Thursday, August 11, 2011
Green groups seek tiger reserve tag for park
- Environmentalists hope status upgrade will help Dibru-Saikhowa get more funds from Centre
RIPUNJOY DAS
Dibru-Saikhowa National Park
Dibrugarh, Aug. 10: Environmental groups have urged the Centre to declare Dibru-Saikhowa National Park as a tiger reserve in the hope that it will attract funds.
According to official data, the national park, spread across Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts with a total area of 765 square km, including the 340 square km core zone, had 31 tigers in 2001-2002.
Although the number has gone down because of lack of conservation efforts and some other factors, it is roughly estimated that the park still has around 15 tigers.
During the 2010 tiger census — reports of which were released recently — pugmarks were found in three areas of the park. “We have seen that the many small reserves with only three or four tigers have been accorded the status of tiger reserve which has helped them receive crores of rupees. It is unfortunate that the Centre and the state government has so far neglected the park compared to other national parks of the state,” the secretary of Dibru-Saikhowa Conservation Society, Joynal Abedin, said.
In 2003, the then state joint secretary of forests and present Lakhimpur deputy commissioner Anwaruddin Choudhury had written to the then chief conservator of forests (wildlife) M.C. Malakar to take up the matter of according tiger reserve status to Dibru-Saikhowa National Park and Dhansiri reserve forest in Karbi Anglong.The proposal was forwarded to the Centre by Malakar. However, the Centre has failed to take any steps on the issue, which has irked nature lovers and also given them a chance to press for tiger reserve status for Dibru-Saikhowa.
“Despite being rich in its flora and fauna, apart from being a treasure hub of orchids, the Assam government has never given importance to the park. Therefore, we urge the government to accord the status of a tiger reserve to Dibru-Saikhowa so that conservation efforts can be carried out in the real sense,” Niranta Gohain, director of Wave Eco-Tourism, another NGO, said.
There are five tiger reserves in the Northeast — Kaziranga, Nameri and Manas in Assam, Namdapha in Arunachal Pradesh and Dampa in Mizoram.
With the formation of the National Tiger Conservation Authority and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh laying much stress on the conservation of tigers in India, the NGOs feel that according the status of tiger reserve is the only option for development of Dibru-Saikhowa.
However, the divisional forest officer of the national park, Vaibhav Mathur, said, “In the present circumstances it would be totally unscientific to declare Dibru-Saikhowa a tiger reserve.”
“There is a huge human population inside the core zone of the park, which has created a lot of pressure upon the national park. Firstly, this population of over 10,000 needs to be a relocated. There are several other issues like acute shortage in manpower as well which needs to be addressed,” he added.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110811/jsp/northeast/story_14362737.jsp
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
New Tiger Reserves
Ministry of Environment and Forests
The “in-principle” approval has been accorded by the National Tiger Conservation Authority for creation of six new tiger reserves, and the sites are: (i) Pilibhit (Uttar Pradesh), (ii) Ratapani (Madhya Pradesh), (iii) Sunabeda (Odisha), (iv) Mukandara Hills (including Darrah, Jawahar Sagar and Chambal Wildlife Sanctuaries) (Rajasthan), (v) Kudremukh (Karnataka) and (vi) Kawal Sanctuary (Andhra Pradesh). Besides, the States have been advised to send proposals for declaring the following areas as Tiger Reserves: (i) Bor (Maharashtra), (ii) Suhelwa (Uttar Pradesh), (iii) Nagzira-Navegaon (Maharashtra) (iv) Satyamangalam (Tamil Nadu), (v) Guru Ghasidas National Park (Chhattisgarh), and (vi) Mhadei Sanctuary (Goa). Under section 38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 State governments are authorised to notify an area as a tiger reserve on recommendation of the National Tiger Conservation Authority.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Environment and Forests (independent charge) Shrimati Jayanthi Natarajan in a written reply to a question by Shri Kanwar Deep Singh in Rajya Sabha today.
KP
(Release ID :74171)
The “in-principle” approval has been accorded by the National Tiger Conservation Authority for creation of six new tiger reserves, and the sites are: (i) Pilibhit (Uttar Pradesh), (ii) Ratapani (Madhya Pradesh), (iii) Sunabeda (Odisha), (iv) Mukandara Hills (including Darrah, Jawahar Sagar and Chambal Wildlife Sanctuaries) (Rajasthan), (v) Kudremukh (Karnataka) and (vi) Kawal Sanctuary (Andhra Pradesh). Besides, the States have been advised to send proposals for declaring the following areas as Tiger Reserves: (i) Bor (Maharashtra), (ii) Suhelwa (Uttar Pradesh), (iii) Nagzira-Navegaon (Maharashtra) (iv) Satyamangalam (Tamil Nadu), (v) Guru Ghasidas National Park (Chhattisgarh), and (vi) Mhadei Sanctuary (Goa). Under section 38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 State governments are authorised to notify an area as a tiger reserve on recommendation of the National Tiger Conservation Authority.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Environment and Forests (independent charge) Shrimati Jayanthi Natarajan in a written reply to a question by Shri Kanwar Deep Singh in Rajya Sabha today.
KP
(Release ID :74171)
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Tiger population increases in Sathyamangalam forest
PTI
The tiger population in Sathyamangalam forest has increased from 10 to 18 in the past two years, Conservator of Forests, Erode District, has said.
D Arun, the Conservator of Forests, said on Sunday that the recent census had shown an increase of eight tigers in the range in comparison with the 2009 figures.
Addressing a meeting organised by the Living with Nature Movement, Mr. Arun said strict vigil in the forest areas in the district had led to the increase in wildlife population.
He said the district has two forest divisions with vast forest cover: Sathyamangalam and Erode. As per the recent census, Sathyamangalam is home to 785 elephants, 564 Gaur, 212 Sambar variety deer, 309 spotted deer, 377 Black Buck deer, 127 wild boar, 19 panther and 18 tigers, he said.
Similarly, Erode forest division has 70 elephants, 20 bison, 645 spotted deer, 208 sambar variety deer and 20 panthers, he said.
Sufficient water and food were available for the wild animals inside the forest, but sometime due to migration, some elephants were entering private lands, causing damage to the crops, he said. In order to prevent such incidents, digging of trenches has already commenced in the forest areas, he added.
The tiger population in Sathyamangalam forest has increased from 10 to 18 in the past two years, Conservator of Forests, Erode District, has said.
D Arun, the Conservator of Forests, said on Sunday that the recent census had shown an increase of eight tigers in the range in comparison with the 2009 figures.
Addressing a meeting organised by the Living with Nature Movement, Mr. Arun said strict vigil in the forest areas in the district had led to the increase in wildlife population.
He said the district has two forest divisions with vast forest cover: Sathyamangalam and Erode. As per the recent census, Sathyamangalam is home to 785 elephants, 564 Gaur, 212 Sambar variety deer, 309 spotted deer, 377 Black Buck deer, 127 wild boar, 19 panther and 18 tigers, he said.
Similarly, Erode forest division has 70 elephants, 20 bison, 645 spotted deer, 208 sambar variety deer and 20 panthers, he said.
Sufficient water and food were available for the wild animals inside the forest, but sometime due to migration, some elephants were entering private lands, causing damage to the crops, he said. In order to prevent such incidents, digging of trenches has already commenced in the forest areas, he added.
Goa not keen on responding to MoEF letter on tiger sanctuary
PTI | 04:08 PM,Aug 08,2011
Panaji, Aug 8 (PTI) Even though the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) had asked the Goa government to submit a proposal to declare Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary as a Tiger Reserve, the coastal state might not respond to it as it is not sure whether there are tigers in the sanctuary. State Forest Minister Filipe Neri Rodrigues today hinted at it when he told reporters that the state government might not respond to the MOEF letter. "Why should we reply? We have not been asked to reply?" he questioned. The minister also said that the state government is not sure whether there are tigers existing in Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary. When the minister was told that the existence of tigers in the sanctuary was noticed during animal census, Rodrigues said, "It is the wildlife institute's and not my job to know whether there are tigers (in the sanctuary)." The Congress minister said that declaration of sanctuary as a tiger reserve would turn out to be "unpopular" as local people are opposing it. "We will have to take everyone into confidence," he said. In June, the MoEF had written to Goa chief minister Digambar Kamat asking him to submit a proposal for setting up a tiger reserve.
Monday, August 8, 2011
A Tigress and three tigers missing from Ranthambore
JAIPUR: Three tigers and one tigress are reportedly missing from the Ranthambore national park and are untraceable for the last few months.
"One tiger is untraceable since December last year and the others are missing since February this year. They do not have radio collars and our effort to trace them is on," Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and Chief Wildlife warden U M Sahai said.
No signs of territorial fight have been detected yet and the teams of forest department are making efforts to locate them, he added.
"In monsoon season, tracking big cats becomes difficult. They are missing for months even then it would be too early to anticipate that they are dead because it (missing) happens many times due to various reasons," Deputy Conservator of Forest- Ranthambore Y K Sahu said.
"No dead body has been found yet," he said. "We are hopeful that they would be traced after monsoon gets over. Tigers T21, T29, T40 and tigress T27 are missing," Sahu said, adding, there are more than 40 tigers, tigresses and cubs (in all) in Ranthambore.
The famous Ranthambore national park is located in Sawaimadhopur district, 130 kms from here in Rajasthan.
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-08-06/flora-fauna/29858409_1_ranthambore-national-park-u-m-sahai-tigress
"One tiger is untraceable since December last year and the others are missing since February this year. They do not have radio collars and our effort to trace them is on," Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and Chief Wildlife warden U M Sahai said.
No signs of territorial fight have been detected yet and the teams of forest department are making efforts to locate them, he added.
"In monsoon season, tracking big cats becomes difficult. They are missing for months even then it would be too early to anticipate that they are dead because it (missing) happens many times due to various reasons," Deputy Conservator of Forest- Ranthambore Y K Sahu said.
"No dead body has been found yet," he said. "We are hopeful that they would be traced after monsoon gets over. Tigers T21, T29, T40 and tigress T27 are missing," Sahu said, adding, there are more than 40 tigers, tigresses and cubs (in all) in Ranthambore.
The famous Ranthambore national park is located in Sawaimadhopur district, 130 kms from here in Rajasthan.
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-08-06/flora-fauna/29858409_1_ranthambore-national-park-u-m-sahai-tigress
After 50 tiger deaths, 3 poachers convicted
For a country which wants to slap a fine of Rs 1-crore on citizens who are cruel to their pet dogs, chickens and buffalos, poachers of India’s national animal — tiger — have been let off rather lightly. But the unthinkable happened last week: For the first time in Karnataka, the nation's tiger capital, three tiger poachers were convicted and sentenced to three years' imprisonment by the 9th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's court in Bangalore.
Prior to this, it was only arrests of wildlife poachers that made news as conviction eluded sleuths of the CID Forest Cell and other police personnel.
Nabbing the culprits
A team from Upparpet police station comprising inspector M R Mudavi, sub-inspectors S D Shashidhar and Sridhar K Poojar and some constables nabbed a three-member gang on August 17, 2008, in Gandhinagar. Acting on a tip-off, the police contingent arrested M David Kumar (29), Kodandapani (29) of Koramangala and P Venkataswamy (33) of Krishnagiri and seized two tiger pelts, tiger paws and a few pieces of tiger bones worth Rs 15 lakh. The booty was sourced from Chandapura, on the city outskirts. The three were booked under various provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
Upparpet police station inspector Lokeshwar, who took over as investigating officer in the case, said, "We provided enough documents to the court and are happy that the poachers have been convicted. This will teach other poachers a lesson."
Conservationists smiling
The rare conviction has put the smile back on the faces of conservationists. Sanjay Gubbi, member of the Karnataka State Wildlife Board, said: "The conviction is a welcome change on the conservation front. All these years, it was only reports of arrests which made news but culprits would eventually go scot-free. Even though the punishment is inadequate, I am happy that it has started happening."
Upparpet: Wildlife trade hub
For years, areas within Upparpet police station limits including Gandhinagar, Majestic, KG Road, Avenue Road and the infamous Tulasi Thota were the hub of wildlife trade in IT city.
In 2008 alone, 24 cases relating to the wildlife trade were registered including the trading of six tiger pelts, nine leopard pelts and one rhinoceros horn. The numbers kept increasing over the years.
The high number of cases gave the area the dubious distinction of entering the national wildlife crime database managed by the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI).
Poaching unabated every year
Even though the dwindling tiger population set off alarm bells and led to calls for stringent laws, poaching in various national parks and tiger reserves continues unabated. Last year, in Karnataka alone, the forest department recovered as many as six tiger pelts and arrested a couple of poachers. And 50 tigers have fallen prey to poachers in the last 30 years, says Sanjay.
It's only in the last couple of years that tiger deaths have been properly tracked in India after the setting up of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). Till then, there were no efforts to keep track of the big cats' mortality rate even though their population was slowly being decimated.
Karnataka, with more than 390-400 big cats, has four tiger reserves including Bandipur, Nagarhole, Anshi-Dandeli and Bhadra Tiger reserves. Recently, the central government also notified Biligiri Ranga Temple Wildlife Sanctuary as a tiger reserve. Bandipur, Nagarhole and Dandeli were once the hub of poachers though such incidents have come down in the last one year due to the efforts of forest officials.
http://www.bangaloremirror.com/index.aspx?page=article§id=1&contentid=2011080720110807131257210a884b569
Prior to this, it was only arrests of wildlife poachers that made news as conviction eluded sleuths of the CID Forest Cell and other police personnel.
Nabbing the culprits
A team from Upparpet police station comprising inspector M R Mudavi, sub-inspectors S D Shashidhar and Sridhar K Poojar and some constables nabbed a three-member gang on August 17, 2008, in Gandhinagar. Acting on a tip-off, the police contingent arrested M David Kumar (29), Kodandapani (29) of Koramangala and P Venkataswamy (33) of Krishnagiri and seized two tiger pelts, tiger paws and a few pieces of tiger bones worth Rs 15 lakh. The booty was sourced from Chandapura, on the city outskirts. The three were booked under various provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
Upparpet police station inspector Lokeshwar, who took over as investigating officer in the case, said, "We provided enough documents to the court and are happy that the poachers have been convicted. This will teach other poachers a lesson."
Conservationists smiling
The rare conviction has put the smile back on the faces of conservationists. Sanjay Gubbi, member of the Karnataka State Wildlife Board, said: "The conviction is a welcome change on the conservation front. All these years, it was only reports of arrests which made news but culprits would eventually go scot-free. Even though the punishment is inadequate, I am happy that it has started happening."
Upparpet: Wildlife trade hub
For years, areas within Upparpet police station limits including Gandhinagar, Majestic, KG Road, Avenue Road and the infamous Tulasi Thota were the hub of wildlife trade in IT city.
In 2008 alone, 24 cases relating to the wildlife trade were registered including the trading of six tiger pelts, nine leopard pelts and one rhinoceros horn. The numbers kept increasing over the years.
The high number of cases gave the area the dubious distinction of entering the national wildlife crime database managed by the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI).
Poaching unabated every year
Even though the dwindling tiger population set off alarm bells and led to calls for stringent laws, poaching in various national parks and tiger reserves continues unabated. Last year, in Karnataka alone, the forest department recovered as many as six tiger pelts and arrested a couple of poachers. And 50 tigers have fallen prey to poachers in the last 30 years, says Sanjay.
It's only in the last couple of years that tiger deaths have been properly tracked in India after the setting up of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). Till then, there were no efforts to keep track of the big cats' mortality rate even though their population was slowly being decimated.
Karnataka, with more than 390-400 big cats, has four tiger reserves including Bandipur, Nagarhole, Anshi-Dandeli and Bhadra Tiger reserves. Recently, the central government also notified Biligiri Ranga Temple Wildlife Sanctuary as a tiger reserve. Bandipur, Nagarhole and Dandeli were once the hub of poachers though such incidents have come down in the last one year due to the efforts of forest officials.
http://www.bangaloremirror.com/index.aspx?page=article§id=1&contentid=2011080720110807131257210a884b569
Evaluation lists major threats to three Tiger Reserves
Up and coming development projects, increasing pressure from tourism and pilgrimage, increasing number of hotels and conflicts with local communities are the major threats faced by the three tiger reserves in the State.
The weaknesses include inadequate trained and competent staff in the tiger reserves, disturbance due to human settlements inside the reserves and fringes, exotic plantations, invasive species, increasing human – wildlife conflict in certain pockets and some corridors still falling outside the tiger reserves.
The ‘Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) of Tiger Reserves in India: Process and Outcomes 2010 – 2011,' brought out by the Wildlife Institute of India and National Tiger Conservation Authority, has listed the strengths of the tiger reserves as well.
Connectivity to adjoining areas, strong support of stakeholders, good scientific research information and strong eco-development programme have been identified as strengths of Kalakad – Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve.
Sound protection strategies, adequate baseline information, adequate support of local people, co-ordination and contiguity with Kerala are the strong points for Anamalai.
At Mudumalai, the landscape adjoining Bandipur and Wayanad has provided space for migration of large mammals and integration into the ecosystem. Protection system, with anti-poaching strategies in place, has been termed good.
In all three reserves, the study has viewed the establishment of tiger foundations, growing interest of research among individuals and institutions and increasing government support as opportunities.
Prepared under the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) framework, the outcome of the MEE process has categorised the three tiger reserves in the State as very good. The Western Ghats landscape has been rated 75 on the MEE score, 10 points above the average of 65 per cent for all five clusters.
However, the team chaired by State's former head of Forest Department C.K. Sreedharan with Yogesh Dubey and E.A. Jayson as members which evaluated Cluster IV covering nine tiger reserves (TR) in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu has found several shortcomings in management.
Management plan
While all TRs have an approved management plan, none of them has approved tiger conservation plan, the report noted. The present system of beat, section and range as unit of management, has to be evaluated to see if it was serving the twin major purposes of protection and implementation of developmental programmes.
While enforcing Acts, it was noticed that booking of wildlife offences, filing of charge sheets and taking them to logical conclusions in a time bound manner was also absent in most TRs.
Apart from inadequately trained staff, the motivational level was not very high due to lack of adequate incentives. Besides, there was lack of arms and ammunitions and efficient communication systems and other equipment.
Most of the TRs lacked true research and development support to make them sustainable, said the report. It has also found shortcomings in capacity building of staff in wildlife management, unorganised tourism management, lack of internal monitoring and evaluation systems, delayed release of funds. Another major drawback reported was the inadequate attention paid to local communities inside the TRs and in the immediate surroundings and failure to accept them as full partners in management practices.
