LUCKNOW: Only two tiger mortalities reported from the state in 2010 show it has been a good year for the tigers. The big cats remain the most critically endangered of all the wildlife species, though there are other species as well which have been clubbed under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, as critically endangered. There is no denying that providing a safer haven to big cats is the fulcrum of all conservation talk.
The Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI), an agency that has a database of wildlife crime and also works with forest departments in some of the states, has compiled tiger mortalities for the ongoing year. The tiger mortalities have been lesser in 2010 as compared to the previous year. In 2009, 85 tiger deaths were reported in the country. In 2010, 53 tigers have died so far. The mortalities include natural deaths, poaching and also seizures. While 27 big cats were found dead, as many as 26 mortalities were found to be due to poaching and seizures. (As per assumption, 10 kgs of tiger bones seized are taken to be as one adult tiger killed).
"It is difficult to say how many tigers died natural deaths out of 27," said Tito Joseph, from WPSI. When contacted, deputy director, Dudhwa, Sanjay Pathak said, "Security mechanisms have been effectively put into place in Dudhwa." The lesser number of deaths is also a reason to rejoice for Dudhwa security staff. Out of the two tiger deaths reported from UP, one has been a case of poaching. Recently, an adult tiger was killed by another during an infighting in Pilibhit and a tiger was found dead in north Kheri in January in which poaching was the cause of death.
Even if the tigers are poisoned to death it is difficult to establish so, if the carcasses are found after a gap of few days. The poisoning is mostly not established in autopsy report. It is only within a few hours of the death that poisoning, as a cause of death, can be established in the report. It is because of this that in a lot of cases, cause of death could not be established. Even the post-mortem reports remain inconclusive.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Tiger death: Suspect took away whiskers
ALWAR: The polygraph test on Parsadi Lal Gujjar in Sariska tiger death case is out. The suspect reportedly confessed that he cut the whiskers from the carcass of the tiger. However, he did not throw any light on the killer. Meanwhile, Rajgarh court refused to give permission to forest department for a brain mapping test of the suspect.
According to a Supreme Court order, the consent of the accused is a must in polygraph, narco analysis and brain mapping tests. However, none of these tests are admissible in the court as evidence and may only be used for further investigation.
"But we will appeal against the decision at the district judge's court," forest officials said.
The officials said, "The results of the polygraph tests arrived on Thursday. In the test, the suspect has confirmed that he along with his brother and son had taken the whiskers of the tiger but did not say anything on who killed it. However, his body language is suspicious and CBI officers therefore advised us to go for the brain mapping."
Gujjar said he, along with his brother Bhagwan and son Mithu, were returning after cutting wood when they found the tiger. "He confessed that they cut off the whiskers and took it but when asked whether he was involved in killing the tiger, he said no," said officials.
The state forest department had earlier planned to take Gujjar to Ahmedabad for a brain mapping test between December 27 to 31.
According to a Supreme Court order, the consent of the accused is a must in polygraph, narco analysis and brain mapping tests. However, none of these tests are admissible in the court as evidence and may only be used for further investigation.
"But we will appeal against the decision at the district judge's court," forest officials said.
The officials said, "The results of the polygraph tests arrived on Thursday. In the test, the suspect has confirmed that he along with his brother and son had taken the whiskers of the tiger but did not say anything on who killed it. However, his body language is suspicious and CBI officers therefore advised us to go for the brain mapping."
Gujjar said he, along with his brother Bhagwan and son Mithu, were returning after cutting wood when they found the tiger. "He confessed that they cut off the whiskers and took it but when asked whether he was involved in killing the tiger, he said no," said officials.
The state forest department had earlier planned to take Gujjar to Ahmedabad for a brain mapping test between December 27 to 31.
Chhattisgarh Police arrest nine tribals for killing a tiger
Chhattisgarh Police has arrested nine tribals for killing a tiger of the famous Kanha Rashtriya Udyan in Chhattisgarh's Kabirdham District.
R. K. Tiwari, sub-divisional officer, Pandariya Forest Range, disclosed this to the media persons at Kawardha on Friday.
The police swung into action after a forest ranger complained to his officials about foul smell of some dead animal.
A thorough probe resulted after authorities learnt that some local tribals had poisoned and killed a tiger for monetary gains.
"They have told us this only that they used a cow on which they sprayed indosulphan an insecticide. By this they were sure that by eating this the tiger would be killed. Till now we have arrested nine persons," said Tiwari.
Tiwari informed that they have seized many body parts of the dead tiger, which the tribals had buried in a field.
"We seized tiger's skull, which was not found at the site, we along with all the police officials seized its skull, teeth and then hair of moustache, nails, jaw bones and along with all this we have seized fat of tiger, we have succeeded in seizing all this from last night till the morning," he said. (ANI)
All About: Kabirdham (Chhattisgarh), Chhattisgarh Police
R. K. Tiwari, sub-divisional officer, Pandariya Forest Range, disclosed this to the media persons at Kawardha on Friday.
The police swung into action after a forest ranger complained to his officials about foul smell of some dead animal.
A thorough probe resulted after authorities learnt that some local tribals had poisoned and killed a tiger for monetary gains.
"They have told us this only that they used a cow on which they sprayed indosulphan an insecticide. By this they were sure that by eating this the tiger would be killed. Till now we have arrested nine persons," said Tiwari.
Tiwari informed that they have seized many body parts of the dead tiger, which the tribals had buried in a field.
