Chandrapur (Maha), Dec 6 (PTI) A tiger cub was today found dead just outside the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) here in Eastern Maharashtra, Forest Department officials said. The body of the cub, said to be around 16-month-old, was found near a village pond under Moharli Forest Range this morning, they stated. The officials claimed another tiger killed the cub during a fight. Vinay Kumar Sinha, Field Director of TATR and Conservator of Forests, said guards found pugmarks of an adult tiger and also signs of a fight near the spot where the cub was found dead. The officials ruled out the possibility of poaching. The carcass of a full-grown tiger, reportedly killed by another tiger in a territorial fight, was found near the reserve on November 28.
http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/tiger-cub-found-dead/520506.html
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Mining in Goa tiger territory?
Panaji, Dec 7 (IANS) The forest department has initiated a probe into rampant mining near the Netravali wildlife sanctuary in eastern Goa, which is part of a tiger corridor.
Principle chief wildlife warden Shashi Kumar told reporters Tuesday that the forest officials had been told to verify the extent of mining carried out in the area.
'We will immediately act against the mine owner if they are still extracting iron ore,' he said.
The Netravali sanctuary is part of the tiger corridor which runs between Karnataka and Goa. More than two dozen mining leases ring the sanctuary area.
Principle chief wildlife warden Shashi Kumar told reporters Tuesday that the forest officials had been told to verify the extent of mining carried out in the area.
'We will immediately act against the mine owner if they are still extracting iron ore,' he said.
The Netravali sanctuary is part of the tiger corridor which runs between Karnataka and Goa. More than two dozen mining leases ring the sanctuary area.
Interventions by politicians affecting tiger death probe
JAIPUR/ALWAR: With the state forest department intensifying probe into the death of male tiger ST-1, political interventions have started increasing, threatening to derail investigations.
According to sources, "Certain political persons have allegedly urged members probing into the incident to take the matter leniently. The interference was intentional and with a bid to halt the process. People from Kalakhet village have reportedly approached this politician pleading their innocence in the incident."
Meanwhile, sources revealed that forest department officials have been constantly visiting Kalakhet village for interrogation. The body of ST-1 was recovered near the village. The intense interrogation of villagers follow after the recovery of carcass from a pit in the area.
The forest department had recovered the carcass of a buffalo soon after the post-mortem of the tiger was done. "They had taken some samples from it and send it for a forensic report to check if the animal was smeared with any poison. The report is still awaited," the sources said.
However, the villagers claimed that they had killed the buffalo and put her body in the pit as she had become mad.
However, now with the forensic report of body parts of the tiger confirming the presence of traces of organophosphate in it, officials of the forest department have once again collected separate body parts of the buffalo and sent it for another forensic report to the laboratory at Alwar. "It could be that the buffalo was smeared with poison and used as a bait for the tiger," the sources added.
On the other hand, with constant visit of officials from the forest and police departments to Kalakhet, most male members of the village have fled. The village is now only occupied with women and children.
According to sources, "Certain political persons have allegedly urged members probing into the incident to take the matter leniently. The interference was intentional and with a bid to halt the process. People from Kalakhet village have reportedly approached this politician pleading their innocence in the incident."
Meanwhile, sources revealed that forest department officials have been constantly visiting Kalakhet village for interrogation. The body of ST-1 was recovered near the village. The intense interrogation of villagers follow after the recovery of carcass from a pit in the area.
The forest department had recovered the carcass of a buffalo soon after the post-mortem of the tiger was done. "They had taken some samples from it and send it for a forensic report to check if the animal was smeared with any poison. The report is still awaited," the sources said.
However, the villagers claimed that they had killed the buffalo and put her body in the pit as she had become mad.
However, now with the forensic report of body parts of the tiger confirming the presence of traces of organophosphate in it, officials of the forest department have once again collected separate body parts of the buffalo and sent it for another forensic report to the laboratory at Alwar. "It could be that the buffalo was smeared with poison and used as a bait for the tiger," the sources added.
On the other hand, with constant visit of officials from the forest and police departments to Kalakhet, most male members of the village have fled. The village is now only occupied with women and children.
To save straying tigers, NTCA chief for enforcing Sec 144 CrPC
NEW DELHI: In view of increasing cases of tigers straying from protected areas, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) chief Rajesh Gopal has suggested restricting the movement of people by imposing Section 144 CrPC on such tracts to avoid lethal man-animal encounters.
Lawyers handling wildlife cases have given a thumbs-up to the "pro-conservation advisory" but doubted if it could be smoothly implemented as the Section, which also allows for preventive detention, is usually enforced as a precautionary measure against untoward incidents like riots or protests.
The suggestion came in the wake of increasing cases of tiger straying particularly in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra where due to a mob frenzy either the locals get killed by the straying animal or vice-versa, threatening the conservation efforts.
Lamenting that such moving tigers get "branded" as "man-eaters" and eventually land in 'zoos' or get eliminated, Gopal stressed on a need to address the issue actively at the ground level with enforcement of Section 144 CrPc being one of the solution.
With only 1,411 big cats left in the forests, NTCA member secretary said every tiger is precious to us.
"An instance of a straying big cat or leopard should be treated on a par with any other situation involving violence, and adequate deployment of local police and state armed force needs to be done, besides sensitising the local people," he said.