Implementation of Forest Rights Act 2006 has been found to be quite tardy and poor in most of the TRs.
The report also emphasised the need for a comprehensive resettlement programme to reduce serious biotic interference, active management of animals straying into agricultural fields, steering of tiger foundations in proper direction and participation of stakeholders in management which was only moderate now.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article2334108.ece
The weaknesses include inadequate trained and competent staff in the tiger reserves, disturbance due to human settlements inside the reserves and fringes, exotic plantations, invasive species, increasing human – wildlife conflict in certain pockets and some corridors still falling outside the tiger reserves.
The ‘Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) of Tiger Reserves in India: Process and Outcomes 2010 – 2011,' brought out by the Wildlife Institute of India and National Tiger Conservation Authority, has listed the strengths of the tiger reserves as well.
Connectivity to adjoining areas, strong support of stakeholders, good scientific research information and strong eco-development programme have been identified as strengths of Kalakad – Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve.
Sound protection strategies, adequate baseline information, adequate support of local people, co-ordination and contiguity with Kerala are the strong points for Anamalai.
At Mudumalai, the landscape adjoining Bandipur and Wayanad has provided space for migration of large mammals and integration into the ecosystem. Protection system, with anti-poaching strategies in place, has been termed good.
In all three reserves, the study has viewed the establishment of tiger foundations, growing interest of research among individuals and institutions and increasing government support as opportunities.
Prepared under the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) framework, the outcome of the MEE process has categorised the three tiger reserves in the State as very good. The Western Ghats landscape has been rated 75 on the MEE score, 10 points above the average of 65 per cent for all five clusters.
However, the team chaired by State's former head of Forest Department C.K. Sreedharan with Yogesh Dubey and E.A. Jayson as members which evaluated Cluster IV covering nine tiger reserves (TR) in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu has found several shortcomings in management.
Management plan
While all TRs have an approved management plan, none of them has approved tiger conservation plan, the report noted. The present system of beat, section and range as unit of management, has to be evaluated to see if it was serving the twin major purposes of protection and implementation of developmental programmes.
While enforcing Acts, it was noticed that booking of wildlife offences, filing of charge sheets and taking them to logical conclusions in a time bound manner was also absent in most TRs.
Apart from inadequately trained staff, the motivational level was not very high due to lack of adequate incentives. Besides, there was lack of arms and ammunitions and efficient communication systems and other equipment.
Most of the TRs lacked true research and development support to make them sustainable, said the report. It has also found shortcomings in capacity building of staff in wildlife management, unorganised tourism management, lack of internal monitoring and evaluation systems, delayed release of funds. Another major drawback reported was the inadequate attention paid to local communities inside the TRs and in the immediate surroundings and failure to accept them as full partners in management practices.
Implementation of Forest Rights Act 2006 has been found to be quite tardy and poor in most of the TRs.
The report also emphasised the need for a comprehensive resettlement programme to reduce serious biotic interference, active management of animals straying into agricultural fields, steering of tiger foundations in proper direction and participation of stakeholders in management which was only moderate now.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article2334108.ece
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Tiger numbers in AP up or down
HYDERABAD: The number of tigers in the state has gone up from 53 in 2006 to 72 in 2010, according to the state forest department.� Speaking to Express, deputy conservator of forests A Shankaran said the state government has stepped up anti-poaching measures in the last two years and has seen a lot of improvement in the number of tigers.
Earlier, there used to be a single unarmed forest beat officer in a particular area who would not be able to do much in times of crisis. To rectify this problem, the state government has constituted protection camps with 6-8 local tribal youths. Also, it has set up mobile strike forces who patrol the forest area.
Also, whenever animals enter a village in search of water source or food, they either get killed by electric fences around farms or villagers poison them in an attempt to safeguard their cattle and crops.
To resolve this, the government pressed into service six animal rescue vans last year, according to the deputy conservator of forests. The rescue vans are equipped with tranquillisers so that, whenever there is an incident of wild animal straying into villages, these vans immediately go to the villages and take the animal back into forests.� Another eight vans will be added to the existing six by the end of this year. The forest department aims to have one such van for each district in the next three years, Shankaran added.� The government has also increased compensation for loss of life in case of wild animal attack. Earlier, the compensation was Rs 1 lakh and now it has been increased to Rs 2.5 lakh. Compensation for crop damage has also been increased to Rs 6000 per acre (from the earlier Rs 2000).
Apart from these measures, the state government has proposed to develop Kawal sanctuary in Adilabad district. As part of this, around 1200 sqkm around the sanctuary will be developed as the buffer area, in addition to development of 896 sq km of the core sanctuary area.� When asked about providing the forest guards with arms, Shankaran said though extremist activities in the forests have come down, the possibility cannot be ruled out completely. The government is cautious about providing weapons to forest officials as it might attract extremist groups’ attention.
However, environmentalists disagree with the government’s claim of increase in the number of tigers.
Imran Siddiqui, a wildlife biologist, Hyderabad Tiger Conservation Society, says according to the present estimated number of tigers in the state, at least 4 or 5 cubs should be added to the tiger population every year, which is not the case.� When there is a 12 percent decrease in the tiger habitat, how can there be a 20 percent increase in the number of tigers?� he asks.� He also found fault with the methodology in which tiger counting has been done.
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/tiger-numbers-in-ap-up-or-down/173193-60-114.html
Earlier, there used to be a single unarmed forest beat officer in a particular area who would not be able to do much in times of crisis. To rectify this problem, the state government has constituted protection camps with 6-8 local tribal youths. Also, it has set up mobile strike forces who patrol the forest area.
Also, whenever animals enter a village in search of water source or food, they either get killed by electric fences around farms or villagers poison them in an attempt to safeguard their cattle and crops.
To resolve this, the government pressed into service six animal rescue vans last year, according to the deputy conservator of forests. The rescue vans are equipped with tranquillisers so that, whenever there is an incident of wild animal straying into villages, these vans immediately go to the villages and take the animal back into forests.� Another eight vans will be added to the existing six by the end of this year. The forest department aims to have one such van for each district in the next three years, Shankaran added.� The government has also increased compensation for loss of life in case of wild animal attack. Earlier, the compensation was Rs 1 lakh and now it has been increased to Rs 2.5 lakh. Compensation for crop damage has also been increased to Rs 6000 per acre (from the earlier Rs 2000).
Apart from these measures, the state government has proposed to develop Kawal sanctuary in Adilabad district. As part of this, around 1200 sqkm around the sanctuary will be developed as the buffer area, in addition to development of 896 sq km of the core sanctuary area.� When asked about providing the forest guards with arms, Shankaran said though extremist activities in the forests have come down, the possibility cannot be ruled out completely. The government is cautious about providing weapons to forest officials as it might attract extremist groups’ attention.
However, environmentalists disagree with the government’s claim of increase in the number of tigers.
Imran Siddiqui, a wildlife biologist, Hyderabad Tiger Conservation Society, says according to the present estimated number of tigers in the state, at least 4 or 5 cubs should be added to the tiger population every year, which is not the case.� When there is a 12 percent decrease in the tiger habitat, how can there be a 20 percent increase in the number of tigers?� he asks.� He also found fault with the methodology in which tiger counting has been done.
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/tiger-numbers-in-ap-up-or-down/173193-60-114.html
Friday, August 5, 2011
Tiger poaching: Sariska probe resume - TNN
SARISKA: The state government on Thursday resumed a probe that had been ordered in 2005 after it came to light that all tigers in the Sariska reserve have been poached.
Additional chief secretary and development commissioner B B Mohanty arrived at the tiger reserve on Thursday morning and began the probe. He is being helped by the assistant conservator of forest Bhagwan Singh Nathawat. Officials revealed Mohanty took possession of all records dating back to the period before all the tigers had been poached.
"Statements of various forest officials, including many of those working here in 2005, were recorded. The statements of NGOs working for tiger conservation were also recorded," officials said.
"We have written to all involved that whosoever has any information on the incident can give us their side of the story. We will also be sending notices to people who were engaged here but are now retired, including field directors, DFOs and other officials, and get information from them," Mohanty said.
"We will be look into the matter carefully so that whosoever involved does not go scot-free. In addition to this we will also be giving our recommendations so that the incident is repeated," he said adding the report by the R N Mehrotra committee will be a great help.
Officials explained the probe is being resumed now because the person who was heading the probe team then retired eventually.
"This was revealed recently and we decided to resume the probe and have sought details of all officers who were at Sariska between 1995 and 2005. The idea is to trace those responsible for dereliction of duty," officials said.
Highly placed sources said after it came to light in 2005 that all the Sariska tigers had been poached, the state had ordered an independent probe into it. However, the probe remained incomplete after a preliminary stage as the then additional chief secretary Alka Kalla who was heading the probe failed to make much progress. She retired about two years ago.
Subsequently, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) also probed into the incident while an empowered committee set up by the centre to also look into it. Both the agencies have submitted the report and have not found any official guilty in particular though it has rapped the all concerned authorities of negligence. Later, notorious poacher Sansar Chand was arrested.
While state forest department officials explain the resumption of the probe as a natural process after the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Rajasthan assembly recently traced the order to be incomplete. Incidentally, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had also pointedly put in its report on the incompletion of the probe. In perhaps one of the biggest setback to conservation, the entire tiger population was wiped out due to poaching from Sariska before the whistle was blown in 2005.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Tiger-poaching-Sariska-probe-resumes/articleshow/9488179.cms
Additional chief secretary and development commissioner B B Mohanty arrived at the tiger reserve on Thursday morning and began the probe. He is being helped by the assistant conservator of forest Bhagwan Singh Nathawat. Officials revealed Mohanty took possession of all records dating back to the period before all the tigers had been poached.
"Statements of various forest officials, including many of those working here in 2005, were recorded. The statements of NGOs working for tiger conservation were also recorded," officials said.
"We have written to all involved that whosoever has any information on the incident can give us their side of the story. We will also be sending notices to people who were engaged here but are now retired, including field directors, DFOs and other officials, and get information from them," Mohanty said.
"We will be look into the matter carefully so that whosoever involved does not go scot-free. In addition to this we will also be giving our recommendations so that the incident is repeated," he said adding the report by the R N Mehrotra committee will be a great help.
Officials explained the probe is being resumed now because the person who was heading the probe team then retired eventually.
"This was revealed recently and we decided to resume the probe and have sought details of all officers who were at Sariska between 1995 and 2005. The idea is to trace those responsible for dereliction of duty," officials said.
Highly placed sources said after it came to light in 2005 that all the Sariska tigers had been poached, the state had ordered an independent probe into it. However, the probe remained incomplete after a preliminary stage as the then additional chief secretary Alka Kalla who was heading the probe failed to make much progress. She retired about two years ago.
Subsequently, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) also probed into the incident while an empowered committee set up by the centre to also look into it. Both the agencies have submitted the report and have not found any official guilty in particular though it has rapped the all concerned authorities of negligence. Later, notorious poacher Sansar Chand was arrested.
While state forest department officials explain the resumption of the probe as a natural process after the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Rajasthan assembly recently traced the order to be incomplete. Incidentally, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had also pointedly put in its report on the incompletion of the probe. In perhaps one of the biggest setback to conservation, the entire tiger population was wiped out due to poaching from Sariska before the whistle was blown in 2005.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Tiger-poaching-Sariska-probe-resumes/articleshow/9488179.cms
'Tiger reserve only way to check mining' TNN
BICHOLIM: Strongly backing the suggestion of union ministry of environment and forests for a tiger reserve in the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary, environmentalists from Sattari taluka have asserted that this will not only help protect the tiger but will also protect the forest cover which in turn provides water security.
Ranjit Rane from Sonal, Sattari, Vishwash Parab, Rajendra Kerkar and Deepaji Rane from Kumbharkhand told mediapersons in Valpoi that the tiger reserve must become a reality as it will benefit Goa and Goans. They pointed out that Sattari taluka faces the threat of new mining leases.
"To curtail this looming danger, the only alternative is to transform Mhadei wildlife sanctuary into Mhadei tiger reserve," said Parab.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Tiger-reserve-only-way-to-check-mining/articleshow/9486459.cms
Ranjit Rane from Sonal, Sattari, Vishwash Parab, Rajendra Kerkar and Deepaji Rane from Kumbharkhand told mediapersons in Valpoi that the tiger reserve must become a reality as it will benefit Goa and Goans. They pointed out that Sattari taluka faces the threat of new mining leases.
"To curtail this looming danger, the only alternative is to transform Mhadei wildlife sanctuary into Mhadei tiger reserve," said Parab.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Tiger-reserve-only-way-to-check-mining/articleshow/9486459.cms
Naxals posing no threatto tigers, says report Neha Shukla, TNN
LUCKNOW: Naxals are not posing any threat to tigers. This is the outcome of report submitted by the National Tiger Conservation Authority. The authority has come up with its final report of the detailed survey and study of all 39 tiger reserves conducted in 2010. The report, handed over to the MoEF last week, states that naxals are not posing any threat to tigers and wildlife in the reserves situated in Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Bihar.
The reserves in naxal-affected belts were clubbed separately in Cluster III for study. Unlike Manas in Assam, which had reported instances of rhinos getting auctioned by armed locals, tigers in the reserves lying in naxal affected states are not under threat by naxals. "We did not find any such instance," said RL Singh, former director, project tiger and chairman of the committee which studied cluster III reserves.
But this has not stopped the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) from recommending a security set up different from the remaining reserves for the said cluster. The reserves in the naxal-belt have come up with their own ways to boost the conservation of wildlife. Satkosia tiger reserve in Orissa, which was founded in 2007, has employed tribals and traditional forest dwellers in the conservation of wildlife.
In Andhra, tribals, 'chenchus', man the reserve. The forest departments have employed at least one young men or a women from each tribal family to patrol the area on a daily wage. A tribal earns some Rs 2,700 per month for patrolling and protecting the reserve area.
The ever-rising man-animal conflict, increasing incidence of wildlife crime, poaching threat and subsequent decline in number of tigers led NTCA to evaluate the reserves. All the 39 tiger reserves were divided into five clusters, state-wise and region-wise, for the exercise.
The five separate committees have studied the management plan of reserves, breedable population of tigers, status of staff, water conservation, prey base, utilisation of funds, the activities taken up by people living within and on the periphery of the forest, cattle-lifting incidents, amount of compensation decided for the victims of tiger attacks by different states and efforts taken up the states for village translocation.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Naxals-posing-no-threatto-tigers-says-report/articleshow/9486868.cms
The reserves in naxal-affected belts were clubbed separately in Cluster III for study. Unlike Manas in Assam, which had reported instances of rhinos getting auctioned by armed locals, tigers in the reserves lying in naxal affected states are not under threat by naxals. "We did not find any such instance," said RL Singh, former director, project tiger and chairman of the committee which studied cluster III reserves.
But this has not stopped the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) from recommending a security set up different from the remaining reserves for the said cluster. The reserves in the naxal-belt have come up with their own ways to boost the conservation of wildlife. Satkosia tiger reserve in Orissa, which was founded in 2007, has employed tribals and traditional forest dwellers in the conservation of wildlife.
In Andhra, tribals, 'chenchus', man the reserve. The forest departments have employed at least one young men or a women from each tribal family to patrol the area on a daily wage. A tribal earns some Rs 2,700 per month for patrolling and protecting the reserve area.
The ever-rising man-animal conflict, increasing incidence of wildlife crime, poaching threat and subsequent decline in number of tigers led NTCA to evaluate the reserves. All the 39 tiger reserves were divided into five clusters, state-wise and region-wise, for the exercise.
The five separate committees have studied the management plan of reserves, breedable population of tigers, status of staff, water conservation, prey base, utilisation of funds, the activities taken up by people living within and on the periphery of the forest, cattle-lifting incidents, amount of compensation decided for the victims of tiger attacks by different states and efforts taken up the states for village translocation.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Naxals-posing-no-threatto-tigers-says-report/articleshow/9486868.cms
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Tiger population rises in Assam's Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park
Guwahati , Wed, 03 Aug 2011ANI
Guwahati, Aug 3 (ANI): The endeavor of the government and the locals has finally yielded desired result, as the population of the endangered tiger rose to 143 in Assam's Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park.
However, Assam has been able to set an example for the neighbouring states, which still shows a dwindling population of the endangered cat.
Briefing mediapersons, Additional Director General (Wildlife), Ministry of Environment and Forests, Jagdish Kishwan termed it as a success story for Assam and gave the credit to the locals.
"This success story is not only for Assam but for the whole of northeast region. You can see the population of tigers has not increased to that extent in other states of northeast region. However the population of the tigers has risen in Assam. So, I would like to say that the locals of this region, who take keen interest to conserve the wild life, forests and environment, have made a major contribution," said Kishwan.
In a meeting, the officials from the forest and wildlife department suggested to increase the area of these national parks in order to protect the wildlife and the environment.
"Bodoland Territorial Council has proposed that around 34,000 hectares of forestland would be added to this park (Manas National Park). So, when we would take such a step, it would increase the area of the forest and conservation of wild animals would take place (in the forests)," he said.
He praised the steady and exhaustive effort made by the Assamese, Bodoland Territorial Council, Forest Department, Civil Society and the state government for the protection of the tigers as their population dwindled in the past few years. (ANI)
http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/233605
Guwahati, Aug 3 (ANI): The endeavor of the government and the locals has finally yielded desired result, as the population of the endangered tiger rose to 143 in Assam's Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park.
However, Assam has been able to set an example for the neighbouring states, which still shows a dwindling population of the endangered cat.
Briefing mediapersons, Additional Director General (Wildlife), Ministry of Environment and Forests, Jagdish Kishwan termed it as a success story for Assam and gave the credit to the locals.
"This success story is not only for Assam but for the whole of northeast region. You can see the population of tigers has not increased to that extent in other states of northeast region. However the population of the tigers has risen in Assam. So, I would like to say that the locals of this region, who take keen interest to conserve the wild life, forests and environment, have made a major contribution," said Kishwan.
In a meeting, the officials from the forest and wildlife department suggested to increase the area of these national parks in order to protect the wildlife and the environment.
"Bodoland Territorial Council has proposed that around 34,000 hectares of forestland would be added to this park (Manas National Park). So, when we would take such a step, it would increase the area of the forest and conservation of wild animals would take place (in the forests)," he said.
He praised the steady and exhaustive effort made by the Assamese, Bodoland Territorial Council, Forest Department, Civil Society and the state government for the protection of the tigers as their population dwindled in the past few years. (ANI)
http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/233605
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Tiger tourism surges in MP, drops in state Vijay Pinjarkar, TNN
NAGPUR: Pench in Madhya Pradesh may have achieved the distinction of being the best tiger reserve in India but Kanha and Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) turned out to be the most visited tiger reserves in central India.
