Good news! 117 tiger cubs sighted in nine reserves

Conservationists in the government have sighted 117 tiger cubs in nine reserves in the past 15 months.

Favourable developments are happening in the national tiger conservation authority (NTCA), but wildlife officials are keeping their fingers crossed, hoping the cubs grow up safely.

The past few years have been worrisome for tigers in India — over 135 have died since the last census figures came out in 2006. To make matters worse, 80 tigers died in the nine reserves between January 2009 and March 2010. Last year was the bloodiest when 66 big cats were killed or died due to natural causes.

“Increasing number of tigersmeans breeding is happening in reserves,” Yadvendradev Jhala, a leading Wildlife Institute of India scientist, said. He, however, said the 117 cubs could not be included in the ongoing census. “Only adult tigers are counted,” Jhala said.

NTCA officials said the sighting of cubs was a good sign after so many deaths in a year, but it was important to protect them, so that they become adults and add to the population of tigers in India. “They multiply fast, but their mortality rate is also high. India loses 25-30 tigers every year, but 2009, when 66 catsdied, was an exception,” an NTCA member said.

3-year-old tigress found injured in Ranthambore

In what appears to be one more instance of tigers fighting for territory, a three-year-old tigress was found severely injured in Rajasthan's Ranthambore National Park, a forest official said Tuesday. 'Preliminary investigations reveal that the tigress must have been injured in a fight with another wild cat over territory,' a forest official said. 'Proper medication is being provided to her,' the official added. With the increase in tiger population, Ranthambore National Park, over 175 km from here, is now grappling with a problem of clashes between tigers that are fighting to take control of their territory. According to a census conducted by the state forest department in 2009, there were 40 tigers in and around Ranthambore National Park and Sawai Madhopur wildlife sanctuary. The census conducted in the core division from April 30 to May 10 revealed there were 14 males, 16 females and 10 cubs. Ranthambore National Park situated in Sawai Madhopur district covers an area of around 400 sq km. Tigers are territorial and fiercely defensive. A tigress may have a territory of 20 sq km while the territories of males are much larger, covering 40-80 sq km and even more. However, territory varies from forest to forest depending on the ecology of that area. A similar clash was witnessed in 2008 when an eight-year-old tigress was found dead in the national park. The dead body of the tigress was found in a mutilated state by the forest officials who felt that the wild cat could have died two or three days earlier. The investigations suggested that the tigress died in a fight with another wild cat over territory.

Wildlife officials to review strategies to protect tigers

Concerned over 14 big cats dying in the last three months, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has decided to convene a three-day meeting of wildlife officials of tiger-range states to review protection strategy in national parks.

The meeting, to be chaired by NTCA Member Secretary Rajesh Gopal, has come days after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed concern over the recent unnatural tiger deaths in sanctuaries particularly Corbett and Kanha tiger reserves in Uttarakhand and Rajasthan, respectively.

"The meeting, which commences from April 10, has been proposed at Ramnagar in Uttarakhand to discuss the strategies for plugging the loopholes to ensure safety of tigers. Chief Wildlife Wardens and Field Directors will attend the meet," Deputy Inspector General (NTCA) S P Yadav said.

The government has already warned that as many as 18 reserves in the country threatens to go the Panna and Sariska way where all native striped cats were wiped out by the poachers.

"During the meeting, issues such as need for expediting buffer and core zones, streamlining tourism and strengthening weaker areas would be deliberated in detail," Yadav said.

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/wildlife-officials-to-review-strategies-to-protect-tigers/90431/on

Sangli's 10 tigers get Rs 28cr but Vid's 139 only Rs 3.8cr

NAGPUR: It is not just people of Vidarbha who suffer discrimination within Maharashtra. The step-motherly treatment extends to even wild animals. Even though Vidarbha has a bulk of Maharashtra's forests and wildlife, most of the funds for their protection are being siphoned off to western Maharashtra.

