Goa tiger killing case moving at a snails pace

A TOI report of yesterday cites a gun siezed in the case from near the field where some tiger parts were found in June. The tiger was apparently killed some time in February and the forest department was forced to investigate when pictures of the carcass appeared in a local newspaper. Even after that local politicos and goverment wildlife officails tried to cover up the incident by putting the onus of proving the killing on the person who clicked the pictures. If that wasnt bizzare enough there has been little headway made in the case in the last 6 months and the person who was arrested as an accused was let off on bail as per the newspaper report. It does seem like a systematic attempt to destory evidence and the central government officals which dont normally shy away from providing a media byte are completely tight lipped about it.

Rampant cases of tiger killings are being reported with disturbing regularity across the country but apart from ad hoc investigations being ordered by state government to fix accountability and investigate causes there is little being done to streamline the entire process top to bottom. Except for the NTCA guidelines released recently regarding postmortems to be carried out in cases of tiger caracasse being found in and around sanctuaries, the centreal government has been slow in formulating a comprehensive policy on forest and tiger conservation. A broad umbrella approach broken down into specific steps is the need of the hour rather than quick fixes.

Gun seized in Keri tiger casein Keri

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4809233.cms

More protests against Tadoba Mines

Conservationists gathered together yesterday at Chandrapur to lend solidarity to the ongoing protests by local activists against the granting of mining lease license to Adani and other companes around Chandrapur forests. The Hindi and TOI reported Magsaysay award recipient Rajendra Singh joining in the protests. Citizen voice might be the only means to now avoid a disaster from taking place as officials and politicians in connivance with big business have made up their mind to destroy the ecology of the area. With legal avenues in India too cumbersome, expensive and sometimes weak, large scale protests by concerned citizens seems to be the only way to force the government to revoke the decision.

Magsaysay winner joins protest against TATR mine allotment

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200907231585.htm

Wildlife activists take out symbolic funeral procession

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS/City/Nagpur/Wildlife-activists-take-out-symbolic-funeral-procession/articleshow/4813555.cms

Panel formed to conserve tigers - Indian Express

To conserve tigers in Uttar Pradesh, a state-level steering committee has been formed under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Mayawati.

The 12-member committee will look into various aspects of tiger conservation including areas like prey base for the tiger and its habitat.

“The committee will be primarily for tiger conservation. It will look into its protection, conservation, monitoring, internal coordination and providing a better habitat,” said B K Patnaik, Chief Wildlife Warden, Uttar Pradesh.

Adhering to the guidelines of the National Tiger Conservation Authority, the notification for the committee was issued on July 15 under Section 38 U of the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), 1972. The Act was amended in 2006.

The committee includes the state forest minister as the vice-chairman, chief wildlife warden as

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Panel-formed-to-conserve-tigers/492954/

Sunderbans Prey base survey should be replicated across India

After a tiger was found dead in Sunderbands a few days ago with two cobras in its stomach, wildlife officials in Sunderbans have ordered a survey of prey numbres as per a TOI report today. Officials suspect dwindling prey base to be the reason for the tiger going on to swallow the cobras. Similar counts should be carried out across all forest areas in teh country and scientific mapping shoould be done to gauge populations of fauna to arrive a potential sustainable tiger numbers. It will help govt draw up plans for long terms distribution of tiger populations.

Survey in Sunderbans on tiger prey base http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4805078.cms

Save Todoba !

Despite the statement made by Maharashatra State MInister for Forest Conservation in teh assembly last December not much has been done to reverse the decision granting mining license to Adani and other companies in and around Chandrapur forests. Our recent post on 8th Julycited had cited reports of forest officials ignoring reports related to the damage these mines will cause to the environment and trying to push through approvals. (

http://planettiger.blogspot.com/2009/07/adani-mines-in-chandrapur-get-another.html )

Now it turns out that our minister has not actioned a pledge he made to the law makers. A report in DNA today states Bandu Dhotre, president of Eco-Pro, a Chandrapur-based non governmental organisation (NGO) going on a hunger strike asking the government to recall the license granted the mines. It is a commendable effort on part of Dhotre to throw himself headlong into this fight to save the state forest cover. If only our lawmakers were as aware and sensitive.

