Anil Deshmukh to pursue Bandu Dhotre's demands

TNN | Jul 6, 2012, 01.29AM IST NAGPUR: With wildlife activist Bandu Dhotre's indefinite fast entering the fourth day, support is pouring in. On Thursday, state food and civil supplies minister Anil Deshmukh visited the fasting activist and said he would pursue the demands raised by Dhotre with government. Deshmukh was with Dhotre for over 25 minutes. He showed keen interest in the presentation by Dhotre on how tigers were being left to die outside Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) owing to poor protection. Dhotre pointed out that areas around Tadoba were the only living corridor in the country from where tigers disperse but as there was no wildlife management in these areas, tigers were being poached easily. The same situation persists in areas outside other sanctuaries. He also drew attention of Deshmukh towards a government order of 2003 that area under protection of a forest guard should be between 500-750 hectares. However, forest guards are routinely looking after over 1,500 hectares and also performing multiple other assignments. Deshmukh, who is aware of wildlife issues grappling Vidarbha, agreed with Dhotre demands of secret funds for intelligence gathering, a forensic lab for wildlife in Nagpur, rescue centre in Chandrapur, forest fire protection etc. He promised to take up the demands with forest minister Patangrao Kadam and secretary Praveen Pardeshi. Deshmukh even called up Kadam from the venue and talked to him over phone. Kadam also talked to Dhotre. Deshmukh appealed to Dhotre to call off the fast. However, Pardeshi has called a meeting at Mumbai to discuss the demands raised by Dhotre on Friday. A four-member team has left for Mumbai to meet Pardeshi. Meanwhile, chief wildlife warden SWH Naqvi on Thursday wrote to Dhotre on status of various demands raised by him. The outcome of the fast will depend on the talks with Pardeshi, sources in Dhotre camp said. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Anil-Deshmukh-to-pursue-Bandu-Dhotres-demands/articleshow/14698276.cms

Poachers thrash forest guard in Ranthambore, kill deer

TNN | Jul 5, 2012, 01.11AM IST JAIPUR: At least 10 poachers, armed with guns and knifes, thrashed a forest guard in Indala area in Ranthambore National Park on Tuesday night after he tried to nab them. The poachers escaped after killing a spotted deer. According to sources, a guard, Hanuman, who was on duty in the park at night, heard some noises nearby. Suddenly he saw a few persons armed with guns and knifes. "No sooner he stepped forward, the poachers attacked him. At this the guard raised an alarm and soon his colleagues reached for help. But even they were attacked by the poachers who then escaped," said an official. Later senior officials too arrived on the spot and started a search but by then the poachers had escaped. "We have identified the poachers and are confident of catching them. The guard was immediately taken to the hospital on an ambulance but the poachers had already killed a deer by then," said the official. Conservation biologist Dharmendra Khandal of Tiger Watch said, "The poachers entered the park with eight guns and killed a Cheetal or Sambhar. But vital information has been collected by intelligence gathering team. Even the forest, police and administration are active and necessary steps have been taken by forest department. The gang leader is already wanted in some leopard poaching case since 2006.'' An FIR has been filed in this regard under Wildlife Protection Act 1972 against poachers by the police. Monsoon is the season when poachers get active in parks. The parks are closed for tourists during this time as many animals breed and the entry of tourist is a hindrance for them. However, tigers and other animals climb on higher grounds or even go towards the periphery and are often poached. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Poachers-thrash-forest-guard-in-Ranthambore-kill-deer/articleshow/14681334.cms

Reddy new forest department of Pench tiger reserve

TNN | Jul 5, 2012, 02.14AM IST NAGPUR: In a minor reshuffle in the state forest department which took place on Wednesday, seven IFS officials were shifted including the field director of the Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR). The orders were issued on Tuesday. Among those who have been transferred include chief conservator of forests (CCF) A Ashraf. He will be replaced by MS Reddy, who is conservator for Gondia wildlife division. Reddy will be replaced by deputy conservator VV Gurme, who too has been promoted as CF. Reddy, who looked after the Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary and Navegaon National Park, has been promoted as CCF. Ashraf has been posted as CCF (budget) at Van Bhavan. He will replace SS Mahajan, who retired on June 30. Deputy conservator of forest (Dy CF) BS Thengdi, who was with evaluation and had almost lost hopes due to victimization, got a double promotion after 16 years. Thengdi was facing departmental inquiry but was given a clean chit by the court in 2006. Even then, he was deprived of a promotion. Thengdi has now been posted as CCF (vigilance & employees welfare). He will replace MN Gawli, who retired on June 30. Thengdi's batchmates have already become additional principal chief conservator of forests (APCCFs). http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Reddy-new-forest-department-of-Pench-tiger-reserve/articleshow/14681996.cms

