Youth killed by tiger in near Dudhwa

A youth was mauled by a tiger in Katarniaghat wildlife sanctuary here, forest department officials said here today.

Jagmohan, resident of village Chahalwa, was attacked by the tiger when he went to the jungle to collect fodder, forest officer RK Singh said.

The youth was later rescued by the villagers and admitted to a hospital, where he died during treatment.

Since January 2010, five persons have been killed in such attacks.

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_youth-killed-by-tiger-in-uttar-pradesh_1447439

Maneater on the prowl, mauls 3 in Mathura Read more: Maneater on the prowl, mauls 3 in Mathura - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.co

NEW DELHI: Barely 150km from Delhi, near Mathura, a lone tiger mauled three people in the village of Satah on Monday morning. Not only did the incident terrify residents but also caught forest officials and other experts off guard as this was definitely not a known tiger territory.

The forest department, with help from Wildlife SOS Delhi, set up traps to catch the animal on Monday but were unsuccessful. "We are also expecting help from the Rajasthan wildlife department. While nothing is confirmed so far, the tiger probably strayed from the Bharatpur area since it is the closest known place that can support a tiger population," said Kartick Satyanarayan, director, Wildlife SOS.

According to sources, the animal was spotted around 6am on Monday, around 1km from the highway. "The Satah village area mostly consists of fields. The animal was probably seen when it was crossing from one field to another. Initially, it attacked the first person it saw in the field and then attacked others as they came to rescue the injured person. Three people have sustained serious injuries. However, it doesn't seem to be a maneater and probably attacked in defence since it has used only its paws and not its teeth," said Dr K L Meena, DFO, Mathura.

According to reports, the entire area has been fenced off but angry villagers broke through the barriers to attack the animal. Police had to be brought in to manage the situation. Meena added that traps had been laid to catch the big cat. "A goat has been used as a bait and our men are stationed on a neem tree near this cage. We are hoping to sedate the animal," he said.

While not too many details were available about the gender or age of the animal, experts said that this was definitely a transient tiger. "I don't have details with me but if this is a sub-adult or juvenile, it could have been displaced either in a turf war or was out to hunt and got marooned in the area. However, it is most probably from the Bharatpur area. We have had reports of tigers being sighted in Bharatpur but never this far," said Satyanarayan.

Meena agreed, adding that the animal could have also come from as far off as Madhya Pradesh
.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Maneater-on-the-prowl-mauls-3-in-Mathura/articleshow/6687122.cms

Expand Mudumalai buffer zone, Jairam tells TN

COIMBATORE: After his initiatives for declaring Sathyamangalam forests a tiger reserve, Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh has mooted another plan to protect the big cats and elephants of the region near the Mudumalai. The minister has asked the Tamil Nadu government to declareSegur Plateau in the Nilgiris as buffer zone of the Mudumalai National Park.

In a recent letter to chief minister M Karunanidhi, Ramesh requested the state government to favourably consider a proposal from his ministry to add the 321sqkm Segur Plateau as buffer zone of the Mudumalai National Park. Such a step would help strengthen the population status of the tiger, its co-predators and the prey in the landscape,' he said in the letter written during August last week.

Segur is an area rich in wildlife and is linked to the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve and adjoining forest cover. Central funds would be provided under the Project Tiger if the plateau is declared a buffer zone, the minister said in the letter. "Mudumalai is an important tiger source area with a potential to populating the northern and eastern parts of the Western Ghat landscape complex," he said.

According to Union environment ministry sources, the buffer zone status for Segur would not only help increase the number of tigers but also ensure protection for about 25% of the world's Asian elephants, which live in the region that comprises deep jungles of Bokkapuram, Singara and Masinagudi.

Moreover, Segur Plateau links Mudumalai National Park with Sathyamangalam forests, BR Hills Wildlife Sanctuary and Bandipur Tiger Reserve. The buffer zone status is also expected to enhance ongoing conservation efforts in the wildlife sanctuaries of Wayanad and Nagerhole as well.

However, the proposal has triggered apprehensions among the locals, who fear the forest department would impose curbs on their movements and routine activities. "Any move to protect tigers and elephants must be welcomed but such initiatives must address the survival of traditional forest dwellers like the adivasis and others who live close to the forests. Any project that treat local people as enemies of conservation would not succeed as it is unrealistic," said CR Bijoy, a civil rights activist who works among the Segur people.

MS Selvaraj, president of Nilgiri Vyvasaikal Thozhilalar Munnetra Sanghom, claims that the buffer zone project would adversely affect the survival of about two lakh people in Pandalur and Gudalur taluks. Under the project, there would be severe regulations even on digging wells, getting electric connection to houses and constructing even small country roads. "We are getting information that there would be restrictions even on painting houses the way the house owner wants," he alleged.


