KOLKATA: The tigress that had strayed into a village at Mathurakhanda in the Sunderbans' Bally island on Wednesday was trapped and released on Friday afternoon. The six-year-old female had sneaked into the village and entered a house where it killed a goat. The big cat, however, couldn't be traced after that. Terrified villagers spent a sleepless night.
Pugmarks were detected near the forest at the edge of the village on Thursday afternoon. A forest department team put up a nylon net cordon and laid a trap-cage with a bait to catch the tigress.
Early on Friday morning, the tigress walked into it.
"The animal is healthy and it has been released at the Chamta 6 section of the forest, at least 110 km away from the Mathurakhanda village. It's unlikely that the tigress would stray again in the near future," said Anjan Guha, assistant field director, Sunderban Tiger Reserve.
The area where the straying happened falls within the core area of the forest. "We had to act promptly after the tiger became untraceable. It could have ben hiding in some village cowshed and attacked people. Fortunately, it went back into the neighbouring forest making it easy for us to trap it," added Guha.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Friday, December 31, 2010
Order issued to shoot man-eating tiger in Corbett reserve
The Uttarakhand forest department today issued an order to shoot a tiger which has killed three women in the past month and a half in the Corbett Tiger Reserve area.
Chief wildlife warden Srikant Chandola said the order to shoot the 'man-eater', which is active in Sundarkhal, Garjia and Dhikuli ranges of the tiger reserve, have been issued.
A team of hunters has been sent to the jungles to kill the big cat.
Meanwhile, three forest teams have been pressed into service to look for the remains of a woman who was devoured by the tiger in the Garjia area when she was returning after fetching fodder for her cattle last evening, he said.
On November 12 and 18, the tiger killed two other women in the area in separate incidents.
Chief wildlife warden Srikant Chandola said the order to shoot the 'man-eater', which is active in Sundarkhal, Garjia and Dhikuli ranges of the tiger reserve, have been issued.
A team of hunters has been sent to the jungles to kill the big cat.
Meanwhile, three forest teams have been pressed into service to look for the remains of a woman who was devoured by the tiger in the Garjia area when she was returning after fetching fodder for her cattle last evening, he said.
On November 12 and 18, the tiger killed two other women in the area in separate incidents.
Tiger strays into village
KOLKATA: A tiger strayed into Mathurakhanda village on Bali island, Gosaba, in South 24-Parganas on Thursday evening.
The tiger had killed a goat and after finding its pugmark in the village, residents alarmed forest officials. The forest department sent a team to trap the tiger, but till late night, they had failed to spot the big cat. Forest officials said they would tranquilize the tiger, for which the team, equipped with tranquilizing guns and trap cages, was searching the village island.
This year, there have been more than 10 cases of tigers straying into Sunderbans villages, which are located close to the forests. This has triggered a major problem for villagers dwelling close to the woods as tigers often attack cattle and even them.
The tiger had killed a goat and after finding its pugmark in the village, residents alarmed forest officials. The forest department sent a team to trap the tiger, but till late night, they had failed to spot the big cat. Forest officials said they would tranquilize the tiger, for which the team, equipped with tranquilizing guns and trap cages, was searching the village island.
This year, there have been more than 10 cases of tigers straying into Sunderbans villages, which are located close to the forests. This has triggered a major problem for villagers dwelling close to the woods as tigers often attack cattle and even them.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Tiger census by February: Ramesh
New Delhi, Dec 29 (IANS) The results of the tiger census now under way will be released by February 2011, Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh said Wednesday.
'We can expect the tiger census results by February, and it is for the first time that Sunderbans (in West Bengal) has been included in the census,' Ramesh told IANS.
Ramesh said this time the tiger census was being conducted in a more scientific manner. It was based on pugmarks earlier.
The ministry was earlier supposed to release the census results by November end.
The last census in 2005-06 showed a sharp fall in tiger numbers, showing India had only 1,411 tigers in the wild.
India was home to about 3,000 tigers around two decades ago.
'We can expect the tiger census results by February, and it is for the first time that Sunderbans (in West Bengal) has been included in the census,' Ramesh told IANS.
Ramesh said this time the tiger census was being conducted in a more scientific manner. It was based on pugmarks earlier.
The ministry was earlier supposed to release the census results by November end.
The last census in 2005-06 showed a sharp fall in tiger numbers, showing India had only 1,411 tigers in the wild.
India was home to about 3,000 tigers around two decades ago.
Panel to set tourism norms around tiger reserves
The environment ministry has formed a committee to lay down guidelines for regulating forest and wildlife eco-tourism in the country, especially around tiger reserves, officials said on Wednesday. The seven-member committee set up under the chairmanship of Sujit Banerjee, former secretary with the tourism ministry, will submit its final report within 45 days.
"The committee will make an appraisal of ecological issues, tourist visitation and suggest measures for carrying capacity of the reserves, and give recommendations for regulating tourism in ecologically sensitive non-forest areas in and around tiger reserves," said an official of the environment ministry.
It will firm up the guidelines for forest and wildlife eco-tourism in the context of advisories issued by the National Tiger Conservation Authority, the Wildlife (Protection) Act and the Forest (Conservation) Act.
The committee will also see the studies conducted by the tourism ministry on lodges and resorts around the tiger reserves.
Environment minister Jairam Ramesh recently expressed concern over dangers posed by mushrooming tourist lodges around tiger reserves, especially the Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand.
The ministry is working on guidelines for promoting eco-tourism - tourism that is ecologically sustainable and is in line with the carrying capacity of tourists in a particular reserve.
"The committee will make an appraisal of ecological issues, tourist visitation and suggest measures for carrying capacity of the reserves, and give recommendations for regulating tourism in ecologically sensitive non-forest areas in and around tiger reserves," said an official of the environment ministry.
It will firm up the guidelines for forest and wildlife eco-tourism in the context of advisories issued by the National Tiger Conservation Authority, the Wildlife (Protection) Act and the Forest (Conservation) Act.
