Rishikesh, Jan 11 (PTI) A woman was killed by a man-eater big cat in Corbett Tiger Reserve, the fourth such incident in the area since past two months, officials said.
The incident took place yesterday near Bulwa Nallah in Sunderkhal area when the woman had gone to fetch firewood, Jim Corbett National Park Deputy Director C K Kavidayal said.
The body with biting wounds on neck was today recovered by forest officials from the area, he said.
Forest officials believe that it is the same tiger which had killed three women during the past two months.
Chief Wildlife Warden Srikant Chandola had declared the tiger man-eater and issued orders to shoot it on December 30.
However, the animal has not been identified as yet.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Mansinghdeo suffers one last blow
NAGPUR: Before turning into a protected area for wildlife the newly-formed Mansinghdeo sanctuary adjoining Pench Tiger reserve suffered a final blow, ironically, from its owner itself. Large-scale tree felling and bamboo extraction across Block A and B of sanctuary compartments owned by Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra Limited (FDCM), a government company engaged in forestry and allied activities, days before its handing over to wildlife department has raised many eyebrows.
The huge ecological damage to the sanctuary was caused by the FDCM despite state government notifying the sanctuary on November 2, 2010. The FDCM officials say it was not felling but thinning under silviculture operations, approved by the ministry of environment and forest (MoEF) office at Bhopal.
On Saturday, during a visit to the 'Block A' compartments of sanctuary in Nagulwadi and Saleghat ranges of the FDCM, it was found that truckloads of bamboo and teak was extracted from two Nagulwadi compartments 697 and 698, and 12 Saleghat and Risala compartments viz. 624, 630, 642, 644, 625, 631, 643, 645, 657, 658, 659 and 660. Felling has also been done in nine Paoni compartments viz. 558, 559, 605, 592, 599, 600, 603, 604 and 606 in Block B of the sanctuary.
According to official sources, on July 19, 2010, FDCM had sought thinning permission from MoEF. On September 9, MoEF granted permission to the FDCM to fell trees in 19,900 hectares in the area owned by it. Similarly, nod was given to extract bamboo from 17,365 hectares. Of this, teak from 3,800 hectares and bamboo from 1,700 hectares were to be extracted from Nagpur Division comprising Nagulwadi, Saleghat, Paoni (all in Mansinghdeo), Hiwra, Umred and Kuhi ranges.
It should have, however, stopped felling on November 2 when Mansinghdeo became a protected area. FDCM is now hiding under a technicality. S G Tembhurnikar, incharge of the area and regional manager of FDCM, told TOI that although sanctuary notification was issued on November 2, it came to them only on December 20, i.e. 48 days after the notification.
"On December 20, when CCF (Territorial), Nagpur Circle, circulated a letter to stop felling owing to sanctuary notification, we stopped our operation being carried out as per approved management plan and MoEF permission," Tembhurnikar said. Mansinghdeo notification was widely reported in the media but FDCM officials took no cognizance of it.
"The only work you see now is of logging and removing branch wood. In fact, we took out only 25-30% of the crop when we learnt about the sanctuary notification. We are now transporting the material already felled. We are ready to hand over the area to wildlife wing any moment," Tembhurnikar said.
D C Pant, principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife), Maharashtra, said: "When the notification was issued, I was on leave, but when I joined, I made it a point to convey to the officials concerned over phone about it. They should have followed the orders." He did not explain why it took 48 days for a paper to travel from one office to another in same city.
Pant further said a meeting has been called on January 15 to discuss modalities to take over the sanctuary. Felling of trees is not allowed after notification, but must have been done during transition period. "No one will breach the law. Yet, I will review the situation," he stated.
TOI found that in compartment no. 660, entire bamboo clusters were cut. As per norms, at least 4-5 shoots are left untouched in each cluster to help regeneration. The most vulnerable compartments were 660, 697 and 698, that share border with Pench National Park from the west side.
FDCM officials are sticking to their guns: "Thinning improves growth of the forests without breaking canopy. The soil has limited capacity to support moisture and food for trees. Hence, excess trees need to be removed to allow others to grow," FDCM officials said seeking anonymity.
On reports of similar felling in Nagpur Territorial Division area, N Rambabu, conservator of forests, said, "Mansinghdeo compartments have not been touched. Some 250 trees were felled with prior permission until January 5 in sanctuary's 10 km eco-sensitive zone. After the direction, felling of trees has been stopped."
The huge ecological damage to the sanctuary was caused by the FDCM despite state government notifying the sanctuary on November 2, 2010. The FDCM officials say it was not felling but thinning under silviculture operations, approved by the ministry of environment and forest (MoEF) office at Bhopal.
