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Friday, August 21, 2009
India loosing Tigers at alarming rate as another found dead in Bandavgarh
Even India's showpiece tiger reserve known for the maximum density of big cats cant prevent the killings. A tigress was found dead in Bandhavgarh National Park in MP apparently poisoned though post mortem reports are still awaited. The tigersse's death means survival of its 3 cubs in the wild is also under cloud so in a sense this one death will mean a loss of 4 tigers. This incident comes a few months after anothe tiger cub was killed in the park when the driver of a tourist vehicle ran it over apparently trying to get this clients a better view of the feline hinding under the car. Another alarming report by a prominent NGO based on statistics collected from various parts of country, counts 66 tigers dead in 2009. The TOI story also cites the report attributing 23 of these deaths to poaching. Going by the normal underreporting of such incidents in our country it would be safe to assume that the real figure of tigers lost would be closer to twice the figure which means more than 125 cats lost in just 7 months. For a full year this will translate to almost 200 deaths. With new tiger births showing little signs of increase, the rate of deaths will soon take the population to a tipping point when any conservation effort will stop making a difference. So if there is atime to save the tigers it is now.
MP forest officers transferred enmasse
Temptations of the political class to shunt around bureaucracy at its whims and fancy is taking heavy toll on country;s wildlife and forests. In another incident smacking of high handedness as per a report in Central Chronicle MP govt today transferred 27 IFS officers at one stroke. This comes on the heels of Maharashtra Forest minister last month shunting a whopping 350 forest officers at one go including some posted in sensitive wildlife regions wihout providing for suitable replacements. Read our earlier post on this (http://planettiger.blogspot.com/2009/07/another-minister-with-blinkers-on.html)
Given the lack of sensitivity being shown by state wildlife officials and minsters across the board it seems the centre will have to play a larger part in protection of not just wild life but also protecting the bureaucracy from political interference. It isnt surprising that some state forest officials are resisting signing a tripartite agreement with teh centre. Till such time they are not shielded from political interference, expecting them to be fully accountable for protection of reserves will be a non starter.
27 IFS officers transferred
Assam signs Tripartite act for tiger conservation with Centre as MP drags its feet
On a day of mixed developments Assam became the 3rd state after Rajasthan and Kerala to ink the recently formulated tripartite agreement between Centre, State govt and Forest reserve. The agreement makes field director of tiger reserves more accountable and makes release of funds contigent to the efforts being put in by the local official and state govt. Read our earlier post on the topic ( http://planettiger.blogspot.com/2009/07/new-ntca-guidelines-to-hold-field.html)
Apart from signing of the agreement Assam forest minister also announced setting up of a second battalion of force to protect forests and wildlife.
On the other hand, a state which should be at the forefront of tiger protection and take the lead in setting precedents for others to follow is dragging its feet in helping the centre make tiger conservation efforts more meaningful. A report by Zee News says MP govt officials yesterday raised objections to signing the tripartite act wary of the responsibility it affixes on field directors of reseves. This coming from a state which has witnessed the shameful loss of all tigers in Panna and almost all in Sanjay National park. Appartently field directors are concerned that once the agreement is signed they will be accountable for their actions. The Minister MOEF Jairam Ramesh being a determined man has asked for NTCA to meet with the field directors to remove their apprehensions and get the agreement signed at the earliest. If there is a chance for the MP govt to bury the past and ensure protection of its tigers for future generations this can be teh first real meaninful step they can take.
Tripartite pact on Project Tiger
Big cats find healthy habitat at Kaziranga
MP not keen to sign pact for tiger conservation
Railways insensitivity killing wildlife
In another incident of its kind a deer was run over by a train in the Dushwa national park region in UP as per a report by PTI. The report also cites another such case of a tiger being killed by a speeding train last year in teh same region. Despite detailed guidlines reg speed of trains in various sections, teh railways has summarily failed to implement steps to be taken to prevent loss of wildlife
Deer overrun by speeding train
NTCA teams to visit Tiger parks on verge of loosing their jewels
As per a TOI report today, NTCA has constituted various teams drawn from wildlife NGOs to visit tiger reserves showing signs of rapid decline. First reserve to get a visit will be Valmiki Reserve in Bihar which as per the report has lost more than 60% of big cats in the last couple of years. A recent post on this blog (http://planettiger.blogspot.com/2009/08/tiger-cubs-sighted-in-valimiki-tiger.html) had noted slopiness of state officials in ignoring to adhere to basic guidlines related to demarcation of core and buffer areas of the park. Given the poor track record of state govts in acting to save protected areas time is runing out before the park becomes another Siriska. Apart from Valimiki Palamu in Jharkhand, Manas in Assam and Indravati in Chhattisgarh, Dampa Tiger Reserve in Mizoram, Buxa Tiger Reserve in West Bengal, Namdapha Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh and Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve in Andhra Pradesh are the other reserves the teams are likely to visit. It may be noted that all these reserves have been on the NTCA radar for a while due to a whole host of problems ranging from naxalism to poor ground level protection. One hopes the NTCA visits will initiate a series of workable steps to stem the rapid decline of these forest areas.
