NAGPUR: Madhya Pradesh High Court, with its main seat at Jabalpur, has rejected a petition seeking a ban on tourism in core zones and critical tiger habitats (CTHs) of forest reserves. Ajay Dubey of Prayatna, a Bhopal-based NGO working for environment protection for the past 10 years, had filed the PIL to protect tigers from alleged disturbance caused by tourism.
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Madhya Pradesh government and others were the respondents in the petition filed on September 8 last year. Dubey had sought relief to protect tigers by banning tourism as per NTCA guidelines that call for keeping these areas completely inviolate except for management intervention.
A division bench of justices Ajit Singh and Sanjay Yadav ruled that NTCA emphasised on phasing out of ongoing tourism activities in the core areas or CTHs. Even the guidelines issued by the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) speak only about the phasing out the ongoing tourism activities and not its immediate banning in these areas. The respondents- MP government, chief wildlife warden, NTCA and others- too denied that amended Wildlife Protection Act 1972 mandated complete prohibition of tourism activity in the core or CTH areas.
The respondents further stated that there was continuous dialogue with the NTCA and the matter was likely to be resolved to mutual satisfaction. The MP government also narrated in detail about the importance and advantages of tourism in tiger reserves and produced a press statement of May 5, 2010, issued by the MoEF denying any proposal to prohibit tourism in tiger reserves.
The court ruled that Section 38-v too did not prohibit tourism either in core or CTH areas. The expression in the explanation that core or CTH were required to be kept as inviolate for the purposes of tiger conservation did not indicate a complete ban on tourism, the bench said.
"The word 'inviolate' used also did not imply complete prohibition or banning of tourism. Inviolate is defined by approved lexicographers to mean 'unhurt', uninjured; unpolluted; unbroken," the court ruled.
Reacting to verdict, Dubey told TOI, "We will not give up. The fight to protect tigers will continue. Prayatna will file a special leave petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court." He said the word 'inviolate' had to be read in context of notification of the core or CTH by the government. It meant without any disturbance by human beings, he said. Tourism activity in such areas would mean violation of the NTCA guidelines, he added.
Weekly off for Pench,
Kanha and Bandhavgarh
To relieve some tourism related stress on wildlife, Madhya Pradesh wildlife department has decided to keep Pench, Kanha and Bandhavgarh tiger reserves closed for one day in a week. At present, these parks are open on all days. H S Pabla, principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife), told TOI the decision would be for only three tiger reserves where tourist pressure was high and would come into effect from April 1, 2011.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
After car safari ban, four tiger sightings
Burning bright
Alipurduar, Feb. 4: Big cats have been spotted in the Buxa Tiger Reserve at least four times in the first phase of the 2011 census after practically none in almost 30 years.
Forest survey officials said this could be because restrictions had been imposed in the reserve, in Jalpaiguri’s Alipurduar, since November last year.
According to guidelines issued by the National Tiger Conservation Authority, car safaris are now banned in core areas of the forest, brought under Project Tiger in 1983. Visitors are allowed on foot in select areas but picnics are banned on the Jainti river banks.
“Our census teams have reported at least four tiger sightings in the first phase of the survey conducted between January 23 and 28. We have been getting positive results because of the cut-down in disturbance inside the forest,” said R.P. Saini, the field director of the reserve.
A count done last year by DNA-testing of tiger scat samples had recorded the presence of about 15 animals in the reserve. A beat officer had clicked a tiger last year but the picture was too grainy for any conclusion to be drawn with certainty.
This year’s survey will be done in three phases, with the second scheduled to start in the third week in February.
“We have improved scat collection and preservation methods with help from experts of Aranyak laboratory in Guwahati. Representatives from the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology will be present with our team during the second phase,” Saini said.
To further minimise disturbance in the reserve, about 33 families of Bhutia Busti, who have been staying in the core area for over 20 years, would be shifted to the buffer zone, he said.
Alipurduar, Feb. 4: Big cats have been spotted in the Buxa Tiger Reserve at least four times in the first phase of the 2011 census after practically none in almost 30 years.
Forest survey officials said this could be because restrictions had been imposed in the reserve, in Jalpaiguri’s Alipurduar, since November last year.
According to guidelines issued by the National Tiger Conservation Authority, car safaris are now banned in core areas of the forest, brought under Project Tiger in 1983. Visitors are allowed on foot in select areas but picnics are banned on the Jainti river banks.
“Our census teams have reported at least four tiger sightings in the first phase of the survey conducted between January 23 and 28. We have been getting positive results because of the cut-down in disturbance inside the forest,” said R.P. Saini, the field director of the reserve.
A count done last year by DNA-testing of tiger scat samples had recorded the presence of about 15 animals in the reserve. A beat officer had clicked a tiger last year but the picture was too grainy for any conclusion to be drawn with certainty.
This year’s survey will be done in three phases, with the second scheduled to start in the third week in February.
“We have improved scat collection and preservation methods with help from experts of Aranyak laboratory in Guwahati. Representatives from the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology will be present with our team during the second phase,” Saini said.
To further minimise disturbance in the reserve, about 33 families of Bhutia Busti, who have been staying in the core area for over 20 years, would be shifted to the buffer zone, he said.
Karnataka Government May Declare Kudremukh National Park as a Tiger Reserve
After direct sighting of about eight tigers at the Kudremukh National Park in Karnataka in the last tiger census, the state department is planning to declare the area as a Tiger Reserve.
The last tiger census conducted at Kudremukh National Park displayed many direct and indirect evidences such as scat and pug marks to confirm that this area is good for a tiger habitat. Some of the cats have even been seen roaming the abandoned mining areas here which is a good sign.