Tiger cub found dead

TNN | Jul 4, 2012, 06.30AM IST MYSORE: A tiger cub has been found dead deep inside Bandipur National Park, raising concerns over the safety of tigers due to territorial fights in the tiger reserve. This is the second such death in Bandipur in five weeks. On May 30, a tiger was found dead in Moolehole range bordering Kerala. The officials had cited territorial fight as the cause of its death. On Monday evening, the field staff on patrol spotted the carcass of the cub at Gundre range. According to conservator of forests Kumar Pushkar, who heads the reserve, the 18-month-old might have died following a fight with another tiger. Its body parts were intact and there is no foul play, he added. The field staff are reporting territorial fights between the big cats, indicating a rise in tiger population in the reserve, he said. A postmortem was conducted on Wednesday in the presence of APCCF and field director (project tiger) B J Hosmath and C M Shivakumar, assistant inspector general of forests, National Tiger Conservation Authority (NCTA). There were representatives from the NGOs too. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysore/Tiger-cub-found-dead/articleshow/14663279.cms

At Ranthambore National Park, male tigers play mother

Anindo Dey, TNN | Jul 4, 2012, 03.35AM IST JAIPUR: The tiger's roar is becoming more and more "affectionate". And this is becoming "infectious" at the Ranthambore National Park. It is a rare behaviour among the male tigers, but as they say only change is permanent! T-25 was reportedly the first documented tiger to play "father figure" to cubs and since then officials have now recorded at least six more male tigers at the park, who are playing the daddy's role and are helping tigresses in bringing up the young ones. Male tigers are not known to take care of the young ones and are, on the contrary, kept away from the cubs by the tigresses. Generally, the mother takes care of the cubs till they are at least two-year-old while the father plays a mere visitor. "What is now happening in Ranthambore will denote the sheer complexity of tiger behaviour. The trend of tigers preferring solitude is gradually changing at the park. In fact, we have witnessed a peculiar, astonishing and amazing breakthrough in the behaviour of male tigers," said Rajesh Kumar Gupta, field director, Ranthambhore tiger reserve. Gupta has documented the behaviour or these six tigers in the current publication of Project Tiger. "In Ranthambore National Park, T-19 female with three cubs are in the bigger home range of their presumed father T-28. The territory of T-28 has increased or varies with the movement of T-19 and her three cubs, signifying reach of parental protection by the males. On March 18, I sighted T-19 tigress with two cubs. One of the cubs stood up and moved close to the male tiger T-28 and sat beside him for affection," wrote Gupta. "On March 29, 2012, I spotted tigress T-8 and her two cubs while returning from night patrolling and also saw tiger T-34 near them. The cubs were again spotted with the tigress and the tiger few days later in the same area. It has been noticed that T-8 with her two cubs are residing within the home range of T-34 male in the Sawai Mansingh Sanctuary," he says. "Tigress T-26 with three cubs live in the close vicinity of T-20, an aged tiger. T-31 with two cubs are frequently visited by tiger T-23. T-11 with three cubs are protected by T-33. T-30 with a litter of three cubs are being protected by T-3 and T-9 with two cubs are protected by T-33, a male tiger," he noted. Earlier, the national park had documented male tiger T-25 roaming with two orphaned cubs and was protecting them since they were four months old. T-25 did so in a range of other tigers, panthers and hyenas after their mother T-5 had died within 9 to 10 days after delivery. The tiger has also been sighted in direct confrontation with tigress T-17 while protecting these cubs. When contacted, Gupta explained, "It could be that the father of the cubs are providing parental protection to prevent infanticide and establish 'genetic supremacy' in the park. However, what has become clear is that male tigers do display affectionate behaviour, resorting to parental care. But research and observation should continue to reach a definite conclusion." http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/At-Ranthambore-National-Park-male-tigers-play-mother/articleshow/14659925.cms

Activist on fast seeking protection for wildlife

PAVAN DAHAT “Eight tigers have died in the last eight months” Wildlife activist and founder president of Eco-Pro, an NGO from Chandrapur, Bandu Dhotre began an indefinite hunger strike in front of ‘Van Bhavan’ the State's forest headquarters here on Monday, demanding steps for the protection of wildlife, especially tigers. “Eight tigers have died in the last eight months due to various reasons and the government’s apathy to wildlife protection has contributed to it,” Mr. Dhotre told The Hindu. “This protest is not against the forest department only, it is to awaken the government to the grave situation we are facing.” The demands of the NGO include merger of the Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra (FDCM) forests in Chandrapur district, along with its employees, into Chandrapur, Central Chanda and Bramhapuri forest divisions for effective tiger protection; installation of the ‘electronic eye’ system in the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) on the grounds of Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve and removal of fire protection work of the TATR from the FDCM. Mr. Dhotre has also demanded that Chandrapur be declared a ‘Tiger District’ and protection provided to every tiger as per norms of a reserve. “There is an intense need to carry out corridor mapping through the Wildlife Institute of India and to appoint ‘van patils’ in Chandrapur district and other forest areas in Vidarbha on the lines of ‘police patils,” he said. Vidarbha has witnessed many tiger deaths in the last few months, due to poaching and other reasons. Forest officials refused to comment on the hunger strike. http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/other-states/article3595564.ece

