JAIPUR: The two cubs of T-5, which died in Ranthambore on Wednesday, have been spotted by forest department officials on Thursday.
Both cubs are in good health and are spotted on a hilltop, officials said. "They consumed some dressed meat and water. But when we tried to catch them, they ran way. We will not be chasing them now as it might scare them away from the area and make it more difficult to catch them. We will wait for them instead," a forest official said.
"We have designed a special cage for the cubs in which we hope to keep them after we catch them. But plans thereafter are yet to be framed," state chief wildlife warden H M Bhatia said.
He said the department is in consultation with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) to take care of the cubs, which have also been caught by a trap camera.
R N Mehrotra, principal chief conservator of forest and head of forest forces, however, ruled out the possibility of keeping the cubs in a zoo. "There is no point keeping them in a zoo. It has been ruled out," he said.
Officials said the best place for the cubs would be the already existing enclosure at the Sariska reserve. "Safety of the cubs is our prime concern and Sariska promises to be a better place for them than Ranthambore. We will hand raise them for some years in a protected cage. After that whether we leave them in Sariska or bring them back to Ranthambore will be decided," an official said.
He said raising the two cubs would be a difficult task but the Ranthambore staff had already looked after at least two cubs in the past. "The Guda tigress had died around September 1, 2007 leaving behind two cubs. These cubs, later renamed T-36 and T-37, were hand raised by the staff at Ranthambore.
"Of course, the cubs then were about one or two moths older than these ones. We brought them up till they were two years old and then released them. I remember their first kill was a goat and though they were not good at all then but nature slowly taught them. The T-36 tiger is still alive and is with the T-42 male in the Quwalji area," the official said.
"In 2001-02, the Bairda tigress, too, had died and her cubs were raised by our staff Ranjit, who is still serving with us. He may be assigned the task for these cubs too. The Ranthambore staff are experienced in such cases and they can do a good job," he added.
T-5, popularly known as Kachida tigress, died on Wednesday. She underwent an emergency surgery recently at the Ranthambore National Park after tourism minister Bina Kak spotted it with a wound on its rear.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Cubs of T-5 tigress spotted Anindo Dey, TNN
JAIPUR: The two cubs of T-5, which died in Ranthambore on Wednesday, have been spotted by forest department officials on Thursday.
Both cubs are in good health and are spotted on a hilltop, officials said. "They consumed some dressed meat and water. But when we tried to catch them, they ran way. We will not be chasing them now as it might scare them away from the area and make it more difficult to catch them. We will wait for them instead," a forest official said.
"We have designed a special cage for the cubs in which we hope to keep them after we catch them. But plans thereafter are yet to be framed," state chief wildlife warden H M Bhatia said.
He said the department is in consultation with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) to take care of the cubs, which have also been caught by a trap camera.
R N Mehrotra, principal chief conservator of forest and head of forest forces, however, ruled out the possibility of keeping the cubs in a zoo. "There is no point keeping them in a zoo. It has been ruled out," he said.
Officials said the best place for the cubs would be the already existing enclosure at the Sariska reserve. "Safety of the cubs is our prime concern and Sariska promises to be a better place for them than Ranthambore. We will hand raise them for some years in a protected cage. After that whether we leave them in Sariska or bring them back to Ranthambore will be decided," an official said.
He said raising the two cubs would be a difficult task but the Ranthambore staff had already looked after at least two cubs in the past. "The Guda tigress had died around September 1, 2007 leaving behind two cubs. These cubs, later renamed T-36 and T-37, were hand raised by the staff at Ranthambore.
"Of course, the cubs then were about one or two moths older than these ones. We brought them up till they were two years old and then released them. I remember their first kill was a goat and though they were not good at all then but nature slowly taught them. The T-36 tiger is still alive and is with the T-42 male in the Quwalji area," the official said.
"In 2001-02, the Bairda tigress, too, had died and her cubs were raised by our staff Ranjit, who is still serving with us. He may be assigned the task for these cubs too. The Ranthambore staff are experienced in such cases and they can do a good job," he added.
T-5, popularly known as Kachida tigress, died on Wednesday. She underwent an emergency surgery recently at the Ranthambore National Park after tourism minister Bina Kak spotted it with a wound on its rear.
Both cubs are in good health and are spotted on a hilltop, officials said. "They consumed some dressed meat and water. But when we tried to catch them, they ran way. We will not be chasing them now as it might scare them away from the area and make it more difficult to catch them. We will wait for them instead," a forest official said.
"We have designed a special cage for the cubs in which we hope to keep them after we catch them. But plans thereafter are yet to be framed," state chief wildlife warden H M Bhatia said.
He said the department is in consultation with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) to take care of the cubs, which have also been caught by a trap camera.
R N Mehrotra, principal chief conservator of forest and head of forest forces, however, ruled out the possibility of keeping the cubs in a zoo. "There is no point keeping them in a zoo. It has been ruled out," he said.
Officials said the best place for the cubs would be the already existing enclosure at the Sariska reserve. "Safety of the cubs is our prime concern and Sariska promises to be a better place for them than Ranthambore. We will hand raise them for some years in a protected cage. After that whether we leave them in Sariska or bring them back to Ranthambore will be decided," an official said.
He said raising the two cubs would be a difficult task but the Ranthambore staff had already looked after at least two cubs in the past. "The Guda tigress had died around September 1, 2007 leaving behind two cubs. These cubs, later renamed T-36 and T-37, were hand raised by the staff at Ranthambore.
"Of course, the cubs then were about one or two moths older than these ones. We brought them up till they were two years old and then released them. I remember their first kill was a goat and though they were not good at all then but nature slowly taught them. The T-36 tiger is still alive and is with the T-42 male in the Quwalji area," the official said.
"In 2001-02, the Bairda tigress, too, had died and her cubs were raised by our staff Ranjit, who is still serving with us. He may be assigned the task for these cubs too. The Ranthambore staff are experienced in such cases and they can do a good job," he added.
T-5, popularly known as Kachida tigress, died on Wednesday. She underwent an emergency surgery recently at the Ranthambore National Park after tourism minister Bina Kak spotted it with a wound on its rear.
Traumatized tigress suffers miscarriage- Vijay Pinjarkar /, TNN
Nagpur: Foresters offered prayers at the popular Tekdi Ganesh temple on Wednesday for the well-being of the Katlabodi tigress that was rescued from a 35-foot dry well, 40 kms from here, on Monday. It didn't go unanswered as the tigress seems to be on the road to recovery.
However, the severe shock and trauma of having fallen into the well led to a miscarriage with the tigress, which is expected to be less than six years old, delivering three stillborn cubs on Tuesday afternoon. Though disheartening news, the tragedy quelled rumours of its cubs moving in the Katlabodi forest area.
The traumatized tigress was brought to the Deer Park at Seminary Hills around 9.30pm on Monday night and was kept in isolation. On Tuesday around 11am, the forest staff monitoring the tigress was surprised to see something unusual in the cage.
The tigress had delivered two stillborn cubs. The third cub was noticed after the cage was shifted to the forest guesthouse around 1.30pm. The cages were completely covered with green net and late in the evening when the animal was being put in the squeeze cage, the staff saw one more stillborn cub.
Of the three premature cubs, two are female while one is a male. Tiger experts, who did not want to be quoted, said pregnancy in the tigers is not obvious to the eye for the first two and half months, but becomes noticeable only in the last 10-12 days.
"The tigress looked healthy but its genitalia were normal and hence the pregnancy could not be detected. The gestation period for tigers ranges from 93 to 111 days. It can have a litter of between 1 and 7 blind cubs, the norm being 2 to 4," an expert vet told TOI.
In the case of Katlabodi tigress, the cubs had developed body organs like whiskers, nails, ears, legs and tail. The coat and teeth were missing. Doctors of the government veterinary college here are trying to ascertain age of the cubs.
The dead cubs will be used for educational purpose for vet students. Chief wildlife warden DC Pant, who was on tour and could not be contacted, has apparently given his OK to this plan.
Conservationists say the miscarriage might be perhaps one of the reasons why the tigress took so long on Tuesday evening to enter the treatment cage. "She must have been unable to bear the trauma of three dead cubs around her and hence the reluctance to move into the other cage," they said.
The staff and forest officials felt that the tigress was not moving due to an internal injury after the fall. However, at night, after the noise and traffic came to a standstill, the wildcat entered the treatment cage.
On Wednesday morning, a team of Dr NP Dakshinkar, professor of medicine at Nagpur Veterinary College, and assistant professor Dr Gautam Bhojane started treatment of the tigress. Its blood, urine, scat samples were tested and all the reports appear to be normal. The vets have prescribed some medicines.
Staff monitoring the tigress saw the tigress moving and also standing on all four legs, indicating that her the hind ones were responding and the spinal cord was all right.
Though miscarriage is an unusual phenomena among tigers, experts TOI spoke to said it's also quite normal. "Due to great fall, it went into physical and mental shock. Due to pressure on its abdomen it must have bled from inside and aborted the cubs," said PM Lad, the ex-principal chief conservator of forests of Madhya Pradesh.
His wife Dr Kamal Lad, a gynaecologist who had raised a tiger cub for seven months in 1983, said the case is very similar to humans. "Self abortion is rare in tigers. But any stressful situation can lead to miscarriage," she said.
"It may also happen when the predator is surrounded by so many humans. Although having no option but to capture and cage the animal, it causes irritation and stress leading to such a situation," said a Chennai-based wildlife expert.
However, the severe shock and trauma of having fallen into the well led to a miscarriage with the tigress, which is expected to be less than six years old, delivering three stillborn cubs on Tuesday afternoon. Though disheartening news, the tragedy quelled rumours of its cubs moving in the Katlabodi forest area.
The traumatized tigress was brought to the Deer Park at Seminary Hills around 9.30pm on Monday night and was kept in isolation. On Tuesday around 11am, the forest staff monitoring the tigress was surprised to see something unusual in the cage.
The tigress had delivered two stillborn cubs. The third cub was noticed after the cage was shifted to the forest guesthouse around 1.30pm. The cages were completely covered with green net and late in the evening when the animal was being put in the squeeze cage, the staff saw one more stillborn cub.
Of the three premature cubs, two are female while one is a male. Tiger experts, who did not want to be quoted, said pregnancy in the tigers is not obvious to the eye for the first two and half months, but becomes noticeable only in the last 10-12 days.
"The tigress looked healthy but its genitalia were normal and hence the pregnancy could not be detected. The gestation period for tigers ranges from 93 to 111 days. It can have a litter of between 1 and 7 blind cubs, the norm being 2 to 4," an expert vet told TOI.
In the case of Katlabodi tigress, the cubs had developed body organs like whiskers, nails, ears, legs and tail. The coat and teeth were missing. Doctors of the government veterinary college here are trying to ascertain age of the cubs.
The dead cubs will be used for educational purpose for vet students. Chief wildlife warden DC Pant, who was on tour and could not be contacted, has apparently given his OK to this plan.
Conservationists say the miscarriage might be perhaps one of the reasons why the tigress took so long on Tuesday evening to enter the treatment cage. "She must have been unable to bear the trauma of three dead cubs around her and hence the reluctance to move into the other cage," they said.
The staff and forest officials felt that the tigress was not moving due to an internal injury after the fall. However, at night, after the noise and traffic came to a standstill, the wildcat entered the treatment cage.
On Wednesday morning, a team of Dr NP Dakshinkar, professor of medicine at Nagpur Veterinary College, and assistant professor Dr Gautam Bhojane started treatment of the tigress. Its blood, urine, scat samples were tested and all the reports appear to be normal. The vets have prescribed some medicines.
Staff monitoring the tigress saw the tigress moving and also standing on all four legs, indicating that her the hind ones were responding and the spinal cord was all right.
Though miscarriage is an unusual phenomena among tigers, experts TOI spoke to said it's also quite normal. "Due to great fall, it went into physical and mental shock. Due to pressure on its abdomen it must have bled from inside and aborted the cubs," said PM Lad, the ex-principal chief conservator of forests of Madhya Pradesh.
His wife Dr Kamal Lad, a gynaecologist who had raised a tiger cub for seven months in 1983, said the case is very similar to humans. "Self abortion is rare in tigers. But any stressful situation can lead to miscarriage," she said.
"It may also happen when the predator is surrounded by so many humans. Although having no option but to capture and cage the animal, it causes irritation and stress leading to such a situation," said a Chennai-based wildlife expert.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Ranthambhore tigress, nursed by Tourism Minister, found dead
A well-meaning intervention for tiger conservation appears to have turned futile as T-5, the tigress popularly known by the name ‘Kachida female,' was found dead in the Ranthambhore National Park on Wednesday.
T-5, a much written about animal after Rajasthan Tourism Minister Bina Kak got a wound in its body cleared of maggots last week during a visit to the park, appears to have died on Tuesday. The forest staff are now trying to locate two of its two/three-month-old cubs.
‘Natural death'
Rajasthan Minister for Forests and Environment Ramlal Jat has attributed the death to natural causes. After making preliminary enquiries, he has despatched a team to Ranthambhore to probe the matter.
It is obvious that “natural death” in this case means that the tigress was not poached or killed by humans. All the other reasons, including diseases and infections, could be termed natural by some logic.
The carcass of the tigress, aged around seven, was found in the Kachida area on Wednesday morning, though the death seemingly took place some 18 hours earlier.
“I am feeling very sad. They never told me about it being unwell or anything like that. I had told the officials to keep a round-the-clock watch on the tigress and its cubs. But now it appears that they kept misleading me about sighting it even when they had no trace of it,” said a visibly shocked Ms. Kak, who had extended her stay in Sawai Madhopur to oversee the treatment of the animal.
“Maybe the maggots had already entered the internal parts of the animal. Or it could be that the wound got further aggravated. The animal was often found sitting in the water after her treatment,” Ms. Kak observed.
“Even when the cubs were not seen with the mother it was not reported by the park staff. Then the tourist vehicles were also allowed in that area though I had warned them against any disturbance to this tiger family for some time,” she noted. “I am sad, but I have no regrets as I did what I should have.”
T-5, a much written about animal after Rajasthan Tourism Minister Bina Kak got a wound in its body cleared of maggots last week during a visit to the park, appears to have died on Tuesday. The forest staff are now trying to locate two of its two/three-month-old cubs.
‘Natural death'
Rajasthan Minister for Forests and Environment Ramlal Jat has attributed the death to natural causes. After making preliminary enquiries, he has despatched a team to Ranthambhore to probe the matter.
It is obvious that “natural death” in this case means that the tigress was not poached or killed by humans. All the other reasons, including diseases and infections, could be termed natural by some logic.
The carcass of the tigress, aged around seven, was found in the Kachida area on Wednesday morning, though the death seemingly took place some 18 hours earlier.
“I am feeling very sad. They never told me about it being unwell or anything like that. I had told the officials to keep a round-the-clock watch on the tigress and its cubs. But now it appears that they kept misleading me about sighting it even when they had no trace of it,” said a visibly shocked Ms. Kak, who had extended her stay in Sawai Madhopur to oversee the treatment of the animal.
“Maybe the maggots had already entered the internal parts of the animal. Or it could be that the wound got further aggravated. The animal was often found sitting in the water after her treatment,” Ms. Kak observed.
“Even when the cubs were not seen with the mother it was not reported by the park staff. Then the tourist vehicles were also allowed in that area though I had warned them against any disturbance to this tiger family for some time,” she noted. “I am sad, but I have no regrets as I did what I should have.”
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Third Tiger Dies within Fortnight in Corbett National Park
The body of a nine year old tiger was found in the Terrai forest near Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand.
The tiger’s death has been related to natural reasons, mainly old age problems. "It is a male tiger and there is no sign of outer injury or marks on its body. It is an old tiger. We will conduct the postmortem today and then we will tell what really happened," said Nishant Verma, a forest official.
"The first instance here is that its paws are all torn and there are cracks in it. Also his claws are not sharp and are very blunt. It seems to be an old tiger and so there is the possibility of a natural death," Verma pointed out. Once the final results of the post mortem are revealed, the final reason of the death can be ascertained.
This is the third tiger that died at Corbett National Park within a fortnight. A pregnant tigress was found dead on 25th January and foresters shot dead a man-eater tiger on 27th January.
This year the Corbett National Park will celebrate its platinum jubilee year. The park named after hunter turned conservationist, Jim Corbett is one of the oldest National Parks in the country and has also been declared as Corebtt Tiger Reserve under Project Tiger of the Central Government.
Though celebrations for the platinum jubilee began in January with the introduction of a Special Tiger Protection Force for the big cats, most of the functions and programmes are scheduled to be held in March 2011.
The tiger’s death has been related to natural reasons, mainly old age problems. "It is a male tiger and there is no sign of outer injury or marks on its body. It is an old tiger. We will conduct the postmortem today and then we will tell what really happened," said Nishant Verma, a forest official.
"The first instance here is that its paws are all torn and there are cracks in it. Also his claws are not sharp and are very blunt. It seems to be an old tiger and so there is the possibility of a natural death," Verma pointed out. Once the final results of the post mortem are revealed, the final reason of the death can be ascertained.
This is the third tiger that died at Corbett National Park within a fortnight. A pregnant tigress was found dead on 25th January and foresters shot dead a man-eater tiger on 27th January.
This year the Corbett National Park will celebrate its platinum jubilee year. The park named after hunter turned conservationist, Jim Corbett is one of the oldest National Parks in the country and has also been declared as Corebtt Tiger Reserve under Project Tiger of the Central Government.
Though celebrations for the platinum jubilee began in January with the introduction of a Special Tiger Protection Force for the big cats, most of the functions and programmes are scheduled to be held in March 2011.
Kudremukh for tigers, says Jairam
BANGALORE: Union environment and forests minister Jairam Ramesh is on the warpath again, but this time he could well find an army of supporters in Karnataka for his initiative. He wants the Kudremukh National Park, 350km from Bangalore in Chikmagalur district, to be made a tiger reserve.
In a letter to chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, the minister, who hails from Chikmagalur district, said by doing this, the park's biodiversity can be saved from future mining threats. He has asked the government to send him a proposal under Section 38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, to declare the park a tiger reserve.
To buttress his suggestion, Ramesh said the area is biologically significant for notification as a tiger reserve since it's located amid other good tiger areas in the Malnad-Mysore landscape. In the last all-India tiger population estimate, the Kudremukh-Bhadra landscape has one of the three distinct tiger populations in Karnataka which extends up to the Bhimasankar area in Maharashtra. Independent surveys conducted by Bangalore-based Centre for Wildlife Studies have also found that the area could potentially support a viable tiger population.
