Lion Lights Invention by 13-Year-Old Kenyan to Save Big Cats? - Can India follow this for Tigers!

13-year-old Kenyan innovator Richard Turere saves endangered lions with his lion lights invention. Video by Paula Kahumbu In this video report, National Geographic Big Cats Initiative grantee Paula Kahumbu reports on a bright idea by 13-year-old Kenyan innovator Richard Turere to save endangered lions with his “lion lights” invention. Big Cats Initiative and its grantees have a near-uniform shared theme of conservation via deep engagement with local communities and stakeholders. The connection between Paula Kahumbu, a BCI grantee and recipient of the National Geographic -Howard G. Buffett Award for African Conservation, and young Richard Turere is a shining of example of how the BCI’s grassroots-based conservation actions collaboratively find and implement the most imaginative, yet simple and effective conservation techniques. http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2012/05/18/lion-lights-invention-by-13-year-old-kenyan-to-save-big-cats/ related article 13 year old Kenyan innovator saves cattle from lions with lights http://www.afrigadget.com/2012/04/18/13-year-old-kenyan-innovator-saves-cattle-from-lions-with-lights/

Almost 50 tigers dead in six months in India

CNN-IBN New Delhi: Close to 50 tigers have died in the past six months in India, 19 of which were killed in poaching incidents. It's a shocking figure, specially when compared to the 56 tiger deaths reported in all in 2011. The National Tiger Conservation Authority has sounded an alert in all tiger reserves with an order that all the big cat deaths must be treated as poaching cases unless proven otherwise. It has identified Corbett in Uttarakhand and Tadoba in Maharashtra as poaching hot spots. Efforts are on to step up monitoring and foot patrolling in the monsoon season when the parks are shut down, making them more vulnerable to poachers. Tiger conservation activist Rajesh Gopal said, "There have been several tiger deaths. We are considering all deaths as cases of poaching unless proven otherwise." Tiger conservation activist Sunita Narain said, "The government must focus on rehabilitating poachers in order to save the tigers." http://ibnlive.in.com/news/almost-50-tigers-dead-in-six-months-in-india/265555-3.html

Night vision cameras to keep track of tigress, cubs

TNN | Jun 12, 2012, 01.20AM IST BHOPAL: Rattled by the poaching of a tiger last week in state capital forest circle, the hard-pressed authorities have some six night vision cameras installed around water bodies to protect a tigress and its two cubs. "We have placed around six cameras around the water bodies in the forest region of Sehore, Raisen and Bhopal divisions, where the tigress along with two cubs has formed its territory," a top forest department official said. The forest authorities decided to keep a watch on the water bodies given that the wild animals go to such places to quench thirst. It was near a well where the tiger was electrocuted by poachers recently in neighbouring Sehore district, some 40 km from here. Besides, the forest department's ground duty staffers were keeping a watch on the overhead electric wires to ensure that poachers don't make use of it especially near the water bodies, officials said. "We are checking a water body thrice daily in the forested areas. Furthermore we have put up camps at different places and using four-wheelers to keep a watch on the big cat and two cubs," he added. The tiger, now dead, and tigress had entered into forested areas of the state capital forest circle from Ratapani wildlife sanctuary in Raisen. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/Night-vision-cameras-to-keep-track-of-tigress-cubs/articleshow/14035243.cms

