Thursday, August 13, 2009
Adani Mines issue - PCCF slams forest officials
A report in TOI today cites PCCF Maharashtra who recently rejected the proposal to clear mines for Adani corp slamming lower rung officials in the state wildlife dept forhaving cleared the project in the first place. It is no surprise that large corporates in India are capable of getting rulings invariably in their favour esp when it comes to cases involving government officials. With the PCCF rejecting to clear the mining proposal there is now hope that the project will be killed for good.
Tiger cubs Satpura Park in MP
In a welcome news for conservationists, a report in Hindu says officials in the Satpura Tiger reserve in MP recently sighted 9 tiger cubs. This comes on teh back of recent disaster in Panna where despite years of evidence the govt finally conceeded that the reserve had lost all its tigers probably to poaching. The challenge for the govts both state and centre is to ensure protection of these new cubs lest they go they same was as some of their unfortunate precedssesors.
Nine tiger cubs sighted in Satpur Reserve
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Goa govt looks the other way as wildlife is butchered
After the bizzare case of tiger killing and the susequent attempts at a cover up by state wildlife officials Dajiworld.com reports m0re animals namley deer and sambhar were recently found dead inside state;s wildlife sanctuaries. With wildlife protection becoming increasingly symbolic of saving forests the lax attitude of state departments towards their job doesnt augur well. It might be pertinent to note that a tiger was killed in March this year inside the same sanctuary and for a few weeks the state officials undertook a series of bizzare apparently to cover up both the presence of a tiger in the reserve and its killing. Till date no conclusive invetigation has been undetaken in the case and an accused who was arrested it also out on bail. These latest cases of killings again highlight the sloppiness of officialdom in the state. As we have been suggesting in this blog, teh centre should create a nodal investigative body, an equivalent of a CBI which should investigate every wildlife crime in the country.
Panaji: Forest Department to Initiate Probe into the Killings of Animals
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
First step towards burying Tadoba - Adani Mines - State govt Forest dept rejects company plan
In a welcome news, the Principal Chief conservator of Forests Maharasthra has rejected Adani Power's plan to set up coal mines in Chandrapur Distt to feed their upcoming Power Plant in Gondia. It might be worth mention that Minister MOEF Jairam Ramesh had recently assured local activists protesting against the mines that he will ensure no damage is caused to the surrounding environment and tiger habitats. With numerous open cast mines in the areas Chandrapur is already one of the most polluted and hot cities in India and the project would have caused further irreversible damage to the Tiger Sanctuary. Though this is the first step towards cancellation of the mining license granted to the company but given that Adani power has support in some political quarters esp one the constituents of the ruling parties in Maharashtra one would expect them to push for clearance again sooner than later. This first step though could be an important milestone in stopping the project from taking off.
Coal mine plan shot down over green concerns
New Tiger census method being adopted in Jharkhand
After scientists recently concluded Tiger scat identification to be a good way of determining population, Palamau Tiger reserve in Jharkhand has started using the method for its census. The method is being cited as even more robust than camera traps and can provide a very accurate estimation of tiger population.
Tiger, tiger, still burning bright?
- 45 scat samples sent to Hyderabad to freeze on number of big cats in PalamauPoachers running amok as law fails to keep pace
Two unrelated reports in papers today point to continued wildlife poaching and smuggling going on rampantly in India. In one instance a smuggler was caught on the India-Nepal border with Tiger skin and another one caught in Coimbatore trying to sell Tiger Paw. As we can all imagine before selling/smuggling a skin would have gone through various hands before being poached in the wild. The fact that none of those crimes was detecated clearly indicats on going poaching in our wild life sanctuaries and continued trading in tiger parts in large centres like Delhi and Nagpur. Till the government busts these trading rings and takes them on like organised Drug crime just catching a few operatives trying to sell or smuggle the goods will not help.
Three held with deer skin, tiger paw
Wildlife crime control detectives unearth poaching ring
Monday, August 10, 2009
World Tiger summit in Ranthambore next year
The first ever World Tiger Summit is likely to be held at Ranthambore which the goverment believes is the best run tiger sanctuary in the country. Well the state and central governments would do well to address chronic problems of understaffing and slopiness if they want to showcase the best to the world.
World Tiger Summit in Ranthambore next year
Southern western Ghats have max Tiger population
The NTCA has delcared the Nagarhole-Mudhumalai-Bandipur-Wyanad region as the most-populated tiger reserve. A report in Deccan Herald today cites the NTCA suggesting that the region be retained as an inter state tiger reserve which will allow easy and free movement of animals within the region. It is worth noting that a highway passing through Bandipur sanctuary was recently shut to night traffic owing to large number of animals being killed in nightime accidents.
