LUCKNOW: The task of identifying the "charger tiger" in Pilibhit is getting tougher. The camera trappings have recorded at least three big cats -- two tigers and a tigress roaming in Deoria range. "But only one of them could be the man-killing tiger," said V K Singh, DFO, Pilibhit.
Six of the tiger's victims were partially eaten and it was not more than 8 kg to 10 kg of human flesh which was eaten by tiger in each case. Officials are of the opinion that had all tigers been into man-eating, they would have eaten away the bodies almost completely.
The camera trappings have recorded tigers moving in core area. None of the tigers are showing any deformity. Web cameras have been installed all over Deoria range. Last camera recording on August 22 had shown the tiger's presence in Deoria. The forest officials are continuing with precautionary and enforcement measures. Villagers are not allowed inside forest and they are being informed about presence of tigers in the area. Pilibhit is spread across 712 sq km area. It has five ranges -- Deoria, Mala, Mahof, Haripur and Barahi. Deoria spreads over 69 sq km. In census of February, 2008, 36 tigers were reported in Pilibhit division.
The man-killing tiger has not been branded a man-eater, since it has not come out of forest to kill men. Pilibhit officials have requested headquarters to provide for radio-collaring of the man-killing tiger, once it is identified. According to officials, it is a young tiger which is trying to establish its territory in Deoria. The range, so far, was not a territory to tigers though it has dense forest patches but poor grasslands. The range also has a poor prey base. It has wild boars and blue bulls but is devoid of cheetals and sambars.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/A-tiger-whodunit-Which-one-is-the-man-killer-/articleshow/6435546.cms
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Tiger kills one more, now in Shahjahanpur
LUCKNOW: A man was dragged inside the forest and killed by a tiger in Khutar range of Shahjahanpur forest division on Monday afternoon. The incident took place inside the periphery of the forest. This was the seventh case of human-killing by tiger in the terai area of the state.
A group of men had gone inside the forest in Bilandapur (I) forest block of Khutar range on Monday afternoon. At around 4 pm, the tiger charged at men and dragged one of them inside the forest alongside Jhukna river. Though others in the group tried to rescue him but to no avail. The partially eaten body of the man was recovered from the forest later. "Tiger had eaten about 2 kg of flesh from his waist part," said PP Singh, DFO, Shahjahanpur.
The Shahjahanpur division officials informed their counterparts in Pilibhit forest division about the incident. Deoria range of Pilibhit is reeling under feline fear these days. Since May, six humans have been killed by an aberrant tiger in Deoria range. Incidents have taken place within a distance of 3 to 4 km each time. The Bilandapur forest block, however, is about 22 km from compartment No 7 of Deoria range where 55-year old Redavati was killed and partially eaten by tiger on August 10. This, however, does not stop officials from probing if it is the same tiger which has shifted from Pilibhit to Shahjahanpur. The distance of 20 km is what nocturnal beings like tigers can cover in a single night.
"We can neither confirm nor deny it as of now," said VK Singh, DFO, Pilibhit. The hair of tiger collected from Bilandapur have been sent to Pilibhit. The hair sample will be matched with those collected from the spots of killing in Deoria to find out "scientifically" if it is the same tiger. The officials are going in for DNA analysis of hair. Shahjahanpur officials shared that the presence of tiger in Bilandapur forest block during this season is an annual feature. "This time around it has killed a man and created a scare," said DFO, Shahjahanpur. As many as 17 web cameras have been installed over 6 sq km area in Bilandapur. The officials studied the pugmarks in the area on Wednesday morning. The rains and flooding have, however, made the task a little difficult.
According to Shahjahanpur officials, a half-eaten carcass of blue bull was found about 6 km from Pilibhit, between Deoria and Bilandapur on August 14.
The officials are therefore strongly believing that it could be the same tiger which has shifted locations.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Tiger-kills-one-more-now-in-Shahjahanpur-/articleshow/6435545.cms
A group of men had gone inside the forest in Bilandapur (I) forest block of Khutar range on Monday afternoon. At around 4 pm, the tiger charged at men and dragged one of them inside the forest alongside Jhukna river. Though others in the group tried to rescue him but to no avail. The partially eaten body of the man was recovered from the forest later. "Tiger had eaten about 2 kg of flesh from his waist part," said PP Singh, DFO, Shahjahanpur.
The Shahjahanpur division officials informed their counterparts in Pilibhit forest division about the incident. Deoria range of Pilibhit is reeling under feline fear these days. Since May, six humans have been killed by an aberrant tiger in Deoria range. Incidents have taken place within a distance of 3 to 4 km each time. The Bilandapur forest block, however, is about 22 km from compartment No 7 of Deoria range where 55-year old Redavati was killed and partially eaten by tiger on August 10. This, however, does not stop officials from probing if it is the same tiger which has shifted from Pilibhit to Shahjahanpur. The distance of 20 km is what nocturnal beings like tigers can cover in a single night.
"We can neither confirm nor deny it as of now," said VK Singh, DFO, Pilibhit. The hair of tiger collected from Bilandapur have been sent to Pilibhit. The hair sample will be matched with those collected from the spots of killing in Deoria to find out "scientifically" if it is the same tiger. The officials are going in for DNA analysis of hair. Shahjahanpur officials shared that the presence of tiger in Bilandapur forest block during this season is an annual feature. "This time around it has killed a man and created a scare," said DFO, Shahjahanpur. As many as 17 web cameras have been installed over 6 sq km area in Bilandapur. The officials studied the pugmarks in the area on Wednesday morning. The rains and flooding have, however, made the task a little difficult.
According to Shahjahanpur officials, a half-eaten carcass of blue bull was found about 6 km from Pilibhit, between Deoria and Bilandapur on August 14.