The committee will also see the studies conducted by the tourism ministry on lodges and resorts around the tiger reserves.
Environment minister Jairam Ramesh recently expressed concern over dangers posed by mushrooming tourist lodges around tiger reserves, especially the Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand.
The ministry is working on guidelines for promoting eco-tourism - tourism that is ecologically sustainable and is in line with the carrying capacity of tourists in a particular reserve.
Two women arrested in Punjab for smuggling tiger skins
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Forest rangers have arrested two women for their alleged role in smuggling skins and other body parts of two tigers.
Apart from tigers, some body parts and teeth of deer were also recovered from them.
Sewa Singh, the Divisional Forest Officer, Amritsar Range said the women did not reveal anything apart from their identity.
The samples of tiger's skin are being sent to the Wildlife Institute at Dehradun for further investigations, he said.
"The two arrested women have been identified as Geeta and Taka who are residents of Karnataka. But during interrogation, the women said they are not residing in any particular place and they have not revealed much information about this smuggling," said Singh.
"They told us that these skins are fake and probably they are making stories about it. But our investigation is underway for which we would send the samples of these skins to Wildlife Institute of India at Dehradun," he added.
Singh further said the accused women would get tough punishment, if proven guilty.
"Under the Wildlife Protection 1972 Act, the women will be punished for smuggling tigers body parts. The women will get imprisonment of minimum three years and maximum seven years and would be imposed a fine of minimum ten thousand rupees," said Singh.
He also informed that the recovered skins were of a tiger and a cub that would have fetched the smugglers in the international market, at least rupees 65000 and 35000 respectively. By Ravinder Singh Robin (ANI)
Forest rangers have arrested two women for their alleged role in smuggling skins and other body parts of two tigers.
Apart from tigers, some body parts and teeth of deer were also recovered from them.
Sewa Singh, the Divisional Forest Officer, Amritsar Range said the women did not reveal anything apart from their identity.
The samples of tiger's skin are being sent to the Wildlife Institute at Dehradun for further investigations, he said.
"The two arrested women have been identified as Geeta and Taka who are residents of Karnataka. But during interrogation, the women said they are not residing in any particular place and they have not revealed much information about this smuggling," said Singh.
"They told us that these skins are fake and probably they are making stories about it. But our investigation is underway for which we would send the samples of these skins to Wildlife Institute of India at Dehradun," he added.
Singh further said the accused women would get tough punishment, if proven guilty.
"Under the Wildlife Protection 1972 Act, the women will be punished for smuggling tigers body parts. The women will get imprisonment of minimum three years and maximum seven years and would be imposed a fine of minimum ten thousand rupees," said Singh.
He also informed that the recovered skins were of a tiger and a cub that would have fetched the smugglers in the international market, at least rupees 65000 and 35000 respectively. By Ravinder Singh Robin (ANI)
Over 70% Sariska bookings cancelled
ALWAR: The ongoing Gujjar agitation has hit the tourist arrivals at the Sariska tiger reserve.
The efforts to revive the tiger population at Sariska, and the recent visit of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had brightened its prospects of attracting higher number of tourists this year. However, the road and rail blockade by the Gujjars has dealt a blow to the sanctuary's plans to cash in on the year-end festivities, with over 70% cancellations being reported in the past few days.
Hundreds of tourists have been left stranded and majority are not ready to take any chances. "Over 70% bookings have already been cancelled at my property," says Dinesh Durrani, owner of Sariska Tiger Heaven Hotel.
The hotel had put in a lot of effort and money to spruce up the property before the new year but the owner now fears it would be difficult to recover the investment.
Another hotel owner in Alwar Nagesh Kumar said as long as the New Delhi-Jaipur highway was not blocked, there were no major cancellations but after the Gujjar leaders decided to oppose new year celebrations, many bookings have been cancelled. "In today's age, people have access to information regarding remotest of areas. Tourists start for a trip only after taking all precautions," said Kumar.
Andy Crooks, a tourist from Australia who was at Sariska on Wednesday had to cut short his extensive Rajasthan trip due to the Gujjar agitation. "We had to face several difficulties as buses and trains were diverted," said Crooks.
Records show that the number of tourists coming to Sariska during the last week of December has decreased drastically this season. Last year, 25,501 tourists had come to Sariska on December 25. In comparison, this year only 229 tourists came to Sariska for Christmas. From December 26-29, over 2,100 tourists visited Sariska in 2009 but only about 900 tourists made it to the wildlife sanctuary this year.
"The road blockade at Nathni ka bara village on Alwar-Jaipur route on Wednesday has scared the tourists and several of them were stranded for hours. There is a possibility that tourists could stop coming to Sariska after Wednesday's blockade," chief forest officer at Sariska R S Shekhawat told TOI.
The efforts to revive the tiger population at Sariska, and the recent visit of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had brightened its prospects of attracting higher number of tourists this year. However, the road and rail blockade by the Gujjars has dealt a blow to the sanctuary's plans to cash in on the year-end festivities, with over 70% cancellations being reported in the past few days.
Hundreds of tourists have been left stranded and majority are not ready to take any chances. "Over 70% bookings have already been cancelled at my property," says Dinesh Durrani, owner of Sariska Tiger Heaven Hotel.
The hotel had put in a lot of effort and money to spruce up the property before the new year but the owner now fears it would be difficult to recover the investment.
Another hotel owner in Alwar Nagesh Kumar said as long as the New Delhi-Jaipur highway was not blocked, there were no major cancellations but after the Gujjar leaders decided to oppose new year celebrations, many bookings have been cancelled. "In today's age, people have access to information regarding remotest of areas. Tourists start for a trip only after taking all precautions," said Kumar.
Andy Crooks, a tourist from Australia who was at Sariska on Wednesday had to cut short his extensive Rajasthan trip due to the Gujjar agitation. "We had to face several difficulties as buses and trains were diverted," said Crooks.
