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Friday, March 12, 2010
Another tiger dead, this time in Bihar
Fortnight before tiger death, govt cleared relocation
JAIPUR: Barely a fortnight before the death of two tiger cubs on the outskirts of Ranthambore national park, the ministry of forest and environment had given permission for the relocation of 'straying' tigers from the park.
Rajesh Gopal, director of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), said, "The ministry of environment and forests has written a letter to the chief minister of Rajasthan in this context."
Sunita Narain: Getting to the 1,412th tiger
Only 1,411 tigers are left. So says the latest advertisement campaign of a new telecom company and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). It is powerful. It plays to our emotions. But it does not tell us what is being done, or should be done about it. It does not tell us how we, the consuming class, can be part of the solution to protect the tiger.
The reason is simple. One must gloss over the bitter, inconvenient truth that India cannot have more than 1,411 tigers — the figure is the mid-range of the last census — unless one imagines conservation differently, very differently. In fact, if there are these many tigers, that’s amazing. Forget more.
Let me explain what I have learnt from some reputed wildlife experts in the country: Tigers are territorial. They literally need land to roam. With the birth of a new male tiger, this search starts. Either the old tiger gives way or the new male tiger looks for a new ground. But where is that ground? All around our parks, forests are destroyed. People who live in areas adjoining tiger reserves resent this animal, which kills their cattle. They have no use for the reserve forest, which protects the herbivores and the wild boars that eat their growing crop. They get nothing in return for living around tiger land. They want no tigers on their land.
First phase of tiger census in the Sunderbans completed
The first phase of the tiger census, which included collection of signage and direct sightings of the big cats, in the Sunderbans was completed on Tuesday, although officials said that it would probably take a year to obtain estimates of the population.
“The first phase that began on March 4 went off smoothly and has shown some positive signs as there were a number of direct sightings,” Pradeep Vyas, director of the Sunderban Biosphere Reserve said.
“I personally observed three tigers during the field study,” said Raju Das, joint-director of the reserve.
The data collected by the 35 teams on the field is yet to be collated. It will take about two months to process the data collected after which it will be sent to the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) where it will be analysed. The third phase of the project involves the setting up of camera traps and radio-collars, Mr. Vayas said.
http://beta.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/article228879.ece
Radio collar fitted to Sunderbans tigress falls off
KOLKATA: Animal instinct seems to have won over human intervention in one particular case as a pair of tigers detached the radio-collar fastened onto a tigress less than two weeks ago by officials of the State's forest department as part of the ongoing tiger census.
The abandoned, fully functional radio-collar was found in fairly good condition in the Pirakhali forest area of the reserve on Thursday.
“For the last three days we had stopped receiving the satellite signal from the tigress so we went into the forest area to investigate. By tracing the collar via an antenna we found that it had had fallen off,” said Subrat Mukherjee, field director of the Sunderban Tiger Reserve (STR).
The collar will be fastened to another animal after the nuts and bolts have been changed, Mr. Mukherjee added.
So far, radio collars have been fastened to two tigresses as a part of the tiger census.
The project, for which the reserve paid Rs. 35 lakh to the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), involves the tagging of 8 tigers within the reserve that will be monitored for about a year by experts of the institute and officials of the forest department.
While the instance of a radio collar falling off is not uncommon (there have been 17 such incidents all over the country), concerns have been raised about the success of the initiative in the Sunderbans.
In December 2007, a tigress was fitted with a radio collar which stopped functioning in just over three months, after the animal had roamed an area of 35 sq km. Although the cause of the malfunction could not be ascertained, it is speculated that a “saline water shock” could be responsible.
http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/12/stories/2010031260322000.htm
No irregularities in Kerala tiger census: Minister
Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 11 (PTI) Kerala Government today termed allegations of irregularities in the ongoing tiger census, especially in the Idukki and Ernakulam forest regions of the state, as completely "baseless".
The presence of tiger in Mankulam, Pooyamkutty, Malayatour, Thatekkad and Neriyamangalam in Idukki and Ernakulam forest regions had been recorded in the datasheet during the first phase of census itself, state Forest Minister Binoy Viswam told the state Assembly.
The census was conducted scientificaly under the leadership of Periyar Foundation and Wild Life Institute of India (WWI), Dehradun, Viswam said.
Raising the issue as a submission, Congress leader V D Sateeshan alleged that incidents of tiger presence in these regions were deliberately omitted from the records to help the forest encroachers and tourist resorts.