Unsafe corridors pose threat to Tadoba tigers

Mazhar Ali, TNN | Jul 2, 2012, 04.00AM IST CHANDRAPUR: Even as the state government has shown positive signs towards conservation of tiger corridors of Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) by declaring a new Umred-Karangla wildlife sanctuary, a lot is needed to done to pave the way for safe passage for tigers migrating out of Tadoba. Mapping and digitization of the tiger corridors leading out of Tadoba is one of the key demands of wildlife activist Bandu Dhotre, who will launch his indefinite hunger strike in Nagpur for safety of tigers here from Monday. Tadoba is one of the best tiger habitats in country that is connected with Andhra Pradesh in South, Gadchiroli in east and Nagpur in North through the corridors. The corridor in the North passes through Chimur range, leading to Central Nagpur forest division and further connecting to Melghat and Pench tiger reserves. Similarly, the southern corridor leads out through Lohara, Junona, Kothari, Dhaba jungles to Chaprala sanctuary and ahead to Indrawati tiger reserve Chhattisgarh. The same corridor branches towards Kawal Sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh. The eastern corridor leads through Mul, Saoli and ahead into Wadsa forests of Gadchiroli. The spillover population of tigers from Tadoba and jungles around it, moves through these corridors to safer locations to make new territories. However, these tiger corridors are under severe threat due to mining and irrigation projects, expanding human habitation and negligence of forest department. "At present, there are about 36 tiger cubs in TATR. Out of these, 18 will attain adulthood during this year and move out of Tadoba. Their migration out of Tadoba can only be tenable when the corridors are safe," said Dhotre. He said that the forest department does not have exact mapping and digitization of these corridors. And for the same reason, the department does not know exactly where the tigers have gone after migration, he claimed. Dhotre said that there is total loss of monitoring in Gadchiroli and hence the department has no knowledge about the direction of movement of tigers there. Similarly, corridors have been bottlenecked and at many places completely severed due to deforestation, human habitation and even irrigation canals. "Forest department is aware of this problem, but has never bothered to map their corridors and identify the threats to it. Hence, we have voiced the demand of mapping and digitization of the corridors through Wildlife Institute of India, identifying the threats to corridors and enlisting the remedial measures to neutralize the threats to corridors," he said. Dhotre claimed that the other major threat to tigers and their corridors is from FDCM. This commercial set-up of forest department has its areas all around the TATR. There are several compartments of FDCM in every corridor and lack of protection and conservation in them present a severe threat to the resident and transitional tigers in them. "Tiger poaching through electrocution in FDCM Jharan range and failure in detection of dead tigers' carcasses in FDCM Jharan and Junona for a week clearly indicates lack of wildlife management and protection. FDCM is purely a commercial set-up and has least concern about wildlife protection and conservation," he alleged. He claimed that FDCM's work is to take up commercial forestation in degraded forest areas and sell the same wood after felling. However, FDCM acquired dense mixed forests in Vidarbha, particularly Chandrapur and destroyed the bio-diversity by taking up clear felling in their areas since 1978. FDCM acquired dense forests in Jharan, Kanhargaon, Dhaba and Devai having rich wildlife density and were identified as shooting blocks in British regime. Clear felling and plantation of commercial trees destroyed the habitat and disturbed the food chain leading to loss of herbivores and consequently carnivores. "Hence, we have also voiced the demand of merger of FDCM areas in Chandrapur forest circle for effective protection of tigers here," Dhotre said. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Unsafe-corridors-pose-threat-to-Tadoba-tigers/articleshow/14573506.cms

Tiger cub cremated, search on for mother tigress

TNN | Jul 2, 2012, 04.03AM IST CHANDRAPUR: Post-mortem of the tiger cub killed by wild dogs in Dhaba range on Friday was carried on the premises of Central Chanda forest division premises on Saturday morning. Veterinary doctor PD Kadukar confirmed that the cub had died in wild dogs' attack, but claimed that carcass was more than a week old. Earlier the forest officers had claimed that carcass was fresh and forest watchers had seen the dogs feeding on it. Kadukar claimed that the dogs had torn away the right eye of the cub. It had biting and clawing marks on thigh, calf, legs and tail. Assistant conservator of forests UT Bisen confirmed that there is presence of tigress with three cubs in the area. They have installed three camera traps and launched search operations in nearby jungles to track the mother tigress which is now left with two cubs. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Tiger-cub-cremated-search-on-for-mother-tigress/articleshow/14573589.cms

