Archana Jyoti
New Delhi, Oct 3 (PTI) Soon after their release into the wild of Rajasthan''s Sariska forests, relocated tigers surveyed intensly for three months the jungle spread over 881 sq km to finally settle in a "best home range" having less anthropegenic pressure and rich prey-base, found out scientists who were trailing them.
A tiger and tigress (T-1) were shifted from Ranthambhore in June and July, 2008, respectively while another female (T2) was reintroduced into the wild in March 2009, a move to repopulate the species in Sariska sanctuary which lost all the big cats almost six years ago to poachers.
It was the first ever successful translocation of big cats from wild to wild in the country.
The team of scientists comprising K Sankar, Qamar Qureshi, Parag Nigam1, P K Malik, PR Sinha from Wildlife Institute of India, R N Mehrotra, Rajasthan Chief Wildlife Warden and Rajesh Gopal, member secretary from National Tiger Conservation Authority had conducted study of home range, prey selection, and food habits of the reintroduced tigers for a year from July 2008.
They observed that the radio-collared tiger and tigress moved in two different directions (tiger toward the south and the tigress toward the north) soon after release into wild.
"They occupied different areas and did not meet each other till September 2008. In total, 437 locations for tiger, 463 locations for tigress-1, and 229 locations for tigress-2 were obtained using a hand-held Global Positioning System (GPS)," says the study highlighting the normal behaviour of the big cats when moved from their native home to another.
In this case, it was from Ranthambore to Sariska sanctuary.
After having surveyed the new areas in monsoon, the tiger and tigress were found to be settling in the best available habitats in winter with adequate prey base, water availability, and less anthropogenic pressure.
Researching over 115 kill sites made by them from July 2008 to June 2009, the wildlife experts noted that nearly half of the radio-collared tiger''s prey was made up of sambar deer, while nearly 20 per cent of it was livestock, which had been left unprotected far from human dwellings. There are around ten villages in the sanctuary.
Stressing on expediting relocation of the villages, the scietintists have estimated that once it is done a 274 sq km area will be available free from biotic interference which can support at least 15 adult tigers.
"The successful relocation of Bhagani vs illage can set as an example to expedite the entire relocation process.
The proposed supplementation of three tigers (one male and two females) in every two years for a period of six years and removal of anthropogenic pressure from the national park will be crucial for the long-term survival of tigers in Sariska," scientists have said.
To achieve success in making people less dependent on forest resources, implementation of eco-development programs in and around the tiger reserve with the involvement of NGOs is recommended.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Will state govt act on STPF for tigers?
NAGPUR: The state government did grant more space for tigers by notifying buffer zones of three tiger reserves, but much needs to be done on the protection front. The state is yet to comply with theNational Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) guidelines for raising, arming and deploying Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) in tiger reserves with 100% central assistance.
The STPF is to be set up in Pench and Tadoba-Andhari tiger reserves in Maharashtra; Dudhwa-Katerniaghat and Corbett in Uttar Pradesh, Ranthambhore in Rajasthan, Kanha, Bandhavgarh & Pench in Madhya Pradesh, Pakke in Arunachal Pradesh, Bandipur in Karnataka, Mudumalai in Tamil Nadu, Kaziranga in Assam and Similipal in Orissa.
The NTCA had initially issued the guidelines on February 5. It revised the norms on May 11, 2009 after detailed consultations with tiger states and ministry of home affairs. The STPF will be on the lines of India Reserve Battalion. The state is yet to respond positively.
Talking to TOI, DC Pant, principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) for wildlife, said the department has to raise two battalions of 120 each for Pench and Tadoba. Earlier, one battalion was to be headed by an assistant commandant, 3 PSIs, 6 head constables and 90 constables. But police department has declined to part with its staff.
In view of this, the NTCA revised norms and as a second option, the STPF is to comprise only forest personnel like ACFs, RFOs, foresters and forest guards. A 30% of the STPF guards will comprise locals.
The outsourced persons will be entitled to the same salary and other emoluments through the service provider, as regular forest guards. The structure of a company, command and control, recruitment, legal immunity and related issues remains the same.
Pant says now with the first option out, "we have to set up the STPF on our own". "The proposal is pending with the government and it will take time to create new posts. Till the STPF is not created, temporarily we will take help of home guards for protection," he added.