He said, perhaps, to avoid lethal encounters, it is advisable to impose Section 144 of the CrPC in such areas.
Saurabh Sharma, a lawyer with Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), was all for the implementation of the Section but had a word of caution. "Administratively it is a difficult proposition. At times straying of the animal becomes a major incident especially when a mob is involved.
"Nevertheless, it can be experimented with to ascertain its success. Its a good pro-conservation advisory." he added.
Advocate Avinash Baskar from Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) led by tiger expert Belinda Wright too echoed similar views saying the Section is an enabling provision for the state in such cases.
"But at the ground level due to practical reasons it has to be looked into if there is sufficient time for machinery to move in to execute the measure," Baskar said.
Besides advising enforcement of Section 144 CrPc, Gopal also underlined the need for mapping the traditional movement path of tigers for restoration inputs and encouraging the people to make the areas inviolate by offering them incentives. P
Lawyers handling wildlife cases have given a thumbs-up to the "pro-conservation advisory" but doubted if it could be smoothly implemented as the Section, which also allows for preventive detention, is usually enforced as a precautionary measure against untoward incidents like riots or protests.
The suggestion came in the wake of increasing cases of tiger straying particularly in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra where due to a mob frenzy either the locals get killed by the straying animal or vice-versa, threatening the conservation efforts.
Lamenting that such moving tigers get "branded" as "man-eaters" and eventually land in 'zoos' or get eliminated, Gopal stressed on a need to address the issue actively at the ground level with enforcement of Section 144 CrPc being one of the solution.
With only 1,411 big cats left in the forests, NTCA member secretary said every tiger is precious to us.
"An instance of a straying big cat or leopard should be treated on a par with any other situation involving violence, and adequate deployment of local police and state armed force needs to be done, besides sensitising the local people," he said.
He said, perhaps, to avoid lethal encounters, it is advisable to impose Section 144 of the CrPC in such areas.
Saurabh Sharma, a lawyer with Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), was all for the implementation of the Section but had a word of caution. "Administratively it is a difficult proposition. At times straying of the animal becomes a major incident especially when a mob is involved.
"Nevertheless, it can be experimented with to ascertain its success. Its a good pro-conservation advisory." he added.
Advocate Avinash Baskar from Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) led by tiger expert Belinda Wright too echoed similar views saying the Section is an enabling provision for the state in such cases.
"But at the ground level due to practical reasons it has to be looked into if there is sufficient time for machinery to move in to execute the measure," Baskar said.
Besides advising enforcement of Section 144 CrPc, Gopal also underlined the need for mapping the traditional movement path of tigers for restoration inputs and encouraging the people to make the areas inviolate by offering them incentives. P
Putin for tougher sanctions for tiger poaching
Vinay Shukla
Moscow, Dec 6 (PTI) Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin today sought tougher sanctions for tiger poaching to preserve the royal beast, which was once at the point of extinction in Siberia.
Speaking at a conference organised by his United Russia party in the far eastern city of Khabarovsk Putin agreed that the fine of 1,500 roubles (USD 48) for tiger poaching was too small and in a lighter vein added: "Feed them to tigers and leopards!"
Putin, who last month hosted the International Tiger Summit in his hometown St. Petersburg, takes pride in the growth of tiger population in Siberia from roughly a couple of dozens to over five hundred in past decades.
Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov, who is accompanying Putin on the tour, told reporters that Russian Ministry of Natural Resources had already tabled a bill providing for harsher punishment for poaching and illegal hunting.
"It includes separate articles on tigers and leopards, stipulating harsher punishment for poaching, including arrest and imprisonment," Ivanov was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti.
Putin, known for his love for endangered wild beasts, in a recent interview to CNN said his interest in tigers was sparked by a TV report about US and Russian experts working together in the Russia''s far east to protect Siberian (Amur) tigers.
Putin said he was "ashamed" to see foreign experts involved in solving the problem of endangered animals in Russia, which moved him to take a tiger protection program under his personal control.
Local experts say that high price of tiger parts in the bordering China was the prime reason of poaching. PTI VS
Moscow, Dec 6 (PTI) Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin today sought tougher sanctions for tiger poaching to preserve the royal beast, which was once at the point of extinction in Siberia.
Speaking at a conference organised by his United Russia party in the far eastern city of Khabarovsk Putin agreed that the fine of 1,500 roubles (USD 48) for tiger poaching was too small and in a lighter vein added: "Feed them to tigers and leopards!"
Putin, who last month hosted the International Tiger Summit in his hometown St. Petersburg, takes pride in the growth of tiger population in Siberia from roughly a couple of dozens to over five hundred in past decades.
Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov, who is accompanying Putin on the tour, told reporters that Russian Ministry of Natural Resources had already tabled a bill providing for harsher punishment for poaching and illegal hunting.
"It includes separate articles on tigers and leopards, stipulating harsher punishment for poaching, including arrest and imprisonment," Ivanov was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti.
Putin, known for his love for endangered wild beasts, in a recent interview to CNN said his interest in tigers was sparked by a TV report about US and Russian experts working together in the Russia''s far east to protect Siberian (Amur) tigers.
Putin said he was "ashamed" to see foreign experts involved in solving the problem of endangered animals in Russia, which moved him to take a tiger protection program under his personal control.
Local experts say that high price of tiger parts in the bordering China was the prime reason of poaching. PTI VS
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