Hunt on as tigress leaves Ranthambore

A worried team of 35 forest officials and experts are on the trail of a two-year-old old tigress which ran away from the Ranthambore National Park last week. The young tigress seems to have retraced the path of another tiger, which strayed out of the park and was mowed down by a train in Darrah, in Jhalawar, in 2003.

Forest officials said in the last year alone at least five tigers have walked out of the national park. “There have been such incidents in the past, primarily because of over population in the park. There are around 40 tigers in the park now and it not possible for them all to exist in this space,” said Rajasthan Chief Conservator of Forests P S Somshekhar.

Stating that the tiger faces threat from poachers or even a scared, desperate populace, Rajasthan Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) R N Mehrotra said: “Every effort is being made to track her down and lead her back to the park. The entire forest machinery in that area, covering five districts have been put on alert,” he said.

Ranthambore Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) R S Shekhawat confirmed that the tigress made a kill three days ago in Kota district’s Itawa region. “We have found some pug marks and are following all leads possible,” he said. “She was spotted in Itawa two days ago and is moving in a south easterly direction. Another 85 km and she will be inside the Darrah Sanctuary in Jhalawar district,” Shekhwat said.

The officials said that though the male-female ratio in Ranthambore was almost equal, stronger males drive out weaker ones. “But in this case it is a female, which makes the issue more serious,” Somshekhar said. Mehrotra asserted that the park could handle only about 35 tigers. “Though it is an excellent sign that the population is increasing, overpopulation is detrimental to the animal’s survival. Even as we expect another six mothers in the next four months, more cats will stray away from the park and the situation could get dangerous,” he said.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/hunt-on-as-tigress-leaves-ranthambore/569440/2

India launches TigerNet.nic.in to simplify tiger death reporting system

India’s National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), in association with the wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC, has launched TigerNet.nic.in, a national tiger conservation website that will allow tiger reserve directors and chief wildlife wardens in the country to key-in crucial information about tiger deaths, poaching and seizures.

The TigerNet website will enable enforcement officers to record information on tiger mortalities, to monitor patterns of where poaching incidents are occurring and use this information to strengthen anti-poaching efforts.

It is anticipated that the new website will simplify the whole tiger death reporting system and allow a more accurate and transparent picture to be generated of the poaching and other threats facing the nation's tiger population.

The accurate reporting of tiger deaths and the circumstances surrounding them has been a contentious issue in India, with conflicting information from official sources and NGOs, and accusations of secrecy over some findings.

http://www.alootechie.com/content/india-launches-tigernetnicin-simplify-tiger-death-reporting-system

Karnakat tiger census draws large number of enthusiasts

BANGALORE: This Friday begins the search for the big cats in Karnataka. The census of tigers, co-predators, prey and their habitats will be carried out in forest areas across the state from January 22 to 27. However, this year the census will be different with very high interface between general public or enthusiasts and the forest department. Two to three enthusiasts will accompany forest guards in each of their trails.

They would not just sight the wild animals like sambars and elephants but may even get a glimpse of the tiger, for which people wait for a lifetime.

There are 2,819 beats (tracks which are monitored by forest watchers) in Karnataka. There is already huge excitement among the enthusiasts who have flooded the forest department office with application forms.

The demand for applications, according to additional principal chief conservator of forests B K Singh, is very high for Nagarahole, Bandipur, Bhadra and Biligiriranga Swamy Temple (BRT) Wildlife Sanctuary.

"I am going to Bhadra for the census. I am keen to go because I wanted to experience the forests, more than just a tourist experience. I am realistic enough to understand that I might not sight a tiger. But in my small way I want to contribute something to wildlife," said a software engineer Vijay Singh who is also a member of the wildlife enthusiasts group, Vanya.

On January 22, 23 and 24, the Carnivore Sign Encounter Rate will be surveyed. It is to quantify the abundance of tigers, leopards, sloth bears and other carnivores. The signs to look out for will be pugmark trails, scats, scrapes, rake marks on trunks, vocalization and actual sighting. It is the most important survey, so two volunteers have been allotted with one forest guard.

On January 25, 26, 27, the sampling for ungulate (animals with hooves) encounter rates will be done along a transect line. A record would be made of all herbivores seen during this process, the time of sighting, the species (sambar, chital, wild pig others), the size of the herd and the forest or terrain type. On all three days, the volunteers on their way back, will document the pellets of these ungulates.