The manner in which funds were distributed under the state plan in 2009-10 show how the government, in its eagerness to take monies to western Maharashtra, is even leaving state's tigers unprotected. Of Rs 41.56 crore grants released under various heads, only Rs 3.78 crore were given for Vidarbha, while protected areas (PAs) in Western Maharashtra, which have only a fraction of wildlife of Vidarbha, managed to grab the rest.

Apart from the grants released under the centrally sponsored scheme (CSS) by the ministry of environment & forests (MoEF), money is released under state plan for promoting eco-tourism, wildlife protection, relocation of villages inside PAs, forest tourism, rescue centres and nature conservation.

Of the Rs 3.78 crore, Nagpur Wildlife Circle got Rs 1.80 crore for eco-tourism. It includes Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (Rs 96 lakh); Pench (54 lakh); Bor (Rs 12 lakh); Tipeshwar (Rs 7.50 lakh); Chaprala (Rs 8.71 lakh) and Bhamragarh (Rs 2.10 lakh). Besides, Rs 1.43 crore were released for Melghat Tiger Reserve (MTR) including Rs 1.25 crore for MTR; Rs 7.40 lakh for Wan and Rs 10.60 lakh for Ambabarwa sanctuaries.

The state released Rs 3.18 lakh for a nature interpretation centre in Nagpur. Nagzira and Navegaon areas were completely ignored. Rs 10.67 lakh has been released for development of forest garden in Chikhaldara; Rs 6.67 lakh for Wadali (Amravati) and Rs 62.17 lakh for proposed works on Gorewada Zoo. The PAs in Vidarbha got Rs 3.24 crore but considering their area and importance, this is meagre.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Sanglis-10-tigers-get-Rs-28cr-but-Vids-139-only-Rs-38cr/articleshow/5764946.cms

Funds delay Sahyadri tiger plan

SATARA: Paucity of funds has delayed installation of sophisticated highly sensitive cameras in Chandoli National Park and Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary, both part of the proposed Sahyadri tiger project.

The camera trapping is planned to capture images of tigers and the large number of their prey animals in these protected areas.

Sahyadri Tiger Project will be the fourth tiger projects in the state. The rest three tiger projects in the state - Tadoba-Andhari project, Pench project and Melghat project - are in the Satpura range of forests.The exact number of tigers in Chandoli and Koyna sanctuaries is not known. Tigers have rarely been spotted by anyone in these two wildlife sanctuaries. The presence of pug marks had, however , confirmed existence of these wild animals. The Centre had recently announced the Sahyadri Tiger project to protect these and other endangered animals as well as several rare plants found in these bio-diversity-rich region.

http://www.sakaaltimes.com/SakaalTimesBeta/20100405/4661055558105635176.htm

Bangla for joint tiger census with India

STAFF WRITER 20:58 HRS IST

Kolkata, Apr 5 (PTI) Bangladesh today proposed a joint tiger census with India in the Sunderbans to arrive at an accurate estimate of the number of big cats there.

"The tigers of the Sunderbans are no respector of borders. They roam freely in both the Bangladesh and Indian sides, making tiger census almost as difficult as counting crows. So, there must be a joint tiger census with Bangladesh and India," Environment and Forest Minister of Bangladesh Hasan Mahmud told newsmen.

In reply to a question, Mahmud said the last tiger census carried out in Bangladesh in 2004 estimated the number of the big cats at 440. The figure now stands at 450.

Mahmud, who earlier called on West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, said he had requested the latter's support in voting Sunderbans as the 7th wonder of the world.

Kaziranga brought fresh hopes on tiger conservation: Ramesh

Union Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh on Monday said Kaziranga has brought fresh hopes on tiger conservation in the country with the National Park registering a density of about 30 tigers over 100 square kilometres of the park, which he described to be the highest in the country.

After a field visit the Minister told journalists inside the world heritage site, that such a high density indicate that Kaziranga with a total area of more than 1000 square km area should have more than 100 tigers. Mr. Ramesh said that figures of tiger census would be out in November. Assam Forest and Environment Minister Rockybul Hussain accompanied Mr. Ramesh in field visit.