Rare black tiger spotted at Similipal Park

Last Updated: Thursday, June 28, 2012, 22:42 0 Tweet Tags: Black tiger, Similipal Park, NTCA Bhubaneswar: A very rare melanistic or black tiger has been photographed in the core area of the Similipal National Park in Odisha. "We have physical evidence on existence of black tiger inside the core area of the tiger reserve in the Similipal National Park," Forest and Environment minister Debi Prasad Mishta said today. Stating that the picture of the rare species was captured on camera, Mishra said "We have not heard of the existence of the black tiger anywhere in the country." He was speaking after the first governing body meeting of Similipal Tiger Conservation Foundation. Explaining the difference between an ordinary tiger and a black one, Regional Chief Conservator of Forest, Similipal, Anup Nayak said "The melanistic tiger also belongs to the Royal Bengal Tiger species and same in size as yellow ones. "The difference between the black and common type of tigers is that the former has wide black patches, while the black colour is prominent in the melanistic tiger," he said. While there was a difference of opinion between the state government and the Centre over the population of tigers at Similipal, Mishra said "We have installed 68 cameras in the core area where density of tigers is more. "A total of 200 cameras will be fixed in the tiger reserve area to count the exact number of tigers at the onset of winter," he said. The state government in consultation with National Tiger Conservation Authority, Ministry of Environment and Forest has also decided to raise a Similipal Tiger Protection Force, the minister said. The force would comprise an assistant conservator of forest, three forest rangers, 19 foresters and 90 special tiger forest guards, he said. Out of the 90 special tiger forest guards, 63 would be regularly recruited and 27 from among local forest dwellers. The age of the forest guards to be deployed for protection of tigers would be below 40 years of age, Mishra said. The meeting also decided on improvement of ecotourism, elephant habitats and flora and fauna of Similipal. Steps were also being taken to shift four villages located in the core area of the tiger reserve, the minister said in reply to a question. PTI

World Bank, CII join hands for save tiger campaign

Last Updated: Thursday, June 28, 2012, 09:26 0 Tags: Tiger,World Bank,Confederation of Indian Industry,India Wildlife Business Council,India Wildlife,Robert Zoellick,Tiger,save Tiger campaign Washington: In a bid to actively involve the private sector in the global effort to protect tiger, the World Bank and CII have teamed up to establish 'India Wildlife Business Council' that would promote the conservation of the endangered species. Signing an MoU in this regard with Confederation of Indian Industry's Deputy Director General Indrani Kar, World Bank President Robert Zoellick said the India Wildlife Business Council would lead the efforts to save tiger from becoming extinct. "At last there is some glimmer of hope for the tiger in the biodiversity that it represents... The new Indian Wildlife Business Council is leading the way. I can't think of a better country to begin with. "It has the potential to completely change the dynamics in the relationship between Industry and conservation," Zoellick said in his address to a meeting at World Bank headquarters here organised by the Global Tiger Initiative. "We are already down to the barest number, a few mistakes here and there and this important species is gone," Zoellick said and hailed the initiative of India's private sector. In her address to the meeting, Indrani Kar said: "We will work with industry through the India Wildlife Business Council to promote green growth models, aligning business strategies focusing on a triple bottom line approach ? on profits, people and planet. "Industry will thus play a major role in integrating biodiversity with the development agenda." The meeting among others was addressed by Hasan Mahmud, Minister of Environment and Forest, Bangladesh; Pema Gyamtsho, Minister of Agriculture and Forest, Bhutan; and US Under Secretary of State, Robert Hormats. Hailing the Indian effort, Zoellick said that bringing private sector into this effort will infuse new ideas and new resources, changing the dynamic between industry and conservation and will serve as a powerful instrument of change. He expressed optimism in achieving the target of doubling tiger population worldwide by 2022 through new business and policy models such as Smart Green Infrastructure which give priority to tiger habitats while designing land and infrastructure plans. In her remarks, Kar alluded to the symbolic value of the tiger as India's national animal. "Given our tracts of forestland, we have a critical role to play in conservation and it is only through partnerships, collective action and effective engagement that we will be able to make an impact. This MoU is a testimony of our commitment towards this cause," she said. According to the MoU, the objective of the IWBC is to promote tiger and biodiversity conservation in the context of sustainable development and to improve the dialogue between business, conservation stakeholders as well as decision- makers. The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Development Association (IDA), International Finance Corporation (IFC) - which comprise the "World Bank Group" - and CII will work together to create and support the IWBC, which will serve as an institutionalised platform for collaboration. Tiger population has dwindled massively due to rapid industrialisation, habitat fragmentation, poaching and illegal trade. A mere 3000 tigers remains in the wild today, confined to only seven of their historical geographic presence. PTI http://zeenews.india.com/business/news/economy/world-bank-cii-join-hands-for-save-tiger-campaign_54542.html