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_ngo-raises-pitch-for-ban-on-lohara-mining-project_1276177

NGO raises pitch for ban on Lohara mining project

New NTCA guidelines to hold Field Directors more accountable

A TOI report today cites the new Tripartite agreement between Centre, State and the Park recently cleared by the cabinet making Field Directors of the reserves personally responsible for each tiger loss. The new guidelines also lay out strick monitoring and fund release instructions so that money is utislised in a timely and wise manner. Though it is a welcome move to bring in more accountablility system but only holding Field Directors responsible without any part of the responsibiity affixed on the mandarins in the state goverment will only be a quick fix at best. Field Directos in parks are shunted around at the whims of politial and bureaucratic machinaries and unless rampant politicisation of forest department in states is countered not much might come out of these new guidelines. A case in point Panna in MP where the field directors were changed repeatedly over the last few years and as per recent reports all tigers have vanished from teh sanctuary. Unless officials who take over the park are allowed to settle down and put a plan of action in place it would be unfair to blame them for losses. The centre should similarly fix a minimun tenure requirement for field directors and any shiftings before time should happen only in urgent cases and with the centre's approval. Though forest conservation is a state subject but given the urgent importance of the issue and that it affects the long terms sustainability of forest areas and wildlife habitats there is an urgent need for the centre to play increasingly larger roles in Forest conservation than leave them to the whims and fancies or sometimes corrupt and inept state officials. Like the Supreme court mandaded committee on Police reforms, the centre should set up a committee to review the working of state forest departments and release a detailed set of dont and donts vis a vis people, funds and processes so as that streamline the efforts of governments across states. Only then there is hope that we will be able to salvage what is left of our wildlife heritage. Else releasing new guidelines will only tackle parts of the problem and the larger issues will keep corroding the system

Field director to be punished for tiger loss

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4804825.cms

Increase in compensation package

Minister MOEF has announced a recent policy decision in the Rajya sabha to increase compensation package for families to be relocated out of wildlife sancturies. The amount will now be Rs. 10 lacs as compared to Rs. 1 lac per family earlier. Though the increase is welcome and much needed, what is also needed urgently is to implement these packages in a fair, transparent and credible manner and ensure the money reaches the intended recepients. And for that the ministry should set up a committe of eminent people to oversee implementation else chances are that funds might be siphoned off and dislocate families will get very little of what they deserve.

Another dreaded poacher caught

The MP Forest officials caught a dreaded poacher in Katni couple of days back says a TOI report. What is interesting is that the history sheeter has been running amock killing lions, tigers and other wildlife for a few years now with the state officials busy protecting their own turn rather than doing their jobs. In fact this poachers father has also been a well known poacher who has been arrested a few times only to be let out on bail and carry on with his murky trade. The need of the hour is to have a central law enforcement agency with the powers of a CBI to investigate and prosecute wild life related criminals. Left it to state police and forest deprtements, wildlife will soon disppear in front of our eyes.

Notorious poacher held http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS/City/Nagpur/Notorious-poacher-held/articleshow/4800861.cms

Now Similipal in Orrisa

One by one skeletons are tumbling out but our political class doesnt seem to care one bit. After Siriska, Panna and Sanjay National Park lost all their tigers Similipal in Orrisa seems to have lost almost half of its big cat population under the 'watchful eyes' of NTCA and state wild life officials. From a stated population of 101 a few years ago, the state govt census conducted recently put the population at 61. This when the reserve used upwards of Rs. 10 crores of grant provided to it by the NTCA. What is more intruiging is that the population of tigers could be much lower with WII last year claiming it to be only 21 after its own round of census. It is to provide a couter to the WII findings that the state instituted its own census and came out with thrice their figure. If the credibility of state governments in conducting Tiger Census over the years is taken into account then the real figure is more likely to be close to the WII number which is extremely disconcerting. Rather than fixing accountabilty for the loss, the state govt is deflecting the issue by floating new numbers and claiming the park to be in good health despite the 40% drop as per its own numbers. MOEF Minister Jairam Ramesh should step in such cases and institute central level enquries for fixing responsibility.