Regional offices

The Union Minister announced that four regional offices of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) would be opened in Bangalore, Nagpur, Kolkata and Guwahati to spread out activities of NTCA to field areas and to ensure that it did not remain Delhi-centric. The NTCA headquarters in Delhi would also look after northern India.

http://beta.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/article389104.ece#

Maoists let tiger census officials enter their den

New Delhi: Even as security agencies are busy fighting the bloodiest battle against Maoists, the red brigade is actually helping the environment and forests ministry conduct the tiger census.

For the first time in a decade, wildlife officials have managed to enter three tiger reserves in Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand that were earlier out of their reach.

After having detailed discussions with the Maoists in these three jungles and helping them understand the threat to Indian tigers, scientists and forest officials finally managed to enter Indravati tiger reserve in Chhattisgarh, Simlipal in Orissa and Palamu in Jharkhand.

“These tiger reserves are Maoist dens. But this time, we will have tiger census in these areas. Census in Indravati will be conducted in the second phase that would start after the monsoon,” Qamar Qureshi, a scientist in the Wildlife Institute of India that is spearheading the tiger census, said.

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_maoists-let-tiger-census-officials-enter-their-den_1367911

Rajasthan fails to utilise grant for tigers

JAIPUR: The state forest department has failed to utilise a Central grant of Rs 1.22 crore allotted to it during 2007-08 under the project tiger scheme in Ranthambore, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has stated in a report.

The CAG, who scrutinised the records of the deputy conservator of forests and deputy director (core) of Project Tiger in Ranthambore, pointed out that a sum of Rs 2.76 crore was allotted for the year 2007-08 by the Union government for minor constructions and eco-development work in the forest.

Subsequently, the Centre released a sum of Rs 1.54 crore in two installments — Rs 1.5 crore in July 2007 and Rs 0.04 crore in March 2008. The remaining sum was to be released after 85% utilisation of this amount..

The state government, after receiving the money from the Centre, handed it over to the forest department in September 2007. However, the department failed to utilise the amount even by March 2008 as a result of which the remaining sum of Rs 1.22 crore was not given by the Centre at all.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/State-fails-to-utilise-grant-for-tigers/articleshow/5761421.cms

Non-relocation of village in Dudhwa worrying conservationists

Aligarh: The delay in relocation of a village located in the Dudhwa National Park in Uttar Pradesh is causing worry to conservationists who believe that it will further endanger the Indian tiger.

Despite an Allahabad High Court order in 2003, district officials in Lakhimpur Kheri have failed to relocate inhabitants of Surma village to an alternative site.

In a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently, wildlife activist Kaushelendra Singh of 'Tiger and Terrain Society' has made a plea for expediting the relocation of the village located in the core area of the park

Surma, with a population of nearly 4000 people, is occupying more than 500 acres of land within the park. Conservationists are also worried that the village is serving as a base for poachers and internationals gangs carrying out illicit trade in animal parts.

http://www.zeenews.com/news616553.html

Tiger kills man near Tadoba, sixth victim this year

The tiger-human conflict claimed one more life in Chandrapur district on Thursday when 30-year-old Gurum Shrirame was killed by a tiger in the Murpar area of Chimur range in Brahmapuri division.

“Shrirame had gone to the forest yesterday to collect Mahua flowers. He, however, didn’t return by the night. When villagers searched for him, a partly-devoured body dragged about 100 metres away from the spot of the attack was discovered,” Divisional Forest Officer Sanjay Thavre told The Indian Express.