Official figures reveal that in 2010-11, over 1,74,773 tourists, including 34,078 foreigners, visited Kanha. This was followed by 78,881 tourists to TATR and 65,449 including 5,421 foreigners to Pench (Madhya Pradesh).
Compared to 2009-10, MP Pench and Kanha saw an increase in number of tourists by 9,336 and 20,749 respectively but strangely, TATR saw a drop. This is despite the fact that both the parks in MP have high-end tourism.
Last year, 1,03,616 tourists had visited TATR but the number dropped by 24,735 this year. A K Saxena, additional principal chief conservator of forests (APCCF), wildlife, East Maharashtra, called it a good development.
"The drop has to be considered against the backdrop of strict implementation of norms. We stuck to the carrying capacity and there was proper enforcement. It should not be taken in a negative way," Saxena said.
TATR witnesses traditional visitors. It is frequented due to promised tiger sightings besides other animals that are sighted in abundance, Saxena added.
On the other hand, on the success of Kanha H S Pabla, principal chief conservator of forests (PPCF) for wildlife, Madhya Pradesh, said Kanha had essential infrastructure needed for tourists besides guaranteed tiger sightings. "We also score from word-of-mouth publicity by tour operators and tourists," he added.
One of the tour operators V P Singh said while Kanha was visited for its beauty, Tadoba for assured tiger sightings. "Kanha is a sal forest and is lush green all round the year. The park is well managed with good facilities for tourists. Besides, parks in MP have advantage of strong marketing strategies under 'Incredible India' campaign," Singh said.
Himanshu Bagde and Sandeep Gujar, frequent visitors to Kanha, feel it was because Kanha started tiger tourism early. It is now part of international tourism circuit. Besides, those wanting to sight a tiger at any cost are shown with the help of elephants.
"Yet, Tadoba is better choice as you sight tigers in their natural habitat," Gujar said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Tiger-tourism-surges-in-MP-drops-in-state/articleshow/9461306.cms
Official figures reveal that in 2010-11, over 1,74,773 tourists, including 34,078 foreigners, visited Kanha. This was followed by 78,881 tourists to TATR and 65,449 including 5,421 foreigners to Pench (Madhya Pradesh).
Compared to 2009-10, MP Pench and Kanha saw an increase in number of tourists by 9,336 and 20,749 respectively but strangely, TATR saw a drop. This is despite the fact that both the parks in MP have high-end tourism.
Last year, 1,03,616 tourists had visited TATR but the number dropped by 24,735 this year. A K Saxena, additional principal chief conservator of forests (APCCF), wildlife, East Maharashtra, called it a good development.
"The drop has to be considered against the backdrop of strict implementation of norms. We stuck to the carrying capacity and there was proper enforcement. It should not be taken in a negative way," Saxena said.
TATR witnesses traditional visitors. It is frequented due to promised tiger sightings besides other animals that are sighted in abundance, Saxena added.
On the other hand, on the success of Kanha H S Pabla, principal chief conservator of forests (PPCF) for wildlife, Madhya Pradesh, said Kanha had essential infrastructure needed for tourists besides guaranteed tiger sightings. "We also score from word-of-mouth publicity by tour operators and tourists," he added.
One of the tour operators V P Singh said while Kanha was visited for its beauty, Tadoba for assured tiger sightings. "Kanha is a sal forest and is lush green all round the year. The park is well managed with good facilities for tourists. Besides, parks in MP have advantage of strong marketing strategies under 'Incredible India' campaign," Singh said.
Himanshu Bagde and Sandeep Gujar, frequent visitors to Kanha, feel it was because Kanha started tiger tourism early. It is now part of international tourism circuit. Besides, those wanting to sight a tiger at any cost are shown with the help of elephants.
"Yet, Tadoba is better choice as you sight tigers in their natural habitat," Gujar said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Tiger-tourism-surges-in-MP-drops-in-state/articleshow/9461306.cms
Special status to villagers under buffer zone of tiger reserve
Here is some good news for villages falling under the buffer zones of tiger project of Tadoba reserves in Chandrapur district of eastern Maharashtra. The Maharashtra minister for environment Sanjay Deotale has said that such villages will be accorded a special status. The 1,150 sq kms
Tadoba buffer area would include about 80 villages in Chandrapur, Warora, Mul, Bhadrawati, Sindewahi and Chimur tahsils. A notification was issued in this regard a couple of months ago.
According to the Wildlife Institute of India, every critical tiger habitat should have a 1000-3000 sq kms of buffer zone for effective forest conservation and wildlife protection.
Speaking at a function in Chandrapur – which houses the famous Tadoba tiger reserve and where villagers are up in arms against inclusion of buffer zone in their nearby forest areas -- Deotale assured the villagers that they would get benefits of various state government schemes to achieve development of their area.
Tadoba tiger reserve is renowned for its rich natural habitat and is one of the oldest national parks of the country. The reserve is also credited of being one of the best-managed wildlife projects in the country that led to an increase the tiger population from 42 to 69 as per the latest tiger census. It was said that as many as 28 tiger cubs were born in Tadoba-Andheri tiger reserve in 2010 alone.
The minister said that the government has chalked out various schemes and asked villagers to draw maximum benefit for their progress as well as that of the village.
Special benefits for the villagers come under buffer zone include: special thrust on alternative employment to unemployed youths, vocational training for students at free of cost and one-third of the revenue that generates from tourists for entry in the park, would be spent for the development of those villages.
Deotale appealed to them to actively contribute in protection and conservation of flora and fauna for maintaining environmental balance.
Talking to Hindustan Times, the chief conservator of forests and field director of Tadoba, VK Sinha informed that the government was also making all efforts to provide villagers alternatives for fuel, bamboo, small timber etc in order to reduce pressure on the forests.
He claimed that the villagers of affected villages are extending all necessary support to the wildlife wing for the conservation and protection of wildlife in the reserves.
Spread over 625.40 sq kms, Tadoba-Andhari is one of the oldest national parks in the country that was upgraded as tiger reserve in 1995. With some of the best of forest tracks endowed with rich biodiversity Tadoba is considered an important wildlife habitat of the country with a growing big cat population.
Apart from an approximately 69 tigers, it is home to rare Indian wildlife animals like leopard (28), wild dog (1758), wild boar (195), sloth bear (165), bison (1052), deer (2039) and others. Moreover, Tadoba is also an ornithologist's paradise with a varied diversity of aquatic birdlife and raptors.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Special-status-to-villagers-under-buffer-zone-of-tiger-reserve/Article1-728558.aspx
Tadoba buffer area would include about 80 villages in Chandrapur, Warora, Mul, Bhadrawati, Sindewahi and Chimur tahsils. A notification was issued in this regard a couple of months ago.
According to the Wildlife Institute of India, every critical tiger habitat should have a 1000-3000 sq kms of buffer zone for effective forest conservation and wildlife protection.
Speaking at a function in Chandrapur – which houses the famous Tadoba tiger reserve and where villagers are up in arms against inclusion of buffer zone in their nearby forest areas -- Deotale assured the villagers that they would get benefits of various state government schemes to achieve development of their area.
Tadoba tiger reserve is renowned for its rich natural habitat and is one of the oldest national parks of the country. The reserve is also credited of being one of the best-managed wildlife projects in the country that led to an increase the tiger population from 42 to 69 as per the latest tiger census. It was said that as many as 28 tiger cubs were born in Tadoba-Andheri tiger reserve in 2010 alone.
The minister said that the government has chalked out various schemes and asked villagers to draw maximum benefit for their progress as well as that of the village.
Special benefits for the villagers come under buffer zone include: special thrust on alternative employment to unemployed youths, vocational training for students at free of cost and one-third of the revenue that generates from tourists for entry in the park, would be spent for the development of those villages.
Deotale appealed to them to actively contribute in protection and conservation of flora and fauna for maintaining environmental balance.
Talking to Hindustan Times, the chief conservator of forests and field director of Tadoba, VK Sinha informed that the government was also making all efforts to provide villagers alternatives for fuel, bamboo, small timber etc in order to reduce pressure on the forests.
He claimed that the villagers of affected villages are extending all necessary support to the wildlife wing for the conservation and protection of wildlife in the reserves.
Spread over 625.40 sq kms, Tadoba-Andhari is one of the oldest national parks in the country that was upgraded as tiger reserve in 1995. With some of the best of forest tracks endowed with rich biodiversity Tadoba is considered an important wildlife habitat of the country with a growing big cat population.
Apart from an approximately 69 tigers, it is home to rare Indian wildlife animals like leopard (28), wild dog (1758), wild boar (195), sloth bear (165), bison (1052), deer (2039) and others. Moreover, Tadoba is also an ornithologist's paradise with a varied diversity of aquatic birdlife and raptors.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Special-status-to-villagers-under-buffer-zone-of-tiger-reserve/Article1-728558.aspx
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Tiger numbers up, but habitat of big cats, co-predators and prey shrinks in TN
B. ARAVIND KUMAR
‘Status of Tigers, Co-predators and Prey in India, 2010' has both good and bad news
While tiger numbers have more than doubled in the past four years in the State, the habitat of the big cats, as well as co-predators and prey has shown a considerable decrease.
Statistics from ‘Status of Tigers, Co-predators and Prey in India, 2010' officially released by the Ministry of Environment and Forests last week reveal that the tiger population in the State has risen by 114 per cent from 76 in 2006 to 163 in 2010. As the tiger count is not absolute, the upper limit is pegged at 173 and the lower limit at 153.
As per the report, the tiger occupancy, or habitat, area within the Tamil Nadu part of Nagarahole – Mudumalai – Wayanad population landscape which has the highest tiger numbers in the country is 4,261 sq.km with an estimated 97 to 113 tigers. Tiger densities within the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve were high at 11.06 per 100 sq.km. And surprisingly, camera traps have revealed that the reserve forests of Moyar gorge – Segur plateau region surrounding the tiger reserve had high abundance of tigers at 7.65 per 100 sq.km.
In the Parambikulam – Eravikulam – Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary landscape, the Tamil Nadu side has between 32 and 36 tigers. The landscape has shown good recovery due to good management of several reserves constituting the complex, lower human pressure due to difficult terrain and contiguous nature of the tiger habitat, the report states.
On the Tamil Nadu side of Kalakad – Mundanthurai – Periyar population, the estimated tiger population is between 36 to 40 with the occupancy at 1,691 sq.km.
However, the tiger habitat in the State has come down from 9,211 sq.km to 8,389 sq.km but it is still considered stable. But the status of co-predators and prey with regard to the occupied areas has shown considerable decrease which could pose problems for conservation.
In the past four years, the habitat of leopards have come down from 14,484 sq.km to 10,060 sq.km; that of Dhole from 19,658 sq.km to 10,217 sq.km; and that of Bear from 13,224 sq.km to 9,736 sq.km.
Among the prey, the area occupied by Chital has decreased drastically from 13,567 sq.km to 4,027 sq.km and that of Sambar from 15,909 sq.km to 9,008 sq.km. Encouragingly, the Western Ghats complex, comprising Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, has also shown an increase in tiger numbers from 402 to 534 in the past four years. Here again, the tiger occupancy has decreased by about 5,000 sq.km registering a decline of about 11.5 per cent compared to that of 2006, the report reveals.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article2314251.ece
‘Status of Tigers, Co-predators and Prey in India, 2010' has both good and bad news
While tiger numbers have more than doubled in the past four years in the State, the habitat of the big cats, as well as co-predators and prey has shown a considerable decrease.
Statistics from ‘Status of Tigers, Co-predators and Prey in India, 2010' officially released by the Ministry of Environment and Forests last week reveal that the tiger population in the State has risen by 114 per cent from 76 in 2006 to 163 in 2010. As the tiger count is not absolute, the upper limit is pegged at 173 and the lower limit at 153.
As per the report, the tiger occupancy, or habitat, area within the Tamil Nadu part of Nagarahole – Mudumalai – Wayanad population landscape which has the highest tiger numbers in the country is 4,261 sq.km with an estimated 97 to 113 tigers. Tiger densities within the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve were high at 11.06 per 100 sq.km. And surprisingly, camera traps have revealed that the reserve forests of Moyar gorge – Segur plateau region surrounding the tiger reserve had high abundance of tigers at 7.65 per 100 sq.km.
In the Parambikulam – Eravikulam – Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary landscape, the Tamil Nadu side has between 32 and 36 tigers. The landscape has shown good recovery due to good management of several reserves constituting the complex, lower human pressure due to difficult terrain and contiguous nature of the tiger habitat, the report states.
On the Tamil Nadu side of Kalakad – Mundanthurai – Periyar population, the estimated tiger population is between 36 to 40 with the occupancy at 1,691 sq.km.
However, the tiger habitat in the State has come down from 9,211 sq.km to 8,389 sq.km but it is still considered stable. But the status of co-predators and prey with regard to the occupied areas has shown considerable decrease which could pose problems for conservation.
In the past four years, the habitat of leopards have come down from 14,484 sq.km to 10,060 sq.km; that of Dhole from 19,658 sq.km to 10,217 sq.km; and that of Bear from 13,224 sq.km to 9,736 sq.km.
Among the prey, the area occupied by Chital has decreased drastically from 13,567 sq.km to 4,027 sq.km and that of Sambar from 15,909 sq.km to 9,008 sq.km. Encouragingly, the Western Ghats complex, comprising Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, has also shown an increase in tiger numbers from 402 to 534 in the past four years. Here again, the tiger occupancy has decreased by about 5,000 sq.km registering a decline of about 11.5 per cent compared to that of 2006, the report reveals.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article2314251.ece
Roar! More room for Palamau tigers
- Reserve to get 300sqkm from Latehar, Ranchi forests
A.S.R.P. MUKESH
Call for conservation
Ranchi, Aug. 1: Three hundred cheers for the majestic big cat!
The state forest department has, finally, moved to raise a territory toast to the endangered Royal Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) by honouring a 12-year-old central notification that recommended an additional 300sqkm room at the Palamau Tiger Reserve.
Adhering to the notification, forest belts of Latehar and Ranchi West division will now be integrated into the reserve to ensure better conservation of its 11 striped denizens and management of their habitat. The exercise will stretch the total reserve area from the present 1,026sqkm to 1,326sqkm.
Sarju, Manika, Kumandi and Netarhat Hills in Latehar and Mahuatand and its adjoining areas in Ranchi West will add to the reserve buffer zone. The transfer of forest areas from these two divisions is likely to be completed in a month’s time.
DFO (core), Palamau Tiger Reserve, Premjit Anand said formalities with respective divisional officers had been completed and pockets of Latehar would be merged within 10 days flat. “The rest will happen gradually over a month,” he added.
In 1997, the Centre had issued a notification to the erstwhile Bihar government to increase the area of the reserve, but the state forest department had been sitting on the directive since. The litany of excuses had ranged from manpower crunch to the designated areas (in Latehar) being Naxalite strongholds and thus inaccessible. However, the truth arguably is lackadaisical approach to a project that entails extra burden.
Reserve director S.E.H. Kazmi refused to comment on why the exercise had been delayed for 12 years despite several hard-hitting reminders from the Centre. “When I assumed office a few months ago, I came to know of the notification and began working in that regard. I can’t say why others didn’t do it,” Kazmi, who took charge in April, said.
He underscored that the important thing was that the ambitious proposal was finally taking shape. “It is a positive step towards tiger conservation. We will be able to extend funds and habitat management schemes like building enclosures (15-20sqkm on an average) to the extended areas. This, in turn, will ensure better monitoring of buffer zones and reduce man-animal conflict, particularly poaching,” he explained.
DFO (buffer) A.K. Mishra, who is pursuing the proposal along with Anand, conceded that a few technical concerns had hindered the merger process earlier. “For instance, there were discrepancies between the central notification and the directives from principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) on areas to be included. So, Latehar division officials weren’t ready to part with some villages. But now, things are moving,” he said.
Another senior official, requesting anonymity, said some department officials weren’t interested in the first place. “Increase in reserve area means more work in terms of patrolling, monitoring and habitat management. With 90 per cent posts of forest guards lying vacant, no one wanted to take the burden. They merely completed their tenure and went away,” he said.
PCCF A.K. Singh admitted manpower crunch. “Now, we have prepared rules and regulations for recruitment of forest guards. Also, the proposal for a tiger foundation has been drafted a couple of months ago. It is waiting for the state government’s nod,” he said.
Ironically, half of the existing reserve is beyond control because there are not enough guards while DFOs for buffer and core areas were appointed only some time ago. Most importantly, funds for conservation are delayed every year in the absence of a tiger foundation. No wonder, the big cat count has dropped from 17 to 11 in a decade.
Under the Wildlife Protection Act, it is mandatory for all states with reserves to have a tiger foundation, which is an autonomous body to facilitate habitat management. Having a foundation will help the Palamau reserve get money from the Centre directly for conservation work.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110802/jsp/frontpage/story_14321080.jsp
A.S.R.P. MUKESH
Call for conservation
Ranchi, Aug. 1: Three hundred cheers for the majestic big cat!
The state forest department has, finally, moved to raise a territory toast to the endangered Royal Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) by honouring a 12-year-old central notification that recommended an additional 300sqkm room at the Palamau Tiger Reserve.
Adhering to the notification, forest belts of Latehar and Ranchi West division will now be integrated into the reserve to ensure better conservation of its 11 striped denizens and management of their habitat. The exercise will stretch the total reserve area from the present 1,026sqkm to 1,326sqkm.
Sarju, Manika, Kumandi and Netarhat Hills in Latehar and Mahuatand and its adjoining areas in Ranchi West will add to the reserve buffer zone. The transfer of forest areas from these two divisions is likely to be completed in a month’s time.
DFO (core), Palamau Tiger Reserve, Premjit Anand said formalities with respective divisional officers had been completed and pockets of Latehar would be merged within 10 days flat. “The rest will happen gradually over a month,” he added.
In 1997, the Centre had issued a notification to the erstwhile Bihar government to increase the area of the reserve, but the state forest department had been sitting on the directive since. The litany of excuses had ranged from manpower crunch to the designated areas (in Latehar) being Naxalite strongholds and thus inaccessible. However, the truth arguably is lackadaisical approach to a project that entails extra burden.
Reserve director S.E.H. Kazmi refused to comment on why the exercise had been delayed for 12 years despite several hard-hitting reminders from the Centre. “When I assumed office a few months ago, I came to know of the notification and began working in that regard. I can’t say why others didn’t do it,” Kazmi, who took charge in April, said.
