Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh government has rejected the latest 2011 tiger census calling for a re-evaluation following a decline in the tiger tally.
Earlier tagged as the Tiger State with the highest number of big cats, it has now lost that status to Karnataka.
The state now has 257 tigers vis-à-vis the 300 recorded during the previous census.
The situation is especially worrisome at the famous Kanha National Park which now has just 60 tigers.
The government though has trashed the findings of the census.
"We don't agree with the numbers as survey at the Kanha National Park is yet to be completed. Once that happens, the tiger population figure will surely change", said state Forest Minister Sartaaj Singh.
As per the wildlife institute data, the tiger habitat in the state has shrunk by nearly 3000 square kilometres. The Opposition is blaming the government for the decline in the numbers.
"The falling numbers of wild animals in Madhya Pradesh is a cause for concern. Our state had the highest numbers of tigers at one point. The Forest Minister and the Chief Minister are responsible for this", said Choudhary Rakesh Singh, Acting Leader of the Opposition, Madhya Pradesh.
Even as the overall tiger count has gone up in the latest census, the falling numbers in the state has emerged as a big concern.
http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/tiger-tally-dips-in-madhya-pradesh-govt-demands-census-re-evaluation-97472
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Maharashtra mulls tiger tourism
The Maharashtra government is proposing to tag Nagpur as the ‘tiger capital’ of the state to gain more visitors as it gears up to promote the state on India’s tourist map.
“We have decided to make Nagpur the gateway to the tiger land as Maharashtra and Gujarat have the highest tiger population (in the country). States like Gujarat and Kerala are already promoting their assets... in order to stay in competition we will now promote what we have in abundance,” Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan told reporters who visited the state recently as part of a tour organised by the Maharashtra government.
Maharashtra has a tiger population of 169 as per the 2010 census, Nagpur being the highest scorer with 148 tigers.
The total number of tigers has gone up from 103 to 169 in a period of four years.
“Nagpur is the major store house of tigers as the city alone has three tiger reserves and more than five sanctuaries. In all Maharashtra has four reserves and 34 sanctuaries,” A K Khetrapal, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) told PTI.
“The tiger population has gone up from 53 to 69 in Tadoba reserve and from 30 to 35 in Melghat reserve since 2006. Besides this, the tiger population has seen an increase in the sanctuaries of Sahadyri -- Sindhudurg with 21 tigers, Nagjira-Navegaon -- 20 tigers and Bor -- 12 tigers,” said Khetrapal.
Maharashtra ranks after Uttarakhand in terms of increase in the tiger population, followed by Assam, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The tiger-census carried out in three phases across the country in 2010 reported the number of tigers to have gone up from 1411 (in 2006) to 1706.
Among various enhanced conservation and protection measures undertaken by the state to provide a safe shelter to India’s national animal include creation of buffer zones ranging from eight to ten kilometres around the boundary of these reserves and sanctuaries.
“These buffer zones help in keeping the human population living around that region away from tiger attacks,” adds Khetrapal. Besides this, certain sanctuaries in Maharashtra have been declared as critical habitat areas.
“The concept behind such a habitat is to remove the entire human population dwelling there and provide them an alternate shelter. Thus providing enough space and security to the tigers,” said the official.
A protection force has also been introduced to save the animal from poachers. In addition to that, both artificial and natural water holes have been dug out to provide enough water for them during summer season.
Besides this, Archaeological Survey of India has collaborated with the Japanese Bank for International Co- operation (JBIC) to save the 1000-year-old paintings at the Ajanta Caves which are facing severe issues of water leakage and colour fading as part of the steps to rope in more tourists.
Buddhist architecture comprising 30 caves was rediscovered by a British Army Officer John Smith in 1819. Out of the 30 caves, 12 have been closed down by ASI due to water leakage.
“The leakage of water was a major issue some time ago but the problem has been resolved now. The ASI team has created separate pipes to divert the route of the leaking water thereby saving the antique wall paintings from decay,” says Abrar Hussain, a government approved tourist guide at the Ajanta caves.
The installation of fibre optic lights has proved to be the most remarkable step till date to preserve the Buddhist paintings depicting the entire life of Lord Buddha.
Perfect for light-sensitive exhibits, use of fibre optic lighting is harmless and also does not produce heat. .
“Earlier normal lighting methods which were installed inside the caves resulted in the discolouration and melting of the texture of the paintings,” adds Hussain.