This has taken the toll of those killed in seven attacks by tigers this year to six. Last year had seen a lull in the conflict, raging since 2006, with only four deaths occurring compared to 25 in 2008. This had led to a suspicion about disappearance of tigers from the conflict areas — either due to revenge killings or because of poaching. Many abandoned cubs were rescued, with their parents missing, from the conflict areas in 2009, strengthening the suspicion.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Tiger-kills-man-in-Chandrapur--sixth-victim-this-year/599495

A MELANCHOLIC HOMECOMING Return to Palamau Tiger Reserve(PTR)--The Heartland of Wildlife and Naxalism in Jharkhand

First of all let me briefly introduce myself and my relationship with the Palamau Tiger Reserve—A neglected Tiger Reserve that seems to have been forgotten and abandoned by all—Conservationists, Officers as well as the General Public. I am a 19 year old Engineering student, a huge wildlife enthusiast and a I.F.S. aspirant. And all the credit for my unconditional love towards the forest and its denizens goes first of all to my father who himself is an I.F.S. officer and then to this place-Palamau Tiger Reserve(PTR).My father whom I consider one of the most honest and upright I.F.S. officer and a huge wildlife enthusiast himself was posted as the D.F.O. of PTR from 1991-1998.He introduced me to the forest--its noises, smells, its inhabitants and the nuances of its conservation at a very young age. My mother contributed equally in all this and even though I fail to mention her as often as I mention Dad, she always encouraged me in this field and her love for forest and wildlife has been a great inspiration. One of my earliest memories of PTR is walking about 20 kms with Abba and the forest staff when I was just 4 year old, as they went about dousing a forest fire in an interior part of the Reserve. My determination towards preserving such places for posterity increased exponentially when I saw how honestly and arduously my father worked for this. Apart from working day in and day out with his dedicated staff to improve the Reserve, he literally put his life on the line thrice—firstly when he went alone to recover some tusks from a Naxal Dasta(a few weeks before this they had killed a government engineer by calling him alone to give back some stolen goods), on the second instance he did an undercover operation disguising himself as a client and nabbed a gang of armed poachers with huge cache of skins; and finally when he barely survived a landmine blast in the PTR triggered by the Naxals on 16^th Feb 1998(in which his driver and a tracker died)who were in turn ransomed by the timber mafia because of his work against them. I was deeply inspired and moved by the compassion and respect he exhibited for the martyred foot soldiers of Reserve when he single handedly amassed 3 lakhs each for the family of the deceased driver and tracker within a month of the incident . He did this by contributing himself and sending out an appeal (http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/hpg/envis/doc98html/biodjp69.html) to all the Forest Staff and Officers, organizations working for the cause of wildlife, conservationists and his relatives narrating the incident and asking them to donate for the families of the deceased. The government had refused to compensate the victims on the grounds that they were daily wagers(even they had been working for roughly 20 years).Just after 20 days of the blast he went back to the PTR and spent two weeks visiting every part of the Reserve.

http://www.sanctuaryasia.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1796&catid=99:blogs

Death of a tiger

After poachers, it is sustained official insensitivity, and the human-animal conflict that threatens the endangered species of the great Indian tiger
Akash Bisht Ramnagar/Dhikala

Every night, the Kiari village on the fringes of Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand attracts several intruders from the wild who pillage the fields of farmers, dependent on the little produce that the land yields. The increasing loss of crop over the years has forced farmers near the park to wage a war against herds of wild boars and elephants. Wild boars, the most frequent among these uninvited guests, are considered 'enemy number one' as they destroy an entire crop with amazing speed. This phenomenon has pushed farmers to lay traps (wire snares) near their fields. Ironically, the tragedy is that in this battle for survival, these ugly confrontations sometimes claim innocent victims - precious tigers and leopards.

On March 16, one such wire snare killed a tiger near the Phata range. This was the fifth tiger death in the past four months that even had Prime Minister Manmohan Singh sit up and take notice at the recently held National Board for Wildlife meeting.

Corbett has the densest population of tigers in the world and some tigers are bound to die owing to natural causes like ageing, diseases and animal-animal conflict. Out of the five tiger deaths, one was poisoned, while the rest, except for the Phata tiger, died of natural causes. The Wildlife Protection Society of India informed Hardnews that 16 tigers have died in the park since 2008; two were seizures wherein tiger skin and bones were recovered. Corbett reserve has around '150-200 villages' in the vicinity, and tigers, known to be wanderers, often walk into human settlements forcing a deadly human-animal conflict.

