JAIPUR: Tired of the wait and watch game, the state forest department has decided to send scat samples to laboratories based in Hyderabad for investigating into the reasons why the tigresses at the Sariska tiger reserve are not bearing cubs.
It has been three years since the tigresses were relocated to the Sariska reserve from Ranthambore and till now no cubs have been born.
"We have collected scat (feces, a waste product produced in the digestive tract) samples of the tigress and we will be sending them to a laboratory based in Hyderabad to check if the big cats at Sariska are suffering from any hormonal imbalances. The samples will be send in three batches at intervals of 10 days," U M Sahai, chief wildlife warden, Rajasthan, said.
Currently, there are three tigresses and two male tigers at the Sariska national park but despite having mated several times, the tigresses have not been able to produce any offspring. One of the male tigers ST-1, the first to be relocated to Sariska, died last year after it was poisoned by villagers.
Sariska's irony lies in the fact that the Panna tiger reserve that followed the example of Sariska in relocating tigers, has already seen cubs being born. Sariska continues to wait.
"These scat samples will be of male and female tigers. The purpose is to see if any of them are suffering from any hormonal imbalance," a source said.
The issue gathered steam in a workshop organised on the Challenges Ahead for rebuilding Sariska by the Sariska Tiger Foundation. Most of the speakers harped on the non-birth of cubs at the reserve.
Principal secretary forest and environment VS Singh felt that the portion of the reserve that was open to tourism was a very small fraction of the park. "What happens is that there are too many tourists that come into the arena resulting in stress for the tigers," he said.
Others felt that the tigers being sibling to each other has deterred them from producing any offspring despite having mated with each other. And yet others were of the opinion that the big cats were not mature enough to produce any off spring and felt that new ones will be born within a couple of years.
Even R N Mehrotra, head of the forest force, Rajasthan was hopeful. "The tigers have been mating. Even ST-1 would have fathered some cubs had he been alive. But now, we have ST-4 and with time I am sure Sariska would see cubs," he said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Sariska-to-test-samples-of-tiger-scat/articleshow/8654698.cms
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Three tiger cubs Bor's new guests Vijay Pinjarkar /, TNN
NAGPUR: The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and Wildlife Institute of India (WII) have estimated the presence of 12 tigers in and around the Bor wildlife sanctuary, 60 km from Nagpur, but the number may be pegged at 15, with three new cubs being sighted recently.
A tigress with two-month-old three cubs - one male and two females - was first sighted in the Bor sanctuary by the field staff in March in the sanctuary's 'no-go' zone. The news was kept under wraps to ensure safety of the animals. The cubs are healthy and now four months old.
The entry of new tiger cubs shows that the 62 sq km Bor is becoming a breeding ground for tigers with cubs being born every year. In 2008, a tigress with three cubs, then one more tigress with two cubs in 2009, followed by another tigress with a cub in 2010 and three cubs in 2011.
Talking to TOI, A Ashraf, field director and conservator of forests, Pench tiger reserve, said this seems to be the first litter of the tigress. "Better protection, good prey base and availability of water are three key factors why Bor is becoming a safe haven for tigers," Ashraf stressed.
The results of the 2010 national tiger assessment, conducted nationally every four years by the NTCA and WII, says that Bor has 12 tigers in the 560 sq km area. However, experts say most of the tigers are Bor residents and move in the 10-15 km periphery of the sanctuary.
"Even if the tiger presence is shown in the 560 sq km area around Bor, it is the result of WII's extrapolation technique implemented on the basis of data collected from a high tiger density area," conservationists explained.
It is not only the tigers that have been multiplying but the herbivore population has also seen a jump. During a visit, flock of peacocks, herds of chital, nilgais, wild boars and sambars and a variety of bird species were sighted.
Although improved wildlife sightings in Bor is a good indication, the sanctuary needs enhanced protection and habitat management, especially in the forest areas surrounding it. The biggest threat that Bor faces today is from forest fires. Tendu collection in the 5 km area around the sanctuary needs to be banned completely. This season around 800 hectares of forest was destroyed in the ground fire.
Ashraf admits fires are a big threat. More funds have been sought this year for various works like habitat management, water conservation, fire line tracing, meadows etc. "Our focus will be on rejuvenating natural water sources instead of more saucer-shaped water holes," he added. Sources said Rs 45 lakh has been sought for Bor this year.
Tourist Robin Sonkar says the sanctuary needs better road connectivity to ease congestion on one single road. Guides need to be well-dressed and trained properly.
At present, roads upto 20 km are meant for tourism. There is scope to develop roads by another 20 km from Salaikala-Bhulaidoh-Karai and Gavhankhedi-Manoli-Sukli. This will help better movement of vehicles. Roads for monitoring by the field staff also need to be developed. "There is a need to develop circulating roads for better vehicle distribution," demanded Sonkar. Ashraf says the proposal to develop roads in the sanctuary and in the 'no-go' zone of Khorikhapa is under consideration.
