Thursday, September 30, 2010
Tiger population increases in Sathyamangalam forest
Erode (TN),Sept29 (PTI) The tiger population has almost doubled in the Sathyamangalam forest range here within a year as per a census in the region,a forest official said today. In 2007 there were only eight Tigers in the Sathyamangalam forest. It declined to seven in 2008 and increased to ten in 2009. Now as per the census going on in the area there are about 18 Tigers in the forest, District Forest Officer N Ramasubramaniam told PTI. This is due to the strict vigil maintained by the forest department against poaching and proper facilities for the animals care like adequate water, he said. "Exhaustive study in ascertaining tiger population in the entire Sathyamangalam forest division is going on�, he said. He said a fresh census would be taken soon on elephants.There were 866 elephants in 2009, compared to 815 in 2007. There were 672 Gaur in the forest in 2009 as against 630 in 2007. "There are 2348 spotted deer, 1068 black bucks (kasturi Maan), 304 Sambar deer and 77 Barking deer.Government plans to start a black Buck Sanctuary in the Bhavanisagar area," he said. The leopard population too has seen a rise with 27 inhabiting the forest now against 19 in 2007. "But the wild boar population is decreasing sharply due to climatic conditions.No one is hunting the variety." Compared to 2402 wild boars 2009, there were only 843 in 2009. There forest also has 43 sloth bears and 15 striped hyenas. A separate vigilance squad has been formed to prevent poaching in the forest. He also said over the past few days some Tigers from Karnataka have been migrating to Tamilnadu forests,especially Sathyamangalam.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
15 tigers in Buxa Tiger Reserve
Guwahati, Sept 28 (PTI) The Buxa Tiger Reserve in West Bengal currently has a minimum of fifteen tigers, as per a study by a wildlife body. "Of them, nine are female, three male and the gender of the rest cannot be ascertained", the head of 'Wildlife Genetics Laboratory of Aaranyak', Udayan Borthakur told PTI here today. He said the researchers used DNA based analysis techniques for the first time in the country to estimate population by using faecal (scat) samples of tigers in the Buxa Tiger Reserve.''Faecal samples collected by BTR authority were handed over to us and we used genetic markers to identify tiger scats from other sympatric carnivores such as leopard'', said Borthakur who runs the society for biodiversity conservation in the North East.A set of highly polymorphic microsatellite markers to identify individual tiger and sex chromosome linked markers to identify gender of the tiger scat samples were used and stringent laboratory conditions for assessing and minimizing error were maintained, he said. DNA-based techniques of identification of individual tigers might be considered as a practical and low cost option for population estimation and long term monitoring of this species in the protected areas of the country, Borthakur said.From geographical point of view, Buxa Tiger Reserve is contiguous with the Manas Tiger Reserve of Assam and Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan.
Tiger number doubles in Kalakkad, pictures show
Sept. 28: More tigers are on the prowl the Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve in Tirunelveli district.
In what comes as a fillip to the ‘Save the Tiger’ campaign, the number of the big striped cats in the reserve is said to have doubled. Tiger reserve field director and chief conservator of forests H. Mallesappa said there are 13 big cats in the reserve as of date compared to six in 2006. This has been confirmed scientifically through camera traps, he added.
Wildlife sources said the census showed that there were three males, seven females and three cubs in the reserve at present. KMTR also supports about 60 panthers, two dozen elephants and more than 100 varieties of migratory birds.
The other flagship species that are found in KMTR include the giant squirrel and the lion-tailed macaque. The reserve forest also supports a healthy herbivore population comprising Indian gaur and spotted deer, wildlife sources added.
“The state forest department is currently using camera traps in all the three tiger reserves after the Centre allocated several crores of rupees for a holistic census,” said chief conservator of forests (wildlife) V.N. Singh, adding that the scientific results are encouraging.
Top wildlife officials and field directors of Project Tiger reserves in Tamil Nadu, however, admitted that an authenticated report would be available only after the scientific studies and camera trap images are released by the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun.
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chennai/tiger-number-doubles-kalakkad-pictures-show-237
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
NGO launches signature campaign to demand arrest over tigress' killing Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/ngo-launches-signature-campa
Bhopal: A local NGO has launched a massive signature campaign to demand the arrest of those involved in the killing of a tigress, Jhurjhura, in the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve of Madhya Pradesh.
"So far, the organisation had collected 36,145 signatures from all over the country in support of its demand," Secretary of NGO Udai, Shehla Masood told reporters at the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve on Monday.
Earlier, the NGO was planning to take out a rally but in view of imposition of prohibitory orders under Sections 144 of the CrPC in majority of towns in the state, the campaign seeking 'Justice For Death Of Jhurjhura' was changed to collection of signatures, she said.
Jhurjhura had died on May 18 this year after she was fatally wounded when some unidentified persons entered the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve for a night drive.
"Although nothing can be done to bring the tigress back to life, we demand that the perpetrators of this wicked crime are brought to book and made to pay for the playing of the tigress," Shehla added
"So far, the organisation had collected 36,145 signatures from all over the country in support of its demand," Secretary of NGO Udai, Shehla Masood told reporters at the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve on Monday.
Earlier, the NGO was planning to take out a rally but in view of imposition of prohibitory orders under Sections 144 of the CrPC in majority of towns in the state, the campaign seeking 'Justice For Death Of Jhurjhura' was changed to collection of signatures, she said.
Jhurjhura had died on May 18 this year after she was fatally wounded when some unidentified persons entered the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve for a night drive.
"Although nothing can be done to bring the tigress back to life, we demand that the perpetrators of this wicked crime are brought to book and made to pay for the playing of the tigress," Shehla added
Fake bail scam: SC seeks case papers from reserve officials Read more: Fake bail scam: SC seeks case papers from reserve officials - The Times of Ind
ALWAR: The Supreme Court has asked Sariska Tiger Reserve officials to produce the documents of the poaching cases against the accused Jugru, Teyab and Ramzan after the accused managed to get bail from the court producing fake documents.
Following a controversy on granting of bail to the accused by the apex court on September 6, the Supreme court had sent notice to the reserve officials and asked them to present the facts to the court.
The officials, on verification of the documents, found the accused had misled the court with forged and fake documents to get bail. The accused claimed they had already undergone four years and three months imprisonment while the mobile court had handed out only imprisonment for three years.