The encroachers and resort owners apprehend restriction in their activities if the area came under the ambit of tiger habitat, he said.
The presence of tiger in Mankulam, Pooyamkutty, Malayatour, Thatekkad and Neriyamangalam in Idukki and Ernakulam forest regions had been recorded in the datasheet during the first phase of census itself, state Forest Minister Binoy Viswam told the state Assembly.
The census was conducted scientificaly under the leadership of Periyar Foundation and Wild Life Institute of India (WWI), Dehradun, Viswam said.
Raising the issue as a submission, Congress leader V D Sateeshan alleged that incidents of tiger presence in these regions were deliberately omitted from the records to help the forest encroachers and tourist resorts.
The encroachers and resort owners apprehend restriction in their activities if the area came under the ambit of tiger habitat, he said.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
11 tigers dead in two months
New Delhi, Mar 8 (PTI) At least 11 tigers have died across the country in the last two months due to various reasons including poaching and poisoning, Government said today.
In reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said that two tigers each died due to infighting inside Corbett in Uttarakhand and Kaziranga in Assam while one was found poisoned in Pench tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh.
"Six tiger deaths were reported from outside the tiger reserves in Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Arunanchal Pradesh, Bandipur, Assam and Karnataka/ Tamilnadu border in January and February this year," the minister said quoting data made available by the states.
According to government statistics, last year a total 66 tigers died including 46 inside the tiger reserves across the country.
The Minister said the government has released Rs 197.24 crore in 2009-2010 against Rs 154.
In reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said that two tigers each died due to infighting inside Corbett in Uttarakhand and Kaziranga in Assam while one was found poisoned in Pench tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh.
"Six tiger deaths were reported from outside the tiger reserves in Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Arunanchal Pradesh, Bandipur, Assam and Karnataka/ Tamilnadu border in January and February this year," the minister said quoting data made available by the states.
According to government statistics, last year a total 66 tigers died including 46 inside the tiger reserves across the country.
The Minister said the government has released Rs 197.24 crore in 2009-2010 against Rs 154.
Camera-trapping of tiger starts, partial census results by December
NEW DELHI: The number of tigers in three major landscapes - Terrai, Central India and the Western Ghats - home to 80 percent of India's tigers, will be known by December, but a countrywide total would be available only by March next year, an official involved in the ongoing census of big cats said.
will be known by December, but a countrywide total would be available only by March next year, an official involved in the ongoing census of big cats said.
He said: "not only tiger reserves, but all forest areas in the country will be covered."
The last census in 2005-06 showed a sharp fall in tiger numbers. The census then conducted with an improved method revealed India had just 1,411 tigers left in the wild, raising serious concern about their survival.
Jhala said a new phase involving camera-trapping of tigers has begun. "Researchers have started this exercise, as the ground work involving the forest staff is almost completed."
Each camera costs about Rs. 10,000 and is especially designed for deployment in forests. It has censors that trigger the camera to take pictures automatically whenever animals come within range in front of its lens. They are usually attached to a tree. Batteries and the film of the camera are replaced manually when they run out.
The last census in 2005-06 showed a sharp fall in tiger numbers. The census then conducted with an improved method revealed India had just 1,411 tigers left in the wild, raising serious concern about their survival.
Jhala said a new phase involving camera-trapping of tigers has begun. "Researchers have started this exercise, as the ground work involving the forest staff is almost completed."
Each camera costs about Rs. 10,000 and is especially designed for deployment in forests. It has censors that trigger the camera to take pictures automatically whenever animals come within range in front of its lens. They are usually attached to a tree. Batteries and the film of the camera are replaced manually when they run out.
Sanctuaries remain vulnerable as staff prefer cushy postings
JAIPUR: If the endangered species in Rajasthan's forests often become the target of poachers or villagers, then not only the shortage of manpower, even the uneven deployment of the staff are to be blamed.
According to officials of forest department, nearly two-thirds of the existing manpower have been deployed in areas where there are no forests or just to lookafter social forestry while just a one-third are guarding forest areas, leaving wildlife in them vulnerable.
Take the case of the Ranthambore National Park. Out of a sanctioned post of 132 ex-armymen, only 50 are posted there currently while out of a sanctioned strength of 92 forest guards, the park has just 40. On the other hand, places like Sikar and Jaipur, which have nil or minuscule forest areas, have a number of people posted there.