"We don't have any safety from the wild boars and we have conveyed this to the forest department, but our pleas have fallen on deaf ears. The compensation paid for the crops destroyed is abysmally low and doesn't cover more than 10 per cent of the total cost. So the villagers are left with no option but to resort to such extreme measures," says Vidya Sagar Kiari village.

Often, domesticated animals stray deep into the reserve looking for greener pastures; they sometimes fall prey to tigers. Infuriated villagers consequently resort to revenge killings wherein they poison the carcass of the big cat's kill, which can lead to painful death of the tiger.

Citing this confrontation, the Corbett Foundation (CF) in collaboration with World Wildlife Fund (WWF), introduced an interim relief scheme wherein villagers are paid Rs 3,000 or less for every cattle killed by a tiger or leopard. This scheme has genuinely helped in reducing tiger mortality due to poisoning. "The people of the hills have a strong emotional bonding with their cattle and their death is deeply mourned by family members. They get so aggrieved that they poison the kill to avenge its death," says Dr Harendra Singh Bargali, deputy director, CF.

Bargali said that as soon as villagers inform them of a killing by a big cat, a team is dispatched to investigate. Once the kill is confirmed, the villagers are paid the amount promptly. This cools them down. "The forest department also provides compensation to villagers but it takes six months to a year to get the paltry sum. That's where we come in and try to calm the villagers by providing some financial assistance," says Bargali.

http://www.hardnewsmedia.com/2010/03/3510

Skeletal remains of tiger cub found

Bangalore, Mar 31 (PTI) Skeletal remains of a tiger cub was found in the Maddur range of the Bandipur national park near a cattle kill today, taking the death toll of the predator to six in the past eight months.

"Evidently, the cub, about eight months old, might have died eight days ago. Though the carcass was found deep in the forest near a cattle kill, post mortem did not indicate food poisoning" Karnataka Chief Wildlife Warden, B K Singh.

According to Sanjay Gubbi of Centre for Wildlife Studies (CWS), there was nothing left of the cattle kill and the cub.

There is concern that its mother might have perished after sharing the kill with its cub. "Normally a mother does not abandon a cub so young. There was concern that the tigress may also have died. But there were no such indication," Gubbi said.

Tiger reserves to get buffer zones soon

BANGALORE: After long four years, buffer zones in tiger reserves of Karnataka will soon become a reality.

According to the forest department a 300 sqkm buffer around Bandipur and a 400 sqkm buffer around Anshi-Dandeli reserves have got in-principle approval from the Centre.

The notification of buffer zones is very significant as it will lead to protection of the reserves from intensive projects like mining.

"Those which got in-principle approval will be notified in a month or so. In Nagarahole, we're facing some problems and the buffer zone may take some more time to be determined. This notification will not just have a bearing on people living in the zone, but have a major impact on human-animal conflict. If a tiger strays, it will not hit the boundary straightaway," principle chief conservator of forests, B K Singh told TOI.

WHAT'S A BUFFER ZONE?

A buffer is like a thin layer of protection on all sides of the reserve. It is not inviolate like core area and human habitation won't be relocated. Those living in this zone will be given alternative livelihood options to reduce dependence on core forest produce. "These zones will be protected from major changes in land use. Unlike the core area, which is exclusive, the buffer zone will be inclusive but importance will be given to protection of wildlife," National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), member secretary, Rajesh Gopal told TOI.

Many states like Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, which record a large number of tiger deaths, still haven't notified buffer zones.