A section of field staff stressed the need for revising the beat area as one guard handles an area of around 1,000 hectares. Ashraf informed that the proposal to revise beats is also under consideration.
The check-posts at Bor need basic equipment like chair, cots, table etc. The staff has not received uniform since 2007. The life of staff quarters, owned by the irrigation department, is crumbling and badly needs renovation. However, officials say funds are a problem.
The number of tigers going up has led to sporadic rise in attacks. In the last one month three villagers have been attacked outside the sanctuary. The area belongs to the territorial department. Compensation has not been paid.
G B Mahure, president of Bor Foundation, says that of late, villagers have been speaking against tigers owing to attacks and cattle kills. Delay in compensation will go against tigers, he cautioned.
WHY TIGERS BREED IN BOR
NO VILLAGES: No village inside the reserve. Hence, human presence minimum leading to good breeding
WATER: Good water availability is the basic requirement. Bor is surrounded by a dam. There is plenty of water. Backwaters have dense bushes and water round the year make it a good habitat
PROTECTION: Breeding of tigers is an indication that protection has increased. However, there is need to increase staff instead of reducing it due to hike in wages
PREY BASE: One more reason for good breeding is increase in prey base. There is increase in number of animals. Herds of chitals are sighted even outside the sanctuary. Besides, surrounded by farms from all sides, cattle is easily available.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Three-tiger-cubs-Bors-new-guests/articleshow/8651890.cms
A tigress with two-month-old three cubs - one male and two females - was first sighted in the Bor sanctuary by the field staff in March in the sanctuary's 'no-go' zone. The news was kept under wraps to ensure safety of the animals. The cubs are healthy and now four months old.
The entry of new tiger cubs shows that the 62 sq km Bor is becoming a breeding ground for tigers with cubs being born every year. In 2008, a tigress with three cubs, then one more tigress with two cubs in 2009, followed by another tigress with a cub in 2010 and three cubs in 2011.
Talking to TOI, A Ashraf, field director and conservator of forests, Pench tiger reserve, said this seems to be the first litter of the tigress. "Better protection, good prey base and availability of water are three key factors why Bor is becoming a safe haven for tigers," Ashraf stressed.
The results of the 2010 national tiger assessment, conducted nationally every four years by the NTCA and WII, says that Bor has 12 tigers in the 560 sq km area. However, experts say most of the tigers are Bor residents and move in the 10-15 km periphery of the sanctuary.
"Even if the tiger presence is shown in the 560 sq km area around Bor, it is the result of WII's extrapolation technique implemented on the basis of data collected from a high tiger density area," conservationists explained.
It is not only the tigers that have been multiplying but the herbivore population has also seen a jump. During a visit, flock of peacocks, herds of chital, nilgais, wild boars and sambars and a variety of bird species were sighted.
Although improved wildlife sightings in Bor is a good indication, the sanctuary needs enhanced protection and habitat management, especially in the forest areas surrounding it. The biggest threat that Bor faces today is from forest fires. Tendu collection in the 5 km area around the sanctuary needs to be banned completely. This season around 800 hectares of forest was destroyed in the ground fire.
Ashraf admits fires are a big threat. More funds have been sought this year for various works like habitat management, water conservation, fire line tracing, meadows etc. "Our focus will be on rejuvenating natural water sources instead of more saucer-shaped water holes," he added. Sources said Rs 45 lakh has been sought for Bor this year.
Tourist Robin Sonkar says the sanctuary needs better road connectivity to ease congestion on one single road. Guides need to be well-dressed and trained properly.
At present, roads upto 20 km are meant for tourism. There is scope to develop roads by another 20 km from Salaikala-Bhulaidoh-Karai and Gavhankhedi-Manoli-Sukli. This will help better movement of vehicles. Roads for monitoring by the field staff also need to be developed. "There is a need to develop circulating roads for better vehicle distribution," demanded Sonkar. Ashraf says the proposal to develop roads in the sanctuary and in the 'no-go' zone of Khorikhapa is under consideration.
A section of field staff stressed the need for revising the beat area as one guard handles an area of around 1,000 hectares. Ashraf informed that the proposal to revise beats is also under consideration.
The check-posts at Bor need basic equipment like chair, cots, table etc. The staff has not received uniform since 2007. The life of staff quarters, owned by the irrigation department, is crumbling and badly needs renovation. However, officials say funds are a problem.
The number of tigers going up has led to sporadic rise in attacks. In the last one month three villagers have been attacked outside the sanctuary. The area belongs to the territorial department. Compensation has not been paid.
G B Mahure, president of Bor Foundation, says that of late, villagers have been speaking against tigers owing to attacks and cattle kills. Delay in compensation will go against tigers, he cautioned.