He underscored that the important thing was that the ambitious proposal was finally taking shape. “It is a positive step towards tiger conservation. We will be able to extend funds and habitat management schemes like building enclosures (15-20sqkm on an average) to the extended areas. This, in turn, will ensure better monitoring of buffer zones and reduce man-animal conflict, particularly poaching,” he explained.
DFO (buffer) A.K. Mishra, who is pursuing the proposal along with Anand, conceded that a few technical concerns had hindered the merger process earlier. “For instance, there were discrepancies between the central notification and the directives from principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) on areas to be included. So, Latehar division officials weren’t ready to part with some villages. But now, things are moving,” he said.
Another senior official, requesting anonymity, said some department officials weren’t interested in the first place. “Increase in reserve area means more work in terms of patrolling, monitoring and habitat management. With 90 per cent posts of forest guards lying vacant, no one wanted to take the burden. They merely completed their tenure and went away,” he said.
PCCF A.K. Singh admitted manpower crunch. “Now, we have prepared rules and regulations for recruitment of forest guards. Also, the proposal for a tiger foundation has been drafted a couple of months ago. It is waiting for the state government’s nod,” he said.
Ironically, half of the existing reserve is beyond control because there are not enough guards while DFOs for buffer and core areas were appointed only some time ago. Most importantly, funds for conservation are delayed every year in the absence of a tiger foundation. No wonder, the big cat count has dropped from 17 to 11 in a decade.
Under the Wildlife Protection Act, it is mandatory for all states with reserves to have a tiger foundation, which is an autonomous body to facilitate habitat management. Having a foundation will help the Palamau reserve get money from the Centre directly for conservation work.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110802/jsp/frontpage/story_14321080.jsp
Tigress trapped -TNN
PIRKHALI (SUNDERBANS): A six-year-old tigress, which frequently strayed into a village adjoining Sunderbans' Pirkhali forest, was lured and trapped on Monday.
Sundarban Tiger Reserve (STR) officials said that the animal is in good health and will be released back into the forest in a day.
The tigress has strayed into Mathurakhand village from Pirkhali forest across the river as many as eight times since July 8. The tigress had tasted easy prey. It killed two goats, a cow and some dogs. On Saturday, STR officials laid a trap and caught it early on Monday.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Tigress-trapped/articleshow/9449432.cms
Sundarban Tiger Reserve (STR) officials said that the animal is in good health and will be released back into the forest in a day.
The tigress has strayed into Mathurakhand village from Pirkhali forest across the river as many as eight times since July 8. The tigress had tasted easy prey. It killed two goats, a cow and some dogs. On Saturday, STR officials laid a trap and caught it early on Monday.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Tigress-trapped/articleshow/9449432.cms
Monday, August 1, 2011
SC notice to NTCA on banning tourism in core area Vijay Pinjarkar, TNN
NAGPUR: Enlivening hopes to ban tourism in core zones and critical tiger habitats (CTHs) of reserves, the Supreme Court (SC) issued notice to National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and Madhya Pradesh government. The notices were waived on a special leave petition (SLP) filed by Advocate Gaurav Agrawal on Friday on behalf of Ajay Dubey of Prayatna, a Bhopal-based NGO working for environment protection for a decade.
"The SC has granted three weeks' time to respondents NTCA and the MP government to file their replies," Dubey told TOI.
The SLP was filed against the interim order of January 19, 2011 passed by the Jabalpur high court rejecting Dubey's prayer for barring all kinds of commercial tourism, hotelling and other human activities in the core and critical areas as notified in the tiger reserves of Madhya Pradesh.
The Jabalpur high court had ruled that tourism is not prohibited in the tiger reserves but is permitted subject to normative standards laid down by the NTCA. Keeping parks inviolate for the purposes of tiger conservation does not indicate banning of tourism.
The court had ruled that the word 'inviolate' used also does not imply complete prohibition or banning of tourism.
Inviolate is defined by approved lexicographers to mean 'unhurt', unpolluted and unbroken.
However, Dubey says the word 'inviolate' has to be read in toto i.e. after notification of the core or CTH by the government, the areas should kept as inviolate for tiger conservation. 'Inviolate' means without any disturbance by human beings. Tourism activity in such areas would mean violation of the NTCA guidelines.
The necessity for filing the writ petition had arisen because Madhya Pradesh, which is home to two-third of tiger population of the country, has in recent years, witnessed an unfortunate and sudden decline of tigers with the government succumbing to private and commercial interests.
Dubey had filed a PIL on banning tourism in core areas on September 8, 2010. Supreme Court has now brightened hope.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/SC-notice-to-NTCA-on-banning-tourism-in-core-area/articleshow/9434424.cms
"The SC has granted three weeks' time to respondents NTCA and the MP government to file their replies," Dubey told TOI.
The SLP was filed against the interim order of January 19, 2011 passed by the Jabalpur high court rejecting Dubey's prayer for barring all kinds of commercial tourism, hotelling and other human activities in the core and critical areas as notified in the tiger reserves of Madhya Pradesh.
The Jabalpur high court had ruled that tourism is not prohibited in the tiger reserves but is permitted subject to normative standards laid down by the NTCA. Keeping parks inviolate for the purposes of tiger conservation does not indicate banning of tourism.
The court had ruled that the word 'inviolate' used also does not imply complete prohibition or banning of tourism.
Inviolate is defined by approved lexicographers to mean 'unhurt', unpolluted and unbroken.
However, Dubey says the word 'inviolate' has to be read in toto i.e. after notification of the core or CTH by the government, the areas should kept as inviolate for tiger conservation. 'Inviolate' means without any disturbance by human beings. Tourism activity in such areas would mean violation of the NTCA guidelines.
The necessity for filing the writ petition had arisen because Madhya Pradesh, which is home to two-third of tiger population of the country, has in recent years, witnessed an unfortunate and sudden decline of tigers with the government succumbing to private and commercial interests.
Dubey had filed a PIL on banning tourism in core areas on September 8, 2010. Supreme Court has now brightened hope.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/SC-notice-to-NTCA-on-banning-tourism-in-core-area/articleshow/9434424.cms
Tigers' number in VTR down by two Abhay Singh , TNN
PATNA: Wildlife lovers in Bihar have some reason for concern. For, the tiger population in the state's only tiger sanctuary, Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) project area, has declined to eight in 2010 compared to 10 in the last tiger census done in 2006.
The pug-mark based 2006 count of the tigers in the state had put the figure at 10, with the lower and UP)per limits between seven and 13, respectively.
Overall, the number of tigers in the country has increased to 1,706 - an increase of around 20% over the 2006 figure of 1,411 tigers.
The current status of the tigers in the VTR project area has been brought out in the latest report called `Status of Tigers, Co-Predators And Preys In India, 2010' of the Union ministry of forest and environment released a few days ago. The 2010 census of the tigers in the country was done by applying a new technique called `photo camera strapping'.
The 2010 report, however, has not qualified the fall in the number of tigers over the four years in VTR as alarming. On the contrary, it has called the status of tigers as "stable". This report has also noted that the total "tiger km" in VTR has increased to 750 square km from 510 square km in 2006.
Significantly, the VTR forms geographically harmonious ensemble with what in the wildlife lingua is called `Shivalik-Gangetic Plain Landscape Complex'. It includes tiger reserves of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh (UP). Besides, the VTR is also contiguous with Chitwan National Park in Nepal.
Since as many as 142 villages are situated on the periphery of the VTR, the 2010 status report on tigers in the country has noted, "Despite the high human pressure, this area is able to sustain tiger population due to its proximity and connectivity to the source population of tigers in the Chitwan National Park in Nepal."
Even as the 2010 report has qualified the status of tigers in the VTR as "stable", there is need to conserve both the tigers and their habitat. Incidentally, deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi, who reviewed the status of the VTR early this year, had announced to develop the VTR as a tourist spot. The slide in the count of tigers in the VTR has sprung a new situation that defies complacency.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Tigers-number-in-VTR-down-by-two/articleshow/9435751.cms
The pug-mark based 2006 count of the tigers in the state had put the figure at 10, with the lower and UP)per limits between seven and 13, respectively.
Overall, the number of tigers in the country has increased to 1,706 - an increase of around 20% over the 2006 figure of 1,411 tigers.
The current status of the tigers in the VTR project area has been brought out in the latest report called `Status of Tigers, Co-Predators And Preys In India, 2010' of the Union ministry of forest and environment released a few days ago. The 2010 census of the tigers in the country was done by applying a new technique called `photo camera strapping'.
The 2010 report, however, has not qualified the fall in the number of tigers over the four years in VTR as alarming. On the contrary, it has called the status of tigers as "stable". This report has also noted that the total "tiger km" in VTR has increased to 750 square km from 510 square km in 2006.
Significantly, the VTR forms geographically harmonious ensemble with what in the wildlife lingua is called `Shivalik-Gangetic Plain Landscape Complex'. It includes tiger reserves of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh (UP). Besides, the VTR is also contiguous with Chitwan National Park in Nepal.
Since as many as 142 villages are situated on the periphery of the VTR, the 2010 status report on tigers in the country has noted, "Despite the high human pressure, this area is able to sustain tiger population due to its proximity and connectivity to the source population of tigers in the Chitwan National Park in Nepal."
Even as the 2010 report has qualified the status of tigers in the VTR as "stable", there is need to conserve both the tigers and their habitat. Incidentally, deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi, who reviewed the status of the VTR early this year, had announced to develop the VTR as a tourist spot. The slide in the count of tigers in the VTR has sprung a new situation that defies complacency.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Tigers-number-in-VTR-down-by-two/articleshow/9435751.cms
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Experts question "independence" of evaluation of tiger reserves -HT
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Independent tiger experts have questioned the management evaluation process of tiger reserves, in which 40% of the reserves were found to be in “very good” state, saying most of the evaluators were from the forest bureaucracy. The National Tiger Conservation Authority --- the body
mandated to protect tigers --- in 2010 had constituted nine committees to evaluate management of 39 tiger reserves across India.
At the first meeting of the committees, two independent wildlife experts, Belinda Wright of Wildlife Protection Society of India and Biswajit Mohanty of Wildlife Society of Orissa had resigned from the evaluation committees protesting against nomination of large number of Indian Forest Service (IFS) officials in the committees.
HK Chaudhury, retired principal conservator of forests, headed the committee to evaluate tiger habitats in his home state of Assam and north-east. CK Shreedharan, a retired IFS officer of Tamil Nadu cadre, was chairperson of the committee to review performance of tiger reserves in south states including Tamil Nadu.
Another two IFS officers --- H Sen and AK Bhardwaj– were nominated as independent experts as they were on deputation to Wildlife Institute of India. IFS officers Rajeev Sharma from West Bengal cadre and RK Dogra from Tamil Nadu cadre were asked to evaluate tiger reserves outside their cadre states.
“With so many IFS officers in the committee it cannot be called an independent evaluation,” said tiger and wildlife expert Valmik Thapar.
The decision to nominate so many IFS officers also went against the idea of independent evaluation mooted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2005, after tigers vanished from Sariska tiger reserve in Rajasthan.
“The PM wanted the evaluation to be done by a committee of National Board for Wildlife rather than a government agency,” Thapar said.
The measuring of management effectiveness of tiger reserves released on Thursday rated 15 of the 39 tiger reserves evaluated as very good. Another 12 reserves were rated good and eight satisfactory. Only four tiger reserves got poor rating.
In similar exercise in 2006 of 28 tiger reserves, nine were rated very good and 10 as good. Another even got satisfactory rating and two as poor.
“The evaluation indicates and overall improvement in management of tiger reserves,” the report said.
VB Mathur, Dean at Dehradun based Wildlife Institute of India (WII), defended the evaluation process saying it was totally independent as no change was made in the report even after receiving objections from reserve managers. “We followed an international well settled protocol for evaluation and integrity of the nine evaluation committees,” he said.
Thapar, however, wanted revamp of the entire process saying no IFS officers should be part of the evaluation committees.
“The committees should have people from outside the government having experience in different fields such as sociology, conservation and wildlife protection,” he said.
Rajesh Gopal, member secretary of National Tiger Conservation Authority, which constituted the committees, did not answer to calls or text messages.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Experts-question-independence-of-evaluation-of-tiger-reserves/Article1-727434.aspx
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Independent tiger experts have questioned the management evaluation process of tiger reserves, in which 40% of the reserves were found to be in “very good” state, saying most of the evaluators were from the forest bureaucracy. The National Tiger Conservation Authority --- the body
mandated to protect tigers --- in 2010 had constituted nine committees to evaluate management of 39 tiger reserves across India.
At the first meeting of the committees, two independent wildlife experts, Belinda Wright of Wildlife Protection Society of India and Biswajit Mohanty of Wildlife Society of Orissa had resigned from the evaluation committees protesting against nomination of large number of Indian Forest Service (IFS) officials in the committees.
HK Chaudhury, retired principal conservator of forests, headed the committee to evaluate tiger habitats in his home state of Assam and north-east. CK Shreedharan, a retired IFS officer of Tamil Nadu cadre, was chairperson of the committee to review performance of tiger reserves in south states including Tamil Nadu.
Another two IFS officers --- H Sen and AK Bhardwaj– were nominated as independent experts as they were on deputation to Wildlife Institute of India. IFS officers Rajeev Sharma from West Bengal cadre and RK Dogra from Tamil Nadu cadre were asked to evaluate tiger reserves outside their cadre states.
“With so many IFS officers in the committee it cannot be called an independent evaluation,” said tiger and wildlife expert Valmik Thapar.
The decision to nominate so many IFS officers also went against the idea of independent evaluation mooted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2005, after tigers vanished from Sariska tiger reserve in Rajasthan.
“The PM wanted the evaluation to be done by a committee of National Board for Wildlife rather than a government agency,” Thapar said.
The measuring of management effectiveness of tiger reserves released on Thursday rated 15 of the 39 tiger reserves evaluated as very good. Another 12 reserves were rated good and eight satisfactory. Only four tiger reserves got poor rating.
In similar exercise in 2006 of 28 tiger reserves, nine were rated very good and 10 as good. Another even got satisfactory rating and two as poor.
“The evaluation indicates and overall improvement in management of tiger reserves,” the report said.
VB Mathur, Dean at Dehradun based Wildlife Institute of India (WII), defended the evaluation process saying it was totally independent as no change was made in the report even after receiving objections from reserve managers. “We followed an international well settled protocol for evaluation and integrity of the nine evaluation committees,” he said.
Thapar, however, wanted revamp of the entire process saying no IFS officers should be part of the evaluation committees.
“The committees should have people from outside the government having experience in different fields such as sociology, conservation and wildlife protection,” he said.
Rajesh Gopal, member secretary of National Tiger Conservation Authority, which constituted the committees, did not answer to calls or text messages.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Experts-question-independence-of-evaluation-of-tiger-reserves/Article1-727434.aspx
Tiger conservation does not stop with numbers, warn experts-PTI
CHENNAI: The latest national tiger estimation showing a 20 per cent increase in the number of big cats to 1706 from 1411 is cause for cheer, but leading experts and conservationists say the next focus should be on protecting its habitats and retaining their continuity and overall ecological quality.
"Though the latest national tiger population estimation shows an increasing trend, we need to focus on protection of tiger habitats, retaining habitat contiguity and the overall ecological quality of tiger habitats," says Ravi Chellam, a scientist with the Wildlife Institute of India.
TheAll India Tiger Estimation - conducted every four years - in 2010 showed a 20 per cent increase over the figure in 2006 which was 1411.
Notwithstanding the increase in the numbers, experts feel the big cats are constantly under threat due to development related infrastructure expansion into tiger habitats.
"Though we still have a few large tiger habitats, expansion of infrastructure into tiger habitats like laying of railway lines and roads have a very negative impact on their habitat as well as on direct mortality of animals and also increased human access to these habitats," says Chellam.
"Data only shows the number of tigers left in the wild, but it is other deeds like conserving habitats and preventing their fragmentation and restoring connectivity that will ensure the tiger population survives and proliferates in the long run," he said.
Tamil Nadu along with Uttarakhand, Maharashtra and Karnataka leads in tiger density, says the estimation.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/environment/flora-fauna/tiger-conservation-does-not-stop-with-numbers-warn-experts/articleshow/9429788.cms
"Though the latest national tiger population estimation shows an increasing trend, we need to focus on protection of tiger habitats, retaining habitat contiguity and the overall ecological quality of tiger habitats," says Ravi Chellam, a scientist with the Wildlife Institute of India.
TheAll India Tiger Estimation - conducted every four years - in 2010 showed a 20 per cent increase over the figure in 2006 which was 1411.
Notwithstanding the increase in the numbers, experts feel the big cats are constantly under threat due to development related infrastructure expansion into tiger habitats.
"Though we still have a few large tiger habitats, expansion of infrastructure into tiger habitats like laying of railway lines and roads have a very negative impact on their habitat as well as on direct mortality of animals and also increased human access to these habitats," says Chellam.
"Data only shows the number of tigers left in the wild, but it is other deeds like conserving habitats and preventing their fragmentation and restoring connectivity that will ensure the tiger population survives and proliferates in the long run," he said.
Tamil Nadu along with Uttarakhand, Maharashtra and Karnataka leads in tiger density, says the estimation.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/environment/flora-fauna/tiger-conservation-does-not-stop-with-numbers-warn-experts/articleshow/9429788.cms
Manpower crisis, poor infrastructure plaguing most NE tiger reserves'
Jul 29, 2011, 11.36pm IST
GUWAHATI: Except Kaziranga, majority of the tiger reserves in the northeast are suffering either from inadequate manpower or poor infrastructure.
The latest report on Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) of Tiger Reserves in India prominently highlighted that inadequate staff, no proper buffer zone, poor conservation, infrastructure and untimely release of funds as some of the weaknesses in many tiger reserves of the region.
Kaziranga has found place in the "very good" category along with 13 other tiger reserves across the country. Manas in Assam, Pakke in Arunachal Pradesh and Dampa in Mizoram were in the category of "good" along with eight other tiger reserves of the country in this category. Only Nameri in Assam and Namdapha in Arunachal were included in the "satisfactory" category along with four other tiger reserves of the country.
While Kaziranga has no such issues of inadequate manpower or poor infrastructure, the MEE has pointed out that Pakke, Namdapha, Nameri and Dampa suffers from shortage of field staff. Pakke suffers not only from inadequate frontline staff, but also from poor infrastructure and untimely release of funds. The MEE said the 500-MW power project adjacent to Pakke is likely to pose a threat to the tiger reserve whose strength lies in being free from human habitation and well protected by rivers on three sides.
