| Wildlife group says radio-collars did not kill tigers | |
Thursday, July 30, 2009
BNHS rubbishes report of Radio Collars causing tiger deaths
In a stinging rebuke to so called State wildlife Intelligence reports citing Radio Collars some how being responsible for tiger deaths, Bombay Natural History Society has strongly come out in support of the practice.Citing figures and data, BNHS Director has defended the technique which has been used across the world for many decades to study wild animals. It has also blamed the state wildlife office for being callous in its approach and trying to shift blame to cover its own shortcomings.
MPs unite to oppose Tadoba Mining project
A day after local politicos cutting across party lines came out to support a bandh organised by local NGOs in chandrapur against the mining lease granted to Adani, Vidharba MPs from Congress, BJP & Shiv Sena have written a joint letter to the Prime Minister asking for the mining license to be revoked. A TOI report today spells out names of MPs who have signed the letter. If our Members of Parliament can get together in such fashion more often then a lot of problem that afllict our country can be solved. Recently the issue of widening of Nagpur-Jabalpur highway through Pench Tiger resrerve got highlighted when Rajya sabha MP from Maharashtra Mr Vijay Darda himself wrote to the PM and Congress President Sonia Gandhi. The plan was subsequently dropped. One hopes after the hue and cry raised by local citizes, NGOs and now law makers, the mining lease will be cancelled.
Vidarbha MPs join hands, write to PM on Adani mine issue
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Shot in the arm for Tadoba activists
As per a TOI report today, Minister MOEF Jairam Ramesh has made it clear that no further mining activity will be allowed around the Chandrapur forests. Local activists, NGOs and people from civil society have been running a campaign for months asking for the state govt to withdraw new mining licenses granted to corporate like Adani. As per the report, the minister made this assurance during the 2 day meet of Wildlife wardens that took place in Sarika over the last weekend.
No mining near Tadoba: Ramesh
Minister promises Wildlife Act Amendment
To deter poaching and illegal activties related to environment destruction Minister MOEF has proposed making laws under the Wildlife Act more stringent. Makes sense especially since so many cases have come to light recenltly where known poaches have been roaming out on bail on account of weak laws and even weaker enfrocement. Apart from making the law more stringent, the central ministry will also have to ensure application of laws in co rodination with local governments. The recent idea of NTCa to set up tiger protection force within every tiger reserve is again a welcome move but park rangers will have to be given more authority, training and equipment to firmly deal with gangs of poaching and timber mafia.
Wildlife Act to be amended: Jairam
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Nepal tiger population estimation done - Protection needed
As per newspaper reports, Nepal's four tiger breeding sancturies have been found to be home to some 121 tigers. The next step for the Nepalese govt will be to ensure these cats are protected for which they will need will at both centre and local level. Unfortunately india doesnt seem like a good example to learn from as our own record on tiger conservation has been appalling. But with the new Minister MOEF taking steps to undo the damage of teh last few decades, hopefully by the time his term ends we might have something to write home about on our tiger conservation efforts in the 21st Century.
121 breeding tigers in Nepal spells new ray of hope for the species
Finally politicians rally to save Todoba from mines
In a rare show of solidarity and coming togther, local politicos cutting across party lines have opposed granting of mining license to Adani in areas surroudning Todoba Tiger sanctuary. On Monday the police acted forcibly to end the fast by local activist Bandu Dhotre. All politial parties in the area have decided to support the bandh called by local NGOs. It is interesting to note that NCP ministers in the state have been pushing for the mines whereas Congress and Shiv Sena MPs have been against it. Given that Congress and NCP have a tie up at the state level it might not be surprising if one of the parties changes their stance on the issue post elections in the state in November.