However, considering the endangered status of tiger and the need for urgently stepping up protection in reserves, STPF is a necessity. Conservationists are now asking, "What's the problem when 100% assistance will be given by the Centre?" The worst is that the state government has imposed a ban on recruitment in forest department.
The process is on for providing central assistance during the financial year and chief wildlife wardens have been requested to send the MoU for implementing the initiative in conformity.
The STPF is to be set up in Pench and Tadoba-Andhari tiger reserves in Maharashtra; Dudhwa-Katerniaghat and Corbett in Uttar Pradesh, Ranthambhore in Rajasthan, Kanha, Bandhavgarh & Pench in Madhya Pradesh, Pakke in Arunachal Pradesh, Bandipur in Karnataka, Mudumalai in Tamil Nadu, Kaziranga in Assam and Similipal in Orissa.
The NTCA had initially issued the guidelines on February 5. It revised the norms on May 11, 2009 after detailed consultations with tiger states and ministry of home affairs. The STPF will be on the lines of India Reserve Battalion. The state is yet to respond positively.
Talking to TOI, DC Pant, principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) for wildlife, said the department has to raise two battalions of 120 each for Pench and Tadoba. Earlier, one battalion was to be headed by an assistant commandant, 3 PSIs, 6 head constables and 90 constables. But police department has declined to part with its staff.
In view of this, the NTCA revised norms and as a second option, the STPF is to comprise only forest personnel like ACFs, RFOs, foresters and forest guards. A 30% of the STPF guards will comprise locals.
The outsourced persons will be entitled to the same salary and other emoluments through the service provider, as regular forest guards. The structure of a company, command and control, recruitment, legal immunity and related issues remains the same.
Pant says now with the first option out, "we have to set up the STPF on our own". "The proposal is pending with the government and it will take time to create new posts. Till the STPF is not created, temporarily we will take help of home guards for protection," he added.
However, considering the endangered status of tiger and the need for urgently stepping up protection in reserves, STPF is a necessity. Conservationists are now asking, "What's the problem when 100% assistance will be given by the Centre?" The worst is that the state government has imposed a ban on recruitment in forest department.
The process is on for providing central assistance during the financial year and chief wildlife wardens have been requested to send the MoU for implementing the initiative in conformity.
Census indicates tiger presence in Goa
PANAJI: Goa's forest department has come across an indirect evidence about presence of tiger in the state's forests during the recently concluded wildlife census.
State's additional principal chief conservator of forest Shashi Kumar said that the same would be confirmed only in the second phase.
"There is evidence of the tiger's presence which will be confirmed through camera trapping method," he said.
Kumar's statement assumes significance amid persistent denials by the department to move ahead with the proposal to declare Goa's wildlife sanctuaries as tiger habitat. In a recent meeting with members of the Western Ghat Conservation Panel, environmentalists had put up a proposal to declare Goa as a tiger reserve.
The forest department conducted a wildlife census with the help of Dehuradun based Wildlife Institute of India (WII), this year. Talking to reporters on the sidelines of Wildlife Week celebrations which began on Saturday, Kumar said that the camera trapping method will take the visuals and indicate the number of tigers in the forests.
Kumar said that the WII is yet to analyse the data collected from Goa since it is busy with the Tiger Census conducted at various wildlife sanctuaries in the country.
State's additional principal chief conservator of forest Shashi Kumar said that the same would be confirmed only in the second phase.
"There is evidence of the tiger's presence which will be confirmed through camera trapping method," he said.
Kumar's statement assumes significance amid persistent denials by the department to move ahead with the proposal to declare Goa's wildlife sanctuaries as tiger habitat. In a recent meeting with members of the Western Ghat Conservation Panel, environmentalists had put up a proposal to declare Goa as a tiger reserve.
The forest department conducted a wildlife census with the help of Dehuradun based Wildlife Institute of India (WII), this year. Talking to reporters on the sidelines of Wildlife Week celebrations which began on Saturday, Kumar said that the camera trapping method will take the visuals and indicate the number of tigers in the forests.
Kumar said that the WII is yet to analyse the data collected from Goa since it is busy with the Tiger Census conducted at various wildlife sanctuaries in the country.
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