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Expand-Mudumalai-buffer-zone-Jairam-tells-TN/articleshow/6686504.cms

Entry fee structure in tiger reserves revised

By Our Staff Reporter
Bhopal, Oct 4:
The state government has now modified the entry fee structure for tiger reserves and protected areas. Forest Minister Sartaj Singh gave this information here today.
The Forest Minister said that the fee for Indian tourists for touring all tiger reserves by light vehicles (up to a sitting capacity of 8 persons) has been fixed at Rs one thousand and for foreign tourists at Rs two thousand. If Indian tourists are entering the tiger reserves by mini bus (9 to 32 sitting capacity) the fee would be Rs 1600 while for foreign tourists it has been fixed at Rs. 12 thousand. Likewise, at other protected areas, for the Indian tourists with light vehicles the fee is Rs 400 and for foreign tourists the fee is Rs 1500. If Indian tourists are going by mini bus they will have to pay a fee of Rs one thousand while the foreign tourists will have to pay a fee of Rs 10 thousand. If any vehicles carrying Indian and Foreign tourists, the fee would be applicable for that of foreign tourists.
Forest Minister Sartaj Singh said that for visiting to special places in the forests the charges have also been revised. For Indian tourists going to Pachmarhi View Point by two wheeler vehicle, the fee is Rs 100 and for foreign tourists the fee is Rs six thousand. In light vehicles for Indian tourists (up to 5) the fee is Rs 250 and vehicles carrying up to 10 persons the fee has been fixed at Rs. 300 and for foreign tourists the fee is Rs 1500. If going by mini bus the Indian tourists will have to pay a fee of Rs one thousand and the foreign tourists Rs 10 thousand. The Indian tourists will have to pay Rs 50 when going to Van Vihar by two wheeler vehicles. At the same time the foreign tourists will have to pay Rs 200. In light vehicles (up to 5) the Indian tourists will pay Rs 150 and in a vehicle carrying 6 to 8 tourists the fee is Rs 200. If foreign tourists upto 5 persons Rs 600 and if the number of foreign tourists is 6 to 8, the fee is Rs 800. If Indian tourists are going by mini bus they will have to pay Rs 600 and the foreign tourists will have to pay Rs 2500. At special places in the forests like Pandav Fall, Sneh Fall and other marked places, the Indian tourists going by two wheeler vehicles will have to pay Rs 40 and foreign tourists Rs 200. For going to such places by light vehicles the Indian tourists will have to pay Rs 200 while the foreign tourists will pay Rs one thousand. Likewise, if going by mini bus the Indian tourists will pay Rs 400 and the foreign tourists Rs 2000.
For visiting special places in Van Vihar National Park by foot / cycle, the Indian tourists will pay Rs 50 per person and the foreign tourists Rs 500 per person. For other places the Indian tourists will have to pay a fee of Rs 100 and the foreign tourists Rs one thousand per person.
For camping at marked places in all National Parks and Abhayaranyas, the Indian tourists will have to pay Rs 300 and the foreign tourists Rs three thousand per night. At this rate cycling and trekking is also possible at specified places.
For watching tigers/ wildlife from Hide/Watch Tower the Indian tourists will pay Rs 150 per person at Tier Reserve and foreign tourists Rs 1500 per person. For watching wildlife from other places the fee for Indian tourists is Rs 75 and for foreign tourists is Rs 750.
The forest minister has made it clear that entry fee of auto rickshaw will be double that of the two wheeler vehicle. In a mini bus for additional Indian tourist (in excess of 32) Rs 50 will have to pay per person. At the same time the fee for foreign tourists is Rs 500.
For visiting Bhimbetka the Indian tourist will have to pay Rs 10 and the foreign tourist Rs 100. If Indian tourists are going by light vehicles, Rs 50 per person will have to be paid and at the same time the foreign tourists will pay Rs 200 per person. If going by mini bus the fee for Indian tourist is Rs 100 and foreign tourist is Rs 400.
Regular pass will be issued for those who wish to go for morning walk/cycling in Van Vihar National Park. The monthly charge is Rs 100 per person. If the pass is made for a year the charge will be Rs one thousand and the charge for lifetime membership is Rs 15 thousand.
For watching the wildlife by traveling on elephant, an Indian tourist will have to pay Rs 200 and the foreign tourist Rs 600. For elephant safari the fee for Indian tourist is Rs 500 and the fee for foreign tourist is Rs 1500. Four persons will be allowed to sit on an elephant. Children up to the age of 5 will be allowed along with adults free. Elephant Safari will be for a maximum time of one hour.

http://www.centralchronicle.com/viewnews.asp?articleID=48878