Records show that the number of tourists coming to Sariska during the last week of December has decreased drastically this season. Last year, 25,501 tourists had come to Sariska on December 25. In comparison, this year only 229 tourists came to Sariska for Christmas. From December 26-29, over 2,100 tourists visited Sariska in 2009 but only about 900 tourists made it to the wildlife sanctuary this year.
"The road blockade at Nathni ka bara village on Alwar-Jaipur route on Wednesday has scared the tourists and several of them were stranded for hours. There is a possibility that tourists could stop coming to Sariska after Wednesday's blockade," chief forest officer at Sariska R S Shekhawat told TOI.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
No rise in tiger population in Palamu
DALTONGANJ: In the Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR), the number of elephants has increased 10 times since 1974 whereas the number of tigers has gone down.
In 1974, when the PTR was set up here, there were as many as 32 elephants and 22 tigers. With the passage of time, the number of elephants went up to as many as 225 while tiger count came down to six only.
Wildlife experts opine that the tigers are more exposed to poisoning and poaching than elephants. Field director (Project Tiger) P Updahaya recently said that there were still many zones in the PTR where the tigers have not been counted and there could be a possibility of finding more tigers in the reserve.
However, according to the steering committee member of Project Elephant, D S Srivastava, "PTR is now more or less home to elephants without tusks basically female though some male elephants also do not have tusks.
Elephants in PTR are also exposed to life hazards like train tracks, over-head high-tension electric wires.
However, contrary to popular belief, elephants of the reserve never move out and go on rampage in Garhwa and other neighbouring areas. Srivastava said, "PTR's elephants do not move out but herds from Chhatisgarh stray into parts of Garhwa district. PTR's elephants do only intra-migration that is within the ambit of the reserve."
Explaining the intra-migration of the elephants, he said, "Elephants of Betla National Park move out from here to their summer resort Baresar and Kujrum within the reserve where there are perennial water bodies."
In 1974, when the PTR was set up here, there were as many as 32 elephants and 22 tigers. With the passage of time, the number of elephants went up to as many as 225 while tiger count came down to six only.
Wildlife experts opine that the tigers are more exposed to poisoning and poaching than elephants. Field director (Project Tiger) P Updahaya recently said that there were still many zones in the PTR where the tigers have not been counted and there could be a possibility of finding more tigers in the reserve.
However, according to the steering committee member of Project Elephant, D S Srivastava, "PTR is now more or less home to elephants without tusks basically female though some male elephants also do not have tusks.
Elephants in PTR are also exposed to life hazards like train tracks, over-head high-tension electric wires.
However, contrary to popular belief, elephants of the reserve never move out and go on rampage in Garhwa and other neighbouring areas. Srivastava said, "PTR's elephants do not move out but herds from Chhatisgarh stray into parts of Garhwa district. PTR's elephants do only intra-migration that is within the ambit of the reserve."
Explaining the intra-migration of the elephants, he said, "Elephants of Betla National Park move out from here to their summer resort Baresar and Kujrum within the reserve where there are perennial water bodies."
Leopard-human conflict: M'rashtra handles it better
SURAT: The neighbouring state of Maharashtra through a scientific approach and the help of a non-government organisation has been able to bring down the incidents of leopard-human conflict there. The leopard mortality was an issue of concern even for the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) though the subject was not in its domain. In contrast, for the past six years south Gujarat has been witnessing recurrent incidents of human and leopard conflict, but the state's forest department is yet to come out with a concrete plan to arrest the trend. It is still caught up in the age-old techniques either of caging or shooting the leopard.
About 15 people lost their lives since 2005 in leopard attacks in Maharashtra while six have died in the attacks by the big cats in Gujarat's Surat and Tapi districts in the past 40 days alone. Between January to December 2010, 35 leopards were killed in conflict with humans or became victims of poachers in Maharashtra which in the previous year had reported deaths of 48 leopards.
"The decrease in the number of conflicts and in the tally of deaths of leopards is due to the drive carried out by Maharashtra's forest department and our NGO. We requested the forest department to change the pattern to tackle the issue," said Vidya Athrey of Project Waghoba.
She said the need is to understand the big cat instead of just caging it randomly and then releasing it in the wild. Before 2008 about 40 leopards were caught and released in the wild every year in Maharashtra but now this number has come down to 10.
"Caging leopards and then releasing them in the wild make them dangerous for the humans. We have tried to provide a safe environment to the animal in the area where it lives and also worked to change human behaviour slightly," Athrey explained.
"Like in Maharashtra, leopards make their home in the sugarcane farms in Gujarat too. On being caught they come into direct conflict with humans. We are trying to convince Gujarat Government to look at our work in Maharashtra and hope to be involved in Gujarat in controlling the situation," she added. Ends
About 15 people lost their lives since 2005 in leopard attacks in Maharashtra while six have died in the attacks by the big cats in Gujarat's Surat and Tapi districts in the past 40 days alone. Between January to December 2010, 35 leopards were killed in conflict with humans or became victims of poachers in Maharashtra which in the previous year had reported deaths of 48 leopards.
"The decrease in the number of conflicts and in the tally of deaths of leopards is due to the drive carried out by Maharashtra's forest department and our NGO. We requested the forest department to change the pattern to tackle the issue," said Vidya Athrey of Project Waghoba.
She said the need is to understand the big cat instead of just caging it randomly and then releasing it in the wild. Before 2008 about 40 leopards were caught and released in the wild every year in Maharashtra but now this number has come down to 10.
"Caging leopards and then releasing them in the wild make them dangerous for the humans. We have tried to provide a safe environment to the animal in the area where it lives and also worked to change human behaviour slightly," Athrey explained.
"Like in Maharashtra, leopards make their home in the sugarcane farms in Gujarat too. On being caught they come into direct conflict with humans. We are trying to convince Gujarat Government to look at our work in Maharashtra and hope to be involved in Gujarat in controlling the situation," she added. Ends
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Poison stink in tiger death
Jorhat, Dec. 27: An alert has been sounded in Assam’s Orang National Park following the recovery of a Royal Bengal tiger carcass yesterday.
