LUCKNOW: In a judgment that will go a long way in wildlife protection in UP, Allahabad additional district judge S N Agnihotri on Tuesday awarded 12 poachers three-year rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10,000 each under Section 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Ten of these poachers, who belong to Katni in Madhya Pradesh, are women.
Two men, Insatt and Sushil, and 10 women, including Mirsana, Sarojini, Sukhchain, Suhana, Rafeli, Meenabai, Juhi Chawla, Kiloran, Rango and Chillo , were arrested in December 2007 in Allahabad along with four traders by a team of police and Special Task Force led by Civil Lines CO Arvind Chaturvedi . The police were assisted by the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI). All the 12 poachers belonged to the Bahelia caste and three tiger skins and 75 kg of tiger bones were seized from them.
Giving this information, Tito Joseph of WPSI told TOI: ‘‘ The court had separated the cases of Bahelia poachers and traders’’ . ‘‘ All the 12 poachers did not get bail and were lodged in jail since December 2007,’’ added lawyer Ved Prakash Mishra.
Forest department officials believe that Bawaria and Bahelia poachers are major threat to tigers in the region. Kala Sona, Black Mushroom, Kasturi, Chivi, Kumbh Boda and Safeda are just some of the code words that these poachers use to mislead the police.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
DNA analysis to nail lie on tiger counts
Exaggerated tiger counts presented by forest officials all across the country can be nailed.
Laboratory for Conservation of Endangered Species, a part of the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad has a foolproof method to know not only the number of tigers in a tiger reserve but their genetic diversity and number of male and female tigers.
The lab has developed the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technology that allows one to examine even miniscule amounts of DNA present in faecal samples of tigers. It would expose the exaggerated tiger counts presented by forest officials all across the country.
The technology is 99.9 per cent accurate. The forest officials will only have to collect tigers’ faecal from the tiger reserves and send it to the CCMB for DNA analysis. The centre is even willing to send its scientist to tiger reserves to train forest officials how to collect tigers’ faecal.
The PCR technology can also easily differentiate between male and female tigers apart from providing the exact count to the big cats in tiger reserves.
It is also the only scientific method available all across the globe that can also point out if there is any genetic inbreeding of tigers in a particular tiger reserve.
If there is any such problem then the CCMB can ask the state government of that particular tiger reserve to import tigers from other reserves to solve the problem.
Former director of CCMB Dr Lalji Singh and his team members have developed this technology and wants to introduce it in all tiger reserves in the country.
“We have successfully carried out the pilot study with faecal samples of tigers collected from two tiger reserves to estimate tiger population in 2006,” says Dr Singh.
“It is the technology of the future. The pugmark and camera trap methods have inherent drawbacks. For carrying out tiger census the DNA technology can also be used with the pugmark and camera trap methods,” he adds.
So why the forest officials have not adopted the PCR technology to estimate tiger population?
“We are not getting full cooperation. Only some states are cooperating. To save tigers we need cooperation from all states,” says Dr Singh.
“All over Europe and some states in US are using the PCR technology for carrying out census of wild animals,” Dr Singh adds.
We can help the states that are not cooperating. We can send our staff there to collect tigers’ faecal. The states can even send the samples through courier or we can also collect, Dr Singh stated.
Scientist and wildlife experts say the states are shying away from carrying out the tiger census through the DNA analysis because it would expose tall claims about tiger population in their respective states.
“Figures about tiger count in almost all the states including Uttar Pradesh are exaggerated. If actual numbers are quoted then the forest officials will be exposed,” said a senior scientist.
For how long the states would manipulate with tiger count and put into jeopardy the survival of our national animal.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/DNA-analysis-to-nail-lie-on-tiger-counts/Article1-548437.aspx
Rajasthan to dig ponds in water-starved sanctuaries
Rajasthan will construct small dams and ponds in its water-starved wildlife sanctuaries - a move that could also stop animals from straying into nearby villages in search of the precious resource.
“In the first phase we would spend Rs.410 million (Rs.41 crore) on the construction of 85 such waterbodies inside Sariska, Ranthambore and Sawai Mansingh sanctuaries,” a senior forest official told IANS.
“In the next phase, all other sanctuaries and parks would be covered under the scheme. A sum of Rs.3-4 billion (Rs.300-400 crore) is expected to be incurred on this,” he said.
The forest department would identify places where these water bodies are to be constructed and later the water resource department would construct them, the official said.
