PANAJI: Almost 14 months after the tiger had been killed at Keri, the forest department filed a chargesheet in the court of the judicial magistrate first class, Valpoi but no further details were available.
Officials were tightlipped about the chargesheet and it was not known how many persons have been named in it. Additional principal conservator of forest Shashi Kumar had told reporters just over a week ago that the chargesheet would be filed soon. TOI had first reported the killing on April 13, 2009.
The big cat had been killed in a cashew plantation belonging to the Majik family in Keri after it was trapped in a cable wire snare laid along a stream. After investigations drew a blank for some time, forest officials found bones and other tiger remains on May 31, 2009 and in early June, which raised hopes among wildlife lovers of justice in the case, as the department itself was in a denial mode.
The tiger remains, including an assortment of bones, fur and teeth recovered from the site were sent to the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehra Dun for forensic tests, which was considered crucial to prove that it was indeed a tiger that had been killed.
Though the WWI preliminary report had said that the bones are not that of a tiger, another report received just a few weeks back confirmed that one sample of the remains belonged to the big cat.
During investigations, the forest department had arrested some persons belonging to Majik community and later released them.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
Villager falls prey to tiger in Maharashtra
NAGPUR: The raging tiger-human conflict claimed one more life in rural area of Chandrapur district on Thursday.
Sixty-year-old Tuljabai Jambhole of village Shedegaon in Chimur range had gone with other villagers to collect Mahua flowers, when the tiger attacked her around 8 am in the forests along the peripheral area of Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), forest officials said. The woman died on the spot.
The spot where the incident occurred is about two km from the place where the previous victim, Bhaurao Masram of Jhari village, had been killed by the tiger on April 4, officials said. They suspect it is the same tiger. The two deaths have spread panic in the villages in the area.
On April 1, a tiger had killed a 30-year-old man on the other side of the forests in Bramhapuri division when he had gone to collect the Mahua flowers, which is an important livelihood source for the impoverished villagers living around the tiger reserve.
The forest department is running a corridor conservation programme in the conflict areas to mitigate the crisis that first precipitated in 2006 and has been aggravating ever since. The area is the biggest tiger-man conflict zone in the country, experts say.
http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_villager-falls-prey-to-tiger-in-maharashtra_1371904
Officials seize a tiger skin from poachers in Tamil Nadu
Mudumalai (Tamil Nadu), Apr 15 (ANI): The Tamil Nadu Forest Department officials recovered a tiger skin from a seven-member gang on Thursday in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve of the state's Niligiri District.
Acting on a tip off, the officials nabbed five suspects, before they could sell the tiger skin to a customer.
Officials said that other two members of the gang managed to flee from the scene.
According to Mudumalai Tiger Reserve Field Director, Rajesh Srivatsava, the hunt to nab the other two is on.
"Earlier in the morning today, they recovered the tusk and arrested five accused near Anakati area in Niligiri north division. Whole investigation was going on today. Still two accused are absconding," Srivatsava said.
"We are searching for them and definitely, we are confident that we will still arrest them and we will take stringent action against all concerned," he added.
The Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary was declared as Tiger Reserve in 2007.
According to a recent tiger census, there are just 35 tigers left in Mudumali.
Poaching and loss of habitat have resulted in the dwindling of the big cats population at an alarming rate.
India is a key player in efforts to boost the global tiger population, which numbers just a few thousand which, certain wildlife experts feel could be extinct in another two decades.
Conservationists say the trade in skin and bones is booming to countries such as China, which has banned the use of tiger parts in medicine but where everything from fur to whiskers to eyeballs to bones, are still used.(ANI)
The seizure has once again highlighted the revival of poaching of tigers in the Western Ghats.
Acting on a tip off, the officials nabbed five suspects, before they could sell the tiger skin to a customer.
Officials said that other two members of the gang managed to flee from the scene.
According to Mudumalai Tiger Reserve Field Director, Rajesh Srivatsava, the hunt to nab the other two is on.
"Earlier in the morning today, they recovered the tusk and arrested five accused near Anakati area in Niligiri north division. Whole investigation was going on today. Still two accused are absconding," Srivatsava said.