Bhaganwan Singh Nathawat, ACF, Sarika National Park, who appeared before the court in this connection, has sought seven days for a detailed report on the incident. He said that while the accused had only undergone one year 11 months and 18 days imprisonment of their five-year sentence. He said the accused got the bail on the basis of forged documents and certificates.
He said a bench of the Rajasthan Court in February had denied them bail and they approached the Supreme Court, bypassing a higher bench in the Rajasthan High Court.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Fake-bail-scam-SC-seeks-case-papers-from-reserve-officials/articleshow/6639563.cms
Following a controversy on granting of bail to the accused by the apex court on September 6, the Supreme court had sent notice to the reserve officials and asked them to present the facts to the court.
The officials, on verification of the documents, found the accused had misled the court with forged and fake documents to get bail. The accused claimed they had already undergone four years and three months imprisonment while the mobile court had handed out only imprisonment for three years.
Bhaganwan Singh Nathawat, ACF, Sarika National Park, who appeared before the court in this connection, has sought seven days for a detailed report on the incident. He said that while the accused had only undergone one year 11 months and 18 days imprisonment of their five-year sentence. He said the accused got the bail on the basis of forged documents and certificates.
He said a bench of the Rajasthan Court in February had denied them bail and they approached the Supreme Court, bypassing a higher bench in the Rajasthan High Court.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Fake-bail-scam-SC-seeks-case-papers-from-reserve-officials/articleshow/6639563.cms
“Preserve tiger reserve”
TIRUNELVELI: The Kalakkad – Mundanthurai Tiger Conservation Foundation Tamil Nadu Trust, which has been established with the objective of conserving the fauna and flora, has appealed to individuals and institutions to donate liberally to preserve the forest of Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) and its flagship species.
Speaking to reporters here on Monday, Chief Conservator of Forests and Field Director, KMTR, H. Malleshappa, said that the tiger reserve, covering an area of 895.39 square kilometres, with 400 square kilometres of evergreen forests, has 448 endemic species of angiosperms, 17 genera and 161 species of ferns. As per the tiger census taken during last fiscal, the tiger reserve had 13 tigers, of which three were found through scat analysis.
“The number should have gone up further, which will be known exactly during the next census to be conducted scientifically,” said Mr. Malleshappa.
He suggested that the donors may provide solar fences to prevent wild animal invasion into adjoining farms, construction of watch towers and vehicles. He stated that the donors could adopt any wild animal species by bearing their protection costs or maintain the reserve hygienically. He said that the tiger reserve administration would give preference to the donors whenever they visit the sanctuary.
The names of the donors would be displayed at vantage points. The donors would get income tax exemption for their contribution to the trust.
He said that the Union Government had released Rs.1.94 crore which would be used various purposes.
Deputy Directors of KMTR, D. Venkatesh (Mundanthurai) and K. Sathyanathan (Kalakkad) were present.
http://www.hindu.com/2010/09/28/stories/2010092857980100.htm
Monday, September 27, 2010
Over 200 tribal families to be evicted from Dampa tiger reserve
The expansion of the area of Dampa Tiger Reserve in Mizoram’s Mamit district is going to evict 227 tribal families of Andermanik village. For the last one year, the villagers have been denied permission to cultivate Jhums (Shifting cultivation).
THE EXTENSION of Dampa Tiger Reserve in Mamit district in western beltof Mizoram is going to displace as many as 227 tribal families – all belonging to Chakma community from Andermanik village. All these are poor people without livelihood, except for Jhum cultivation upon which the forest officials have imposed restrictions. For the past one year, there has been no cultivation due to fear of the long hand of the law.
Incidentally, these villagers or their ancestors had been evicted once from the Dampa Tiger Reserve area in 1989 and resettled by the state government outside the DTR area in the present Andermanik village. However, all in the name of tiger protection, the forest department is all set to evict them once again.
As per the “Revised Guidelines for the Ongoing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Project Tiger” (February 2008) of the Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India, the Andermanik villagers have been offered two options: Option I – Take the entire package amount (Rs. 10 lakhs per family) and the Forest Department will not be involved in any rehabilitation / relocation process . Option II – The Forest Department will carry out relocation / rehabilitation of village from the tiger reserve.
The money being offered is lucrative – Rs 10 lakhs per family, that is a total of Rs 22,70,00,000 (Twenty Two Crores Seventy Lakhs) for the entire village. But thanks to the absolute lack of transparency and secretive attitudes of the officials, the villagers have been divided into supporters of Option I and Option II.
If the villagers opt for Option I, they take Rs 10 lakh per family but need to find their own homes – somewhere, somehow (so says the Guideline as per the interpretation of the officials). The officials also interpreted to them that their Village Council would be dissolved (Andermanik is a full-fledged Village Council/Court). The villagers are strongly opposed to the dissolution of their Village Council.
In case of option II, the following package is proposed, at the rate of Rs. 10 lakhs per family:
Agriculture land procurement (2 hectare) and development – 35% of the total package; Settlement of rights – 30%, Homestead land and house construction – 20%, Incentive – 5%, and Community facilities – 10% The District Commissioner of Mamit has allegedly told the village leaders in no uncertain terms that each family would be getting not more than Rs 2 lakhs if they opt for Option II. The rest (i.e. Rs 8 lakh from each family) would be used by the state government to provide land title, develop their lands, and create infrastructure in the new village site. The villagers feel they are being cheated.
The villagers have been completely kept in the dark about the land acquisition and relocation/rehabilitation. This displacement process absolutely lacks transparency; so much so that the villagers do not know about the fate of government servants such as teachers! The teachers fear that they may lose their jobs after relocation.
The local MLA and Deputy Speaker, John Rotluangliana has promised the Andermanik villagers a new life in a “model village”. But few are ready to buy his assurance. How can they forget so soon that in 1989 eviction they had received only Rs 5000 or so out of the promised Rs 1 lakh per family? No one knows where the money had gone. The politicians had promised everything. But even today the Andermanik village has no road connectivity and no health care centre. The villagers have to track hostile terrains to have access to PDS food grain or medicine from the nearest shop at Rajiv Nagar which is 18 km away!
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Leo on tiger mission
New York, Sept. 24 (PTI): Actor Leonardo DiCaprio will visit India soon to see tigers in the wild and promote global awareness about their dwindling numbers.
The Titanic star, who is an ambassador of the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF), met Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh in New York yesterday to discuss ways to get involved in tiger conservation.
“He is very keen to work on tiger conservation. He wants to take on a more visible role. Somebody like him could play an important role in sensitising the global community to the cause of the Indian tiger,” Ramesh said.