The water bodies are expected to be constructed by November.
India's desert state boasts of two tiger projects, one bird sanctuary and 25 wildlife sanctuaries. These protected areas offer great eco-tourism opportunities for both domestic and foreign tourists.
With the rise in mercury levels, several small water reservoirs have become parched while others are on the brink of drying up. Though the forest department claims to have put a plan in place for proper water supply through tankers and tube wells, animal rights activists were not fully convinced.
“Some of the wildlife reserves and parks are facing an acute water shortage this summer,” said Babulal Jaju, the state in-charge of the NGO People for Animals (PFA).
He said the measures adopted by the state government have been few. “This plan of constructing anicuts and ponds is good, provided it is taken up seriously by the forest department,” Mr. Jaju said.
The situation is really bad in the Dara Wildlife Sanctuary near Kota in Rajasthan. The anicut and small ponds here have completely dried up, forcing wild animals to search for water in villages.
“This situation is really bad. We are now always in danger as wild animals, including panthers, have started coming to our villages in search of water,” said Nanuram, a resident of Laximipura village close to the Dara Wildlife Sanctuary area.
There has been a rise in cases of panthers straying into villages, he said. Recently a panther was beaten to death in Bhojipura village near here.
Similarly, incidents of bears straying into human habitations in Jalore district, in southwest Rajasthan, have shown an increase in the recent past.
The Keoladeo Bird sanctuary in Bharatpur, not far from Agra, is also facing a water crisis which has already taken its toll on the turnout of the winged migratory visitors.
The sanctuary was a favourite destination for a variety of rare birds from India and abroad. A large part of the water bodies in the sanctuary have turned into dry land. The entire area had been receiving scanty rainfall for the last couple of years.
http://beta.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/article438198.ece
Acute water shortage in Uttarakhand's Corbett Reserve
Ramnagar (Uttarakhand), May 25 (ANI): The Corbett Tiger Reserve in Uttarakhand is facing acute water shortage, as natural sources of water have dried up on account of the rising temperature.
"The main purpose of making water holes at regular distance, as the animals are spread along the entire forest area. So, it makes easy for them. There was a pipe for supply of water," said B. L. Bhatt, Range Officer, Corbett Tiger Reserve.
"But nowadays, even the source has dried up, so there is no water. That's why we are using tankers," he added.
Tankers are needed eight to nine times in a day.
"In all, there are 16 water holes. Due to scarcity of water, we come here and provide water through tankers at least eight to nine times a day," said Veer Singh, a forester. (ANI)
The authorities here have made arrangements to meet the water requirements of the wildlife, by bringing water through tankers and putting it in water pits.
"The main purpose of making water holes at regular distance, as the animals are spread along the entire forest area. So, it makes easy for them. There was a pipe for supply of water," said B. L. Bhatt, Range Officer, Corbett Tiger Reserve.
"But nowadays, even the source has dried up, so there is no water. That's why we are using tankers," he added.
Tankers are needed eight to nine times in a day.
"In all, there are 16 water holes. Due to scarcity of water, we come here and provide water through tankers at least eight to nine times a day," said Veer Singh, a forester. (ANI)
Captured Royal Bengal tigers released into forest
Barasat (WB), May 25 (PTI) Two Royal Bengal tigers which strayed into villages near the Sundarbans have been released into deep jungles by the forest department, officials said today.
The Forest department captured a tigress last night after it strayed into a village at Hingalganj, adjacent to the Sunderbans in North 24-Parganas district.
It was released today into the Baghmara forest deep into the Sunderbans, the officials said.
On Thursday, a tiger had entered Shamsernagar village after swimming across the two-km wide Raimangal river. It killed livestock before being trapped by the Forest department staff the next day.
It was released into the deep forests on Saturday, they said.
Forest officials said tigers had been regularly entering human habitations ever since cyclone Aila wrought havoc in the Sunderbans.
The Forest department captured a tigress last night after it strayed into a village at Hingalganj, adjacent to the Sunderbans in North 24-Parganas district.
It was released today into the Baghmara forest deep into the Sunderbans, the officials said.
On Thursday, a tiger had entered Shamsernagar village after swimming across the two-km wide Raimangal river. It killed livestock before being trapped by the Forest department staff the next day.
It was released into the deep forests on Saturday, they said.
Forest officials said tigers had been regularly entering human habitations ever since cyclone Aila wrought havoc in the Sunderbans.
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