Cong, Sena say no to Adani mines |
7 naxal affected Tiger reserves need help NOT denotification
According to news paper reports today, NTCA head Rajesh Gopal has suggested 7 tiger resrves which are seriously affected by naxalism and have very low tiger density to be denotified. Denotification of a park would then lift the responsbility of the park off NTCA shoulders. Given the serious nature of problems related to access and protection these parks face the NTCA's suggestion is undertandable but the need of the hour is to find a way of helping these areas rather than washing your hands off them. The Minister MOEF should personally meet with the Chief Ministers and concerned state officials regarding these reserves and find a way out of the problem. Given that the home ministry is planning to launch a full fledged assault againsts maoists post monsoon some of these areas might become accessible and hence could be protected. If we leave these areas are their mercy tehn sooner or later we will also loose the gene pool of tigers residing in these areas which will be in an incalculable loss to our wildlife heritage.
Reserves not clear on tiger numbers, one may be denotified
High court stays traffic ban withdrawl order in Bandipore sanctuary
Acting expediciously, the Karnataka High Court reversed the recent order of state officials to restire trarffic movement through Bandipore Wildlife sanctuary which was banned on account to increasing animal deaths due to accidents. According to a report in Deccan Herald, on Jue 3rd this year the Deputy Commission of Chamrajanagar had ordered ban on vehicular movement inside park after sunset but the order was withdrawn within a week owing to pressure from politicians and traders lobby. Given that the court has not stepped in chances are the ban will stay, atleast for the time being.
Night travel ban through Bandipur restored
Evidence of tigers found in two more forest areas
Accodring to forest officials in MP and Goa, tiger pug marks were found in Madhav national park in Shivpuri distt in MP and Mhadie Sanctuary in Goa. The need of the hour will be to ensure protection of these cats before they fal prey to poachers or wonder out of the protected habitats to be killed by other ferocious animals like Homo Sapiens settled around reserves.
Fresh tiger pug marks spotted in Goa reserve
Evidence of tigers' presence found in Madhav national park
Disaster in waiting - Similipal - exposed by local activists
In a damning report on the a local wildlife and environment activist forum has exposed the callous and conniving attitude of the local Orrsia govt towards protection the state's premier tiger reserve. The Chief Minister has himself on National television sometime back contested the low figures of tiger population released in the latest census and vowed to protect the reserve. Now in a startling relevation sure to embarass the government if any one cares, activists have released footage of rampant tree felling and poaching taking place inside the reserve. According to a report in The Statesman, local mafia has been threatening govt official after maoists drove them out after laying siege to large forest areas. With the government looking the other way, goons and thugs are having a free run inside the forest stripping it off all its valuable assets. Mr Patnaik needs to show similar resolve as he did while disputing tiger census numbers if he doesnt want to see this priceless jewel becoming the next Sariska.
Govt sleeps, crime grows in Similipal
Another tiger reserve crying out for help
An Indian express yesterday details out Tigers in Srsailam Tiger Reserve on the border of Andhra & Orrisa
facing poaching problems as local communities find it more and more difficult to just live off forest produce.
Involving local communities in protection and provinding livelyhood is the key to protecting forests and tigers habitats and
reserves such as these are perfect places for setting up centres for expriment.
Survived Maoists, but tigers could fall prey to tribals
37 tiger sancturies in the country, 25 dont classify as 'Good'
In an honest fact based admission, NTCA head Rajesh Gopal during a presentation over the weekend at Sariska admitted in front of the minister MOEF that only 12 out of 37 tiger santuries in the country classify to be in good condition. As per the report on The Hindu, 9 others we found to be satisfactory, what ever that means and another 9 were foudn to be in 'poor' condition. Given that only 30% of tiger habitats in the country are found to be in good condition it is imperative that centre spend more resources in protecting comparitievly unknown reserves before they too go the Panna/Sarika way. Before tourist and media spotlight reaches some of the reseves, tigers might completely disappear from some other santuries hence hte key is to protect them before it happnes. Simplipal is the perfect expample of what needs to be done and what should not be done. The centre needs to act now in the 25 cases.