Protecting big cats, govt’s new priority
To save Tiger we need to save all 6 populations
An interesting report in The Indian Express today cites a study conducted by the WII which found 6 distinct Tiger populations across the country. These populations have evolved as a result of adaptations to local conditions. so for instanc Tiger population in the himalyan region will be very different from teh ones in western ghats of South India. The study suggests avioding misxing of these populations less we end up with progeny which is not adapted to survive local conditions.
Don’t mix tiger populations: study
Little change on the ground despite all hype and hoopla
A report in TOI today cites how poorly managed Ranthambore's tiger protection system is. The guards at the park are all almost 50 years old with no new recuruitments having taken place in the last few years. If this is the situation at one of the most well known and 'better' protected parks one can imagine what is happening in other lesser known reserves. Ever since Sariska lost all its tigers in 2004, tiger conservation has been top of the agenda items for new media outlets. Forest officials, state govt wildlife mandarins never miss a chance to be in the limelight but when it comes to improving situation on the ground it seems we are still stuck in the sovient era. The report also notes that Ranthambore is one of the fortunate parks where tiger population has been growing despite lack of proper facilities for forest guards.
Old guards plague Ranthambore
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Passing off money as rehabilitation not enough
A recent post in this blog had highlighted problems faced by locals residing in forest areas for generations. Most complain about the lack of irrigation facilities and other means of earning livelihood as basic reason for not being happy with the package being offered by the Govt. Though on paper the policy does provide for the state officials to ensure all amenities are provided, on ground how ever aparthy combined with corruyption is threatning to undo the well thought out initiative. A report in Indian Express today cites similar problems being faced by families residing in Anamlai Tiger Reserve in TamilNadu where locals are finding it tough to surive in the new alloted areas. The Rs. 10 lac per family package and land is by no means enough for families with little of no education to survive in new areas. What the govt needs to do is create employment opportunities for adults in teh families to be able to earn arespectable living. The bestway to do it is to involve them in forest protection and use their local knowledge to benefit the sanctuaries. along side providing education to the children of these families should be priority so that their dependence upon forest and its produce it obliterated in the long run. Only then would these rehabilitatoin packages become successful.
Tiger cubs sighted in Valimiki tiger reserve in Bihar
Good news apart, the disturbing news is that no one can ensure their safety what with the park authorities and state government not even bothering to notify core areas of the park for access to more protection and funds from the centre.
2 more cubs sighted in Bihar tiger reserve
Comprehensive piece in TOI today on Tiger Status - Good read
What is noteworthy is how southern states esp Karnataka seem to have taken a huge leap in ensuring tiger protection. Perhaps it is related to their overall lead on development indices too as compared to their northern counterparts like UP, MP Bihar.
This may be the last time you see a tiger
Dudhwa tiger census to include counts in peripheral areas
According to a TOI report, WWF has appointed a local NGO to carry out tiger census in fields surrounding Dudhwa Tiger sanctuary near India - Nepal border. It is pertinent to note that a national tiger census is also going tobe carried out across 28 national parks in India in October this year following the first scientific camera trap method based census carried out in 2007 which put the tiger numbers in the country at around 1400.
WWF appoints local NGO for counting tigers in Dudhwa |
Friday, August 7, 2009
Adani power project to also affect Nagzira
As if the potential damage mines allocated to Adani Power to Tadoba wasnt catastrophic enough, state Wildlife officials now want to study the effect the power plant will have on another wildlife sanctuary east of Nagpur called Nagzira. What is interesting is that thepower plant is already under construction and one wonders what these 'concerned' officials were doing when approvals were being given and the project was being planned. Some one has suddenly woken up to the grave detrimental effects the power plant will have on surrounding forests which give shelter to tigers, panthers. leopards and other wildlife. It is unlikley that an under construction power plant will be asked to relocate now but what is important is now to ensure the damage it causes to the environment is minimal. The govt officials should carry out a detailed survey of affects of the project and ways to reduce any collateral damage.
