NAGPUR: The state government is yet to respond to central government's request to provide two tigers to be relocated in Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan.
On July 11, Jairam Ramesh, minister of state (independent charge) for environment and forests, had written to chief minister Ashok Chavan about its process for reviving tiger population in Sariska where they became locally extinct in the recent past.
Based on the recovery strategy as suggested by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, five tigers have been translocated since 2008 in Sariska, from Ranthambore National Park, which is in the same state (Rajasthan).
Ramesh has told CM Chavan that since the tiger population at Ranthambore has evolved from a small founder group, there is considerable similarity in the genetic make-up of individual tigers in the area. Hence, to bring in genetic vigour, we need a few wild-caught tigers (males as well as females) for Sariska from other adjoining states.
"It's true that I've sought two straying males from the tiger reserves of Maharashtra. Tigers do not recognise state boundaries. A positive gesture from the state could go a long way in ensuring a viable gene pool for our wild tigers, which are becoming isolated due to the habitat fragmentation," Union minister Ramesh told TOI.
When asked about the response from Maharashtra government, Ramesh said, "I'm yet to receive any positive reply."
A similar request was also made to Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivrajsingh Chouhan. However, the MP government has ruled out relocation of tigers from the state to boost population in Sarsika reserve.
Dinesh Chandra Pant, principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) for wildlife and chief wildlife warden of Maharashtra, said he had an open mind on the issue.
"The matter came up for discussion in one of the meetings held at mantralaya recently. I'll certainly look into it," Pant said
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http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Tigers-for-Sariska-State-mum-on-Jairams-request/articleshow/6390135.cms
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Tiger count faulty- Experts
Crusaders may be celebrating the rising tiger count, but all is not well with the king of the jungle, warned two tiger experts visiting the city for a WWF meet at Nandan recently. Ravi Singh, the chief executive officer of WWF-India, and Ranthambore man Fateh Singh Rathore argued that ground realities do not support the claims of the campaigners.
“Efforts from government and corporate quarters are welcome. But we need a more structured and planned campaign,” said Singh. A lot more funds are required, especially for the relocation of forest dwellers from tiger hubs. Also, a closer estimate of tiger numbers is necessary using the technology available and better management, he felt.
On the Sunderbans — which probably has less than one-third the official tiger figure of 250 — Singh was cautious. “The Sunderbans is a difficult terrain to count tigers. Even radio collaring is limited here as the tigers generally have smaller necks. However, it is true that tiger prey in the Sunderbans is not adequate,” said Singh.
Rathore was more forthright. “If you have 250 tigers, you need at least 250 animals as prey a week and about 12,000 a year. If such a high number of prey are to be made available, you need a huge prey base in the Sunderbans, which is clearly not there. The 250 figure for the Sunderbans cannot be true,” declared Rathore, who sighted his first tiger when the Duke of Edinburgh shot one down in 1969.
He lauded Union forest minister Jairam Ramesh for taking up the cause of the big cats but is disappointed with the “application and implementation” of the initiative.
“How a committee is expected to solve such a critical issue just by visiting forests and holding a few meetings beats me,” he said.
He is also upset with the hullabaloo over tigers — “big cats share hoarding space with Bollywood stars and private firms are all ‘saving tigers’,” he grumbled.
Rocking auto
A passenger was clinging to the sides of an auto for dear life as the vehicle dangerously dodged all other forms of traffic, boulders and pedestrians. She saw the auto-driver take off to the song Le paglu dance, composed by Jeet. Himesh Reshammiya has competition. This time from a son of Bengal, Jeet Gannguli. If Himesh’s songs made autowallahs sing out loud, Jeet makes them dance. While driving. Be warned.
Contributed by Jayanta Basu and Saionee Chakraborty
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100822/jsp/calcutta/story_12837615.jsp
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