The Kudremukh Iron Ore Company, which had been operating in the area, has been closed down following a final judgment of the Supreme Court in 2002 and all major operations stand legally terminated since December 2005. Some machinery and infrastructure still remains and needs to be removed. Ramesh said there are several small revenue enclaves within the park and people don't have access to employment opportunities and also suffer due to man-animal conflict. There were reports that around 450 families have requested the state government for relocation and 12 of them have been moved last year.
In a letter to chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, the minister, who hails from Chikmagalur district, said by doing this, the park's biodiversity can be saved from future mining threats. He has asked the government to send him a proposal under Section 38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, to declare the park a tiger reserve.
To buttress his suggestion, Ramesh said the area is biologically significant for notification as a tiger reserve since it's located amid other good tiger areas in the Malnad-Mysore landscape. In the last all-India tiger population estimate, the Kudremukh-Bhadra landscape has one of the three distinct tiger populations in Karnataka which extends up to the Bhimasankar area in Maharashtra. Independent surveys conducted by Bangalore-based Centre for Wildlife Studies have also found that the area could potentially support a viable tiger population.
The Kudremukh Iron Ore Company, which had been operating in the area, has been closed down following a final judgment of the Supreme Court in 2002 and all major operations stand legally terminated since December 2005. Some machinery and infrastructure still remains and needs to be removed. Ramesh said there are several small revenue enclaves within the park and people don't have access to employment opportunities and also suffer due to man-animal conflict. There were reports that around 450 families have requested the state government for relocation and 12 of them have been moved last year.
3 of 6 WWF volunteers freed
Three volunteers, all women, of the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF), who were among the six abducted by combat uniform-clad gunmen on Sunday from the Manas Tiger Reserve, were released on Tuesday night. Three men are still being held captive.
Kokrajhar Superintendent of Police P.K. Dutta told The Hindu that the three women were released around 6.15 p.m. in the Bengtol area of Chirang district. Efforts were on to secure the safe release of the other three captives.
The WWF-India on Tuesday issued an appeal for the immediate and safe release of its volunteers: “These young volunteers were part of the WWF team carrying out tiger habitat occupancy surveys in the area. These young and committed individuals were working towards helping to conserve the important biodiversity of the area for the larger benefit of the local community, the State and the region.”
Kokrajhar Superintendent of Police P.K. Dutta told The Hindu that the three women were released around 6.15 p.m. in the Bengtol area of Chirang district. Efforts were on to secure the safe release of the other three captives.
The WWF-India on Tuesday issued an appeal for the immediate and safe release of its volunteers: “These young volunteers were part of the WWF team carrying out tiger habitat occupancy surveys in the area. These young and committed individuals were working towards helping to conserve the important biodiversity of the area for the larger benefit of the local community, the State and the region.”
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Plan panel poaches quarter of tiger authority funds
Despite tall claims on tiger conservation in the country and clamour for more funds by the Ministry of Environment and Forest, the Planning Commission has decided to reduce the budget of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) by 25 per cent.
The sources in NTCA and tiger experts feel this is against the Government’s own policy of making core critical area of tiger reserves inviolate. Such drastic cut in allocation would greatly hamper the relocation of villages from the reserves.
The move has come at time when the country is expecting its tiger population to go up in the upcoming census count. Also, when India joined the International Tiger Forum comprising 13 nations, the member countries had decided to focus on protection of the tiger habitats, addressing poaching, illegal trade and providing the financial resources for this emergency plan.
Talking to The Pioneer, well-placed sources in NTCA said, a letter stating a mere allocation of `150 crore has been received for the 39 tiger reserves of the country for the next fiscal year. The authority, during its recent meeting with the members of the Planning Commission, had sought `1,100 crore against which it had even agreed on an allotment of about `700 crore, the sources informed. However, this drastic cut in the funds has caught NTCA high and dry.
The sources in the NTCA further pointed out that the Government in its seriousness to make the core/ critical areas of tiger reserves inviolate had even enhanced the relocation package to `10 lakh per family.
The requirement of `5,000 crore was worked out for the relocation process during the entire plan period. There are 762 villages with about 48,000 families inside core areas.
Even the budget of `196 crore for the current fiscal year is insufficient to meet this massive task and is just about enough to keep the management and ongoing activities of tiger reserves going. “Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh had taken up the issue with the Planning Commission and we hoped to have sufficient funds to give relocation a fresh impetus,” said the sources.
Commenting on the grim scenario, conservationist and former director of Project Tiger PK Sen pointed out that the cut in allocation would further aggravate the prevailing crisis in the tiger reserves. “How can we hope to make the critical areas of the reserve inviolate with such a meager fund”? he questioned. It would hamper the implementation of the Government’s own policy decision, he regretted. The worst hit would be the already suffering relocation of the villagers, he lamented.
The Prime Minister had directed that the Centre should fund modernisation of Tiger Reserves management and had sought a State-specific strategy for such Central assistance, while suggesting other protection schemes.
The sources in NTCA and tiger experts feel this is against the Government’s own policy of making core critical area of tiger reserves inviolate. Such drastic cut in allocation would greatly hamper the relocation of villages from the reserves.
The move has come at time when the country is expecting its tiger population to go up in the upcoming census count. Also, when India joined the International Tiger Forum comprising 13 nations, the member countries had decided to focus on protection of the tiger habitats, addressing poaching, illegal trade and providing the financial resources for this emergency plan.
Talking to The Pioneer, well-placed sources in NTCA said, a letter stating a mere allocation of `150 crore has been received for the 39 tiger reserves of the country for the next fiscal year. The authority, during its recent meeting with the members of the Planning Commission, had sought `1,100 crore against which it had even agreed on an allotment of about `700 crore, the sources informed. However, this drastic cut in the funds has caught NTCA high and dry.
The sources in the NTCA further pointed out that the Government in its seriousness to make the core/ critical areas of tiger reserves inviolate had even enhanced the relocation package to `10 lakh per family.
The requirement of `5,000 crore was worked out for the relocation process during the entire plan period. There are 762 villages with about 48,000 families inside core areas.
Even the budget of `196 crore for the current fiscal year is insufficient to meet this massive task and is just about enough to keep the management and ongoing activities of tiger reserves going. “Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh had taken up the issue with the Planning Commission and we hoped to have sufficient funds to give relocation a fresh impetus,” said the sources.
Commenting on the grim scenario, conservationist and former director of Project Tiger PK Sen pointed out that the cut in allocation would further aggravate the prevailing crisis in the tiger reserves. “How can we hope to make the critical areas of the reserve inviolate with such a meager fund”? he questioned. It would hamper the implementation of the Government’s own policy decision, he regretted. The worst hit would be the already suffering relocation of the villagers, he lamented.
The Prime Minister had directed that the Centre should fund modernisation of Tiger Reserves management and had sought a State-specific strategy for such Central assistance, while suggesting other protection schemes.
Tiger reserve tag for Kaziranga draws ire
JORHAT: Activists of a number of organizations staged a protest at the Bokakhat SDO's office on Monday, seeking removal of the tiger reserve tag from Kaziranga National Park as they feel it would not only restrict their movement but also affect business. The park was declared a tiger reserve in 2007.
The Kaziranga Resort Association, the Bokakhat unit of Aaasu, Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad, Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti and the Kaziranga Market Association took part in the protest spearheaded by the Kaziranga Jeep Safari Association. They have also sent a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmoham Singh and environment minister Jairam Ramesh seeking their intervention.
Kaziranga Jeep Safari Association president Punen Gogoi said, "We oppose the government's decision to make Kaziranga a tiger reserve in the greater interest of people living here. We have sought immediate intervention of the Prime Minister and enivironment minister."
He added, "Kaziranga is famous for the one-horn rhino and the government should take steps for its protection and conservation. We have welcomed the government's initiatives to conserve tigers through Project Tiger' scheme. But we never allowed them to turn the park into a tiger reserve as the restrictions that will follow will severely harm the tourism sector as well as business."
He said if Kaziranga becomes a tiger reserve, the national park will become a core tiger area and restrictions on jeep safaris, population eviction in adjacent areas and ban on private elephant safaris would be imposed. As a result, the tourism sector will be affected and thousands of people will lose employment.
"Our agitation will continue until our demands are fulfilled. The centre and the state government must revoke the decision immediately," he added.
The Union ministry of forest and environment had initiated a step to make Kaziranga a tiger reserve in 2007. Accordingly, the state forest department implemented a few projects at the national park. Kaziranga authorities have also imposed some restrictions on tourists and safaris. Besides, people have been directed to take NOCs in case of land purchase and sell.
The Kaziranga Resort Association, the Bokakhat unit of Aaasu, Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad, Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti and the Kaziranga Market Association took part in the protest spearheaded by the Kaziranga Jeep Safari Association. They have also sent a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmoham Singh and environment minister Jairam Ramesh seeking their intervention.
Kaziranga Jeep Safari Association president Punen Gogoi said, "We oppose the government's decision to make Kaziranga a tiger reserve in the greater interest of people living here. We have sought immediate intervention of the Prime Minister and enivironment minister."
He added, "Kaziranga is famous for the one-horn rhino and the government should take steps for its protection and conservation. We have welcomed the government's initiatives to conserve tigers through Project Tiger' scheme. But we never allowed them to turn the park into a tiger reserve as the restrictions that will follow will severely harm the tourism sector as well as business."
He said if Kaziranga becomes a tiger reserve, the national park will become a core tiger area and restrictions on jeep safaris, population eviction in adjacent areas and ban on private elephant safaris would be imposed. As a result, the tourism sector will be affected and thousands of people will lose employment.
"Our agitation will continue until our demands are fulfilled. The centre and the state government must revoke the decision immediately," he added.
The Union ministry of forest and environment had initiated a step to make Kaziranga a tiger reserve in 2007. Accordingly, the state forest department implemented a few projects at the national park. Kaziranga authorities have also imposed some restrictions on tourists and safaris. Besides, people have been directed to take NOCs in case of land purchase and sell.
Tiger stray into Madhya pradesh confirmed
JAIPUR: It is now official that the male tiger T-38 of Ranthambore has now found a new home at Kuno-Palpur sanctuary in Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh. The tiger was recently caught by a trap camera.
The big cat strayed out of the park some six months back and had been moving near the ravines of Chambal. Thereafter, the three-year -old male tiger strayed into Sheopur district of the neighbouring state after having spent a fortnight in the Shev Ki Chambal area along the Chambal river.
In October, pugmarks of the tiger was spotted near the Kuno-Palpur sanctuary which will play host to the proposed Cheetah Project in the country. Since then, forest officials of the sanctuary have been keeping a close watch on the big cat. Though the tiger may have gained entry into the sanctuary quite some time back but it was pictured recently.
"The tiger's pugmarks were noticed last month and recently it was captured on a camera," said Ashok Mishra, DFO, Kuno-Palpur.
Though a welcomed guest there, but it may become a point of no return for the tiger to Ranthambore. For not only is the sanctuary a better habitat than the overcrowded Ranthambore but with the number of males on the rise in Ranthambore it would have been a constant strive for the big cats here.
However, with no tigress present in the area, T-38 could move forward to the Madho National Park that has a few big cats, officials felt. The tiger arrived in Kuno Palpur travelling about 100 km from Ranthambore. The sanctuary is spread over an area of around 350 sq km.
Officials here termed it as a natural dispersal process catalysed by over-crowding at the Ranthambore reserve. Currently, about four tigers have dispersed from the reserve and while there is one each at Keoladeo National Park in Bharatpur and Kota, two big cats have crossed the Chambal river and made into Madhya Pradesh.
The big cat strayed out of the park some six months back and had been moving near the ravines of Chambal. Thereafter, the three-year -old male tiger strayed into Sheopur district of the neighbouring state after having spent a fortnight in the Shev Ki Chambal area along the Chambal river.
In October, pugmarks of the tiger was spotted near the Kuno-Palpur sanctuary which will play host to the proposed Cheetah Project in the country. Since then, forest officials of the sanctuary have been keeping a close watch on the big cat. Though the tiger may have gained entry into the sanctuary quite some time back but it was pictured recently.
"The tiger's pugmarks were noticed last month and recently it was captured on a camera," said Ashok Mishra, DFO, Kuno-Palpur.
Though a welcomed guest there, but it may become a point of no return for the tiger to Ranthambore. For not only is the sanctuary a better habitat than the overcrowded Ranthambore but with the number of males on the rise in Ranthambore it would have been a constant strive for the big cats here.
However, with no tigress present in the area, T-38 could move forward to the Madho National Park that has a few big cats, officials felt. The tiger arrived in Kuno Palpur travelling about 100 km from Ranthambore. The sanctuary is spread over an area of around 350 sq km.
Officials here termed it as a natural dispersal process catalysed by over-crowding at the Ranthambore reserve. Currently, about four tigers have dispersed from the reserve and while there is one each at Keoladeo National Park in Bharatpur and Kota, two big cats have crossed the Chambal river and made into Madhya Pradesh.
Tiger rescued from well, to be let off in the wild
Nagpur, Feb 7 (IANS) A tiger, which had fallen into a dry well near the Chameli forest area, was finally extricated Monday evening after a three-hour rescue operation, a wildlife official said.
The incident took place in an area about 40 km from here.
The tiger, a full grown adult around four years old, fell into the 40-feet-deep dry well, which was not protected by a wall, said Nitin Desai, Central India director of the Wildlife Protection Society of India.
'From preliminary information available, it was probably chasing some prey like deer or a wild boar and must have accidentally fallen into the well around dawn today. It spent around ten hours in the well without food or water,' Desai told IANS.
The animal's plight was detected almost five hours later when some tribals and forest officials heard its roar and alerted police and wildlife officials, who then mounted a rescue operation.
Animal experts and a veterinary doctor reached the place around noon with a cage and the rescue operation was taken up. It took over three and a half hours to take out the big cat from the well.
When it was brought up, the tribals and officials erupted into a roar of applause and cheers for the dazed animal which appeared weak and shaken.
An examination revealed that the creature had not sustained any fractures or injuries despite falling from such a height.
Forest officials planned to release it back into the wild later, Desai added.
He said it was surprising that a tiger had strayed into this area which has never reported a sighting in the past many years since it is not a thick forest region.
Though it would take time to confirm, Desai guessed that the tiger may have strayed from either the Bor Wildlife Reserve in Wardha or Pench Wildlife Reserve near Nagpur.
The incident took place in an area about 40 km from here.
The tiger, a full grown adult around four years old, fell into the 40-feet-deep dry well, which was not protected by a wall, said Nitin Desai, Central India director of the Wildlife Protection Society of India.
'From preliminary information available, it was probably chasing some prey like deer or a wild boar and must have accidentally fallen into the well around dawn today. It spent around ten hours in the well without food or water,' Desai told IANS.
The animal's plight was detected almost five hours later when some tribals and forest officials heard its roar and alerted police and wildlife officials, who then mounted a rescue operation.
Animal experts and a veterinary doctor reached the place around noon with a cage and the rescue operation was taken up. It took over three and a half hours to take out the big cat from the well.
When it was brought up, the tribals and officials erupted into a roar of applause and cheers for the dazed animal which appeared weak and shaken.
An examination revealed that the creature had not sustained any fractures or injuries despite falling from such a height.
Forest officials planned to release it back into the wild later, Desai added.
He said it was surprising that a tiger had strayed into this area which has never reported a sighting in the past many years since it is not a thick forest region.
Though it would take time to confirm, Desai guessed that the tiger may have strayed from either the Bor Wildlife Reserve in Wardha or Pench Wildlife Reserve near Nagpur.
Proof of tiger killing sambhar in Mhadei Paul Fernandes, TNN, Feb 8, 2011, 05.55am IST
PANAJI: World wide fund for nature (WWF) Goa has found some evidence of a sambhar being killed by a tiger in Satrem, within the limits of the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary recently, while two buffaloes have been reported killed or injured last week in nearby Choraundem.
"We have submitted photographic evidence of the remains of the sambhar killed by a tiger a few weeks back at Satrem to forest dept," WWF (Goa) director Nitin Sawant told TOI on Monday. Tiger pug marks were also noticed by the side of the carcass, he added.
WWF conducted investigations at the site with the help of three volunteers, Kashinath Gaonkar, Trupti Jadhav and Anand and made a cast of the tiger pug marks for further study. "Only a tiger can kill a sambhar," Sawant said.
The WWF team traced the tiger pug marks trailing right up to the Surla river.
Speaker Pratapsingh Rane (a WWF trustee and Poriem MLA) asked for the Satrem evidence and it was submitted to him, Sawant said. "The habitat is rich with floral and faunal biodiversity and is ideal also as a tiger habitat," Sawant said.
Forest department officials said that they do not rely on evidence provided by others alone, but also carry out their own investigations. "We have also taken pug marks of a tiger near Anjunem dam about a fortnight back," deputy conservator of forest (wildlife and ecotourism, north) D N F Carvalho said.
Two incidents of killing of buffaloes by a tiger on February 3 and 5 have been reported in Choraundem. The village lies in the foothills of Chorla ghat on Goa's border and within the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary, and a few miles away from Satrem.
Both buffaloes belong to Mano Phale, 67, who also lost one buffalo on February 4, 2009.
A forest department source said that movement of the big cats is being monitored.
"The people near the sanctuary have been asked not to let their animals in the sanctuary," Carvalho said.
As part of the wildlife census conducted last year, the forest department had plans to use the camera trap method for more clinching evidence of the tiger's presence in Goa's forests. "We are waiting for directions to employ this method from wildlife institute of India, Dehra Dun," Carvalho said.
Stating that use of camera trap method is a difficult task, he said WII guidelines would help in completing the phase two of the census.
The animal census which was conducted for ten days, including two-day training for participants prior to their entry in the field, is largely over. "Two days were set out for the count of big cats," sources said.
"We have submitted photographic evidence of the remains of the sambhar killed by a tiger a few weeks back at Satrem to forest dept," WWF (Goa) director Nitin Sawant told TOI on Monday. Tiger pug marks were also noticed by the side of the carcass, he added.
WWF conducted investigations at the site with the help of three volunteers, Kashinath Gaonkar, Trupti Jadhav and Anand and made a cast of the tiger pug marks for further study. "Only a tiger can kill a sambhar," Sawant said.
The WWF team traced the tiger pug marks trailing right up to the Surla river.
Speaker Pratapsingh Rane (a WWF trustee and Poriem MLA) asked for the Satrem evidence and it was submitted to him, Sawant said. "The habitat is rich with floral and faunal biodiversity and is ideal also as a tiger habitat," Sawant said.
