Send tigers for Sariska: Jairam to MP, Maharashtra

Conceding that the tigers of Ranthambhore may not be able to ensure “genetic vigour” in the population being raised in Sariska, Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh has written to the chief ministers of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra requesting them for a few tigers for Sariska.

HT reported ed how siblings were sent from Ranthambhore to repopulate Sariska. Following the report, the tiger relocation process was put on hold, a DNA analysis of Ranthambhore tigers was ordered and genetic tests proved that the tigers sent to Sariska were indeed siblings.

Forest and the wildlife establishment had so far resisted the demand for sourcing tigers from outside Rajasthan. While some argued that the purity of Rajasthan tigers was at stake, others felt inter-state talks on shifting tigers would hit roadblocks.

But in his letters sent this week to CMs Ashok Chavan and Shivraj Singh, Ramesh wrote: "To bring in genetic vigour, we need a few wild caught tigers (males and females) for Sariska from adjoining states…I would appreciate if two straying males are provided at the outset to Rajasthan…"

Welcoming the decision, conservationist Valmik Thapar said, "...We can also look at an exchange as the male that has so far failed to breed with his siblings in Sariska should now be sent to Panna (MP)..."

Sariska may get its fourth tiger much sooner if any of the three Ranthambhore tigers shortlisted for relocation are found to be genetically compatible. The DNA report of these tigers is expected from Bangalore-based National Centre for Biological Sciences this Friday. If the tests are negative Sariska, may have to wait for a positive response from Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Send-tigers-for-Sariska-Jairam-to-MP-Maharashtra/Article1-572513.aspx

Melghat buffer proposal ayed

NAGPUR: The state-level expert committee, on Wednesday, cleared the buffer proposal for 2,027 sq km Melghat Tiger Reserve (MTR) in Amravati. The panel headed by chief wildlife warden of Maharashtra AK Joshi and wildlife experts and senior officials held discussions at Van Bhavan before clearing the proposal with some minor corrections.

Joshi told TOI that the proposal would be sent to the state government in four to five days as he was busy with assembly related matters. The committee, on May 12, had cleared 500 sq km buffer proposal for Pench National Park and Tiger Reserve. However, the proposal is still pending with the state and has not been sent to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), a statutory body monitoring the tiger reserves.

The Melghat proposal was earlier discussed at a meeting but was put on hold as the panel members felt that some areas in East Melghat, Buldhana and Akola, which are contiguous to MTR, had been left out and should have been included as they act as cushion for wildlife.

The buffer proposal includes 118 villages in six divisions— Sipna (25), Gugamal (14), West Melghat (12), East Melghat (23), Akola (35) and Buldhana (9). The buffer area includes 92,065.49 hectare forested area and 34,738.18 hectare non-forested area, totalling 1, 26,803.67 hectares (1,268 sq km). The new buffer area includes 526 sq km multiple use area (MUA).

Presently, the MTR comprises Gugamal National Park (361 sq km), Melghat Wildlife Sanctuary (1,677 sq km), Wan (211 sq km), Ambabarwa (127 sq km) and Narnala (13 sq km). All these areas are critical tiger habitats (CTHs) and will now have a buffer zone.

The Wildlife Institute of India (WII), on the basis of exercise conducted in 2007, puts number of tiger in Melghat Tiger Reserve between 30-38. However, officials claim there may be over 50 tigers as situation has improved in the last three years.

Notifying buffer zone around tiger reserves has become mandatory under the tiger conservation plan (TCP) after amendments in section 38 V of the Wildlife Protection Act (1972) on September 4, 2006. The TCP aims at protection of tiger reserve and providing site specific habitat inputs for a viable population of tigers, co-predators and prey animals.

The committee included wildlife experts Kishor Rithe, Harshawardhan Dhanwatey and chief conservators of forest (CCF) A K Saxena, CCF for Nagpur wildlife circle Nandkishore, CCF S D Sontakke (Amravati), Melghat field director A K Mishra among other forest officials.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Nagpur/Melghat-buffer-proposal-ayed/articleshow/6169981.cms

29 top forest officials shifted

NAGPUR: In a major reshuffle in Indian Forest Service (IFS) cadre, seven chief conservators of forests (CCFs), 19 conservators of forests (CFs) and three deputy conservators were shifted on Wednesday. Mantralaya officials claimed the transfers to be routine and said more were in the pipeline.

According to reliable sources, SWH Naqvi, CCF (HRM), Nagpur, has been shifted to Pune as social forestry director (SFD). He will be replaced by Prakash Thosre, who is SFD director. Amravati territorial CCF S D Sontakke has been shifted to Aurangabad. He will be replaced by Sarjan Bhagat, general manager of Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra (FDCM), Nagpur. Shree Bhagwan, CCF at Thane, will replace Bhagat at FDCM. Suresh Thorat has been shifted from Borivali to Thane while he will be replaced by Sarvesh Kumar from Aurangabad.

Sources informed that among CFs Mohan Jha, field director of Pench tiger reserve, has been shifted but his posting is awaited. He will be replaced by A Ashraf, joint director of social forestry, Aurangabad. Sanjay Thakre, field director of Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), has also been shifted to FDCM as regional manager (headquarters). V K Sinha, who is in FDCM, will replace Thakre. Thakre's exit comes as post of Tadoba CF is to be upgraded to CCF rank.

Gorewada zoo director A R Mande has been shifted to working plan, Amravati. He will be replaced by BSK Reddy, who is working in PCCF's office. Similarly, R S Yadav, who headed the North Chandrapur Circle, has been brought to PCCF's office as CF JFM-II. Yadav will be replaced by GRK Rao. C S Gajbhiye, who looked after JFM II, has been shifted to HRD in PCCF's office.

Sources informed that F S Jafry of working plan, Nagpur, has been shifted as joint director, social forestry, Pune. He will be replaced by T K Choubey. Virendra Tiwari, who was with working plan, Amravati, has been shifted as CF (tendu), Nagpur. YLP Rao, who headed Kolhapur wildlife division, will be replaced by M K Rao. YLP Rao has been shifted to Nagpur in land record department in place of PCS Singh. Singh has been transferred to Chandrapur in silviculture.

The three deputy conservators shifted include Anwar Jamal Ahmed to Alibagh, S U Hiwlekar to Shahapur and D B Shrikhande to Pandharkawda. Shrikhande has been posted in place of Gopal Kale, who had committed suicide a few months ago. Head of forest force C S Joshi was not available for comments.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/29-top-officials-shifted/articleshow/6169996.cms