UDHAGAMANDALAM: Over 100 tigers have been spotted in the three Tigers reserves of Kalakkad Mundanthurai in Tirunelveli district, Anamalai in Coimbatore district and Mudumalai in the Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu forest minister, N Selvaraj said on Saturday. While their numbers were dwindling nationwide, the big cats are thriving in Tamil Nadu, according to Selvaraj.
In a recent survey, 46 tigers have been sighted directly in Sathyamangalam forest area, Selvaraj said. According to a 2007 survey, the population of tigers in Tamil Nadu was between 62 and 76. Stating that the reason for their growing numbers is the healthy prey base, the forest minister said, "I happened to see a lot of bison and several herds of spotted deer in the Mudumalai reserve and its surroundings". Also, poaching activities are completely under control, he added.
Asked about the long-pending proposal for merging the Sigur reserve forest area with the adjacent Mudumalai Tiger Reserve in the Nilgiris, he said, "The proposal is under consideration." Many wild animals including tigers are being sighted in the Sigur forests. Recently, Union forest and environment minister Jairam Ramesh had written to the Tamil Nadu government urging it to declare the Sigur forest as a tiger reserve. The proposal for merging the reserve forest with the Mudumalai tiger reserve is pending with the government.
On several illegal resorts operating in the hill district in identified elephant corridors in the Sigur Plateau, Selvaraj said cases in this regard were pending in the courts. However, no fresh construction would be allowed in these areas, he said, adding that protecting wildlife would be the first consideration in any kind of development projects in the hill district, including laying of new roads. The penalty fee against cutting trees illegally in private lands, presently a very nominal amount, would be revised soon, said the minister.
The forest department will ensure there are no encroachments on the traditional elephant paths in the forests. The elephants move in herds and on a particular trajectory. When this is disturbed they stray into unknown zones and end up entering human habitats, affecting residents, he said. To a question regarding monitoring of the neutrino project to be set up in Theni, the minister said, "Once the project is set up, arrangements will be made to monitor the project".
Read more: Over 100 tigers spotted in three tiger reserves, says forest minister - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Over-100-tigers-spotted-in-three-tiger-reserves-says-forest-minister/articleshow/6800770.cms#ixzz13GT9mrU8
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Experts to study causes of tiger sightings in Pilibhit
After tigers have been sighted for over six months in the forests of Pilibhit district, wildlife experts are trying to determine the reasons and conditions, which have allowed the big cats to extend their territory in the area.
For the next three months, a team of experts from the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) will camp in the Deoria range of Pilibhit district and Khutar range in Shahjehanpur. Along with officials from the state Forest department, they will conduct a survey and submit a report to the National Tiger Conservation Authority of India. At present, a two-member WTI team is already camping in Deoria range.
For the first time, a tiger were sighted in this range in May. It attacked a man, who had entered the jungle in search of drift wood. The camera trap method confirmed the presence of a cub and three adult tigers in the area.
Between May and July, the maneater tiger attacked eight persons and travelled from Deoria Kalan in Pilibhit to Bilandapur in Shahjehanpur, Mohammadi in South Kheri and Shahbad range in Hardoi. It was finally tranquilised and caught from Hirasing Nangla in Farukkhabad district on October 14.
“The WTI is collaborating with us for the Uttar Pradesh Tiger Conservation Project. Their experts had also helped us in catching the maneater. As part of the tiger status monitoring exercise, they will now conduct a survey,” said Pilibhit Divisional Forest Officer V K Singh.
The WTI team members, along with with Forest officials, will not only study the movement of tigers, but also the increase in population of smaller animals in the area. “There must be an increase in the population of smaller animals, as a tiger needs sufficient prey to make an area its territory,” added Singh.
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/experts-to-study-causes-of-tiger-sightings-in-pilibhit/701428/
3-yr-old tiger found dead in Ranthambore
JAIPUR: Days after four tigers strayed away from the Ranthambore tiger reserve, there's more bad news for the forest department: the body of a young tiger was recovered from the Kwaldi forest area on Friday.
According to forest officials, the three-year-old male, T-36, most probably died in a territorial fight with another tiger in the region. Officials said the neck of the animal and its fore limbs were broken. "Most probably the tiger died on Wednesday,'' said R S Shekhawat, DFO, Ranthambore park.
"The tiger and his sister, T-37, were occupying the Kamleshwar Mahadev forest area of the park. The two had recently lost their mother, T-15. Another tiger, T-42, also aged three years, had strayed into the area of T-36 from Khandar and in the ensuing fight the latter was killed,'' said Shekhawat.