"We seized tiger's skull, which was not found at the site, we along with all the police officials seized its skull, teeth and then hair of moustache, nails, jaw bones and along with all this we have seized fat of tiger, we have succeeded in seizing all this from last night till the morning," he said. (ANI)
All About: Kabirdham (Chhattisgarh), Chhattisgarh Police
Madhya Pradesh loses 10 tigers this year
Bhopal, Dec 24, PTI:
Although Madhya Pradesh is popularly known as a ''tiger state'', it has lost as many as ten striped animals including cubs this year.
However, what is more satisfying for the wildlife lovers is that it is four less than the big cats' total casualties reported last year.
"We have lost 10 tigers including cubs this year so far while last year, 14 big cats' death were reported," Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (APCCF), Wildlife, T R Sharma told PTI.
He said that another satisfying aspect in this is that no tiger had been poached in Madhya Pradesh this year so far, while last year, two tigers were killed due to poisoning in Seoni and Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserves, he added.
"This year seven tigers were lost in the wilds of different tiger reserves while three striped animals died of diseases in Van Vihar Animal Rescue Centre where old and sick animals are brought for keeping in protected environment," the APCCF said.
Last year 13 big cats died in the wilds and one at Van Vihar Animal Rescue Centre, Sharma said.
The first tiger death was reported from drowning as the animal was trapped in a pit inside a water body in the Pench Tiger Reserve on January 27, officials said adding that this striped animal was around seven-years-old.
After this, a nine-month old tigress died due to suspected cannibalism in Kanha Tiger Reserve on April 20. Thereafter, a 10-year-old tigress died after being hit by a jeep in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve on May 19. This incident was being probed by the state's CID.
In a separate incident, a one-month old cub died after being attacked by other animal in Kanha Tiger Reserve on June six, officials said.
In Pench Tiger Reserve, nails of around six-month-old cub were recovered from some people on June 20 and during interrogation the accused said that they found the striped animal dead in the protected area.
The four people arrested and sent to jail in this connection during quizzing, told investigators that they were practising black magic with the cub's nails, officials said.
A 10-year-old tiger died in territorial fight in the buffer zone of Kanha on October six and the seven-year-old tiger was lost for the same reason in Pench Tiger Reserve on October 20, officials said.
Two tigresses in June and one tiger in October died due to diseases in Van Vihar Animal Rescue Centre this year so far, he added.
The mortality rate among tigers was very high, and it was around 50 per cent, Sharma said adding that the mortality rate was high among the animal having short gestation period. The tigress gestation period was three and a half months, the APCCF said.
Besides, old age related deaths amount to 20 to 25 per cent in the wild, he added.
"Tiger protection was the top agenda of our department," Sharma said adding "a slew of measures have been taken in this regard."
Tiger protection force has been constituted to protect the big cat, he said adding that night patrolling was being carried out in and around the reserves and forest areas.
The forest ground duty staff have been equipped with wireless and guns and chowkies have been erected to protect big cats, Sharma said.
Ex-servicemen have been recruited and were manning the protected areas in Madhya Pradesh, he added.
Although Madhya Pradesh is popularly known as a ''tiger state'', it has lost as many as ten striped animals including cubs this year.
However, what is more satisfying for the wildlife lovers is that it is four less than the big cats' total casualties reported last year.
"We have lost 10 tigers including cubs this year so far while last year, 14 big cats' death were reported," Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (APCCF), Wildlife, T R Sharma told PTI.
He said that another satisfying aspect in this is that no tiger had been poached in Madhya Pradesh this year so far, while last year, two tigers were killed due to poisoning in Seoni and Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserves, he added.
"This year seven tigers were lost in the wilds of different tiger reserves while three striped animals died of diseases in Van Vihar Animal Rescue Centre where old and sick animals are brought for keeping in protected environment," the APCCF said.
Last year 13 big cats died in the wilds and one at Van Vihar Animal Rescue Centre, Sharma said.
The first tiger death was reported from drowning as the animal was trapped in a pit inside a water body in the Pench Tiger Reserve on January 27, officials said adding that this striped animal was around seven-years-old.
After this, a nine-month old tigress died due to suspected cannibalism in Kanha Tiger Reserve on April 20. Thereafter, a 10-year-old tigress died after being hit by a jeep in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve on May 19. This incident was being probed by the state's CID.
In a separate incident, a one-month old cub died after being attacked by other animal in Kanha Tiger Reserve on June six, officials said.
In Pench Tiger Reserve, nails of around six-month-old cub were recovered from some people on June 20 and during interrogation the accused said that they found the striped animal dead in the protected area.
The four people arrested and sent to jail in this connection during quizzing, told investigators that they were practising black magic with the cub's nails, officials said.
A 10-year-old tiger died in territorial fight in the buffer zone of Kanha on October six and the seven-year-old tiger was lost for the same reason in Pench Tiger Reserve on October 20, officials said.
Two tigresses in June and one tiger in October died due to diseases in Van Vihar Animal Rescue Centre this year so far, he added.
The mortality rate among tigers was very high, and it was around 50 per cent, Sharma said adding that the mortality rate was high among the animal having short gestation period. The tigress gestation period was three and a half months, the APCCF said.
Besides, old age related deaths amount to 20 to 25 per cent in the wild, he added.
"Tiger protection was the top agenda of our department," Sharma said adding "a slew of measures have been taken in this regard."
Tiger protection force has been constituted to protect the big cat, he said adding that night patrolling was being carried out in and around the reserves and forest areas.
The forest ground duty staff have been equipped with wireless and guns and chowkies have been erected to protect big cats, Sharma said.
Ex-servicemen have been recruited and were manning the protected areas in Madhya Pradesh, he added.
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