MoEF official to study Adani plant's impact on Nagzira
One more arrested from poacher family
TOI report today carries arrest story of brother of dreaded wildlife poacher Sansar Chand. After many failed attempts at arresting Narayan the cops finally got hold him of him outside the court in Delhi of all the places. The gentleman apparently has attended court hearings in the past too and managed to give the cops a slip. The incident also speaks volumes about the will shown by the state so far to prosecute known wildlife criminals, Imagine wanted criminals escaping from courts for years with the cops looking the other way. A similar story in MP had come to light recently where another dreaded poacher was netted after having rum amok for years causing incalculable damage to the country's wildlife. (http://planettiger.blogspot.com/2009/07/another-dreaded-poacher-caught.html)
In Sansar Chand's case the story says his entire family is still at large and continuing with their ancestoral family business in wildlife trading. The sooner cops act on it the better. What is also important in such cases is tomake bail provisions very stringent and prosecute efficiently so as to not allow the criminal to bypass the law and continue his activities.
Sariska poacher Sansar Chand's brother arrested
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Centre embarks upon Similipal survey
After recent reports of rampant tree felling and poaching activities going on inside Similipal Tiger Reserves in Orrisa, the centre has sent a team of wildlife officials to the reserve to get a first hand account of the ground situation. Our recent blog http://planettiger.blogspot.com/2009/07/disaster-in-waiting-similipal-exposed.html had also pointed out to media reports from the reserve citing gross damage being caused to the wildlife inside the park with state forest officials on the run on account of threats from maoists and mafia alike. With the state government refusing to act in time there is a real threat of the tiger reserve being caused irreversible damage before corrective stteps are taken. A central team is now there to access the damange first hand and suggest immediate steps to be taken to stem teh rot. The important issue here will be the will of state forest dept as protection of the tiger reserve is their responsibility. The minister MOEF should personally intervene in teh matter and speak with teh chief minster to ensure no further damage is caused to the reserve.
Wildlife team checks Similipal
Tadoba misery continues - Villager relocation plan goes awry
An excellent piece in Down to Earth details hwo villagers who had readily agreed to vacate their land inside the Tadoba Tiger sanctuary have become victims of official apathy and corruption. It is incumbent upon the government to ensure populations that are relocated are given adequate means to earn their livelihood. However in case of villagers who were shifted out of the core areas of TATR were left to efnd for themselves as the land given to them as part of compensation package had no means of irrigation. Depsite many request and protests, as happens in our country, officials kept passing the buck. When the villagers finally went back to TATR to protest, they were arrested. Rather than sit with them and listen and address their genuine demands, officials took extreme steps to stop them from addressing their genuine demands. It is most likely that money provided for creating irrigation facilities has been siphoned off by corrupt officials and a cover up is going on to prevent the truth from coming out. The Minister MOEF has recently done a good job by increasing the monetary compensation available to each family being relocated out of a tiger sanctuary to Rs. 10 lacs. This shoould go a long way in addressing some of the issues that crop up during relocation.
| Relocation by half measure | |
Tadoba suffers due to official apathy
A report in TOI today cites 50 forest labourers going on strike from today for non payment of salaries due 4 months. For all the tall claims of central forest officials and state govt alike, funds some how either vanish before they reach the grassroot level or take inordinately long. The forest department in Maharashtra has been working at a snails pace to address issues related to wildlife protection with the forest department first clearing mining projects around the tiger sanctuary and now ensuring that money doesnt reach its protectors. In the last one year Tadoba has had to face multiple crisis with the chief forest officer threatning to shut down the park in December 2008 on account of lack of staff to manage the park. Recently, the state wildlife office transferred forest officials across the state, in some cases shunting them within a few months after they had taken charge. Tadoba was again the worst hit with old officials removed and new ones to take charge not announced thus leaving critical posts related to forest protectoin unoccupied. It seems the state forest officials are hell bent upon inflicting grave damage to the wildlife sanctuary which its own tourism department calls 'Jewel of Vidharba'. It is time the centre releases a white paper on all individual tiger sanctuaries, issues each of them is facing and what is the plan to protect those areas. The centre would do well to draw up a 10 year plan for tiger protection in teh country rather than rely on ad hoc announcements.
TATR protection hit as van majoors go on strike
Now Gujarat might get Tigers
In a move aimed at repopulating the state with striped cats, minister MOEF recently asked Gujarat Govt to explore reintroducing the big cat in the state. Given the relatively better record Gujarat has had in conserving wildlife and protecting Lions from poaching, the step should bring hope to wildlife enthusiasts. Gujarat is the only western state with no tiger population with the last known cat having vanished in 1997 as per a report in Indian Express. Given the rate at which forest areas esp tiger habitats across the country are shriking, the move should augur well for expanding wildlife population habitats across teh country.
Centre for introduction of tigers in Gujarat; state not ready to trade its ‘pride’
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)