Forest department officials said that they do not rely on evidence provided by others alone, but also carry out their own investigations. "We have also taken pug marks of a tiger near Anjunem dam about a fortnight back," deputy conservator of forest (wildlife and ecotourism, north) D N F Carvalho said.
Two incidents of killing of buffaloes by a tiger on February 3 and 5 have been reported in Choraundem. The village lies in the foothills of Chorla ghat on Goa's border and within the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary, and a few miles away from Satrem.
Both buffaloes belong to Mano Phale, 67, who also lost one buffalo on February 4, 2009.
A forest department source said that movement of the big cats is being monitored.
"The people near the sanctuary have been asked not to let their animals in the sanctuary," Carvalho said.
As part of the wildlife census conducted last year, the forest department had plans to use the camera trap method for more clinching evidence of the tiger's presence in Goa's forests. "We are waiting for directions to employ this method from wildlife institute of India, Dehra Dun," Carvalho said.
Stating that use of camera trap method is a difficult task, he said WII guidelines would help in completing the phase two of the census.
The animal census which was conducted for ten days, including two-day training for participants prior to their entry in the field, is largely over. "Two days were set out for the count of big cats," sources said.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Another tiger found dead in Corbett Park
DEHRADUN: A 10-year-old tiger's carcass was recovered from a forested area near Corbett Tiger Reserve in Uttarakhand's Ramnagar on Saturday evening.
Forest department sources said the cause of the tiger's death would be known after a postmortem, but the carcass' condition suggests that the big cat may have died two or three days earlier.
Divisional forest officer Nishant Verma said the death appears to be natural and that a two-member team of Corbett Tiger Reserve vets would conduct the post-mortem.
Sources said six tigers have died in the reserve and surrounding area since December. Forest officials gunned down a man-eater tiger that had killed five people in the reserve's buffer zone around two weeks back.
Forest department sources said the cause of the tiger's death would be known after a postmortem, but the carcass' condition suggests that the big cat may have died two or three days earlier.
Divisional forest officer Nishant Verma said the death appears to be natural and that a two-member team of Corbett Tiger Reserve vets would conduct the post-mortem.
Sources said six tigers have died in the reserve and surrounding area since December. Forest officials gunned down a man-eater tiger that had killed five people in the reserve's buffer zone around two weeks back.
Tadoba tourist gypsies must comply with RTO norms before Feb 28
CHANDRAPUR: Alarmed by the blatant violation of traffic related regulations by tourist gypsy vehicles in Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), forest authorities have initiated measures to rein in the violators. While TATR administration has announced a deadline for seeking of tourist permit and other necessary clearances from RTO office for gypsy operators, all these vehicles are being checked for illegally installed gas kits (CNG units) and overloading of passengers.
RTO officials here had discovered that majority of tourist gypsies plying in TATR here do not have their registration at Chandrapur RTO office. While many such tourist vehicles were registered in districts other than Chandrapur, a few of them have their registration in Andhra Pradesh. If Chandrapur RTO is to give tourist permit to these vehicles, they first have to be registered here. However, this has not been done for many vehicles.
Moreover, none of these gypsies has a tourist permit mandatory for carrying tourists on commercial basis. RTO also had received complaints about these vehicle boarding more than permissible carrying capacity of passengers and some of them had even installed illegal gas kits without approval of RTO authorities. TOI had reported about this violation of tourist vehicles in TATR on January 23. After learning about the violation of norms, TATR authorities have now initiated measures check abuse of traffic related laws in their territory.
CF and field director, TATR, Vinaykumar Sinha said that forest department is coordinating with RTO authorities to check the violations. "There are around 43 tourist gypsies plying in TATR. We have asked all gypsy operators to seek the necessary tourist permit and other RTO related clearances by the end of February. No gypsy without valid documents would be allowed to enter TATR after the deadline," said Sinha.
He said, "We had asked the RTO officials to hold a meeting with the union of tourist gypsy operators and guide them about the regulations and clearances regarding traffic laws. As soon as RTO gives consent, a meeting would be convened to facilitate the smooth implementation of law." President of tourist gypsy operator union in TATR, Sanjay Mankar, had earlier agreed that they are ready to seek necessary tourist permits if it is mandatory.
RTO officials here had discovered that majority of tourist gypsies plying in TATR here do not have their registration at Chandrapur RTO office. While many such tourist vehicles were registered in districts other than Chandrapur, a few of them have their registration in Andhra Pradesh. If Chandrapur RTO is to give tourist permit to these vehicles, they first have to be registered here. However, this has not been done for many vehicles.
Moreover, none of these gypsies has a tourist permit mandatory for carrying tourists on commercial basis. RTO also had received complaints about these vehicle boarding more than permissible carrying capacity of passengers and some of them had even installed illegal gas kits without approval of RTO authorities. TOI had reported about this violation of tourist vehicles in TATR on January 23. After learning about the violation of norms, TATR authorities have now initiated measures check abuse of traffic related laws in their territory.
CF and field director, TATR, Vinaykumar Sinha said that forest department is coordinating with RTO authorities to check the violations. "There are around 43 tourist gypsies plying in TATR. We have asked all gypsy operators to seek the necessary tourist permit and other RTO related clearances by the end of February. No gypsy without valid documents would be allowed to enter TATR after the deadline," said Sinha.
He said, "We had asked the RTO officials to hold a meeting with the union of tourist gypsy operators and guide them about the regulations and clearances regarding traffic laws. As soon as RTO gives consent, a meeting would be convened to facilitate the smooth implementation of law." President of tourist gypsy operator union in TATR, Sanjay Mankar, had earlier agreed that they are ready to seek necessary tourist permits if it is mandatory.
From Ranthambore to Keoladeo and Finally To Sariska Soon
A tiger from Ranthambore National Park that strayed into Keoladeo Ghana National Park has been given permission to be transferred to Sariska National Park.
T 7 a tiger from Ranthambore recently strayed to Keoladeo Ghana National Park also called Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. The state forest department has now given permission for the transfer of T7 to Sariska National Park.
Sariska National Park which had lost all is tigers a few years ago due to large scale poaching at the park has been the recipient of many tigers transferred from Ranthambore National Park to revive the big cat population here again.
Officials at Keoladeo Ghana National Park too are monitoring the movement of the tiger to ensure its safe passage to its new home as soon as possible.
T 7 a tiger from Ranthambore recently strayed to Keoladeo Ghana National Park also called Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. The state forest department has now given permission for the transfer of T7 to Sariska National Park.
Sariska National Park which had lost all is tigers a few years ago due to large scale poaching at the park has been the recipient of many tigers transferred from Ranthambore National Park to revive the big cat population here again.
Officials at Keoladeo Ghana National Park too are monitoring the movement of the tiger to ensure its safe passage to its new home as soon as possible.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Minister’s photo eye saves a tiger family
The Rajasthan Tourism Minister's new love for photography saved a family of tigers in Ranthambhore National Park this week. The observant Minister, who spotted blood in the hind portion of a tigress in the photographs she took during a visit to the park, got the animal operated upon for cleaning a wound infested with maggots. The Minister, Bina Kak, is now being lauded by the conservation community not for saving one tiger but a whole family of three.
The family of T-5, referred to as “Kachida female” in the tiger conservation circles, was saved as Ms. Kak, after watching the tigress in the Ranthambhore woods this past Wednesday, felt something was amiss with the animal. “In the photographs and the video I noticed a red patch on the rump of the tigress. After seeing the pictures I went back to the spot where it was squatting and found blood stains on the ground,” said Ms. Kak, who was Forest Minister in the previous Gehlot government here, to The Hindu.
The Minister summoned Divisional Forest Officer R.P. Gupta and explained the situation. The services of two veterinarians — one from Jaipur and the other from Sawai Madhopur — was requisitioned for an early operation. “I spoke to the PCCF and briefed him on the urgency. It was a sensitive issue and the officers understandably were scared about tranquillising the tigress and carrying out an operation,” Ms. Kak said.
The Minister, who was to start for Jaipur at 6 a.m. on Thursday, stayed back to oversee the operation as the vets, Rajiv Garg and Arvind Mathur, tranquillised the tigress with darts and carried out the “clean-up” job in 20 minutes. “There were hundreds of maggots in the wound and the animal would have died eventually if the clinical intervention was not carried out,” Ms. Kak said.
The tigress got up and walked away four hours after the operation near the Anantpur chowki in Berda. “I was told that she finished a portion of her kill the next day and is now normal,” said a jubilant Ms. Kak.
“It was surely a laudable act in many ways. The Minister deserves kudos for her initiative while the team of vets has proved that now Rajasthan medics have the capacity to do such operations,” said Rajasthan Board for Wildlife member Rajpal Singh.
“Such operations involving wild tigers are rare as risks are involved though in the case of zoo animals it may appear normal,” he noted.
Ms. Kak got her reward for the good work — more photos of the tigress! Even if one does not have to believe her claim — that the tigress looked at her with grateful eyes as it walked away — the animal, as the photographs show, appears more reassured. And the latest information is that T-5 has resumed suckling her two-month-old cubs.
The family of T-5, referred to as “Kachida female” in the tiger conservation circles, was saved as Ms. Kak, after watching the tigress in the Ranthambhore woods this past Wednesday, felt something was amiss with the animal. “In the photographs and the video I noticed a red patch on the rump of the tigress. After seeing the pictures I went back to the spot where it was squatting and found blood stains on the ground,” said Ms. Kak, who was Forest Minister in the previous Gehlot government here, to The Hindu.
The Minister summoned Divisional Forest Officer R.P. Gupta and explained the situation. The services of two veterinarians — one from Jaipur and the other from Sawai Madhopur — was requisitioned for an early operation. “I spoke to the PCCF and briefed him on the urgency. It was a sensitive issue and the officers understandably were scared about tranquillising the tigress and carrying out an operation,” Ms. Kak said.
The Minister, who was to start for Jaipur at 6 a.m. on Thursday, stayed back to oversee the operation as the vets, Rajiv Garg and Arvind Mathur, tranquillised the tigress with darts and carried out the “clean-up” job in 20 minutes. “There were hundreds of maggots in the wound and the animal would have died eventually if the clinical intervention was not carried out,” Ms. Kak said.
The tigress got up and walked away four hours after the operation near the Anantpur chowki in Berda. “I was told that she finished a portion of her kill the next day and is now normal,” said a jubilant Ms. Kak.
“It was surely a laudable act in many ways. The Minister deserves kudos for her initiative while the team of vets has proved that now Rajasthan medics have the capacity to do such operations,” said Rajasthan Board for Wildlife member Rajpal Singh.
“Such operations involving wild tigers are rare as risks are involved though in the case of zoo animals it may appear normal,” he noted.
Ms. Kak got her reward for the good work — more photos of the tigress! Even if one does not have to believe her claim — that the tigress looked at her with grateful eyes as it walked away — the animal, as the photographs show, appears more reassured. And the latest information is that T-5 has resumed suckling her two-month-old cubs.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
MP HC won't keep tourists away from tigers
NAGPUR: Madhya Pradesh High Court, with its main seat at Jabalpur, has rejected a petition seeking a ban on tourism in core zones and critical tiger habitats (CTHs) of forest reserves. Ajay Dubey of Prayatna, a Bhopal-based NGO working for environment protection for the past 10 years, had filed the PIL to protect tigers from alleged disturbance caused by tourism.
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Madhya Pradesh government and others were the respondents in the petition filed on September 8 last year. Dubey had sought relief to protect tigers by banning tourism as per NTCA guidelines that call for keeping these areas completely inviolate except for management intervention.
A division bench of justices Ajit Singh and Sanjay Yadav ruled that NTCA emphasised on phasing out of ongoing tourism activities in the core areas or CTHs. Even the guidelines issued by the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) speak only about the phasing out the ongoing tourism activities and not its immediate banning in these areas. The respondents- MP government, chief wildlife warden, NTCA and others- too denied that amended Wildlife Protection Act 1972 mandated complete prohibition of tourism activity in the core or CTH areas.
The respondents further stated that there was continuous dialogue with the NTCA and the matter was likely to be resolved to mutual satisfaction. The MP government also narrated in detail about the importance and advantages of tourism in tiger reserves and produced a press statement of May 5, 2010, issued by the MoEF denying any proposal to prohibit tourism in tiger reserves.
The court ruled that Section 38-v too did not prohibit tourism either in core or CTH areas. The expression in the explanation that core or CTH were required to be kept as inviolate for the purposes of tiger conservation did not indicate a complete ban on tourism, the bench said.
"The word 'inviolate' used also did not imply complete prohibition or banning of tourism. Inviolate is defined by approved lexicographers to mean 'unhurt', uninjured; unpolluted; unbroken," the court ruled.
Reacting to verdict, Dubey told TOI, "We will not give up. The fight to protect tigers will continue. Prayatna will file a special leave petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court." He said the word 'inviolate' had to be read in context of notification of the core or CTH by the government. It meant without any disturbance by human beings, he said. Tourism activity in such areas would mean violation of the NTCA guidelines, he added.
Weekly off for Pench,
Kanha and Bandhavgarh
To relieve some tourism related stress on wildlife, Madhya Pradesh wildlife department has decided to keep Pench, Kanha and Bandhavgarh tiger reserves closed for one day in a week. At present, these parks are open on all days. H S Pabla, principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife), told TOI the decision would be for only three tiger reserves where tourist pressure was high and would come into effect from April 1, 2011.
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Madhya Pradesh government and others were the respondents in the petition filed on September 8 last year. Dubey had sought relief to protect tigers by banning tourism as per NTCA guidelines that call for keeping these areas completely inviolate except for management intervention.
A division bench of justices Ajit Singh and Sanjay Yadav ruled that NTCA emphasised on phasing out of ongoing tourism activities in the core areas or CTHs. Even the guidelines issued by the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) speak only about the phasing out the ongoing tourism activities and not its immediate banning in these areas. The respondents- MP government, chief wildlife warden, NTCA and others- too denied that amended Wildlife Protection Act 1972 mandated complete prohibition of tourism activity in the core or CTH areas.
The respondents further stated that there was continuous dialogue with the NTCA and the matter was likely to be resolved to mutual satisfaction. The MP government also narrated in detail about the importance and advantages of tourism in tiger reserves and produced a press statement of May 5, 2010, issued by the MoEF denying any proposal to prohibit tourism in tiger reserves.
The court ruled that Section 38-v too did not prohibit tourism either in core or CTH areas. The expression in the explanation that core or CTH were required to be kept as inviolate for the purposes of tiger conservation did not indicate a complete ban on tourism, the bench said.
"The word 'inviolate' used also did not imply complete prohibition or banning of tourism. Inviolate is defined by approved lexicographers to mean 'unhurt', uninjured; unpolluted; unbroken," the court ruled.
Reacting to verdict, Dubey told TOI, "We will not give up. The fight to protect tigers will continue. Prayatna will file a special leave petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court." He said the word 'inviolate' had to be read in context of notification of the core or CTH by the government. It meant without any disturbance by human beings, he said. Tourism activity in such areas would mean violation of the NTCA guidelines, he added.
Weekly off for Pench,
Kanha and Bandhavgarh
To relieve some tourism related stress on wildlife, Madhya Pradesh wildlife department has decided to keep Pench, Kanha and Bandhavgarh tiger reserves closed for one day in a week. At present, these parks are open on all days. H S Pabla, principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife), told TOI the decision would be for only three tiger reserves where tourist pressure was high and would come into effect from April 1, 2011.
After car safari ban, four tiger sightings
Burning bright
Alipurduar, Feb. 4: Big cats have been spotted in the Buxa Tiger Reserve at least four times in the first phase of the 2011 census after practically none in almost 30 years.
Forest survey officials said this could be because restrictions had been imposed in the reserve, in Jalpaiguri’s Alipurduar, since November last year.
According to guidelines issued by the National Tiger Conservation Authority, car safaris are now banned in core areas of the forest, brought under Project Tiger in 1983. Visitors are allowed on foot in select areas but picnics are banned on the Jainti river banks.
“Our census teams have reported at least four tiger sightings in the first phase of the survey conducted between January 23 and 28. We have been getting positive results because of the cut-down in disturbance inside the forest,” said R.P. Saini, the field director of the reserve.
A count done last year by DNA-testing of tiger scat samples had recorded the presence of about 15 animals in the reserve. A beat officer had clicked a tiger last year but the picture was too grainy for any conclusion to be drawn with certainty.
This year’s survey will be done in three phases, with the second scheduled to start in the third week in February.
“We have improved scat collection and preservation methods with help from experts of Aranyak laboratory in Guwahati. Representatives from the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology will be present with our team during the second phase,” Saini said.
To further minimise disturbance in the reserve, about 33 families of Bhutia Busti, who have been staying in the core area for over 20 years, would be shifted to the buffer zone, he said.
Alipurduar, Feb. 4: Big cats have been spotted in the Buxa Tiger Reserve at least four times in the first phase of the 2011 census after practically none in almost 30 years.
Forest survey officials said this could be because restrictions had been imposed in the reserve, in Jalpaiguri’s Alipurduar, since November last year.
According to guidelines issued by the National Tiger Conservation Authority, car safaris are now banned in core areas of the forest, brought under Project Tiger in 1983. Visitors are allowed on foot in select areas but picnics are banned on the Jainti river banks.
“Our census teams have reported at least four tiger sightings in the first phase of the survey conducted between January 23 and 28. We have been getting positive results because of the cut-down in disturbance inside the forest,” said R.P. Saini, the field director of the reserve.
A count done last year by DNA-testing of tiger scat samples had recorded the presence of about 15 animals in the reserve. A beat officer had clicked a tiger last year but the picture was too grainy for any conclusion to be drawn with certainty.
This year’s survey will be done in three phases, with the second scheduled to start in the third week in February.
“We have improved scat collection and preservation methods with help from experts of Aranyak laboratory in Guwahati. Representatives from the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology will be present with our team during the second phase,” Saini said.
To further minimise disturbance in the reserve, about 33 families of Bhutia Busti, who have been staying in the core area for over 20 years, would be shifted to the buffer zone, he said.
Karnataka Government May Declare Kudremukh National Park as a Tiger Reserve
After direct sighting of about eight tigers at the Kudremukh National Park in Karnataka in the last tiger census, the state department is planning to declare the area as a Tiger Reserve.
The last tiger census conducted at Kudremukh National Park displayed many direct and indirect evidences such as scat and pug marks to confirm that this area is good for a tiger habitat. Some of the cats have even been seen roaming the abandoned mining areas here which is a good sign.