Stray tiger relocated into Dudhwa Tiger Reserve

PTI Jun 10, 2012, 11.54AM IST LAKHIMPUR KHERI: The Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR) is witnessing the successful relocation of a stray tiger into the wilds again. Forest authorities had tranquilised and captured a stray tiger on April 26 last after it became a threat to human lives on the outskirts of the state capital Lucknow. Named as 'Baadshah', the stray tiger had ventured into human populated areas and created panic in a number of villages. After catching the tiger, the authorities were in a fix about the future of the stray tiger and after weighing all pros and cons, they decided to try to re-introduce it into the wilds of Dudhwa again. The authorities were wary of the tiger's behaviour in the wild as it had been exposed to human activities. Due to this, they decided to put a radio-collar round the its neck so as to maintain a close watch on its movements after its relocation. However, the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR) environment appealed to the stray tiger so much that it lost all the abnormal behaviour it had shown in Rahmankhera (Lucknow), Field director, DTR Shailesh Prasad told PTI. "The stray tiger has been sighted happily settled in Sathiana range of the reserve with no abnormality in its behaviour at all," Prasad said. Ganesh Bhat, deputy director, told PTI that "Close monitoring on the movements of the stray is being kept through satellite". "The tiger seems to have fully adapted itself to the natural wild environment of Dudhwa," he said. "The successful relocation of this stray tiger would pave a new path of reintroducing the stray animals into the wild," he hoped. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-10/flora-fauna/32155141_1_stray-tiger-dudhwa-tiger-reserve-stray-animals

Karnataka green activists save tiger corridor

TAGS: Karnataka green activists | Western Ghats | Tiger corridor | Moorkangudda Reserved Forests | Sakleshpur Taluk | Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary | Kudremukh National Park It required the intervention of a court and conservationists for Karnataka's forest department to stop the destruction of a critical tiger corridor. A private firm had been permitted to set up windmills at the spot in the Western Ghats, in violation of rules. Recently, the government withdrew the permission given to a Bangalore-based hydropower firm to install windmills to generate 25 MW power in the Moorkangudda Reserved Forests in Sakleshpur Taluk of Hassan district. Moorkangudda acts as a critical link between Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary and Kudremukh National Park and is home to endangered wildlife, including tiger, leopard, wild dog, gaur, sambar and several other species protected under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. The area has grassland, shola forests and matches Bababudangiri area in its natural beauty. Despite concerns raised by Karnataka's energy department in its order that "the area falls within forest area and that it was unlikely to get forest clearance", the forest department had permitted to start testing work for the power firm. However, in response to a public interest litigation filed by Prashant Yavagal and Western Ghats Environment Forum, the forest department withdrew the permission for extension of the testing period. "This is a positive step by the forest department to save this excellent tiger habitat. Though this area could have low densities of large carnivores, it acts as a critical corridor between southern and northern Western Ghats" wildlife biologist Sanjay Gubbi said. Last year, the forest department had proposed the inclusion of a few reserved forests in this area to the Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, including Moorkangudda because of its high ecological value. "In the interest of long-term tiger conservation efforts in the state it is critically important to connect all protected areas through existing corridors or else once these corridors are lost the concept of source-sink model for tiger conservation will be obsolete," Gubbi added. Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/karnataka-green-activists-save-tiger-corridor/1/200131.html http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/karnataka-green-activists-save-tiger-corridor/1/200131.html

Efforts on to retrieve stolen trapping camera at Palamu Tiger Reserve

TNN | Jun 11, 2012, 10.09AM IST DALTONGANJ: The state forest department has begun efforts to retrieve the stolen trapping camera of the Palamu Tiger Reserve. Villagers have been asked to return the cemara without any fear of legal action. An appeal has also been made to those in jungles armed with weapons (read extremists) to return the stolen camera to forest officials without any problem. A trapping camera was stolen from the Barwahee dam in Betla Range of Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR) a couple of days back. PTR DFO Core Premjit Anan, while confirming the theft of the trapping camera from Barwahee dam a couple of days back, said efforts were on to get it back. Anand reiterated that appeals have been made to all sections of people to return it without fearing any legal/punitive action in this regard. He said PTR was more interested in its trapping camera than initiating any legal action. The official said it is believed the trapping camera was stolen more in misunderstanding and confusion as the camera is used solely for trapping carnivores and not for any other activity in the jungle at all. He said the PTR was not being soft with those who stole the trapping camera. Instead, it is to spread a message among the populace living in the vicinity of the reserve the trapping camera will do them no harm, he added. A total of 122 trapping cameras is to be installed in the PTR's core and buffer zones for the 4th phase monitoring of tigers which is to start on Monday. As per an earlier announcement, the 4{+t}{+h} phase of tiger monitoring would state on June 10. However, it had to be delayed by a day because of the positioning of trapping cameras and trackers for the job, Anand said. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ranchi/Efforts-on-to-retrieve-stolen-trapping-camera-at-Palamu-Tiger-Reserve/articleshow/14015494.cms