Villagers had informed forest officials about T-42's intrusion. "We have been maintaining a close watch. Since T-36 had a radio collar, it was easy to track him even as we wondered what steps we should take. The signal became static in an area on Thursday and on Friday morning we came across its body,'' Shekhawat said.
"This is definitely a territorial fight,'' said Rajpal Singh, member state wildlife board. "The neck, ribs and the fore limbs of T-36 were broken. Officials have also spotted T-42, which has scratch marks on its face and is limping. This points to a fight,'' said Singh.
Read more: 3-yr-old tiger found dead in Ranthambore - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/3-yr-old-tiger-found-dead-in-Ranthambore/articleshow/6796536.cms#ixzz13GSlFlbW
According to forest officials, the three-year-old male, T-36, most probably died in a territorial fight with another tiger in the region. Officials said the neck of the animal and its fore limbs were broken. "Most probably the tiger died on Wednesday,'' said R S Shekhawat, DFO, Ranthambore park.
"The tiger and his sister, T-37, were occupying the Kamleshwar Mahadev forest area of the park. The two had recently lost their mother, T-15. Another tiger, T-42, also aged three years, had strayed into the area of T-36 from Khandar and in the ensuing fight the latter was killed,'' said Shekhawat.
Villagers had informed forest officials about T-42's intrusion. "We have been maintaining a close watch. Since T-36 had a radio collar, it was easy to track him even as we wondered what steps we should take. The signal became static in an area on Thursday and on Friday morning we came across its body,'' Shekhawat said.
"This is definitely a territorial fight,'' said Rajpal Singh, member state wildlife board. "The neck, ribs and the fore limbs of T-36 were broken. Officials have also spotted T-42, which has scratch marks on its face and is limping. This points to a fight,'' said Singh.
Read more: 3-yr-old tiger found dead in Ranthambore - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/3-yr-old-tiger-found-dead-in-Ranthambore/articleshow/6796536.cms#ixzz13GSlFlbW
Bengal tiger which killed three goats trapped
Kolkata, Oct 23 (IANS) A Royal Bengal tiger, which strayed away from a protected area and killed three goats, was trapped Saturday in West Bengal's Sunderbans area, a forest official said.
'The tiger, which strayed into Sahibghata and Jamespur area of South 24 Parganas district Oct 19 and killed three goats, was trapped in Sajnekhali,' said field director of Sunderbans Tiger Reserve (STR) Subrat Mukherjee.
He said it was an adult male tiger. Its health was good and it would be released Sunday in the core area of the STR.
'The tiger weighs 98 kg and its body measurement is smaller than the tigers found in other parts of the country,' Mukherjee said.
'After conducting a detailed study we can conclude that the tigers found in the mangrove forest of Sunderbans are nearly half the weight of other wild Bengal tigers (the largest subspecies) which weight 140 kg on an average,' he said.
'The study also suggests that the tigers found in the mangrove forest, which runs from Bangladesh to India, are the smallest tigers in the world,' said the field director.
'The study repeatedly concludes that Sunderbans tigers are smaller in size because of adaptation to its unique mangrove habitat. I have undertaken extensive osteological studies, with available skeletons, which also prove it is a smaller species,' he said.
'We need to find out whether it is 'Panthera tigris tigris' or a separate species altogether. We have collected blood, hair and samples for DNA tests,' said Mukherjee.
Tigers from the mangrove forest of the Sunderbans in Bangladesh and India are currently classified under the Bengal tiger subspecies (Panthera tigris tigris) along with tigers across India, Nepal and Bhutan.
http://sify.com/news/bengal-tiger-which-killed-three-goats-trapped-news-national-kkxsEgcgbfg.html
Tigers could be extinct in 12 yrs: WWF Read more: Tigers could be extinct in 12 yrs: WWF - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/worl
STOCKHOLM: Tigers could become extinct within 12 years but a top level meeting in Russia next month could help reverse the decline, nature conservation body WWF said.
"The worse scenario is that the tiger could be gone when the next year of the tiger comes along, in 12 years," said Ola Jennersten, head of the international nature conservation programme at WWF Sweden. WWF is leading a global campaign to attempt to double the number of tigers by 2022, when the next Chinese calendar year of the tiger comes around.