NTCA team to inspect Valmiki Tiger Reserve
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Similipal Tiger Reserve being plundered - Act before all tigers vanish
Reports from Similipal Tiger reserve in Orrisa are getting worse. After the reported incidents of maoists and poaching mafia having taken over the reserve comes news of large scale hunting going on inside the park. Local activists have reported sighting rampant tree felling and daily killing of wild animals from within the reserve and some doubt whether any tigers are left inside the park. At last count there were found to be 61 tigers in the park in January this year down from almost 100 a couple of years back.
Our recent posts on Similipal had cited media reports of the deteriorating situation in the reserve and if the govt doenst do something in a hurry to stem the rot another siriska is unfolding right in front of our eyes.
Disaster in waiting - Similipal - exposed by local activistshttp://planettiger.blogspot.com/2009/07/disaster-in-waiting-similipal-exposed.html
Maharashtra Minister found guilty
As per a report in DNA today the forest ministry has found the minister who entered a tiger cage in Nagpur guitly of having flouted wildlife rules. The ministry has also decided to take action against Zoo officials who encouraged the minister to enter the cage. With the minsiter belonging to the ruling party and from an important state which goes to election this year it will be interesting to see if the centre has any will to take action against him or as usually happens low level zoo officials will be made scapegoats and the matter buried.
Minister guilty of molesting tiger
Tadoba man-animal conflict takes deadly turn again
After the lull of a few months when no incidents of tigers attacking humans were reported in the latest one a Leopard attacked and injured 5 people on the outskirts of the tiger reserve. This comes on the back of another reported incident of a tiger killing a man around the reserve last week (http://planettiger.blogspot.com/2009/08/man-animal-conflict-at-tadoba.html)
It doesnt seem the wildlife officials have any plan to prevent these incidents from repeating. After the numerous incidents of the last few years one would expect the forest dept to have learnt some lessons and found out a way of stopping these attacks. But it seems they are just waiting for the villagers to poison and kill these beasts to prevent these attacks. If there is an area taht needs urgent attention on Chandrapur apart from revoking licences for mining it is figuring out a way of preventing these conflits as they can cause serious harm to the wildlife inthe long run
Leopard wreaks havoc in Chandrapur, five injured
Two more poachers arrested - The killing continues
As per a TOI report, two men with the skin of a young tiger were caught by the TN state wildlife officials. Though cases of poachers/traders being netted are coming to light often there seems to be little concerted effort to break the back of poaching mafia across the country. As this blog has been saying the central ministry needs to set up crime investigation and prosectution for wildlife cases on the lines of CBI. A nodal body which works closely with states and looks at a pan india picture. With wildlife crime becoming an inter state phenomenon only a central body with mandate to operate across state borders can put a lid on the continuing killing of wild animals.
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Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Minister MOEF wants tigers in Gujarat
A report in Indian Express today cites a letter sent by Jairam Ramesh to Gujrat forest minister proposing relocating tigers into the state. Tigers used to raom in the state as recently as 10 years back the repopulating the state will expand the tiger conservation efforts significantly by brining in new areas under protection. Apart from Gujarat the minister should look at other such areas/states which have forest cover to be able to hold sustainable tiger population. Spreading the animal far and wide and involving local communities in protection will go a long way in keeping our national pride from extinction.
Jairam plans to get tigers to Gujarat
Bihar leads the way in calousness
A report in TOI cites how valmiki tiger reserve in Bihar is gradually loosing its protection force due to non payment of salaries to guards for the past few months. With the centre keen to provide monetary assistance to state govt, state officials have not signed the MOU with NTCA which will make them eligible to receive these funds. Such criminal negligence smacks might lead to the reserve loosing its tigers soon if affective steps are not taken immediately. Though the report also quotes state forest minster saying the MOUwill be signed soon, one wonders whether our lawmakers stand for protection of forest areas or are siding with poaching mafias and helping them tear down green corridors by simply ensuring delays in signing such agreements.
