Poachers use electrocution to hunt

New Delhi, Feb. 2: Poachers have found that electrocution is the easiest way to kill elephants, tigers and leopards in the wild. All they have to do is steal electricity from an overhead line by hooking a wire and then laying a live line across an animal track. In January 2010 alone, five elephants and one tiger are reported to have been killed by electrocution.

Wild elephants head the list of electrocuted animals and the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) found that 30 elephants were electrocuted in 2009. In 2008, it was 24 and in 2007 it was 33. Alarmed by the rising numbers, Belinda Wright who heads WPSI pointed out that her organisation conducted a detailed nation-wide investigation and data compilation which has revealed that more than 300 animals have been killed in this fashion.

In 2009, WPSI’s statistics revealed four leopards were electrocuted, in 2008 it was one and in 2007 the number was two. Two tigers were killed in this horrendous fashion in 2009, two in 2008 and one in 2007. In 2003, the WPSI found the 28 elephants and six tigers had died due to electrocution. But wild life activists feel that WPSI’s data has erred on the conservative side. An Orissa-based activist feels the numbers are much larger claiming that in Orissa alone during the last five years, 280 elephants have been electrocuted.

Ms Wright petitioned the Supreme Court giving a state and species-wise mortality count, showing that the commonest victims were highly endangered species such as the elephant, the tiger, the leopard and the Indian rhinoceros. Detailed information on poaching methods and video evidence of poaching were filed, along with recommendations on how to solve the problem. Supreme Court appointed-CEC asked the respondents which included the ministry of power and the Central electricity board and the ministry of environment to resolve this issue.

"We suggested the use of providing insulation on the wires running through the national reserve parks and sanctuaries but this has not happened. There is a non-seriousness in their approach to this urgent issue," said Ms Wright.

Rashme Sehgal

http://www.asianage.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=927:poachers-use-electrocution-to-hunt&catid=35:india&Itemid=60

After Sariska fiasco, DNA tests for tigers before shifting

Following a Hindustan Timesreport on the genetic incompatibility of tigers that were shifted to Sariska National Park in Rajasthan last year, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has ordered DNA tests on tigers of Ranthambore and Sariska, to ascertain breeding compatibility before shifting any more of them.

The investigation (Rajasthan govt sent tiger siblings to repopulate Sariska, June 29, 2009) exposed how tigers were picked up arbitrarily for translocation without genetic or spatial analysis. Following the report, the translocation process in Rajasthan was put on hold.

Between June 2008 and February 2009, two sisters and their half-brother were sent to Sariska. These tigers have so far failed to breed.

Panna National Park in Madhya Pradesh didn’t make this mistake. With two tigers sourced from Bandhavgarh and Kanha reserves, it got a third one from Pench in November last year — five months after the HT investigation — to ensure genetic diversity.

The decision on mandatory DNA testing of Ranthambore tigers was taken an NTCA meeting last month, attended by Forests and Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh. The NTCA has already issued an order, designating Bangalore’s National Centre for Biological Science to conduct the tests to identify individual tigers with breeding compatibility.

“The Hon’ble Minister for Environment and Forests has directed DNA testing of all three tigers already translocated to Sariska… through fecal samples, besides similar testing for the two tigers earmarked at Ranthambore for translocation to Sariska,” says the note.

“The process of DNA analysis will take time. However, the translocation programme will continue and our priority is to determine the compatibility of a couple of young tigers that have been moving in the outskirts of Ranthambore. The future of these tigers is uncertain due to heavy biotic pressure (human presence) in these areas and they will definitely have a better chance of survival in Sariska,” added NTCA member-secretary Dr Rajesh Gopal.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/After-Sariska-fiasco-DNA-tests-for-tigers-before-shifting/H1-Article1-504652.aspx

Tiger meal: Decision to release deer in Sunderbans evokes criticism

The state government’s decision to release 63 deer in the Sunderbans to supplement the prey base for tigers has been questioned by an NGO, specialising in wildlife.

Expressing doubt whether the Sunderbans, which according to the last census in 2001 had 274 tigers, the NGO — Nature, Environment and Wildlife Society (NEWS) — in a letter to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) said there should be a scientific study to ascertain the number of the big cats and to determine the prey base.

Claiming that the release of the deer was being done in an unscientific manner, NEWS secretary Biswajit Roy Chowdhury said, “Determination of the root cause for decline in prey base through a scientific basis is the need of the hour. How is such a step justified when looked at in the long-term?”