ON THE ANVIL

Total area of Bandipur tiger reserve is 950 sqkm; additional 300 sqkm being added on Karnataka side as buffer zone

Total area of Anshi-Dandeli tiger reserve is 800 sqkm; additional 400 sqkm being added as buffer area

Nagarahole buffer zone yet to be determined; notification for Bhadra tiger reserve with Centre

No large, intensive development projects allowed in zone

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Tiger-reserves-to-get-buffer-zones-soon/articleshow/5748457.cms

Jairam asks Nath to go take a walk - Et.com

NEW DELHI: Blamed by his Cabinet colleagues, particularly surface transport minister Kamal Nath, of stalling projects, environment ministerJairam Ramesh hit back saying he would further increase the rejection rate of projects.

“More than 95% projects get environment approval and more than 85% gets forest approval. I am trying my best to increase the rejection rate as we were somewhat liberal in the past and overlooked environmental issues,” Mr Ramesh said.

Making it clear that he means business, Mr Ramesh said that his ministry has lowered its specifications on roads passing through national forests.

Instead of four-lane highways, states and NHAI has been asked to make two lane roads while passing through forests and night time restrictions on speed limits have been imposed.

He made it clear that his ministry would not okay projects that would adversely impact natural reserves and the environment.

Earlier this month, Mr Kamal Nath had complained to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh about the delay, on account of environment and forest clearances, in 11 key projects of the National Highway Authority of India including expansion of a stretch of the National Highway-7 that passes through Pench tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh that falls within Nath’s parliamentary constituency, Chhindwara.

The environment ministry did not accord approval as the road was to pass through a tiger reserve.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/5748971.cms

Who killed the Panna tigers: CBI probe sought

The complete disappearance of tigers from the Panna reserve continues to stoke controversy. Now the Madhya Pradesh forest minister himself says the big cats were poached and has asked for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe.

Panna Tiger Reserve, which was found to have around two dozen tigers after the census in January 2006, was left with no tigers by December 2008, according to wildlife experts.

'We have sent our request for a CBI probe into the disappearance of big cats from the reserve to the state government which will forward it to the centre,' Sartaj Singh told IANS.

'No arrests have been made till now even though it is clear that the tigers have been poached. The CBI could apprehend the guilty, some of whom are suspected to have inter-state links,' the minister added.

The minister said there are many aspects in the case that need to be closely looked into and the CBI would be an appropriate agency for the purpose.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) team sent to Panna in 2009 to look into the disappearance observed that there were no tigers in the reserve.

Later the state government ordered its own probe after it disagreed with the findings of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up by the union environment and forests ministry.

The central government team's report, submitted in June 2009, said the reserve lost most of its tigers to poachers and alleged that the forest officials did little despite adequate warnings.

But the state committee's report submitted in the last week of February said a skewed male-female ratio, territorial fights, revenge killings by villagers, unbridled tourism activities and poaching were among the reasons behind the fall in tiger population.

'There were many reasons for the tiger's disappearance and poaching didn't occur inside the park,' said former principal chief conservator of forests J.J. Dutta, a member of the state team.

A forest department official told IANS: 'One of the seven members of the state committee did not put his signature on the report as he disagreed with some of the findings.'

Unhappy with the report submitted by the state committee, Minister Singh now wants a CBI inquiry into the disappearance of tigers.

On whether such a request would not embarrass his own government, the minister said: 'No. Fingers have been pointed at the forest ministry and its officers in the past. I want to get the taint cleared once and for all.'

Earlier, the CBI had in 2005 probed the disappearance of tigers from Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan.

http://sify.com/news/who-killed-the-panna-tigers-cbi-probe-sought-news-national-kd5kOccheic.html

Tiger! Buxa earns its stripes

Alipurduar, March 30: Buxa can breathe a little easy: a Royal Bengal tiger — or something that resembles the magnificent beast — has been spotted in the reserve and captured on film too.

One tiger in a tiger reserve may not appear too much of a big deal to the uninitiated but it is a milestone moment for north Bengal’s Buxa, where no big cat has been spotted in the past 40 years.

Certainly not since 1983, when the reserve, 8km from Alipurduar town in Jalpaiguri district and contiguous to Bhutan, was formally inducted into Project Tiger, India’s flagship conservation programme.