Orissa’s denial exposed, tiger numbers down by half

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Orissa-s-denial-exposed--tiger-numbers-down-by-half/491560

Another minister with blinkers on !

A report in TOI today cites Mahrashatra Forest Minister Baban Rao Panchpute transferring aruond 350 forest officials from across reserves at one stroke. With sanctuaries already understaffed such a massive movement of officials especially during monsoons which is the best time for pocahers will provides further reason for concern. As this blog has been saying, states and centre need to take joint responsbility for protection for parks but a subject as sensitive as protection of tiger sancturies can not be left to states who are the mercy of ill advised, ego driven officials and minsters conniving to destory India's wilflife heritage. The centre should step in to ensure laws are followed properly esp in Maharashtra where the Congress Govt is in power as in the centre. There should be a decree to have a replacement take over before any officials is transferred else it provides ample opportunity for poachers to strike when the park is unmanned at the top. State goverments themselves would do well to show some sensitivity towards the environement by appointing ministers who have not just knowledge of environment but empathise with the cause.

Pachpute ignores wildlife areas again

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS-City-Nagpur-Pachpute-ignores-wildlife-areas-again/articleshow/4796507.cms

Will there be justice in the Goa Tiger killing case

After much dilly dallying the forest department arreseted a person in connection with the killing as per a TOI report today. Given how the case has gone on so far it will not be surprising if the case dies a natural death since months have passed between the killing of the big cat and arrest of a suspect. One can safely assume that all material evidence linked to the killing would have been destroyed by now. If the miniter MOEF is serious about protection tiger populations across the country he should either ensure cases of suspect killing are handed over tothe CBI to uncover the mafias behind these deaths or should bring in a law in the parliament to give a CBI kind of status to Wildlife crime investigation bodies. Unless any of this is done it will be mightly tough for local law enforcement or Forest officials who are the mercy of local mafias to prevent further killings.

Bail plea of alleged tiger killer rejected

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS-City-Goa-Bail-plea-of-alleged-tiger-killer-rejected/articleshow/4794064.cms

Field Directors meet at Sariska - Release of timely funds major issue

According to a TOI report, the field directors meet called for on 25/26th July in Sariska is likely to see presentations being made by directors pf parks in the presence of MOEF Minister Jairam Ramesh. As per the report, 'Sources said the meet will focus on tripartite memorandum of understandings (MoUs), enforcement, intelligence gathering, progress on special tiger protection force (STPF) deployment and protection, disturbance due to Naxal and extremists' presence in the reserves. ' The centre needs to play an aggressive role in tiger conservation and not wait for states to address tricky issues before it is too late. Couple of prominent reasons cited for lack of security in parks has been non appointment of senior officials in time and lack of timely release of funds by centre for security related activities. Without adequate funds, parks are unable generally to hire locals to work on daily patraolling related jobs which hinders protection programmes. Since the minister has been showing increasing concern about vanishing forests and tigers he might well be advised to take immediate action to address these two points with urgency.

Will mining issue be raised at Sariska meet?

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS-City-Nagpur-Will-mining-issue-be-raised-at-Sariska-meet/articleshow/4793652.cms

Is Radio Collaring behind tiger deaths ?

According to a report carried by Zee News online a wildlfe intelligence report has blamed Radio Collars for tiger death. Citing carelessness on part of forest officials in collaring the tigers and the susequent strain it created on the beast it says collars restricted movements of tigers due to their weight and caused infections in the neck in some cases leading to fatalities. Though there isnt any conclusive evidence to prove it but the report also suggests that some poachers might have got hold of the radio frequency of the collars hence making it very easy for them to track down the cats. Radio Collars have been widely used in wildlife projects to understand animal behaviour but as this case shows lack of understanding coupled with official apathy can lead to significant damage though apparently rules might have been followed.

Intelligence report questions radio collaring for Tiger

http://www.zeenews.com/news547605.html

Contributing our bit !