But the Field Director of Sunderbans Tiger Reserve (STR) Subrat Mukhjeree defended the government’s decision saying it was done after calls from different quarters that the big cats were straying into human habitation because of a shortage in prey base in the forests.

The state forest department also said that it was done in consultation with the state wildlife advisory board, the apex body which included representatives of wildlife NGOs.

“Nobody raised any objection when the decision was taken to release deer in the Sunderbans. In fact, deer were also released in Buxa tiger reserve and Jaldapara Wildlife sanctuary which has tigers,” Pradeep Vyas, Director Sunderban Biosphere Reserve told PTI.

Admitting that the prey base might not be uniform in all the islands in the Sunderbans as it depended on the vegetation, Vyas said shortage of prey base could not be the only reason for tigers straying. There were other factors for it as well, he added.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/tiger-meal-decision-to-release-deer-in-sunderbans-evokes-criticism/573965/1

Pench Tiger reserve: Cabinet divided on road through tiger reserve

With two Union Ministers Kamal Nath and Jairam Ramesh on warpath over a contentious highway expansion project through Madhya Pradesh's Pench tiger reserve, the Centre on Friday bought time from the Supreme Court to resolve differences.

Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh had opposed the Surface Transport Ministry's proposal to widen the road linking Nagpur to Jabalpur through Pench forest reserve from existing 18 m to 30 m, but the fight does not seem to be over just environmental concerns. The Centre dropped sufficient hints during the proceedings in court to indicate something was amiss between the two Union Ministers, who do not see eye to eye on this issue.

This comes a week after the court had asked the Government to make up its mind on whether its effort was to save tigers or to save costs involved in the project. “You can't have both. If you want to save the animals, you cannot save money,” the Bench observed on the previous occasion.

Appearing for the Centre, Attorney-General Goolam E Vahanvati on Friday told a Special Bench, comprising Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan, Justices SH Kapadia and Aftab Alam, that a solution was underway as Additional Solicitor-General (ASG) Vivek Tankha representing Surface Transport Ministry in the court had met Environment Minister Ramesh. Seeking time to take fresh instructions, the matter was posted for hearing on February 19.

In a related development, senior advocate Harish Salve appearing as amicus curiae was granted permission by the court to withdraw his note in favour of the road expansion.

The 8.7 km-road running through the forest reserve forms part of a 250-km national highway expansion project, which the National Highways Authority of India is keen to undertake. But since the matter involved forests, the Special Apex Bench referred the project plan to its expert body, the Central Empowered Committee. In its report submitted in July 2009, the CEC favoured an elevated corridor along the stretch, giving the Environment Ministry a handle to oppose the proposal.

With Salve's opinion coming in the way of implementing CEC recommendation, even the Attorney-General supported his offer to withdraw. “It is unfortunate that the amicus is being personally attacked over his opinion,” Vahanvati said, referring to the criticism over Salve being an interested party in the expansion of road.

Finding the criticism against him in bad taste, Salve asked the court to consider the matter independent of his view. Having opposed the elevated corridor, Salve had supported an alternative plan of fencing and construction of 13 bridges and underpasses to facilitate smooth movement of animals. This would cost the Government Rs 600 crore, as against the elevated corridor project that would have cost beyond Rs 900 crore.

http://www.dailypioneer.com/232614/Daao-Pench-Cabinet-divided-on-road-through-tiger-reserve.html

In Corbett, tiger & elephant deaths remain whodunits - TOI

CORBETT TIGER RESERVE (RAMGAGAR): The Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR) authorities have made no serious attempt to find out the causes for the deathsof 13 tigers, six leopards and 17 elephants that perished in the Corbett landscape in the last three years.

Four of the tigers were found dead in CTR in less than two months, since December 13 last. The carcass of yet another leopard was found in the Ramgagar forest division, bordering the CTR, early on Wednesday morning.

Yet, no autopsy has been carried out on the dead leopard till this report was filed, late Friday evening. CTR director R K Mishra said, "We are not responsible for anything in the neighbouring forest divisions."

He could not comment on the possibility of the cats that died in forest divisions neighboring the CTR having strayed from the reserve.

Mishra did say that the Bareilly-based Indian Veterinary Research Institute, to which viscera of all 33 dead animals have been sent for forensic examination, "has not sent reports of a single viscera examination, despite reminders". He said, "Now, we will send a team to IVRI to make inquiries."

CTR warden, Umesh Chand Tiwari, however, said that two reports had been received. "Reports of two viscera had arrived. One said the concerned tiger did not die of any disease while the other said the viscera was not fit for examination."