Earlier this year, DiCaprio had visited Nepal to assess the preservation programmes in the country to save the big cat which is on the brink of extinction.
There are only an estimated 3,200 tigers left in the wild and India’s tiger reserves are home to a sizeable chunk of the global tiger population.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100925/jsp/nation/story_12980241.jsp
Forest staff remove 45 traps in Bandipur
BANGALORE: In a swift and efficient operation forest department staff of Bandipur Tiger Reserve have detected and removed 45 wire snares in the Begur and Gundre ranges of the tiger reserve. These snares, mostly made of telephone wires, steel cables and even natural tree fibres, had been set to catch ungulates such as chital, sambar, wild pig, barking deer, mouse deer and other animals for meat.
However, several instances of tigers and leopards getting killed in these snares are reported.In April this year, a tiger was found dead, caught in a similar snare in Gopalaswamybetta of Bandipur Tiger Reserve. 'It was found that notorious poacher Paapa and his associates Nagarajaswamy, Govinda, Shivaraju and Kumaraswamy were involved in setting the snare.The same gang had poached another tiger in Bandipur during February 2010 in a similar manner. In the last 18 months, five leopards have been reported killed, caught in snares in Karnataka (in Chikmagalur, Shirva, Mangalore and Virajpet).Since then, the forest department had increased foot patrolling to detect and remove snares.In the last three days of the intense combing operation led by field director BJ Hosmat and deputy conservator of forests KT Hanumanthappa, the forest department staff removed the snares which were laid on regular trails where wild animals are known to frequent.Assistant conservators of forests, Lingaraju and Ravishankar, range forest officers Chikka Rajendra and Bhagyavanth Masudi, forester Siddaramappa, guards Ravikumar, Lokesh, Puttaswamy and forest watchers Basavaraju, Krishna, Naaga Naika, Manjunath, Kumara, Maadu, Raju, Darshan and Rajeev were instrumental in this important fete.Snares have become a serious problem in our forests. These silent killers are very difficult to detect and unlike hunters with guns, these are extremely difficult to spot. This incident brings out the importance of foot patrolling in forests, which is the most crucial thing to detect snares and other illegal activities which are impossible to detect in vehicular patrolling.These kinds of unnatural losses of adult big cats will have a serious impact on the carnivore community in the area. For example, if a dominant male tiger is killed, other males which like to take over the territory held by the killed tiger, will kill all the cubs and young male tigers in its territory, so that they it can take over the territory.They will also kill cubs in anticipation that the female tigers can again come in oestrus for it to mate. Hence, the indirect losses of tigers or leopards dying in snares are colossal.It has been a cause for concern that the culture of foot patrolling is vanishing and the current detection by forest department in Bandipur is highly welcomed. The state government has already appointed staff for the Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) and this is one of the successes of STPF. Karnataka was the first state in the country to set up STPFs.Friday, September 24, 2010
45 snares laid for tigers and leopards found in Bandipur
Forest officials at the Bandipur Tiger Reserve have stumbled on as many as 45 metal traps to snare tigers and leopards, all laid by poachers following a combing operation on Thursday. The findings have shocked officials and come despite their massive vigilance drive.
Following the poaching incidents in February, April and July this year when two leopards and a wild boar were killed by poachers inside the Bandipur reserve, the forest department had launched a strict vigilance drive across the reserve. But, despite their intense efforts, poachers have managed to lay traps at strategic locations in the the park.Speaking to Bangalore Mirror, field director, Project Tiger, B J Hosmath, who led the combing operation said: “Based on a tip-off, our staff launched a combing operation in the ranges of N Begur and Gundre within the reserve and detected as many as 45 snares. After the poaching incidents, especially the one involving the tragic death of a young tiger on April 30 in Gopalaswamybetta region, we had further intensified our operations.”
Senior forest department officials said they were conducting vehicular patrol daily. However, following the spurt in poaching activities using snares, officials were asked patrol the reserve on foot to curb such practices.
“Most of these snares were made of steel cables, but a few were made of telephone cables and natural tree fibres. We suspect this to be the handiwork of poachers from neighbouring villages at the behest of professional poachers. Though snares are used to catch deer and boar for meat, on several instances tigers and leopards were caught and killed on the spot,” an official said.
The department suspects that the notorious poacher Paapa and his associates Nagarajaswamy, Govinda, Shivaraju and Kumaraswamy could have played a major role in setting these snares. The same gang had poached a tiger in February 2010.
Commenting on the trend, Sanjay Gubbi, wildlife conservationist and member of the state wildlife board said, “Snares have become a serious problem. Unlike major poaching equipments, these are difficult to detect. This incident highlights the importance of patrolling on foot.”
Hit by Staff crunch
The acute shortage of ground level staff in the department has marred plans to safeguard the population of big cats. According to officials in the forest department, Bandipur and the adjacent Nagarhole and Mudumali regions have the largest population of tigers – estimated to be about 300 – in the country.
“We have not given up despite the acute shortage of ground level staff,” an official said. “More staff would help us further augment the combing operation,’’ another senior official said.
Karnataka is the only state in the country which has a Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF).
NHAI officials to visit NH-6 today
NAGPUR: Forest officials, wildlife experts and National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) officers will undertake a site inspection of controversial patches between Sirpur and Lakhni on NH-6 on Friday.
The four-laning of the 80-km patch between Sirpur and Lakhni breaks the tiger corridor between Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary and Navegaon National Park. The corridor has immense importance as it connects nine tiger reserves and many protected areas (PAs).
Chief conservators of forests (CCF) AK Saxena and Nandkishore, wildlife expert Kishor Rithe, assistant conservator of forest (ACF) Kishore Mishrikotkar, NHAI project director Naresh Wadetwar and other officials will be part of the team visiting NH-6.
In the 80-km patch between Sirpur and Lakhni, work in three forest patches - Mohghata, Sasakuran and Maramjob - comprising 10km, has been stopped for want of forest clearance. Rest of the four-laning work has already been completed.
The NHAI had on August 17 submitted a report prepared by two ex-wildlife officials, to mitigate damage to wildlife due to the four-laning. On September 3, a meeting of NHAI and forest officials was held in which forest officials expressed reservations on the report.
The NHAI report doesn't comply with suggestions made by CCF Nandkishore, who was appointed by the Centrally Empowered Committee ( CEC) to inspect the four-laning work. Friday's visit seems to be a way for officials to point out their reservations on the four-laning.