Celebration at Sariska
Sunny SebastianCentre to have special protection force for tigers
In a welcome development the Minister MOEF Jairam Ramesh as per TOI report has announced setting up of a Special Protection force dedicated to the task of saving the big cats from doing a complete disappearing act. This initiative extends on from the recently annoucned setting up Tiger protection force at Corbett after the minister's recent visit to the park. Apparently he has decided to extend it to 13 other tiger parks across the coutry with salaries of personnel engaged in teh task being paid by the centre so that sancturies do not have to depend upon bankrupt state government for money.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS/City/Jaipur/Change-in-Tiger-Protection-Force-mooted/articleshow/4821208.cms
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Rajasthan inks tripartite pact with NTCA - Others should follow suit immediately
Taking the lead, Rajasthan has become the first state to sign the recently ratified tripartite agreement between the ressrve, state govt and NTCA. As we had mentioned in this blog on the subject recently (http://planettiger.blogspot.com/2009/07/new-ntca-guidelines-to-hold-field.html)
it is a well aimed move making the various stake holders more accountable. One hopes other states will follow suit sooner than later.
Rajasthan 1st state to ink tripartite pact on saving tigers
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Forbes says privatise forests - But will it help ?
The latest edition of Forbes india proposes privatising tiger sanctuaries to protect them from destruction. Though on the face of if the writer doespresent a cogent argument about how it might help raise the needed resources and will to tackle loss of tiger habitats and the tigers themselves. But one only has to look around in cities like Mumbai and in fact all over india where public land and areas given to private business for bulding, clubs, schools, hospitals,parks etc is being used only for private interests with public access being limited. One doesnt want tiger sancturies of the country to become elitist reserves where only people with money can visit. The need is for the govt to involve private business in contributing significantly towards the cause rather than turning them over into private hands.
A Wild Idea: Privatise the Jungles
Privatising India’s jungles may help in saving wildlife
MOEF realises need for action
A report on DNA today cites officials sitting in MOEF in Delhi to have realised the need for local intelligence units inside tiger sanctuaries to prevent poaching. After having lost more than 60% of the tiger population in the last few years perhaps the realisation has come a tad late. Apparently hitherto the intelligence teams have been sitting in Delhi and co ordinating work from their main offices passing on what ever information they used toget to the state wild life offices and vistingparks for surprise checks once in a while. State officers would in turn send memos to the forest warden. With an antiquated system like this given the time lag one wont be surpised if by time information reached ground level poachers would have make their kill and fled the area. The need of the hour is to completely overhaul the system and show a sense of urgency to correct the flaws. Incremental steps might not be enough if we have to keep from losing our forests.
Now, a wildlife intelligence unit to fight poachers
Forest linking plan ambitious but is it viable
Readers of this blog will remember a project envisaged and initiated by the NDA govt under PM A B Vajpayee to link all rivers in the country to remove chronic problems of flooding and drought at the same time in different areas of the country. The project never took off as there was never a scientific consensus on whether it was a good idea or that it was feasible. Linking up tiger sancturies in the country though is a more feasible plan. And as we can all imagine before the population explosion of the last century destroyed key wildlife habitats large parts of the country formed one contigous forest cover wherein animal could roam freely. Bringing agenda to the table is a noble cause and a TOI report today cites it to be on the agenda of an MOEF meet at Sariska where the minister Jairam ramesh is likely to spell our further steps on conservation of critical tiger habitats. Before we talk about linking of sanctuaries though the govt would be well advised to be reminded that tiger parks themselves are under serious pressure and strain from various lobbies and population expansion.Case in point the Tadoba tiger area in maharashtra where the state govt has allowed mining to be expanded on a mindless scale and to top it shuffled offers fromkey posts as if to invite pochers to come in a finish the remainin wild life so that it becomes easier for the minigng lobby to take over the forests. If there arent any animals left to protect within the so called protected areas then little will be achieved out of connecting forest areas. The focus as of now should be maknig security inside tiger areas in the country foolproof so that further loss of animal can be stopped immediately.
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Friday, July 24, 2009
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
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
Wildlife activists take out symbolic funeral procession
Thursday, July 23, 2009
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
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