A report in DNA today cites an investgitation by a central team into tiger deaths which concluded that there was evidence of tiger deaths taking place in Panna due to tranquilising. After all the hue and cry raised by centre and state and the buck passing that has taken place over the last few months it seems we are no where near to ascretaining the real cause of tiger deaths. And unless we get a definitive fix on the reasons it is impossible to afix responsibility and take preventive steps for future preventition. Apart from other actions the MOEF shoould make it mandatory for the WWF and NTCA to investigate disappearance of every single tiger and for that to happen each animal in the country needs to be identified and tracked. Without this is going to be very tough to know how many tigers existed in a particular sanctuary and whether the numbers are headed up or down.

Did tranquillisers kill Panna tigers?

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_did-tranquillisers-kill-panna-tigers_1274438

More distressing news - Another reserve looses its tigers

According to today's newspaper reports another reserve, this time a lesser known Sanjay Tiger Reserve in MP has also lost all its big cats. The reports cite the ex director of the park saying during a recently concluded census no tiger was spotted. Even more shockingly the MP govt tabled a report in the state assembly two days back on the status of tigers. Curiously the report doesnt even mention the name of the reserve although it used to be apremier reserve in the once undivided Madhya Pradesh with upto 36 tigers in 1992.

No tiger in Sanjay Tiger Reserve also, says official

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Flora-Fauna/No-tiger-in-Sanjay-Tiger-Reserve-also-says-official-/articleshow/4772968.cms

Living in denial

Yesterday during a debate in the MP assemby the minister of Forests squarely passed the blame of Panna Fiasco on the centre. Citing NTCA guidelines for tiger protection and that many other reserves in the country were faring no better, the minister proudly claimed that MP govt has done there was needed to and if there was a lapse it was on part of the NTCA and the rules framed by the body. Why else, he questioned, would other states too loose tigers as all ofthem have been followig NTCA protocols. Though there is some merit int he argument but to stretch it to absolve its own officials borders on apathy and criminal conspiracy. Tiger consrvation clearly has been a state subject with forest areas under the jurisdiction of state govt. NTCA has so far been drawing out guidelines for states to follow but that doesnt mean the state govts themselves shut their eyes to what is needed beyond the stated guidelines. It is akin to saying The centre told us to set up hospitals but didnt inform us that patients need to be treated to save lives hence state government cant be blamed. The longer this buck passing goes on lesser the chances that anything worthwhile will be done soon to repair the immense damage that has been caused to wildlife in the country in recent years. Madhya Pradesh is not just the heart of the country as their campaign claims, it is also the torch bearer of wildlife prjects in the country and if the premier state doesnt take lead in protecting tigers the hopes of saving big cats from extinction dont brighten up considerably. Rather than indulging in a blame game with the centre, the state government should rather focus their energies on what they can do to aviod Panna like fiascos in teh future. The need of the hour is to streamline the system and strengthen political will. For a senior govt functionary to make such a statement in the assembly doesnt just show callousness on this part but also displays a total lack of sensitivity to what is expected of him as the state's supreme guardian of wildlife. One can only hope that the state government learns from its mistakes and takes corrective steps soon to prevent further loss of tigers in the state.

MP refuses to take Panna blame, tells tiger authority to change policy

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/MP-refuses-to-take-Panna-blame--tells-tiger-authority-to-change-policy/488876

Shocking case of money power being used to twist rules

A piece carried in The Organiser by Sangeet Verma exposes the mis deeds of private resort owners in Satpura national park. According to the story resort owners have been appaently promoting acvities that are not allowed within the boudaries of the park. Obvisouly it has been going on with the connivance of local forest officials who have been looking the other way and worse still have benefitted illegally from such activities. With rampant politicisation of forest departments in states, it it hardly difficult to lure guards and officials who are already low on morale into either looking the other way to getting them to conspire into breaking rules of the jungle. The incident comes on the heels of a report owner cruching a tiger cub under the wheels of his jeep inside bandhavgarh forest a few months back ostensibly to provide a better dekho to his foreign clients. State governments need to de politicise forest departments to allow them function in the interests of convervation rather than for private ones. Increasing cases of laws being broken with impunity by people who can afford to buy them are making a mockery of forest conservation efforts. The centre could also pitch in by instituting a central body which closely investigates every incident within national parks. If it means changing the laws to make forest conservation and joint State and centre subject then it should be done at the earliest. Leaving this important issue under the domain of state goverments alone is clrealy causing immense damage.