Read more: Tigers could be extinct in 12 yrs: WWF - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/Tigers-could-be-extinct-in-12-yrs-WWF/articleshow/6796656.cms#ixzz13GSWH4Vd
"The worse scenario is that the tiger could be gone when the next year of the tiger comes along, in 12 years," said Ola Jennersten, head of the international nature conservation programme at WWF Sweden. WWF is leading a global campaign to attempt to double the number of tigers by 2022, when the next Chinese calendar year of the tiger comes around.
Read more: Tigers could be extinct in 12 yrs: WWF - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/Tigers-could-be-extinct-in-12-yrs-WWF/articleshow/6796656.cms#ixzz13GSWH4Vd
Soon, Rs 1 cr fine for killing tiger
Wildlife poachers can soon be jailed for a minimum of seven years and fined at least Rs 30 lakh for killing endangered species, and the country will have two bodies to regulate international wildlife trade. The law ministry on Tuesday approved over 100 amendments in the Wildlife Protection Act,
1972, bringing it in tune with wildlife protection laws across the world by including regulation of species not native to India, a requirement under a global convention on wildlife.
Environment minister Jairam Ramesh said the bill, which strengthens the powers of forest and enforcement agencies, will be introduced in the winter session of Parliament after getting the cabinet's approval.
One of the biggest changes in the law is constitution of two bodies — scientific and management — to implement its provisions and regulate trade.
The management authority will be responsible for issuance of permits for trade of scheduled species on advice of the scientific body.
The two bodies will also be to enlist the exotic species found in India, which are not covered by global wildlife convention, and ways to regulate them.
"Protecting the country's indigenous species would be another role of the authority," an official said.
The proposed law for the first time speaks of using other laws such as Forest Rights Act, 2006, and Biological Diversity Act, 2003, for conservation of wildlife habitats.
"It has been done to make wildlife laws compatible with each other," the official said.
To provide the highest degree of legal protection to the most vulnerable animals against poaching, the amendments have put tigers, whose population is said to be less than 1,411, in Category 1. Other endangered animals in this category include lions, elephants, rhinos, crocodiles and antelopes.
Killing an animal in Category 1 could attract a minimum jail term of five years and maximum of seven. The fine prescribed ranges from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 1 crore.
For species under Category 2, including endangered birds, the jail term suggested is between three to five years and fine of up to Rs 3 lakh.
Teasing an animal will also be an offence.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Soon-Rs-1-cr-fine-for-killing-tiger/Article1-615590.aspx
India refuses to let WB play big brother in Project Tiger Read more: India refuses to let WB play big brother in Project Tiger - The Times of India h
NEW DELHI: In a snub to the World Bank (WB), the government has informed the latter that it won`t allow the lending institution to play big brother and manage and monitor its efforts to conserve the Indian tiger under the Global Tiger Initiative (GTI), a recently floated project that is highly favoured by bank president Robert B Zoellick.
The GTI has organised a summit of heads of state of countries having tiger population in Russia in November. But India will only be sending a ministerial-level delegation to the meeting. The Prime Minister would not be attending the summit, where the WB along with some foreign conservation NGOS are expected to hold fort.
WB has been keen to get India on board, as it would be odd to sell a global project to save the tigers when the country with the largest population of the big cat in the wild is unwilling to be a part of it. Earlier, the bank had lobbied hard that India borrow money from it to conserve and protect tigers. But the government has recently made it clear that it neither required money nor expertise from other countries.
However, not intending to outright reject a proposal from the multilateral funding agency it decided to participate in the GTI to enhance global cooperation on issues that did not involve direct conservation work in the tiger reserves.
The Indian government has informed the GTI that conservation of tiger is a sovereign issue, and it would not accept that the WB dictate terms to it. Having learnt its lesson earlier when a WB-funded project on Tiger led to displacement and agitation by tribals and increased corruption in some tiger reserves, the government has told the GTI that its interference would only lead to alienation among the local population. Though most conservationists had backed the government, some high profile `tiger-wallahs` were keen to get WB involved in it.
Read more: India refuses to let WB play big brother in Project Tiger - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-refuses-to-let-WB-play-big-brother-in-Project-Tiger/articleshow/6783528.cms#ixzz13GSK928z
The GTI has organised a summit of heads of state of countries having tiger population in Russia in November. But India will only be sending a ministerial-level delegation to the meeting. The Prime Minister would not be attending the summit, where the WB along with some foreign conservation NGOS are expected to hold fort.