Similarly for Dampa, the MEE said, only a handful of regular field staff (four foresters and seven forest guards) are manning the reserve. "Field protection and even office management is being done by temporary staff," the report said. .
For Namdapha and Nameri, it categorically pointed out that inadequate staff and poor infrastructure were the major shortcomings along with the problem of encroachment. In case of Nameri, "there is a severe shortage of field staff" and most of the existing field staff are in the age group of 40 to 48 years."
The MEE said while 84 families of Lisu tribe have settled in five villages within the core area of Namdapha, there was a manifold increase in encroachment and population in villages adjoining the forest lands of Nameri. Although Manas has been spared from inadequate manpower, MEE has noted that the tiger reserve still has to deal with poor infrastructure.
"Manas has 38 anti-poaching camps in the core area and none in the buffer. The camps are inadequately equipped in terms of arms and ammunition, living facilities for the staff and communication," said the report.
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-07-29/guwahati/29833442_1_tiger-reserves-dampa-management-effectiveness-evaluation
GUWAHATI: Except Kaziranga, majority of the tiger reserves in the northeast are suffering either from inadequate manpower or poor infrastructure.
The latest report on Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) of Tiger Reserves in India prominently highlighted that inadequate staff, no proper buffer zone, poor conservation, infrastructure and untimely release of funds as some of the weaknesses in many tiger reserves of the region.
Kaziranga has found place in the "very good" category along with 13 other tiger reserves across the country. Manas in Assam, Pakke in Arunachal Pradesh and Dampa in Mizoram were in the category of "good" along with eight other tiger reserves of the country in this category. Only Nameri in Assam and Namdapha in Arunachal were included in the "satisfactory" category along with four other tiger reserves of the country.
While Kaziranga has no such issues of inadequate manpower or poor infrastructure, the MEE has pointed out that Pakke, Namdapha, Nameri and Dampa suffers from shortage of field staff. Pakke suffers not only from inadequate frontline staff, but also from poor infrastructure and untimely release of funds. The MEE said the 500-MW power project adjacent to Pakke is likely to pose a threat to the tiger reserve whose strength lies in being free from human habitation and well protected by rivers on three sides.
Similarly for Dampa, the MEE said, only a handful of regular field staff (four foresters and seven forest guards) are manning the reserve. "Field protection and even office management is being done by temporary staff," the report said. .
For Namdapha and Nameri, it categorically pointed out that inadequate staff and poor infrastructure were the major shortcomings along with the problem of encroachment. In case of Nameri, "there is a severe shortage of field staff" and most of the existing field staff are in the age group of 40 to 48 years."
The MEE said while 84 families of Lisu tribe have settled in five villages within the core area of Namdapha, there was a manifold increase in encroachment and population in villages adjoining the forest lands of Nameri. Although Manas has been spared from inadequate manpower, MEE has noted that the tiger reserve still has to deal with poor infrastructure.
"Manas has 38 anti-poaching camps in the core area and none in the buffer. The camps are inadequately equipped in terms of arms and ammunition, living facilities for the staff and communication," said the report.
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-07-29/guwahati/29833442_1_tiger-reserves-dampa-management-effectiveness-evaluation
Saturday, July 30, 2011
'Goa stretch of Western Ghats vital tiger link' Paul Fernandes, TNN
PANAJI: The presence of the big cat in the state received a loud roar of official support, with the ministry of environment and forests considering the Goa stretch of the Western Ghats an important tiger corridor" between Anshi-Dandeli in Karnataka and the Sahyadris in Maharashtra, and confirming occupancy of tigers in the state's forests.
The findings-part of phase one of the study 'Status of tigers, co-predators and prey in India 2010'-are based on data collected in 2009-10 from signs gathered by forest department officials and volunteers in the field. "The evidence on the ground usually covers everything from scats and pug marks to tiger kill," an environmentalist explained.
The report effectively stomps out the state forest department's past denial of the tiger's presence in Goa. Released on Thursday, the report considers the Western Ghats stretch from the Dang forests in Gujarat (including Goa) up to the Palakkad gap in Kerala as one of two corridors with the potential for contiguous tiger occupancy.
Though the exact number of big cats in Goa's forests can be further determined by using the camera trap method- which will be taken up in the third phase of the study and is yet to be started in the state-the report seriously considers the importance of Goa's link to the corridor.
It also refers to the better connectivity of Western Ghats tiger populations as compared to the same in central India and the Shivalik Gangetic plains landscapes, and finds that the habitat matrix in the Western Ghats is more conducive for tiger occupancy.
"However, the habitat connectivity is threatened by plantations, agriculture, industrial and infrastructural development," the report states. It calls for "timely effort to identify and legitimize the minimal corridors" which is needed for the conservation objective of ensuring gene flow between the Western Ghats tiger populations in times to come.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Goa-stretch-of-Western-Ghats-vital-tiger-link/articleshow/9416410.cms
The findings-part of phase one of the study 'Status of tigers, co-predators and prey in India 2010'-are based on data collected in 2009-10 from signs gathered by forest department officials and volunteers in the field. "The evidence on the ground usually covers everything from scats and pug marks to tiger kill," an environmentalist explained.
The report effectively stomps out the state forest department's past denial of the tiger's presence in Goa. Released on Thursday, the report considers the Western Ghats stretch from the Dang forests in Gujarat (including Goa) up to the Palakkad gap in Kerala as one of two corridors with the potential for contiguous tiger occupancy.
Though the exact number of big cats in Goa's forests can be further determined by using the camera trap method- which will be taken up in the third phase of the study and is yet to be started in the state-the report seriously considers the importance of Goa's link to the corridor.
It also refers to the better connectivity of Western Ghats tiger populations as compared to the same in central India and the Shivalik Gangetic plains landscapes, and finds that the habitat matrix in the Western Ghats is more conducive for tiger occupancy.
"However, the habitat connectivity is threatened by plantations, agriculture, industrial and infrastructural development," the report states. It calls for "timely effort to identify and legitimize the minimal corridors" which is needed for the conservation objective of ensuring gene flow between the Western Ghats tiger populations in times to come.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Goa-stretch-of-Western-Ghats-vital-tiger-link/articleshow/9416410.cms
Kota tigress relocation gets NTCA approval Anindo Dey, TNN
JAIPUR: The tigress to be relocated to the Sariska tiger reserve has been identified. The Sultanpur tigress in Kota will be first of the three tigresses to be relocated. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has already granted permission to the state for this.
During his last visit to Sariska, the then Union forest and environment minister Jairam Ramesh had said three more tigresses were to be shifted. Currently, the reserve has three tigresses and two tigers.
The tigress had strayed from the Ranthambore tiger reserve in January 2010. A team of forest officials had been trying to trace it but with the tigress settling down in the ravines of the Kalisind river on the border of Kota and Baran districts, there was little effort made in bringing her back. Even the periodic tracking of the tiger came to a halt.
Irked by lack of efforts from the forest department in keeping a tab on the tigress, a potential mother, the issue came up for discussion in a meeting. It was then that the state wrote to the NTCA seeking permission for the relocation of the big cat. But now when the permission has been granted, officials of the forest department are still unsure if it will happen. "The place where the tigress is settled is a big area and no tab has been kept on it. One is unsure if we will be able to locate the animal and tranquilise it before relocating it to Sariska," officials said.
Forest officials are trying to relocate tigresses to Sariska as all three, failed to give birth to a cub ever since they were relocated despite mating.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Kota-tigress-relocation-gets-NTCA-approval/articleshow/9416900.cms
During his last visit to Sariska, the then Union forest and environment minister Jairam Ramesh had said three more tigresses were to be shifted. Currently, the reserve has three tigresses and two tigers.
The tigress had strayed from the Ranthambore tiger reserve in January 2010. A team of forest officials had been trying to trace it but with the tigress settling down in the ravines of the Kalisind river on the border of Kota and Baran districts, there was little effort made in bringing her back. Even the periodic tracking of the tiger came to a halt.
Irked by lack of efforts from the forest department in keeping a tab on the tigress, a potential mother, the issue came up for discussion in a meeting. It was then that the state wrote to the NTCA seeking permission for the relocation of the big cat. But now when the permission has been granted, officials of the forest department are still unsure if it will happen. "The place where the tigress is settled is a big area and no tab has been kept on it. One is unsure if we will be able to locate the animal and tranquilise it before relocating it to Sariska," officials said.
Forest officials are trying to relocate tigresses to Sariska as all three, failed to give birth to a cub ever since they were relocated despite mating.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Kota-tigress-relocation-gets-NTCA-approval/articleshow/9416900.cms
Blow to Buxa's tiger hopes Krishnendu Mukherjee, TNN
KOLKATA: At a time when man-animal conflict is ruling the headlines, an MoEF report may come as a severe blow to Buxa's tiger dreams.
The report, a part of Management Effectiveness Evaluation of Tiger Reserves, said that the core area in the north Bengal reserve is inadequate for a viable breeding population of the big cats. "The 390.58 sq km core area is also not inviolate with about nine human settlements within the core," the report added.
An official from the National Tiger Conservation Authority said that about 30 forest villages are there inside the reserve and large human population for resource dependence and cattle grazing have resulted in degradation of forests. "This reflects in wide spread occurrence of invasive species like Mikania, Eupatorium and Ageratum," the official added.
"The state has decided to provide a package of Rs 10 lakh to the families, that will be relocating from Buxa Tiger Reserve," said PCCF (wildlife), SB Mondal. The relocation, to be done under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, will impact almost 18,000 villagers. Eight villages inside the reserve had already agreed to the relocation plan. The villages to be relocated outside the core area are Jainti, Bhutiabasti, Gangutia, Raimatang, Butrhi, Adma, Pana, 27 mile and 28 mile. Mondal said that they are waiting for funds from the Centre to kick start the process.
Though Wildlife Institute of India's (WII) YV Jhala had referred to a study done by Aaranyak, which predicted an estimation of 15 tigers inside the reserve, he added that inadequacy in habitat management, socio-political issues, lack of training in wildlife management are posing challenge to a proper management of the reserve.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Blow-to-Buxas-tiger-hopes/articleshow/9414756.cms
The report, a part of Management Effectiveness Evaluation of Tiger Reserves, said that the core area in the north Bengal reserve is inadequate for a viable breeding population of the big cats. "The 390.58 sq km core area is also not inviolate with about nine human settlements within the core," the report added.
An official from the National Tiger Conservation Authority said that about 30 forest villages are there inside the reserve and large human population for resource dependence and cattle grazing have resulted in degradation of forests. "This reflects in wide spread occurrence of invasive species like Mikania, Eupatorium and Ageratum," the official added.
"The state has decided to provide a package of Rs 10 lakh to the families, that will be relocating from Buxa Tiger Reserve," said PCCF (wildlife), SB Mondal. The relocation, to be done under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, will impact almost 18,000 villagers. Eight villages inside the reserve had already agreed to the relocation plan. The villages to be relocated outside the core area are Jainti, Bhutiabasti, Gangutia, Raimatang, Butrhi, Adma, Pana, 27 mile and 28 mile. Mondal said that they are waiting for funds from the Centre to kick start the process.
Though Wildlife Institute of India's (WII) YV Jhala had referred to a study done by Aaranyak, which predicted an estimation of 15 tigers inside the reserve, he added that inadequacy in habitat management, socio-political issues, lack of training in wildlife management are posing challenge to a proper management of the reserve.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Blow-to-Buxas-tiger-hopes/articleshow/9414756.cms
Tiger cub killed on Corbett road
A tiger cub was run over by a speeding vehicle on the road passing through Dhela range of the Corbett National Park on Friday. Corbett director Ranjan Kumar Mishra said a female tiger cub — aged about three months — was found dead on Dhela Road. The cub had sustained major head injury, leading to massive bleeding.
Park authorities are conducting a drive to check all vehicles at nearby resorts for signs of blood to identify who’s responsible.
Mishra added that the numbers and timing of vehicles passing through the checkpost on Dhela Road used to be noted during the night but due to the uncooperative attitude of vehicle users, among other factors, this system had become lax.
It is expected that checking will be stringent once again, and all vehicles on the road after 7:30 pm will be identified to help narrowing down on suspects in case of deaths of wild animals.
Honorary Wildlife Warden of Corbett and National Tiger Conservation Authority member Brijendra Singh said that considering the death of another tiger on Ramnagar road the previous year, the need for controlling speed and number of vehicles using such roads was essential.
http://www.dailypioneer.com/357029/Tiger-cub-killed-on-Corbett-road.html
Park authorities are conducting a drive to check all vehicles at nearby resorts for signs of blood to identify who’s responsible.
Mishra added that the numbers and timing of vehicles passing through the checkpost on Dhela Road used to be noted during the night but due to the uncooperative attitude of vehicle users, among other factors, this system had become lax.
It is expected that checking will be stringent once again, and all vehicles on the road after 7:30 pm will be identified to help narrowing down on suspects in case of deaths of wild animals.
Honorary Wildlife Warden of Corbett and National Tiger Conservation Authority member Brijendra Singh said that considering the death of another tiger on Ramnagar road the previous year, the need for controlling speed and number of vehicles using such roads was essential.
http://www.dailypioneer.com/357029/Tiger-cub-killed-on-Corbett-road.html
Friday, July 29, 2011
Tiger numbers up by 20 per cent in four years
PTI | 07:07 PM,Jul 28,2011
The Ministry report warned that once the habitats are lost, it is impossible to claim them back for restoration. "Poaching can wipe out individual tiger populations, but these can be re-established by reintroductions as has been done in Sariska and Panna," it said. Currently, only a few populations like Nagarhole-Bandipur-Mudumalai-Wayanad-Moyar-Segur, Corbett population, Sundarbans (India and Bangladesh) and Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong have the required population size for long term survival without immigration. "The remaining tiger populations require habitat connectivity for genetic and demographic viability," the report said. Populations that currently have corridor connectivity and exist as meta-populations are Rajaji-Corbett, Dudhwa-Katarniaghat-Kishanpur (along with Bardia and Suklaphanta in Nepal), Satpura-Melghat, Pench-Kanha, Bhadra-Kudermukh, Parambikulam-Indira Gandhi-Eravikulam and KMTR-Periyar. "Loss of connectivity between these populations would prove detrimental for their persistence," the report said. "The landscapes that have potential for meta population existence but are currently in need of conservation inputs are Srisailam, Simlipal-Satkosia, Ranthambhore-KunoPalpur-Sheopur, Indravati-Northern AndhraPradesh-Chandrapur-Nagzira-Navaegaon, and Bandhavgarh-Sanjay-Guru Ghasidas-Palamau," it said. PTI TGB
The Ministry report warned that once the habitats are lost, it is impossible to claim them back for restoration. "Poaching can wipe out individual tiger populations, but these can be re-established by reintroductions as has been done in Sariska and Panna," it said. Currently, only a few populations like Nagarhole-Bandipur-Mudumalai-Wayanad-Moyar-Segur, Corbett population, Sundarbans (India and Bangladesh) and Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong have the required population size for long term survival without immigration. "The remaining tiger populations require habitat connectivity for genetic and demographic viability," the report said. Populations that currently have corridor connectivity and exist as meta-populations are Rajaji-Corbett, Dudhwa-Katarniaghat-Kishanpur (along with Bardia and Suklaphanta in Nepal), Satpura-Melghat, Pench-Kanha, Bhadra-Kudermukh, Parambikulam-Indira Gandhi-Eravikulam and KMTR-Periyar. "Loss of connectivity between these populations would prove detrimental for their persistence," the report said. "The landscapes that have potential for meta population existence but are currently in need of conservation inputs are Srisailam, Simlipal-Satkosia, Ranthambhore-KunoPalpur-Sheopur, Indravati-Northern AndhraPradesh-Chandrapur-Nagzira-Navaegaon, and Bandhavgarh-Sanjay-Guru Ghasidas-Palamau," it said. PTI TGB
Staff shortage hits tiger reserves
OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
New Delhi, July 28: The Sunderbans is among 15 tiger reserves with “very good” management practices, but field staff shortages and inadequate training are hampering conservation activities in all of India’s 39 tiger reserves.
An exercise initiated by the Union environment ministry to assess conservation efforts in tiger reserves has dubbed the effectiveness of management as “good” in 12 reserves, satisfactory in eight, and poor in four.
“But staff shortages and ageing field staff across all the reserves threaten conservation efforts,” said Vinod Mathur, dean at the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehra Dun.
“In the absence of fresh recruitment, the ageing staff can’t even hand over their skills to the next generation,” added Mathur, who was involved in the exercise, titled “management effectiveness” evaluation of tiger reserves.
Mathur said the average age of field staff was 52 years, and the shortage across all reserves could touch 30 per cent. Such personnel are tasked with patrolling and routine housekeeping activities in the reserves.
The environment ministry had earlier this year released its new estimate of tigers in India — 1,706, about 20 per cent higher than the 2006 estimate of 1,411, although the latest estimate included the count of 70 tigers in the Sunderbans, unlike the 2006 census.
The “management effectiveness” evaluation assessed the tiger reserves on several conservation-related parameters including habitat management, threat assessment and funding contributions by state governments.
“Bengal provides a substantial level of funding for the Sunderbans — we don’t see that level of funding from any other state,” Mathur said. The funds are used for all conservation-related activities, including patrolling through the reserve’s harsh environment.
Three of the four poorly managed tiger reserves — Indravati and Udanti-Sitanadi in Chhattisgarh and Palamau in Jharkhand — fall in the so-called “Red corridor”, affected by Left-wing extremism. The fourth poorly managed reserve is Satkosia in Orissa.
A detailed analysis of the tiger census, released earlier this year, has shown a 12 per cent decline in the animals’ numbers at “connecting habitats” — corridors of favourable habitat that connect two tiger reserves.
The increase in the overall count since 2006 has been attributed to an increase in tiger density in Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka and parts of the Northeast, and the inclusion of the Sunderbans in the estimation.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110729/jsp/nation/story_14304797.jsp
New Delhi, July 28: The Sunderbans is among 15 tiger reserves with “very good” management practices, but field staff shortages and inadequate training are hampering conservation activities in all of India’s 39 tiger reserves.
An exercise initiated by the Union environment ministry to assess conservation efforts in tiger reserves has dubbed the effectiveness of management as “good” in 12 reserves, satisfactory in eight, and poor in four.
“But staff shortages and ageing field staff across all the reserves threaten conservation efforts,” said Vinod Mathur, dean at the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehra Dun.