WHY TIGERS BREED IN BOR
NO VILLAGES: No village inside the reserve. Hence, human presence minimum leading to good breeding
WATER: Good water availability is the basic requirement. Bor is surrounded by a dam. There is plenty of water. Backwaters have dense bushes and water round the year make it a good habitat
PROTECTION: Breeding of tigers is an indication that protection has increased. However, there is need to increase staff instead of reducing it due to hike in wages
PREY BASE: One more reason for good breeding is increase in prey base. There is increase in number of animals. Herds of chitals are sighted even outside the sanctuary. Besides, surrounded by farms from all sides, cattle is easily available.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Three-tiger-cubs-Bors-new-guests/articleshow/8651890.cms
Latest technologies to support wildlife conservation
BANGALORE/CHENNAI: India's wildlife and forest management officials are finding a new way of dealing with endangered fauna - by using simple but effective technology tools such as radio sensor tagging that helps in tracking the movement and breeding of these animals. A pitched battle is being waged by conservationists, the government and non-government organisations to save India's national animal, the magnificent tiger, from extinction and technology is at the centre of the efforts being made. Simple technology is being used extensively to estimate, track and protect the remaining 1,706 tigers across the country.
To the surprise and dismay of many, the 2006 tiger census said there were only 1,411 tigers left in the country. The 2010 census found the numbers going up to 1706 but habitats were shrinking rapidly. The technology aided census has been useful in coming up with a fairly realistic number that drives home the gravity of the problem, which was hitherto little known. Until the 'project tiger' efforts of 2006, tiger habitats in India were relatively unknown. With the use of remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS), the government was able to identify potential tiger habitats. In the same project, with the use of camera traps, reliable population estimation of this elusive species was made. "These are landmark developments in integrating technology with mainstream conservation," said PR Sinha, director, Wild Life Institute of India.
During the survey, officials used radio telemetry, satellite tracking, geographical information systems and global positioning systems to count tigers. In the first phase of the Rs 9.1-crore tiger census, field data was collected by trained people. In the second phase, tiger habitats were analysed using satellite data while in the third, hi-tech cameras were installed at strategic points to count tigers. "This was a massive exercise we undertook in which technology played a major role," says Sinha. Nearly six lakh square kilometres of forest was assessed in 17 states using remote sensing data.
The Wild Life Institute of India is also helping authorities to prosecute offenders by churning out forensic data. "We do DNA analysis and other forensic studies to help law enforcement nail poachers," he added.
SIMPLE TOOLS
Radio telemetry is a simple technology used extensively by wildlifers. The technology -- which uses radio waves emitted from a transmitter attached to an animal to track and monitor them -- was developed in the United States in the 1960s. "Radio tagging has been a real break through in tracking cats, nocturnal animals, or to track long distance migrations like that of turtles or whales," says Ullas Karanth , tiger expert and conservation zoologist.
Using telemetry, it was found that the Oilve Ridley sea turtle travels all the way to Sri Lanka from the Orissa coast where they have mass nests. It was also used to identify migratory pathways of Siberian Cranes, trans-boundary movement of tiger, snow leopard and elephant, and homing-instincts of relocated mammals from as far as 400km away.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/latest-technologies-to-support-wildlife-conservation/articleshow/8655719.cms
To the surprise and dismay of many, the 2006 tiger census said there were only 1,411 tigers left in the country. The 2010 census found the numbers going up to 1706 but habitats were shrinking rapidly. The technology aided census has been useful in coming up with a fairly realistic number that drives home the gravity of the problem, which was hitherto little known. Until the 'project tiger' efforts of 2006, tiger habitats in India were relatively unknown. With the use of remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS), the government was able to identify potential tiger habitats. In the same project, with the use of camera traps, reliable population estimation of this elusive species was made. "These are landmark developments in integrating technology with mainstream conservation," said PR Sinha, director, Wild Life Institute of India.
During the survey, officials used radio telemetry, satellite tracking, geographical information systems and global positioning systems to count tigers. In the first phase of the Rs 9.1-crore tiger census, field data was collected by trained people. In the second phase, tiger habitats were analysed using satellite data while in the third, hi-tech cameras were installed at strategic points to count tigers. "This was a massive exercise we undertook in which technology played a major role," says Sinha. Nearly six lakh square kilometres of forest was assessed in 17 states using remote sensing data.
The Wild Life Institute of India is also helping authorities to prosecute offenders by churning out forensic data. "We do DNA analysis and other forensic studies to help law enforcement nail poachers," he added.
SIMPLE TOOLS
Radio telemetry is a simple technology used extensively by wildlifers. The technology -- which uses radio waves emitted from a transmitter attached to an animal to track and monitor them -- was developed in the United States in the 1960s. "Radio tagging has been a real break through in tracking cats, nocturnal animals, or to track long distance migrations like that of turtles or whales," says Ullas Karanth , tiger expert and conservation zoologist.
Using telemetry, it was found that the Oilve Ridley sea turtle travels all the way to Sri Lanka from the Orissa coast where they have mass nests. It was also used to identify migratory pathways of Siberian Cranes, trans-boundary movement of tiger, snow leopard and elephant, and homing-instincts of relocated mammals from as far as 400km away.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/latest-technologies-to-support-wildlife-conservation/articleshow/8655719.cms
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