Private vehicles have been banned within the periphery of about five kilometres. The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has started eco-friendly CNG buses to carry tourists. The fair too has been kept nominal, ranging from Rs seven to Rs 15 for air conditioned and non-airconditioned buses respectively.
“ASI in collaboration with the Japanese Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) is currently building a replica of the entire monument for further research on the caves and its history,” adds Hussain.
Apart from this, the government is planning to raise the standard of guest houses at all tourist places to provide comfortable stay and experience to the visitors, Mr. Chavan said.
It has also been decided to focus on the rich heritage of forts in the state by allotting a separate fund for their conservation.
“Maharashtra has a large number of forts which speak about the rich Maratha lineage. It has become important to put forth this history of warriors and hence promote the state,” Mr. Chavan said.
http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/article1684769.ece
“We have decided to make Nagpur the gateway to the tiger land as Maharashtra and Gujarat have the highest tiger population (in the country). States like Gujarat and Kerala are already promoting their assets... in order to stay in competition we will now promote what we have in abundance,” Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan told reporters who visited the state recently as part of a tour organised by the Maharashtra government.
Maharashtra has a tiger population of 169 as per the 2010 census, Nagpur being the highest scorer with 148 tigers.
The total number of tigers has gone up from 103 to 169 in a period of four years.
“Nagpur is the major store house of tigers as the city alone has three tiger reserves and more than five sanctuaries. In all Maharashtra has four reserves and 34 sanctuaries,” A K Khetrapal, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) told PTI.
“The tiger population has gone up from 53 to 69 in Tadoba reserve and from 30 to 35 in Melghat reserve since 2006. Besides this, the tiger population has seen an increase in the sanctuaries of Sahadyri -- Sindhudurg with 21 tigers, Nagjira-Navegaon -- 20 tigers and Bor -- 12 tigers,” said Khetrapal.
Maharashtra ranks after Uttarakhand in terms of increase in the tiger population, followed by Assam, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The tiger-census carried out in three phases across the country in 2010 reported the number of tigers to have gone up from 1411 (in 2006) to 1706.
Among various enhanced conservation and protection measures undertaken by the state to provide a safe shelter to India’s national animal include creation of buffer zones ranging from eight to ten kilometres around the boundary of these reserves and sanctuaries.
“These buffer zones help in keeping the human population living around that region away from tiger attacks,” adds Khetrapal. Besides this, certain sanctuaries in Maharashtra have been declared as critical habitat areas.
“The concept behind such a habitat is to remove the entire human population dwelling there and provide them an alternate shelter. Thus providing enough space and security to the tigers,” said the official.
A protection force has also been introduced to save the animal from poachers. In addition to that, both artificial and natural water holes have been dug out to provide enough water for them during summer season.
Besides this, Archaeological Survey of India has collaborated with the Japanese Bank for International Co- operation (JBIC) to save the 1000-year-old paintings at the Ajanta Caves which are facing severe issues of water leakage and colour fading as part of the steps to rope in more tourists.
Buddhist architecture comprising 30 caves was rediscovered by a British Army Officer John Smith in 1819. Out of the 30 caves, 12 have been closed down by ASI due to water leakage.
“The leakage of water was a major issue some time ago but the problem has been resolved now. The ASI team has created separate pipes to divert the route of the leaking water thereby saving the antique wall paintings from decay,” says Abrar Hussain, a government approved tourist guide at the Ajanta caves.
The installation of fibre optic lights has proved to be the most remarkable step till date to preserve the Buddhist paintings depicting the entire life of Lord Buddha.
Perfect for light-sensitive exhibits, use of fibre optic lighting is harmless and also does not produce heat. .
“Earlier normal lighting methods which were installed inside the caves resulted in the discolouration and melting of the texture of the paintings,” adds Hussain.
Private vehicles have been banned within the periphery of about five kilometres. The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has started eco-friendly CNG buses to carry tourists. The fair too has been kept nominal, ranging from Rs seven to Rs 15 for air conditioned and non-airconditioned buses respectively.
“ASI in collaboration with the Japanese Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) is currently building a replica of the entire monument for further research on the caves and its history,” adds Hussain.
Apart from this, the government is planning to raise the standard of guest houses at all tourist places to provide comfortable stay and experience to the visitors, Mr. Chavan said.
It has also been decided to focus on the rich heritage of forts in the state by allotting a separate fund for their conservation.