The post-mortem report indicates the tiger may have died of poisoning.
The viscera has been sent to the forensic laboratory in Guwahati for confirmation.
Park director S.K. Daila said the carcass of the five-year-old female tiger was recovered from a dense forest area near the Pachnoi river by forest guards.
“The carcass bore no injury marks and there was nothing unusual noticed at the location from where it was found,” he said.
The recovery of the carcass comes amid speculation that villagers residing near the periphery of the national park might have tried to poison the big cats in retaliation to the increasing tiger attacks on cattle.
Villages near Orang National Park have seen a rise in conflicts between Royal Bengal tigers and humans, with the big cats frequently straying out of the park and attacking cattle.
Tigers have killed more than 20 cattle heads in the past few months.
Daila said there has been an increase in tiger population at Orang and, therefore, big cats were frequently straying out of the park.
“The actual figure will be known only after a census but we have spotted two tiger cubs born a few months back,” he said.
The park official said, a week back, two tigers strayed out of the park and entered a human habitat and the forest staff had to fire in the air to chase the two tigers back inside the park.
The park authorities signed an MoU with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) recently to minimise the increasing incidents of conflicts between tigers and humans.
According to the MoU, to gain the confidence of the villagers, the WWF would pay interim relief to owners of cattle killed by tigers.
“We have also organised joint patrolling by villagers and forest guards in areas where there are frequent incidents of tigers killing cattle,” Daila said.
The post-mortem report indicates the tiger may have died of poisoning.
The viscera has been sent to the forensic laboratory in Guwahati for confirmation.
Park director S.K. Daila said the carcass of the five-year-old female tiger was recovered from a dense forest area near the Pachnoi river by forest guards.
“The carcass bore no injury marks and there was nothing unusual noticed at the location from where it was found,” he said.
The recovery of the carcass comes amid speculation that villagers residing near the periphery of the national park might have tried to poison the big cats in retaliation to the increasing tiger attacks on cattle.
Villages near Orang National Park have seen a rise in conflicts between Royal Bengal tigers and humans, with the big cats frequently straying out of the park and attacking cattle.
Tigers have killed more than 20 cattle heads in the past few months.
Daila said there has been an increase in tiger population at Orang and, therefore, big cats were frequently straying out of the park.
“The actual figure will be known only after a census but we have spotted two tiger cubs born a few months back,” he said.
The park official said, a week back, two tigers strayed out of the park and entered a human habitat and the forest staff had to fire in the air to chase the two tigers back inside the park.
The park authorities signed an MoU with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) recently to minimise the increasing incidents of conflicts between tigers and humans.
According to the MoU, to gain the confidence of the villagers, the WWF would pay interim relief to owners of cattle killed by tigers.
“We have also organised joint patrolling by villagers and forest guards in areas where there are frequent incidents of tigers killing cattle,” Daila said.
Leopard''s carcass found; poaching attempt suspected
Lakhimpur, Dec 27 (PTI) In a suspected case of poaching, the carcass of a young leopard was recovered from Kishunpur sanctuary in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, a forest department official said here today.
The carcass of a four-year-old young male leopard was recovered late last evening in Ambargarh beat of the sanctuary, field director Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR) Shailesh Prasad said.
As the carcass was found entangled in dense shrubs and there were creepers all over it, initially it was presumed that the big cat died after getting caught in the shrubs.
However, the recovery of a metal wire from inside the creepers made the park authorities suspicious, Prasad said.
After the recovery of metal wires, which could not be sensed with metal detectors, the authorities are carrying out a probe from all angles, Prasad said after visiting the spot.
Deputy director of the park Sanjay Kumar Pathak said all vital organs of the body such as skin, jaw, paws, nails, etc.
were found intact and the carcass has been sent to Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Bareilly, for an autopsy to ascertain the exact cause of death.
Authorities fear that the leopard died due to a poaching attempt, as on July 31 poachers had attempted to kill a leopard with an iron trap.
However, the patrolling staff managed to prevent the endangered animal from being killed though it sustained some injuries in its foreleg, Pathak said.
He said some persons have been apprehended and raids were being carried on to nab the culprits.
The field staff in entire Dudhwa Tiger Reserve has been alerted to keep a close vigil on the movements of protected animals, Pathak said.
The carcass of a four-year-old young male leopard was recovered late last evening in Ambargarh beat of the sanctuary, field director Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR) Shailesh Prasad said.
As the carcass was found entangled in dense shrubs and there were creepers all over it, initially it was presumed that the big cat died after getting caught in the shrubs.
However, the recovery of a metal wire from inside the creepers made the park authorities suspicious, Prasad said.
After the recovery of metal wires, which could not be sensed with metal detectors, the authorities are carrying out a probe from all angles, Prasad said after visiting the spot.
Deputy director of the park Sanjay Kumar Pathak said all vital organs of the body such as skin, jaw, paws, nails, etc.
were found intact and the carcass has been sent to Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Bareilly, for an autopsy to ascertain the exact cause of death.
Authorities fear that the leopard died due to a poaching attempt, as on July 31 poachers had attempted to kill a leopard with an iron trap.
However, the patrolling staff managed to prevent the endangered animal from being killed though it sustained some injuries in its foreleg, Pathak said.
He said some persons have been apprehended and raids were being carried on to nab the culprits.
The field staff in entire Dudhwa Tiger Reserve has been alerted to keep a close vigil on the movements of protected animals, Pathak said.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Three held with tiger skin in Tamil Nadu
Three persons were arrested on charges of possessing tiger skin near the Sathyamangalam forest area by officials of the Special Task Force (STF), police said today. STF personnel arrested them after noticing that the three were carrying a gunny bag with the skin during a routine patrol along the Bannari-Dhimbam ghat road on Saturday.