WB has been keen to get India on board, as it would be odd to sell a global project to save the tigers when the country with the largest population of the big cat in the wild is unwilling to be a part of it. Earlier, the bank had lobbied hard that India borrow money from it to conserve and protect tigers. But the government has recently made it clear that it neither required money nor expertise from other countries.
However, not intending to outright reject a proposal from the multilateral funding agency it decided to participate in the GTI to enhance global cooperation on issues that did not involve direct conservation work in the tiger reserves.
The Indian government has informed the GTI that conservation of tiger is a sovereign issue, and it would not accept that the WB dictate terms to it. Having learnt its lesson earlier when a WB-funded project on Tiger led to displacement and agitation by tribals and increased corruption in some tiger reserves, the government has told the GTI that its interference would only lead to alienation among the local population. Though most conservationists had backed the government, some high profile `tiger-wallahs` were keen to get WB involved in it.
Read more: India refuses to let WB play big brother in Project Tiger - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-refuses-to-let-WB-play-big-brother-in-Project-Tiger/articleshow/6783528.cms#ixzz13GSK928z
SC blames Chinese demand for poaching of tigers in India Read more: SC blames Chinese demand for poaching of tigers in India
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday blamed the huge demand for tiger parts in China as the major reason for the thriving poaching syndicates run by "very wealthy and influential people" in India leading to near extinction of the big cat.
While upholding the conviction of notorious poacher Sansar Chand for two leopard skins seized from one of his accomplices, a Bench comprising Justices Markandey Katju and T S Thakur expressed concern over the largely free run that poachers have had in India and requested the Centre and state governments to tighten their belts.
Asking them to take stringent action against poachers and the illegal trade in wildlife items if they wanted to save the small number of tigers and other big cats in the country, the Bench went on to cite the "food chain" illustration given in school textbooks to drive home the importance of big cats to maintain balance in the ecology.
Justice Katju, writing the judgment for the Bench, noted that areas which decades back were teeming with wildlife had become devoid of it. He said many sanctuaries and national parks were almost empty and Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan and Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh had no tigers.
"Poaching of tigers for traditional Chinese medicine industry has been going on in India for several decades... This illegal trade is organised and widespread and is in the hands of ruthless and sophisticated operators, some of whom have top level patronage," the Bench said.
Condemning Sansar Chand and his family for indulging in mindless killing of wild animals, including tigers, for profit and having a trail of cases under the Wildlife Protection Act, the Bench said Chand and his gang had set up a complex, interlinking smuggling network to satisfy the demand for tiger and leopard parts and skins outside India's border, particularly in China.
Accepting Rajasthan standing counsel Manish Singhvi's argument, the Bench dismissed Chand's appeal against conviction and said the accused always remained behind the scene and it was difficult to procure direct evidence against him and the trial court was right in sentencing him on the basis of confessional statement of his accomplice.
Before closing the case, the Bench requested the governments and their agencies "to make all efforts to preserve the wildlife of the country and take stringent action against those who are violating the provisions of the Act as this is necessary for maintaining the ecological balance in our country".
Read more: SC blames Chinese demand for poaching of tigers in India - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/SC-blames-Chinese-demand-for-poaching-of-tigers-in-India/articleshow/6781860.cms#ixzz13GSBzN00
While upholding the conviction of notorious poacher Sansar Chand for two leopard skins seized from one of his accomplices, a Bench comprising Justices Markandey Katju and T S Thakur expressed concern over the largely free run that poachers have had in India and requested the Centre and state governments to tighten their belts.
Asking them to take stringent action against poachers and the illegal trade in wildlife items if they wanted to save the small number of tigers and other big cats in the country, the Bench went on to cite the "food chain" illustration given in school textbooks to drive home the importance of big cats to maintain balance in the ecology.
Justice Katju, writing the judgment for the Bench, noted that areas which decades back were teeming with wildlife had become devoid of it. He said many sanctuaries and national parks were almost empty and Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan and Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh had no tigers.
"Poaching of tigers for traditional Chinese medicine industry has been going on in India for several decades... This illegal trade is organised and widespread and is in the hands of ruthless and sophisticated operators, some of whom have top level patronage," the Bench said.
Condemning Sansar Chand and his family for indulging in mindless killing of wild animals, including tigers, for profit and having a trail of cases under the Wildlife Protection Act, the Bench said Chand and his gang had set up a complex, interlinking smuggling network to satisfy the demand for tiger and leopard parts and skins outside India's border, particularly in China.
Accepting Rajasthan standing counsel Manish Singhvi's argument, the Bench dismissed Chand's appeal against conviction and said the accused always remained behind the scene and it was difficult to procure direct evidence against him and the trial court was right in sentencing him on the basis of confessional statement of his accomplice.