With all the evidences in hand, the state government plans to declare the National Park as a Tiger Reserve which will ensure that the area is well protected. Also the government will have to put a ban on all the mining companies that have occupied a part of the National Park. To make their plea stronger, the state government has sought the help of wildlife experts and Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun. If Kudremukh National Park is declared a Tiger Reserve, it will be the largest forest block in the centre of Western Ghats to be declared as a Tiger Reserve in the state
Once declared as a Tiger Reserve there will be no scope for any commercial activities in this area and this has given hope to many wildlife experts who have been fighting a long battle to clear out the mining companies form the park since a long time.
According to noted tiger scientist and director of Centre for Wildlife Studies, K Ullas Karanth, “It is a fantastic area that has been lying neglected. In 1986, while on a survey, I found it was the ideal habitat for the largest lion-tailed macaque, based on which, it was declared a national park in 1987. In the 16 sq km of abandoned mining area, vegetation has come up and of late tiger signs have also been seen. I have been suggesting this area be declared a tiger reserve, for a very long time.”
Kudremukh National Park is the largest Wildlife Protected Area of a tropical wet evergreen type of forest in the Western Ghats. It also has a unique habitat of the Sholas, and Annamalai trees and has been named after a distinct peak in the park that is shaped like a horse face. The park adjoins Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary on the western side and is linked to Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary through a narrow stretch of reserved forests on the southern edge. On can find here more than 195 rare species of birds including the great pied hornbill and is home to animals such as tigers, leopards, wild dogs, lion tailed macaque, sloth bear, common langur and others.
Even before being declared as a declared as a National Park, mining lease were issued in this area from July 1969 to 1999. After 1999, though the lease was not extended butthe mining companies were granted temporary work permits. As such about 37 sq km of the National Park was used for mining. But in 2005, the Supreme Court dismissed the plea of the mining firms to renew their lease and occupy the land.
The declaration of Kudremukh National Park as Tiger Reserve may further intensify the on-going lobbying for the mining row that is building pressure on the state government to permit mining and allow functioning of idle machinery at abandoned mining areas.
However if the rights of the beast wins this round this will be the biggest even green forest block in the area. Other tiger reserves mostly comprise of dry, moist and semi-deciduous forests.
Kudremuhk National Park is situated about 95 km from Chikmagalur and 350 kms from Bangalore,and is also close to Bhadra Tiger Reserve, Dandeli and Anshi Tiger Reserve, Bandipur Tiger Reserve and Nagarhole Tiger Reserve and all connected together form a large pathway for the movement of tigers, Asian elephants and other wild animals.
The Karnataka state government had even declared as Biligiri Ranganna Betta or BR Hills near Mysore as a Tiger Reserve some time ago. These picturesque hills are located between Cauvery River and Tungabhadra River.
The last tiger census conducted at Kudremukh National Park displayed many direct and indirect evidences such as scat and pug marks to confirm that this area is good for a tiger habitat. Some of the cats have even been seen roaming the abandoned mining areas here which is a good sign.
With all the evidences in hand, the state government plans to declare the National Park as a Tiger Reserve which will ensure that the area is well protected. Also the government will have to put a ban on all the mining companies that have occupied a part of the National Park. To make their plea stronger, the state government has sought the help of wildlife experts and Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun. If Kudremukh National Park is declared a Tiger Reserve, it will be the largest forest block in the centre of Western Ghats to be declared as a Tiger Reserve in the state
Once declared as a Tiger Reserve there will be no scope for any commercial activities in this area and this has given hope to many wildlife experts who have been fighting a long battle to clear out the mining companies form the park since a long time.
According to noted tiger scientist and director of Centre for Wildlife Studies, K Ullas Karanth, “It is a fantastic area that has been lying neglected. In 1986, while on a survey, I found it was the ideal habitat for the largest lion-tailed macaque, based on which, it was declared a national park in 1987. In the 16 sq km of abandoned mining area, vegetation has come up and of late tiger signs have also been seen. I have been suggesting this area be declared a tiger reserve, for a very long time.”
Kudremukh National Park is the largest Wildlife Protected Area of a tropical wet evergreen type of forest in the Western Ghats. It also has a unique habitat of the Sholas, and Annamalai trees and has been named after a distinct peak in the park that is shaped like a horse face. The park adjoins Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary on the western side and is linked to Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary through a narrow stretch of reserved forests on the southern edge. On can find here more than 195 rare species of birds including the great pied hornbill and is home to animals such as tigers, leopards, wild dogs, lion tailed macaque, sloth bear, common langur and others.
Even before being declared as a declared as a National Park, mining lease were issued in this area from July 1969 to 1999. After 1999, though the lease was not extended butthe mining companies were granted temporary work permits. As such about 37 sq km of the National Park was used for mining. But in 2005, the Supreme Court dismissed the plea of the mining firms to renew their lease and occupy the land.
The declaration of Kudremukh National Park as Tiger Reserve may further intensify the on-going lobbying for the mining row that is building pressure on the state government to permit mining and allow functioning of idle machinery at abandoned mining areas.
However if the rights of the beast wins this round this will be the biggest even green forest block in the area. Other tiger reserves mostly comprise of dry, moist and semi-deciduous forests.
Kudremuhk National Park is situated about 95 km from Chikmagalur and 350 kms from Bangalore,and is also close to Bhadra Tiger Reserve, Dandeli and Anshi Tiger Reserve, Bandipur Tiger Reserve and Nagarhole Tiger Reserve and all connected together form a large pathway for the movement of tigers, Asian elephants and other wild animals.
The Karnataka state government had even declared as Biligiri Ranganna Betta or BR Hills near Mysore as a Tiger Reserve some time ago. These picturesque hills are located between Cauvery River and Tungabhadra River.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Tiger to be translocated to Sariska soon: Raj minister
Jaipur, Feb 3 (PTI) A tiger which had strayed into Keoladev National Park from Ranthambore will soon be translocated to Sariska National Park, a Rajasthan minister said today."We have received the permission to translocate the big cat 'T-7' and a team from the Wild Life Institute of India, Dehradun, will translocate the tiger very soon," state forest and wildlife minister, Ram Lal Jaat said here.He said that all the efforts will be made for the protection of wildlife animals in a planned way.Chairing a meeting, he also discussed the progress for water arrangement in Keoladev National Park (in Bharatpur district) and monitoring of big cats and directed officials to keep track of tigers and make every possible effort to protect wildlife.Public representatives and senior officials were among those who attended the meeting.Union Environment
Protest against killing, parading tiger carcass
LUCKNOW: A week after foresters killed a man-eater near Corbett National Park, a protest is brewing against the killing and ''the way the animal was paraded''. On Wednesday, wildlife activists and local guides' association wore black ribbons to mark their protest.
''The tiger was was made a man-eater,'' says Narendra Sharma of Bagh Bachao Samiti, Ramnagar. The tiger was shot at on January 11. ''Since it was injured, it became incapable of hunting its natural prey,'' said Sharma. The Samiti along with other wildlife organisations and locals organised a protest at Ramnagar. A memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister was handed over to the authorities.
''The incidents of man-animal conflict have increased at Corbett National Park. Had the forest officials worked as a link between locals and wildlife in the area (for sensitising people), they would not have demanded shooting down of the tiger,'' the memorandum said.
The organizations also protested against the way the dead tiger was paraded atop an elephant. ''There are several tigers present in Garjia area as shown by camera traps,'' Sharma says. The wildlife activists said the authorities have not been able to control man-animal conflict.
The tiger killed on January 27 was about 10 years old. The department has already faced lot of flak for claiming that it was a tigress.
''The tiger was was made a man-eater,'' says Narendra Sharma of Bagh Bachao Samiti, Ramnagar. The tiger was shot at on January 11. ''Since it was injured, it became incapable of hunting its natural prey,'' said Sharma. The Samiti along with other wildlife organisations and locals organised a protest at Ramnagar. A memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister was handed over to the authorities.
''The incidents of man-animal conflict have increased at Corbett National Park. Had the forest officials worked as a link between locals and wildlife in the area (for sensitising people), they would not have demanded shooting down of the tiger,'' the memorandum said.
The organizations also protested against the way the dead tiger was paraded atop an elephant. ''There are several tigers present in Garjia area as shown by camera traps,'' Sharma says. The wildlife activists said the authorities have not been able to control man-animal conflict.
The tiger killed on January 27 was about 10 years old. The department has already faced lot of flak for claiming that it was a tigress.
Tiger strays into Kerwah residential area in Bhopal
Bhopal, Feb 3 (PTI) A tiger from Ratapani sanctuary inMadhya Pradesh''s Raisen district has strayed into the Kerwaharea situated on the outskirts of the state capital, posing athreat to humans, forest officials said today.
Buzz up!
Pugmarks of a more than four-year-old tiger has beenfound in Kerwah area on January 31, Area Forest Range OfficerSudhir Singh told PTI here.
The tiger had killed a cow in Kerwah jungle area onJanuary 31 and added that around 100 forest officials weremonitoring the jungles on the Kerwah-Ratapani tract, he said.
The big cat was sighted on Sunday by an advocate inKerwah area which has human habitation around it. Advocate ASoni, who captured the big cat photo on his cell phone, passedon the information to the forest officials
This is not the first time that a big cat from Ratapanihas entered Kerwah area having human habitation. In 2007, atigress along with her two cubs had strayed in Kerwah andKalisot area, on the outskirts of Bhopal, they said.
Ratapani, spread over an area of 435 sq km is said to behaving around 10 big cats.
Buzz up!
Pugmarks of a more than four-year-old tiger has beenfound in Kerwah area on January 31, Area Forest Range OfficerSudhir Singh told PTI here.
The tiger had killed a cow in Kerwah jungle area onJanuary 31 and added that around 100 forest officials weremonitoring the jungles on the Kerwah-Ratapani tract, he said.
The big cat was sighted on Sunday by an advocate inKerwah area which has human habitation around it. Advocate ASoni, who captured the big cat photo on his cell phone, passedon the information to the forest officials
This is not the first time that a big cat from Ratapanihas entered Kerwah area having human habitation. In 2007, atigress along with her two cubs had strayed in Kerwah andKalisot area, on the outskirts of Bhopal, they said.
Ratapani, spread over an area of 435 sq km is said to behaving around 10 big cats.
'Carrot & stick' policy show results in MTR Vijay Pinjarkar, TNN, Feb 4, 2011, 12.40am IST
SEMADOH (MELGHAT): From being dubbed as 'poor' in the independent management effectiveness evaluation five years ago, Melghat Tiger Reserve (MTR) in the Amravati district is now turning around, thanks to series of steps taken to strengthen protection in the past two years.
The 'carrot and stick' policy of the MTR managers is paying off. "In the last two years, we've developed an institution here. If our protection measures sustain, and villages inside MTR are relocated, in the next five years, Melghat holds the promise of becoming India's number one tiger reserve," claims field director A K Mishra.
Mishra says four-pronged strategy about better wildlife monitoring and recording it systematically, joint patrolling, watershed management and capacity building by organising workshops for field staff every month has delivered results.
A visit to over a dozen protection huts in a couple of ranges in Sipna Wildlife Division showed that efforts were being made to give comfort to field staff by providing concrete structures and basic facilities like steel cots and cupboards replacing the bamboo thatches.
"Absenteeism was a bad habit among the field staff. We started conducting surprise checks at protection huts. Those absent were marked leave without pay. There were protests from a section of employees, but they fell in line after learning our intentions. Now the staff is scared of bunking," said P H Badge, deputy conservator of Sipna.
There is direct biotic pressure from 70 villages on the reserve. Of these, 26 villages are inside MTR putting huge grazing and felling pressure. However, action against illicit grazers has reduced cases of unauthorised grazing from 103 in 2008-09 to 36 in 2009-2010. "We feel this has led to increase in prey base. Cattle kills by carnivores have gone down from 249 to 142 during the same period. This was possible due to good protection and action," Mishra said.
Fire in Melghat was the biggest threat causing habitat destruction. However, Mishra added that by involving people and making them aware, incidents of forest fires had been brought down 50%.
"In 2009, there were 430 fire incidents destroying 14,460 hectares forest, but in 2010, these were brought down to 252 and loss of 7,521 hectares. This was made possible despite the fact that 80% of the staff is above 45 years; 15% staff is new and over 20% of the posts are vacant," says Mishra.
Another reason why MTR is better now is the joint and group patrolling launched in August 2009. A group of eight persons does patrolling twice a week and nine times in a month. "Cases of water poisoning for fish are common. From February 15, a drive will be launched to check all natural and artificial water holes in the reserve with the help of litmus paper. Small water holes with 2-3 litres of water would be closed down to eliminate cases of poisoning," informed S B Dhote, RFO of Chourakund, who has set an example for the entire reserve by mapping each water hole.
His model is being followed elsewhere. Mapping of water holes is also helping to know animal movement, he added. "Last year, due to water hole monitoring we could save 45 peacocks and other animals," Dhote informed.
In Melghat, conflicting demands of tigers and humans results in man-animal and management conflicts. The problems become more complicated when political leaders turn hostile towards animals.
Mishra said such circumstances made it very difficult to perform. Yet, implementation of standard protocol by setting up protection camps (75) and strengthening them, regular training modules to build staff capacity, fire patrol teams, eco-development schemes, frequent meetings with villagers, deployment of SRPF during monsoon, and erection of barriers (39) among host of other measures had helped.
"Even NTCA team that visited Melghat in December to evaluate the tiger reserve was surprised about the number of steps being taken by MTR," officials said.
The 'carrot and stick' policy of the MTR managers is paying off. "In the last two years, we've developed an institution here. If our protection measures sustain, and villages inside MTR are relocated, in the next five years, Melghat holds the promise of becoming India's number one tiger reserve," claims field director A K Mishra.
Mishra says four-pronged strategy about better wildlife monitoring and recording it systematically, joint patrolling, watershed management and capacity building by organising workshops for field staff every month has delivered results.
A visit to over a dozen protection huts in a couple of ranges in Sipna Wildlife Division showed that efforts were being made to give comfort to field staff by providing concrete structures and basic facilities like steel cots and cupboards replacing the bamboo thatches.
"Absenteeism was a bad habit among the field staff. We started conducting surprise checks at protection huts. Those absent were marked leave without pay. There were protests from a section of employees, but they fell in line after learning our intentions. Now the staff is scared of bunking," said P H Badge, deputy conservator of Sipna.
There is direct biotic pressure from 70 villages on the reserve. Of these, 26 villages are inside MTR putting huge grazing and felling pressure. However, action against illicit grazers has reduced cases of unauthorised grazing from 103 in 2008-09 to 36 in 2009-2010. "We feel this has led to increase in prey base. Cattle kills by carnivores have gone down from 249 to 142 during the same period. This was possible due to good protection and action," Mishra said.
Fire in Melghat was the biggest threat causing habitat destruction. However, Mishra added that by involving people and making them aware, incidents of forest fires had been brought down 50%.
"In 2009, there were 430 fire incidents destroying 14,460 hectares forest, but in 2010, these were brought down to 252 and loss of 7,521 hectares. This was made possible despite the fact that 80% of the staff is above 45 years; 15% staff is new and over 20% of the posts are vacant," says Mishra.
Another reason why MTR is better now is the joint and group patrolling launched in August 2009. A group of eight persons does patrolling twice a week and nine times in a month. "Cases of water poisoning for fish are common. From February 15, a drive will be launched to check all natural and artificial water holes in the reserve with the help of litmus paper. Small water holes with 2-3 litres of water would be closed down to eliminate cases of poisoning," informed S B Dhote, RFO of Chourakund, who has set an example for the entire reserve by mapping each water hole.
His model is being followed elsewhere. Mapping of water holes is also helping to know animal movement, he added. "Last year, due to water hole monitoring we could save 45 peacocks and other animals," Dhote informed.
In Melghat, conflicting demands of tigers and humans results in man-animal and management conflicts. The problems become more complicated when political leaders turn hostile towards animals.
Mishra said such circumstances made it very difficult to perform. Yet, implementation of standard protocol by setting up protection camps (75) and strengthening them, regular training modules to build staff capacity, fire patrol teams, eco-development schemes, frequent meetings with villagers, deployment of SRPF during monsoon, and erection of barriers (39) among host of other measures had helped.
"Even NTCA team that visited Melghat in December to evaluate the tiger reserve was surprised about the number of steps being taken by MTR," officials said.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Ramesh letter sparks off protest in Uttarakhand
It is Environment minister Jairam Ramesh versus Uttarakhand chief minister Ramesh Pokhriyal over killing of a tiger, claimed to be man-eater, near Corbett tiger reserve. Ramesh on Tuesday asked the state government to impose section 144 of Code for Criminal Procedure (prevents gathering of more
than four people) where tiger attacks a person to ensure safe capture of animal. On Wednesday, the locals decided to stage a demonstration against Ramesh, assisted by local BJP leaders, against the suggestion.
“How can we prevent people from gathering at a site where a tiger attacks a villager,” said a state government functionary. And, added that tiger conservation cannot be done sitting in the air-conditioned offices in Delhi.
Pokhriyal has so far not agreed to Ramesh’s suggestion of a joint inspection of Corbett and nearby areas. According to officials, many of the suggestions made by the union minister were not implementable.
Another twist in the controversy has emerged as instead of relocating the Sunderkhal village from the buffer zone of the Corbett as suggested by Ramesh, the state forest department, headed by CM, has demanded a study to examine presence of four to five tigers near the village.
“It is an unusual behaviour,” said Anil Baluni, vice-chairperson of State Forest and Environment Advisory Board, who claimed that they four to five tigers have been caught on camera near the village.
Tiger being a territorial animal has an area of about 10 sq kms and another tiger can enter the area only after killing the present there. “We want National Tiger Conservation Authority’s suggestion on how to deal with this situation,” Baluni said.
Jairam Ramesh has asked the state government to immediately send a proposal for seeking 100 % assistance to relocate Sunderkhal village, which is there since 1974. At least five persons of this village, in buffer zone of the reserve, were mauled to death by a tiger, killed last week, in a month’s time.
Coming down strongly on the state government for brutally killing the tiger, Ramesh has suggested that two units of rapid response units should be set up to capture the animal to avoid lethal encounters.
To overcome the problem of increasing tiger population in Corbett and reduce man-animal conflict, Ramesh has suggested that parts of Lansdowne, West Terai and Ramnagar divisions should be declared as buffer of Corbett. He also wants the state government to monitor movement of tigers and killing cattle by them to avoid conflict.