The problem, according to a senior official of the Central government-run IVRI, is not that the reports are not being delivered. "We have sent to CTR reports of all the viscera sent to us. These have been sent either by registered post or by hand," he said. But the nub was that the viscera were too decomposed for any meaningful examination.

"The trouble is that they have sent us only viscera that are too decomposed or otherwise unfit for examination. We have repeatedly been advising Corbett that we can train their officials on how to collect and preserve viscera. But, they have never bothered to respond," said the IVRI official.

"While Uttar Pradesh forest divisions send us entire carcasses of wild animals, Corbett has not bothered to do so," IVRI sources said.

D Swarup, head of the veterinary medicine division at IVRI, said, "If the CTR were serious, they would have formed a panel, including government and private facilities and NGOs, to carry out the autopsies and viscera tests."

Swarup said IVRI also often carried out examinations in the presence of NGO representatives. CTR warden Tiwari, however, did not respond to these statements.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/In-Corbett-tiger-elephant-deaths-remain-whodunits/articleshow/5515385.cms

Tiger poachers' village sealed - Mid Day

After MiD DAY's report on the tiger poaching case, the police and forest department of Arunachal Pradesh (AP) have sealed Namuk village. Tribals of Namuk allegedly killed the tiger and brought it to the village.

"We have deployed a team of cops at Namuk village that is investigating the case and recording every movement of people coming to the village.

Strict information has been given to the cops to not allow any unknown people in the village for the time being," said Tusar Taba, superintendent of police, Along district, AP.

A forest official from AP said, "We have got some initial leads that confirm the incident's authenticity and we are keeping an eye on every movement in the area."

Wildlife filmmaker and John Abraham's colleague in the campaign, Mike Pandey while talking to MiD DAY said, "May be we should think about the strict law that has protected the rhino in Kenya.

There is a serious and urgent need at all community levels especially political to come forward to protect the tiger. It's a shame for us 1 billion Indians that we are unable to protect 1,000 tigers."

http://www.mid-day.com/news/2010/jan/300110-tiger-poaching-Namuk-village-death.htm

Another Tiger dies in MP taking toll to 19 in 13 months

Bhopal: With the death of a tiger in Pench Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, known as the 'Tiger State', has lost 19 big cats in the last 13 months."A seven-year-old radio-collared big cat was found dead in a lake at Karmajhiri range of Pench Reserve yesterday," the park director K Nayak said, adding that "the possibility of the tiger being poisoned can't be ruled out."The tiger was spotted on January 25 and was healthy, he said, adding that its viscera has been sent to a Sagar district-based labortary for tests.The animal's body was dispossed of after post-mortem report which found its kidney enlarged, Nayak told PTI today.Two tiger cubs had died in the Pench reserve last month, and the officials claimed it was due to severe cold.Last year, Madhya Pradesh lost 18 big cats, including four tigers each in Kanha Tiger Reserve and Pench, as also three in Bandhavgarh tiger reserve.With the last death of the tiger in Pench, the state has lost 17 tigers in different reserves, besides two in the wild in last 13 months, officials said.Forest department officials claim that the deaths were largely "due to territorial fights among tigers and old age-related problems."

Jairam Ramesh denies permission to Tadoba mines as another tiger dies in Corbett

Chandrapur (Maharashtra), Jan 27 (PTI) The Ministry of Environment and Forests has denied permission to Adani Group for coal mining at Lohara near Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), for setting up a 1980 MW power plant in Gondia district of Maharashtra.

Adani Power is setting up the project at Tiroda (Gondia) and had planned to source the coal from Lohara.

"Our Ministry issued a letter on January 7, to Adani Group stating that the permission (for coal mining) has been denied to them since it would destroy rich forests and tiger habitat," Union Minister Jairam Ramesh, told reporters after his visit to Lohara.

Ramesh who met several environmental activists here yesterday assured them that "there will be no review and no reconsideration" in this matter.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/486822_Adani-denied-coal-mining-rights-near-Tadoba-reserve

Fifth tiger found dead in Corbett this month

The carcass of a male tiger was spotted on Tuesday night in the Dhikala zone of the forest.

India's tigers are under threat with just about 1400 left in the wild. Uttarakhand's famous Corbett National Park has lost its fifth tiger in a month.