“In the absence of fresh recruitment, the ageing staff can’t even hand over their skills to the next generation,” added Mathur, who was involved in the exercise, titled “management effectiveness” evaluation of tiger reserves.
Mathur said the average age of field staff was 52 years, and the shortage across all reserves could touch 30 per cent. Such personnel are tasked with patrolling and routine housekeeping activities in the reserves.
The environment ministry had earlier this year released its new estimate of tigers in India — 1,706, about 20 per cent higher than the 2006 estimate of 1,411, although the latest estimate included the count of 70 tigers in the Sunderbans, unlike the 2006 census.
The “management effectiveness” evaluation assessed the tiger reserves on several conservation-related parameters including habitat management, threat assessment and funding contributions by state governments.
“Bengal provides a substantial level of funding for the Sunderbans — we don’t see that level of funding from any other state,” Mathur said. The funds are used for all conservation-related activities, including patrolling through the reserve’s harsh environment.
Three of the four poorly managed tiger reserves — Indravati and Udanti-Sitanadi in Chhattisgarh and Palamau in Jharkhand — fall in the so-called “Red corridor”, affected by Left-wing extremism. The fourth poorly managed reserve is Satkosia in Orissa.
A detailed analysis of the tiger census, released earlier this year, has shown a 12 per cent decline in the animals’ numbers at “connecting habitats” — corridors of favourable habitat that connect two tiger reserves.
The increase in the overall count since 2006 has been attributed to an increase in tiger density in Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka and parts of the Northeast, and the inclusion of the Sunderbans in the estimation.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110729/jsp/nation/story_14304797.jsp
Officials, activists divided over tiger cubs’ relocation TNN
JAIPUR: Sariska's jinx with cubs continues. The latest controversy to grip Sariska comes after the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) approved relocation of two cubs, left orphaned by the death of the Kachida tigress at Ranthambore within six months after it was operated upon by the forest authorities.
However, even now senior forest officials are confused whether to relocate the cubs. Interestingly, the NTCA's approval has come only after the state sent it a proposal seeking permission for it.
"The cubs are well-settled in Ranthambore. What is the need to relocate them to Sariska? Moreover, they are very young and the process of tranquilising them before relocation may prove detrimental to their health," said a senior forest official.
They explained the proposal was sent about six months ago and the situation has changed much since then. "There are grown-up tigers roaming in Sariska and the cubs might just stray into their territory and get killed," he added.
But wildlife activists are not willing to buy any of the claims of the officials. "The cubs are more prone to attacks from elder tigers in Ranthambore than at Sariska. Ranthambore is overpopulated and even sub-adult tigers have often strayed from the forest in search of a territory. In such a situation the cubs stand no chance," they added.
Activists also say the original plan sent to NTCA was not to catch the cubs and leave them at Sariska. "The proposal was to leave them in the cage that is built in Sariska where we normally leave any relocated tiger for a period for acclimatisation. Here we could have taught the cubs to hunt on their own by releasing deer within the cage. Once they grew up we could have left them in the wild. Not relocating them after permissions from the NTCA might amount to taking all the responsibility of the well-being of the cubs in Ranthambore on our shoulders," they say.
When contacted, U M Sahai, chief wildlife warden, Rajasthan, said, "We have received the NTCA permission. However, since it is such a long time since the proposal was sent we will write again to the authorities to learn of their opinion as to whether the relocation should be done now."
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Officials-activists-divided-over-tiger-cubs-relocation/articleshow/9404683.cms
However, even now senior forest officials are confused whether to relocate the cubs. Interestingly, the NTCA's approval has come only after the state sent it a proposal seeking permission for it.
"The cubs are well-settled in Ranthambore. What is the need to relocate them to Sariska? Moreover, they are very young and the process of tranquilising them before relocation may prove detrimental to their health," said a senior forest official.
They explained the proposal was sent about six months ago and the situation has changed much since then. "There are grown-up tigers roaming in Sariska and the cubs might just stray into their territory and get killed," he added.
But wildlife activists are not willing to buy any of the claims of the officials. "The cubs are more prone to attacks from elder tigers in Ranthambore than at Sariska. Ranthambore is overpopulated and even sub-adult tigers have often strayed from the forest in search of a territory. In such a situation the cubs stand no chance," they added.
Activists also say the original plan sent to NTCA was not to catch the cubs and leave them at Sariska. "The proposal was to leave them in the cage that is built in Sariska where we normally leave any relocated tiger for a period for acclimatisation. Here we could have taught the cubs to hunt on their own by releasing deer within the cage. Once they grew up we could have left them in the wild. Not relocating them after permissions from the NTCA might amount to taking all the responsibility of the well-being of the cubs in Ranthambore on our shoulders," they say.
When contacted, U M Sahai, chief wildlife warden, Rajasthan, said, "We have received the NTCA permission. However, since it is such a long time since the proposal was sent we will write again to the authorities to learn of their opinion as to whether the relocation should be done now."
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Officials-activists-divided-over-tiger-cubs-relocation/articleshow/9404683.cms
Tiger habitat shrinks by 20 pc in State: Subhash Chandra NS,Bangalore,
The increase in tiger population might have put the State in the limelight for its conservation efforts, however, the second countrywide report on the status of tigers in India, to be released by Environment Minister Jayanthi Natrajan in Delhi shows a decline in the big cat’s habitat by 20 per cent.
Sources in the Wildlife Institute of India said the second report, which runs to over 200 pages gave an assessment of tigers across the country. “It is the largest ever exercise to count tigers in the country,” sources said.
Though the State’s wildlife experts attribute the contiguous forest as the reason for better conservation in the State, the second report ‘Tigers, co-predators in India- 2010’ stated that forests in Karnataka were not in a position to support the increasing number of tigers as their area had shrunk by 20 per cent.
According to the report, the data collected from the tiger habitats of 17 states in India, showed an average decline of 12 per cent in their area. However, the silver lining for Karnataka was that the leopard population in the State as well as the habitat was stable.
The report also stated that the future of big cats appeared bleak unless measures were taken to secure the tigers’ habitat which had been lost due to various reasons, sources said.
It could be recalled that the recent census report had showed a marginal increase in the number of tigers in the State. It was estimated that tigers numbered 34 to 47 in 435.5 sq km of Sharavathi Valley (Anshi- Dandeli). The big cat population was estimated to be between 32 and 47 in Kudremukh-Bhadra region which spreads across 327.4 sq km.
As many as 350 to 411 tigers had been estimated to be present in 5,033 sq km area of Nagarahole, Mudumalai-Wayanad region.
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/179609/tiger-habitat-shrinks-20-pc.html
Sources in the Wildlife Institute of India said the second report, which runs to over 200 pages gave an assessment of tigers across the country. “It is the largest ever exercise to count tigers in the country,” sources said.
Though the State’s wildlife experts attribute the contiguous forest as the reason for better conservation in the State, the second report ‘Tigers, co-predators in India- 2010’ stated that forests in Karnataka were not in a position to support the increasing number of tigers as their area had shrunk by 20 per cent.
According to the report, the data collected from the tiger habitats of 17 states in India, showed an average decline of 12 per cent in their area. However, the silver lining for Karnataka was that the leopard population in the State as well as the habitat was stable.
The report also stated that the future of big cats appeared bleak unless measures were taken to secure the tigers’ habitat which had been lost due to various reasons, sources said.
It could be recalled that the recent census report had showed a marginal increase in the number of tigers in the State. It was estimated that tigers numbered 34 to 47 in 435.5 sq km of Sharavathi Valley (Anshi- Dandeli). The big cat population was estimated to be between 32 and 47 in Kudremukh-Bhadra region which spreads across 327.4 sq km.
As many as 350 to 411 tigers had been estimated to be present in 5,033 sq km area of Nagarahole, Mudumalai-Wayanad region.
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/179609/tiger-habitat-shrinks-20-pc.html
Another feather in Manas cap - Delhi report classifies Kaziranga as ‘very good’ among tiger reserves
Days of glory
Guwahati, July 28: Manas is on a roll.
Weeks after winning back its World Heritage Site tag, the national park has earned the distinction of being classified as a “good” tiger reserve, following the Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) of tiger reserves in India exercise carried out by National Tiger Conservation Authority and Wildlife Institute of India.
The report was released in New Delhi today. It reveals that most of the tiger reserves in the Northeast have done well in comparison to earlier reports.
Kaziranga has been classified in the “very good” category, while Dampa and Pakke are in the “good” category, and Nameri and Namdapha have been kept in the “satisfactory” category.
MEE is an assessment of how well protected areas such as national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, conservation reserves, community reserves and tiger reserves are being managed and their effectiveness in conserving flora and fauna.
Thirty indicators were used to evaluate the reserves.
Manas was earlier classified as poor while Kaziranga and Pakke were “good”.
Nameri was satisfactory, Dampa and Namdapha were classified as poor.
“On Manas tiger reserve, it says there are no human settlements inside the core of the reserve except for an area of 16.3 square km in Panbari on the fringes and 20 hectares at Betbari in North Kamrup which was encroached upon in 1996. Relocation of these settlements is being addressed through negotiations with local people.
“It is a good news for us and shows that the efforts put in during the last few years are finally paying off. There are some concerns, which are being adequately taken care of,” A. Swargiary, field director of the Manas tiger reserve, said.
The report says there is excellent availability of water in the reserve, part of a larger landscape, dynamic ecosystem, change in attitude of local people towards conservation of Manas and good support from Manas.
On the weaknesses, it says there is poor infrastructure in the buffer areas, multiplicity of management in the buffer area, porosity of the southern tip of the Manas river and lack of clarity in the role of volunteers.
It has suggested that the authorities should discuss the issue with the Bodoland Territorial Council to place the buffer areas under the unified command of the field director.
This apart, it should prepare a volunteer deployment programme and create administrative structure so that they can work under the supervision of regular staff.
A source in Manas said though relocation of people from the core areas is on the cards, it looks to be a tough job, as there are several problems. A sum of Rs 10 lakh will be paid to each family for moving out.
It says that Kaziranga has one of the best protection strategies, which are well implemented with 152 anti poaching camps, a number of roads and a well-connected communication system.
It is prepared to meet emergencies arising out of flash floods, the core area is free from human habitation and the wildlife staff trained better at the senior level.
The reserve is estimated to have 106 tigers.
The weaknesses identified for Kaziranga are rapid habitat degradation in and around the tiger reserve, speeding traffic along National Highway 37 and delay in release of funds, among others.
It has suggested a periodic review of tourism activities and the initiation of steps for habitat and population monitoring.
The strengths of Dampa are no human settlements inside the core area, attitudinal change in the local communities and habitat for species of high conservation value, among others.
The long international border which opens up scope for movement of people from neigbouring countries and shifting cultivation in the buffer area are some of its weaknesses.
Pakke has excellent protection mechanism, man management and is free from human habitation. Namdapha has inadequate staff and most of them are not trained, 84 families are staying in the core area and there is no eco-development.
Similarly, at Nameri tiger reserve, the buffer zone is not under the tiger reserve, there is a severe shortage of manpower and severe degradation and encroachment of buffer areas.
The estimated total population of tigers in Assam is 143 with the lower limit being 113 and the upper limit being 173. In 2006, the population was 70.
In the Northeast, the tiger population is 148 with the lower limit being 118 and the upper limit being 178. In 2006 it was 100.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110729/jsp/frontpage/story_14304436.jsp
Guwahati, July 28: Manas is on a roll.
Weeks after winning back its World Heritage Site tag, the national park has earned the distinction of being classified as a “good” tiger reserve, following the Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) of tiger reserves in India exercise carried out by National Tiger Conservation Authority and Wildlife Institute of India.
The report was released in New Delhi today. It reveals that most of the tiger reserves in the Northeast have done well in comparison to earlier reports.
Kaziranga has been classified in the “very good” category, while Dampa and Pakke are in the “good” category, and Nameri and Namdapha have been kept in the “satisfactory” category.
MEE is an assessment of how well protected areas such as national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, conservation reserves, community reserves and tiger reserves are being managed and their effectiveness in conserving flora and fauna.
Thirty indicators were used to evaluate the reserves.
Manas was earlier classified as poor while Kaziranga and Pakke were “good”.
Nameri was satisfactory, Dampa and Namdapha were classified as poor.
“On Manas tiger reserve, it says there are no human settlements inside the core of the reserve except for an area of 16.3 square km in Panbari on the fringes and 20 hectares at Betbari in North Kamrup which was encroached upon in 1996. Relocation of these settlements is being addressed through negotiations with local people.
“It is a good news for us and shows that the efforts put in during the last few years are finally paying off. There are some concerns, which are being adequately taken care of,” A. Swargiary, field director of the Manas tiger reserve, said.
The report says there is excellent availability of water in the reserve, part of a larger landscape, dynamic ecosystem, change in attitude of local people towards conservation of Manas and good support from Manas.
On the weaknesses, it says there is poor infrastructure in the buffer areas, multiplicity of management in the buffer area, porosity of the southern tip of the Manas river and lack of clarity in the role of volunteers.
It has suggested that the authorities should discuss the issue with the Bodoland Territorial Council to place the buffer areas under the unified command of the field director.
This apart, it should prepare a volunteer deployment programme and create administrative structure so that they can work under the supervision of regular staff.
A source in Manas said though relocation of people from the core areas is on the cards, it looks to be a tough job, as there are several problems. A sum of Rs 10 lakh will be paid to each family for moving out.
It says that Kaziranga has one of the best protection strategies, which are well implemented with 152 anti poaching camps, a number of roads and a well-connected communication system.
It is prepared to meet emergencies arising out of flash floods, the core area is free from human habitation and the wildlife staff trained better at the senior level.
The reserve is estimated to have 106 tigers.
The weaknesses identified for Kaziranga are rapid habitat degradation in and around the tiger reserve, speeding traffic along National Highway 37 and delay in release of funds, among others.
It has suggested a periodic review of tourism activities and the initiation of steps for habitat and population monitoring.
The strengths of Dampa are no human settlements inside the core area, attitudinal change in the local communities and habitat for species of high conservation value, among others.
The long international border which opens up scope for movement of people from neigbouring countries and shifting cultivation in the buffer area are some of its weaknesses.
Pakke has excellent protection mechanism, man management and is free from human habitation. Namdapha has inadequate staff and most of them are not trained, 84 families are staying in the core area and there is no eco-development.
Similarly, at Nameri tiger reserve, the buffer zone is not under the tiger reserve, there is a severe shortage of manpower and severe degradation and encroachment of buffer areas.
The estimated total population of tigers in Assam is 143 with the lower limit being 113 and the upper limit being 173. In 2006, the population was 70.
In the Northeast, the tiger population is 148 with the lower limit being 118 and the upper limit being 178. In 2006 it was 100.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110729/jsp/frontpage/story_14304436.jsp
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Tiger reserve: It's now 'how to approach locals' TNN
PANAJI: Forest minister Felipe Neri Rodrigues said his department is working out modalities of approaching elected representatives and stakeholders in the periphery of the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary with the central government's proposal of declaring it a tiger reserve.
"We are in the process of finding a mode of reaching stakeholders, and my department is being sensitized about finding one," Rodrigues told TOI on Tuesday.
Department officials will have to prepare a draft plan to approach the stakeholders and create awareness about this proposal, he said.
Former union minister of environment and forests, Jairam Ramesh, had written, on June 28, to chief minister Digambar Kamat, urging him to consider a proposal to declare Mhadei as a tiger reserve on merit, and to even look at expanding its limits beyond the sanctuary.
Mhadei on Goa's eastern border is contiguous tiger landscape to Bhimgad wildlife sanctuary and Anshi-Dandeli tiger reserve in Karnataka, Ramesh had stated.
Karnataka's tiger landscape comprising Bhimgad and Anshi has a population of 35 tigers, while Goa had five to six big cats as per the census count almost a decade ago.
Rodrigues said his department was contemplating how to put the central government proposal before the elected representatives and stakeholders of the area. "A proposal will be prepared with department officials to reach the common man in habitations in or near the sanctuary areas," he said.
He further said that he would prefer to reach out to stakeholders first and "thereafter seek the general view of others".
When pointed out that a delay in completing the process may lead to further damage to the environment or advantage to the mining or other lobbies, the minister said it was important to spell out what the proposal is about first to the people.
Asked if spelling out merits and demerits of the proposal to the people would be done during the interactive session, Rodrigues said, "Implications of the tiger reserve proposal may not be done at this stage, but after seeking stakeholders' reactions."
Environmentalists have been irked by the forest department's denial of the tiger presence and the diversion of huge tracts of forest to development, especially to mining.
Rodrigues conceded that seeking the people's views may take some time.
National Board of Wildlife member and conservationist, Prerna Singh Bindra, had also chipped in with the suggestion to consider the tiger reserve proposal seriously as it would help the water security of the region. She had written to Goa's CM on July 22, stating that River Mhadei and a few other rivers in Karnataka have their catchment areas in the Mhadei basin.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Tiger-reserve-Its-now-how-to-approach-locals/articleshow/9376870.cms
"We are in the process of finding a mode of reaching stakeholders, and my department is being sensitized about finding one," Rodrigues told TOI on Tuesday.
Department officials will have to prepare a draft plan to approach the stakeholders and create awareness about this proposal, he said.
Former union minister of environment and forests, Jairam Ramesh, had written, on June 28, to chief minister Digambar Kamat, urging him to consider a proposal to declare Mhadei as a tiger reserve on merit, and to even look at expanding its limits beyond the sanctuary.
Mhadei on Goa's eastern border is contiguous tiger landscape to Bhimgad wildlife sanctuary and Anshi-Dandeli tiger reserve in Karnataka, Ramesh had stated.
Karnataka's tiger landscape comprising Bhimgad and Anshi has a population of 35 tigers, while Goa had five to six big cats as per the census count almost a decade ago.
Rodrigues said his department was contemplating how to put the central government proposal before the elected representatives and stakeholders of the area. "A proposal will be prepared with department officials to reach the common man in habitations in or near the sanctuary areas," he said.
He further said that he would prefer to reach out to stakeholders first and "thereafter seek the general view of others".
When pointed out that a delay in completing the process may lead to further damage to the environment or advantage to the mining or other lobbies, the minister said it was important to spell out what the proposal is about first to the people.
Asked if spelling out merits and demerits of the proposal to the people would be done during the interactive session, Rodrigues said, "Implications of the tiger reserve proposal may not be done at this stage, but after seeking stakeholders' reactions."
Environmentalists have been irked by the forest department's denial of the tiger presence and the diversion of huge tracts of forest to development, especially to mining.
Rodrigues conceded that seeking the people's views may take some time.
