding and lodging facility to 3,197. About 70 per cent of the visitors arriving in these tourists lodges aren’t here for ecotourism but for attending dance parties and other recreational activities which create noise and light pollution.

In addition, the garbage generated in 31 per cent of the lodges which are built on agricultural land adjoining CTR is dumped improperly in the ecologically sensitive region while garbage generated in 26 per cent of the lodges is simply burnt without any scientific regulation.

Even the Forest Department fleet of vehicles, used to ferry people in and out of the CTR area, consists of 26 diesel vehicles which cause unnecessary vehicular pollution in CTR.

Observers point out that although Uttarakhand claims to be encouraging ecotourism to capitalise on its environmental resources, unregulated tourist activities taking place have been causing damage to the environment and increased stress on wildlife including elephants.

The survey, which concluded in January, shows that unregulated human activities in the CTR area are damaging not only the environment but also increasing the threats faced by wildlife right in areas where they are meant to be protected.

While Ramesh presides over discussions involving top forest officials from 17 Indian States in the Jim Corbett National Park, it remains to be seen whether the conference is able to reach concrete decisions to stop the irreversible damage to our unique national wealth and environmental resources.

http://www.dailypioneer.com/235576/Corridors-lost-to-tourism-Corbett-tigers-have-nowhere-to-go.html

Gujarat opposes shifting Lions to MP

Amid the growing concern over the depleting tiger population in the country, Gujarat today opposed in the Supreme Court, the Centre’s proposal to shift the Asiatic lions from the Gir forest to the Kuno tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh.

The Gujarat government warned that relocating lions from Gir was fraught with “irreparable damage to the sociology of lions” and asserted that MP cannot manage the relocation as it had failed to protect its own tiger sanctuary.

“MP’s tigers are dying. It will be highly improper to shift the lions to Kuno reserve,” Mukul Rohtagi, the counsel for Gujarat told a bench of Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and justices B S Chauhan and Chandramouli Prasad.

The Modi government argued that the people of the state take pride in the lion sanctuary. Any attempt to translocate them to Kuno “against the will of the people of Gujarat will cause irreparable damage to their conservation and cultural ethos.”

The Union Ministry for Environment and the Wildlife Board had come out with the relocation proposal on the ground that the lion population could diminish in the event of an epidemic outbreak as witnessed elsewhere in 1994.

“There were eight tigers at Kuno in 1992 and as stated by the July 21, 2009 affidavit by Madhya Pradesh, there is no significant population of tigers at Kuno,” argued the Gujarat government.

The state governemnt said that shifting the lions to Kuno will cause health problems to them as they would be prone to immune deficiency disorders. According to the Gujarat, government, the proposal for the translocation of lions is based on a false alarm/fear of an epidemic calamity on the specious arguments of the Gir lion’s genetic weakness.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/State-opposes-shifting-of-Gir-lions-to-MP-tiger-reserve/578860

Corrupt cops implicate activist as abettor in Goa Tiger Killing case

Panaji: The investigation into the last year's tiger killing in the state, has named state’s renowned environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar as abettor in the crime as he (Kerkar) did not reveal the source of information.

The investigation document mentions that Kerkar, who initially exposed the case through a newspaper, did not reveal the source of information and claimed it as a "secret source."

The State government has got the formal confirmation about the tiger killing from the Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII). It has confirmed that the animal killed in the forest of Keri village, 60 kms away from here, was a tiger. The tiger poaching case was brought to light by Kerkar through his writing in the newspaper and had carried the picture of an animal carcass lying between two boulders.

"He had to be made abettor as he was not cooperating with the officers. Initially for almost one-and-half-months, we were scouting through vast jungle to get a clue based on the photograph carried in the newspaper," a senior Forest officer said. The tiger was killed in last week of February last year, the incident was reported in April.

The Forest Department has said that they had made Kerkar as abettor as they wanted to confirm the computer in which the picture of tiger was downloaded. "Kerkar also claimed that the tiger was seen in the area for last two years and it had killed the cattle. We wanted to see whether there were any report of cattle killed during the period," the officer stated.

Forest Department has already zeroed on two accused belonging to Majik community who allegedly shot the wounded tiger who had got entangled in the wire snares. When questioned Chief Conservator of Forest Shashi Kumar said that he would not like to comment on Kerkar being made abettor as 'case is being investigated.’

Kerkar said today that the Forest Department’s action was expected. "The department is more interested in covering up the incident," he alleged.

He said that as a journalist, he had carried the picture in the newspaper and had not told about the origin of picture so as to protect the source.

http://www.zeenews.com/news602781.html

Tiger census in Madhya Pradesh starts Wednesday

Seven months after the shocking revelation that the Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh had no tiger left, the state is set to conduct the a much-awaited big cat census.

The census was originally scheduled Jan 18-23. However, the task would now be undertaken Feb 10-16 and after the collection and compilation of data, a report would be submitted to the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) by March 10.