They will also do a vegetation and a grass survey because the space occupied by the grass is directly proportionate to the presence of ungulates or prey species.

"We have tried to make the system more transparent this year, and there has been overwhelming response from enthusiasts and youngsters. Though we got too many applications, we tried not to decline anyone's application," added Singh.

* After the surveys are completed, results will be sent to Wildlife Institute of India whose officials will then inspect and verify data again

* Census results will be out after four to five months

* Volunteers don't have to be wildlife experts. They should be able to write and count

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Trailing-tigers-people-join-census/articleshow/5474477.cms

Two poachers arrested in Bahraich

Two poachers were arrested and leopard skin recovered from their possession in the Risia area of Bahraich district on Saturday. The police suspect that the accused have links with the notorious Bawariya gang.

Those arrested have been identified as Salim, a resident of Shravasti, and Poi Devi — belonging to Chittor in Rajasthan.

“The accused were arrested in Bahraich for a similar offence in 2006. After being granted bail, they have been residing in the area from the last six months. They claimed the leopard was poached in Nepal. However, we believe that it happened in the local jungle area,” said Risia Station Officer K D Singh. The accused will be sent on custody remand, he added.

“Poi Devi’s husband Varmal was also earlier arrested in Bahraich for a similar offence and is in jail,” said Singh.

In 2006, a 10-member Bawariya gang, which operated in Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, was arrested. While six members were from Bawariya, the remaining were locals. Tiger skin, bones and iron traps were recovered from their possession.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Two-poachers-arrested-in-Bahraich/568559

India to spend Rs 200 crore for tiger conservation: Jairam Ramesh

Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh said that India will spend around Rs 200 crore over the next five years for the development of Sundarbans biosphere in West Bengal.

Sunderbans is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a home to more than 400 Royal Bengal Tigers.

During his maiden visit to the world's largest delta, Ramesh said that the Centre will infuse Rs 200 crore for integrated coastal zone management from World Bank by June end.

The grant will be used for plantation, wildlife protection and anti-trafficking activities under the Project Tiger scheme of the federal government.

Ramesh also informed that the government has plans for the locals residing in the adjacent areas to reduce their dependence on forests.

"We will spend Rs 200 crore on the conservation of Sunderbans...we also have plans for locals residing in adjacent areas, we will have to do something for them we will provide assistance for rain water harvesting and employment security of locals," Ramesh said.

"We will join hands with the provincial government for the development of Sunderbans Eco-system. We will provide every possible support to the provincial government, whatever the government demanded we will provide," he added.

Project Tiger, a Union Government scheme has been under implementation since 1973.

The main objective of the project is to ensure a viable tiger population in India for scientific, economic, aesthetic, cultural and ecological values and to preserve for all time, areas of biological importance as a natural heritage for the benefit, education and enjoyment of the people.

Initially, the Project started with nine tiger reserves, covering an area of 16,339 square kilometers, with a population of 268 tigers. At present there are 27 tiger reserves covering an area of 37761 square kilometers with a population of 1498 tigers. (ANI)

http://sify.com/news/India-to-spend-Rs-200-crore-for-tiger-conservation-Jairam-Ramesh-news-kbnwaegbgcf.html

Six-year-old Tiger found dead in Corbett Park

Dehradun, Jan 12 (PTI) Jim Corbett National Park has lost its second tiger this month with the carcass of a feline found in the reserve.

The carcass of the six-year-old tiger was found last night.

Park Director Ranjan Mishra today said the tiger died a natural death.

"There was no involvement of poachers as all the organs of the tiger were found intact," he said.

Earlier, a tigress was found dead in the park on January four.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/463979_Six-year-old-Tiger-found-dead-in-Corbett-Park

Sariska tiger relocation halted for now - TOI

JAIPUR: Once lauded as a landmark effort in tiger conservation in the country, the relocation of wild cats to the Sariska tiger reserve might just become a footnote in wildlife history.

Sources in the ministry of forest and environment said the relocation bid has been stalled. “It will take some time and cannot happen overnight. Concerns were raised by some people over the inbreeding of tigers in Sariska and so we have sought a study on it. The relocation will resume after the findings,” said Rajesh Gopal, director of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).

Interestingly, Gopal had himself written a letter to an English daily on July 9 last year trashing reports the paper had carried highlighting problems of inbreeding at Sariska.