Tiger strays into village

PTI | 10:06 PM,Jun 10,2012 Canning (WB), Jun 10 (PTI) A tiger strayed into Satjelia village in the Sundarbans and killed a cow this evening, forest department sources said. The tiger entered the village under Gosaba police station and killed a cow owned by Swapan Sardar. Forest department personnel reached the village but details were not yet available, the sources said. PTI COR http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/tiger-strays-into-village/1010021.html

MP not safe anymore for man's striped friend

MONDAY, 11 JUNE 2012 00:22 PIONEER HITS: 221 Once bearing the status of a tiger State, it has now lost 454 big cats to poaching and accidents in the past decade. ZAFAR ALAM KHAN reports Once a tiger State and safe haven for big cats, Madhya Pradesh no longer remains safe for the exotic animals. In the past decade, over 100 tigers have been killed in the State at an average of 10 tiger deaths a year and poaching of the striped feline continues unabated to this day. The carcass of a full grown male tiger was found on Tuesday in the Keeldas forests of Kathotia village in Sehore district, about 40 kilometres away from the State capital. Unable to carry away the body of their kill due to its large size, the poachers cut it into two pieces and hid it in the jungles with the intent of coming back to retrieve it but, as luck would have it, before they could return the corpse was spotted by the villagers. As usual, the forest department arrived to the rescue of the real culprits and termed the death an accident. Some villagers were arrested immediately to hush up the case. Sehore District Forest Officer Vijay Nema said that it was an "unfortunate incident" and the villagers had laid a trap for some smaller animals near the water body and, by some mischance, the tiger fell in it and lost its life. It seemed a shameless lie to many ears. The department has intensified patrolling inside the jungles, Nema added. The State has lost 454 big cats during the last decade. According to the 2002 census, the number of tigers in the State was 711 and that came down to just 257 in 2011. This is not the first occasion that a tiger was found dead under mysterious conditions in the forests of Sehore. Earlier this year, a big cat was killed in Ichhawar in the same district and as usual the forest department held the villagers responsible for the killing. Wildlife activist Ajay Dube, while talking to Viva City, said, "With the killing of the full grown tiger near the State capital on Tuesday the Government's talk of security measures for the big cat stands exposed." Dube further said that tigers in the State are at threat as the morale of the poachers are so high that they do not hesitate to strike near the State capital. The lives of the tigress and her two cubs roaming in the vicinity of Bhopal almost in the same areas where this male tiger used to roam are also in danger, if the State Government does not wake up and make proper security arrangements for this tigress. State Forest Minister Sartaj Singh, however, ridiculed the fears expressed by wildlife activists. He said, "The tigress and both its cubs are safe and are under surveillance of the department round the clock. Special teams have been formed to protect the feline and her cubs." A couple of days ago, the National Tiger Conservation Authority had asked the State to step up monitoring of the tigress and other endangered animals in the wake of tiger poaching in adjoining Sehore district. A year ago, when the now dead tiger and the tigress were noticed in the forested area on the outskirts of the State capital, the NTCA issued an advisory to the State Government to strengthen the monitoring of the two adult animals. The 2011 tiger census revealed there were only 257 tigers left in the State's six tiger reserves, namely, Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Panna, Bori-Satpura, Sanjay Dubri, and Pench. The situation is especially worrisome at the famous Kanha National Park which is now left with just 60 tigers. Madhya Pradesh's tiger conservation efforts were hit for the first time in 2009 when it was suddenly revealed that Panna, one of the State's premier tiger reserves, had lost its entire big cat population. The report says that there were about 20 tigers in 2006. Further doubts on the State's conservation efforts were cast by a confidential report of the Panna Tiger Reserve's field director, who claimed that forest officials were acting in collusion with poachers, thus placing a consistent threat to the revival of the tiger population in the reserve. A high was registered in 1999 when 42 tigers were killed. In 1995, poachers killed 16 tigers. A senior forest department official lamented that it was very hard to nab the kingpins of the poaching gangs. "Old methods of killing tigers using guns are outdated. The gangs now employ villagers living near the forests to kill the animals. The villagers generally poison or electrocute the tigers as it reduces their chances of being caught," the official said. Sadly, the tigers are critically endangered. Yet, there is hope. MP is one of the last places left in the world where relatively large and unfragmented wild tiger populations have the opportunity to have a sustainable and secure future. As per Wildlife Institute data, the tiger habitat in the State has shrunk by nearly 3,000 square kilometres. The Opposition is blaming the Government for the decline in the numbers. "The falling numbers of wild animals in Madhya Pradesh is a cause for concern. Our State had the highest numbers of tigers at one point. The Forest Minister and the Chief Minister are responsible for this," State Congress media department chairman Manak Agarwal said. Various social activists and wildlife experts had written to both the State and Central Governments to order a CBI inquiry into cases of tiger death in Panna Tiger Reserve but the Madhya Pradesh Government declined to order a CBI probe and instead formed a committee to investigate into the alleged disappearance and poaching of wild cats from PTR. When contacted, Madhya Pradesh Forest Minister Sartaj Singh said, "I have given my proposal (for a CBI inquiry). The decision (to form a committee) is taken by another department (Home)." As per the norms, the decision to constitute a CBI inquiry is taken by the Department of Personnel of training, a Central Government nodal agency in Delhi, on the recommendation of the State Government's Home Department. Even as the overall tiger count has gone up in the latest census, the falling numbers of the animal in the State has emerged as a big concern. Due to the steep fall in tiger numbers, Madhya Pradesh lost its 'Tiger State' tag last year. http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/bhopal/72173-mp-not-safe-anymore-for-mans-striped-friend.html

