Mandla (MP), Apr 21 (PTI) A female tiger cub has been found dead in the famous Kanha Tiger Reserve here, officials said today.
The body of the cub was found at Sarhi range of the Reserve yesterday and it had injury marks around its neck and other places, Kanha Tiger Reserve Field Director H S Negi said.
He said the female cub was around nine-month old and had been killed by a tiger of the area. Territorial fights were common in the areas having dense stripped animal population, he said.
The dead animal was one of the four cubs of a tigress in the reserve.
He said after post-mortem of the cub according to the guidelines of National Tiger Conservation Authority, the body was disposed of.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Another big cat bites the dust
Fresh tiger pelt seized in joint operation by TN forest officials and Banagalore-based wildlife activists. Chetan R reports
Yet another tiger death came to light on April 15 when Tamil Nadu wildlife officials seized the pelt of a 4-year-old tiger from Thekan, a former anti-poaching watcher, at Masinagudi on the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border.
The tiger is said to have been hunted a month ago in the forest on the interstate border.
Besides the tiger pelt, a wild dog, elephant tooth, deer pelt and eight deer horns were also seized from Thekan.
Thekan has been charged with hunting wild animals and trafficking in their skins and other body parts within MTR (Madumalai Tiger Reserve) limits.
Yet another tiger death came to light on April 15 when Tamil Nadu wildlife officials seized the pelt of a 4-year-old tiger from Thekan, a former anti-poaching watcher, at Masinagudi on the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border.
The tiger is said to have been hunted a month ago in the forest on the interstate border.
Besides the tiger pelt, a wild dog, elephant tooth, deer pelt and eight deer horns were also seized from Thekan.
Thekan has been charged with hunting wild animals and trafficking in their skins and other body parts within MTR (Madumalai Tiger Reserve) limits.
"It was a rude shock," said Karthik P, a wildlife volunteer, who was part of the operation. "We were tipped about someone trying to sell a leopard skin. But to our shock we stumbled upon a fresh tiger pelt."
The arrest follows a month-long joint exercise by the Tamil Nadu wildlife officials and some Bangalore-based wildlife volunteer who convinced Thekan that they were businessmen keen on buying his wares.
"The operation is a success," said Rajiv K Shrivastava, field director, Madumalai Tiger Reserve.
"Our team uncovered the trade in wildlife being carried out by Thekan. He has been taken into custody. This is a matter of serious concern."
Thekan, a tamarind collector, who was an anti-poacher once, allegedly changed sides and become a wildlife trader few years ago.
"It's unfortunate that a tiger got killed despite so many initiatives being launched to sensitise people to their dwindling numbers," said Vinod Kumar Naik, a wildlife activist, who specialises in tiger conservation projects.
"The lack of infrastructure for wildlife staff combined with a rise in demand for tiger products in the international market has made tiger poaching nearly unstoppable."
However, officers of the National Tiger Conservation Authority have pulled up their socks after the incident. "This is a very serious issue.
Officials across states (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala) are working together to tackle issues like wildlife trade and poaching. Investigations are on in this case. We hope to get more leads shortly," said Shrivastava.
The arrest follows a month-long joint exercise by the Tamil Nadu wildlife officials and some Bangalore-based wildlife volunteer who convinced Thekan that they were businessmen keen on buying his wares.
"The operation is a success," said Rajiv K Shrivastava, field director, Madumalai Tiger Reserve.
"Our team uncovered the trade in wildlife being carried out by Thekan. He has been taken into custody. This is a matter of serious concern."
Thekan, a tamarind collector, who was an anti-poacher once, allegedly changed sides and become a wildlife trader few years ago.
"It's unfortunate that a tiger got killed despite so many initiatives being launched to sensitise people to their dwindling numbers," said Vinod Kumar Naik, a wildlife activist, who specialises in tiger conservation projects.
"The lack of infrastructure for wildlife staff combined with a rise in demand for tiger products in the international market has made tiger poaching nearly unstoppable."
However, officers of the National Tiger Conservation Authority have pulled up their socks after the incident. "This is a very serious issue.
Officials across states (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala) are working together to tackle issues like wildlife trade and poaching. Investigations are on in this case. We hope to get more leads shortly," said Shrivastava.
From 63 in ’90, tiger population down to 3 in Bihar reserve
In the backdrop of concerns regarding the dwindling number of tigers in the country, the ongoing tiger census has brought some more alarming news from Bihar. At the Valmiki Tiger Reserve — Bihar’s only national park — only three adult tigers have been caught by the trap cameras so far. The census is set to wrap up in June.
While the reserve, spread over 880 sq km, including 340 sq km core area in West Champaran along the Nepal border, boasted of 63 tigers in 1990, the number had fallen to 13 in the last tiger census in 2006.
Ironically, the Valmiki reserve, which was declared a national park in 1991, was categorised as a ‘level I’ reserve on account of the large area, ample vegetation and abundant availability of species of tiger prey. The authorities claim that the tigers may have slipped into Nepal.
“Phase-I data collection on indirect sign of carnivores, encounter rate and concentration of prey species is encouraging. Trap cameras might have shown just three tigers, but the figure should go up from last time. If that does not happen, we will have to assume that some tigers slipped into contiguous Chitwan forest of Nepal,” said J P Gupta, conservator of forest-cum-field director of the reserve.