According to officials of forest department, nearly two-thirds of the existing manpower have been deployed in areas where there are no forests or just to lookafter social forestry while just a one-third are guarding forest areas, leaving wildlife in them vulnerable.
Take the case of the Ranthambore National Park. Out of a sanctioned post of 132 ex-armymen, only 50 are posted there currently while out of a sanctioned strength of 92 forest guards, the park has just 40. On the other hand, places like Sikar and Jaipur, which have nil or minuscule forest areas, have a number of people posted there.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Two tiger cubs found dead in Ranthambhore National Park
Jaipur, Mar 7 (PTI) Two tiger cubs were today found dead under mysterious circumstances in the Ranthambhore National Park (RNP) in Rajasthan's Sawaimadhopur district.
"Carcasses of two male cubs were spotted along with two carcasses of goats near Taleda village located in the North of RNP, which is 175 km from here," R N Mehrotra, the state Chief Wildlife Warden, told PTI.
The cause of their death was yet to be ascertained, he said, adding that, however, that prima facie it seemed like a case of poisoning.
When asked to clarify whether it was a poaching incident, he said it was too early to draw such a conclusion.
The carcasses have been sent for post-mortem.
According to a census conducted by the forest department in May 2009, there were 40 tigers in and around Ranthambore National Park and Sawai Madhopur wildlife sanctuary.
"Carcasses of two male cubs were spotted along with two carcasses of goats near Taleda village located in the North of RNP, which is 175 km from here," R N Mehrotra, the state Chief Wildlife Warden, told PTI.
The cause of their death was yet to be ascertained, he said, adding that, however, that prima facie it seemed like a case of poisoning.
When asked to clarify whether it was a poaching incident, he said it was too early to draw such a conclusion.
The carcasses have been sent for post-mortem.
According to a census conducted by the forest department in May 2009, there were 40 tigers in and around Ranthambore National Park and Sawai Madhopur wildlife sanctuary.
CBI probe into Panna tiger disappearance sought
Bhopal, Mar 7 (PTI) The Madhya Pradesh Forest Department has sought a CBI probe into the disappearance of tiger population from Panna Tiger Reserve in the state.
"We have sent our request to the state government for a CBI inquiry into the disappearance of big cats from the Panna Tiger Reserve," Madhya Pradesh Forest Minister Sartaj Singh told PTI today.
"Now the state government will forward our request to the Centre for the CBI probe into missing of tigers from the Panna reserve," he added.
The Forest Department has sought the CBI probe after an Experts committee formed by it to look into the disappearance of tigers submitted its report a week back with one of its seven members reportedly not putting his signature on it following differences.
"We have sent our request to the state government for a CBI inquiry into the disappearance of big cats from the Panna Tiger Reserve," Madhya Pradesh Forest Minister Sartaj Singh told PTI today.
"Now the state government will forward our request to the Centre for the CBI probe into missing of tigers from the Panna reserve," he added.
The Forest Department has sought the CBI probe after an Experts committee formed by it to look into the disappearance of tigers submitted its report a week back with one of its seven members reportedly not putting his signature on it following differences.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Tiger kills girls, injures four others
Bahraich, Mar 5 (PTI) A 12-year-old girl was killed and four others, including her mother were injured by a tiger in Mayraha village near Katarniyaghat wildlife sanctuary here.
The animal attacked the victim while she was working in an agriculture field yesterday. Four others were injured in the incident as they rushed to save the girl from the beast.
The incident evoked a strong reaction from locals who held a forest department team hostage, which had visited the area late in the night.
Senior forest department officials said that body of the girl has been sent for post mortem examination and the injured have been admitted to hospital.
Ex gratia was being provided to her family members while monetary help is being provided to the injured for treatment, they said.
The animal attacked the victim while she was working in an agriculture field yesterday. Four others were injured in the incident as they rushed to save the girl from the beast.
The incident evoked a strong reaction from locals who held a forest department team hostage, which had visited the area late in the night.
Senior forest department officials said that body of the girl has been sent for post mortem examination and the injured have been admitted to hospital.
Ex gratia was being provided to her family members while monetary help is being provided to the injured for treatment, they said.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Corbet lost 15 tigers in last four years
New Delhi, March 3:
The year 2009 has been very bad for tigers in their world famous habitat, the Corbet Tiger Reserve, with six of the big cats dying or being killed, the Lok Sabha was informed today.
The new year has also reported two deaths so far.
Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh told the Lok Sabha in a written reply that 2007 had also seen five deaths of tigers due to poaching or natural causes.
In 2008, two tigers were killed.
Thus a total 15 tigers died in the Corbet National Park in the last four years.
He said poaching of other animals in the national park like elephants and spotted deer and seizure of their body parts had also been reported.
Replying to a question on conservation of Asiatic lions, the Minister said the Gujarat Government had submitted a project 'A Plan for consolidating long-term conservation of Asiatic lions in the greater Gir region' which demands Rs 236.17 crore with the Central Government share being 90 per cent.
He said the Ministry had requested the Planning Commission to provide additional funds under a centrally sponsored scheme 'Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitat' for the Gujarat proposal.
Mr Ramesh said the state was provided Rs 32 lakh and Rs 92.08 lakh in 2008-09 and 2009-10 respectively for lion conservation.
The year 2009 has been very bad for tigers in their world famous habitat, the Corbet Tiger Reserve, with six of the big cats dying or being killed, the Lok Sabha was informed today.
The new year has also reported two deaths so far.
Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh told the Lok Sabha in a written reply that 2007 had also seen five deaths of tigers due to poaching or natural causes.
In 2008, two tigers were killed.
Thus a total 15 tigers died in the Corbet National Park in the last four years.
He said poaching of other animals in the national park like elephants and spotted deer and seizure of their body parts had also been reported.
Replying to a question on conservation of Asiatic lions, the Minister said the Gujarat Government had submitted a project 'A Plan for consolidating long-term conservation of Asiatic lions in the greater Gir region' which demands Rs 236.17 crore with the Central Government share being 90 per cent.
He said the Ministry had requested the Planning Commission to provide additional funds under a centrally sponsored scheme 'Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitat' for the Gujarat proposal.
Mr Ramesh said the state was provided Rs 32 lakh and Rs 92.08 lakh in 2008-09 and 2009-10 respectively for lion conservation.
EVERY TIGER, NATION’S CONSCIENCE
The principle cog in the food and ecological cycle, with every tiger gone, the entire country's survival is at stake. Beware India. Protect the big cat in the wild. Hardnews joins the campaign to protect the most majestic and magnificent creature in the animal kingdom
Akash Bisht Delhi
February 14 this year marked the beginning of the Chinese Year of the Tiger. Ironically, the majestic species faces serious threats of extinction owing to a speculated increase in the obsessive and irrational Chinese demand for tiger parts in its namesake year.
Conservationists believe that the year poses direct, sinister and organised threat to tiger populations across the globe. The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), during its investigation on the sale of tiger parts in China, confirmed with traders that the demand for tiger parts is bound to see an unprecedented surge.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Ramesh tells Karnataka to stop mining in tiger zone
A cabinet decision by Karnataka's BJP government to open up the state's forests, including the Bandipur tiger reserve, for mining has evoked a stern warning from environment and forests minister Jairam Ramesh.
In a letter to Karnataka chief minister B. S. Yeddyurappa, Ramesh has said dereserving any forest land can be done only with the prior permission of the ministry of environment and forests.
Ramesh said: "The ministry has not been consulted by the state. Though the state government might have given permission, the final authority for diversion of forest land for non- forestry (including mining) purposes is the Union ministry of environment and forests." The Karnataka cabinet decided to dereserve 13,960 sq km of forest land in the districts of Bellary, Shimoga and Mysore to allow mining there. This is said to have been done keeping in mind the requirements of the Laxmi Mittal headed Arcelor- Mittal group, whom Yeddyurappa is wooing to set up a steel plant in Karnataka.
The move will also benefit friends of Karnataka's powerful tourism and infrastructure minister G. Janardhan Reddy, who is known to be close to Lok Sabha opposition leader Sushma Swaraj.
Yeddyurappa and state home minister V. S. Acharya justified the decision as environment friendly. They said the area identified for mining would be right next to steel plants and would thus reduce the impact of transporting ore to the factory.
Acharya also said the move to de- reserve was taken in conjunction with the Centre.
Ramesh denied Acharya's claim. He said he had come to know about the decision through media reports and after several Karnataka MPs had registered their protest over the move.
"All decisions to be initiated by the companies following the decision of the state government must necessarily get prior approval from the Union ministry of environment and forests," his letter to Yeddyurappa stated.
Prior to this, Ramesh had written to Goa chief minister Digambar Kamat imposing a moratorium on all mining in the state, till a minerals policy was worked out by the Congress government there.