"The tiger census, which was initially slated to start Jan 18, was postponed as the state was witnessing three-tier panchayat polls during the period," said Chief Conservator of Forest (Coordination) Shivendu Srivastava.

The project of wild animal census 2009-10 is being undertaken on the directive of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), New Delhi, Srivastava said, adding that the officials of the state "spearhead team" were trained for the purpose in Ranthambhore (Rajasthan) Oct 21-23 last year.

After the sudden disappearance of tigers from the Panna Tiger Reserve, the WII conducted an intensive tiger census at the reserve from November 2008 to June 2009. Initially only one tiger was traced and that too disappeared later.

Some other famous tiger reserves in the state include Kanha, Bandhavgarh an

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/the-good-earth/Tiger-census-in-Madhya-Pradesh-starts-Wednesday-/articleshow/5553264.cms

Maneaters on loose around Corbett park ?

About this time last February, the Corbett National Reserve declared a tiger a maneater. The big cat had killed a woman in the buffer zone. It was yet another testimony in blood to a rise in the man-animal conflict. Last Friday, the reserve again awoke to the news of a tiger attack on humans. Three local youths had been walking along the park boundary when they were attacked. One of them was wounded and is undergoing treatment at the Forest Hospital in Haldwani. The reserve was already neck deep in questions raised by the mysterious death of four tigers within one-and-a-half months. Friday's attack has added another to the long list: Was there a maneater on prowl? Tigers are recorded to have killed more people than any other big cat. But unlike leopards and lions, maneating tigers rarely enter human habitations in order to acquire prey. The majority of victims are reportedly in the tiger's territory when the attack takes place. Ranjan Kumar Mishra, the director of the Jim Corbett National Park, said it cannot yet be termed a deliberate attack on humans. "The tiger must have been on the prowl when the three went into the forest," he said. But the recovery of a body on Saturday, apparently mauled by a wild animal, has deepened doubts. "It seems some wild animal had attacked the man. Flesh had been eaten off his back. But we believe it was a leopard that had attacked as pugmarks found next to the body indicated," a forest official said. Early on Monday, blood stains were found on a pathway in the park. This raised fears that a third attack had taken place, although officials said they were "not necessarily human blood stains". According to wildlife enthusiast Ajay Suri, the attacks were the result of a rise in human incursion into animal territory. "Five star hotels have come up around the area. Such structures have blocked the movement of wild animals. ...Four tigers have died and the authorities still don't know why they died," said Suri who was shooting for a film on tigers in the reserve. Forest officials said they were trying to ascertain why the tigers had died. "Of the four tiger deaths, only one is suspicious. Three tigers seem to have died of natural causes -- old age or fights. In the fourth case, though, we are awaiting the results of the viscera examination. Poisoning or other reasons cannot be ruled out in that case," an official said. Mishra could not be contacted for his comments on the fourth case, but other officials confirmed that viscera of the dead tigers had been sent to the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) in Bareilly. "It normally takes IVRI about a month to prepare their reports. We are awaiting their reports," a Corbett official said.

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/83274/India/Maneaters+on+loose.html

Man-animal conflict: Corbett Park officials seek help

Aligarh, Feb 9 (PTI) Faced with mounting public anger over attacks by tigers in areas adjoining the Jim Corbett National Park, authorities have placed a cage inside the forest to trap the man-eaters and sought the help of people in tackling the problem.

A woman was recently killed and three youths were injured in two separate incidents of tiger attacks in the sanctuary area, officials said.

After protesting villagers blocked roads in the past few days demanding adequate safety measures, park authorities sought to mollify them and conceded to their demands by placing a cage inside the forest to trap the man-eaters.

"We have put in place a crisis management plan and two teams of forest rangers are now patrolling roads passing through the park to prevent any further attacks," Deputy Director of the Park, Kabi Dayal, told PTI.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/508048_Man-animal-conflict--Corbett-Park-officials-seek-help

Goa poaching case: Forensic report confirms tiger's remains

PANAJI: The investigations into Goa's tiger poaching case got a boost with forensic report confirming that the remains collected from a plantation were of a striped cat.

Chief conservator of forest Dr Shashi Kumar told reporters that Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has confirmed that the sample matches to that of a tiger.

"One of the seven samples has matched. Seven samples were found of which the sixth one matched to that of a tiger. Even if one matches it proves that the animal is a tiger," he said.

The state forest department, which received the report two weeks back, had maintained uncanny silence over it until a local English newspaper leaked the report last week.

The final report which was received by deputy conservator of forest (North division) G T Kumar has overruled the preliminary report, which had raised doubts on whether the animal remains found in a cashew plantation of Keri village were really of tiger.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Flora-Fauna/Goa-poaching-case-Forensic-report-confirms-tigers-remains/articleshow/5549297.cms

Mumbai Park puts up Tigers for adoption

Mumbai, Feb. 5: The officials of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) are planning to put up animals inside the park for adoption to corporates as well as individuals. However, the proposal is yet to get an approval.