Central nod likely for hill station near tiger haven

Chetan Chauhan, Hindustan Times With the Centre likely to regularise over 1,000 land deals in the Western Ghats, besides 10 resorts and 215 windmills that have come up in the ecologically sensitive zone, Maharashtra is all set to get another hill station — New Mahabaleshwar — near a recently created tiger reserve. The standing committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has agreed to rationalise the boundary of the Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary, now a Sahyadri tiger reserve, subject to a decision of the Bombay HC and the SC-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC). According to a PIL filed by Nana Khamkar in the Bombay HC, rationalisation of boundaries was an attempt to regularise 215 windmills, 10 resorts and 1,200 land deals that had come up in violation of the Forest Conservation Act. “The state government allowed these structures to come up without waiting for rationalisation of the sanctuary boundaries,” it contended. An environment ministry official, however, defended the decision by saying that the state government will add six times the land removed from Koyna (about 100 sq km) to five different wildlife sanctuaries in the state. Moreover, the decision would be subject to a final view of the HC and the CEC, he added. Maharashtra had declared Koyna as a wildlife sanctuary in 1985. It comprised 230 sq km of forested area and 198 sq km of non-forested land. The state’s forest department conducted inspections between 1995 and 1998 to “delete” part of non-forested area from the ambit of the sanctuary. However, over the years, the government allowed windmills and resorts to come up without deleting them. In 2000, the apex court disallowed deletion of land from national parks and sanctuaries. Later, in 2004, the state – without getting the Centre’s nod – declared the development of the New Mahableshwar hill station and included 14 Koyna villages in it. In a few years, most of the land in the villages was sold illegally. In 2010, the state government declared the entire Koyna region as the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve. Though the Forest Conservation Act mandates that taking the opinion of the National Tiger Conservation Authority is mandatory before rationalising boundaries, it was not done. Environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan said she would take a call on the issue after “returning from Rio de Janeiro by June 28”. http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Central-nod-likely-for-hill-station-near-tiger-haven/Article1-879160.aspx

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests questions Additional DGP for entering the forest in Nagarhole

HM Aravind, TNN | Jun 26, 2012, 09.23PM IST MYSORE: The forest department officials took objection to a senior IPS officer's tour at the Nagarhole national park late in the evening on Monday leading to argument at the tiger reserve. Following a scheduled visit by the legislative committee on SC and ST welfare, ADGP (civil rights enforcement cell) K S N Chikkerur and PCCF (wildlife) Dipak Sarmah along with a host of officials were at H D Kote. But the visit of the panel was cancelled when the ADGP is accused of entering the tiger reserve's core area in D B Kuppe range without informing the forest department. As he came out of the core area at about 7.30 pm, he was questioned by the PCCF at Dammanakatte Gate, an official said. The argument of the forest officials was that the IPS officer has not kept them informed about entering the forest area in the national park. When contacted, Chikkerur said: Following a complaint, I'd visited Kaimara in the forested area. But since it was dark, I got back when I was questioned by the PCCF. I told him I was on official duty but still he questioned me leading to an argument. I told them I'll keep them informed from next time. According to him, the Wildlife Protection Act, 1976 the CRE cell staff above the rank of Sub-inspector can enter the national park on duty. Our concern is tribal rights and their well being. We are doing that, he shot back. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysore/Principal-Chief-Conservator-of-Forests-questions-Additional-DGP-for-entering-the-forest-in-Nagarhole/articleshow/14415531.cms

‘Reclaim encroached govt, revenue land’

Chikmagalur, Jun 26, 2012, DHNS: Prajaprabhuthva Ulisi Andolana Vedike Volunteer Suma Nagesh warned of approaching the court of law, if the authorities fail to reclaim the encroached government and revenue land, in the district. Speaking to presspersons here, she said the officials have details on those encroachers who have encroached within five acre. However, none have any details on the actual encroachment of the revenue and forest land. An attempt is being made to protect the interest of the rich who have encroached the government land, she alleged. According to the report submitted by the Karnataka Government Land Protection Task Force, a total of 9,43,268 acre land has been encroached in the district. This includes, 16,249 acre revenue land and 35,946 acre forest land. About 12.1 lakh acre land has been encroached in the state, of which, 47,000 acre has been reclaimed. As per the information available, about 388.19 acre forest land has been encroached in Mudigere taluk. The forest and revenue department has details on those who have encroached within five acre and not on those who have encroached a major chunk, she alleged. In Tarikere taluk, 14,919 acre has been encroached, in Sringeri—3,070 acre (3,357 individuals), Koppa—11,968.11 acre (2,900 families), Narasimharajapura—4,278.38 acre, Chikkagrahara—2,785 acre have been encroached. About 282.13 acre forest land has been encroached in Aldoor forest division. She said the officials should reclaim the land encroached by the rich and not by the tribals for livelihood. A memorandum has already been submitted to the President, senior officials, urging to reclaim the encroached land. The district administration should not delay the process of reclaiming the encroached revenue land. She said “we do not want Tiger project in Kudremukh National Park. We will oppose any attempt to evict those forest dwellers who have been residing inside Kudremukh National Park.” http://www.deccanherald.com/content/259908/reclaim-encroached-govt-revenue-land.html

Goa to be part of Tiger Reserve complex?