Palamu graded poor' by tiger watch body
DALTONGANJ: It's official. Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR) has been categorized "poor" by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) responsible for categorizing tiger reserves under Project Tiger. Set up in 1974, PTA is battling hard for its existence and survival.
According to a member of the Management Effective Evaluation (EM) of NOTCH, D S Srivastava, the conclusion was reached after two evaluations of the tiger reserve. Consequently, a report was sent to NTCA in Delhi for placement before the Prime Minister. NTCA was set up in 2005 on the recommendations of Tiger Task Force, constituted by the Prime Minister.
Srivastava elaborated, "A preliminary evaluation was done by a team of experts, including Sameer Sinha of Wildlife Trust of India, Rashin Burman of Assam, Rajinder Mishra of Chhatisgarh and R K Singh of Delhi. Another evaluation was done this November by Prerna Bhendra and R L Singh among other wildlife experts."
A total of 120 parameters decide on the grade. "PTR scored the lowest in all from funding, its usage, habitat management, grassland management, anti-fire measures and anti-poaching measures," he said.
But he added that there are reasons why Palamu has fared so poorly. He felt that for starters, the government should fill up all vacant posts of ground staff. "There are only 39 forest guards in PTR as against the sanctioned strength of 179," he revealed.
The other task before the government is to prioritize wildlife management. "It is not on the agenda of the government it appears. No government fund has come to PTA since nine months," he rued.
The challenge, he said, is to revive and restore its glory. In 1974, there were 22 tigers and 32 elephants. Today the number of tigers has dwindled whereas the number of elephants has shot up to 225. "The other task is to strike a balance between human and wildlife population as the man-animal conflict has taken a toll on PTA," he said.
Srivastava favoured people's participation in the management of wildlife. There should be smaller monitoring units entrusted with the maintenance of PTR.
When asked if it is possible for PTR to regain its old position, he said, "First, people living in and outside PTR must feel that every tiger, every elephant is theirs and that protecting them is their responsibility. Only then will the situation improve in PTR."
According to a member of the Management Effective Evaluation (EM) of NOTCH, D S Srivastava, the conclusion was reached after two evaluations of the tiger reserve. Consequently, a report was sent to NTCA in Delhi for placement before the Prime Minister. NTCA was set up in 2005 on the recommendations of Tiger Task Force, constituted by the Prime Minister.
Srivastava elaborated, "A preliminary evaluation was done by a team of experts, including Sameer Sinha of Wildlife Trust of India, Rashin Burman of Assam, Rajinder Mishra of Chhatisgarh and R K Singh of Delhi. Another evaluation was done this November by Prerna Bhendra and R L Singh among other wildlife experts."
A total of 120 parameters decide on the grade. "PTR scored the lowest in all from funding, its usage, habitat management, grassland management, anti-fire measures and anti-poaching measures," he said.
But he added that there are reasons why Palamu has fared so poorly. He felt that for starters, the government should fill up all vacant posts of ground staff. "There are only 39 forest guards in PTR as against the sanctioned strength of 179," he revealed.
The other task before the government is to prioritize wildlife management. "It is not on the agenda of the government it appears. No government fund has come to PTA since nine months," he rued.
The challenge, he said, is to revive and restore its glory. In 1974, there were 22 tigers and 32 elephants. Today the number of tigers has dwindled whereas the number of elephants has shot up to 225. "The other task is to strike a balance between human and wildlife population as the man-animal conflict has taken a toll on PTA," he said.
Srivastava favoured people's participation in the management of wildlife. There should be smaller monitoring units entrusted with the maintenance of PTR.
When asked if it is possible for PTR to regain its old position, he said, "First, people living in and outside PTR must feel that every tiger, every elephant is theirs and that protecting them is their responsibility. Only then will the situation improve in PTR."
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Govt apathy hinders Sariska tigers’ safety
December 26, 2010 10:50:05 AM
Moushumi Basu | New Delhi
Close on the heels of a controversy over relocation of villages from Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan and the death of a translocated tiger there recently, the Centre has allotted Rs 18.60 crore to the tiger reserve.
Against a demand of Rs 38.13 crore from the State Government, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has approved Rs 37.20 crore to the reserve for shifting of villages. According to figures obtained from MoEF sources, no fund allocation was made in 2009-10 and till the end of the current fiscal for the relocation of villages in Sariska.
Former chief conservator of forests (Sariska) KK Garg, who was transferred out during the last week of November after the tiger’s death, said, “Nearly Rs 8 crore were left unspent from the earlier funds, and the amount was fully spent by June-July 2010.” After that, the relocation process was affected due to paucity of funds, he pointed out. The next lot of funds arrived after Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh visited the reserve following the death of the tiger.
Following the complete extinction of tigers in Sariska, a major recommendation of Tiger Task Force in 2005 was the relocation of villages from within the reserve. There are 28 villages within the tiger reserve and the task force had listed certain villages that were to be relocated on priority.
The MoEF sources pointed out that the State had not been successful in following the task force’s recommendations, particularly the one about making the core/critical areas of the tiger habitat inviolate by expediting village relocation.
There has been only token relocation in Sariska. “Only one village, Badhani, the smallest of them all, has been relocated completely since the process began in the 1980s,” the sources said. The remaining six-seven villages, though claimed by the State forest department as partial, are actually only nominal and are inhabited by only a handful of families.
Former field director of Ranthambhore and tiger expert Fateh Singh Rathore contended that village relocation should have been completed before the tiger translocation process started. “The reserve is obviously not safe for big cats and one cannot blame the local villagers solely for the recent incident of tiger poisoning,” he said.
Tigers often stray to the villages and the State Government has failed to keep track of the damage caused to the villagers and compensation to be paid.
Meanwhile, five tigers were translocated from Ranthambhore National Park in the State to Sariska between 2008 and 2010. One of the two males — ST-1 — went missing on November 11 this year. The other male — ST-4 — was already missing since October 30, though it has since been found. On November 14, reserve officials discovered the decomposed body of ST-1 near Kalakhet village on the reserve’s
Moushumi Basu | New Delhi
Close on the heels of a controversy over relocation of villages from Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan and the death of a translocated tiger there recently, the Centre has allotted Rs 18.60 crore to the tiger reserve.