“Maharashtra has a large number of forts which speak about the rich Maratha lineage. It has become important to put forth this history of warriors and hence promote the state,” Mr. Chavan said.
http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/article1684769.ece
Wildlife corridor in eastern Maharashtra threatened
Ongoing construction of a canal is threatening a sprawling wildlife corridor spread over Chandrapur and Bhandara districts in eastern Maharashtra, the Forest Department officials have said. The department, rattled over the recent incidents of tiger attacks on humans, deaths of a couple of leopards,
fears possible breach of wildlife corridor between Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), Protected Forest Area under Brahmapuri Division and the forests in adjoining Paoni area of Bhandara district due to the ongoing work on Gosikhurd Right Canal.
Two persons were killed and one was seriously injured in tiger attacks between March 18 and March 27, while two leopards were found dead in Brahmapuri Division between April 4 and April 7.
The second leopard was found trapped in the stack of centering materials used in the construction of canal under Gosikhurd Irrigation Project (GIP) near village Bhujgaon.
The officials said TATR is like a nucleus of wildlife which keep migrating to the adjoining areas for various natural reasons from time to time.
As per official data, the tiger population in territorial area is more than that in TATR. As per the recent Census, there are 28 tigers in Chandrapur Division in addition to another six tigers which keep migrating from and to TATR followed by 20 tigers in Brahmapuri Division and 11-12 tigers in Central Chanda Division, informed G R K Rao, Conservator of Forests, Chandrapur Division.
There is an alarming rise in man-animal conflict in the recent times. A careful observation and study points the needle at the recent activities of construction of Gosikhurd Right Canal in Brahmapuri Division, he said.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Wildlife-corridor-in-eastern-Maharashtra-threatened/Article1-683501.aspx
fears possible breach of wildlife corridor between Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), Protected Forest Area under Brahmapuri Division and the forests in adjoining Paoni area of Bhandara district due to the ongoing work on Gosikhurd Right Canal.
Two persons were killed and one was seriously injured in tiger attacks between March 18 and March 27, while two leopards were found dead in Brahmapuri Division between April 4 and April 7.
The second leopard was found trapped in the stack of centering materials used in the construction of canal under Gosikhurd Irrigation Project (GIP) near village Bhujgaon.
The officials said TATR is like a nucleus of wildlife which keep migrating to the adjoining areas for various natural reasons from time to time.
As per official data, the tiger population in territorial area is more than that in TATR. As per the recent Census, there are 28 tigers in Chandrapur Division in addition to another six tigers which keep migrating from and to TATR followed by 20 tigers in Brahmapuri Division and 11-12 tigers in Central Chanda Division, informed G R K Rao, Conservator of Forests, Chandrapur Division.
There is an alarming rise in man-animal conflict in the recent times. A careful observation and study points the needle at the recent activities of construction of Gosikhurd Right Canal in Brahmapuri Division, he said.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Wildlife-corridor-in-eastern-Maharashtra-threatened/Article1-683501.aspx
Tiger cubs found in Tripura
Confirming government information wrong that there are no tigers in the wild in Tripura, villagers in the state found two tiger cubs in a forest, officials said on Saturday. "When villagers went to a forest on Friday to collect wood at Harina in southern Tripura, 140 km south of here, they found the
two tiger cubs and later handed them over to forest officials," a forest department official told reporters.
Quoting the villagers, the official said : "A tigress was protecting her cubs under a tree. Seeing the villagers she ran away leaving the cubs."
The cubs are believed to be 13 to 15 days old.
The forest official said that as per the latest (in 2002) tiger census there are no tigers in the northeastern state that borders the Chittagong hill tracts (CHT) of southeast Bangladesh.
The official said they would hand over the cubs to the Sepahijala Zoo in western Tripura. The Sepahijala Zoo was categorized by the Central Zoo Authority as one of the 22 large zoos in India.
The Sepahijala sanctuary and zoo have more than 46 species of wild animals kept for their conservation, protection and breeding.
The sanctuary has also been tagged as the national park for clouded leopards.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Tiger-cubs-found-in-Tripura/Article1-683195.aspx
two tiger cubs and later handed them over to forest officials," a forest department official told reporters.
Quoting the villagers, the official said : "A tigress was protecting her cubs under a tree. Seeing the villagers she ran away leaving the cubs."
The cubs are believed to be 13 to 15 days old.
The forest official said that as per the latest (in 2002) tiger census there are no tigers in the northeastern state that borders the Chittagong hill tracts (CHT) of southeast Bangladesh.
The official said they would hand over the cubs to the Sepahijala Zoo in western Tripura. The Sepahijala Zoo was categorized by the Central Zoo Authority as one of the 22 large zoos in India.