MoEF to push for closure of units around Kaziranga

Chetan Chauhan, Hindustan Times After 16 years, the environment ministry will ask the Assam government to shut down industrial units operating within the 10-km radius of the Kaziranga National Park— a natural habitat for tigers, elephants and single-horn rhinos. In 1996, the ministry had declared the national park an eco-sensitive zone and thus it became a no-development zone for any industrial project. It was part of the ministry initiative to protect as many as 600 national parks and sanctuaries across the country. This would have meant that Assam government should have cancelled mining and stone crushing licences. But this did not happen. Hearing a petition filed by an RTI activist, the National Green Tribunal recently asked the ministry to close all units operating in the no-development zone around Kaziranga. A National Tiger Conservation Authority report in 2008 found that stone crushers were blocking a key tiger and elephant corridor. It suggested stopping of all stone crushers on forest corridors linking Kaziranga to Manas wildlife sanctuary. "Implementing the eco-sensitive zone regulations is the responsibility of state governments, not ours," a ministry official said, asking what they could do if the regulations were not implemented. "We have no powers to push state governments." The regulations, however, require that any project in an eco-sensitive zone should be cleared by the ministry. But the Assam government overlooked it and granted approval to stone-crushing units. The same had also happened in case of approval to mining firms around Sariska Tiger reserve in Rajasthan and Panna tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh, the only tiger reserves to have lost their tiger populations. "We will be writing to the Assam government soon," an official said. "...After going through the affidavit, filed by MoEF, wherein it has been clearly stated that 64 units are existing in the zone as on date, we have no hesitation to direct the authorities to take necessary action with regard to functioning of the aforesaid units," the NGT said. Only 12 tea estates can function without processing units or boilers. http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/MoEF-to-push-for-closure-of-units-around-Kaziranga/Article1-869044.aspx