“The very fact that Ranthambore tiger population has a comparatively high heterozygosity of 0.52 highlights the fact that the ill effects of inbreeding depression has not manifested in the population owing to adaptation,” he had written.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Sariska-tiger-relocation-halted-for-now/articleshow/5434951.cms

The relocation of wild cats was a joint bid by the Union government, the NTCA, the Wildlife Trust of India and the state government to re-establish tigers in Sariska after poachers killed all the big cats in the reserve forest.

Maharashtra tiger reserve likely to be expanded

STAFF WRITER 11:11 HRS IST

Sunil K Mukhopadhyay

Chandrapur (Maha), Jan 3 (PTI) Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) is proposed to be expanded by an additional 1,100 sq km from the current 625.40 sq km for making it an ideal habitat for tigers and to reduce the threat of poaching.

"We have proposed to the government to include another 1,100 sq km to TATR which has about 45 big cats and at least 12 to 14 cubs. Once the new area is added, TATR will become an ideal habitat for tigers," S P Thakre, Conservator of Forest and field director, TATR told PTI here.

"We must have inviolate areas if we want the tiger to survive for long. From that point, we feel that the area of TATR should be extended," he said.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/450618_Maharashtra-tiger-reserve-likely-to-be-expanded

Tiger tops list of most endangered species in world

Tiger

New studies indicate that there may be as few as 3,200 tigers (Panthera tigris) left in the wild. Tigers occupy less than seven per cent of their original range, which has decreased by 40 per cent over the past 10 years. Continuing deforestation and rampant poaching could push some tiger populations to the same fate as its now-extinct Javan and Balinese relatives in other parts of Asia.

Tigers are poached for their body parts, which are used in traditional Asian medicine, while skins are also highly prized.

Additionally, sea level rise, because of climate change, threatens the mangrove habitat of a key tiger population in Bangladesh’s and India’s Sunderbans.

The upcoming Chinese Year of the Tiger, starting in February 2010, will mark an important year for conservation efforts to save tigers, with the WWF continuing to play a vital role in implementing bold new strategies to save this magnificent Asian big cat.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100105/jsp/frontpage/story_11944319.jsp

Proposal to widen NH-17 rejected

Mumbai: The ministry of environment and forest has rejected the state government’s proposal to widen the national highway 17 (NH-17) which connects Mumbai and Goa. The ministry said that widening the highway to four lanes will eat up space in the Karnala bird sanctuary.

The sanctuary is already under pressure due to illegal grazing and encroachments.

The state wildlife advisory board had approved the proposal on February 20 last year despite strong protests.

Sources said that they were not surprised that the proposal was shot down. “It wasn’t easy to get the approval for the project,” said an official from the forest department. “The National Tiger Conservation Authority is strongly opposing a similar proposal about the widening of national highway 7 that cuts through Pench Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh.”

The sate forest department had already made it clear that they did not support the proposal. However, despite the strong opposition, the state government had forwarded the proposal to the ministry.

“This is a good decision taken by the ministry. There is already heavy traffic on the Mumbai-Goa highway and the widening would have increased it further,” said environmentalist Debi Goenka.

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_proposal-to-widen-nh-17-rejected_1330986

Maaharashtra gets its fourth tiger reserve

Mumbai: The state government has finally issued a notification of Sahyadri Tiger Reserve in Western Maharashtra. It is now the fourth tiger reserve in the state after Melghat, Tadoba-Andhari and Pench and the 40th in the country.

The efforts to form a new tiger reserve began two years back when Kishor Rithe, president of Satpuda Foundation, an NGO working for forest and wildlife conservation in central India, mooted the idea.

“The forest is an ideal tiger habitat and a fit case to be declared a critical tiger habitat. We decided to form a reserve combining Chandoli National Park and Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary,” said Rithe.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority’s (NTCA) nod came at a meeting held on May 21, 2008, along with the creation of three other tiger reserves in the country — Sunabeda in Orissa, Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh and Ratapani in Madhya Pradesh. Also, the authority decided to treat Nagarahole National Park in Karnataka as a tiger reserve.

A three-member expert committee comprising the then principal chief conservator of forests, wildlife, B Majumdar, chief conservator of forests Nand Kishore and Kishor Rithe was formed for identification and delineation of critical tiger habitat under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

The committee proposed to declare four areas — Sahyadri, Tadoba, Pench and Melghat as critical tiger habitats on December 30, 2007.

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_maaharashtra-gets-its-fourth-tiger-reserve_1331393

Tiger reserves to upload data on deaths, seizures

The most contentious issue between the Centre and the state on tiger conservation — the accurate reporting of tiger deaths and details of tiger poaching — is going to become live public information.