Before closing the case, the Bench requested the governments and their agencies "to make all efforts to preserve the wildlife of the country and take stringent action against those who are violating the provisions of the Act as this is necessary for maintaining the ecological balance in our country".
Read more: SC blames Chinese demand for poaching of tigers in India - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/SC-blames-Chinese-demand-for-poaching-of-tigers-in-India/articleshow/6781860.cms#ixzz13GSBzN00
Artists, corporates join hands for tiger conservation
New Delhi, Oct 22 (IANS) Contemporary Indian art is conveying powerful messages. One of them is concern for environment and tigers.
A unique public art initiative, Artiger, is bringing 57 renowned artists, 50 corporate houses, 52 public spaces and the Ranthambore Foundation, the non-profit development groups and the common men under one umbrella to work for the cause for conserving tigers.
Conceived by curator and gallerist Aparajita Jain, art collector and promoter Swapan Seth and Delhi-based youth activist Nandita Kathpalia Baig, the project will facilitate dialogue between the common people and the stakeholders about tiger conservation with display of tiger art in public spaces.
The four-month project will be launched early December with the unveiling of '57 life-size fibre glass tigers' at locations across the capital.
Billed by the team as one of the largest public art displays in the country, it will feature prominent artists like Anjolie Ela Menon, Arpita Singh, Chittrovanu Mazumdar, G.R. Iranna, Jayasri Burman, Manu Parekh, Satish Gujral and several more.
Some of the corporate sponsors on the list include Abhishek Dalmia and Deepali Dalmia, Ambuja Realty, Apollo Tyres, Apolloindia (Raaja Kanwar), Artemis Hospital (Dr. Katariya), DLF and Borosil.
Announcing the project Friday, co-organiser Aprajita Jain said: 'Art in public spaces is a highly potent awareness tool in a diverse country like India as it transcends boundaries. The overwhelming response that we have received proves we will make a difference.'
The project will be implemented by Saath Saath Arts, an NGO that uses art to generate funds and awareness about public issues.
Commenting on the initiative, Swapan Seth, managing partner of art house Henry S. Clark, said: 'Artiger was a remarkable testimony to the coming together of artists, corporates and government to leave behind an imprint on public spaces. It is often felt that Indian art has never received a collective corporate or governmental blessing.'
The 57 fibre glass sculptures have been booked by corporate organisations. The funds raised from the corporates will be donated to Ranthambore Foundation, one of India's oldest and most well-known organisations working in the field of tiger conservation.
Countries plan to restore tiger population
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| All About: National,New Delhi, Environment Ministry, World Bank http://sify.com/news/countries-plan-to-restore-tiger-population-news-national-kkwtkkgiace.html | |||
Mining threat looms over Sariska tigers
Jaipur: Putting a question mark on the ambitious Tiger conservation project in the Sariska Tiger reserve, the Rajasthan government has approved 40 new mining leases in the Aravallis.
The fate of big cats, about which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had expressed concern, hangs in balance following the controversial move by the Congress government in the state. Sariska has a total of five tigers – relocated from the Ranthambore national park.
The fate of big cats, about which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had expressed concern, hangs in balance following the controversial move by the Congress government in the state. Sariska has a total of five tigers – relocated from the Ranthambore national park.
As per a report published in a newspaper Thursday, the government has given its green signal to mining in the sensitive zone on the premise that the Aravalli range is less than 100m in height, which is not considered a hill as per state government norms.
Importantly, the Supreme Court had banned all sorts of mining/quarrying activities in the Arvallis in neighboring Haryana.
The news report, quoting Y K Singh Chauhan, conservator of forests, ministry of environment and forests, further says that approval of the licenses is indicative of the extent of the reach of the mining lobby and is a gross violation of the Forest (Conservation) Act 1980.
If corrective actions are not taken soon, the national animal roaming freely in the beautiful Sariska Reserve may soon become a rare site.
Importantly, the Supreme Court had banned all sorts of mining/quarrying activities in the Arvallis in neighboring Haryana.
The news report, quoting Y K Singh Chauhan, conservator of forests, ministry of environment and forests, further says that approval of the licenses is indicative of the extent of the reach of the mining lobby and is a gross violation of the Forest (Conservation) Act 1980.
If corrective actions are not taken soon, the national animal roaming freely in the beautiful Sariska Reserve may soon become a rare site.
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