"We are searching for them and definitely, we are confident that we will still arrest them and we will take stringent action against all concerned," he added.
The Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary was declared as Tiger Reserve in 2007.
According to a recent tiger census, there are just 35 tigers left in Mudumali.
Poaching and loss of habitat have resulted in the dwindling of the big cats population at an alarming rate.
India is a key player in efforts to boost the global tiger population, which numbers just a few thousand which, certain wildlife experts feel could be extinct in another two decades.
Conservationists say the trade in skin and bones is booming to countries such as China, which has banned the use of tiger parts in medicine but where everything from fur to whiskers to eyeballs to bones, are still used.(ANI)
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Poachers back: Tiger skin seized in Nilgiris
UDHAGAMANDALAM: Forest officials in the Nilgiris on Wednesday seized a 'fresh' tiger skin from a four-member gang in the Sigur forest area near Anaikatty, suggesting a revival in poaching of the big cat in the Western Ghats.
Investigations are on to find out how the gang came into possession of the skin. Officials said a tip-off enabled them to move in before the skin was sold and arrest the four suspects, including two tribals. Interrogation revealed the involvement of three others, who were also arrested.
District forest officer (north) K Soundarapandian, investigating the seizure along with Mudumalai Tiger Reserve field director Rajiv K Srivasatava, said five of the seven suspects were remanded in custody after being charged under the Wildlife (Protection) Act. All were daily wage labourers from Gudalur taluk.
"An informer who works in surveillance alerted us," Srivastava told TOI. "It is a 'fresh' one and must be about two to three weeks old," he added. "The tiger must have been around four years old."
Tiger poaching in the region was last reported in 2007. A recent census estimated tigers in TN at 76, with a lower limit of 56 and upper limit of 95. Mudumalai reserve has the largest number.
Investigations are on to find out how the gang came into possession of the skin. Officials said a tip-off enabled them to move in before the skin was sold and arrest the four suspects, including two tribals. Interrogation revealed the involvement of three others, who were also arrested.
District forest officer (north) K Soundarapandian, investigating the seizure along with Mudumalai Tiger Reserve field director Rajiv K Srivasatava, said five of the seven suspects were remanded in custody after being charged under the Wildlife (Protection) Act. All were daily wage labourers from Gudalur taluk.
"An informer who works in surveillance alerted us," Srivastava told TOI. "It is a 'fresh' one and must be about two to three weeks old," he added. "The tiger must have been around four years old."
Tiger poaching in the region was last reported in 2007. A recent census estimated tigers in TN at 76, with a lower limit of 56 and upper limit of 95. Mudumalai reserve has the largest number.
Kaziranga, best for tigers
Corbett National Park may have to give up its status as the best home for tigers in India. A non-governmental organisation, Aranyak, has found that the Kaziranga National Park in Assam has 32 tigers for every 100 sq km, as compared to Corbett, which has 20 for the same area.
Tiger density in other reserves hovers between 8 and 12.
The assessment was based on monitoring of tigers with the camera trap technology used by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) for conducting nation-wide tiger census.
"If we go by their assessment, Kaziranga should have 100-120 tigers," said an official of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). Kaziranga, which is also known for its rhinos and elephants, had about 30 tigers in 1972, and 86 in 2007, as per the last tiger census conducted in India.
NCTA officials, however, said the real picture of the tiger population in Kaziranga would emerge only in a couple of months when the tiger census by WII is finalised.
"We expect to complete the first assessment by August," said Qamar Qureshi, a WII scientist, also part of the census.
Aranyak's assessment prompted Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh to say tiger density in Kaziranga is higher than in Corbett, which he said was under stress because of increased tourism activity.
"Initial indications on tiger census are encouraging. But I cannot say whether the tiger population would be more than 1,400 as estimated in 2007," Ramesh said.
In the first phase of tiger census completed in south India and parts of north India, WII scientists have spotted some tigers in naxal-affected tiger reserves. Scientists entered naxal-affected Indravati Tiger Reserve in Chattisgarh, Palamu Tiger Reserve in Jharkhand and Simlipal in Orissa and got tiger excreta samples.