Although NHAI is ready to construct eight underpasses of 10 feet height and 20 feet width in every 2km forest patch in vulnerable areas, sources said there is basic defect in the underpasses. Forest officials feel identical underpasses cannot be a solution on all the patches, they should be site-specific.
The WTI has disapproved of the report, claiming that mitigation measures in such important areas needs a group of wildlife biologists, geologists, engineers, architects, wildlife managers and conservationists to evolve specific and acceptable designs for wildlife crossings
.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/NHAI-officials-to-visit-NH-6-today/articleshow/6617257.cms
The four-laning of the 80-km patch between Sirpur and Lakhni breaks the tiger corridor between Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary and Navegaon National Park. The corridor has immense importance as it connects nine tiger reserves and many protected areas (PAs).
Chief conservators of forests (CCF) AK Saxena and Nandkishore, wildlife expert Kishor Rithe, assistant conservator of forest (ACF) Kishore Mishrikotkar, NHAI project director Naresh Wadetwar and other officials will be part of the team visiting NH-6.
In the 80-km patch between Sirpur and Lakhni, work in three forest patches - Mohghata, Sasakuran and Maramjob - comprising 10km, has been stopped for want of forest clearance. Rest of the four-laning work has already been completed.
The NHAI had on August 17 submitted a report prepared by two ex-wildlife officials, to mitigate damage to wildlife due to the four-laning. On September 3, a meeting of NHAI and forest officials was held in which forest officials expressed reservations on the report.
The NHAI report doesn't comply with suggestions made by CCF Nandkishore, who was appointed by the Centrally Empowered Committee ( CEC) to inspect the four-laning work. Friday's visit seems to be a way for officials to point out their reservations on the four-laning.
Although NHAI is ready to construct eight underpasses of 10 feet height and 20 feet width in every 2km forest patch in vulnerable areas, sources said there is basic defect in the underpasses. Forest officials feel identical underpasses cannot be a solution on all the patches, they should be site-specific.
The WTI has disapproved of the report, claiming that mitigation measures in such important areas needs a group of wildlife biologists, geologists, engineers, architects, wildlife managers and conservationists to evolve specific and acceptable designs for wildlife crossings
.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/NHAI-officials-to-visit-NH-6-today/articleshow/6617257.cms
Tiger's pelt recovered from man
CHIKMAGALUR: Rural police arrested a person for possessing a tiger's pelt, which they recovered from him, in Lakshmipura of Chikmagalur taluk.
Police sub-inspector Sathyanarayan and his team arrested Anwar when he was wandering suspiciously at Mallenahalli and found the tiger skin on him, which is valued at Rs 1.50 lakh. Police are investigating how and where he got the pelt and if he is working for somebody.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysore/Tigers-pelt-recovered-from-man/articleshow/6615613.cms
Police sub-inspector Sathyanarayan and his team arrested Anwar when he was wandering suspiciously at Mallenahalli and found the tiger skin on him, which is valued at Rs 1.50 lakh. Police are investigating how and where he got the pelt and if he is working for somebody.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysore/Tigers-pelt-recovered-from-man/articleshow/6615613.cms
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Two tiger cubs spotted in Ranthambore
JAIPUR: For the wild life enthusiasts, there is just a week to go before the Ranthambhore National Park is thrown open to the tourists for tiger sighting. Now, after a span of two years, two tiger cubs, barely three months old, are spotted in the park.
According to sources, tourists from Hyderabad were the lucky firsts to spot a tigress strolling with her two cubs in the Kundal area in Sultanpur, near Zone 1 of the national park on Wednesday morning. While the national park is closed at this point of time, the Sultanpur area is open to the tourists throughout the year.
Eyewitnesses said they saw the tigress carry one cub in her mouth while the other trailed along. According to sources, the tigress has been identified as T-13. However, what is the cause of concern is that the male tiger (T-12) father to the cubs, was the last tiger to be shifted to Sariska National Park. With the male tiger not there to protect the cubs, there could be some threat to the cubs from another male tiger -- T-24 -- which was seen around the tigress (T-13).
Even though the official figures of the new census have not yet been declared, this would take the tiger count up to 34 in the park after five tigers have been shifted to Sariska National Park. Besides, two tigers are said to be in the Kaila Devi area and one in Kota. Incidentally, in March this year, two male cubs, about a year old, were poisoned by villagers in for killing their goats. The T-13 has also had a litter earlier, which is now in zone two, said sources.
According to sources, tourists from Hyderabad were the lucky firsts to spot a tigress strolling with her two cubs in the Kundal area in Sultanpur, near Zone 1 of the national park on Wednesday morning. While the national park is closed at this point of time, the Sultanpur area is open to the tourists throughout the year.
Eyewitnesses said they saw the tigress carry one cub in her mouth while the other trailed along. According to sources, the tigress has been identified as T-13. However, what is the cause of concern is that the male tiger (T-12) father to the cubs, was the last tiger to be shifted to Sariska National Park. With the male tiger not there to protect the cubs, there could be some threat to the cubs from another male tiger -- T-24 -- which was seen around the tigress (T-13).
Even though the official figures of the new census have not yet been declared, this would take the tiger count up to 34 in the park after five tigers have been shifted to Sariska National Park. Besides, two tigers are said to be in the Kaila Devi area and one in Kota. Incidentally, in March this year, two male cubs, about a year old, were poisoned by villagers in for killing their goats. The T-13 has also had a litter earlier, which is now in zone two, said sources.
Improved habitat can double tiger count
Eighteen sites in India can support up to 1,500 tigers more than the country’s present big cat’s population, provided resources are utilised for rejuvenating these sites, a global study on tigers has found. There are less than 3,500 tigers in wild around the world of which 1,411 are in India withits habitat falling by over 50 per cent in last 30 years. Globally, tigers now occupy less than seven per cent of their historical geographical landscape.
“India provides powerful, contrasting examples of what works and what does not for saving tigers,” said the report, Bringing the Tiger Back from Extinction. It described India’s bid to save tigers as “confused”.
“Instead of announcing new tiger reserves (which increased from 27 to 39 in two years) the government should focus on providing on best habitats where tigers can survive,” said an expert.
The study by 23 global wildlife experts under the aegis of Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) provides solutions and will be released by Russian president Vladimir Putin in November as part of Global Tiger Initiative, to which India is a signatory.