Rajendra P Kerkar, TNN | Jun 26, 2012, 04.04AM IST KERI: Bereft of any details of wildlife in Goa, including that of big cats in the state, the 'status of wildlife in the state of Goa' report, nonetheless, offers a roar of support to former environment minister Jairam Ramesh's 'Tiger Reserve' suggestion. Referring extensively to the state's past wildlife censuses, the report by the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, states, "The tiger occupied landscape in Goa forms part of the corridor connecting Anshi-Dandeli in Karnataka and Sahyadri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. Goa can potentially be home to a small feeding population of tigers which would be sustained by immigrants from Anshi-Dandeli as well as Sahyadri. It would hence benefit from being incorporated as part of Tiger Reserve complex." The report, compiled by Bilal Habib and Gautam Talukdar of WII, has synthesized the result of the 2010 wildlife census following the MoEF-laid down protocols of phase-I of country-wide assessment of the status of tigers, co-predators and prey in India. The first census was in 2006. The present report notes, "Goa is not a tiger range state therefore the second and third phases for nationwide monitoring programme were not carried out in Goa." But, referring to the 2010 census that recorded the tiger's presence in Mollem wildlife sanctuary and in the forests of Ponda and Sanguem talukas, it notes, "Tiger occupancy within the state is about 322 sq km." It attributes this to the phase-I monitoring that reported the occupancy of six species of carnivores, with the leopard occupying the large area of 1611.28 sq km, and sloth bears, jackal, wild dog and tiger in 322 sq km. When contacted, additional principal chief conservator of forests Richard D'Souza told TOI, "The WII report has not given specific numbers of carnivores if any, rather they have given about zoning areas." Amrutsingh, president, Animal Rescue Squad, Bicholim, said, "It is surprising for us that status of wildlife in the state of Goa has not mentioned anything about tiger movements, when the area has the presence of a tigress, cubs and a male tiger." Paresh Parob, the newly-appointed range forest officer of the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary said, "We are aware about the tigers' movements in the sanctuary and the department has taken necessary steps for the protection of the big cats." Times View After years of hearing the government deny the tiger's presence in Goa, despite the pug marks, the scats, the cattle attacks and in 2009 a very disturbing photo of a slain big cat in Keri, the Wildlife Institute of India's report is a refreshing change. Details would have, of course, corroborated the cause vastly. It's now left to be seen whether the government can change its own stripes on the issue. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Goa-to-be-part-of-Tiger-Reserve-complex/articleshow/14398533.cms

E-way to BNP, Bandipur

H M Aravind, TNN | Jun 26, 2012, 06.29AM IST MYSORE: Visitors to Bannerghatta National Park, Bangalore, and Bandipur tiger reserve can now book tickets online. The e-ticket facility will be launched at the BNP which will allow visitors to buy tickets to visit the facility which has a zoo, a museum and butterfly park. The e-ticket for Bandipur will allow visitors to book for accommodation and safaris too. The Zoo Authority of Karnataka, which on Monday introduced the e-ticket facility at the Zoo, said it is extending it to BNP. ZAK chairman M Nanjundaswamy said, "The Mysore Zoo is the first conservation centre in India to allow online booking of tickets." The BNP is attached to the ZAK. The idea is to save time standing in serpentine queues. Tourists can purchase the e-tickets at the zoo's official website www.mysorezoo.info. Rates are different for adults, children and foreign tourists. The e-ticket will be valid for seven days from the date of purchase and the holders will get a separate entry point to the zoo. "This is convenient for the visitors and also saves paper for us," Nanjundaswamy explained. ZAK is also planning to tie-up with the Mysore Palace Board to allow visitors to purchase a single ticket that allows entry to the Palace and zoo. The zoo will charge Rs 10 per transaction. Those who book online must show an ID proof. As of now, the visitor has to take a printout of the e-ticket and present it at the gate. The zoo is planning to make it paperless soon by sending the ticket to the mobile or iPad.Payments are processed on a secure server and no personal data is collected and stored on any servers as a precautionary measure. Both credit and debit cards can be used and all leading payments processing systems such as VISA and MasterCard are accepted. Along with e-tickets, visitors can pre-order battery-operated vehicles for tours inside the Zoo, pay for usage of still and video cameras, book luggage racks and pay for parking which is on a first-come, first-serve basis. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysore/E-way-to-BNP-Bandipur/articleshow/14400594.cms

Half of forest department staff help tiger poachers: Maneka

PTI | 08:06 PM,Jun 25,2012 New Delhi, Jun 25 (PTI) More than half of the forest department employees are working in connivance with tiger poachers and help them hunt the big cats, former Union Minister Maneka Gandhi alleged here today. Citing "weak" wildlife conservation policies, Gandhi demanded a slew of measures to strengthen the existing Wildlife Act. "60 per cent of the forest department is taking money from poachers and actually pointing out the places where tigers are, helping them poach," Gandhi told reporters on the sidelines of a function here. She was replying to a question on loopholes in tiger conservation programmes run by the Forest and Environment Ministry in wake of recent incidents of poaching. Gandhi pointed to "weak" laws against poachers and lack of initiative on the part of the government to involve NGOs working in this area. "Poacher, when arrested, gets bail in three days. Government does not involve NGOs and they have very low manpower who are extremely corrupt and help poachers," she said. She also demanded stricter laws against wildlife tourism. "At Corbett Park, they should remove all the hotels because they (tourists) go on illegal elephant ride and they pay money to the forest people," Gandhi said. (more) http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/half-of-forest-department-staff-help-tiger-poachers-maneka/1016497.html