All these years, all that Buxa Tiger Reserve had to justify its moniker was a few growls in the dead of the night — presumably a hungry cat making a kill — scat and an estimate that the area housed at least a dozen big cats.

The ignominy — imagine calling yourself a tiger reserve with no tiger to show — appears to have ended now, thanks to beat officer Manindra Sarkar who has come up with a grainy image of a golden creature.

Sarkar’s colleagues say he caught the tiger on camera when it turned around and made a royal walkout. Sarkar was on tiger census duty that started in early February.

“It’s indeed a happy day as for the first time in the history of the tiger reserve, we have been able to record direct evidence of tigers in Buxa. So far, our staff had to be satisfied with the pugmarks, scat and distant roars. But this is the first close encounter,” said S.B. Mondol, the chief wildlife warden, in Calcutta.

He added that the exact location from where the photograph was taken was not being disclosed for the safety of the animal.

According to the reserve’s deputy field director, Subhankar Sengupta, Sarkar had gone to investigate a bush in which he suspected an animal was lurking.

“When he approached the bush from behind, he saw the tiger, about five to six years old, come out,” Sengupta said. “The tiger began walking away and when it turned around once, Sarkar managed to take two snaps,” the official added. He said the foresters later collected plaster casts of the pugmarks.

Animesh Bose, the secretary of the Siliguri-based Himalayan Nature and Adventure Foundation, said: “We are happy. No one had been able to photograph a tiger even before it was declared a tiger reserve.”

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100331/jsp/frontpage/story_12285410.jsp

Tigress strays into village, kills teenager

BHOPAL - A tigress strayed into a village located on the outskirts of the BandhavgarhNational Park in Madhya Pradesh and killed an 18-year-old girl Tuesday. It is hiding in a farm and all efforts to nab it have so far proved futile, an official said Wednesday.

“The park officials are trying to nab the tiger hiding in the farm, where it had killed the girl and a bullock,” the park’s Deputy Director K.S. Alawa told IANS.

Dwarika Prasad Tiwari’s daughter Anjana went to collect mahua, a forest produce, from her father’s farm in village Kuchwahi when the feline, which had earlier killed a bullock, attacked and killed her.

The villagers reached the place but the feline hid itself inside the farm. The park officials also reached the spot and cordoned off the area.

“Our efforts to capture the animal were futile as the big cat was still hiding inside the farm,” Alawa said, said adding that Rs.1 lakh as ex-gratia was released for the victim’s family as per government norms.

http://blog.taragana.com/science/2010/03/31/tigress-strays-into-village-kills-teenager-9597/

Nath writes to PM to clear environmental roadblock

After issues like finances and land acquisitions, now it is India dwindling tiger population that is posing a problem for Road Transport Minister Kamal Nath's road building programme.

Nath has sought the Prime Minister's intervention to get the environmental clearances so that he can achieve his target of building 20 km of roads every day by building right through the sanctuaries.

At least seven highway stretches pass through wildlife sanctuaries which are home to several endangered species as well as the most precious tiger. The road transport ministry wants these stretches upgraded to 4 and 6 lane highways which means destroying vast expanse of wildlife.

Most of these projects are stuck for over five years now. The environment ministry's version is to divert the highways and acquire land around the sanctuaries. But the huge costs and the entire problem of land acquisition are things that the Road transport ministry surely wants to steer clear from.

The Prime Minister's Office has asked the Cabinet Secretary to resolve the green clearance issue delaying road projects.

Nath had written to the Prime Minister on the issue. Five road projects are stuck due to delays in environmental clearances. Four of the highway projects are in Pench sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh. Two are in Hastinapur sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh. These stretches have to be upgraded to 4 and 6 lane national highways.

It is now a tussle between nature and infrastructure development and the ball is in the cabinet secretary's court. He has to do a balancing act between environment and development.

http://beta.profit.ndtv.com/news/show/nath-writes-to-pm-to-clear-environmental-roadblock-32825