With all the evidences in hand, the state government plans to declare the National Park as a Tiger Reserve which will ensure that the area is well protected. Also the government will have to put a ban on all the mining companies that have occupied a part of the National Park. To make their plea stronger, the state government has sought the help of wildlife experts and Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun. If Kudremukh National Park is declared a Tiger Reserve, it will be the largest forest block in the centre of Western Ghats to be declared as a Tiger Reserve in the state
Once declared as a Tiger Reserve there will be no scope for any commercial activities in this area and this has given hope to many wildlife experts who have been fighting a long battle to clear out the mining companies form the park since a long time.
According to noted tiger scientist and director of Centre for Wildlife Studies, K Ullas Karanth, “It is a fantastic area that has been lying neglected. In 1986, while on a survey, I found it was the ideal habitat for the largest lion-tailed macaque, based on which, it was declared a national park in 1987. In the 16 sq km of abandoned mining area, vegetation has come up and of late tiger signs have also been seen. I have been suggesting this area be declared a tiger reserve, for a very long time.”
Kudremukh National Park is the largest Wildlife Protected Area of a tropical wet evergreen type of forest in the Western Ghats. It also has a unique habitat of the Sholas, and Annamalai trees and has been named after a distinct peak in the park that is shaped like a horse face. The park adjoins Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary on the western side and is linked to Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary through a narrow stretch of reserved forests on the southern edge. On can find here more than 195 rare species of birds including the great pied hornbill and is home to animals such as tigers, leopards, wild dogs, lion tailed macaque, sloth bear, common langur and others.
Even before being declared as a declared as a National Park, mining lease were issued in this area from July 1969 to 1999. After 1999, though the lease was not extended butthe mining companies were granted temporary work permits. As such about 37 sq km of the National Park was used for mining. But in 2005, the Supreme Court dismissed the plea of the mining firms to renew their lease and occupy the land.
The declaration of Kudremukh National Park as Tiger Reserve may further intensify the on-going lobbying for the mining row that is building pressure on the state government to permit mining and allow functioning of idle machinery at abandoned mining areas.
However if the rights of the beast wins this round this will be the biggest even green forest block in the area. Other tiger reserves mostly comprise of dry, moist and semi-deciduous forests.
Kudremuhk National Park is situated about 95 km from Chikmagalur and 350 kms from Bangalore,and is also close to Bhadra Tiger Reserve, Dandeli and Anshi Tiger Reserve, Bandipur Tiger Reserve and Nagarhole Tiger Reserve and all connected together form a large pathway for the movement of tigers, Asian elephants and other wild animals.
The Karnataka state government had even declared as Biligiri Ranganna Betta or BR Hills near Mysore as a Tiger Reserve some time ago. These picturesque hills are located between Cauvery River and Tungabhadra River.
The last tiger census conducted at Kudremukh National Park displayed many direct and indirect evidences such as scat and pug marks to confirm that this area is good for a tiger habitat. Some of the cats have even been seen roaming the abandoned mining areas here which is a good sign.
With all the evidences in hand, the state government plans to declare the National Park as a Tiger Reserve which will ensure that the area is well protected. Also the government will have to put a ban on all the mining companies that have occupied a part of the National Park. To make their plea stronger, the state government has sought the help of wildlife experts and Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun. If Kudremukh National Park is declared a Tiger Reserve, it will be the largest forest block in the centre of Western Ghats to be declared as a Tiger Reserve in the state
Once declared as a Tiger Reserve there will be no scope for any commercial activities in this area and this has given hope to many wildlife experts who have been fighting a long battle to clear out the mining companies form the park since a long time.
According to noted tiger scientist and director of Centre for Wildlife Studies, K Ullas Karanth, “It is a fantastic area that has been lying neglected. In 1986, while on a survey, I found it was the ideal habitat for the largest lion-tailed macaque, based on which, it was declared a national park in 1987. In the 16 sq km of abandoned mining area, vegetation has come up and of late tiger signs have also been seen. I have been suggesting this area be declared a tiger reserve, for a very long time.”
Kudremukh National Park is the largest Wildlife Protected Area of a tropical wet evergreen type of forest in the Western Ghats. It also has a unique habitat of the Sholas, and Annamalai trees and has been named after a distinct peak in the park that is shaped like a horse face. The park adjoins Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary on the western side and is linked to Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary through a narrow stretch of reserved forests on the southern edge. On can find here more than 195 rare species of birds including the great pied hornbill and is home to animals such as tigers, leopards, wild dogs, lion tailed macaque, sloth bear, common langur and others.
Even before being declared as a declared as a National Park, mining lease were issued in this area from July 1969 to 1999. After 1999, though the lease was not extended butthe mining companies were granted temporary work permits. As such about 37 sq km of the National Park was used for mining. But in 2005, the Supreme Court dismissed the plea of the mining firms to renew their lease and occupy the land.
The declaration of Kudremukh National Park as Tiger Reserve may further intensify the on-going lobbying for the mining row that is building pressure on the state government to permit mining and allow functioning of idle machinery at abandoned mining areas.
However if the rights of the beast wins this round this will be the biggest even green forest block in the area. Other tiger reserves mostly comprise of dry, moist and semi-deciduous forests.
Kudremuhk National Park is situated about 95 km from Chikmagalur and 350 kms from Bangalore,and is also close to Bhadra Tiger Reserve, Dandeli and Anshi Tiger Reserve, Bandipur Tiger Reserve and Nagarhole Tiger Reserve and all connected together form a large pathway for the movement of tigers, Asian elephants and other wild animals.
The Karnataka state government had even declared as Biligiri Ranganna Betta or BR Hills near Mysore as a Tiger Reserve some time ago. These picturesque hills are located between Cauvery River and Tungabhadra River.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)