Against a demand of Rs 38.13 crore from the State Government, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has approved Rs 37.20 crore to the reserve for shifting of villages. According to figures obtained from MoEF sources, no fund allocation was made in 2009-10 and till the end of the current fiscal for the relocation of villages in Sariska.
Former chief conservator of forests (Sariska) KK Garg, who was transferred out during the last week of November after the tiger’s death, said, “Nearly Rs 8 crore were left unspent from the earlier funds, and the amount was fully spent by June-July 2010.” After that, the relocation process was affected due to paucity of funds, he pointed out. The next lot of funds arrived after Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh visited the reserve following the death of the tiger.
Following the complete extinction of tigers in Sariska, a major recommendation of Tiger Task Force in 2005 was the relocation of villages from within the reserve. There are 28 villages within the tiger reserve and the task force had listed certain villages that were to be relocated on priority.
The MoEF sources pointed out that the State had not been successful in following the task force’s recommendations, particularly the one about making the core/critical areas of the tiger habitat inviolate by expediting village relocation.
There has been only token relocation in Sariska. “Only one village, Badhani, the smallest of them all, has been relocated completely since the process began in the 1980s,” the sources said. The remaining six-seven villages, though claimed by the State forest department as partial, are actually only nominal and are inhabited by only a handful of families.
Former field director of Ranthambhore and tiger expert Fateh Singh Rathore contended that village relocation should have been completed before the tiger translocation process started. “The reserve is obviously not safe for big cats and one cannot blame the local villagers solely for the recent incident of tiger poisoning,” he said.
Tigers often stray to the villages and the State Government has failed to keep track of the damage caused to the villagers and compensation to be paid.
Meanwhile, five tigers were translocated from Ranthambhore National Park in the State to Sariska between 2008 and 2010. One of the two males — ST-1 — went missing on November 11 this year. The other male — ST-4 — was already missing since October 30, though it has since been found. On November 14, reserve officials discovered the decomposed body of ST-1 near Kalakhet village on the reserve’s
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Lesser tiger deaths in 2010; need for a safer new year
LUCKNOW: Only two tiger mortalities reported from the state in 2010 show it has been a good year for the tigers. The big cats remain the most critically endangered of all the wildlife species, though there are other species as well which have been clubbed under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, as critically endangered. There is no denying that providing a safer haven to big cats is the fulcrum of all conservation talk.
The Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI), an agency that has a database of wildlife crime and also works with forest departments in some of the states, has compiled tiger mortalities for the ongoing year. The tiger mortalities have been lesser in 2010 as compared to the previous year. In 2009, 85 tiger deaths were reported in the country. In 2010, 53 tigers have died so far. The mortalities include natural deaths, poaching and also seizures. While 27 big cats were found dead, as many as 26 mortalities were found to be due to poaching and seizures. (As per assumption, 10 kgs of tiger bones seized are taken to be as one adult tiger killed).
"It is difficult to say how many tigers died natural deaths out of 27," said Tito Joseph, from WPSI. When contacted, deputy director, Dudhwa, Sanjay Pathak said, "Security mechanisms have been effectively put into place in Dudhwa." The lesser number of deaths is also a reason to rejoice for Dudhwa security staff. Out of the two tiger deaths reported from UP, one has been a case of poaching. Recently, an adult tiger was killed by another during an infighting in Pilibhit and a tiger was found dead in north Kheri in January in which poaching was the cause of death.
Even if the tigers are poisoned to death it is difficult to establish so, if the carcasses are found after a gap of few days. The poisoning is mostly not established in autopsy report. It is only within a few hours of the death that poisoning, as a cause of death, can be established in the report. It is because of this that in a lot of cases, cause of death could not be established. Even the post-mortem reports remain inconclusive.
The Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI), an agency that has a database of wildlife crime and also works with forest departments in some of the states, has compiled tiger mortalities for the ongoing year. The tiger mortalities have been lesser in 2010 as compared to the previous year. In 2009, 85 tiger deaths were reported in the country. In 2010, 53 tigers have died so far. The mortalities include natural deaths, poaching and also seizures. While 27 big cats were found dead, as many as 26 mortalities were found to be due to poaching and seizures. (As per assumption, 10 kgs of tiger bones seized are taken to be as one adult tiger killed).
"It is difficult to say how many tigers died natural deaths out of 27," said Tito Joseph, from WPSI. When contacted, deputy director, Dudhwa, Sanjay Pathak said, "Security mechanisms have been effectively put into place in Dudhwa." The lesser number of deaths is also a reason to rejoice for Dudhwa security staff. Out of the two tiger deaths reported from UP, one has been a case of poaching. Recently, an adult tiger was killed by another during an infighting in Pilibhit and a tiger was found dead in north Kheri in January in which poaching was the cause of death.
Even if the tigers are poisoned to death it is difficult to establish so, if the carcasses are found after a gap of few days. The poisoning is mostly not established in autopsy report. It is only within a few hours of the death that poisoning, as a cause of death, can be established in the report. It is because of this that in a lot of cases, cause of death could not be established. Even the post-mortem reports remain inconclusive.
Tiger death: Suspect took away whiskers
ALWAR: The polygraph test on Parsadi Lal Gujjar in Sariska tiger death case is out. The suspect reportedly confessed that he cut the whiskers from the carcass of the tiger. However, he did not throw any light on the killer. Meanwhile, Rajgarh court refused to give permission to forest department for a brain mapping test of the suspect.
According to a Supreme Court order, the consent of the accused is a must in polygraph, narco analysis and brain mapping tests. However, none of these tests are admissible in the court as evidence and may only be used for further investigation.
"But we will appeal against the decision at the district judge's court," forest officials said.