Plunder of biodiversity
Bio-smugglers target MP forests
By Sangeet Verma

http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=300&page=4

Can we have some real action now !

The minister MOEF Jairam Ramesh has today spoken about making laws related to wildlife esp Tiger poaching much more stringent. Though no one can deny the need for such a step the key is to convert this talk into action urgently. A report in The Hindu today quotes P K Sen, former director of NTCA saying greens have been pushing for a such a provision for over two decades now without much result. As the case two days back of the female poacher in UP having been finally sent behind bars after comitting two decades of wildlife crimes shows, the need to push for reform in wildlife law is desperate. For every day we delay wildlife across the country falls prey to poaching mafia and with no one to ensure speedy justice, criminals are having a free run in India's supposedly well protected sanctuaries.

The Hindi report also states the minister having disussed the matter with Harish Salve Amicus Curae for Supreme Court on environment matters and one hopes the process of converting talk into action doesnt take too long.

Centre planning legislation for speedy conviction of poachers

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/008200907131251.htm

Better security infrastructure in parks key to tiger protection

Today's DNA carries an on ground report about a recently recruited ex army forest guard going through the grinds of protecting the Ranthambore Tigers against poachers on foot and with a stick in his hands. Though the report exposes nothing new about the pathetic state of reqources available to forest officials to fight well armed gangs of poches but it does highlight the continuing gap between lip serive being paidby the state and central governments and action on ground. Till such time we donot equip and pay our forces better it is unfair for us toexpect them to be able to do a good job. We cant imagine stick carrying ex army officers worried about their next meal to be fully committed to fighting well armed gangs of international poachers. This incident also goes on to hightlight in some ways the deep rooted corruption in the government departments entrusted with forest consevation. Despite ever increasin budgets being allocated for tiger conservation if this is the best we can gie to out forest guards in one of the best known reserves of the country close tothe National capital and one can well imagine the complete apathy that pervades efforts across other lesser know forest areas.

Armed with a stick, Pappu protects the tigers

http://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/report_armed-with-a-stick-pappu-protects-the-tigers_1273166

Speedy justice is important for Prevention of future crime

It is shocking how in our country criminals are able to find so many loopholes in the system to be able to evade any meaningful punishment for prolonged periods of time. Justice dealyed is justide denied and how well are we at denying that to the main focus of conservation efforts in india ; the tiger. In a shocking case of miscarriage of justice a poacher in was convicted by a Pilibhit court apparently after having run a poaching racket for well over 2 decades. According to the report in Indian Express an officials associated with the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau “The gang, operating as poachers, carriers and traders of tiger skin, bones, has been active for at least 30 years before it caught our attention in 2005,” .

30 years for a criminal to operate without being caught can not happen with out official complicity & apathy, a fact that still is not under any sort of

investigation. This poacher and her gang has been under the lens of wild life officials numerous times in the last decade or so and still managed to run her operations with impunity, killing tigers under the noses of forest officials. No wonder we have become masters at paying lip service to tiger conservation and our efforts are falling way short of what is required of us. Though the WCCB officials are hopeful that this conviction will help bring poaching of tigers under some control in UP but going by the amount of time it has taken to achieve it one feels poachers in the state will be emboldened to increase their illegal activities since law might not catch with them for a very long time.

If there is an area the state government and MOEF need to fix apart from saving tiger habitats from encroachment they dont need to look beyond this story. Strengthening of wildlife crime bureaux, arming forest officials with better equipment and giving them more power, setting up fast track courts for wild life crimes and making bail provisions more stringent for suspected poachers will go a long way in acting as detterants for wild life related crimes.

Forest dept relieved as master poacher is behind the bars

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/forest-dept-relieved-as-master-poacher-is-behind-the-bars/487926/