Tiger dies in Corbett National Park

PTI | 08:04 PM,Apr 24,2012 Nainital, Apr 24 (PTI) A tiger died at Corbett National Park, near here, today while being treated by a veterinary team for serious injuries, a forest department official said. The injured tiger was spotted this morning at the periphery of the park, following which a veterinary team was rushed to the spot, Rajendra Singh Bisht, Conservator Western Circle, said. The tiger, however, died without responding to the treatment, he said, adding a postmortem would be conducted tomorrow to ascertain the cause of the feline's death. PTI CORR http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/tiger-dies-in-corbett-national-park/990088.html

'Badshah' still playing hide-and-seek

TNN | Apr 25, 2012, 03.18AM IST LUCKNOW: The Rahmankhera tiger, nicknamed 'Badshah' by wildlife enthusiasts and social media, continues to play hide-and-seek with the trackers. The big cat killed and partially ate a buffalo tied as bait at Rahmankhera on Monday night. It was the 20th bait killed by the tiger even as forest officials remain clueless. The tiger has now shifted its location to a patch of forest with a dense canopy of 'sheesham' trees. On Monday night, it killed and dragged the bait to the sheesham thickets. The tracking team has set up a 'machaan' close to its current location. The bait is being tied to lure the big cat, so that it can be tranquilised once it comes close to the animal. But the strategy, which has been repeatedly tried in Rahmankhera for past four months, has failed to yield result. The tiger was first spotted at Rahmankhera on January 8. "The entire effort is focused on keeping the tiger localised at Rahmankhera rather than tranquilising it," said wildlife enthusiast Kaushalendra Singh. The forest department has not fixed any deadline for tranquilising the tiger. In such a case, the operation might continue without any interference from the agencies that matter. Wildlife activists have demanded that the government should fix a deadline for the operation since lot of money has already been spent on it. And, in case the department fails to trap the tiger in a given time, it might seek help from other quarters. Though the tracking team is now continuing the operation during night as well, activists say it should become more regular. "The team can monitor the behaviour of the tiger to find out when it strkes, in the evening or late night, and can keep a watch accordingly," said secretary, Tiger and Terrain, Sanjay Narayan. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Badshah-still-playing-hide-and-seek/articleshow/12859932.cms

Tribals unwilling to relocate from PTR area

TNN | Apr 25, 2012, 03.20AM IST DALTONGANJ: For the 22-odd tribal families living on the Jaigeer hill area, 3,133 feet above sea level and surrounded by hills from four sides - life means total confinement. This village is bereft of roads and electricity as well as drinking water and irrigation. There is only one school. Deprived of basic infrastructure, these families have been asked to relocate since their village and several others fall under the Palamu Tiger Reserve. Once relocated to the plains earlier, these families will also enjoy a better life and all benefits under various government schemes, said DFO (buffer) Anil K Mishra. There are three other villages falling in the core area of PTR - Ramandaag (150 houses), Latoo (50 houses) and Kujrum (40 houses).But the families do not want relocation. Lakhan Oraon, living here, is sceptical about his relocation. "What if I don't get land at the place I'm relocated," he said. Premchand Birjiya is suspicious of the forest department's designs. Lakho Devi said she had grown up here and vowed not to move out from here as her soul lives here. Mishra said he had a plan to take five of the villagers to Satpura National Park in Madhya Pradesh to see for themselves how people who lived in the park area have been suitably relocated with drinking water, health services, education, irrigation etc. Krishna Trushti, a PTR research assistant, compared the life here and at Kanha tiger reserve and said, "The tribals here have resigned themselves to fate. The valley is their world." http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ranchi/Tribals-unwilling-to-relocate-from-PTR-area/articleshow/12859956.cms