The officials said, "The results of the polygraph tests arrived on Thursday. In the test, the suspect has confirmed that he along with his brother and son had taken the whiskers of the tiger but did not say anything on who killed it. However, his body language is suspicious and CBI officers therefore advised us to go for the brain mapping."
Gujjar said he, along with his brother Bhagwan and son Mithu, were returning after cutting wood when they found the tiger. "He confessed that they cut off the whiskers and took it but when asked whether he was involved in killing the tiger, he said no," said officials.
The state forest department had earlier planned to take Gujjar to Ahmedabad for a brain mapping test between December 27 to 31.
According to a Supreme Court order, the consent of the accused is a must in polygraph, narco analysis and brain mapping tests. However, none of these tests are admissible in the court as evidence and may only be used for further investigation.
"But we will appeal against the decision at the district judge's court," forest officials said.
The officials said, "The results of the polygraph tests arrived on Thursday. In the test, the suspect has confirmed that he along with his brother and son had taken the whiskers of the tiger but did not say anything on who killed it. However, his body language is suspicious and CBI officers therefore advised us to go for the brain mapping."
Gujjar said he, along with his brother Bhagwan and son Mithu, were returning after cutting wood when they found the tiger. "He confessed that they cut off the whiskers and took it but when asked whether he was involved in killing the tiger, he said no," said officials.
The state forest department had earlier planned to take Gujjar to Ahmedabad for a brain mapping test between December 27 to 31.
Chhattisgarh Police arrest nine tribals for killing a tiger
Chhattisgarh Police has arrested nine tribals for killing a tiger of the famous Kanha Rashtriya Udyan in Chhattisgarh's Kabirdham District.
R. K. Tiwari, sub-divisional officer, Pandariya Forest Range, disclosed this to the media persons at Kawardha on Friday.
The police swung into action after a forest ranger complained to his officials about foul smell of some dead animal.
A thorough probe resulted after authorities learnt that some local tribals had poisoned and killed a tiger for monetary gains.
"They have told us this only that they used a cow on which they sprayed indosulphan an insecticide. By this they were sure that by eating this the tiger would be killed. Till now we have arrested nine persons," said Tiwari.
Tiwari informed that they have seized many body parts of the dead tiger, which the tribals had buried in a field.
"We seized tiger's skull, which was not found at the site, we along with all the police officials seized its skull, teeth and then hair of moustache, nails, jaw bones and along with all this we have seized fat of tiger, we have succeeded in seizing all this from last night till the morning," he said. (ANI)
All About: Kabirdham (Chhattisgarh), Chhattisgarh Police
R. K. Tiwari, sub-divisional officer, Pandariya Forest Range, disclosed this to the media persons at Kawardha on Friday.
The police swung into action after a forest ranger complained to his officials about foul smell of some dead animal.
A thorough probe resulted after authorities learnt that some local tribals had poisoned and killed a tiger for monetary gains.
"They have told us this only that they used a cow on which they sprayed indosulphan an insecticide. By this they were sure that by eating this the tiger would be killed. Till now we have arrested nine persons," said Tiwari.
Tiwari informed that they have seized many body parts of the dead tiger, which the tribals had buried in a field.
"We seized tiger's skull, which was not found at the site, we along with all the police officials seized its skull, teeth and then hair of moustache, nails, jaw bones and along with all this we have seized fat of tiger, we have succeeded in seizing all this from last night till the morning," he said. (ANI)
All About: Kabirdham (Chhattisgarh), Chhattisgarh Police
Madhya Pradesh loses 10 tigers this year
Bhopal, Dec 24, PTI:
Although Madhya Pradesh is popularly known as a ''tiger state'', it has lost as many as ten striped animals including cubs this year.
However, what is more satisfying for the wildlife lovers is that it is four less than the big cats' total casualties reported last year.
"We have lost 10 tigers including cubs this year so far while last year, 14 big cats' death were reported," Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (APCCF), Wildlife, T R Sharma told PTI.
He said that another satisfying aspect in this is that no tiger had been poached in Madhya Pradesh this year so far, while last year, two tigers were killed due to poisoning in Seoni and Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserves, he added.
"This year seven tigers were lost in the wilds of different tiger reserves while three striped animals died of diseases in Van Vihar Animal Rescue Centre where old and sick animals are brought for keeping in protected environment," the APCCF said.
Last year 13 big cats died in the wilds and one at Van Vihar Animal Rescue Centre, Sharma said.
The first tiger death was reported from drowning as the animal was trapped in a pit inside a water body in the Pench Tiger Reserve on January 27, officials said adding that this striped animal was around seven-years-old.
After this, a nine-month old tigress died due to suspected cannibalism in Kanha Tiger Reserve on April 20. Thereafter, a 10-year-old tigress died after being hit by a jeep in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve on May 19. This incident was being probed by the state's CID.
In a separate incident, a one-month old cub died after being attacked by other animal in Kanha Tiger Reserve on June six, officials said.
In Pench Tiger Reserve, nails of around six-month-old cub were recovered from some people on June 20 and during interrogation the accused said that they found the striped animal dead in the protected area.
The four people arrested and sent to jail in this connection during quizzing, told investigators that they were practising black magic with the cub's nails, officials said.
A 10-year-old tiger died in territorial fight in the buffer zone of Kanha on October six and the seven-year-old tiger was lost for the same reason in Pench Tiger Reserve on October 20, officials said.
Two tigresses in June and one tiger in October died due to diseases in Van Vihar Animal Rescue Centre this year so far, he added.
The mortality rate among tigers was very high, and it was around 50 per cent, Sharma said adding that the mortality rate was high among the animal having short gestation period. The tigress gestation period was three and a half months, the APCCF said.
Besides, old age related deaths amount to 20 to 25 per cent in the wild, he added.
"Tiger protection was the top agenda of our department," Sharma said adding "a slew of measures have been taken in this regard."
Tiger protection force has been constituted to protect the big cat, he said adding that night patrolling was being carried out in and around the reserves and forest areas.