The minister has also said that the state government should appoint Brijendra Singh, as honorary wildlife warden for Corbett for appropriate guidance. Singh in the recent past had been critical of officials at Corbett on management of the reserve.
than four people) where tiger attacks a person to ensure safe capture of animal. On Wednesday, the locals decided to stage a demonstration against Ramesh, assisted by local BJP leaders, against the suggestion.
“How can we prevent people from gathering at a site where a tiger attacks a villager,” said a state government functionary. And, added that tiger conservation cannot be done sitting in the air-conditioned offices in Delhi.
Pokhriyal has so far not agreed to Ramesh’s suggestion of a joint inspection of Corbett and nearby areas. According to officials, many of the suggestions made by the union minister were not implementable.
Another twist in the controversy has emerged as instead of relocating the Sunderkhal village from the buffer zone of the Corbett as suggested by Ramesh, the state forest department, headed by CM, has demanded a study to examine presence of four to five tigers near the village.
“It is an unusual behaviour,” said Anil Baluni, vice-chairperson of State Forest and Environment Advisory Board, who claimed that they four to five tigers have been caught on camera near the village.
Tiger being a territorial animal has an area of about 10 sq kms and another tiger can enter the area only after killing the present there. “We want National Tiger Conservation Authority’s suggestion on how to deal with this situation,” Baluni said.
Jairam Ramesh has asked the state government to immediately send a proposal for seeking 100 % assistance to relocate Sunderkhal village, which is there since 1974. At least five persons of this village, in buffer zone of the reserve, were mauled to death by a tiger, killed last week, in a month’s time.
Coming down strongly on the state government for brutally killing the tiger, Ramesh has suggested that two units of rapid response units should be set up to capture the animal to avoid lethal encounters.
To overcome the problem of increasing tiger population in Corbett and reduce man-animal conflict, Ramesh has suggested that parts of Lansdowne, West Terai and Ramnagar divisions should be declared as buffer of Corbett. He also wants the state government to monitor movement of tigers and killing cattle by them to avoid conflict.
The minister has also said that the state government should appoint Brijendra Singh, as honorary wildlife warden for Corbett for appropriate guidance. Singh in the recent past had been critical of officials at Corbett on management of the reserve.
Chourakund, Shahanoor MTR's new tourism hubs
SEMADOH (MELGHAT): With a view to keep core and critical tiger habitats (CTHs) inviolate as per National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) guidelines, the management of 2000 sq km Melghat Tiger Reserve (MTR) is developing Chourakund, Harisal and Shahanoor as new eco-tourism hubs.
The new guidelines of centrally sponsored schemes (CSS) of 'Project Tiger' states, "core and CTHs should not be used for any form of tourism, and the ongoing tourism activities in such areas should be phased out to fringe and buffer areas without affecting its corridor value."
At present, in MTR, 55 sq km area is open for tourism at Semadoh. Tourists gain entry to see wildlife from Semadoh and Chikhaldara side. Whereas tourists from Khandwa and Burhanpur side in Madhya Pradesh are isolated. With development of Chourakund and Harisal ranges in Sipna Wildlife Division, 30-35 km from Semadoh, all tourists will stand to gain.
The guest house at Chourakund will be handed over to Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra (FDCM), which has signed an MoU with Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) to commercially exploit eco-tourism in wildlife areas by developing facilities. In Melghat, apart from Chourakund, guest houses at Hatru, Chunkhadi, Rangubeli and Tarubanda will also be handed over to the FDCM.
"Chourakund and Harisal have one of the best forest patches with presence of leopards and tigers and other wildlife. It has huge tourism potential, which will be spread over 100 sq km area and will also be included in the working plan. It will take some time before we throw the area open for tourists," said A K Mishra, field director of MTR.
Semadoh Sankul, which has good accommodation facilities, will be discouraged for tourists in future as it falls in core zone of the tiger reserve. However, activities like nature education camps for students will be continued, officials said. Similarly, Shahanoor under Akot Wildlife Division of Melghat will be another eco-tourism hotspot. However, this will not mean discouraging tourists in 12 sq km Narnala Wildlife Sanctuary.
M S Reddy, deputy conservator of forests (DyCF), Akot Division, said Shahanoor is two kms from Narnala and is situated on revenue land. Every year, Rs 40 lakh are being given under the district planning development committee (DPDC) funds to develop Shahanoor. He said that Rs 60 lakh have been proposed for Narnala and Shahanoor. In Shahanoor, plans were afoot to set up additional accommodation, nature trails and education facilities.
The MTR comprises Gugamal National Park (where tourists are not allowed) and four sanctuaries - Melghat, Wan, Narnala and Ambabarwa, besides multiple use area (MUA). Mishra said Melghat's beautiful landscape gave it rich eco-tourism potential. "Considering the large area, flow of tourists is less. In 2009-10, 23,462 tourists visited Melghat, a rise of 962 over 2008-09 figure. More tourists can be attracted if about 15 British-era rest houses and inspection huts in MTR are developed," Mishra added.
The new guidelines of centrally sponsored schemes (CSS) of 'Project Tiger' states, "core and CTHs should not be used for any form of tourism, and the ongoing tourism activities in such areas should be phased out to fringe and buffer areas without affecting its corridor value."
At present, in MTR, 55 sq km area is open for tourism at Semadoh. Tourists gain entry to see wildlife from Semadoh and Chikhaldara side. Whereas tourists from Khandwa and Burhanpur side in Madhya Pradesh are isolated. With development of Chourakund and Harisal ranges in Sipna Wildlife Division, 30-35 km from Semadoh, all tourists will stand to gain.
The guest house at Chourakund will be handed over to Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra (FDCM), which has signed an MoU with Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) to commercially exploit eco-tourism in wildlife areas by developing facilities. In Melghat, apart from Chourakund, guest houses at Hatru, Chunkhadi, Rangubeli and Tarubanda will also be handed over to the FDCM.
"Chourakund and Harisal have one of the best forest patches with presence of leopards and tigers and other wildlife. It has huge tourism potential, which will be spread over 100 sq km area and will also be included in the working plan. It will take some time before we throw the area open for tourists," said A K Mishra, field director of MTR.
Semadoh Sankul, which has good accommodation facilities, will be discouraged for tourists in future as it falls in core zone of the tiger reserve. However, activities like nature education camps for students will be continued, officials said. Similarly, Shahanoor under Akot Wildlife Division of Melghat will be another eco-tourism hotspot. However, this will not mean discouraging tourists in 12 sq km Narnala Wildlife Sanctuary.
M S Reddy, deputy conservator of forests (DyCF), Akot Division, said Shahanoor is two kms from Narnala and is situated on revenue land. Every year, Rs 40 lakh are being given under the district planning development committee (DPDC) funds to develop Shahanoor. He said that Rs 60 lakh have been proposed for Narnala and Shahanoor. In Shahanoor, plans were afoot to set up additional accommodation, nature trails and education facilities.
The MTR comprises Gugamal National Park (where tourists are not allowed) and four sanctuaries - Melghat, Wan, Narnala and Ambabarwa, besides multiple use area (MUA). Mishra said Melghat's beautiful landscape gave it rich eco-tourism potential. "Considering the large area, flow of tourists is less. In 2009-10, 23,462 tourists visited Melghat, a rise of 962 over 2008-09 figure. More tourists can be attracted if about 15 British-era rest houses and inspection huts in MTR are developed," Mishra added.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Sightings rare but tigers abound in Melghat
SEMADOH (MELGHAT): Although direct sighting of tigers did not happen in the rugged terrain of Melghat during the five-day exercise of wildlife and habitat estimation, it still produced substantial evidence about the wild cats' presence- raising hopes of their long-term survival here.
The in-house exercise, conducted from January 27 to 31, with the help of 400 staffers and around 25 volunteers in 230 beats of Melghat Tiger Reserve (MTR), comprising Akot, Sipna and Gugamal Wildlife Divisions was testing time for the field staff.
This was revision of a similar exercise carried out all over India by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, between January 27 and February 3 last year.
Tigers have always remained elusive in MTR, fondly called the 'Kipling Country' and known for its mystifying landscape with high hills and deep valleys. Tourists in the past one year (December 2010 to January 2011) have reported just three tiger and five leopard sightings. Yet, clinching evidence of carnivores like pugmarks, scrape and scent marks, scats etc. show tigers and leopards are very much around. They are rarely spotted due to complex landscape and dense forest cover. Also, large areas are not accessible to tourists.
The officials' joy knew no bound when they received reports of direct sighting of leopard and two cubs and a tiger each in Semadoh and Chourakund forest ranges in the Sipna Wildlife Division.
"It is a good sign. For the past over two years, the field staff has been rigorously monitoring their respective areas and maintaining registers about sightings. This is helping us know of the animals' presence. For those who don't believe there are tigers in Melghat, we can present them the evidence. We have maintained complete transparency," said A K Mishra, field director & conservator of forests of MTR.
Apart from indirect evidence of leopards and tigers on pugmark impression pads (PIPs), direct sightings of herbivores like chitals and sambars were also reported from transact lines. There was also good evidence of bisons, porcupines, hyenas too. Melghat, where poor prey base is still an issue, even direct sightings of herbivores came as a good news for the staff.
Volunteers were disturbed to see cattle sharing territory with wild animals even in core area. "We saw cow dung and pellets of sambar on the same transact lines in Semadoh area, indicating that grazing was a big problem in Melghat," said Sandeep Dhahad, a volunteer from Nagpur.
Mishra admits grazing is the biggest threat in the reserve. "It has affected prey base in Melghat, but for the past two years, we have been tough on grazers. Offences against unauthorised grazers were brought down from 103 in 2008-09 to 36 in 2009-10.
"Tracking down signs and collecting evidence on transact lines on hillocks and river banks was not a child's play. At one point, we felt like giving up due to many ups and downs in the three-km transact. It came to traversing nearly 10 kms a day but it was also an exciting experience," said Smith Malkan and Adarsh, both students from Mumbai, who participated in the exercise for the first time.
"Our day started at 5.30 am and ended at 11.30 am. The transact lines were located two km away from Semadoh, where we were based. We saw pugmarks of two different tigers on both days in Jawaharkund area. A farmer also claimed to have seen a tiger near the periphery of the reserve," both added.
Some volunteers were disappointed at not sighting animals despite moving in core zone. Mishra explained, "Over 80% of the MTR is teak forest. Since December, the trees have been shedding leaves. You can see carpet of teak leaves everywhere. The rustling of leaves makes sightings difficult and also proves a hurdle in collecting evidence."
Despite 70% of the MTR field staff being above 50 years, the exercise went well as almost all participated seriously. Praveen Kumar Badge, deputy conservator of forests (DyCF), Sipna, says, "We have tightened screws on field staff that was in habit of absconding from duty without prior information. In the past two years, several surprise checks on protection huts have been conducted and erring employees have been punished. This has yielded results," he says.
IMP BOX
55 tigers in Melghat?
In 2010, the exercise of all India monitoring of tiger, co-predators, prey and their habitat, was carried out. The data have been compiled and submitted to Wildlife Institute of India (WII). The field data collection shows tiger occupancy in almost all areas of critical tiger habitat (CTH) of the MTR. The carnivore signs for tiger collected during the exercise indicate presence of tiger in 55 out of 87 beats of Gugamal Division and 63 out of 96 beats in Sipna Division. Official sources claim due to terrain, topography, density of the forests and biotic interference, sightings are difficult. But group patrolling, protection camps, sighting reports, captures by camera trap, cattle kill etc. are regularly carried out. Proper documentation is maintained at different levels and data collected show presence of 40-55 tigers.
However, in 2005-06, the monitoring had revealed that Melghat, part of the Satpuda landscape, has tiger presence in 1,828 sq km, and supports a population of 21-39 tigers. The tiger distribution in Melghat is contiguous with the population in Madhya Pradesh. The latest result shows that Melghat has come up silently.
Testing time for staff
The in-house exercise to count tiger, co-predators, prey and their habitat was a testing time for the forest guards and foresters of Melghat, who, for the first time, had to appear for an exam of 100 marks at Semadoh on the first day (January 27). "This was just to test the knowledge of the staff and had nothing to do with their appraisals," said field director A K Mishra.
The descriptive paper consisted of rights and duties of guards and foresters. Besides, there were objective type questions, fill in the blanks and match the following on issues like wildlife crime, monitoring, patrolling, forest fires, line transact method etc. This is perhaps for the first time that a test for field staff has been conducted. "It will refurbish the knowledge of the staff," felt Praveen Kumar Badge, deputy conservator of Sipna Division.
The in-house exercise, conducted from January 27 to 31, with the help of 400 staffers and around 25 volunteers in 230 beats of Melghat Tiger Reserve (MTR), comprising Akot, Sipna and Gugamal Wildlife Divisions was testing time for the field staff.
This was revision of a similar exercise carried out all over India by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, between January 27 and February 3 last year.
Tigers have always remained elusive in MTR, fondly called the 'Kipling Country' and known for its mystifying landscape with high hills and deep valleys. Tourists in the past one year (December 2010 to January 2011) have reported just three tiger and five leopard sightings. Yet, clinching evidence of carnivores like pugmarks, scrape and scent marks, scats etc. show tigers and leopards are very much around. They are rarely spotted due to complex landscape and dense forest cover. Also, large areas are not accessible to tourists.
The officials' joy knew no bound when they received reports of direct sighting of leopard and two cubs and a tiger each in Semadoh and Chourakund forest ranges in the Sipna Wildlife Division.
"It is a good sign. For the past over two years, the field staff has been rigorously monitoring their respective areas and maintaining registers about sightings. This is helping us know of the animals' presence. For those who don't believe there are tigers in Melghat, we can present them the evidence. We have maintained complete transparency," said A K Mishra, field director & conservator of forests of MTR.
Apart from indirect evidence of leopards and tigers on pugmark impression pads (PIPs), direct sightings of herbivores like chitals and sambars were also reported from transact lines. There was also good evidence of bisons, porcupines, hyenas too. Melghat, where poor prey base is still an issue, even direct sightings of herbivores came as a good news for the staff.
Volunteers were disturbed to see cattle sharing territory with wild animals even in core area. "We saw cow dung and pellets of sambar on the same transact lines in Semadoh area, indicating that grazing was a big problem in Melghat," said Sandeep Dhahad, a volunteer from Nagpur.
Mishra admits grazing is the biggest threat in the reserve. "It has affected prey base in Melghat, but for the past two years, we have been tough on grazers. Offences against unauthorised grazers were brought down from 103 in 2008-09 to 36 in 2009-10.
"Tracking down signs and collecting evidence on transact lines on hillocks and river banks was not a child's play. At one point, we felt like giving up due to many ups and downs in the three-km transact. It came to traversing nearly 10 kms a day but it was also an exciting experience," said Smith Malkan and Adarsh, both students from Mumbai, who participated in the exercise for the first time.
"Our day started at 5.30 am and ended at 11.30 am. The transact lines were located two km away from Semadoh, where we were based. We saw pugmarks of two different tigers on both days in Jawaharkund area. A farmer also claimed to have seen a tiger near the periphery of the reserve," both added.
Some volunteers were disappointed at not sighting animals despite moving in core zone. Mishra explained, "Over 80% of the MTR is teak forest. Since December, the trees have been shedding leaves. You can see carpet of teak leaves everywhere. The rustling of leaves makes sightings difficult and also proves a hurdle in collecting evidence."
Despite 70% of the MTR field staff being above 50 years, the exercise went well as almost all participated seriously. Praveen Kumar Badge, deputy conservator of forests (DyCF), Sipna, says, "We have tightened screws on field staff that was in habit of absconding from duty without prior information. In the past two years, several surprise checks on protection huts have been conducted and erring employees have been punished. This has yielded results," he says.
IMP BOX
55 tigers in Melghat?
In 2010, the exercise of all India monitoring of tiger, co-predators, prey and their habitat, was carried out. The data have been compiled and submitted to Wildlife Institute of India (WII). The field data collection shows tiger occupancy in almost all areas of critical tiger habitat (CTH) of the MTR. The carnivore signs for tiger collected during the exercise indicate presence of tiger in 55 out of 87 beats of Gugamal Division and 63 out of 96 beats in Sipna Division. Official sources claim due to terrain, topography, density of the forests and biotic interference, sightings are difficult. But group patrolling, protection camps, sighting reports, captures by camera trap, cattle kill etc. are regularly carried out. Proper documentation is maintained at different levels and data collected show presence of 40-55 tigers.
However, in 2005-06, the monitoring had revealed that Melghat, part of the Satpuda landscape, has tiger presence in 1,828 sq km, and supports a population of 21-39 tigers. The tiger distribution in Melghat is contiguous with the population in Madhya Pradesh. The latest result shows that Melghat has come up silently.
Testing time for staff
The in-house exercise to count tiger, co-predators, prey and their habitat was a testing time for the forest guards and foresters of Melghat, who, for the first time, had to appear for an exam of 100 marks at Semadoh on the first day (January 27). "This was just to test the knowledge of the staff and had nothing to do with their appraisals," said field director A K Mishra.
The descriptive paper consisted of rights and duties of guards and foresters. Besides, there were objective type questions, fill in the blanks and match the following on issues like wildlife crime, monitoring, patrolling, forest fires, line transact method etc. This is perhaps for the first time that a test for field staff has been conducted. "It will refurbish the knowledge of the staff," felt Praveen Kumar Badge, deputy conservator of Sipna Division.
Divisional commissioner visits Tadoba to speed up relocation of villages
CHANDRAPUR: In a bid to give speed up relocation and rehabilitation of villages inside Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), divisional commissioner BV Gopal Reddy on Monday sanctioned several amenities for the villagers of Bhagwanpur. These people had been rehabilitated out of the tiger reserve a few years back. The new works would serve twofold motive of developing Bhagwanpur village and encouraging the remaining villages to move out of TATR.
Commissioner Reddy was here on Monday to review the status of relocating villages out of the tiger reserve as per the directives of the high court. After a marathon meeting with revenue and forest officials at the district collectorate, Reddy visited TATR and heard out the woes of villagers living inside the tiger reserve.
"He sanctioned series of amenities demanded by Bhagwanpur villagers and directed revenue and forest officials to see that they are executed in a time-bound manner. The villagers who were rehabilitated under pervious package of Rs 1 lakh, a few years back in Bhagwanpur, would get monetary incentive to compensate the loss. Also, several of their demands related to change of agricultural land, irrigation facilities, levelling and paddy-bunding of farms etc are going to the fulfilled," said CF, Chandrapur forest circle, GRK Rao, who is also project officer for the rehabilitation process.