"We have a proposal to put up animals of the national park for adoption," said Dr P.N. Munde, chief conservator of forests and director of the SGNP. However, the adoption scheme would be limited to animals that are in captivity. The adoption scheme is still on paper and the principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife division), who is based in Nagpur, is the concerned authority to give a green signal.

Depending on the feasibility, the adoption proposal may be approved later this year and from 2011 onwards, the scheme

would be open to animal lovers.

"By coming out with this kind of a scheme, the financial burden on the forest department would be reduced to a certain extent," added, Mr V.L. Rathod, assistant conservator of forest, SGNP.

According to the proposal, a total of 46 animals would be put up for adoption for a year. The money would take care of the animal’s food, maintenance of the enclosures as well as the medical treatment needed in the entire year.

The animals that would be put up for adoption include four lions, two white tigers, four tigers, 23 leopards, six leopard cats, four cheetals (deers), two nilgais and a barking deer.

The adoption of a white tiger would be the most expensive at Rs 3,15,000 per annum, while the cheapest would be a barking deer at the cost of Rs 10,000 per annum. "The cost is based on the calculation that we have done for each and every animal," Dr Munde said. Apart from the adoption, the national park authorities are also planning to get sponsors to treat injured or sick animals.

http://www.asianage.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1398:national-park-to-put-up-animals-for-adoption&catid=47:mumbai&Itemid=73

Poachers use electrocution to hunt

New Delhi, Feb. 2: Poachers have found that electrocution is the easiest way to kill elephants, tigers and leopards in the wild. All they have to do is steal electricity from an overhead line by hooking a wire and then laying a live line across an animal track. In January 2010 alone, five elephants and one tiger are reported to have been killed by electrocution.

Wild elephants head the list of electrocuted animals and the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) found that 30 elephants were electrocuted in 2009. In 2008, it was 24 and in 2007 it was 33. Alarmed by the rising numbers, Belinda Wright who heads WPSI pointed out that her organisation conducted a detailed nation-wide investigation and data compilation which has revealed that more than 300 animals have been killed in this fashion.

In 2009, WPSI’s statistics revealed four leopards were electrocuted, in 2008 it was one and in 2007 the number was two. Two tigers were killed in this horrendous fashion in 2009, two in 2008 and one in 2007. In 2003, the WPSI found the 28 elephants and six tigers had died due to electrocution. But wild life activists feel that WPSI’s data has erred on the conservative side. An Orissa-based activist feels the numbers are much larger claiming that in Orissa alone during the last five years, 280 elephants have been electrocuted.

Ms Wright petitioned the Supreme Court giving a state and species-wise mortality count, showing that the commonest victims were highly endangered species such as the elephant, the tiger, the leopard and the Indian rhinoceros. Detailed information on poaching methods and video evidence of poaching were filed, along with recommendations on how to solve the problem. Supreme Court appointed-CEC asked the respondents which included the ministry of power and the Central electricity board and the ministry of environment to resolve this issue.

"We suggested the use of providing insulation on the wires running through the national reserve parks and sanctuaries but this has not happened. There is a non-seriousness in their approach to this urgent issue," said Ms Wright.

Rashme Sehgal

http://www.asianage.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=927:poachers-use-electrocution-to-hunt&catid=35:india&Itemid=60

After Sariska fiasco, DNA tests for tigers before shifting

Following a Hindustan Timesreport on the genetic incompatibility of tigers that were shifted to Sariska National Park in Rajasthan last year, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has ordered DNA tests on tigers of Ranthambore and Sariska, to ascertain breeding compatibility before shifting any more of them.

The investigation (Rajasthan govt sent tiger siblings to repopulate Sariska, June 29, 2009) exposed how tigers were picked up arbitrarily for translocation without genetic or spatial analysis. Following the report, the translocation process in Rajasthan was put on hold.

Between June 2008 and February 2009, two sisters and their half-brother were sent to Sariska. These tigers have so far failed to breed.

Panna National Park in Madhya Pradesh didn’t make this mistake. With two tigers sourced from Bandhavgarh and Kanha reserves, it got a third one from Pench in November last year — five months after the HT investigation — to ensure genetic diversity.

The decision on mandatory DNA testing of Ranthambore tigers was taken an NTCA meeting last month, attended by Forests and Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh. The NTCA has already issued an order, designating Bangalore’s National Centre for Biological Science to conduct the tests to identify individual tigers with breeding compatibility.

“The Hon’ble Minister for Environment and Forests has directed DNA testing of all three tigers already translocated to Sariska… through fecal samples, besides similar testing for the two tigers earmarked at Ranthambore for translocation to Sariska,” says the note.

“The process of DNA analysis will take time. However, the translocation programme will continue and our priority is to determine the compatibility of a couple of young tigers that have been moving in the outskirts of Ranthambore. The future of these tigers is uncertain due to heavy biotic pressure (human presence) in these areas and they will definitely have a better chance of survival in Sariska,” added NTCA member-secretary Dr Rajesh Gopal.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/After-Sariska-fiasco-DNA-tests-for-tigers-before-shifting/H1-Article1-504652.aspx