The forest ground duty staff have been equipped with wireless and guns and chowkies have been erected to protect big cats, Sharma said.
Ex-servicemen have been recruited and were manning the protected areas in Madhya Pradesh, he added.
Although Madhya Pradesh is popularly known as a ''tiger state'', it has lost as many as ten striped animals including cubs this year.
However, what is more satisfying for the wildlife lovers is that it is four less than the big cats' total casualties reported last year.
"We have lost 10 tigers including cubs this year so far while last year, 14 big cats' death were reported," Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (APCCF), Wildlife, T R Sharma told PTI.
He said that another satisfying aspect in this is that no tiger had been poached in Madhya Pradesh this year so far, while last year, two tigers were killed due to poisoning in Seoni and Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserves, he added.
"This year seven tigers were lost in the wilds of different tiger reserves while three striped animals died of diseases in Van Vihar Animal Rescue Centre where old and sick animals are brought for keeping in protected environment," the APCCF said.
Last year 13 big cats died in the wilds and one at Van Vihar Animal Rescue Centre, Sharma said.
The first tiger death was reported from drowning as the animal was trapped in a pit inside a water body in the Pench Tiger Reserve on January 27, officials said adding that this striped animal was around seven-years-old.
After this, a nine-month old tigress died due to suspected cannibalism in Kanha Tiger Reserve on April 20. Thereafter, a 10-year-old tigress died after being hit by a jeep in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve on May 19. This incident was being probed by the state's CID.
In a separate incident, a one-month old cub died after being attacked by other animal in Kanha Tiger Reserve on June six, officials said.
In Pench Tiger Reserve, nails of around six-month-old cub were recovered from some people on June 20 and during interrogation the accused said that they found the striped animal dead in the protected area.
The four people arrested and sent to jail in this connection during quizzing, told investigators that they were practising black magic with the cub's nails, officials said.
A 10-year-old tiger died in territorial fight in the buffer zone of Kanha on October six and the seven-year-old tiger was lost for the same reason in Pench Tiger Reserve on October 20, officials said.
Two tigresses in June and one tiger in October died due to diseases in Van Vihar Animal Rescue Centre this year so far, he added.
The mortality rate among tigers was very high, and it was around 50 per cent, Sharma said adding that the mortality rate was high among the animal having short gestation period. The tigress gestation period was three and a half months, the APCCF said.
Besides, old age related deaths amount to 20 to 25 per cent in the wild, he added.
"Tiger protection was the top agenda of our department," Sharma said adding "a slew of measures have been taken in this regard."
Tiger protection force has been constituted to protect the big cat, he said adding that night patrolling was being carried out in and around the reserves and forest areas.
The forest ground duty staff have been equipped with wireless and guns and chowkies have been erected to protect big cats, Sharma said.
Ex-servicemen have been recruited and were manning the protected areas in Madhya Pradesh, he added.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Tiger conservation project promoted by Rashtrapati Bhawan
A public art project that aims to raise funds for the conservation of tigers in India, Artiger, began in Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi.
Christy L. Fernandez, a secretary to President Pratibha Devisingh Patil, said the exhibition sports 56 life-sized fiberglass tiger sculptures created by various well-known artists.
It is an attempt to promote the cause of tiger conservation, and also to create awareness about the falling numbers of the national animal.
"We in Rashtrapati Bhawan personally felt that the Rashtrapati Bhawan should have its own share in promoting the cause of tiger conservation. That is the reason why we have welcomed them and this exhibition would be open for next one week," said Fernandez.
Aprajita Jain, Nandita Baig and Swapan Seth, the brains behind the project, said they drew inspiration from London's Elephant Parade that took place earlier this year and raised four million pounds by placing elephant sculptures all around the city.
Organisers further stated that the money from this special exhibition of tiger sculptures would go to the Ranthambore Foundation.
"We have given this money to Ranthambore Foundation to use it in different manners. It would be decided on how we would allocate the funds, after which we are hoping to do the next project. We are thinking of certain ideas and as soon as we know what it is, we definitely will announce it," said Jain.
From December 27, the tiger sculptures would be displayed at over 50 locations across Delhi.
The exhibition would continue to go on for next six weeks. (ANI)
Christy L. Fernandez, a secretary to President Pratibha Devisingh Patil, said the exhibition sports 56 life-sized fiberglass tiger sculptures created by various well-known artists.
It is an attempt to promote the cause of tiger conservation, and also to create awareness about the falling numbers of the national animal.
"We in Rashtrapati Bhawan personally felt that the Rashtrapati Bhawan should have its own share in promoting the cause of tiger conservation. That is the reason why we have welcomed them and this exhibition would be open for next one week," said Fernandez.
Aprajita Jain, Nandita Baig and Swapan Seth, the brains behind the project, said they drew inspiration from London's Elephant Parade that took place earlier this year and raised four million pounds by placing elephant sculptures all around the city.
Organisers further stated that the money from this special exhibition of tiger sculptures would go to the Ranthambore Foundation.
"We have given this money to Ranthambore Foundation to use it in different manners. It would be decided on how we would allocate the funds, after which we are hoping to do the next project. We are thinking of certain ideas and as soon as we know what it is, we definitely will announce it," said Jain.
From December 27, the tiger sculptures would be displayed at over 50 locations across Delhi.
The exhibition would continue to go on for next six weeks. (ANI)
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Five held for killing tiger
Raipur, Dec 22 (IANS) A day after the decomposed body of a tiger was found with its head and claws missing, five villagers in Chhattisgarh were Wednesday arrested with the big cat's claws, police said.
The arrests were made from a remote village Amnia, a forested zone under Kawardha district, some 300 km from here. 'The main accused Govind was arrested along with his four associates in a raid,' a police officer said.
The arrests were made from a remote village Amnia, a forested zone under Kawardha district, some 300 km from here. 'The main accused Govind was arrested along with his four associates in a raid,' a police officer said.
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