For India, the recommendation is clear: concentrate on 16 source sites, which have 1,000 tigers over one year of age and can support up to 1,500 tigers, rather than “over wider landscapes”.
The study has identified 42 “source sites”, each with over 25 breeding tigresses, of which 18 are in India.
The best sites in India (see graphic) are Kaziranga tiger reserve in Assam with density of 16.8, where the density can increase to 18 and three sites in Central India and two in Western Ghats, where the density can increase by 60-70 percent.
“These sites have potential for providing safe homes to tigers but we need specific policy framework for this,” said Ravi Chellam, Director of WCS India, whose research contributed to the study.
Protecting and conserving these habitats could mean that number of tigers increases to 3,000 tigers in only 10 per cent of suitable habitat.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Improved-habitat-can-double-tiger-count/H1-Article1-603540.aspx
Tigers don't need wildlife boards to survive; they need to be left alone
I have been roaming in the forests of India for over 40 years and in the first 20 years, in spite of my best efforts the tiger or even its shadow eluded me.
Then, a few years ago I had a distant glimpse at Ranthambore. It either preceded me or showed up after I had left. Since I am a Leo, I was somewhat convinced that a tiger was reluctant to appear before a lion!
Nevertheless, for the last 30-odd years, photographing tigers in the wild has been my all consuming passion and temperatures of 46 degrees are no deterrent. I’m off to Tadoba-Andhari, a tiger reserve situated 155 km from Nagpur and 35 km from the mining town of Chandrapur in Maharashtra.
May and June are the ideal months to encounter a tiger at close quarters. In an open jeep, despite being garbed like a terrorist (head wrapped beyond recognition!), the hot winds blow straight into my face and the dust fully dyes my attire, merging it with the khaki landscape of the forest at this time of the year.
It is 8 am and the sun’s rays are like the needles of an amateur acupuncturist. But I am committed and it is only a committed person who will have the courage to venture under such hostile conditions.
The fear of dehydration is uppermost on my mind and I ensure that enough stocks of water and packets of rehydration powder are handy.
For the next 45 minutes we are patiently waiting at a waterhole for a miracle to happen. There is an eerie silence, punctuated by the occasional mating call of a cheetal deer. There is a rumbling of parched, dried teak leaves and my first reaction is to get the camera ready.
My eyes are focused in the direction of the sound. Suddenly the crumpling of the leaves stops and there is once again that old silence. Then suddenly the forest comes alive with the call of the sambhar, a perfect indicator of a tiger’s presence.
In a few minutes, a full grown two year old female cub emerges from the vegetation and heads straight to the waterhole, totally ignoring our presence in the jeep. We are just 20 ft from this magnificent cat.
A few sips of water, and it settles down to cool off in the muddy pond. It is a God-sent opportunity to be so close to it, in wonderful light and nobody else, except us. The shutter of my camera goes berserk;
Picture upon picture, capturing it’s every conceivable pose. The cub poses for us for a good half an hour and then with a few stretches walks off leisurely into the open. But not before marking its territory by first scratching itself, and then spraying on the tree (a rare sight).
This cub is one of three, and I am given to understand that by the onset of this monsoon, they will all separate from the mother, who unfortunately eludes us. We find the other two, however, blissfully having a nap under a thick forest cover.
The next evening, we are at the beautiful lake inside the sanctuary and set off once again to see the cubs and tigress. Dusk falls and after half an hour, a cute little 8 month old male cub emerges from the thick bamboo vegetation. He heads straight to its personal swimming pool and submerges itself.
This is one of four cubs I learn, and a notorious male. Generally, one cub in a litter is always more active than the others. A few minutes later a second one emerges and then the other two also. They all head for the pool, where their brother has taken centre stage.
Then, a few years ago I had a distant glimpse at Ranthambore. It either preceded me or showed up after I had left. Since I am a Leo, I was somewhat convinced that a tiger was reluctant to appear before a lion!
Nevertheless, for the last 30-odd years, photographing tigers in the wild has been my all consuming passion and temperatures of 46 degrees are no deterrent. I’m off to Tadoba-Andhari, a tiger reserve situated 155 km from Nagpur and 35 km from the mining town of Chandrapur in Maharashtra.
May and June are the ideal months to encounter a tiger at close quarters. In an open jeep, despite being garbed like a terrorist (head wrapped beyond recognition!), the hot winds blow straight into my face and the dust fully dyes my attire, merging it with the khaki landscape of the forest at this time of the year.
It is 8 am and the sun’s rays are like the needles of an amateur acupuncturist. But I am committed and it is only a committed person who will have the courage to venture under such hostile conditions.
The fear of dehydration is uppermost on my mind and I ensure that enough stocks of water and packets of rehydration powder are handy.
For the next 45 minutes we are patiently waiting at a waterhole for a miracle to happen. There is an eerie silence, punctuated by the occasional mating call of a cheetal deer. There is a rumbling of parched, dried teak leaves and my first reaction is to get the camera ready.
My eyes are focused in the direction of the sound. Suddenly the crumpling of the leaves stops and there is once again that old silence. Then suddenly the forest comes alive with the call of the sambhar, a perfect indicator of a tiger’s presence.
In a few minutes, a full grown two year old female cub emerges from the vegetation and heads straight to the waterhole, totally ignoring our presence in the jeep. We are just 20 ft from this magnificent cat.
A few sips of water, and it settles down to cool off in the muddy pond. It is a God-sent opportunity to be so close to it, in wonderful light and nobody else, except us. The shutter of my camera goes berserk;
Picture upon picture, capturing it’s every conceivable pose. The cub poses for us for a good half an hour and then with a few stretches walks off leisurely into the open. But not before marking its territory by first scratching itself, and then spraying on the tree (a rare sight).
This cub is one of three, and I am given to understand that by the onset of this monsoon, they will all separate from the mother, who unfortunately eludes us. We find the other two, however, blissfully having a nap under a thick forest cover.
The next evening, we are at the beautiful lake inside the sanctuary and set off once again to see the cubs and tigress. Dusk falls and after half an hour, a cute little 8 month old male cub emerges from the thick bamboo vegetation. He heads straight to its personal swimming pool and submerges itself.
This is one of four cubs I learn, and a notorious male. Generally, one cub in a litter is always more active than the others. A few minutes later a second one emerges and then the other two also. They all head for the pool, where their brother has taken centre stage.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Karnataka to get a Fifth Tiger Reserve
South India with its large number of National Parks and wildlife sanctuaries has a very good number of the endangered Royal Bengal Tigers roaming its forest. Now the tiger has one additional area of land reserved for its protection. The Centre has approved Karnataka’s proposal to protect Biligiri Ranganatha Temple Sanctuary as a Tiger Reserve.