Rao claimed that rehabilitated villagers would get incentive of Rs 47,000 each, as against the latest package of Rs 10 lakh per family of National Tiger Conservation Authority. He informed that the commissioner has approved 17 cases of change of agricultural land and directed levelling and paddy-bunding of around 30 hectares of land under National Employment Guarantee scheme in Bhagwanpur.
Moreover, the commissioner directed building of common irrigation well for small groups of farmers from Bhagwanpur under a scheme to improve irrigation facilities. Villagers were complaining since long about lack of irrigation from existing pond built for Bhagwanpur. "Common wells for small group of 7-8 farmers would help address their irrigation problem. All the works would be executed in time-bound manner," Rao added.
He further informed that commissioner agreed to relocate public health centre (PHC) from Kolsa village in TATR to the rehabilitated Bhagwanpur village, but maintained that health facilities at existing Kolsa village would continue. "A doctor would visit the village Kolsa thrice a week to provide health facilities. The commissioner has also directed revenue officials to forward a proposal seeking approval for gram panchayat status for Bhagwanpur to the government," he added. Officials have also been directed to see that Bhagwanpur villagers get ample work under employment guarantee scheme now onwards.
Rao further informed that the proposal of rehabilitating villages Jamni and Navegaon-Ramdegi under new Rs 10 lakh package has been already forwarded to the NTCA for final approval. The relocation process would be initiated after release of funds. Process for preparation of rehabilitation proposal of Palasgaon village is in the offing, he said.
"Earlier Palasgaon was scheduled to be relocated to village Bhagwanpur along with Botezari and Kolsa villages. But the entire Palasgaon village and some Kolsa villagers backed away from the rehabilitation process a few years back. Now, they have selected an alternate rehabilitation site at compartment no. 11 in Warora forest range. Soon after district collectorate approves the number of beneficiary families, a proposal for their rehabilitation would be forwarded to NTCA. The land acquired for Palasgaon villagers earlier at Bhagwanpur site would be surrendered to the government," said Rao.
Similarly, forest department has already acquired land to rehabilitate Rantalodhi villagers in compartment no. 186 of Saoli forest range, however after they backed away they were asked to select other options. As soon as they finalise the relocation site, their proposal also would be forwarded, said Rao.
Commissioner Reddy was here on Monday to review the status of relocating villages out of the tiger reserve as per the directives of the high court. After a marathon meeting with revenue and forest officials at the district collectorate, Reddy visited TATR and heard out the woes of villagers living inside the tiger reserve.
"He sanctioned series of amenities demanded by Bhagwanpur villagers and directed revenue and forest officials to see that they are executed in a time-bound manner. The villagers who were rehabilitated under pervious package of Rs 1 lakh, a few years back in Bhagwanpur, would get monetary incentive to compensate the loss. Also, several of their demands related to change of agricultural land, irrigation facilities, levelling and paddy-bunding of farms etc are going to the fulfilled," said CF, Chandrapur forest circle, GRK Rao, who is also project officer for the rehabilitation process.
Rao claimed that rehabilitated villagers would get incentive of Rs 47,000 each, as against the latest package of Rs 10 lakh per family of National Tiger Conservation Authority. He informed that the commissioner has approved 17 cases of change of agricultural land and directed levelling and paddy-bunding of around 30 hectares of land under National Employment Guarantee scheme in Bhagwanpur.
Moreover, the commissioner directed building of common irrigation well for small groups of farmers from Bhagwanpur under a scheme to improve irrigation facilities. Villagers were complaining since long about lack of irrigation from existing pond built for Bhagwanpur. "Common wells for small group of 7-8 farmers would help address their irrigation problem. All the works would be executed in time-bound manner," Rao added.
He further informed that commissioner agreed to relocate public health centre (PHC) from Kolsa village in TATR to the rehabilitated Bhagwanpur village, but maintained that health facilities at existing Kolsa village would continue. "A doctor would visit the village Kolsa thrice a week to provide health facilities. The commissioner has also directed revenue officials to forward a proposal seeking approval for gram panchayat status for Bhagwanpur to the government," he added. Officials have also been directed to see that Bhagwanpur villagers get ample work under employment guarantee scheme now onwards.
Rao further informed that the proposal of rehabilitating villages Jamni and Navegaon-Ramdegi under new Rs 10 lakh package has been already forwarded to the NTCA for final approval. The relocation process would be initiated after release of funds. Process for preparation of rehabilitation proposal of Palasgaon village is in the offing, he said.
"Earlier Palasgaon was scheduled to be relocated to village Bhagwanpur along with Botezari and Kolsa villages. But the entire Palasgaon village and some Kolsa villagers backed away from the rehabilitation process a few years back. Now, they have selected an alternate rehabilitation site at compartment no. 11 in Warora forest range. Soon after district collectorate approves the number of beneficiary families, a proposal for their rehabilitation would be forwarded to NTCA. The land acquired for Palasgaon villagers earlier at Bhagwanpur site would be surrendered to the government," said Rao.
Similarly, forest department has already acquired land to rehabilitate Rantalodhi villagers in compartment no. 186 of Saoli forest range, however after they backed away they were asked to select other options. As soon as they finalise the relocation site, their proposal also would be forwarded, said Rao.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Dead tiger surfaces' in Ranthambore
JAIPUR: Nearly four years after a tiger named Yuvraj' reportedly fell prey to the poachers at Ranthambore National Park, a controversy has surfaced with a few wildlife activists claiming that a tiger, T-21, is none other than Yuvraj itself. Now it has become a case of dead tiger walking, with forest officials refuting the theory and wildlife activists sticking to it.
The tiger in the middle of the controversy is the first male litter of
T-15, the Guda tigress. Yuvraj met an untimely end when it was allegedly poached in November 2007. Though the body of the tiger was never found, the forest department had initiated action against a few Mongiya tribals accusing them of poaching.
Now, three years after the alleged death of the Yuvraj, some wildlife activists have come up with the theory that a male tiger, T-21 in the park, is none other than Yuvraj itself. The theory is arrived at after activists compared the stripes on T-21 and tallied it with of Yuvraj, got from pictures taken in the past.
"The stripes on the bodies of a tiger are unique to it. No two tigers can have the same pattern of stripes on their body. I have been under this hunch that Yuvraj and T-21 could be the same tiger. Recently, some of my friends and I compared the stripes that were on Yuvraj and those on T-21 and found them to be the same," says conservation biologist Dharmendra Khandal of Tiger Watch.
"Actually Yuvraj was there in the past three years in Ranthambore and was never poached. Even the body of the tiger was never recovered despite the fact that a whole lot of people were trying to trace it," he added.
The revelation has also put a question mark on effective tracking of tigers at the park.
According to sources, Yuvraj and its sibling got separated from their mother, the Guda tigress, at the end of 2006. After staying together with its sibling for sometime, Yuvraj drifted out of the forests to Man Singh Sanctuary in 2007 mainly due to the presence of other dominant males in the park.
But, according to officials of the state forest department, Yuvraj was killed near a place called Lakheri, about 30 kms from the periphery of the park. At that time, nearly seven Mongiya poachers, including one called Bachu Mongya, were listed as accused. Eventually Bacchu died while his brothers Moolya Mogya and Sakrama Mogya still remain accused and are absconding. Yuvraj's sibling T-12 was recently shifted to the Sariska reserve.
"Ranthambore is an open park and unlike many other tiger reserves it gives scope for effective monitoring of tigers. What needs to be done is that each tiger here should be properly tracked and a record maintained," added Khandal.
When contacted, HM Bhatia, chief wildlife warden, Rajasthan, assured to get the fact investigated. "I have no idea of it now but I will get it checked," he said.
The tiger in the middle of the controversy is the first male litter of
T-15, the Guda tigress. Yuvraj met an untimely end when it was allegedly poached in November 2007. Though the body of the tiger was never found, the forest department had initiated action against a few Mongiya tribals accusing them of poaching.
Now, three years after the alleged death of the Yuvraj, some wildlife activists have come up with the theory that a male tiger, T-21 in the park, is none other than Yuvraj itself. The theory is arrived at after activists compared the stripes on T-21 and tallied it with of Yuvraj, got from pictures taken in the past.
"The stripes on the bodies of a tiger are unique to it. No two tigers can have the same pattern of stripes on their body. I have been under this hunch that Yuvraj and T-21 could be the same tiger. Recently, some of my friends and I compared the stripes that were on Yuvraj and those on T-21 and found them to be the same," says conservation biologist Dharmendra Khandal of Tiger Watch.
"Actually Yuvraj was there in the past three years in Ranthambore and was never poached. Even the body of the tiger was never recovered despite the fact that a whole lot of people were trying to trace it," he added.
The revelation has also put a question mark on effective tracking of tigers at the park.
According to sources, Yuvraj and its sibling got separated from their mother, the Guda tigress, at the end of 2006. After staying together with its sibling for sometime, Yuvraj drifted out of the forests to Man Singh Sanctuary in 2007 mainly due to the presence of other dominant males in the park.
But, according to officials of the state forest department, Yuvraj was killed near a place called Lakheri, about 30 kms from the periphery of the park. At that time, nearly seven Mongiya poachers, including one called Bachu Mongya, were listed as accused. Eventually Bacchu died while his brothers Moolya Mogya and Sakrama Mogya still remain accused and are absconding. Yuvraj's sibling T-12 was recently shifted to the Sariska reserve.
"Ranthambore is an open park and unlike many other tiger reserves it gives scope for effective monitoring of tigers. What needs to be done is that each tiger here should be properly tracked and a record maintained," added Khandal.
When contacted, HM Bhatia, chief wildlife warden, Rajasthan, assured to get the fact investigated. "I have no idea of it now but I will get it checked," he said.
Karnataka forest dept mulls over tiger reserve tag to Kudremukh
After the declaration of Biligiri Rangannabetta (BRT) as a tiger reserve by the state government, the forest department is now pinning its hopes on giving the same status to the Kudremukh National Park.
If it happens, not only will the state government be forced to clear off the mining companies that have occupied a part of the national park, but will also have to ensure that the area is well protected. Moreover, there will be no scope for any commercial activities in the premises in future.
The principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) BK Singh said they were mulling over the idea of getting the area declared as a tiger reserve.
It is a good habitat for tigers as during the last tiger census, over eight tigers were sighted directly, apart from the indirect evidences (scat, pug marks, etc.). The big cats have also been sighted in abandoned mining areas, which is a good sign. In order to make the plea stronger, help from experts and Wildlife Institute of India is also being sought.
This idea has raised a hope among experts who have been fighting a long battle to clear the mining companies from the site. In fact, it will then be the first and the biggest-ever green forest block, located at the centre of the Western Ghats to be declared as tiger reserve, in the state.
The proposal comes at a time when the on-going lobbying for the mining row has pressure building on the state government to permit mining and allow functioning of idle machinery at abandoned mining areas.
According to noted tiger scientist and director of Centre for Wildlife Studies, K Ullas Karanth, “It is a fantastic area that has been lying neglected. In 1986, while on a survey, I found it was the ideal habitat for the largest lion-tailed macaque, based on which, it was declared a national park in 1987. In the 16 sq km of abandoned mining area, vegetation has come up and of late tiger signs have also been seen. I have been suggesting this area be declared a tiger reserve, for a very long time.”
He added that Kudremukh is the largest block of rain forest adjoining Agumbe and Balur. It has a unique habitat of the Sholas, another one being Annamalai.
It is in the centre of the Western Ghats and is not far from Bhadra, Bandipur, Nagarhole, Anshi and Dandeli tiger reserves. It serves as a path for tiger movement and supports biodiversity. It’s the habitat of the great pied hornbill and lion-tailed macaque.
Kudremukh National Park is spread across 900 sqkm, but the greater Kudremukh area is spread across 1,000 sq km. About 37 sq km of national park area was used for mining. But a curative petition in the Supreme Court, in December 31, 2005, dismissed the plea of the mining firms to renew their lease and occupy the land.
Kudremukh was declared as a national park in 1987 and the lease for mining was issued from July 1969-1999. So when the area was notified and the lease was over, it was not renewed, but the company was granted temporary work permit for a year and later extended for another year.
Then a case was filed in the high court, following which the state government was asked to include all areas into the national park and protect it.
Wildlife First managing trustee Praveen Bhargav said despite the Supreme Court orders, the mining company is still in possession of land in an area which is declared as ecologically-sensitive as per the Godhaverman report.
Thus, it is now for the state government to decide and issue a declaration. Predominantly, tiger reserves comprise of dry, moist and semi-deciduous forests. So the idea is to bring in the best-ever green parts in the tiger reserve.
If it happens, not only will the state government be forced to clear off the mining companies that have occupied a part of the national park, but will also have to ensure that the area is well protected. Moreover, there will be no scope for any commercial activities in the premises in future.
The principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) BK Singh said they were mulling over the idea of getting the area declared as a tiger reserve.
It is a good habitat for tigers as during the last tiger census, over eight tigers were sighted directly, apart from the indirect evidences (scat, pug marks, etc.). The big cats have also been sighted in abandoned mining areas, which is a good sign. In order to make the plea stronger, help from experts and Wildlife Institute of India is also being sought.
This idea has raised a hope among experts who have been fighting a long battle to clear the mining companies from the site. In fact, it will then be the first and the biggest-ever green forest block, located at the centre of the Western Ghats to be declared as tiger reserve, in the state.
The proposal comes at a time when the on-going lobbying for the mining row has pressure building on the state government to permit mining and allow functioning of idle machinery at abandoned mining areas.
According to noted tiger scientist and director of Centre for Wildlife Studies, K Ullas Karanth, “It is a fantastic area that has been lying neglected. In 1986, while on a survey, I found it was the ideal habitat for the largest lion-tailed macaque, based on which, it was declared a national park in 1987. In the 16 sq km of abandoned mining area, vegetation has come up and of late tiger signs have also been seen. I have been suggesting this area be declared a tiger reserve, for a very long time.”
He added that Kudremukh is the largest block of rain forest adjoining Agumbe and Balur. It has a unique habitat of the Sholas, another one being Annamalai.
It is in the centre of the Western Ghats and is not far from Bhadra, Bandipur, Nagarhole, Anshi and Dandeli tiger reserves. It serves as a path for tiger movement and supports biodiversity. It’s the habitat of the great pied hornbill and lion-tailed macaque.
Kudremukh National Park is spread across 900 sqkm, but the greater Kudremukh area is spread across 1,000 sq km. About 37 sq km of national park area was used for mining. But a curative petition in the Supreme Court, in December 31, 2005, dismissed the plea of the mining firms to renew their lease and occupy the land.
Kudremukh was declared as a national park in 1987 and the lease for mining was issued from July 1969-1999. So when the area was notified and the lease was over, it was not renewed, but the company was granted temporary work permit for a year and later extended for another year.
Then a case was filed in the high court, following which the state government was asked to include all areas into the national park and protect it.
Wildlife First managing trustee Praveen Bhargav said despite the Supreme Court orders, the mining company is still in possession of land in an area which is declared as ecologically-sensitive as per the Godhaverman report.
Thus, it is now for the state government to decide and issue a declaration. Predominantly, tiger reserves comprise of dry, moist and semi-deciduous forests. So the idea is to bring in the best-ever green parts in the tiger reserve.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Tiger census initial reports show an upward trend in Uttar Pradesh
There could be a good news for the wildlife lovers as the preliminary analysis of the ongoing census of tigers in the forests of Uttar Pradesh indicates that their numbers might have increased.
The tiger census, which is presently going on through the camera-trap-method has shown an upward trend, though the complete results will be available in March only, chief conservator of forests, Uttar Pradesh BK Patnaik said.
The census work in Dudhwa national park and Pilibhit is complete, while it was underway in Katariyaghat and Kishunpur and as per the reports available, the number of the wild cats appears to be on the rise, he said.
As per the 2007 census, there were 110 tigers and 208 leopards in the state forests, while the number of tigers in the country stood at 1,400.
The tiger density in Uttar Pradesh is one tiger per 25 sq kms, as against around 10 to 11 sq kms in Uttarakhand, sources said, attributing this difference mainly to better forest cover ensuring easy availability of herbivores.
Sources in the state forest department said that the camera trap method is likely to give a more accurate number of tigers present in the forests.
Cameras are installed at strategic points, like water bodies in the forest area, where the tigers go for water, in their respective territories and a computer analysis is carried out to ascertain their presence.
Though there has been concern over the rise in the cases of man-animal conflict in Uttar Pradesh forest areas, with at least three cases reported this year itself from around the Katarniyaghat wildlife sanctuary, efforts are on to take the help of people living on the fringes of forests, besides NGOs to create awareness.
As many as 16 human lives have lost in these conflicts since the beginning of 2010.
Because of rising incidents of man-animal conflict, the department is also working on constant monitoring, grassland development management and means to minimise human/ cattle presence in the forest areas by providing alternate sources of energy and livelihood to the people residing on the fringes of forests, he said.
The 70 kms long railway track running through Dudhwa and Katarniyaghat forests has brought in more trouble to the tigers. Several cases of the wild cats being run over by trains have been reported in the past years, though the speed limit has been fixed at 30 KMPH.
The department has been writing to the Railways to find out a permanent solution for it but to little avail till now, sources added.
The tiger census, which is presently going on through the camera-trap-method has shown an upward trend, though the complete results will be available in March only, chief conservator of forests, Uttar Pradesh BK Patnaik said.
The census work in Dudhwa national park and Pilibhit is complete, while it was underway in Katariyaghat and Kishunpur and as per the reports available, the number of the wild cats appears to be on the rise, he said.
As per the 2007 census, there were 110 tigers and 208 leopards in the state forests, while the number of tigers in the country stood at 1,400.
The tiger density in Uttar Pradesh is one tiger per 25 sq kms, as against around 10 to 11 sq kms in Uttarakhand, sources said, attributing this difference mainly to better forest cover ensuring easy availability of herbivores.
Sources in the state forest department said that the camera trap method is likely to give a more accurate number of tigers present in the forests.
Cameras are installed at strategic points, like water bodies in the forest area, where the tigers go for water, in their respective territories and a computer analysis is carried out to ascertain their presence.
Though there has been concern over the rise in the cases of man-animal conflict in Uttar Pradesh forest areas, with at least three cases reported this year itself from around the Katarniyaghat wildlife sanctuary, efforts are on to take the help of people living on the fringes of forests, besides NGOs to create awareness.
As many as 16 human lives have lost in these conflicts since the beginning of 2010.