The officials are therefore strongly believing that it could be the same tiger which has shifted locations.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Tiger-kills-one-more-now-in-Shahjahanpur-/articleshow/6435545.cms
Call for stricter poaching laws
KOLKATA: Notorious poacher Sansar Chand's six-year jail term order by a Delhi court on Wednesday has raised hopes of tiger conservationists across the country. But there is also a feeling that the law should be stronger in dealing with such criminals. The call has come not just from experts but villagers dotting Sunderbans, the habitat of the Bengal Tiger.
On the first day of a two-day symposium beginning Wednesday, on the Future of the Bengal Tiger', villagers and activists working in Sunderbans called for more stringent laws to battle poachers and those helping them. Tiger conservationists and wildlife activists are trying to pressure the government for a compact policy on Sunderbans. Efforts are on to get a unified policy on Sunderbans involving India and Bangladesh. A summit meet is scheduled in the last week of September or early October to discuss the modalities.
"Man-animal conflict has been there for ages. Poaching is now receiving political patronage. Those who are arrested for poaching are released on bail within a fortnight. These people become even more dangerous after coming out. Exemplary punishment should be given to them," said Tushar Kanti Dhali from Canning.
Sansar Chand was sentenced to six years' imprisonment and fined Rs 50,000 under the Wildlife Protection Act. Chand, known as the Veerappan of north India, had been caught in a leopard skin seizure case in 1995.
"Under the Wildlife Act, this is the maximum punishment that can be given. There has been a beginning," said Bittu Sahgal, tiger conservationist and wildlife writer.
"Not a single poacher has been convicted in a case related to Sunderbans. The law has to be more stringent," pointed out Banamali Mandal, a resident of Sunderbans.
Neighbouring Bangladesh which shares Sunderbans with India has a maximum penalty of five years for poaching. But Bangladesh is also considering making the punishment stricter.
"The Bangladesh Wildlife Act 1973 gives a maximum imprisonment of five years. This has been reviewed and is going to be amended. The maximum punishment can be up to 25 years in jail," said Monirul H Khan, tiger researcher from Bangladesh.
Talks are on the anvil for a joint programme between India and Bangladesh for conservation of Sunderbans. Sahgal said tigers can be protected if Sunderbans are saved.
"People in Sunderbans have to be made aware of the risks involved in climate change. They also have to be made aware of the risks involved in entering tiger habitat. The planning commission has to understand that Sunderbans plays a major role in climate change infrastructure. Unless protective measures are not taken now, we are staring at a disaster. Inappropriate development is as dangerous as poachers," Sahgal said.
A recent report by UNDP states that 15% of Sunderbans will disappear by 2020. "Mangrove swamps contain carbon. If these are lost, we will be contributing to the factors behind climate change. Incentive has to be given to people who move out of Sunderbans. There has to be a uniform relocation policy. If these steps are not taken then the option left is a chaotic migration worse than the partition," Sahgal said.
The director of Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve, Pradeep Vyas, said there were other problems as well. "One of the tigers fitted with a radio collar has moved into Bangladesh. We need to come together for tiger conservation," Vyas said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Call-for-stricter-poaching-laws-/articleshow/6435504.cms
On the first day of a two-day symposium beginning Wednesday, on the Future of the Bengal Tiger', villagers and activists working in Sunderbans called for more stringent laws to battle poachers and those helping them. Tiger conservationists and wildlife activists are trying to pressure the government for a compact policy on Sunderbans. Efforts are on to get a unified policy on Sunderbans involving India and Bangladesh. A summit meet is scheduled in the last week of September or early October to discuss the modalities.
"Man-animal conflict has been there for ages. Poaching is now receiving political patronage. Those who are arrested for poaching are released on bail within a fortnight. These people become even more dangerous after coming out. Exemplary punishment should be given to them," said Tushar Kanti Dhali from Canning.
Sansar Chand was sentenced to six years' imprisonment and fined Rs 50,000 under the Wildlife Protection Act. Chand, known as the Veerappan of north India, had been caught in a leopard skin seizure case in 1995.
"Under the Wildlife Act, this is the maximum punishment that can be given. There has been a beginning," said Bittu Sahgal, tiger conservationist and wildlife writer.
"Not a single poacher has been convicted in a case related to Sunderbans. The law has to be more stringent," pointed out Banamali Mandal, a resident of Sunderbans.
Neighbouring Bangladesh which shares Sunderbans with India has a maximum penalty of five years for poaching. But Bangladesh is also considering making the punishment stricter.
"The Bangladesh Wildlife Act 1973 gives a maximum imprisonment of five years. This has been reviewed and is going to be amended. The maximum punishment can be up to 25 years in jail," said Monirul H Khan, tiger researcher from Bangladesh.
Talks are on the anvil for a joint programme between India and Bangladesh for conservation of Sunderbans. Sahgal said tigers can be protected if Sunderbans are saved.
"People in Sunderbans have to be made aware of the risks involved in climate change. They also have to be made aware of the risks involved in entering tiger habitat. The planning commission has to understand that Sunderbans plays a major role in climate change infrastructure. Unless protective measures are not taken now, we are staring at a disaster. Inappropriate development is as dangerous as poachers," Sahgal said.
A recent report by UNDP states that 15% of Sunderbans will disappear by 2020. "Mangrove swamps contain carbon. If these are lost, we will be contributing to the factors behind climate change. Incentive has to be given to people who move out of Sunderbans. There has to be a uniform relocation policy. If these steps are not taken then the option left is a chaotic migration worse than the partition," Sahgal said.
The director of Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve, Pradeep Vyas, said there were other problems as well. "One of the tigers fitted with a radio collar has moved into Bangladesh. We need to come together for tiger conservation," Vyas said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Call-for-stricter-poaching-laws-/articleshow/6435504.cms
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