On March 18, a four-year-old tigress was allegedly poisoned to death and buried near Kanti Tola in Madanpur Range. Forest officials, who claim they have “no wherewithal for enforcement of forest laws”, have asked for a CID probe.
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/From-63-in--90--tiger-population-down-to-3-in-Bihar-reserve/609515
In Arunachal Pradesh, a tiger skin is worth 5 kg of rice
Investigations have revealed that the need for a packet of salt and a small bag of rice can fuel the killing of a tiger in the forests of Arunachal Pradesh, bordering China.
Locals say the lack of infrastructure in the state leads to scarcity of food, forcing poverty-hit tribals to target wildlife and sell illegal animal products.
"With little food to eat, villagers depend on tree barks to make 'tussey', an indigenous porridge," said Tagru Tame of Pipsorang village in Kurung Kumey district. "Even money cannot buy anything in the region. So, the easiest option is to seek help from the Chinese, who look for animal products to fuel Asian markets."
"Hundreds of endangered animals are killed in the thick jungles just to eke out a living," said Noory Noshi of Limeking village located 50 km from the International Line of Control. "Poverty-stricken tribals sell the animal skin to Chinese traders. In exchange, they get about 5 kg of rice and a kilo of salt."
In the absence of patrolling, the age-old trade route is now being used for trafficking of wildlife products. Noshi pointed out that this route is also the entry point for illegal immigrants who slip into Arunachal Pradesh.
"At the border, a pack of salt and a pack of rice cost around Rs 200 a kilo each and a packet of noodles costs Rs 300. There are no roads, communication facilities are lacking. So, in the absence of infrastructure, food is scarce," said Rajesh Tacho, a local MLA. "While the Chinese highway is barely 3 km from the line of control, mountain paths on the Indian side extend for up to 50 km, mostly through the inaccessible jungles," said Tacho.
Investigations revealed that most of the animals killed are smuggled through Chinese villages Oganjo, Ume, Dian and Asapila.
The middlemen, who supply the contraband to markets in south east Asia, are of Tibetan origin.
Most of the banned wildlife products are smuggled in haversacks or home-made cane bags. Sometimes, high altitude porters hired by local authorities are involved in the smuggling syndicate, insiders said. At times, Indian traffickers pose as informers and sneak into Chinese villages under the pretext of gathering information.
The Indian authorities prefer to look the other way, a matter on which Arunachal Pradesh's Director General of Police, Bimla Mehra, declined comment.
Tracking and killing the prey usually takes days of hard work. It involves trudging and trekking through the dense forest which is infested with poisonous snakes and insects.
Arunachal's Deputy Conservator of Forests, M K Palit, admitting that killing of wildlife was rampant in the state's forests. He attributed it mainly to the age-old tribal traditions and excessive issue of licensed weapons to villagers.
Palit pointed to the emerging role of traffickers in smuggling animal products outside the country in recent months. "Earlier, it was killing for food, but now it is also to make quick money, added Palit. "The situation is not very alarming and the government is doing its best," said the forest officer.
Locals say the lack of infrastructure in the state leads to scarcity of food, forcing poverty-hit tribals to target wildlife and sell illegal animal products.
"With little food to eat, villagers depend on tree barks to make 'tussey', an indigenous porridge," said Tagru Tame of Pipsorang village in Kurung Kumey district. "Even money cannot buy anything in the region. So, the easiest option is to seek help from the Chinese, who look for animal products to fuel Asian markets."
"Hundreds of endangered animals are killed in the thick jungles just to eke out a living," said Noory Noshi of Limeking village located 50 km from the International Line of Control. "Poverty-stricken tribals sell the animal skin to Chinese traders. In exchange, they get about 5 kg of rice and a kilo of salt."
In the absence of patrolling, the age-old trade route is now being used for trafficking of wildlife products. Noshi pointed out that this route is also the entry point for illegal immigrants who slip into Arunachal Pradesh.
"At the border, a pack of salt and a pack of rice cost around Rs 200 a kilo each and a packet of noodles costs Rs 300. There are no roads, communication facilities are lacking. So, in the absence of infrastructure, food is scarce," said Rajesh Tacho, a local MLA. "While the Chinese highway is barely 3 km from the line of control, mountain paths on the Indian side extend for up to 50 km, mostly through the inaccessible jungles," said Tacho.
Investigations revealed that most of the animals killed are smuggled through Chinese villages Oganjo, Ume, Dian and Asapila.
The middlemen, who supply the contraband to markets in south east Asia, are of Tibetan origin.
Most of the banned wildlife products are smuggled in haversacks or home-made cane bags. Sometimes, high altitude porters hired by local authorities are involved in the smuggling syndicate, insiders said. At times, Indian traffickers pose as informers and sneak into Chinese villages under the pretext of gathering information.
The Indian authorities prefer to look the other way, a matter on which Arunachal Pradesh's Director General of Police, Bimla Mehra, declined comment.
Tracking and killing the prey usually takes days of hard work. It involves trudging and trekking through the dense forest which is infested with poisonous snakes and insects.
Arunachal's Deputy Conservator of Forests, M K Palit, admitting that killing of wildlife was rampant in the state's forests. He attributed it mainly to the age-old tribal traditions and excessive issue of licensed weapons to villagers.
Palit pointed to the emerging role of traffickers in smuggling animal products outside the country in recent months. "Earlier, it was killing for food, but now it is also to make quick money, added Palit. "The situation is not very alarming and the government is doing its best," said the forest officer.
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