Because of rising incidents of man-animal conflict, the department is also working on constant monitoring, grassland development management and means to minimise human/ cattle presence in the forest areas by providing alternate sources of energy and livelihood to the people residing on the fringes of forests, he said.
The 70 kms long railway track running through Dudhwa and Katarniyaghat forests has brought in more trouble to the tigers. Several cases of the wild cats being run over by trains have been reported in the past years, though the speed limit has been fixed at 30 KMPH.
The department has been writing to the Railways to find out a permanent solution for it but to little avail till now, sources added.
Tiger reserve tag for BRT Wildlife Sanctuary stirs up a hornet's nest
MYSORE: The declaration of the Biligiri Ranganathaswamy Temple (BRT) Wildlife Sanctuary as a “tiger reserve” by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) on January 24 has stirred up a hornet's nest.
Sources in the BRT Wildlife Sanctuary said that the official communication was received on January 27, and the total area of the tiger reserve will be 574.82 sq km. The area will be free of human habitation in view of protecting the endangered cat and funds will be released by the Centre.
The tiger reserve, according to conservationists, will help in protecting the estimated 35 tigers that inhabit the sanctuary, but the new status to the sanctuary has become a cause of concern for the 16,204 Soliga tribal people whose lives have for centuries been inextricably linked to this forest.
Thousands of Soligas were allegedly evicted forcibly when the area was declared as BRT Wildlife Sanctuary in 1974.Now, over 1,500 Soliga tribal people will be forced to make way for the tiger reserve.
According to sources, a 373-sq km zone in the heart of the forest has been declared a critical tiger habitat and eight ‘podus' (tribal hamlets) that fall within this radius will be relocated to a village outside the forest. Upset with the development, the tribal community is all set to launch an agitation.
They have planned to launch an indefinite strike in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner in Chamarajanagar from February 15 and fight till the Minister for Forests promises that they will not be evacuated from “their land”. Speaking to The Hindu, secretary of the Zilla Budakattu Abhivruddhi Sangha, C. Made Gowda said that regardless of their objection, the NTCA had declared BRT Wildlife Sanctuary a tiger reserve and nothing had been clarified on the future of the 1,500 Soliga tribal people, who according to forest officials, had to make way for the reserve.
“Forest officials who earlier assured us of not evacuating us from our podus are now saying that podus that fall within the tiger reserve will be relocated outside the forest. This is nothing but hoodwinking the tribal people,” he noted.
He regretted that though environmentalists, non-governmental organisations and rights groups in a petition to Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) proposed to manage BRT Wildlife Sanctuary as a “Community Based Tiger Conservation Area”, the Ministry was not prepared to accept the proposal.
Sources in the BRT Wildlife Sanctuary said that the official communication was received on January 27, and the total area of the tiger reserve will be 574.82 sq km. The area will be free of human habitation in view of protecting the endangered cat and funds will be released by the Centre.
The tiger reserve, according to conservationists, will help in protecting the estimated 35 tigers that inhabit the sanctuary, but the new status to the sanctuary has become a cause of concern for the 16,204 Soliga tribal people whose lives have for centuries been inextricably linked to this forest.
Thousands of Soligas were allegedly evicted forcibly when the area was declared as BRT Wildlife Sanctuary in 1974.Now, over 1,500 Soliga tribal people will be forced to make way for the tiger reserve.
According to sources, a 373-sq km zone in the heart of the forest has been declared a critical tiger habitat and eight ‘podus' (tribal hamlets) that fall within this radius will be relocated to a village outside the forest. Upset with the development, the tribal community is all set to launch an agitation.
They have planned to launch an indefinite strike in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner in Chamarajanagar from February 15 and fight till the Minister for Forests promises that they will not be evacuated from “their land”. Speaking to The Hindu, secretary of the Zilla Budakattu Abhivruddhi Sangha, C. Made Gowda said that regardless of their objection, the NTCA had declared BRT Wildlife Sanctuary a tiger reserve and nothing had been clarified on the future of the 1,500 Soliga tribal people, who according to forest officials, had to make way for the reserve.
“Forest officials who earlier assured us of not evacuating us from our podus are now saying that podus that fall within the tiger reserve will be relocated outside the forest. This is nothing but hoodwinking the tribal people,” he noted.
He regretted that though environmentalists, non-governmental organisations and rights groups in a petition to Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) proposed to manage BRT Wildlife Sanctuary as a “Community Based Tiger Conservation Area”, the Ministry was not prepared to accept the proposal.
Tiger reserve tag for BRT Wildlife Sanctuary stirs up a hornet's nest
MYSORE: The declaration of the Biligiri Ranganathaswamy Temple (BRT) Wildlife Sanctuary as a “tiger reserve” by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) on January 24 has stirred up a hornet's nest.
Sources in the BRT Wildlife Sanctuary said that the official communication was received on January 27, and the total area of the tiger reserve will be 574.82 sq km. The area will be free of human habitation in view of protecting the endangered cat and funds will be released by the Centre.
The tiger reserve, according to conservationists, will help in protecting the estimated 35 tigers that inhabit the sanctuary, but the new status to the sanctuary has become a cause of concern for the 16,204 Soliga tribal people whose lives have for centuries been inextricably linked to this forest.
Thousands of Soligas were allegedly evicted forcibly when the area was declared as BRT Wildlife Sanctuary in 1974.Now, over 1,500 Soliga tribal people will be forced to make way for the tiger reserve.
According to sources, a 373-sq km zone in the heart of the forest has been declared a critical tiger habitat and eight ‘podus' (tribal hamlets) that fall within this radius will be relocated to a village outside the forest. Upset with the development, the tribal community is all set to launch an agitation.
They have planned to launch an indefinite strike in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner in Chamarajanagar from February 15 and fight till the Minister for Forests promises that they will not be evacuated from “their land”. Speaking to The Hindu, secretary of the Zilla Budakattu Abhivruddhi Sangha, C. Made Gowda said that regardless of their objection, the NTCA had declared BRT Wildlife Sanctuary a tiger reserve and nothing had been clarified on the future of the 1,500 Soliga tribal people, who according to forest officials, had to make way for the reserve.
“Forest officials who earlier assured us of not evacuating us from our podus are now saying that podus that fall within the tiger reserve will be relocated outside the forest. This is nothing but hoodwinking the tribal people,” he noted.
He regretted that though environmentalists, non-governmental organisations and rights groups in a petition to Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) proposed to manage BRT Wildlife Sanctuary as a “Community Based Tiger Conservation Area”, the Ministry was not prepared to accept the proposal.
Sources in the BRT Wildlife Sanctuary said that the official communication was received on January 27, and the total area of the tiger reserve will be 574.82 sq km. The area will be free of human habitation in view of protecting the endangered cat and funds will be released by the Centre.
The tiger reserve, according to conservationists, will help in protecting the estimated 35 tigers that inhabit the sanctuary, but the new status to the sanctuary has become a cause of concern for the 16,204 Soliga tribal people whose lives have for centuries been inextricably linked to this forest.
Thousands of Soligas were allegedly evicted forcibly when the area was declared as BRT Wildlife Sanctuary in 1974.Now, over 1,500 Soliga tribal people will be forced to make way for the tiger reserve.
According to sources, a 373-sq km zone in the heart of the forest has been declared a critical tiger habitat and eight ‘podus' (tribal hamlets) that fall within this radius will be relocated to a village outside the forest. Upset with the development, the tribal community is all set to launch an agitation.
They have planned to launch an indefinite strike in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner in Chamarajanagar from February 15 and fight till the Minister for Forests promises that they will not be evacuated from “their land”. Speaking to The Hindu, secretary of the Zilla Budakattu Abhivruddhi Sangha, C. Made Gowda said that regardless of their objection, the NTCA had declared BRT Wildlife Sanctuary a tiger reserve and nothing had been clarified on the future of the 1,500 Soliga tribal people, who according to forest officials, had to make way for the reserve.
“Forest officials who earlier assured us of not evacuating us from our podus are now saying that podus that fall within the tiger reserve will be relocated outside the forest. This is nothing but hoodwinking the tribal people,” he noted.
He regretted that though environmentalists, non-governmental organisations and rights groups in a petition to Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) proposed to manage BRT Wildlife Sanctuary as a “Community Based Tiger Conservation Area”, the Ministry was not prepared to accept the proposal.
Uttarakhand Wildlife department defends killing of Tiger
Dehra Dun: Under attack from various quarters for killing a tiger in the Corbett tiger reserve, the Uttarakhand Wildlife Department today strongly defended its action, saying the big cat was a "man-eater" which killed at least four persons.
The tiger was shot dead at Kosi river range area of the park on Thursday last on suspicion of killing a 27-year-old man after agitating villagers demanded immediate elimination of the feline.
Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has ordered a probe into the killing of the tiger, while Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh is understood to have sought a report from the state government on the incident.
"We have evidences like old bullet wounds to prove that it was the same tiger which killed four persons in Sunderkhal area of the Corbett tiger reserve," S K Chandola, Chief Wildlife Warden, Uttarakhand, said.
He was responding to criticism from various quarters that the department acted in haste to kill the tiger, which had let loose a reign of terror in the area.
BJP MP Tarun Vijay had also condemned the incident and asked the state government to create a "buffer zone" to facilitate the free movement of big cats.
"When the first time tiger was shot on Jan 11, we presumed that it was a tigress due to its pug marks and broad hind portion. But the postmortem report found the old bullet wound of January 11 in the tiger killed on January 27," he said.
This clearly indicates it was the same tiger, he said, adding that human flesh has been found in the stomach of the tiger, which was killed.
In addition to this, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in its report has stated that the blood samples of the wounded tiger collected on January 11 were of a male tiger and not of the tigress, he said.
Chandola also said the department followed all the guidelines of the Wildlife Protection Act (1972) while declaring an animal as man-eater.
"We strictly acted under the section 11 of the wildlife protection act of 1972 which clearly gives mandate to the chief wildlife warden to declare an animal as man-eater in case it becomes dangerous for the human beings," Chandola said.
he said there were several other evidences which clearly suggested that the tiger in Sunderkhal area had become a man-eater.
In the case of the last killing of January 26 where a 27-year-old man was devoured, the tiger had returned to the half-eaten body in the area.
"As the tiger approached the dead body, we ordered the killing," Chandola said.
On being asked as to why the tiger was not tranquilised, he said it was very difficult to tranquilise tigers which are highly elusive animals.
The tiger was shot dead at Kosi river range area of the park on Thursday last on suspicion of killing a 27-year-old man after agitating villagers demanded immediate elimination of the feline.
Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has ordered a probe into the killing of the tiger, while Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh is understood to have sought a report from the state government on the incident.
"We have evidences like old bullet wounds to prove that it was the same tiger which killed four persons in Sunderkhal area of the Corbett tiger reserve," S K Chandola, Chief Wildlife Warden, Uttarakhand, said.
He was responding to criticism from various quarters that the department acted in haste to kill the tiger, which had let loose a reign of terror in the area.
BJP MP Tarun Vijay had also condemned the incident and asked the state government to create a "buffer zone" to facilitate the free movement of big cats.
"When the first time tiger was shot on Jan 11, we presumed that it was a tigress due to its pug marks and broad hind portion. But the postmortem report found the old bullet wound of January 11 in the tiger killed on January 27," he said.
This clearly indicates it was the same tiger, he said, adding that human flesh has been found in the stomach of the tiger, which was killed.
In addition to this, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in its report has stated that the blood samples of the wounded tiger collected on January 11 were of a male tiger and not of the tigress, he said.
Chandola also said the department followed all the guidelines of the Wildlife Protection Act (1972) while declaring an animal as man-eater.
"We strictly acted under the section 11 of the wildlife protection act of 1972 which clearly gives mandate to the chief wildlife warden to declare an animal as man-eater in case it becomes dangerous for the human beings," Chandola said.
he said there were several other evidences which clearly suggested that the tiger in Sunderkhal area had become a man-eater.
In the case of the last killing of January 26 where a 27-year-old man was devoured, the tiger had returned to the half-eaten body in the area.
"As the tiger approached the dead body, we ordered the killing," Chandola said.
On being asked as to why the tiger was not tranquilised, he said it was very difficult to tranquilise tigers which are highly elusive animals.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Ramesh orders inquiry into Uttarakhand tiger killing
Uttarakhand government is in dock for pumping over 25 bullets in a tiger at Corbett national park with environment minister Jairam Ramesh seeking a report and BJP MP from the state Tarun Vijay expressing "displeasure". A tiger, declared as man-eater, was killed near Sunder Khat village on January 27, in a second encounter after being shot about 16 days ago. In between, no effort was made to track down the elderly tiger and tranquilize him, as required under the National Tiger Conservation Authority guidelines.
"I have sought a report on the incident," Ramesh told HT, when asked about the concern expressed by wildlife experts over the barbaric manner in which the tiger was killed.
P K Sen, a NCTA member and former director of Project Tiger said, no effort was made to understand why the animal had turned man-eater and tranquilize him. A tiger in Pilibhit range, who had killed eight people in 2010, had stopped attacking humans after returning to his natural habitat. The World Wide Fund for nature had tracked the entire journey on 20 cameras put in the range.
"The drastic act Corbett was under political and local pressure," Sen said, which was confirmed to some extent by S Chondolia, Chief Wildlife Warden of the state. "The victims were from poor families and disadvantaged. We could not have allowed it to continue," Chondolia told HT.
But, BJP Rajya Sabha member Tarun Vijay had branded these 342 families as encroachers on land for tigers, which the state government had failed to vacate. "The Corbett was not about man-animal conflict but human selfishness and greed in conflict with peace-loving and solitude-seeking tigers," he said on Friday.
Tiger experts also pointed out that the killing took place with the help of experts and the animal was left in pain for over 15 days. "The first bullet on January 11 had damaged the testicles of the animal but no effort was made to end the agony fast," said Brijendra Singh, an NCTA member. No specialized hunters were called and forest department guards shot the tiger.
Ramesh has asked NCTA member secretary Rajesh Gopal to conduct an inquiry and submit a report after experts said that the authorities protocol was not followed while killing the animal.
"Section 11 of the Wildlife Protection Act gives power to the Chief Wildlife Warden to declare an animal a beast and destroy it," Chandolia said, claiming that the NCTA guidelines for fully followed.
Man-animal conflict is in rise in Uttarakhand where tiger population is believed to have increased by about 15% since the last census in 2007 and their habitat shrunk. "Our maps show that corridors which helped tigers to move from one habitat to another and their buffer areas have either been destroyed or encroached," said a ministry official.
"I have sought a report on the incident," Ramesh told HT, when asked about the concern expressed by wildlife experts over the barbaric manner in which the tiger was killed.
P K Sen, a NCTA member and former director of Project Tiger said, no effort was made to understand why the animal had turned man-eater and tranquilize him. A tiger in Pilibhit range, who had killed eight people in 2010, had stopped attacking humans after returning to his natural habitat. The World Wide Fund for nature had tracked the entire journey on 20 cameras put in the range.
"The drastic act Corbett was under political and local pressure," Sen said, which was confirmed to some extent by S Chondolia, Chief Wildlife Warden of the state. "The victims were from poor families and disadvantaged. We could not have allowed it to continue," Chondolia told HT.
But, BJP Rajya Sabha member Tarun Vijay had branded these 342 families as encroachers on land for tigers, which the state government had failed to vacate. "The Corbett was not about man-animal conflict but human selfishness and greed in conflict with peace-loving and solitude-seeking tigers," he said on Friday.
Tiger experts also pointed out that the killing took place with the help of experts and the animal was left in pain for over 15 days. "The first bullet on January 11 had damaged the testicles of the animal but no effort was made to end the agony fast," said Brijendra Singh, an NCTA member. No specialized hunters were called and forest department guards shot the tiger.
Ramesh has asked NCTA member secretary Rajesh Gopal to conduct an inquiry and submit a report after experts said that the authorities protocol was not followed while killing the animal.
"Section 11 of the Wildlife Protection Act gives power to the Chief Wildlife Warden to declare an animal a beast and destroy it," Chandolia said, claiming that the NCTA guidelines for fully followed.
Man-animal conflict is in rise in Uttarakhand where tiger population is believed to have increased by about 15% since the last census in 2007 and their habitat shrunk. "Our maps show that corridors which helped tigers to move from one habitat to another and their buffer areas have either been destroyed or encroached," said a ministry official.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
More tiger cubs bring cheer to Ranthambore
JAIPUR: Ranthambore, which lost 10 tigers recently due to deaths or straying, may have got back its count with at least nine cubs being sighted in the park.
Since last September, five cubs have been caught on camera while forest guards spotted two more tigress which are said to be lactating, park sources said.
A trap camera caught three cubs recently. Though the news of the birth of the cubs came sometime back, forest officials could not confirm it as pictures were not available. "Now since we have pictures of the cubs we are sure," said R N Mehrotra , Rajasthan's principal chief conservator of forests.
Since last September, five cubs have been caught on camera while forest guards spotted two more tigress which are said to be lactating, park sources said.
A trap camera caught three cubs recently. Though the news of the birth of the cubs came sometime back, forest officials could not confirm it as pictures were not available. "Now since we have pictures of the cubs we are sure," said R N Mehrotra , Rajasthan's principal chief conservator of forests.
Space crunch triggering man-tiger conflicts
Article
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Tags:Villagers|Kaziranga National Park|Conflicts
KAZIRANGA: Over 2,000 rhinos, 1,292 elephants, 1,400 wild buffaloes and about 700 swamp deer are already jostling for space in the 430 sq km area of Kaziranga National Park. Add to it about 80-odd tigers. Kaziranga National Park, which boasts of highest tiger density in the world, has virtually run out of space. And the worst sufferers, it seems, are the tigers they stray out of the protected area in search of prey and run into the risk of getting engaged in fatal conflicts with fringe villagers.
Kaziranga Park authorities admit to the problem. "The need of the hour is to add new areas under the park's administration. Even as the process to add new areas is over, these areas are yet to be handed over to us," Kaziranga National Park director Surajit Dutta said.
"Regaining the sand islands on the Brahmaputra which are used as natural corridors by tigers is of utmost importance for proper conservation of the big cats and ensuring their safety. Most of these island are either encroached by human beings or are being used by them to set up cattle sheds. This increases human-tiger conflicts," he added.
A park official said if one combines the total number of big mammals in the park area, it only reveals a terrible space shortage. "Incidents of straying out by tigers and conflicts with locals living in villages along the park are rampant. We have to extend our management beyond the existing area of the park," an official observed.