CBI probe likely into death of tigers in Panna reserve

PTI | Jun 25, 2012, 01.55AM IST BHOPAL: After receiving complaints of lackadaisical approach in the probe of tiger deaths, Madhya Pradesh government is likely to order a CBI enquiry to investigate the alleged disappearance and poaching of tigers from Panna Tiger Reserve. Officials said Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has sought a detailed reply from the forest department after complaints that a foreign syndicate and an organised gang were involved in the poaching of tigers. "The Chief Minister's Office has received a complaint (seeking CBI probe) and asked the forest department to reply," said Manoj Shrivastava, principal secretary to the chief minister. Earlier this month, the Madhya Pradesh government had declined to order a CBI probe and instead formed a committee to investigate the tiger deaths. Information received in response to an RTI query, the then additional chief secretary of Madhya Pradesh M K Roy had recommended a CBI probe to look into poaching and disappearance of tigers from the sanctuary. "There have been many cases of poaching and disappearance of tigers in the last 5-10 years from PTR. "The state government wants the CBI to probe the conspiracy angle into the disappearance of tigers from the reserve and involvement of international smugglers in it. All such cases where challans have not been submitted should also be incorporated in it (probe)," Roy, who is now the Chairman of Madhya Pradesh Board of Secondary Education, had said in his letter written in January last year. After a year of inter-departmental deliberations, the home department had constituted a committee apparently rejecting the recommendations for a CBI probe made by the former top officer of the forest department. "We have asked the Chief Minister to look into the matter. We are hopeful that a CBI enquiry will be ordered to probe tiger deaths," said wildlife activist Ajay Dubey, who has accessed Roy's letter through RTI. As per the norms, the decision to constitute a CBI enquiry is taken by the Department of Personnel and Training, a Central nodal agency in Delhi, on the recommendation of a state Home Department. A report by the Madhya Pradesh government says there was no tiger in Panna Reserve in the 2009 census carried out by the authorities there. There were about 20 tigers in 2006, the report adds. About 19 cases of tiger poaching were reported by authorities in the reserve over the last seven or eight years, the report had found. Currently, there are four tigers in the reserve which have been brought from other reserves. Dubey claimed that there are instances of poaching and trafficking of tigers to various national and international destinations by well-established syndicates which need to be exposed and punished. According to an RTI reply by the National Tiger Conservation Authority, as many as 337 tigers died in and outside various reserves of the country in the last decade due to poaching, infighting, accidents and old age among others. Tiger population in the country was estimated to be 1,706 as per the 2010 data. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/CBI-probe-likely-into-death-of-tigers-in-Panna-reserve/articleshow/14379930.cms

Pench eco-sensitive zone proposal ready

Vijay Pinjarkar, TNN | Jun 25, 2012, 12.34AM IST NAGPUR: The territorial, wildlife and revenue department officials seem to have geared up to finalize the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) proposals mandatory under the Environment Protection Act 1986. With ESZ proposals for Nagzira and New Nagzira wildlife sanctuaries and Navegaon National Park and New Navegaon Wildlife Sanctuary already with the government, officials have finalized a similar proposal for the Pench Tiger Reserve. The proposal of Pench was finalized at a meeting on June 22. It includes 49,466ha land with 55 villages, 19,608ha reserve forest (RF), 4,024ha protected forest (PF), 15,124ha Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra (FDCM) area and 10,709 hectare non-forest land. "We were working on it since March and till now four meetings were held. The Pench proposal will be sent to the government through the chief wildlife warden soon," forest officials told TOI. "The 'delineation of ESZs' would be site specific and relates to regulation, prohibition and permission. Once the ESZs are notified by the government, highly polluting units will not be allowed in such zones. If such units already exist they will be allowed to run till the licence exists," they said. Deputy conservator of forests (DyCF) for Gondia said the ESZ proposal for Navegaon and Nagzira is not as per the 10km radius but is site specific depending on the land use pattern. "We started preparing the proposal in January and submitted it in April," Ramarao said. The ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) has reiterated its request to the states to declare 10km area around the national park and sanctuaries as ESZs. The MoEF had issued fresh guidelines on February 9, 2011 to all the chief wildlife wardens and PCCFs reminding them about the National Board for Wild Life (NBWL) decision on March 17, 2005, on delineation of ESZs. There is also a Supreme Court order December 4, 2006 on a PIL filed by the Goa Foundation on the issue of declaring ESZs. The apex court had also directed the MoEF to give a final opportunity to the states to respond to the NBWL decision in four weeks. However, very few states like Haryana, Gujarat, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Assam and Goa forwarded ESZs proposals. In Maharashtra, after court orders, the then PCCF B Majumdar had sent proposals for declaring ESZs around 41 PAs. The first proposal was of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), Borivili, but it was rejected looking into the cluster of buildings and apartments that have come up near the park. Of the remaining 40 PAs, the Great India Bustard (GIB) sanctuary in Solapur and Tungareshwar was not recommended for ESZ due to similar problems. Proposals for ESZs for around 38 sanctuaries were referred back by the government. Since then officials sat on the proposals. In November last, principal secretary (forests) Praveen Pardeshi initiated the process and accordingly things have started moving. The government has already declared buffer zones for three tiger reserves - Tadoba, Pench and Melghat. Talking to TOI, wildlife expert Kishor Rithe said the purpose of declaring ESZs around PAs is to create some kind of 'shock absorber' for the protected areas (PAs). They would also act as a transition zone from areas of high protection to areas involving lesser protection. Officials said many existing PAs have already undergone tremendous development in close vicinity to their boundaries. The best example is of the Adani power plant near the Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary and widening of NH6 and NH7 by the NHAI near Navegaon National Park and Pench. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Pench-eco-sensitive-zone-proposal-ready/articleshow/14378967.cms

