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.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
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.
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.
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