Tigers have been frequently spotted in this area which consists of an ancient temple dedicated to Sri Ranganatha. The temple is surrounded by wild forest and many wild animals can be seen roaming around here. Hyderabad based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology had seen about 29 tigers during their survey in 2005. Being a forested area the tiger even has a good prey base and hence the sanctuary’s potential as a tiger habitat was highly recommended. The frequent spotting of tigers thus led to the proposal to protect this area for the big striped cats.
Originally Biligiri Ranganatha Temple Sanctuary was spread over 539 sq kms. The new Tiger Reserve will consist of 580 sq km of core area where tigers are generously spotted and over all Biligiri Ranganatha Temple Tiger Reserve will be spread over 800 sq km.
Biligiri Ranganatha Temple Sanctuary is located in Chamrajanagar district of Karntaaka and once notified as a Tiger Reserve, will be Karnataka’s fifth Tiger Reserve. The other Tiger Reserves of Karnataka include Nagarhole Tiger Reserve, Bandipur Tiger Reserve, Dandeli-Anshi Tiger Reserve and Bhadra Tiger Reserve.
Biligiri Ranganatha Temple Sanctuary is named after Biligirirangan Hills and is an important link between the Eastern and Western Ghats. The sanctuary was set up in 1987. "It is a good step to ensure better conservation of not only endangered tigers but also other wildlife in the Western Ghats. The area has a rich prey-base and is habitat of important flora and fauna," said Qamar Qureshi of Wildlife Institute of India in Dehradun.
Along with Biligiri Ranganatha Temple Tiger Reserve, four other new Tiger Reserves were to be formed around the country and were approved by the Centre. These include Sunabeda Tiger Reserve in Orissa, Shahyadri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra, Pilibhit Tiger Reserve in Uttar Pradesh and Ratapani Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh. Proposals for all the four tiger reserves are submitted by their respective state governments, but the Union Ministry for Forest and Environment is still to confirm their eligibility for funds from Project tiger.
As per the last census there are just 1411 tigers in the country. The reservation of forest areas to protect this species contributes a long way in increasing their population through breeding.
http://www.rang7.com/news/national-park/karnataka-get-fifth-tiger-reserve-677.htm
Two more tigers critical at Biological Park
BANGALORE: Two more tigers at the Bannerghatta Biological Park are critical.
Big cats, Arya and Minchu, are suffering from Escherichia coli (Ecoli).Veterinarians treating them said Arya and Minchu were suffering from liver and kidney dysfunctions and the creatinine level in them had also dropped making chances of their survival very thin.The biological park reported five deaths - three tigers (King, Divya and a cub) and two lions (Laxman and Shankar) - last week.The officials of the park have now categorised the remaining animals in three. Arya, a sevenyearold male white tiger, and Minchu, female sibling of the dead female tigress Divya, have been put under the first category.On condition of anonymity, a senior official of the park said the creatinine level of Minchu was around 9.5 whereas the normal level is 2.The female tigress has had a kidney failure due to the bacterial infection and there are thin chances of her survival.Same is the case of Arya which is suffering from liver dysfunction and dehydration, the official said.Director of the Institute of Animal Health and Veterinarian Biologicals (IAHVB) C Renukaprasad said though the animals were suffering from liver and kidney dysfunctions, they were hopeful that Arya would survive."We have put the animals on the new drug Imepenem," he said. "We are hoping that they will recover."Veterinarian at the park B C Chittiappa said Minchu was still not out of danger. "We are making the best of efforts," he said.Tigress Anu, mother of the dead tigress Divya, and another tigress Gowri and her four cubs have been placed in the second category.Rani, an 11yearold tigress and Lava, a 12 yearold tiger, have been put in the third category.Both of them haven't eaten for the past three days, the park officials said.Following the autopsy report, the park has banned chicken meat for big cats. The report has pointed out that chicken meat was the possible source of bacteria that led to the death of these animals.Karnataka first state to form dedicated tiger protection squad
New Delhi, Sept 21 (PTI) Karnataka has become the first state in the country to form a first of its kind dedicated armed squad for protecting endangered tigers. The personnel of the Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) have already been deployed in Bandipur reserve, Karnataka Chief Wildlife Warden BK Singh said. The STPF is being set up under the guidelines of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) according to which the company should comprise 18 foresters and 90 guards. The Force will be commanded by an Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF) with three tiger force range officers under him. "We have appointed 18 foresters and 63 frontline guards who are being given training in forestry from September 15. It will take almost an year to complete the training," Singh said. After that they will be given rigorous training in the police and paramilitary courses, a protocol for which is being prepared by the NTCA. Members of the STPF will be armed with modern weapons and facility of telecom network. "We plan to appoint 30 per cent of the total forest guards (90) from among the locals to ensure better conservation," he said. The NTCA will also provide vehicles, arms and other equipment to the STPF personnel which will be entrusted with keeping a watch on tigers within the state as well as monitor the porous borders to keep the poachers at bay. Spread over an area of around 874 sq km, Bandipur sanctuary has been chosen out of Karnataka's four tiger reserves because it has a rich landscape. The vulnerability of the Waynad-Bandipur zone has also been taken into account. States like Uttarakhand and Rajasthan have issued notification declaring their intentition to set up the STPF which the Centre hopes will help in better protection of the endangered tigers.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
BRT sanctuary to be tiger reserve soon
| The Centre on Monday accorded “in-principle” approval to Karnataka’s proposal to convert Biligiri Ranganatha Temple (BRT) sanctuary into a tiger reserve. | |
The BRT is the fifth new tiger reserve to get approval after Sahyadri in Maharashtra, Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh, Ratapani in Madhya Pradesh and Sunabeda in Orissa. The approval is understood to have been given on the basis of the state’s identification of close to 580 sq km of critical tiger habitat or core areas. The State now has to identify the buffer area around the core among other things. http://www.deccanherald.com/content/98238/brt-sanctuary-tiger-reserve-soon.html | |
Now, a tiger reserve in Praful backyard
Even as Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh and his colleague in the government, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, lock horns over environmental clearances to the Navi Mumbai airport and take pot-shots at each other publicly, Patel has found a reason to thank his counterpart. Jairam’s ministry has given the green signal to the proposal to declare Nagzira-Navegaon Wildlife Sanctuary, which falls in Patel’s constituency, a tiger reserve.