Officials attacked by illegal miners in Ranthambore

Nitesh Kumar Sharma, TNN | Jun 24, 2012, 05.53PM IST JAIPUR: The practice of illegal mining in protected Ranthambore Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan's Sawai Madhopur district came to the light once again on Saturday when a group of illegal miners attacked a team of forest department officers. The team had gone to Khatupura area here to prevent illegal mining and had seized some vehicles, however, they were attacked. Police have registered an FIR against about two dozen people. According to the police, reserve's Sherpura check-post incharge has registered an FIR. "Acting on a tip-off, a forest department team had gone to a Khatupura area to prevent illegal mining. They seized some tractors laden with illegally mined gravel and some equipment used in mining," a police officer said. However, when they were returning with the seized items, a group of about two dozen people started pelting stones on them. "The team officials had to retreat. The attackers got away with the tractors and other equipments," the officer said. He added that the officials informed the police following which a search was launched. However, the attackers managed to escape. "We have identified some of the attackers and will arrest them soon," said the officer. Sources said that the raiding team's officials were not properly equipped to counter such an attack. "They should have informed the police in advance before conducting such a raid," said the officer. The illegal mining is going unabated in Sawai Madhopur, Alwar, Rajsamand and some other districts despite the state government's tall claims of putting a check on it. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Officials-attacked-by-illegal-miners-in-Ranthambore/articleshow/14374096.cms

Foresters search for tiger in Bundu

Alok K N Mishra, TNN Jun 23, 2012, 11.20PM IST Ranchi police|Ram Mohan Singh Munda|Mohan Singh|Kundan Pahan|Judicial Event|Jharkhand RANCHI: The state forest department has started a search for a stray tiger in Bundu forest, some 40 km from here. Regional chief conservator of forest (RCCF), Ranchi, D K Srivastava has formally asked the Ranchi and Khunti district forest officers and other officials to be on the alert. "The vigil for the tiger has been increased. Forest officials have been asked to hold talks with tribals, especially cattle grazers, for information about the big cat," said Srivastava. The development follows the reported killing of a Maoist by a stray tiger in Bundu forests recently. On June 17 Ranchi police had seized a letter purportedly written by the South Chhotanagpur Zonal Committee commander of the CPI(Maoist), Kundan Pahan, wherein he claimed that a friend of theirs was killed and eaten up by a stray tiger recently. Pahan had addressed the letter to another Maoist, Pragati Da. "A friend was killed and eaten by a tiger recently. It is a huge loss and a cause of great concern. I am just briefing you about the incident. I will tell you more when we meet," the letter says. The letter was recovered by police from an arrested Maoist, Ram Mohan Singh Munda, a close aide of Pahan. Munda was arrested from Tamar block last week. On a few occasions experts have come across stray tigers in the jungles of Jharkhand. "Although tiger is a territorial animal and prefer to live in a familiar geography, it cannot be denied that they venture out of their territories at times," said Khunti DFO K K Tripathi, under whose jurisdiction the Bundu forest falls. The officials are basically concentrating on finding pug marks, information about kills made by the tiger and tips from tribals. "In the last five days my officials in both the districts have contacted several tribals to gather information about the big cat but they have not come across anything substantial," said the RCCF. The RCCF has requested all concerned to provide the department with any information about tigers. Regional chief conservators of forests in the state directly monitor all the non-reserved forest areas. Jharkhand's forest department officials are of the view thinks that only six tigers live in Palamu Tiger Reserve, a 1000 sq km area. The figure has been obtained from last year's census. But experts believe that Jharkhand has more than six tigers. Jharkhand tiger man and member of the National Tiger Conservation Authority D S Srivastava said in the recent past tigers has been sighted in Hazaribag, Latehar, and Koderma districts. "After the news (of a Maoist falling prey to tiger) broke I have also alerted my sources in the forests to watch out for tigers," said Srivastava. "The Bundu forest is not as conducive for a tiger to live in as Saranda. There are chances that the big cat may have moved to Saranda. But the forest department should not stop searching just for this reason," Srivastava added. Certain parts of the 478-sq-km area of Bundu forest are inaccessible to tribals due to presence of Maoists. A thick forest corridor connects this forest through the jungles of Torpa and Raniya to Saranda. Police say Maoist commander Pahan has been hiding in the forests here. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-23/ranchi/32381355_1_stray-tiger-pug-marks-big-cat