"Whenever a tiger strays out, it preys on livestock. This triggers conflicts. In fact, human-tiger conflict has posed a challenge for us. However, in collaboration with WWF-India, we are making all efforts to mitigate the conflict by providing compensation to owners as early as possible," Dutta said.
A joint study by Aaranyak and WWF-India, in collaboration with the forest department, has confirmed that over 100 sand islands dotting the Brahmaputra between Kaziranga national park and Orang national park are frequently used by tigers for their movement.
Spotting tigers in places like Koliabor, Naltali and Dhakuakhana within the Kaziranga-Orang Riverine Landscape has confirmed that big cats are using the islands for establishing new home ranges once they move out of the protected areas.
The trend of more and more tigers straying out of Kaziranga is also a cause of concern for the fringe villagers. "Last monsoon, I lost three cows in tiger attacks. They sneak into our village and prey upon our cattle. Our cattle sheds are not well-protected ones," said 75-year-old Hemai Tokbi, the village headman of Inglem Pathar, a non-descript hamlet bang opposite the Kohora range of the national park.
Though Tokbi claimed that residents of Inglem Pathar have never tried to kill a tiger, he could not vouch the same for people of other villages surrounding Kaziranga. "It's a difficult question. Don't ask me that," was his curt reply.
P J Bora, programme coordinator of WWF-India's Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong Landscape Programme (KALP), said: "We provide these villagers with immediate relief whenever there's report of tiger depredation. For proper conservation of the tigers, managing the park and the firing villages is of utmost importance. One should always remember that the human and wildlife interface in an area like Kaziranga is quite diffused that there is constant interaction, sometime fierce, and close relationship among both the parties."
The 185 km long Kaziranga-Orang Riverine Landscape (KORL) comprises the protected areas of Kaziranga, Orang, Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary, Burachapori Wildlife Sanctuary and a number of reserve forests. The study said KORL served as a major gateway for movement of other animals including deer the major prey base for tigers.
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Tags:Villagers|Kaziranga National Park|Conflicts
KAZIRANGA: Over 2,000 rhinos, 1,292 elephants, 1,400 wild buffaloes and about 700 swamp deer are already jostling for space in the 430 sq km area of Kaziranga National Park. Add to it about 80-odd tigers. Kaziranga National Park, which boasts of highest tiger density in the world, has virtually run out of space. And the worst sufferers, it seems, are the tigers they stray out of the protected area in search of prey and run into the risk of getting engaged in fatal conflicts with fringe villagers.
Kaziranga Park authorities admit to the problem. "The need of the hour is to add new areas under the park's administration. Even as the process to add new areas is over, these areas are yet to be handed over to us," Kaziranga National Park director Surajit Dutta said.
"Regaining the sand islands on the Brahmaputra which are used as natural corridors by tigers is of utmost importance for proper conservation of the big cats and ensuring their safety. Most of these island are either encroached by human beings or are being used by them to set up cattle sheds. This increases human-tiger conflicts," he added.
A park official said if one combines the total number of big mammals in the park area, it only reveals a terrible space shortage. "Incidents of straying out by tigers and conflicts with locals living in villages along the park are rampant. We have to extend our management beyond the existing area of the park," an official observed.
"Whenever a tiger strays out, it preys on livestock. This triggers conflicts. In fact, human-tiger conflict has posed a challenge for us. However, in collaboration with WWF-India, we are making all efforts to mitigate the conflict by providing compensation to owners as early as possible," Dutta said.
A joint study by Aaranyak and WWF-India, in collaboration with the forest department, has confirmed that over 100 sand islands dotting the Brahmaputra between Kaziranga national park and Orang national park are frequently used by tigers for their movement.
Spotting tigers in places like Koliabor, Naltali and Dhakuakhana within the Kaziranga-Orang Riverine Landscape has confirmed that big cats are using the islands for establishing new home ranges once they move out of the protected areas.
The trend of more and more tigers straying out of Kaziranga is also a cause of concern for the fringe villagers. "Last monsoon, I lost three cows in tiger attacks. They sneak into our village and prey upon our cattle. Our cattle sheds are not well-protected ones," said 75-year-old Hemai Tokbi, the village headman of Inglem Pathar, a non-descript hamlet bang opposite the Kohora range of the national park.
Though Tokbi claimed that residents of Inglem Pathar have never tried to kill a tiger, he could not vouch the same for people of other villages surrounding Kaziranga. "It's a difficult question. Don't ask me that," was his curt reply.
P J Bora, programme coordinator of WWF-India's Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong Landscape Programme (KALP), said: "We provide these villagers with immediate relief whenever there's report of tiger depredation. For proper conservation of the tigers, managing the park and the firing villages is of utmost importance. One should always remember that the human and wildlife interface in an area like Kaziranga is quite diffused that there is constant interaction, sometime fierce, and close relationship among both the parties."
The 185 km long Kaziranga-Orang Riverine Landscape (KORL) comprises the protected areas of Kaziranga, Orang, Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary, Burachapori Wildlife Sanctuary and a number of reserve forests. The study said KORL served as a major gateway for movement of other animals including deer the major prey base for tigers.
A website that has different tales of tigers
A website based on the tigers of Bandhavgarh National Park in Umaria district not only identifies the big cats belonging to a particular zone by their pet names, but also traces their family tree. landofthewild.com, created by Sachin Rai, a wildlife
photographer, traces the family tree of tigers, describes their traits and has stories associated with them.
"Wildlife photography is a passion for me," Rai told PTI, when asked about the website and his hobby. "I used to visit Bandhavgarh at least three times a year and spend a fortnight each in the park to capture images and gather information about the tigers," he said.
The tigers in the family tree are identified with their names like B2, Bokha, Bamera Male, Kallu, Chakradhara, Jhujhura, Chorbehra, Mahaman, Banbehi and Mirchaini.
"Best part of the website is that the moment you click on B2, Mahaman or any other tiger, you get to see the actual
big cat in the wild," the awarding-winning lensman said.
Referring to B2, the website says, "a legend on his own, this tiger is probably the most photographed wild tiger in the world. Ruling more than half the tourism area for almost eight years now, he has fathered lots of cubs who have
been instrumental in shaping the future of Bandhavgarh."
"B2 has fathered Jhujura, one of the most bold and successful mothers. She had raised two healthy litters and was
taking care of her third one which consisted of three cubs (six-month-old). She was run over by a Forest Department
vehicle on May 19, 2010," it claimed.
photographer, traces the family tree of tigers, describes their traits and has stories associated with them.
"Wildlife photography is a passion for me," Rai told PTI, when asked about the website and his hobby. "I used to visit Bandhavgarh at least three times a year and spend a fortnight each in the park to capture images and gather information about the tigers," he said.
The tigers in the family tree are identified with their names like B2, Bokha, Bamera Male, Kallu, Chakradhara, Jhujhura, Chorbehra, Mahaman, Banbehi and Mirchaini.
"Best part of the website is that the moment you click on B2, Mahaman or any other tiger, you get to see the actual
big cat in the wild," the awarding-winning lensman said.
Referring to B2, the website says, "a legend on his own, this tiger is probably the most photographed wild tiger in the world. Ruling more than half the tourism area for almost eight years now, he has fathered lots of cubs who have
been instrumental in shaping the future of Bandhavgarh."
"B2 has fathered Jhujura, one of the most bold and successful mothers. She had raised two healthy litters and was
taking care of her third one which consisted of three cubs (six-month-old). She was run over by a Forest Department
vehicle on May 19, 2010," it claimed.
Was the wrong tiger killed in Kumaon?
LUCKNOW: A day after Uttarakhand forest officials shot a tiger claiming it had killed six people in and around Kumaon's Corbett Reserve, doubts are being raised if the big cat felled on Thursday was a man-eater.
The Corbett authorities who had earlier claimed that the man-eater was a tigress, on Friday said the feline shot by Ramnagar forest officials was a "rare specimen with female characterstics". With deformity in both its hind claws, the pug marks of the tiger made them look like that of a tigress. "Whatever doubts have arisen, could be because of this assumption of ours," said Corbett park warden U C Tiwari on Friday adding, "it was a tiger with female characteristics."
The contention was outrightly rejected by wildlife experts. "The pug mark impressions are very distinct and are impressions of paws and not claws," said former director of Dudhwa G C Mishra. He added that this leaves little chance of a goof up. "We are yet to come across a tiger with "female characteristics," he said.
"If they have killed a wrong tiger and a man-eater is still at large, killings (of men) will take place in some 15-20 days," he warned.
Former director, Project Tiger, R L Singh said: "I agree that pug marks are misleading evidence, but I have never ever come across a tiger with any of its claws like that of a female. Though the cubs can have their claws look like that of a female, the Corbett tiger was an old one."
The Corbett authorities who had earlier claimed that the man-eater was a tigress, on Friday said the feline shot by Ramnagar forest officials was a "rare specimen with female characterstics". With deformity in both its hind claws, the pug marks of the tiger made them look like that of a tigress. "Whatever doubts have arisen, could be because of this assumption of ours," said Corbett park warden U C Tiwari on Friday adding, "it was a tiger with female characteristics."
The contention was outrightly rejected by wildlife experts. "The pug mark impressions are very distinct and are impressions of paws and not claws," said former director of Dudhwa G C Mishra. He added that this leaves little chance of a goof up. "We are yet to come across a tiger with "female characteristics," he said.
"If they have killed a wrong tiger and a man-eater is still at large, killings (of men) will take place in some 15-20 days," he warned.
Former director, Project Tiger, R L Singh said: "I agree that pug marks are misleading evidence, but I have never ever come across a tiger with any of its claws like that of a female. Though the cubs can have their claws look like that of a female, the Corbett tiger was an old one."
Friday, January 28, 2011
Forest officials gun down Corbett man-eater
LUCKNOW: Ramanagar forest official shot down a man-eating tiger near Corbett Tiger Reserve on Thursday afternoon. The animal had reportedly killed and eaten a 27-year-old youth in the morning. Forest officials launched an extensive combing to trace the man-eater after mutilated remains of the youth -- sixth victim since November -- was found and killed the animal around 2.30 pm.
In the beginning, there was confusion whether this is the same tiger which has been a terror in the area for the past three months. But, Uttarakhand forest officials went on record on Thursday evening claiming that the tiger shot by them was the one which was killing humans in Corbett area since November. "We can not say that man-eating is over in Corbett forever but in this area it has ended for sure," said S Chandola, chief wildlife warden, Uttarakhand.
The tiger received multiple wounds in neck and thighs. "But I have found the an old wound as well. Though it had distinctly healed," said Chandola. The big cat was shot at on January 11 by forest officers when it was eating human flesh. "I had predicted that the wound to be on its shoulder," said the official. The same wound, he said, was found on the carcass of the tiger.
When asked about the earlier reports, confirmed even by local forest officials, that it was a tigress which was killing and eating humans in the area since November, Chandola said, "these were only deductions. It's a wild environment and a feline can not be expected to lift its paws to show if it is a male or female."
Earlier in the day, the locals went berserk after the remains of Puran Chand were recovered from Sunderkhal area in Ramnagar forest division. On Wednesday, Puran, son of Bhopal Ram, resident of Maldhan village, Ramnagar, went missing. According to a forest officer, Puran had left his motorcycle on the outskirts and ventured inside the forest area at around 1.00pm. It is common for the local people to cross the forest on foot to reach human settlements on the other side.
When Puran could not be traced till 7.00pm, locals approached Ramnagar officers and requested them to comb the area. His motorcycle was found parked. The locals had gheraoed the area and that probably did not allow the tiger to move out. On Thursday morning, the youth's legs were recovered from Sunderkhal forest area. The tiger had eaten the rest of the body. This triggered a large-scale protest in the area.
The forest officers had to call in police to control the mob which had blocked Ranikhet-Ramnagar highway. "We also called in three elephants for the combing," said Ramnagar DFO Ravindra Juyal. The tiger was finally spotted in Sunderkhal area and was shot. Its carcass has been brought to Ramnagar. There was a huge crowd in Ramanagr to have a look at the dead tiger.
In the beginning, there was confusion whether this is the same tiger which has been a terror in the area for the past three months. But, Uttarakhand forest officials went on record on Thursday evening claiming that the tiger shot by them was the one which was killing humans in Corbett area since November. "We can not say that man-eating is over in Corbett forever but in this area it has ended for sure," said S Chandola, chief wildlife warden, Uttarakhand.
The tiger received multiple wounds in neck and thighs. "But I have found the an old wound as well. Though it had distinctly healed," said Chandola. The big cat was shot at on January 11 by forest officers when it was eating human flesh. "I had predicted that the wound to be on its shoulder," said the official. The same wound, he said, was found on the carcass of the tiger.
When asked about the earlier reports, confirmed even by local forest officials, that it was a tigress which was killing and eating humans in the area since November, Chandola said, "these were only deductions. It's a wild environment and a feline can not be expected to lift its paws to show if it is a male or female."
Earlier in the day, the locals went berserk after the remains of Puran Chand were recovered from Sunderkhal area in Ramnagar forest division. On Wednesday, Puran, son of Bhopal Ram, resident of Maldhan village, Ramnagar, went missing. According to a forest officer, Puran had left his motorcycle on the outskirts and ventured inside the forest area at around 1.00pm. It is common for the local people to cross the forest on foot to reach human settlements on the other side.
When Puran could not be traced till 7.00pm, locals approached Ramnagar officers and requested them to comb the area. His motorcycle was found parked. The locals had gheraoed the area and that probably did not allow the tiger to move out. On Thursday morning, the youth's legs were recovered from Sunderkhal forest area. The tiger had eaten the rest of the body. This triggered a large-scale protest in the area.
The forest officers had to call in police to control the mob which had blocked Ranikhet-Ramnagar highway. "We also called in three elephants for the combing," said Ramnagar DFO Ravindra Juyal. The tiger was finally spotted in Sunderkhal area and was shot. Its carcass has been brought to Ramnagar. There was a huge crowd in Ramanagr to have a look at the dead tiger.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Tiger kills another man in Corbett
LUCKNOW: A man was killed by a tiger in Ramnagar forest division. This is the fifth human killing in Corbett by a big cat. The forest officers have reached the spot, said a forest staff at Ramnagar forest division.
The man was killed on Wednesday evening, said the staff. The officers, on the other hand, said they could share more about the incident once the primary investigation gets over.
The big cat killing humans in Corbett is an adult tigress. The tigress is a man-eater. It has killed three humans since November in Sarpduli range under Garjia forest area of Corbett national park.
The officers, however, were not sure whether the fourth human, whose body was found about 5-6 kms away from Garjia forest was also killed by the tigress.
The tigress was shot at on January 11 by forest officers. The feline was injured in the operation. The officers said that blood stains at the spot made them believe that the tigress was injured.
The Sarpduli range of Garjia forest area has considerable human interference. The presence of Garjia temple near Corbett national park also makes it a busy place.
The locals have already risen in resentment against the park authorities after the killings.
On the other hand, tigress has completely lost the fear for humans. That is evident from the time period which kept on reducing between the killings. The second killing came more than a month after the first one. The third killing was made after a gap of just a week.
Read more: Tiger kills another man in Corbett - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Tiger-kills-another-man-in-Corbett/articleshow/7371811.cms#ixzz1CEupSgUa
The man was killed on Wednesday evening, said the staff. The officers, on the other hand, said they could share more about the incident once the primary investigation gets over.
The big cat killing humans in Corbett is an adult tigress. The tigress is a man-eater. It has killed three humans since November in Sarpduli range under Garjia forest area of Corbett national park.
The officers, however, were not sure whether the fourth human, whose body was found about 5-6 kms away from Garjia forest was also killed by the tigress.
The tigress was shot at on January 11 by forest officers. The feline was injured in the operation. The officers said that blood stains at the spot made them believe that the tigress was injured.
The Sarpduli range of Garjia forest area has considerable human interference. The presence of Garjia temple near Corbett national park also makes it a busy place.
The locals have already risen in resentment against the park authorities after the killings.
On the other hand, tigress has completely lost the fear for humans. That is evident from the time period which kept on reducing between the killings. The second killing came more than a month after the first one. The third killing was made after a gap of just a week.
Read more: Tiger kills another man in Corbett - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Tiger-kills-another-man-in-Corbett/articleshow/7371811.cms#ixzz1CEupSgUa
Tigers could triple in Asia
WASHINGTON: Asian tiger reserves could support more than 10,000 wild tigers, or three times the current number, if core breeding sites are protected, say the world's leading conservationists.
The study, co-authored by World Wildlife Fund (WWF) scientists, is the first assessment of the commitment made by all 13 countries at a summit in November that vowed to double tiger population in Asia by 2022.
The study finds that it will take a global effort to ensure that core breeding reserves are connected via habitat corridors, the journal Conservation Letters reports.
"We absolutely need to stop the bleeding, the poaching of tigers and their prey in core breeding areas, but we need to go much further and secure larger tiger landscapes before it is too late," said Eric Dinerstein, chief scientist at WWF and study co-author, according to a WWF statement.
Wild tiger numbers have declined from about 100,000 in the early 1900s to as few as 3,200 today due to poaching of tigers and their prey, habitat destruction and human/tiger conflict.
Most of the remaining tigers are scattered in small, isolated pockets across 13 Asian countries.
"By saving the tiger, we save all the plants and animals that live under the tiger's umbrella," said study co-author John Seidensticker of the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in the US.
The authors found that the 20 priority tiger conservation landscapes with the highest probability of long-term tiger survival could support more than 10,500 tigers, including about 3,400 breeding females.
The study, co-authored by World Wildlife Fund (WWF) scientists, is the first assessment of the commitment made by all 13 countries at a summit in November that vowed to double tiger population in Asia by 2022.
The study finds that it will take a global effort to ensure that core breeding reserves are connected via habitat corridors, the journal Conservation Letters reports.
"We absolutely need to stop the bleeding, the poaching of tigers and their prey in core breeding areas, but we need to go much further and secure larger tiger landscapes before it is too late," said Eric Dinerstein, chief scientist at WWF and study co-author, according to a WWF statement.
Wild tiger numbers have declined from about 100,000 in the early 1900s to as few as 3,200 today due to poaching of tigers and their prey, habitat destruction and human/tiger conflict.
Most of the remaining tigers are scattered in small, isolated pockets across 13 Asian countries.
"By saving the tiger, we save all the plants and animals that live under the tiger's umbrella," said study co-author John Seidensticker of the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in the US.
The authors found that the 20 priority tiger conservation landscapes with the highest probability of long-term tiger survival could support more than 10,500 tigers, including about 3,400 breeding females.
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