National tiger conservation authority for ban on tourism in core areas of tiger reserve

Deshdeep Saxena, TNN | Jul 12, 2012, 11.30AM IST BHOPAL: The national tiger conservation authority (NTCA) has recommended to ban tourism activities from the core areas of tiger reserves of the country and to limit them to buffer areas for the benefit of the local communities. The authority has filed its recommendation in the Supreme Court. The recommendations were submitted after the apex court's orders while hearing a petition filed by a Bhopal-based activist to ban tourism activities in the core areas of the parks. The petition pleaded the apex court to direct the governments to notify the buffer zones. In its recommendations, the NTCA has used the word "eco-tourism"- Guidelines for eco-tourism in and around protected areas". "There is a need to adhere with the amended provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act in terms of the core/critical tiger habitat or critical wildlife habitat that have defined the need to provide inviolate core and buffer areas (designed for co-existence) in tiger reserves", the recommendations stated. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/indore/National-tiger-conservation-authority-for-ban-on-tourism-in-core-areas-of-tiger-reserve/articleshow/14841285.cms

Forest department steps up patrolling in tiger reserve

TNN | Jul 12, 2012, 12.22PM IST MYSORE: The recent arrest of a gang of poachers, who had laid jaw traps to catch tigers in BRT reserve forest, has come as a wake-up call for the department of forests to intensify patrolling in the tiger reserve areas in the state. Principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) Dipak Sarmah told TOI that they are conducting combing operations to spot any other traps, if any, in the forest to ensure safety to the animals, especially the big cats. He, however, claimed that they have removed all the jaw traps laid by the arrested poachers and they have not found any other so far. A six-member team of poachers from Haryana was arrested by the BRT forest officials before they could fell any tiger on Sunday. According to preliminary investigation, the gang had placed four jaw traps in the tiger reserve which have been recovered from the forest. Wildlife crime control bureau (WLCCB) officials do not rule out the possibility of more members of the gang involved in wildlife crimes in other parts of the state. WLCCB assistant director L Kuruvila said they do not have any definite clues on this score, but said the arrested belong to the Bavaria tribe who are good at laying jaw traps. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysore/Forest-department-steps-up-patrolling-in-tiger-reserve/articleshow/14842555.cms