National Board of Wildlife member and conservationist, Prerna Singh Bindra, had also chipped in with the suggestion to consider the tiger reserve proposal seriously as it would help the water security of the region. She had written to Goa's CM on July 22, stating that River Mhadei and a few other rivers in Karnataka have their catchment areas in the Mhadei basin.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Tiger-reserve-Its-now-how-to-approach-locals/articleshow/9376870.cms
Killer tracks in tiger reserve Animals fall prey to speeding trains, blame game on A.S.R.P. MUKESH
Trains are meant to observe speed restrictions between Hehegara and Chipadohor in Betla within Palamau Tiger Reserve. File picture
Ranchi, July 26: Around 70 Up and Down trains, often flouting regulation speed limits, use an 8-km railway track that cuts through Palamau Tiger Reserve in the Chipadohor area of Betla forest, proving to be a menace for the animal population.
A three-year-old elephant calf was fatally hit by a goods train speeding at 60kmph on July 22 night. However, the carcass on tracks has simply sparked a war of words between the state forest department and Dhanbad railway division.
Officials at the reserve blame the railways for not sticking to an agreed upon speed limit. But, the railways claim they always do, also clarifying that the death of the calf occurred in an area that was beyond the zone with speed curbs.
At a joint meeting in 2004-05, a mutual agreement was drafted between the forest department and railways. Trains were supposed to run within the speed limit of 20kmph, blow horns and keep high mast lights on. Labourers were supposed to be employed to uproot bushes regularly for visibility and sprinkle lubricants on tracks to ward off animals.
However, the forest department officials claim nothing of the sort happened.
According to PTR director S.E.H. Kazmi, senior railway officials pass the buck, claiming manpower crunch, but do nothing to sensitise employees who man the trains. “No one seems to be aware of any rule. Fortunately, no tiger has been mowed down yet,” he said.
He agreed the track was a threat to ecological sanctity, but said nothing could be done as the rail link existed much before the reserve came into being in 1973. “Diverting it practically is not possible. It’s one of the two routes connecting Delhi and Ranchi,” he said.
However, divisional railway manager (Dhanbad division) Anand Sagar Upadhyay denied rules were violated. There’s an 8km stretch between Chipadohor and Hehegara, but speed restrictions are applicable on 2km. Of the stretch, 1km is a caution zone where a speed limit of 20-25kmph is to be maintained, while the other is a lookout zone, where the driver has to be alert, but not maintain speed limit. The incident took place beyond the restricted 2km and we aren’t at fault,” he said.
He added that they had written to the forest department last year, asking for a review on speed limits. “They (the department) said things are fine,” Upadhyay said, adding according to their records, animal deaths due to trains took place in 1981-82 and 2003-04.
“Our record shows we are enforcing better speeds,” he said, but then went on to add a technical nitty-gritty. “The goods train had a high capacity engine, which meant it could have clocked speed in no time. In this case, even if the driver intended to stop the train, he couldn’t have done so immediately,” he said.
Which means even emergency brakes wouldn’t have saved the animal.
However, even if no one wants to own up responsibility, the death of the elephant is prompting a reaction. Casualties of small animals such as goats, deer, hares, among others, are frequently not recorded as villagers collect the carcass. In the case of larger animals, too, forest department officials plead helplessness, saying they don’t have enough manpower or patrolling jeeps.
But the reason that no one admits is that if all accidents were recorded, it would make both the forest department and the railways cut a sorry figure.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110727/jsp/frontpage/story_14293974.jsp
Ranchi, July 26: Around 70 Up and Down trains, often flouting regulation speed limits, use an 8-km railway track that cuts through Palamau Tiger Reserve in the Chipadohor area of Betla forest, proving to be a menace for the animal population.
A three-year-old elephant calf was fatally hit by a goods train speeding at 60kmph on July 22 night. However, the carcass on tracks has simply sparked a war of words between the state forest department and Dhanbad railway division.
Officials at the reserve blame the railways for not sticking to an agreed upon speed limit. But, the railways claim they always do, also clarifying that the death of the calf occurred in an area that was beyond the zone with speed curbs.
At a joint meeting in 2004-05, a mutual agreement was drafted between the forest department and railways. Trains were supposed to run within the speed limit of 20kmph, blow horns and keep high mast lights on. Labourers were supposed to be employed to uproot bushes regularly for visibility and sprinkle lubricants on tracks to ward off animals.
However, the forest department officials claim nothing of the sort happened.
According to PTR director S.E.H. Kazmi, senior railway officials pass the buck, claiming manpower crunch, but do nothing to sensitise employees who man the trains. “No one seems to be aware of any rule. Fortunately, no tiger has been mowed down yet,” he said.
He agreed the track was a threat to ecological sanctity, but said nothing could be done as the rail link existed much before the reserve came into being in 1973. “Diverting it practically is not possible. It’s one of the two routes connecting Delhi and Ranchi,” he said.
However, divisional railway manager (Dhanbad division) Anand Sagar Upadhyay denied rules were violated. There’s an 8km stretch between Chipadohor and Hehegara, but speed restrictions are applicable on 2km. Of the stretch, 1km is a caution zone where a speed limit of 20-25kmph is to be maintained, while the other is a lookout zone, where the driver has to be alert, but not maintain speed limit. The incident took place beyond the restricted 2km and we aren’t at fault,” he said.
He added that they had written to the forest department last year, asking for a review on speed limits. “They (the department) said things are fine,” Upadhyay said, adding according to their records, animal deaths due to trains took place in 1981-82 and 2003-04.
“Our record shows we are enforcing better speeds,” he said, but then went on to add a technical nitty-gritty. “The goods train had a high capacity engine, which meant it could have clocked speed in no time. In this case, even if the driver intended to stop the train, he couldn’t have done so immediately,” he said.
Which means even emergency brakes wouldn’t have saved the animal.
However, even if no one wants to own up responsibility, the death of the elephant is prompting a reaction. Casualties of small animals such as goats, deer, hares, among others, are frequently not recorded as villagers collect the carcass. In the case of larger animals, too, forest department officials plead helplessness, saying they don’t have enough manpower or patrolling jeeps.
But the reason that no one admits is that if all accidents were recorded, it would make both the forest department and the railways cut a sorry figure.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110727/jsp/frontpage/story_14293974.jsp
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Sundarbans have only 90 tigers
KOLKATA: It is neither 274, nor 64, the exact number of tigers in the Sundarbans is 90. Recently, the Wild Life Institute of India (WLII) has informed this to the state forest department, said state's chief wild life warden Sitanshu Bikash Mondal.
Earlier, the WLII set the figure at 64, while the state forest departments used to claim that there were 274 tigers in the Sundarbans and the tiger population was ever increasing.
Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) earlier carried out study to refute the claim of the state forest department. The ISI study revealed that the number of Royal Bengal tigers in Sundarbans would be some where closed to 70. However, the forest department questioned the veracity of this study.
According to WLII, there are 1627 tigers in India. Unlike rest of the forests in India, it is really difficult to carry out tiger census in Sundarbans. The entire area is strewn with pneumatophores or breathing roots of mangrove trees. Routinely, each island gets completely inundated. So it is next to impossible to physically access every part of the Sundarbans.
So, WLII and the forest department jointly put camera traps, put radio-collars around some tiger's neck and of course analyse the tiger scat to identify the DNA of the tiger. The tiger scat were collected periodically by the forest guards.
The number of tiger in Sundarbans is difficult to ascertain. More than half of Sundarbans is in our neighbouring country Bangladesh and tiger never follow the political boundaries created by human beings. So tigers often move around a wider area across the Sundarbans. Unless it is a joint Indo-Bangla tiger census, the tiger-population in Sundarbans is difficult to as-certain, said a senior forest officer.
The Indo-Bangla joint initiative was first taken up by the then union forest minister Jairam Ramesh. Ramesh made it a point by inviting the Bangladesh forest minister in Kolkata to take the initiative forward. Now it is up to new forest and environment minister Jayanti Natarajan to take the is-sue forward farther.
According to the forest department, there are 185 rhinoceros. But the gender ratio is quite skewed. To strike a balance, 20 male rhinoceros of North Bengal will be exchanged with 20 female rhinos of Kaziranga national park, Assam shortly.
Earlier, the WLII set the figure at 64, while the state forest departments used to claim that there were 274 tigers in the Sundarbans and the tiger population was ever increasing.
Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) earlier carried out study to refute the claim of the state forest department. The ISI study revealed that the number of Royal Bengal tigers in Sundarbans would be some where closed to 70. However, the forest department questioned the veracity of this study.
According to WLII, there are 1627 tigers in India. Unlike rest of the forests in India, it is really difficult to carry out tiger census in Sundarbans. The entire area is strewn with pneumatophores or breathing roots of mangrove trees. Routinely, each island gets completely inundated. So it is next to impossible to physically access every part of the Sundarbans.
So, WLII and the forest department jointly put camera traps, put radio-collars around some tiger's neck and of course analyse the tiger scat to identify the DNA of the tiger. The tiger scat were collected periodically by the forest guards.
The number of tiger in Sundarbans is difficult to ascertain. More than half of Sundarbans is in our neighbouring country Bangladesh and tiger never follow the political boundaries created by human beings. So tigers often move around a wider area across the Sundarbans. Unless it is a joint Indo-Bangla tiger census, the tiger-population in Sundarbans is difficult to as-certain, said a senior forest officer.
The Indo-Bangla joint initiative was first taken up by the then union forest minister Jairam Ramesh. Ramesh made it a point by inviting the Bangladesh forest minister in Kolkata to take the initiative forward. Now it is up to new forest and environment minister Jayanti Natarajan to take the is-sue forward farther.
According to the forest department, there are 185 rhinoceros. But the gender ratio is quite skewed. To strike a balance, 20 male rhinoceros of North Bengal will be exchanged with 20 female rhinos of Kaziranga national park, Assam shortly.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Mhadei tiger reserve pro-people: NBW member
PANAJI: National Board for Wildlife (NBW) member and conservationist, Prerna Singh Bindra, has thrown her weight behind the proposal to declare Mhadei wildlife sanctuary as a tiger reserve, stating that it will help secure the entire regions water resources.
In a letter to chief minister Digambar Kamat, sent on Friday, Bindra urged him to consider the merit of the proposal as suggested by former union minister for environment and forests Jairam Ramesh.
"Mhadei is the catchment area of important rivers like Mhadei, Malaprabha, Pandhari, Bailnadi, Tillari, and making it a tiger reserve will help consolidate the habitat and address the water security issues of Goa for posterity," said Bindra.
She added that declaring Goa a tiger state would be a matter of prestige during Goa's golden jubilee year of liberation. Doubts being raised in some quarters that the move is anti-people were unfounded, she stressed.
"I am sure as a leader of Goa, you will have the vision to see the benefits of declaring Mhadei as a tiger reserve, and will commit to save the tiger, as has been done by the UPA leader, Sonia Gandhi, and the honourable PM," Bindra stated.
Given the importance and uniqueness of Goa's tiger forests, she suggested that expanding the reserve beyond Mhadei may also be considered.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/environment/flora-fauna/mhadei-tiger-reserve-pro-people-nbw-member/articleshow/9329756.cms
In a letter to chief minister Digambar Kamat, sent on Friday, Bindra urged him to consider the merit of the proposal as suggested by former union minister for environment and forests Jairam Ramesh.
"Mhadei is the catchment area of important rivers like Mhadei, Malaprabha, Pandhari, Bailnadi, Tillari, and making it a tiger reserve will help consolidate the habitat and address the water security issues of Goa for posterity," said Bindra.
She added that declaring Goa a tiger state would be a matter of prestige during Goa's golden jubilee year of liberation. Doubts being raised in some quarters that the move is anti-people were unfounded, she stressed.
"I am sure as a leader of Goa, you will have the vision to see the benefits of declaring Mhadei as a tiger reserve, and will commit to save the tiger, as has been done by the UPA leader, Sonia Gandhi, and the honourable PM," Bindra stated.
Given the importance and uniqueness of Goa's tiger forests, she suggested that expanding the reserve beyond Mhadei may also be considered.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/environment/flora-fauna/mhadei-tiger-reserve-pro-people-nbw-member/articleshow/9329756.cms
Friday, July 22, 2011
NTCA's 10-member panel to save tiger corridors, habitat Vijay Pinjarkar
NAGPUR: To check intensive landuse practices like mining, construction of road and railway lines affecting the tiger habitat and corridors, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has set up a 10-member committee of experts.
NTCA is a statutory body under the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) monitoring tiger reserves in the country. The committee will do appraisal of impact of mining, road and rail construction on tiger conservation. The panel of well-known experts from all fields will draw upon the best practices in other countries in this context, while suggesting ecological compatible synergy between conservation and development.
The 10-member panel consists of MK Ranjit Sinh, member, National Board for Wildlife Life (NBWL), Asha Rajwanshi and Qamar Qureshi, both scientists, Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, VK Sharma, chief general manager (CGM), NHAI, New Delhi, M Firoz Ahmed, member of NTCA, T Chandni, director (IA), MoEF, HK Chowdhury, AIG (FC), MoEF, one nominee each of the ministry of railways (MoR) and Coal India Limited (CIL), and SP Yadav, deputy inspector general (DIG), NTCA. Yadav will be the member-convener.
Yadav said the terms of reference (ToR) of the committee will include country-level appraisal of the extent of tiger habitat, corridors and other crucial areas for conservation, based on the 2010 all India tiger estimation. The CIL and MoR have been requested to depute their one representative on the panel.
The committee will also appraise ongoing demand for diversion of habitat areas towards infrastructure projects in tiger range states. It will also appraise global best practices adopted to safeguard conservation vis-Ã -vis intensive land use.
The committee will also make general recommendations for harmonising such land uses vis-Ã -vis tiger conservation in the Indian context. The panel will submit its report within a period of six months, Yadav added.
MK Ranjit Sinh, chairman of Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), confirmed to TOI about his inclusion in the NTCA committee but said as he had just returned from Rajasthan and will have to check the mandate.
The committee has a key role to play while deciding on various ongoing projects threatening tiger corridors in the region. The prime among them includes the four-laning of NH6 by NHAI between Lakhni and Deori. The road widening cuts the tiger corridor between Navegaon National Park and Nagzira wildlife sanctuary, proposed to be declared as tiger reserve.
Another issue is the stalled four-laning of NH7 from Mansar to Rukhad which threatens both Pench tiger reserves. The four-laning will also rip through some compartments of the newly declared Mansingdeo sanctuary. Besides, there are several mining projects around Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), which pose threat to the reserve.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/NTCAs-10-member-panel-to-save-tiger-corridors-habitat/articleshow/9314209.cms
NTCA is a statutory body under the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) monitoring tiger reserves in the country. The committee will do appraisal of impact of mining, road and rail construction on tiger conservation. The panel of well-known experts from all fields will draw upon the best practices in other countries in this context, while suggesting ecological compatible synergy between conservation and development.
The 10-member panel consists of MK Ranjit Sinh, member, National Board for Wildlife Life (NBWL), Asha Rajwanshi and Qamar Qureshi, both scientists, Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, VK Sharma, chief general manager (CGM), NHAI, New Delhi, M Firoz Ahmed, member of NTCA, T Chandni, director (IA), MoEF, HK Chowdhury, AIG (FC), MoEF, one nominee each of the ministry of railways (MoR) and Coal India Limited (CIL), and SP Yadav, deputy inspector general (DIG), NTCA. Yadav will be the member-convener.
Yadav said the terms of reference (ToR) of the committee will include country-level appraisal of the extent of tiger habitat, corridors and other crucial areas for conservation, based on the 2010 all India tiger estimation. The CIL and MoR have been requested to depute their one representative on the panel.
The committee will also appraise ongoing demand for diversion of habitat areas towards infrastructure projects in tiger range states. It will also appraise global best practices adopted to safeguard conservation vis-Ã -vis intensive land use.
The committee will also make general recommendations for harmonising such land uses vis-Ã -vis tiger conservation in the Indian context. The panel will submit its report within a period of six months, Yadav added.
MK Ranjit Sinh, chairman of Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), confirmed to TOI about his inclusion in the NTCA committee but said as he had just returned from Rajasthan and will have to check the mandate.
The committee has a key role to play while deciding on various ongoing projects threatening tiger corridors in the region. The prime among them includes the four-laning of NH6 by NHAI between Lakhni and Deori. The road widening cuts the tiger corridor between Navegaon National Park and Nagzira wildlife sanctuary, proposed to be declared as tiger reserve.
Another issue is the stalled four-laning of NH7 from Mansar to Rukhad which threatens both Pench tiger reserves. The four-laning will also rip through some compartments of the newly declared Mansingdeo sanctuary. Besides, there are several mining projects around Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), which pose threat to the reserve.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/NTCAs-10-member-panel-to-save-tiger-corridors-habitat/articleshow/9314209.cms
Private space in the wild is no mild worry Jayashree Nandi, TNN
BANGALORE: Many tiger reserves have vast stretches of revenue land in the core area which are owned by private parties. These are patches of land that were leased out or sold pre-Independence. The new conflict facing the government is: how it can protect wild zones which have private properties thriving within them. One such reserve is Biligere Ranga Temple (BRT) sanctuary in Karnataka that has been recently proposed to be declared a tiger reserve.
These revenue enclosures are owned by and leased to major industrialists as per documents with the district commissioner's office. Secretary, revenue department, K S Prabhakar confirmed: "There are a number of revenue enclosures inside BRT and companies like the Birlas and TVS group own some of them. But I am not sure if any changes would be made to these leases."
Principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) B K Singh also told TOI: "We are aware that there is a revenue enclosure of 400 to 500 acres. The leases are very old. They are growing coffee there. As far as I know four out of five leases have a long time to expire. I am not sure what has to be done about this patch of land. Either the land has to be relocated or acquired by the government."
Even though coffee may be called by many as a non-polluting industry locals raised concerns about pesticide usage and movement of labourers inside the reserve. "When tribals are living inside the forest, officials raise so many questions that we are interfering with the wild but the industrialists own so much land here in the core area. Isn't that going to interfere with the wild? There have been no relocations of tribals so far. We are hoping that BRT will really be the first sanctuary to have Soligas inside. We will continue our conservation work here. We worship our tigers and elephants and will continue sustainable harvesting of honey, lichen, soap nuts and others," said a leader of the soliga tribe from Chamrajanagar district, Madegowda C.
The forest department is clueless whether this huge revenue enclosure can be acquired by the government and handed over to the wild.
The land that is known to be home to Soliga tribals earlier made headlines when tribals did not agree to move out of the core area. Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh had recently announced that BRT could be the first example that would see co-existence of tribals and tigers, since evicting soligas from their homeland could be disastrous.