"Some tigers have also been sighted in Indravati and Palamu," Ramesh said. Ramesh had earlier called these areas the worst tiger homes in India.
New software to track tigers
The Central government is introducing a new software to make tiger monitoring more accurate, even as the first phase of India's comprehensive tiger census showed some “encouraging trends”.
Launching the M-Stripes system – which involves GPS for field guards and software monitoring — on Wednesday, Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests said that the technology would help increase the transparency of forest surveillance.
“We know that a lot of the information today is doctored and unreliable. People claim that they have gone on patrol, but actually they are just sitting in their offices and generating data,” said Mr. Ramesh. “This system will put an end to that.”
In the past, officials had continued to report tiger sightings at the Sariska and Panna reserves, inflating official figures long after the big cats had vanished from those areas.
The government hopes the current ongoing census will be more accurate, and Mr. Ramesh said that some encouraging trends had been seen in the first phase, which covered around 3.5 lakh sq km of forests, including non-tiger reserve areas, at the beat level.
Tigers were spotted in regions that had been written off earlier, including Buxa, Nagarjuna Sagar and Indravati.
A high tiger density was also reported in the Kaziranga reserve.
http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article397593.ece
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Corbett mulls special tiger police
Amid mounting concern over the dwindling population of tigers in the country, a special tiger protection force has been mooted in the Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand. The force will assist the staff of the country’s oldest national park in reducing the poaching risk to the endangered animal.
There are only about 1,400 tigers left in the country, thanks to poaching, shrinking habitats and a decline in the prey base. The Jim Corbett National Park, named after the celebrated hunter-writer who brought down many a maneater in the hill state, has 160 tigers. This is the highest population of tigers anywhere in the country. The government, animal lovers and even some corporations are working overtime to save the animal.
What will be unique about the 112-man force is that it will include people who live in the vicinity of the park, the Van Gujjars. They will make up 30 per cent of the people taken on contract. The total expenditure on the force will be borne by the central government. Attractive financial packages are also being offered for the rehabilitation of the people from the protected areas. “If we have to save tigers for posterity, India is the place where there is still hope,” said Wildlife Institute of India Director PR Sinha.
In the Jim Corbett National Park, at least three tigers have died since the beginning of this year. It is considered one of the best habitats for the big cat. Last year was also not good for tigers in Uttarakhand, when nine of them died.
Uttarakhand has taken proactive steps in the past to save its wildlife. In 2001, five elephants had died mysteriously in the Jim Corbett National Park. Their tusks had been removed. The police swung into action, much to the chagrin of forest officials, and the killings came to an end. The police, at that time, had called for tiger police stations outside the reserve. But that never happened.
Great efforts are being put up at the highest level to save the tiger. Still, there are no visible signs as yet if poaching of tigers has come down. An estimate prepared by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, a United Nations agency, has disclosed that there were 100,000 tigers just 20 years ago in Asia. Now, only 3,200 are left in the wild.
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/corbett-mulls-special-tiger-police/391522/
Saturday, April 10, 2010
14 deaths this year, meet to discuss tiger mortality
To prevent tiger mortality, a meeting between the officials of the state Forest department and National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is scheduled to be held by the end of this week.
With 14 tiger deaths already being reported from across the country this year, the meeting would focus on the mysterious death of a tiger in the state’s North Kheri forest division.
The carcass of an adult male tiger was recovered from North Kheri on January 6. According to the postmortem report, the cause of death could not be ascertained, as the carcass was over 48 hours old and the internal organs of the big cat had decomposed.
“The meeting is scheduled during April 10 to 12,” said B K Patnaik, PCCF, UP Forest department. “We will review the protection strategy that is being taken up by officials at the tiger reserves. We can review the shortcomings and loopholes in their strategy and suggest solutions,” said a NTCA official.
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/14-deaths-this-year--meet-to-discuss-tiger-mortality/602261/
Friday, April 9, 2010
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.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
3-year-old tigress found injured in Ranthambore
| |||
 | |||
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.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
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.
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.
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
Monday, April 5, 2010
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
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
Friday, April 2, 2010
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 16th 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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)