Abandoned cub rescued at Kanha tiger reserve

TNN | Jun 9, 2012, 04.28AM IST BHOPAL: An injured cub that turned feeble after being abandoned by a tigress was rescued at the world famous Kanha tiger reserve (KTR) in eastern Madhya Pradesh, forest department officials said on Friday. This was the second cub that had been rescued by the forest staff, after being abandoned by tigress in the state's tiger reserve, in last two months. In the first week of April, a cub was rescued in Panna tiger reserve (PTR). "The cub was abandoned by tigress that gave birth to it around 10 months ago in Kanha range of the reserve. It was left by the tigress some 10 days ago. We tranquilized the cub and shifted it to an enclosure in Gurila are under Mukhi range of the reserve on Thursday", KTR field director J S Chauhan told TOI. This cub had grown weak and sustained injuries to his legs possibly after being attacked by some animal, officials said. "We have kept the cub under observation and are feeding it with mutton and chicken," they said adding that the cub was in good health, now. The ground duty officials are trying hard to locate the tigress that gave birth to this cub. Officials said they are going to rehabilitate the cub- once it turned healthy and starts going for the kill. Felines usually abandon their cubs when they turn too weak, according to wildlife experts. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/Abandoned-cub-rescued-at-Kanha-tiger-reserve/articleshow/13943382.cms

Police probe ordered into Panna tiger crisis

TNN | Jun 9, 2012, 04.21AM IST BHOPAL: The state government has ordered a police inquiry into the Panna tiger crisis, wherein more than 35 tigers had vanished from the tiger reserve from 2003 to 2008. The tigers were reportedly poached. According to sources, the IG of Sagar will hold an inquiry. Though there was a demand to order a CBI inquiry, the state government did not recommend one. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/Police-probe-ordered-into-Panna-tiger-crisis/articleshow/13943310.cms

Tadoba to be partially closed from July 1

TNN | Jun 8, 2012, 04.43AM IST CHANDRAPUR: In view of monsoon the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) is expected to be partially closed for tourists from July 1. A proposal to this effect has been forwarded to APCCF (wildlife) for approval by the TATR authorities. Earlier, TATR used to be the only tiger reserve in state that remained open for tourists during monsoon. But, since last year forest department had decided to close the TATR for tourist during monsoon albeit partially. Partial closure of Tadoba last year had came to effect from July 15, however this year it would be 15 days earlier. ACF of TATR Ajay Pillariseth said, "Only eight vehicles each will be allowed to enter the park in each shift form the Moharli gate. The tourist vehicles would follow only pucca road between Moharli and Tadoba during restricted period." The patch of pucca road between Moharli and Tadoba is 19 km long. Tourists will not be allowed to visit any waterhole inside the jungle in their vehicle. The guide accompanying vehicle would ensure that vehicles stick to the pucca road. This closure will remain in effect till next three months and park would reopen fully for tourists from October 1. All other gates other than Moharli will be closed for tourists during monsoon. However closure would not effect the movement of state transport's bus that ferries passengers across tiger reserve or the villagers residing inside the park from any gate. TATR management would observe monsoon patrolling programme to increase security arrangements in the reserve during the semi-closure period. Ends http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Tadoba-to-be-partially-closed-from-July-1/articleshow/13913651.cms

Move to set up tiger reserve

SARAT SARMA Nagaon, June 5: Dispur plans to set up a tiger reserve covering 1,050 square km in the eastern Bokajan subdivision of Karbi Anglong district. Four wildlife sanctuaries and five reserve forests will be included in the area, which is connected to Kaziranga. Forest minister Rakibul Hussain told The Telegraph that the plan, which will be implemented in collaboration with the Tiger Foundation of India, also aims at making the area tourism friendly. “We met the leaders of the local autonomous council last Thursday and the department officials were instructed to prepare a detailed project report. We shall have another discussion with forest department officials, representatives from the WWF and Tiger Foundation in Diphu shortly, where the proposed project will be given final shape,” Hussain said. Four wildlife sanctuaries in bordering Bokajan subdivision of the hill district — Garampani, Nambor, Karbi Anglong East and Karbi Anglong North — are known for the various species of animals found there. The WWF had traced the movements of the Royal Bengal tiger, golden cat, clouded leopard and other animals a few months ago. “Our target is to uplift the current ecological condition in the area to make the region favourable for tiger movement,” said the chief conservator of forests Abhijit Rabha. A high-level source of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council said the recent discussion with the forest minister regarding the tiger reserve was held after long study and research. “It is an initiative that might make Karbi Anglong more attractive to tourists. We are designing the tiger reserve project keeping tourism in mind,” the source said. Hussain said Dispur has planned two other important programmes for Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao — one to curb jhum cultivation and the second, a mass plantation scheme. “Farmers involved in jhum cultivation will be centred in an area and involved in some other ways of cultivation. All line departments, including agriculture, forest, DRDA and soil conservation, will be involved,” Hussain said. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120606/jsp/northeast/story_15572450.jsp#.T9GPetVo3Qs