“The efforts to declare Nagzira-Navegaon a tiger reserve were on for quite some time, however, the clearance from the Environment Ministry came only last week. This will provide a big boost to the area and conservation efforts,” said Patel.
An MP from Gondia, Patel had been making efforts for declaration of the area as tiger reserve. “There are 10-15 tigers in the area,” said Patel. In 2009, a state panel had approved it as a critical tiger habitat following strong demands by the locals and conservationists.
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Now--a-tiger-reserve-in-Praful-backyard/684932
Monday, September 20, 2010
A first: UP to get exclusive force to protect wildlife
The Uttar Pradesh Forest Department will soon set up an armed force to tackle poachers and check the crime against wildlife in the state.
The Wildlife Protection Force (WPF) is being constituted on the guidelines of
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). The personnel will be given training at par with the state police force.
Though the main focus of the security force will be to check crime against wildlife, particularly tiger poaching, it will also check crimes like illegal cutting of trees. The forest department has sent the proposal to state home department seeking training support, and as soon as the proposal is finalised the recruitment process will kick off, said a senior forest department official.
“Wildlife poaching is a major problem in UP. The tiger reserves of Dudhwa in Lakhimpur Kheri and Katarniya Ghat in Bahraich are under constant threat from poachers. After declaring the area as critical tiger habitat, this (forming a special force) is the second step we are taking for tackling wildlife crime and managing tiger conservation in the state,” Minister for Forests and Wildlife Fateh Bahadur Singh told The Indian Express.
BBP declares emergency after death of tiger cub
While the death of four-year-old tigress Divya had sent shockwaves through the city, the death of another three-month old tigress cub was reported on Saturday morning.
This has not only put officials on the backfoot but has also forced them to declare an emergency.
The death of the cub was reported at 4am on Saturday and the carcass was taken to the Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals (IAHVB) for a postmortem, which revealed that the cub was suffering from an e.coli infection. This led to gastroenteritis and enteritis.
The three-month-old cub was not christened. The daughter of Gowri was still suckling like her other three siblings — two sisters and a brother. Interestingly, Gowri did not have the infection and was not showing any signs of illness. However, the deceased cub had a fever on Friday night and was dull and breathed her last atam. Gowri’s cage was 500 metres away from Anu’s (Divya’s mother) cage and also away from ten other ailing tigers.
It may be noted that cultural tests, postmortem and other tests on Divya also found that the tigress was suffering from salmonella and e-coli infection. Ten other tigers in the safari were suffering from the same infection. While the condition of the eight tigers has improved, Arya and Minchu (Divya’s siblings) are showing only minor signs of improvement and minor diarrhoea. They are eating little.
Speaking to DNA, principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) BK Singh said that the death of the cub had put all of them in a state of shock and thus as a caution an emergency has been declared. “It has been declared as the situation has become critical. All officials, including myself and other experts, are in the park and constantly monitoring the animals. The veterinarians, caretakers and officials will be attending to the animals day and night and drips will be administered,” he said.
An emergency is declared when the situation is out of control and there are chances of the bacterial infection spreading to others.
The safari area has been infected and this is posing a danger to the other animals as well, and that is something the staff has been unable to handle, say sources.
The emergency was declared at noon on Saturday, after a high-level meeting of experts, veterinarians from IAHVB, BBP and the forest department.
Sources also added that another one-month-old tiger cub has died. But the death is still not confirmed officially. It could be a natural death.
Dr BC Chittiappa, assistant director of veterinary services at the BBP said that the death was due to e-coli infection, which caused the gastroenteritis. “Since it is now possible for other tigers to get the infection, extra care is being taken and an emergency has been declared. This is like an outbreak and so we have called for more experts to leave no scope for any more untoward incidents. The health of the other tigers is improving with the new medication, but Arya and Minchu are still slow to recover and the tigers are still terrified in the presence of humans,” he said.
He added that the same had happened about five years ago, when in the same situation five tigers had died. “We are hoping that the same does not happen and the situation is under control now,” he added.
According to experts, this is a critical situation and there are chances of the disease spreading further. But the BBP officials are not prepared due to lack of infrastructure and facilities.
Speaking to DNA, IAHVB Dr C Renukaprasad said that since there was no meat in the three-month-old cub, “we suspect that the mother could be carrying the bacterial infection”. While infected chicken was the cause of salmonella, now it has been ruled out. But contaminated beef cannot be ruled out.
An independent veterinarian and specialised pathologist Dr Azim Ulla said that three important things are playing a role here — improper management, lack of bio security and lack of hygiene.
He added that since the tigers are infected with salmonella and e-coli, there could be other micro toxins which the officials need to pay attention to. The staff should also ensure that the urroundings are clean and there are no other organisms around like wild birds, rodents or any thing else so that the further spread is curtailed.
http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_bbp-declares-emergency-after-death-of-tiger-cub_1439962
Long live the tiger
BANGALORE: There are 42 source sites, including 18 in India, that hold the key to the future of tigers, which are on the brink of extinction. Around 22 leading wildlife biologists from across the globe, including Dr K Ullas Karanth from India, made this observation in a paper they published in the prestigious PLoS Biology Magazine.
At a time when Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will be hosting the Tiger Summit to address the dwindling number of tigers across the globe, the paper has suggested pragmatic measures for the protection of this majestic animal.
It has been the Chinese Year of the Tiger, and it is this country which is the largest market for tiger parts. The summit will be held in November, where leaders of 13 tiger range states, supported by international donors, will participate.
SOURCE SITES
Approximately 1.5 million sqkm of suitable habitat still remain in Asia, where tigers are distributed heterogenously, and except in the Russian Far East, are restricted to small pockets, mostly in protected areas.
Source sites are defined as areas which have more than 25 breeding females and having a landscape with the potential to contain more than 50 breeding females. These 42 source sites are home to almost 70% of all remaining wild tigers and though disproportionate, are important for the survival of the species. Collectively, they cover 100,000 sqkm, which is less than 0.5% of their historical range, and just 6% of their current distribution. If Russia is excluded from the analysis, 74% of the world's remaining tigers live in less than 4.5% of the current tiger range.
Source sites are not evenly distributed across the tigers' range, with the most number in India (18), Sumatra (eight) and the Russian Far East (six). Based on available data, no source site was identified in Cambodia, China, Korea, or Vietnam. Surveys in Bhutan and Myanmar have been too limited for their status to be assessed.