Tiger reserve directors and chief wildlife wardens will now have to key in crucial, instantaneous information on tiger deaths, seizure or recovery of poached tiger parts, and post-mortem results on a National software system. The goal is to lift the veil of secrecy on tiger deaths, initiate investigations and take quick action at the central level.

The national website, tigernet.nic.in, to be launched on Wednesday, will also be the first consolidated database on wildlife crime related to tiger and other protected species within the tiger reserve.

Tiger deaths and honesty in reporting them to the Centre by state tiger reserves has been a sticky issue. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has in the past found carcasses of tigers, either found poached or dead due to natural circumstances, disposed of hastily without postmortems or investigations of poaching links. Consider this: NGO Wildlife Protection Society of India reported 84 tiger deaths, by both natural and poaching causes, in 2009-10. States however have reported deaths of 59 tigers up to November 2009. On Tuesday, a tigress was found dead in Corbett, the third in a series of deaths.

“We were at a situation when field reports, official information, and reports by NGOs were at odds with each other. Whether a tiger has indeed died or if it has died due to poisoning or poaching needs to be known to us. There was a great level of secrecy. This system will institutionalize reporting on a national level,” said a senior NTCA official.

The software has been developed with NGO TRAFFIC India. “The software will also send automatic reminders to official staff to upload details like post-mortem reports after they have reported tiger deaths. The other details will be things like location of tiger carcass, visible marks of injury, etc,” he said. “The idea is also to do away with the system of sending letters and faxes on tiger deaths which is archaic. We also will be able to spot a problem on a landscape level, and not just on a tiger reserve level.”

The NTCA has also recently released money to tiger reserves for buying freezers in order to keep tiger bodies in cold storage to do proper post-mortems.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/tiger-reserves-to-upload-data-on-deaths-seizures/564022/2

Centre to come up with plan to save Sunderbans

New Delhi The Centre is likely to chalk out a detailed action plan to save the Sunderbans, one of the most threatened deltas and the largest mangrove forests in the world, from the impact of climate change.

Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh will visit the Sunderbans on January 12 to look into its protection and long-term ecological sustainability. “It is a unique challenge as far as the Sunderbans are concerned because of their vulnerability to climate change and Alia-like hurricanes. I will visit there on January 12 to see what we can do to combat the situation,” Ramesh said on the sidelines of a function on Monday.

The visit is in response to a constant reminder from the West Bengal government to the Centre on increased cyclonic activities and tidal amplitude, besides accelerated erosion leading to disappearance of certainislands like Ghoramara, which threatens the existence of Sunderbans.

Ramesh said a national institute for mangrove research was being established in the Sunderban area to provide a scientific approach in preserving the country’s mangroves.

He also said the vulnerability of sea-facing inhabited islands in the mangrove needed to be evaluated, besides construction of bridges to provide for evacuation in case of a sea-rise situation or Alia-like hurricanes in the future.

Sunderbans are home to 43 lakh people, who inhabit 52 non-forest islands.

It is also the biggest mangrove tiger habitat, comprising 104-odd islands and covering an area of 3,500 square kms.

http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/centre-to-come-up-with-plan-to-save-sunderbans/564001/

NGOs will be allowed during tiger census

NAGPUR: The forest department has geared up for the exercise (2009-10) to collect data to estimate tigers, co-predators, prey and their habitat.

In one of the biggest training and sensitisation programmes on the revised methodology of line transect method which started on Tuesday, at least 90 officials including IFS officials, divisional forest officers (DFOs), assistant conservators (ACFs), range forest officers (RFOs), foresters and guards were sensitised. Most of the field staff was from Nagpur Territorial Circle comprising Wardha, Gondia, Bhandara and Nagpur Divisions.

The presentation on new tiger estimation technique was made by Mohan Jha, field director of Pench National Park and Tiger Reserve, while how to lay transects, identification of grass, biotic interference, collection of data and other aspects were explained by assistant conservator forests (ACFs) Kishore Mishrikotkar and G K Vashisht. On January 6, practical training of field staff on how to collect data will be held in Hingna Forest Range, near Nagpur.

Meanwhile, the department has decided to seek help of wildlife buffs and physically fit volunteers and NGOs. Only interested individuals will be allowed to take part in the exercise to assist the forest staff. This aspect was missing from the scheduled programme announced earlier. Now the confusion has been cleared. The department will also take support from botanists who can be helpful in identifying plant and tree species.