Combing operations on in Corbett Tiger Reserve

PTI | 02:06 PM,Jun 07,2012 Dehra Dun, Jun 7 (PTI) Intensive combing operations were today carried out at the Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR) following the arrest of three suspected poachers. "We are continuing our combing operation for some more time," CTR Director R K Mishra said. Following the combing operation, a CTR team with the assistance of local police arrested three suspected poachers with four snares, pieces of meat, steel chains and other materials used for killing wild animals from Bijrani range on Tuesday. However, five of their accomplices managed to flee from the spot taking advantage of darkness, Mishra said. "We will continue the operation till the other poachers are also nabbed," said Mishra. He said 24-hours patrolling and combing is being done in Corbett to nab the poachers. Day and night patrolling in the reserve forest areas in Uttarakhand, including the Rajaji Park, would continue as the security of tigers is a challenge especially when the maximum density of 214 tigers have been reported from Corbett in 2012, Sharma said. Mishra said the forest department has prepared a long-term proposal of intensive patrolling in tiger areas with an estimated cost of Rs 9.80 crore. http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/combing-operations-on-in-corbett-tiger-reserve/1008660.html

Five detained for poaching tiger in MP

PTI | 02:06 PM,Jun 07,2012 Bhopal, Jun 7 (PTI) Five persons were today detained by forest officials days after poaching of a tiger came to light in neighbouring Sehore district. A three-year-old male tiger was found cut into two parts that were found strewn at two different locations near Kathotia village, about 32 km from here, on Tuesday. The forest officials suspect that the big cat might have been electrocuted by poachers. The detainees have been identified as Hiralal, Ther Singh, Naval Singh and Kamal, while the identity of the fifth detainee is not known yet, they said, adding search for two of their accomplices is on. The officials had last week received reports about a tiger as well as a tigress roaming with her cubs in the forest areas adjoining Kervan and Kaliasot dams, following which they set up a cage with a bait to trap the feline but their efforts proved futile. PTI AS NSK http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/five-detained-for-poaching-tiger-in-mp/1008663.html

Vigilant watchers foil intrusion attempt into Tadoba

Mazhar Ali, TNN | Jun 8, 2012, 04.29AM IST CHANDRAPURndrapur: Even as red alert is in place in all tiger bearing territories, Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) appears to be high on the radar of poachers. Yet another instance of trespassing attempt by poachers into TATR has come to light. Poachers had tried to intrude from Katezari side of tiger reserve on Saturday night, but their bid was foiled by alert watchers stationed at machan and protection hut. There was a lot hue and cry over intrusion of a gang of suspected poachers from Wamangaon side of TATR on Sunday night. The gang was seen by labourers deployed on protection hut and came to fore on following day. However, poachers' attempt to trespass into TATR on Saturday night, previous to Wamangaon side intrusion, went unreported as TATR officers remained tight-lipped over it. Around 10-12 poachers on four bikes along the canal of Mendhli pond were seen by watchers stationed on machan at pond on Katezari side of TATR on Saturday night. The poachers were reportedly armed with sticks and spears. The watchers on machan immediately called Katezari protection hut and four forest labourers stationed there rushed to the pond for their help. Sensing trouble, poachers fled back towards village Sonegaon's direction. Patrolling in the area was intensified in the area since then. RFO (Protection), TATR Luche confirmed the incident. "We have recorded statements of the two watchers who had seen the poachers from their machan. We also recorded statements of police patils of Sonegaon and Ashta villages as the poachers had come from this direction. This incident has also been mentioned in complaint filed with Chimur police station," he said. It is, however, strange that despite the two serious incidents, no offence has been registered in this regard. TATR authorities have not bothered to register primary offence report (POR) on their own about the two incidents. Instead, they washed their hands off the issue by submitting a simple complaint to Chimur police. Cops have taken little cognisance of the matter and have not bothered to file first information report (FIR), but kept the TATR's complaint under investigation. Both RFO Luche and Chimur PSO Panjabrao Madavi said they have registered no offence in connection with the two trespassing incidents. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Vigilant-watchers-foil-intrusion-attempt-into-Tadoba/articleshow/13913354.cms