Kamat has been trying to control the mining mafia in Goa, which has allegedly destroyed about 90 km of Goa's 100- km beaches.
Sathyamangalam in TN could be a tiger reserve
CHENNAI: As the magnificent big striped cats are being repeatedly spotted in the jungles of Sathyamangalam sanctuary, the state government will soon take efforts to turn it into a tiger reserve. Last week, there were as many as five direct sightings during an official survey.
In the six-day carnivore sign survey taken up by the state forest department, five tigers were directly sighted by foresters and volunteers involved in the census in Hasanur and Bhavanisagar ranges of Sathyamangalam forest division, adjoining the Mudumalai and Bandipur tiger reserves. The survey team has also found evidence that there could be four more tigers roaming these forests.
When state forest minister N Selvaraj visited Sathyamangalam, the division’s forest officials briefed him on the need to make it a tiger reserve as there was solid and clinching evidence that the tigers have made the scrub jungles their home over the past few years. “Yes, I was told about the importance of Sathyamangalam forests and the need to make it a tiger reserve. We will certainly consider it,” Selvaraj told TOI.
Sathyamangalam forests link the Eastern and Western Ghats allowing gene flow between diverse populations of the two habitats. Incidentally, the Karnataka forest department has sent a proposal to make Biligiri Rangaswamy (BR) Wildlife Sanctuary, contiguous to Sathyamangalam, as a tiger reserve, officials note.
Tamil Nadu already has three tiger reserves in Kalakad-Mundanthurai, Mudumalai and Anamalai. Sathyamangalam which has been in the spotlight for the past five years for sighting of tigers could be the fourth.
Interestingly, tigers were sighted in Kodaikanal forests after a long time during the six-day survey that concluded on Thursday. A tigress and her cub were spotted playing in the wild. The forest officials are sifting through columns of data scouring for clear evidence to work out an estimate of the tiger numbers based on indirect evidence like pug marks, scats and scratches.
In the six-day carnivore sign survey taken up by the state forest department, five tigers were directly sighted by foresters and volunteers involved in the census in Hasanur and Bhavanisagar ranges of Sathyamangalam forest division, adjoining the Mudumalai and Bandipur tiger reserves. The survey team has also found evidence that there could be four more tigers roaming these forests.
When state forest minister N Selvaraj visited Sathyamangalam, the division’s forest officials briefed him on the need to make it a tiger reserve as there was solid and clinching evidence that the tigers have made the scrub jungles their home over the past few years. “Yes, I was told about the importance of Sathyamangalam forests and the need to make it a tiger reserve. We will certainly consider it,” Selvaraj told TOI.
Sathyamangalam forests link the Eastern and Western Ghats allowing gene flow between diverse populations of the two habitats. Incidentally, the Karnataka forest department has sent a proposal to make Biligiri Rangaswamy (BR) Wildlife Sanctuary, contiguous to Sathyamangalam, as a tiger reserve, officials note.
Tamil Nadu already has three tiger reserves in Kalakad-Mundanthurai, Mudumalai and Anamalai. Sathyamangalam which has been in the spotlight for the past five years for sighting of tigers could be the fourth.
Interestingly, tigers were sighted in Kodaikanal forests after a long time during the six-day survey that concluded on Thursday. A tigress and her cub were spotted playing in the wild. The forest officials are sifting through columns of data scouring for clear evidence to work out an estimate of the tiger numbers based on indirect evidence like pug marks, scats and scratches.
Tiger presence reported in Panna
Chronicle News Service
Panna, Feb 28:
Tiger presence has been indicated in Kalda Forest Circle and comes as a positive sign after the Panna Tiger Reserve and this district's jungles were rendered almost tiger-less.
Villagers said that roars were being heard over a week. Recently, a buffalo was hunted in Fulha nullah and a cow in Gahadra nullah.
Forest officials confirmed pugmarks observed in Sarangpur. ''The matter is being probed,'' Reserve Deputy Director Vikram Singh Parihar told reporters.
Pointing out that Kalda adjoins Bandhavgarh National Park, tiger expert Dr Raghunandan Chundawat said that a carnivore could have reached from there.
Panna, Feb 28:
Tiger presence has been indicated in Kalda Forest Circle and comes as a positive sign after the Panna Tiger Reserve and this district's jungles were rendered almost tiger-less.