Alok Kumar Joshi, principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife), Maharashtra, has already issued a programme on December 31 to all the territorial and wildlife circles in the state.

According to the programme released by the PCCF, two-day training and sensitisation of deputy conservators (DyCFs) and assistant conservators (ACFs) has to be done by January 8 and for range forest officers (RFOs), round officers and forest guards it is January 15. Drawing of line transects in every beat will be taken up from January 15 to 20, and actual exercise will start from January 27.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/NGOs-will-be-allowed-during-tiger-census/articleshow/5414427.cms

New plan to protect wildlife along Nepal border

BAHRAICH: Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the most sensitive protected areas in the state. The main reason is the porous Indo-Nepal

There is no forest left on the Nepalese side. They have cut the forests a few decades back. It was always difficult for the forest staff to tackle the pressure mounted from Nepalese side in the past. Illicit felling and poaching use to be a great problem in these areas.

Divisional forest officer (Wildlife) RK Singh told TOI that deployment of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) on the border has certainly reduced the pressure but still there is a need of more manpower support to the forest department in order to face such problems effectively.

The DFO said that recently the Union government and National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) decided to deploy Tiger Protection Force (TPF) in all tiger reserves of the country. In the initial phase, it had been decided that ex-armymen and local villagers will be deployed for this purpose. "In Katarniaghat, we deployed the Tiger Protection Force in February of 2008 and the results are encouraging," he added.

He said, "We have got extra manpower which is available round-the-clock for patrolling and other preventive works. The guns, guards, vehicle and local youth have given an edge to the protection strategy in the division. Recently, in an encounter with Nepalese poachers, we could arrest four persons with a loaded gun. The forest guards and the Tiger Protection Force were patrolling in the border area and got information from a `mukhbir' that some poachers are planning to enter the forest area. The `gadabandi' was done and in an encounter, the poachers were apprehended."

He said that guns and guards matter a lot when it comes to protecting the dwindling wildlife. The deployment of TPF is helpful for the field staff, the DFO added.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/allahabad/New-plan-to-protect-wildlife-along-Nepal-border/articleshow/5414088.cms

Rajasthan to set up tiger conservation foundation

Jaipur, Jan 6 (PTI) The Rajasthan Government will set up a Tiger Conservation Foundation (TCF) for preserving Sariska Wild Life Sanctuary near Alwar and the Ranthambhore National Park (RNP) in Sawaimadhopur.

The state cabinet today decided that the foundation would be represented by the government, forest department, NGOs and wildlife experts, an official spokesman said here.

The TCF would lay emphasis on conservation of biodiversity and strengthening of infrastructure and supply of water to acquatic flora.

The cabinet also approved amendment to the Disaster Management Act, 2005.

For introducing mediclaim policy-2009 for accredited journalists, the Rajasthan Patrakar and Sahityakar Kalyan Kosh Act 2001, and Rajasthan Advertisement Act, 2001 would be amended.

Later, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said the government respected the judgement of the High Court declaring the Mathur Commission probing previous BJP government's alleged financial corruption and other bungling as "illegal".

http://www.ptinews.com/news/455965_Rajasthan-to-set-up-tiger-conservation-foundation

Tiger, tigress found dead in National Parks

United News of India Lakhimpur Kheri/Bijnor, Jan 6: A tiger and a tigress were found dead under mysterious circumstances near Dudhwa National Park in Lakhimpur Kheri district and Jim Corbett National Park situated near Bijnore district of Uttar Pradesh today. The carcass of the tiger was recovered from Sampoornanand locality at Paraspur village in Lakhimpur Kheri, police said. The wildlife officials are suspecting it to be a killing by unidentified hunters as the carcass sustained wound marks. Meanwhile, the carcass has been sent to Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Izatnagar in Bareilly, for the post-mortem. In a similar incident, a tigress was found dead at Phulichand range. The wildlife experts said the tigress must have died in a clash with another tigers for their food. Since 1999, 31 tigers have died due to various reasons at Jim Corbett National Park.

17 states launch year-long tiger census

Seventeen tiger states have, for the first time, simultaneously launched a massive year-long wildlife census to come up with an accurate estimate of the tiger population in the country. The exercise christened “Monitoring tigers, co-predators, prey and their habitats” is being conducted employing the line-transact and camera-trapping method as opposed to the earlier pugmark and waterhole census.