Four more tiger sanctuaries in Maharashtra

Ketki Angre | Updated: June 07, 2012 22:01 IST There's good news for wildlife conservation efforts in Maharashtra. The state has notified four new wildlife sanctuaries in Vidarbha, areas that will now get legal protection against any commercial activities. Addressing the media, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said, "There are a large number of tigers in reserves like Tadoba (Andhari Tiger Reserve). Many do move from one forest to another. That's why tiger corridors are crucial. These new sanctuaries will help in strengthening tiger corridors." Spread over a 60 sq. km area, the new Bor sanctuary is an important corridor that connects the Tadoba and Pench Tiger Reserves. Navegaon Sanctuary will mean an additional 122 sq. km area apart from a National Park of the same name. New Nagzira further extends 151 sq. km area near the Nagzira Sanctuary. And Karandla with 189 sq. km area is a crucial link between Tadoba Tiger Reserve and the Navegaon Park. Executive Director of the Wildlife Protection Society of India, Belinda Wright says it's a proactive step other states could do well to follow. "They (wildlife) cannot breed, live or have a future without corridors. You need corridors for individuals to go from one area to another. So this is an absolute critical need for our wildlife at the moment and if it isn't done now, it will never be done." Dipankar Ghose, Director of Species, Conservation Programme with WWF told NDTV, "It's always good to have extra space for wildlife which can act as a corridor or as a buffer for the existing tiger habitat." With these new sanctuaries, Maharashtra has added over 500 sq. km to its protected forest cover. That's almost as good as adding another Tadoba reserve in terms of the area. Experts also feel that legal protection for forest cover combined with people's participation is the best way forward to make conservation a reality, a real possibility if governments and citizens work together keeping their common goal in mind. http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/four-more-tiger-sanctuaries-in-maharashtra-228727

Four tiger cubs claimed by forest fire near Corbett

DS Kunwar, TNN | Jun 8, 2012, 03.20AM IST DEHRADUN: In a horrendous tragedy, the lives of four male tiger cubs aged between 10 to 15 days were snuffed out in a forest fire near Corbett National Park, one of India's finest and most visited reserves, on Wednesday, with forest officials not ruling out poachers' involvement in the fire and ordering an inquiry. The cubs' post-mortem revealed they died of suffocation. Chief forest conservator (Kumaon) Paramjeet Singh described the distressing incident near Udham Singh Nagar district's Nathwali village in Uttarakhand as one that has "shaken wildlife lovers". He said Nainital-based forest conservator Kapil Joshi will hold an inquiry to find out the reasons behind the fire. He added that Joshi will inquire whether the fire was accidental or if poachers had lit it to trap the cubs. Three poachers were arrested from Savalde under Corbett's Bijrani forest range on Tuesday while trying to sneak into the reserve. Officials said local residents had seen the cubs getting caught in the fire, but watched helplessly as a roaring tigress, who could be their mother, scared them away. Another forest officer Nishant Verma told reporters in Ramnagar that he rushed rescuers to the spot but the cubs had suffocated to death by the time they reached there. A senior forest officer in Nainital said the cubs had crossed into Tarai forest area from Corbett and were caught in the fire. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Four-tiger-cubs-claimed-by-forest-fire-near-Corbett/articleshow/13912342.cms