Four tigers have been reported dead from Jim Corbett National Park and surrounding areas over the past month, the last one having been reported on the twelfth of this month. The post mortem will be conducted on the tiger to find out cause of death.

http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/fifth_tiger_found_dead_in_corbett_this_month.php

Bandipur National Park to get 216 forest guards

BANGALORE: The Bandipur National Park will soon receive 216 forest guards. Presently, the national park is short-staffed— it has only 30 forest guards as against the sanctioned strength of 103.

As part of a new rule, the guards will now have to compulsorily serve for five years in a particular location after posting, informed officials of the Bandipur Tiger reserve.

“This had been a longpending need of the reserve and we are glad that, it is finally happening,” says Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF), Bandipur, K T Hanumanthappa.

There are 103 beats (basic unit of administration in a forest division) in the Bandipur Tiger Reserve and the existing lot of 30 guards had to guard it.

There was a vacancy of more than 60 forest guards, which has currently been filled with temporary staff.

Tiger farming, the answer?

After tiger farming—the raising of tigers for commercial trade— has been debunked the world over, a former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests has suggested that it should be used as a conservation strategy.

“We should allow tiger farming on a mass scale and there should licenses issued for shooting tigers,’’ said Parameshwarappa, ex-PCCF at a book launch.

He said that it is high time conservationists realise that conservation needs to be turned into an enterprise. Whatever income is generated from the sale of elephant tusks or commercial farming of tigers, needs to be put back into conservation, he said. With government budget it is impossible to conserve anything in this country, he added.

Sunderbans tiger census next month

Kolkata, Jan 27 (PTI) The much-awaited tiger census in the Sunderbans forest will begin next month and preparations are underway to conduct the exercise with DNA sampling method for the first time.

Pradeep Vyas, director of the Sunderbans Biosphere Reserve (SBR) told PTI here that the census would be conducted in February. The exact dates would, however, be decided after the field training of staff was over.

"Training of the staff is now underway and their field training will begin by the end of this month," Vyas said, adding 200 tiger guards will assist the census staff.

For the first time DNA sampling method would be tried for the tiger head counting in the famous mangrove forest, he said.

Jairam, Kamal Nath clash lover Pench Tiger Reserve highway - TOI

NEW DELHI: It was a virtually a clash between two of UPA government's high-profile ministers Kamal Nath and Jairam Ramesh in the Supreme Courtover a road -- whether there should be an elevated corridor of national highway through the Pench Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh or the existing road should be widened.

In the midst of a clash of views between the ministries of transport and environment, amicus curiae Harish Salve introduced an emotional twist by telling the Forest Bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices S H Kapadia and Aftab Alam that he wanted to withdraw his suggestions since he had been maligned for making them.

But by the time he had appealed to the Bench to treat his suggestion to widen the 18-metre-wide road to 30 metres as withdrawn, the Bench had moved ahead to ask the two ministers to thrash out the differences.

The apex court appointed high-powered environment panel Central Empowered Committee (CEC) had suggested an elevated corridor be built for the prupose of a proper highway through Pench Reserve, but taking into account the enormous expenditure of Rs 900 crore required for it had favourted widening of the existing road.

Appearing for the ministry of transport, additional solicitor general Vivek Tankha said that all parties -- Madhya Pradesh government, National Highway Authority of India and transport ministry -- were agreeable to Salve's suggestion and that the court could put its stamp of approval.

However, counsel for the Jairam Ramesh-headed ministry of forest and environment, advocate Harish Beeran put a spoke into the transport ministry's suggestion and said MoEF had serious objection to widening of the road.

Beeran said that widening of road to 30 metres would destroy a large number of trees in the dense forest in Pench Reserve, one of the well-protected habitat for tigers. He said MoEF was agreeable to CEC's suggestion for constructing an elevated corridor that would involve least cutting of trees and also not obstruct the elephant corridors.

The Bench told the ministry of transport that the government cannot have it both ways -- protection of tigers and environment and not spending money. It asked officials of the two ministries to hold a meeting and thrash out the differences and present a composite plan, if possible, to the court on January 29 when the matter would be taken up for hearing again

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Jairam-Kamal-Nath-clash-lover-Pench-Tiger-Reserve-highway/articleshow/5489759.cms

Ramesh under pressure to clear Lohara - TOI

NAGPUR: Under pressure from his cabinet colleagues to give go-ahead to coal blocks of Adani group in Lohara close to Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve union minister of environment & forests Jairam Ramesh will visit Lohara and Tadoba on January 26 to ascertain the facts. He will be accompanied by top MoEF officials.