Villagers said that roars were being heard over a week. Recently, a buffalo was hunted in Fulha nullah and a cow in Gahadra nullah.
Forest officials confirmed pugmarks observed in Sarangpur. ''The matter is being probed,'' Reserve Deputy Director Vikram Singh Parihar told reporters.
Pointing out that Kalda adjoins Bandhavgarh National Park, tiger expert Dr Raghunandan Chundawat said that a carnivore could have reached from there.
Census concludes; eight tigers spotted in Wayanad
SULTHAN BATHERY: Around eight tigers were spotted in the tiger census which concluded on Saturday at the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, the Forest officials said on Sunday.
Two tigers each were found at Tholppetti and Muthanga ranges while four tigers were found in Sulthan Bathery range. Two tigers died this year, one at Kurichiad and another at Tholppetti.The results of the census indicate an increase in tiger population.The survey team had collected details regarding the tiger population, prey density, herbivore and carnivore count and habitat details like human habitation, cattle grazing, vulnerable areas, foot plasters of carnivores, droppings of various herbivores, vegetation survey and condition of protected areas.The survey was conducted as part of the nation-wide ‘Tiger Census’ conducted by the Centre in association with the Wildlife Institute of India in the backdrop of the alarming depletion in the ‘big cat’ population . An elaborate training programme also was organised for officials as well as volunteers for foolproof collection of data.Though another census was conducted earlier in May last year, the result of it is yet to be released.The details collected would be handed over to the Periyar Tiger Foundation for initial analysis and would be transferred later to the National Tiger Conservation Authority, Dehradun.Monday, February 22, 2010
To curb tiger poaching, a course in wildlife crime management for foresters
In a bid to strengthen the prosecution against those involved in poaching tigers in India, the Gujarat Forensic Science University (GFSU) will organise a five-day wildlife crime management programme from Monday for forest officers.
GFSU is jointly organising the workshop with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and TRAFFIC-India. This is the first time GFSU is organising a workshop for the conservation of tigers in the country.
WII Dean B V Mathur said: “The current initiative is a part of the capacity-building process. Though WII has a forensic laboratory, it needs to increase its strength as far as analysing samples, parts, products, and skin of the tiger is concerned. This is the reason why our lab expert S P Goyal and other technicians will have sessions with the ground level staff. Wildlife crime is happening, but poachers in these cases are not being nabbed. The forest staff need to be more quick, and surveillance should be proper in collecting samples.”
He added: “Prosecution requires evidences, which come through precision. Like human beings, DNA analysis plays an important part in the investigation.”
GFSU Director General J M Vyas said: “We will train 30 conservators of forests and deputy conservators of forests in wildlife crime management. This initiative was taken following requests from NTCA and TRAFFIC-India.”
He said each tiger fetches Rs 2 crore in the international market as everything from the predator’s bones to the teeth has a value.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
At Dudhwa, double jump in tiger cub sightings
There is finally some good news on tiger population. The Dudhwa Tiger Reserve situated on the Indo-Nepal border in Lakhimpur-Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh has reported sightings of two dozen tiger cubs — double the figure of the cubs that were sighted in 2008.
The forest department officials said that between January to December 2008, 12 cubs below two years of age were sighted at the tiger reserve, which is spread in an area of 884 sq km.
In 2009, the number of cubs sighted has jumped to 24.
The increase in tiger cub numbers has come as a welcome relief just ahead of a tiger census scheduled to be held this year.
“Basic things required for increase in tiger population are adequate security cover and proper green cover for the herbivores to thrive. In the last year, we have focused on these areas and as a result there in an increase in the tiger population in the state,” said Sanjay Pathak, Field Director, Dudhwa Tiger Reserve.
The tiger cubs are usually born between February and March but it is difficult to sight them for the next three months as they don’t move out in open during this period.
The forest department officials can only sight new cubs by June, once they start moving in the nearby areas. “We have regularly been monitoring the progress of the cubs and ensuring the safety of the big cats,” added Pathak.
In 2007, 64 tigers were spotted at Dudhwa Tiger Reserve — 21 male, 31 female and 12 cubs. In 2009, the total number of sightings of big cats rose to 99 — 48 male, 27 female and 24 cubs. In the month of January this year, three male and three female tigers have sighted along with three cubs. “We are still in the process of compiling figures for the month of February,” said the field director.
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/At-Dudhwa--double-jump-in-tiger-cub-sightings/582084
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