The forest department seems to have no answers on how such cases would be handled. The Kudremukh national park, also a proposed tiger reserve has a huge chunk of land owned by Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited (KIOCL). The forest department is well aware of this contradiction in land ownership in the forest area but as there has been no directive from the government and the ministry of environments and forests, no action has been initiated with regard to getting back the land from the company.
The land owned by these private companies were leased to them decades ago and it was later that some areas of that land was declared tiger reserve area. In such an area, no activity is supposed to be undertaken including running estates even if that involves minimal human activity. But forest and revenue officials are clueless about the future of the status of the land as leases of some of the patches run into decades.
KIOCL's eco project
KIOCL Ltd recently sent a detailed project report (DPR) to Jungle Lodges and Resort for the eco-tourism project, KIOCL Ltd CMD K Ranganath said. The project will come in 162 hectares of revenue land lease area and not in Kudremukh National Park (KNP) area. "Our project will not be in any conflict with tiger conservation project that the Union ministry of environment and forest wants to start in KNP, and will be in consonance with laws of the land," he said. "The eco-tourism project mooted by us will see the use of electric carts, tap solar and wind energy and also have a no-plastic zone," Ranganath explained. Besides, the use of biodegradable materials including for floor mats will make the project truly 'green'. The other major spin off would be the employment generation for the locals and full utilisation of assets created in Kudremukh township that has been set up using taxpayers' money, he added.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Private-space-in-the-wild-is-no-mild-worry/articleshow/9319418.cms
These revenue enclosures are owned by and leased to major industrialists as per documents with the district commissioner's office. Secretary, revenue department, K S Prabhakar confirmed: "There are a number of revenue enclosures inside BRT and companies like the Birlas and TVS group own some of them. But I am not sure if any changes would be made to these leases."
Principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) B K Singh also told TOI: "We are aware that there is a revenue enclosure of 400 to 500 acres. The leases are very old. They are growing coffee there. As far as I know four out of five leases have a long time to expire. I am not sure what has to be done about this patch of land. Either the land has to be relocated or acquired by the government."
Even though coffee may be called by many as a non-polluting industry locals raised concerns about pesticide usage and movement of labourers inside the reserve. "When tribals are living inside the forest, officials raise so many questions that we are interfering with the wild but the industrialists own so much land here in the core area. Isn't that going to interfere with the wild? There have been no relocations of tribals so far. We are hoping that BRT will really be the first sanctuary to have Soligas inside. We will continue our conservation work here. We worship our tigers and elephants and will continue sustainable harvesting of honey, lichen, soap nuts and others," said a leader of the soliga tribe from Chamrajanagar district, Madegowda C.
The forest department is clueless whether this huge revenue enclosure can be acquired by the government and handed over to the wild.
The land that is known to be home to Soliga tribals earlier made headlines when tribals did not agree to move out of the core area. Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh had recently announced that BRT could be the first example that would see co-existence of tribals and tigers, since evicting soligas from their homeland could be disastrous.
The forest department seems to have no answers on how such cases would be handled. The Kudremukh national park, also a proposed tiger reserve has a huge chunk of land owned by Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited (KIOCL). The forest department is well aware of this contradiction in land ownership in the forest area but as there has been no directive from the government and the ministry of environments and forests, no action has been initiated with regard to getting back the land from the company.
The land owned by these private companies were leased to them decades ago and it was later that some areas of that land was declared tiger reserve area. In such an area, no activity is supposed to be undertaken including running estates even if that involves minimal human activity. But forest and revenue officials are clueless about the future of the status of the land as leases of some of the patches run into decades.
KIOCL's eco project
KIOCL Ltd recently sent a detailed project report (DPR) to Jungle Lodges and Resort for the eco-tourism project, KIOCL Ltd CMD K Ranganath said. The project will come in 162 hectares of revenue land lease area and not in Kudremukh National Park (KNP) area. "Our project will not be in any conflict with tiger conservation project that the Union ministry of environment and forest wants to start in KNP, and will be in consonance with laws of the land," he said. "The eco-tourism project mooted by us will see the use of electric carts, tap solar and wind energy and also have a no-plastic zone," Ranganath explained. Besides, the use of biodegradable materials including for floor mats will make the project truly 'green'. The other major spin off would be the employment generation for the locals and full utilisation of assets created in Kudremukh township that has been set up using taxpayers' money, he added.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Private-space-in-the-wild-is-no-mild-worry/articleshow/9319418.cms
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Tiger skins seized in Haryana, 5 held
Five tiger skins, worth Rs 1.5.crore, were seized from five wildlfe smugglers arrested in this Haryana town, an official said on Wednesday. Working on a tip-off, police laid a trap near the Panipat bus-stand late Tuesday and arrested the five, busting the gang. "We intercepted a
car, which was coming from Delhi side, Tuesday night and made the recovery of tiger skins. One skin is of an adult tiger while four are of cubs. We have also arrested five occupants of the car," Additional superintendent of Police Pankaj Nain said.
He said that the five revealed that the skins were from from a Delhi-based smuggler Sudarshan alias Bittu and were supposed to be handed to another smuggler in Haryana.
"This gang was active in this region for the last many months. Their interrogation is on and we expect more arrests in the coming days," Nain said.
The arrested men were identified as Irfan, Pawan (both residents of Delhi), Ashok Kumar, Sunil Gupta and Ram Narayan (from different parts of Haryana).
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Tiger-skins-seized-in-Haryana-5-held/Article1-723383.aspx
car, which was coming from Delhi side, Tuesday night and made the recovery of tiger skins. One skin is of an adult tiger while four are of cubs. We have also arrested five occupants of the car," Additional superintendent of Police Pankaj Nain said.
He said that the five revealed that the skins were from from a Delhi-based smuggler Sudarshan alias Bittu and were supposed to be handed to another smuggler in Haryana.
"This gang was active in this region for the last many months. Their interrogation is on and we expect more arrests in the coming days," Nain said.
The arrested men were identified as Irfan, Pawan (both residents of Delhi), Ashok Kumar, Sunil Gupta and Ram Narayan (from different parts of Haryana).
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Tiger-skins-seized-in-Haryana-5-held/Article1-723383.aspx
Tiger Task Force suggestions still hanging fire: Ecologist
Panaji, Jul 19 (PTI) The recommendations given by the Tiger Task Force are still awaiting implementation by the Centre, a senior member of the panel said today. "The Task Force, among other things, had recommended that the management of Tiger Reserves should be made much more participatory and people-friendly," Madhav Gadgil said here. "But the recommendations of Tiger Task Force are not at all being implemented," said Gadgil, who now heads Ministry of Environment nd Forests' (MoEF) panel on Western Ghats. The Task Force was formed by the Centre in 2005 to suggest ways to increase the number of tigers and improve their natural habitat. "I am not happy with the rigid regulatory approach of the Forest Department," said the noted environmentalist. Gadgil was talking to reporters on the sidelines of a youth convention on environment and development. MoEF has asked the Goa Government to send a proposal on declaring Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary as a Tiger Reserve. In this regard, Gadgil said "It has to be decided by the State Government as to what kind of participatory process local people will be involved with." Rubbishing contention that people's presence in the reserves would affect the tiger habitat, he said preservation of sacred groves (forest fragments) is the best way to prove that people's participation can do wonders. "In the Western Ghats, the sacred groves are the best example of preservation of bio-diversity. They are not protected by government but by the people," he added.
http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/tiger-task-force-suggestions-still-hanging-fire-ecologist/759044.html
http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/tiger-task-force-suggestions-still-hanging-fire-ecologist/759044.html
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
'Tiger reserve only after all views taken' TNN
DONA PAULA: With the proposed Mhadei tiger reserve being opposed by certain sections, the state environment minister Aleixo Sequeira on Tuesday said the government will need to take into consideration the views of all stakeholders before reaching a final decision.
Sequeira was addressing the inaugural of the Goan Youth Convention on Environment and Development organized by the Centre for Environment Education and the Goa Golden Jubilee Development Council at the Goa International Centre, Dona Paula.
"There are two voices on the issue of the tiger reserve: those in favour and those against. Such reserves require a buffer zone of 10 km and this is also making people apprehensive," said Sequeira.
"With the Salim Ali bird sanctuary at Chorao also having a 10 km buffer zone, I wonder if we can even move any stones in Panaji. Hence these issues need to be deliberated before a stand can be taken," said Sequeira.
But noted ecologist Madhav Gadgil, while addressing the media, was of the view that buffer zones of wildlife sanctuaries and reserves should be considered on a case-to-case basis and there is no need to apply a 10 km buffer zone everywhere.
When queried on the proposed Mhadei tiger reserve in particular, Gadgil-who has been a member of the official Tiger Task Force constituted by the Centre-said he will need to study the issue. In the same breath he called for better management of such reserves with the involvement of locals.
Pointing to environment impact assessment (EIA) reports submitted by mining companies to the government, Sequeira said these need not be true and hence the government will be re-inspecting the reports submitted so far. He felt that most reports were cut-and-paste jobs which didn't reflect ground realities.
"Because we were concerned, we wrote to the Centre not to grant any more environment clearances till the mining policy was in place," said Sequeira.
On the lack of a proper biomedical waste disposal system in the state, Sequeira said that the 4,000-5,000 sq m site identified at Dharbandora is being stalled due to local opposition.
Commenting on the flaws in the Regional Plan (RP) 2021, Sequeira said, "When RP 2021 was proposed there were many suggestions from people to change their respective zones from orchard lands to settlement and commercial zones. We believe monetary benefits were behind most of these suggestions."
Goa Foundation director, Claude Alvares, called on the youth to start rebelling on environmental issues. He claimed mining silt has destroyed the rivers and fields in Goa, yet mining production has increased. "The Goa CM and government have been installed by mining companies," he claimed.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Tiger-reserve-only-after-all-views-taken/articleshow/9290055.cms
Sequeira was addressing the inaugural of the Goan Youth Convention on Environment and Development organized by the Centre for Environment Education and the Goa Golden Jubilee Development Council at the Goa International Centre, Dona Paula.
"There are two voices on the issue of the tiger reserve: those in favour and those against. Such reserves require a buffer zone of 10 km and this is also making people apprehensive," said Sequeira.
"With the Salim Ali bird sanctuary at Chorao also having a 10 km buffer zone, I wonder if we can even move any stones in Panaji. Hence these issues need to be deliberated before a stand can be taken," said Sequeira.
But noted ecologist Madhav Gadgil, while addressing the media, was of the view that buffer zones of wildlife sanctuaries and reserves should be considered on a case-to-case basis and there is no need to apply a 10 km buffer zone everywhere.
When queried on the proposed Mhadei tiger reserve in particular, Gadgil-who has been a member of the official Tiger Task Force constituted by the Centre-said he will need to study the issue. In the same breath he called for better management of such reserves with the involvement of locals.
Pointing to environment impact assessment (EIA) reports submitted by mining companies to the government, Sequeira said these need not be true and hence the government will be re-inspecting the reports submitted so far. He felt that most reports were cut-and-paste jobs which didn't reflect ground realities.
"Because we were concerned, we wrote to the Centre not to grant any more environment clearances till the mining policy was in place," said Sequeira.
On the lack of a proper biomedical waste disposal system in the state, Sequeira said that the 4,000-5,000 sq m site identified at Dharbandora is being stalled due to local opposition.
Commenting on the flaws in the Regional Plan (RP) 2021, Sequeira said, "When RP 2021 was proposed there were many suggestions from people to change their respective zones from orchard lands to settlement and commercial zones. We believe monetary benefits were behind most of these suggestions."
Goa Foundation director, Claude Alvares, called on the youth to start rebelling on environmental issues. He claimed mining silt has destroyed the rivers and fields in Goa, yet mining production has increased. "The Goa CM and government have been installed by mining companies," he claimed.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Tiger-reserve-only-after-all-views-taken/articleshow/9290055.cms
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Chain link fencing pushes Bandhavgarh tigers to edge
After courting controversy over the chain link fencing of its boundary, Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh is again back in the news. Two of its sub-adult male tigers have been captured and send to Van Vihar in Bhopal after being declared man-eaters.
This happened after a forest guard was killed in a tiger attack last week and its half eaten torso and limbs were found near Hardia forest camp in Tala range of the reserve. Earlier two persons were killed but their bodies were not preyed upon by the big cats.
The two brother sub-adult tigers branded as “man-eaters” and sent to the zoo are aged about two years five months. They were born to a tigress named “Mirchahani” in the reserve in 2009. Generally, tigress keeps her cubs with her for one and a half years, after which they are left to fend for themselves. These cubs too were learning to hunt, sources said.
Justifying his action, Field Director CK Patil said it was a choice between the devil and the deep blue sea. “Had the two sub-adults tigers not been sent to zoo, they could have been killed by the local villagers,” he said.
Tiger expert Belinda Wright pointed to the root cause behind the incident. “It is the absurdity of chain link fencing round the reserve that is intensifying man-tiger conflict. It has severely restricted the free passage of big cats and other wild animals within the reserve. The limited space in this high tiger density area is compelling the big cats, particularly the sub-adults to move out and venture into surrounding village areas, she said.
The Pioneer had earlier reported that the Bandhavgarh reserve was slowly getting converted into a zoo with a 108 sq km area enclosed by chain links or iron mesh fencing, which in the long run would aggravate man animal conflicts. All the three kills during the last three months had occurred outside the fencing area.
Wildlife experts pointed out that the reserve houses 60 tigers. “With increasing pressure, the cub tigers have no choice but to move out, and once they are outside the reserve territory can the management simply shrug off its responsibility and send it packing to a zoo?” they asked.
They further added that a tiger is sent to the zoo, when it is unable to hunt for itself but in this case both of them were juveniles. Cramming such animals into a zoo for the rest of their lives is a big blow to wildlife conservation, they claimed.
The experts also argued that there was no proper tracking to conclusively establish which tigers had actually killed and eaten the forest guard. If the forest department is to be believed that the same trapped tigers had eaten the forest guard, then why did they leave untouched the previous two kills? Experts also pointed out that as per guidelines of the National Tiger Conservation Authority a tiger is declared a man-eater only when it kills and preys upon at least three persons.
Belinda further pointed to the heavy presence of forest personnel within the reserve.
“There are forest guards to protect water holes, for grassland management etc making them susceptible to attacks,” she pointed out.
Raghu Chundawat, a wildlife scientist, felt “there should be a proper planning on how to handle such wild caught animals — sending them to a zoo is not the solution”. The growing problem of shrinking tiger habitat vis-a-vis increasing tiger population across the country requires an immediate policy decision, and the reserve management cannot back out from its responsibility, he felt.
Pointing to the grave situation, which had emerged after the forest guard’s killing, the field director regretted that he had no choice. “The assistant field director, including the range assistant and the forest guard, were assaulted by villagers after the third killing and had to be hospitalised. They faced the wrath of the villagers sympathetic to tigers”, he said.
When questioned on the ultimate efficacy of chain link fencing, Patil pointed out that there are 80 surrounding villages with 30,000 population and 50,000 cattle. Further, 4000 pattas (forest land deeds) have already been distributed in the district. In such a situation, how else can we keep away the growing human pressure from the reserve, he shot back.
http://www.dailypioneer.com/354268/Chain-link-fencing-pushes-Bandhavgarh-tigers-to-edge.html
This happened after a forest guard was killed in a tiger attack last week and its half eaten torso and limbs were found near Hardia forest camp in Tala range of the reserve. Earlier two persons were killed but their bodies were not preyed upon by the big cats.
The two brother sub-adult tigers branded as “man-eaters” and sent to the zoo are aged about two years five months. They were born to a tigress named “Mirchahani” in the reserve in 2009. Generally, tigress keeps her cubs with her for one and a half years, after which they are left to fend for themselves. These cubs too were learning to hunt, sources said.
Justifying his action, Field Director CK Patil said it was a choice between the devil and the deep blue sea. “Had the two sub-adults tigers not been sent to zoo, they could have been killed by the local villagers,” he said.
Tiger expert Belinda Wright pointed to the root cause behind the incident. “It is the absurdity of chain link fencing round the reserve that is intensifying man-tiger conflict. It has severely restricted the free passage of big cats and other wild animals within the reserve. The limited space in this high tiger density area is compelling the big cats, particularly the sub-adults to move out and venture into surrounding village areas, she said.
The Pioneer had earlier reported that the Bandhavgarh reserve was slowly getting converted into a zoo with a 108 sq km area enclosed by chain links or iron mesh fencing, which in the long run would aggravate man animal conflicts. All the three kills during the last three months had occurred outside the fencing area.
Wildlife experts pointed out that the reserve houses 60 tigers. “With increasing pressure, the cub tigers have no choice but to move out, and once they are outside the reserve territory can the management simply shrug off its responsibility and send it packing to a zoo?” they asked.
They further added that a tiger is sent to the zoo, when it is unable to hunt for itself but in this case both of them were juveniles. Cramming such animals into a zoo for the rest of their lives is a big blow to wildlife conservation, they claimed.
The experts also argued that there was no proper tracking to conclusively establish which tigers had actually killed and eaten the forest guard. If the forest department is to be believed that the same trapped tigers had eaten the forest guard, then why did they leave untouched the previous two kills? Experts also pointed out that as per guidelines of the National Tiger Conservation Authority a tiger is declared a man-eater only when it kills and preys upon at least three persons.
Belinda further pointed to the heavy presence of forest personnel within the reserve.
“There are forest guards to protect water holes, for grassland management etc making them susceptible to attacks,” she pointed out.
Raghu Chundawat, a wildlife scientist, felt “there should be a proper planning on how to handle such wild caught animals — sending them to a zoo is not the solution”. The growing problem of shrinking tiger habitat vis-a-vis increasing tiger population across the country requires an immediate policy decision, and the reserve management cannot back out from its responsibility, he felt.
Pointing to the grave situation, which had emerged after the forest guard’s killing, the field director regretted that he had no choice. “The assistant field director, including the range assistant and the forest guard, were assaulted by villagers after the third killing and had to be hospitalised. They faced the wrath of the villagers sympathetic to tigers”, he said.
When questioned on the ultimate efficacy of chain link fencing, Patil pointed out that there are 80 surrounding villages with 30,000 population and 50,000 cattle. Further, 4000 pattas (forest land deeds) have already been distributed in the district. In such a situation, how else can we keep away the growing human pressure from the reserve, he shot back.
http://www.dailypioneer.com/354268/Chain-link-fencing-pushes-Bandhavgarh-tigers-to-edge.html
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