Actively protecting tigers at source sites is feasible and pragmatic, and has been successful in many reserves across India, between 1974 and 1986. The Malnad-Mysore tiger landscape currently maintains more than 220 adult tigers, one of the greatest concentrations in the world. This is mainly due to intensive protection of source sites such as Nagarahole National Park, where tiger numbers have increased by 400%, after protection began in the early 1970s.
PRESENT SITUATION
Wild tiger numbers are at a historic low. There is no evidence of breeding populations of tigers in Cambodia, China, Vietnam, and DPR Korea. Current approaches to tiger conservation are not slowing the decline in tiger numbers, which has continued unabated over the past two decades.
The decline of the tiger continues despite much concern, and both their range and total number have collapsed: fewer than 3,500 animals now live in the wild, occupying less than 7% of their historical range. Of these, approximately 1,000 are likely to be breeding females.
Though tigers showed a remarkable recovery between 1970s and 1990s, during the era of Project Tiger, it also became clear that protection and management of many reserves remained inadequate as witnessed in the reserves of Sariska and Panna, where tigers are now extinct.
COST OF PROTECTION
Scientists feel that protecting source sites is financially attainable. The analysis estimates an average cost of protecting and monitoring tigers effectively at all 42 source sites at $82 million per year or $930 per sqkm per year. More than half of these funds are already being committed by range-state governments, and the shortfall is less than $35 million, the paper noted.
At a time when Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will be hosting the Tiger Summit to address the dwindling number of tigers across the globe, the paper has suggested pragmatic measures for the protection of this majestic animal.
It has been the Chinese Year of the Tiger, and it is this country which is the largest market for tiger parts. The summit will be held in November, where leaders of 13 tiger range states, supported by international donors, will participate.
SOURCE SITES
Approximately 1.5 million sqkm of suitable habitat still remain in Asia, where tigers are distributed heterogenously, and except in the Russian Far East, are restricted to small pockets, mostly in protected areas.
Source sites are defined as areas which have more than 25 breeding females and having a landscape with the potential to contain more than 50 breeding females. These 42 source sites are home to almost 70% of all remaining wild tigers and though disproportionate, are important for the survival of the species. Collectively, they cover 100,000 sqkm, which is less than 0.5% of their historical range, and just 6% of their current distribution. If Russia is excluded from the analysis, 74% of the world's remaining tigers live in less than 4.5% of the current tiger range.
Source sites are not evenly distributed across the tigers' range, with the most number in India (18), Sumatra (eight) and the Russian Far East (six). Based on available data, no source site was identified in Cambodia, China, Korea, or Vietnam. Surveys in Bhutan and Myanmar have been too limited for their status to be assessed.
Actively protecting tigers at source sites is feasible and pragmatic, and has been successful in many reserves across India, between 1974 and 1986. The Malnad-Mysore tiger landscape currently maintains more than 220 adult tigers, one of the greatest concentrations in the world. This is mainly due to intensive protection of source sites such as Nagarahole National Park, where tiger numbers have increased by 400%, after protection began in the early 1970s.
PRESENT SITUATION
Wild tiger numbers are at a historic low. There is no evidence of breeding populations of tigers in Cambodia, China, Vietnam, and DPR Korea. Current approaches to tiger conservation are not slowing the decline in tiger numbers, which has continued unabated over the past two decades.
The decline of the tiger continues despite much concern, and both their range and total number have collapsed: fewer than 3,500 animals now live in the wild, occupying less than 7% of their historical range. Of these, approximately 1,000 are likely to be breeding females.
Though tigers showed a remarkable recovery between 1970s and 1990s, during the era of Project Tiger, it also became clear that protection and management of many reserves remained inadequate as witnessed in the reserves of Sariska and Panna, where tigers are now extinct.
COST OF PROTECTION
Scientists feel that protecting source sites is financially attainable. The analysis estimates an average cost of protecting and monitoring tigers effectively at all 42 source sites at $82 million per year or $930 per sqkm per year. More than half of these funds are already being committed by range-state governments, and the shortfall is less than $35 million, the paper noted.
Stray tigress caught in the Sunderbans
A tigress that had strayed into a village and taken shelter in a hut in the Sunderbans created panic before it was tranquillised and caught by the authorities of the Tiger Reserve early Sunday morning.
The tigress had strayed into a village near Budhbarer Bazaar at Kumirmari in South 24-Parganas district on Saturday night. Villagers found that it had taken shelter in a hut and informed the Reserve authorities at 5 a.m., Subrat Mukherjee, STR field director, told The Hindu over telephone.
“A team was rushed to the spot and it was tranquillised and caught. The veterinarian has certified the animal to be fit for release, so it shall be freed in Baghmara, which is deeper in the forest, after being kept in observation for 24 hours,” Mr. Mukherjee added.
Mr. Mukherjee said that a radio collar will not be affixed to the animal as the reserve authorities were still awaiting the Wildlife Institute of India to send the equipment which was expected to come by the end of the month.
Tiger skin seized from post parcel at airport
CHENNAI: In a first, air customs officers at airport on Friday seized a tiger skin sent from London as parcel.
The tiger skin was 8 feet long from head to tail and 6 feet wide from leg to leg. The body was 2.10 feet in width, said a customs press release.
The parcel was detained by the air intelligence unit of customs under suspicion that it might contain contraband. But it turned out to be a tiger skin when the parcel was opened. The parcel was addressed to a person in Chennai.
Wild Life Crime Control Bureau has confirmed that the skin and skull is genuine and that it belonged to an Indian tiger.
Customs Commissioner R Periasami said the skin was seized after we found that it is a violation of wildlife protection Act. Investigation is on to trace the person who sent it. It might have been sent abroad from India years ago, he said.
The tiger skin was 8 feet long from head to tail and 6 feet wide from leg to leg. The body was 2.10 feet in width, said a customs press release.
The parcel was detained by the air intelligence unit of customs under suspicion that it might contain contraband. But it turned out to be a tiger skin when the parcel was opened. The parcel was addressed to a person in Chennai.
Wild Life Crime Control Bureau has confirmed that the skin and skull is genuine and that it belonged to an Indian tiger.
Customs Commissioner R Periasami said the skin was seized after we found that it is a violation of wildlife protection Act. Investigation is on to trace the person who sent it. It might have been sent abroad from India years ago, he said.
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