The Sepahijala sanctuary and zoo have more than 46 species of wild animals kept for their conservation, protection and breeding.
The sanctuary has also been tagged as the national park for clouded leopards.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Tiger-cubs-found-in-Tripura/Article1-683195.aspx
Big cats unsafe in India’s Tiger Capital
A week after environment minister Jairam Ramesh termed Karnataka as the Tiger Capital of the country, the state’s image took a beating. While the carcass of a male tiger with most of the nails and several teeth missing was found inside the Nagarhole national park on Thursday, an injured one was spotted in Bandipur tiger reserve on Friday.
The carcass was spotted by a mahout of the forest department close to Kabini backwaters at the Baraballi beat in D B Kuppe wildlife range of the national park. “The mahout found the carcass on Thursday morning while searching for an elephant and immediately tipped us off. The animal, which appeared six or seven years old, might have died a few days ago. It was a natural death,” said principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife) B K Singh.
Forest officials, however, ruled out the role of poachers in the death of the tiger, saying: “After the tiger’s death, local people might have stolen its nails and teeth. Post mortem reports have revealed that it was a natural death.”
Injured and missing
The forest authorities suffered the second jolt on Friday when they received news of another tiger suffering injuries inside Bandipur National Park. B K Singh has rushed to the Bandipur Tiger Reserve along with a few senior officials of the department.
Deputy conservator of forest, Bandipur, K T Hanumanthappa said, “A couple of days ago, on Tavalanagere beat of Omkar range, we spotted a tiger inside the woods which was limping. It had a five centimetre-deep wound on its left foreleg. We decided to arrange for its treatment inside the forest itself.”
“It was not an easy task. The tiger, which was not able to hunt, was stationed near a water hole. Yesterday evening, we had kept five kilograms of mutton near the water hole and the tiger ate it completely. Later we kept another five kilograms of mutton mixed with antibiotics and painkillers, but it did not touch it. Our camera trapping devices recorded that it came close to the mutton plate around 1:00 am on Saturday but turned back,” Hanumanthappa said.
Sources in the Bandipur Tiger Reserve said injured animals dip their wound in water for a long time to help the pain to subside. However, after it sensed human presence, the tiger has stopped coming to the water hole. Forest officials are now working out a strategy to track and rescue the tiger.
“Depending on the injury, we will decide whether to leave it in the forest or shift it to the zoo,” B K Singh added.
http://www.bangaloremirror.com/article/10/20110410201104100014459273f7177f7/Big-cats-unsafe-in-India’s-Tiger-Capital.html
The carcass was spotted by a mahout of the forest department close to Kabini backwaters at the Baraballi beat in D B Kuppe wildlife range of the national park. “The mahout found the carcass on Thursday morning while searching for an elephant and immediately tipped us off. The animal, which appeared six or seven years old, might have died a few days ago. It was a natural death,” said principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife) B K Singh.
Forest officials, however, ruled out the role of poachers in the death of the tiger, saying: “After the tiger’s death, local people might have stolen its nails and teeth. Post mortem reports have revealed that it was a natural death.”
Injured and missing
The forest authorities suffered the second jolt on Friday when they received news of another tiger suffering injuries inside Bandipur National Park. B K Singh has rushed to the Bandipur Tiger Reserve along with a few senior officials of the department.
Deputy conservator of forest, Bandipur, K T Hanumanthappa said, “A couple of days ago, on Tavalanagere beat of Omkar range, we spotted a tiger inside the woods which was limping. It had a five centimetre-deep wound on its left foreleg. We decided to arrange for its treatment inside the forest itself.”
“It was not an easy task. The tiger, which was not able to hunt, was stationed near a water hole. Yesterday evening, we had kept five kilograms of mutton near the water hole and the tiger ate it completely. Later we kept another five kilograms of mutton mixed with antibiotics and painkillers, but it did not touch it. Our camera trapping devices recorded that it came close to the mutton plate around 1:00 am on Saturday but turned back,” Hanumanthappa said.
Sources in the Bandipur Tiger Reserve said injured animals dip their wound in water for a long time to help the pain to subside. However, after it sensed human presence, the tiger has stopped coming to the water hole. Forest officials are now working out a strategy to track and rescue the tiger.
“Depending on the injury, we will decide whether to leave it in the forest or shift it to the zoo,” B K Singh added.
http://www.bangaloremirror.com/article/10/20110410201104100014459273f7177f7/Big-cats-unsafe-in-India’s-Tiger-Capital.html
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