State fails to get Central aid for tiger reserve
Orrisa CM wants central forces for forest protection
Given the large scale violence being perpetrated by maoists across the red corridor and the collateral damage it is causing to tiger reserves in affected states Orissa CMs demand yesterday for CRPF to be deployed at Similipal might initiate a debate on how best to protect these parks. It is worth noting that Similipal in Orrisa has borne the brunt of maoists as well as land mafia in recent months. With forest protection staff driven out by crime syndiate media reports have cited a free for all inside the park with poaching, tree felling going on rampantly. Asking for CRPF protection might be a desperate cry for help but central forest ministry might want to pay heed to such demands. Recently at the Tiger conservation meet at Sariska, NTCA head had proposed taking off those reserves off list which are affected by serious maoist violence and where both counting and protection has not been carried out at all. Rather than leaving these areas to their own the ministry should work along side Home ministry to chalk out a action plan to protect these areas. With the home ministry planning a full scale offensive against the red brigade post monsoon it might betime for the MOEF to get into the picture and move in to take steps towards protecting forest areas.
Naveen urges centre to deploy CRPF at sanctuaries , national parks in state
Jairam Rames wants caged minister investogated
Minister MOEF has asked for central Zoo authority to investigate the matter relating to Maharashtra Agriculture minister entering a tiger cage and petting the cub. Given the laxity with which laws are implemented and invetigations carried out in our country it wont be surprising if nothing comes out of it. All the media attention has atleast ensured no one would want to repeat the act again in front of cameras.
Environmental clearances new licence raj, says Manmohan
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Centre to transfer funds directly to Tiger Reserves
In a move initiated by the centre that could potentially alter the nature of continous fund squeeze faced by tiger reserves the forest ministry has decided to transfer the money directly to the parks through a new fund to be set up rather than routing it through govt department based in state capitals. As per the story in Telegraph This move could well cut the time it takes for money to get to ground level and more importantly it will ensure some money gets their as state governments across the country have shown very little will to put forest and tiger protection on top of their priority list.
Fast funds for tiger reserves
'Minister in cage' defends his actions as govt officials wake up
Forest dept officials after two days of media ruckus have woken up to the illegality of allowing minister and his cronies to enter a tiger cub's cage. They have sought a report from teh Zoo officials on the incident while the minister himself initially defending his actions. even more bizarre is a statement attributed to the envioronment minister of Maharashtra who compared teh cub petting incident to visting a friends house and petting his children. Mr Minister if such is your love of wildlife and animals how come protected areas in the state are loosing their precious jewels under your watch. How come you have been championing the cause of mining in Tadoba while knowing fully well the dangers it poses to teh tiger reserve in teh area. Unfortunately as other incidents this too will be soon covered up & forgotten and we will get back to business as usual. Till such time our law makers at all levels wake up to the need of protecting wildlife and forests it will be an uphill battle to save the environment from further degradation.
Minister in tiger cub’s cage: Report sought
Monday, August 17, 2009
Minister makes a mockery of rules
In a bizarre incident Agriculture minister of Maharashtra entered a cage for tigers to pose with the cubs on Saturday. Though our country is known for lawmakers believing they are above it but such incidents in full media glare put a question mark on the sincerity of our political class to lead by example.
Minister enters tiger cage, activists cry foul
Man Animal conflict at Tadoba increasing again
After the lull of the last few months, a report by PTI cites a sheperd being killed inside the park. It is relevant to note Tadoba's prominence in the last few years grew owing to increased tiger attacks on human beings. These attacks suddenly came to a stop in January this year making wildlife activists to conclude large scale poaching for the reason behind sudden stopping of conflicts. This new how ever brings to fore the serious problem again and the park authorities would do well to chalk out a detailed plan to prevent recurrance less tigers in this area too are lost soon.
Tiger kills shepherd in Tadoba Andhari tiger reserve
Kerala second state to ink new pact with Centre on Tiger conservation
After Rajasthan, kerala has become the 2nd state to have inked the tripartite pact (http://planettiger.blogspot.com/2009/07/new-ntca-guidelines-to-hold-field.html) making all the state, centre and park management party to a legally binding contract with regards to conservation of flaura and fauna inside the sanctuary. The centre would be well advised to push all other states especailly MP to sign the pact in a time bound manner so that it comes into force immediately.
Kerala inks pact with Centre for tiger conservation
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.
Reports damn Adani coal project
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
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