JAIPUR: The forest department on Thursday began the census at Sariska tiger reserve despite knowing that there are just five tigers at the reserve. The same will commence at Ranthambore two days later.
While 150 persons would be involved in the fortnight-long exercise at Sariska, Ranthambore will see 600 people including staff, forest guards, NGOs and wildlife lovers participate in it. The census at both the parks will be done in stages. Pugmarks will be counted first followed by transit line survey for verification of herbivores and vegetative survey and finally the waterhole census.
In Sariska, the pugmark count will be taken from May 5 to 11, followed by the transit line survey from May 12 to 16 and the waterhole census on May 17 and 18. At Ranthambore, the pugmark census will be done from May 7 to 16, the transit line survey will be from May 9 to 12 while the water hole survey will be held on May 17 and 18. During this time, the timings for visitors to the park has been changed while on May 17 and 18 both the parks will remain closed.
But the pugmark census may just end as a formality as it has become an outdated process and often fails to provide correct details. Way back in 2005, when tigers went extinct in Sariska, the pug mark census had still counted their number at 25.
"It is an exercise in futility involving lots of people and money," said a wildlife activist. "What is the use of carrying out the pug mark census when we know that it gives false data. Everyone knows that there are 5 tigers at Sariska so why carry out the pugmark census there at all ?" he asked. However, the water hole census still found favour with the activists as it also gives details on other animals in the sanctuaries.
However, forest officials begged to differ. "There are other cat species like leopards in Sariska and the pugmark census can give an insight into it," said an official. In Ranthambore, the pugmark process will be done along with trap cameras.
"The pugmark census will be done just for an estimation and to know the regions where the tiger is treading. We are setting up trap cameras and the census will be done by it. The method will provide us some insight into the density of tigers at various zones," said an official.
Chief wildlife warden UM Sahai denied that the pugmark census was being done at Ranthambore. "We are just doing it for Sariska so that we can get an exact number of panthers that are there in the forest. For Ranthambore, we are just doing the camera trap method there is no point doing the pugmark census there," he said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Census-begins-in-Sariska-Ranthambore-to-follow/articleshow/8172398.cms
Friday, May 6, 2011
Locks greet visitors at NTCA office Vijay Pinjarkar, TNN
NAGPUR: Eight days ago, the regional office of National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) was inaugurated amid great fanfare at Ravi Nagar by Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and minister for environment and forest Jairam Ramesh. Today, locks greet visitors.
The office was opened on April 27 on the working plan office premises of the forest department at Ravi Nagar. However, the opening of the office seems to be a farce now as there is no officer in charge to look after it.
On Thursday, when TOI visited the office, the NTCA board inaugurated by the top dignitaries was missing and the office was locked. There is no furniture and it is in the same condition when it was inaugurated. It seems no one has bothered to visit the office since then.
Deputy inspector general (DIG) of forests and joint director of NTCA, S P Yadav, says it was not inauguration of the office but building. However, a brief note issued on April 27 clearly stated that it was inauguration of the regional office.
"Till any officer is appointed to look after the affairs, how can an office be opened? Interviews for the post of assistant inspector general (AIG) will be held on Friday in Delhi. It will take some time to complete the formalities and appoint an officer to run the office," Yadav stated.
Congress MP from Nagpur Vilas Muttemwar, who took initiative in opening the NTCA office here, admits things need to be set right.
"I'm pursuing it with Delhi. It will take 10 days for the matters to settle down. Unless staff is appointed, the office won't function," he said.
"I had always felt that the inauguration of the NTCA office should have been done in a proper manner. But as chief minister was in the city and occasion demanded it was inaugurated. It is good that at least a start has been made. It is the first regional office in India," Muttemwar told TOI.
The NTCA has appointed wildlife vet Dr A D Kholkute as a consultant who has been told to coordinate with the Bhopal office but conservationists ask how a consultant can run an office.
During the inauguration, Chavan and Ramesh had said that opening of the NTCA office is the first step towards boosting tiger tourism in and around Nagpur, which has been declared 'gateway to tiger land.' "All help would be given to boost ecotourism. The NTCA office was a dream come true," both said. However, conservationists hope that it doesn't fizzle out.
Of the three NTCA offices in India, Nagpur is the first to be opened. It will oversee 13 tiger reserves in Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. The main duties of Nagpur office will be planning, monitoring, and providing necessary guidance in field management.
NTCA officials said plans are afoot to recruit eight support ministerial staffers on outsourcing basis, but unless an IG level officer is appointed to head the office, opening of the office seems to be a futile exercise.
"If Jairam Ramesh wishes, the issue can be set right immediately, but even after cabinet approval, efforts have not been taken to fill up the IG's post," forest officials felt.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Locks-greet-visitors-at-NTCA-office/articleshow/8172029.cms
The office was opened on April 27 on the working plan office premises of the forest department at Ravi Nagar. However, the opening of the office seems to be a farce now as there is no officer in charge to look after it.
On Thursday, when TOI visited the office, the NTCA board inaugurated by the top dignitaries was missing and the office was locked. There is no furniture and it is in the same condition when it was inaugurated. It seems no one has bothered to visit the office since then.
Deputy inspector general (DIG) of forests and joint director of NTCA, S P Yadav, says it was not inauguration of the office but building. However, a brief note issued on April 27 clearly stated that it was inauguration of the regional office.
"Till any officer is appointed to look after the affairs, how can an office be opened? Interviews for the post of assistant inspector general (AIG) will be held on Friday in Delhi. It will take some time to complete the formalities and appoint an officer to run the office," Yadav stated.
Congress MP from Nagpur Vilas Muttemwar, who took initiative in opening the NTCA office here, admits things need to be set right.
"I'm pursuing it with Delhi. It will take 10 days for the matters to settle down. Unless staff is appointed, the office won't function," he said.
"I had always felt that the inauguration of the NTCA office should have been done in a proper manner. But as chief minister was in the city and occasion demanded it was inaugurated. It is good that at least a start has been made. It is the first regional office in India," Muttemwar told TOI.
The NTCA has appointed wildlife vet Dr A D Kholkute as a consultant who has been told to coordinate with the Bhopal office but conservationists ask how a consultant can run an office.
During the inauguration, Chavan and Ramesh had said that opening of the NTCA office is the first step towards boosting tiger tourism in and around Nagpur, which has been declared 'gateway to tiger land.' "All help would be given to boost ecotourism. The NTCA office was a dream come true," both said. However, conservationists hope that it doesn't fizzle out.
Of the three NTCA offices in India, Nagpur is the first to be opened. It will oversee 13 tiger reserves in Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. The main duties of Nagpur office will be planning, monitoring, and providing necessary guidance in field management.
NTCA officials said plans are afoot to recruit eight support ministerial staffers on outsourcing basis, but unless an IG level officer is appointed to head the office, opening of the office seems to be a futile exercise.
"If Jairam Ramesh wishes, the issue can be set right immediately, but even after cabinet approval, efforts have not been taken to fill up the IG's post," forest officials felt.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Locks-greet-visitors-at-NTCA-office/articleshow/8172029.cms
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