According to highly-placed sources, Ramesh is arriving in the city on Monday night and will leave for Tadoba by road on Tuesday morning. After the expert appraisal committee (EAC) of the MoEF rejected Adani's proposal to clear 1750 hectares of dense forests in Lohara for coal mining, Ramesh is under pressure to reconsider the proposal.

Sources say as coal blocks suitable for Adani power plant in Tiroda near Gondia, home town of Praful Patel, are not available, the company is again vying for Lohara. The MoEF in November 2009 has already rejected the proposal on the grounds that mining project is in the buffer of TATR and the corridor is a rich forest and forms fringe of tiger reserve. The panel has also asked Adani to meet the coal requirement by importing coal from other blocks.

Sources said Adani was planning to seek coal from Madanpur and Parsakete blocks in Korba but these blocks too have been denied by the MoEF on the ground that these form part of elephant corridor. Left with no option, now Adani group is once again seeking Patel's help to get Lohara blocks cleared.

Earlier, Patel had told TOI it was the responsibility of the UPA government to provide an alternate coal block to Adani. "A new site for coal mining will be allotted to the company. if there was a delay in allotment of alternate site for coal mining, then efforts will be made to provide coal for the project from an alternate coal linkage. We will ensure that there was no delay in the commissioning of the thermal power plant," he had said.

In view of this, sources close to Ramesh said it's true that the minister is under pressure to clear Lohara blocks. When contacted, Ramesh told TOI, "Yes, there is pressure, but I am not going to buckle. I'm visiting Tadoba and Pench tiger reserves on January 26 and will be having Bt-brinjal consultations on January 27 in Nagpur and also visit Neeri."

The move by Adani is likely to foment fresh trouble with anti-mining activists and conservationists planning huge protests in Chandrapur during Ramesh's visit to protest against mining near TATR. "We praise Ramesh for his bold decision to reject mining near Tadoba. However, renewed attempts by Adani to grab Lohara will be foiled," warned Bandu Dhotre and others, who have taken the matter to high court through a PIL. Many activists plan to meet Ramesh in Chanda

Tigers' pug marks spotted across Karnataka

er census in Bhadra wildlife sanctuary is going on without any impediment. Footprints of tigers have been spotted by thevolunteers while walking in the forest.

A team has found the big cat's pug marks and another team has collected its scats. The 37 teams led by the Bhadra wildlife deputy conservator of forest, Vijayamohanraj, are making efforts to find signs of the big cat and other predators like leopards, sloth bears and doles.

Each team has been provided with a forest front line staff in all the four ranges of Bhadra wildlife sanctuary. Monday onwards they will begin walking on transact lines and enumerating herbivores and also assessing the status of the flora. The tiger assessment will come to an end on January 27.

Tiger with travelling itch finds home from home

A tiger travelled 270 km from its homestead to establish a new home, baffling experts who are speculating about its migratory route which is dotted by human habitat.

The finding, supported by photographs taken by hidden camera traps, established that the tiger from the Bhadra tiger reserve moved out of its home range and formed a new territory at Dandeli-Anshi reserve.

Scientists and tiger experts in the State are as excited as they are baffled, as the discovery may go to render the camera trap a reliable method to monitor tigers. The finding, resulting from three years of study, began with the camera trapping a four-month-old cub that was photographed along with his sister and mother for the first time at Bhadra in April 2006.In October 2006, a wildlife photographer captured it on camera while it was trying to corner a gaur in the company of another tiger.

The bombshell came in May 2008, when the cub, now a two-year-old, was first pictured at the Dandeli tiger reserve. Yet again in 2009, a camera trap in Dandeli photographed it. The picture was sufficient proof of the migrant tiger having set up its territory over there – 270 km from its native home range.

How did the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) establish that the tiger was from Bhadra?

It is well established that the stripes of the tiger, like human fingerprints, are unique to each animal.

Tigers photographed by camera traps are classified by their stripes for monitoring purposes. The cameras are placed at crucial places where the animal movement is frequent. The traveller-tiger is among 11 individuals trapped by camera at Bhadra, and after it was photographed again at Dandeli, was identified by its stripes. The WCS has created a database of individual photographed tigers.

Scientists say that Indian tigers, governed by the availability of prey, do not migrate for a long distance, unlike the Siberian tiger which tend to travel up 500 kilometres in search of prey.

WCS India director Dr Ravi Chellam said the home range of tiger was believed to be 60 sq km. “This has opened avenues of study, because there is human habitat en route, and it (tiger) could not have travelled as the crow flies,” he said.

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/48570/tiger-travelling-itch-finds-home.html

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