New tiger sanctuary to come up in Vidarbha

TNN | Jun 8, 2012, 01.29AM IST MUMBAI: The state government on Thursday gave an in-principle approval to a new tiger sanctuary in Vidarbha's Umred-Karandla, nearly 50 km from Nagpur. With this, the total sanctuaries in the state have now gone up to 33. The protected areas (PAs) of four other sanctuaries—Nagzira, Bor, Navegaon and Maldhok—were extended to boost the dwindling protected areas of Maharashtra. The total area extended in the reserves amounts to 520 sq km. The notification of new protected areas was necessitated after the government last year de-notified over 7,000 sq km of the Nanaj Sanctuary. Following a meeting of the State Wildlife Board, chief minister Prithviraj Chavan said the tiger population in the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) in Chandrapur district has increased substantially, leading to a spillover. As a result, many animals are straying outside the park, causing accidents and increasing the man-animal conflict. "The extended corridors will now act as a crucial buffer for the animals and reduce the number of accidents caused by such spillovers," said Chavan. The tiger population in TATR has jumped from 30 in year 2000 to over 100 in 2012. Special measures were also announced to provide relief to the animal habitat around the highway corridors—including the Mumbai-Delhi Dedicated Freight Corridor and Mumbai-Goa National Highway. A proposal to create underpasses on these corridors has been forwarded to the National Animal Welfare Board. It was also decided to provide additional vehicles to forest officers in Naxal-dominated areas. The state has also decided to rope in the irrigation and power departments for measures like building cross-canals and enhancing high-tension electric lines. Maharashtra has reported a number of tiger deaths and increased cases of poaching in the recent past, forcing the state to contemplate issuing shoot-at-sight orders. The issue also gained political undertones following a three-day visit by MNS chief Raj Thackeray to the TATR. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/New-tiger-sanctuary-to-come-up-in-Vidarbha/articleshow/13911014.cms

Tiger killing: Seven poachers sent to jail

TNN | Jun 8, 2012, 01.47AM IST BHOPAL: Seven persons, including six tribals who were arrested on the charge of killing a tiger that was found dead two days ago in Veerpur range of the Bhopal forest circle, were sent to jail till June 26 by a court on Thursday. MP forest department officials are looking for two more persons wanted in connection with tiger poaching case. Accused Bhagwan Singh Bhel, Bhaina Bhel, Kare Singh Bhel, Mor Singh Bhel, Kamal Bhel, Jagdia Bhel and Naval Singh were produced before Sehore district's chief judicial magistrate's court (CJM) which remanded them to judicial custody. "The accused have been charged under relevant sections of wildlife protection act (WPA). One section under which the accused have been charged could attract a punishment of 10 years imprisonment," forest department officials, said. "We have recovered the equipment used in poaching the tiger and other evidences from the accused," a top forest official said. He said one of the accused - Kher Singh is being prosecuted for the second time under WPA. Earlier, he had killed a barking deer, he added. All the accused have confessed to poaching, forest officials said adding that they have told the forest department officials that they had killed the big cat accidentally as it walked into the electric trap which was laid for some herbivore, he said. After coming out of the court, one of the accused Kher Singh claimed that they have been falsely implicated in the poaching case. He said that they were not having any connection with the tiger killing. The accused had electrocuted the big cat close to a water body at Kathotia area possibly on Sunday. As the tiger was too heavy they chopped it into two pieces in a vain attempt to dispose it off. Carcass of this tiger was found on Tuesday. This tiger, weighing about 200 to 300 kg and aged about four-year-old, has formed its territory in the forested area on the outskirts of the state capital. Earlier, this tiger had strayed into National Judicial Academy (NJA), located in the outskirts of Bhopal. With the number of big cats swelling in Ratapani wildlife sanctuary in adjoining Raisen district, this tiger had formed it territory outside. State forest department is looking for two more persons wanted in connection with tiger poaching case. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/Tiger-killing-Seven-poachers-sent-to-jail/articleshow/13911263.cms