Since the tiger fiasco in Sariska and Ranthambore in 2005, the government has decided to come out with more precise figures using the more accurate and scientific line transact method. The forest beat in each territory would be considered as the sampling unit and areas within the beat having maximum potential of tiger occupancy would be searched.

Trainings of senior officials from various states was completed in November-December 2009 and the recording of data is scheduled to begin this month and end by the first week of February. It will then be sent to NTCA where compilation of data will be done followed by analysis and interpretation. “The whole process is likely to be over by November when we are hoping to declare the results, including the number of animals, at the international seminar on tigers planned at Ranthambore,” Y V Jhala, senior scientist at Dehradun’s Wildlife Institute of India (WII), which is co-ordinating the massive effort, said.

Inaccuracy was known to creep in into the pugmark and waterhole census with alleged fudging of figures by state Forest Departments. “In the new method, our beat guards will be covering their beat along with two aides for about eight days. For the first three days, they will take round of the beat covering five km and registering GPS records of calls, feaces, pugmarks, hair, bones, kills and such other signs or actual intercepts of animals. The next two days will be for laying line transacts passing through different parts of the beat with maximum possibilities of encountering animals. It will be followed by fresh recordings along the transacts,” said Maharashtra Chief Conservator of Forest , A K Saxena.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/17-states-launch-year-long-tiger-census/564422

India fears China's Year of the Tiger could encourage poaching

Bombay News.Net
Thursday 7th January, 2010 (ANI)

New Delhi, Jan 7 : Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh has said that the demand of tiger skins and bones could increase in 2010 as China observes the Year of the Tiger.

Talking to reporters here on Wednesday, Ramesh said: "This year China is celebrating Year of the Tiger. We are concerned that because of this demand of the tiger parts would increase and it would promote poaching."

Ramesh also appreciated China issuing a series of the directives to prevent illegal trade of tiger parts.

"This is the first step taken by China and we are happy that China has agreed that it has an important role to play in tiger conservation," he said.

In India there are around 1,140 tigers left in the wild. Indian government has been taking several steps to save the big cats.

China has been under immense pressure from the international community to take steps to stop tiger farming and trade in tiger parts.

Govt projects may put endangered wildlife at stake

New Delhi: The year 2010 maybe the international year of biodiversity but India's biodiversity hotspots are facing an unprecedented onslaught. The Standing Committee of the National Board of Wildlife, under the Chairmanship of Minister Jairam Ramesh has recently cleared roads, dams and mining projects through national parks and sanctuaries – the last vestiges for endangered wildlife.

Minister of Environment, Jairam Ramesh who has cleared no less than 15 road, dam and mining projects inside India's National Parks and sanctuaries, may have sounded the death knell for India's most endangered wildlife. These include:

• A Limestone Mining Plant on the boundary ofRajiv Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh, one of the finest habitats for the Tiger.

• 65 Hectares of forest land to be chopped for 3 roads passing through Gangotri National Park, home to snow leopard, blue sheep and black bear

• Submergence of 1000 hectares of forest for a dam at Narasimha Wild Life Sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh, home to the critically endangered Jerdon Courser bird.

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• Diversion of 240 hectares of forest land for a 400 KV Transmission line and 21 hectares for an underground oil pipeline both at the Gujarat Wild Ass Sanctuary, only home to the Indian Wild Ass.

• Diversion of forest land for a high-power transmission line by Power Grid Corporation in Chandaka Wildlife Sanctuary, home to elephants, barking deer, sloth bears and leopards

• Diversion of forest land for road-widening by the Border Roads Organization in Askot Wildlife Sanctuary, Uttaranchal, home to the highly endangered musk deer.

•

Such Projects lead not only to more fatalities, they also damage long term survival and breeding patterns of wild animals.

Wild expert Belinda Wright said, “We have such few areas of prime forest land that are within our protect area network. And we just cannot afford to lose even an inch of them.”

However, Minister Jairam Ramesh disagrees.

Jairam said, “You are being unfair, you are being very selective. There are number of projects that have been put on hold or rejected. The job of my Ministry is not to say no all the time. My job is to find a balance between environment and development.”

National parks and wildlife sanctuaries form less than 4 per cent of India's land surface. In the International Year of biodiversity a complete halt on deforestation in these areas maybe the last hope of survival for India's endangered animals.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/govt-projects-may-put-endangered-wildlife-at-stake/108372-3.html?from=tn