Centre proposes strengthening of wildlife laws

To curb increasing incidents of wildlife killing across the country and let law act as a deterrent, Minister MOEF has proposed punishments under Wildlife Protection Act at par with FEMA, the dreaded Foreign Exchange Management Act. The draft amendments are supposed to be circulated to States soon, report The Hindu. Recent cases of dreaded poachers getting easy bail and continuing with the killings once out is making the centre realised the need for strengthening the hands of investigating agencies. Even the most dreaded poacher of all Sansar Chand managed to secure bail despite having confessed to trading in almost 500 tigers skin.

Wildlife protection Act to be more tiger friendly

http://beta.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/article53231.ece

Jairam Ramesh proposes complete mining ban in Tadoba

A report in Indian Express quotes MOEF Jairam Ramesh having written to Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan proposing steps against mining and any other ecologically damaging activities being carried out in and around Tadoba Andhari Tiger Sanctuary. Making a significant point, the central minister is quoted as not only advising against mining in the region by Adani Power which was given mining license by the current govt but has also proposed cancelling licenses of all existing mines, a step if taken through could have immense positive impact on the forests in the region. Wildlife enthusiasts and locals concerned over the rapid deterioration of environment around Chandrapur, the district headquater will certainly welcome such a move. Ramesh has voiced his concern also on human dams being proposed in the buffer zone to provide adequate irrigation facilities to villages around the park saying the idea is out of date as it was proposed almost two decades back and the ground situation has changed considerably. The letter to the CM comes after Member secy of NTCA visited Tadoba recently in the wake of many tigers being poisoned by villagers to prevent attacks on humans and preserve their cattle. It is pertinent to note that many tiger cubs have been found abandoned around the sanctuary giving credence to suspicion of their mothers having been either poached or poisoned. Ramesh has also advised the state govt to take steps against curbing movement of poaching gangs into the wildlife sanctuary which borders MP, the home to many tribal poaching gangs.

Raja ji Park loses 50% of its tigers in 4 years

A PTI report cites the latest census carried out in Rajaji national park estimating the population of big cats to be around 10-12 down from the earlier 25 number estimated by the WII census in 2005. Obviously no guesses are needed to pin point causes of this drastic decline. What is most alarming is that park officers who have been working on the ground for years take refuge in similar reduction across other parks in the country to shun responsibility of protecting the big cats. UP govt officials recently hid behind dwindling tiger numbers across India to justify similar drop in their state. India's wildlife protection mechanisms are hopelessly inadequate and despite all the noble intentions of MOEF Jairam Ramesh, it is a matter of another few years before we loose the entire tiger population in the country to poachers.

12 tigers missing from Rajaji national par

http://www.ptinews.com/news/327465_12-tigers-missing-from-Rajaji-national-parkr

NTCA reconsituted 3 years after it was set up

In a move aimed at strengthning oversight on tiger conservation NTCA, the nodal body created after Sariksa Fiasco has been reconstituted as per a report in The Times of India. The body will now be chaired by Union MOEF Jairam Ramesh with Menaka Gandhi has one of its members. Other wildife experts like Valmik Thapar are also amongst the 8 experts apart from members drawn from public life. It worth noting that NTCa has been extremely active ever since it was set up in place of the disbanded Project Tiger after CBI investigations confirmed Sarika had been shorn of all its stiped cats. With states gradually falling in line on the revised mechanism set up by NTCa recently, there is some hope that tiger conservation in India is on the right track.

Govt reconstitutes tiger conservation body

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/environment/flora-fauna/Govt-reconstitutes-tiger-conservation-body-/articleshow/5037698.cms

Uttarakhand govt allows project in the middle of Wildlife corridor in Nainital

The delicate balance betweeen development and conservation which is so key to wildlife protection is being gradually eroded by shortsighted policies of govt.

In a development that has set alarm bells ringing amongst conservation NGOs the Uttarakhand Govt has given permission for infratructure project to be developed right in the middle of a wildlife corridor reports the Times of India.

The said project is key to Tiger and Elephant movement across sanctuaries as per WII which published a report in 2003 and identified the area as key to healthy mixing of wildlife stock in the entire region.

Development no doubt is key every country's progress but at the expense of detroying critical wildlife !!

Thankfully the central govt has taken note of the development and along with found NGOs WII, WWF have decided to visit the area to access the ground situation.

As minister MOEF Jairam Ramesh has been stating, there is an urgent need to create a nodal body with statutory powers to evaluate such projects before they are taken up.

A harmonious balance needs to be found between preserveing forests,wildlife and development which is so key for the survival of future generations.

Wildlife corridor in Uttarakhand faces trouble

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/environment/flora-fauna/Wildlife-corridor-in-Uttarakhand-faces-trouble-/articleshow/5029841.cms