On Saturday, during a visit to the 'Block A' compartments of sanctuary in Nagulwadi and Saleghat ranges of the FDCM, it was found that truckloads of bamboo and teak was extracted from two Nagulwadi compartments 697 and 698, and 12 Saleghat and Risala compartments viz. 624, 630, 642, 644, 625, 631, 643, 645, 657, 658, 659 and 660. Felling has also been done in nine Paoni compartments viz. 558, 559, 605, 592, 599, 600, 603, 604 and 606 in Block B of the sanctuary.
According to official sources, on July 19, 2010, FDCM had sought thinning permission from MoEF. On September 9, MoEF granted permission to the FDCM to fell trees in 19,900 hectares in the area owned by it. Similarly, nod was given to extract bamboo from 17,365 hectares. Of this, teak from 3,800 hectares and bamboo from 1,700 hectares were to be extracted from Nagpur Division comprising Nagulwadi, Saleghat, Paoni (all in Mansinghdeo), Hiwra, Umred and Kuhi ranges.
It should have, however, stopped felling on November 2 when Mansinghdeo became a protected area. FDCM is now hiding under a technicality. S G Tembhurnikar, incharge of the area and regional manager of FDCM, told TOI that although sanctuary notification was issued on November 2, it came to them only on December 20, i.e. 48 days after the notification.
"On December 20, when CCF (Territorial), Nagpur Circle, circulated a letter to stop felling owing to sanctuary notification, we stopped our operation being carried out as per approved management plan and MoEF permission," Tembhurnikar said. Mansinghdeo notification was widely reported in the media but FDCM officials took no cognizance of it.
"The only work you see now is of logging and removing branch wood. In fact, we took out only 25-30% of the crop when we learnt about the sanctuary notification. We are now transporting the material already felled. We are ready to hand over the area to wildlife wing any moment," Tembhurnikar said.
D C Pant, principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife), Maharashtra, said: "When the notification was issued, I was on leave, but when I joined, I made it a point to convey to the officials concerned over phone about it. They should have followed the orders." He did not explain why it took 48 days for a paper to travel from one office to another in same city.
Pant further said a meeting has been called on January 15 to discuss modalities to take over the sanctuary. Felling of trees is not allowed after notification, but must have been done during transition period. "No one will breach the law. Yet, I will review the situation," he stated.
TOI found that in compartment no. 660, entire bamboo clusters were cut. As per norms, at least 4-5 shoots are left untouched in each cluster to help regeneration. The most vulnerable compartments were 660, 697 and 698, that share border with Pench National Park from the west side.
FDCM officials are sticking to their guns: "Thinning improves growth of the forests without breaking canopy. The soil has limited capacity to support moisture and food for trees. Hence, excess trees need to be removed to allow others to grow," FDCM officials said seeking anonymity.
On reports of similar felling in Nagpur Territorial Division area, N Rambabu, conservator of forests, said, "Mansinghdeo compartments have not been touched. Some 250 trees were felled with prior permission until January 5 in sanctuary's 10 km eco-sensitive zone. After the direction, felling of trees has been stopped."
Another falls prey to tiger in Katranighat
BAHRAICH: A man was killed by a tiger near the Katarniaghat forest reserve on Tuesday. This is the third incident of human kill within a week. The body of the victim, identified as Duber, was recovered from the fields on the periphery of the forest reserve at 5.30 pm.
Duber, a resident of Durgagauri village, had left his house in the morning to collect wood. Family members said that he was missing ever since. Talking to TOI, divisional forest officer (DFO) RK Singh said that efforts were underway to identify the killer.
He, however, declined to confirm that Duber was killed by the same feline that had killed 60-year-old Saligram and 55-year old Jagmal. "As of now, we cannot confirm whether it is the same big cat or not. The bodies of two victims were recovered on January 6 and January 8 last," he said and added that forest department experts were still looking for the pugmarks of the tiger that killed Jagmal, the second victim.
Saligram was killed by a tigress. His body recovered from sugarcane field in Sadar beat of Katarniaghat was not eaten by the big cat. The pugmarks around the body were that of the tigress. On the other hand, Jagmal's body was recovered a day after from the dense part of Katarniaghat forest. Jagmal's right foot was missing and believed to be eaten by the wild animal. Forest officers did not confirm if the body was eaten by tiger or any other wild animal. The two bodies were recovered from spots about 12 kms apart from each other.
Duber, a resident of Durgagauri village, had left his house in the morning to collect wood. Family members said that he was missing ever since. Talking to TOI, divisional forest officer (DFO) RK Singh said that efforts were underway to identify the killer.
He, however, declined to confirm that Duber was killed by the same feline that had killed 60-year-old Saligram and 55-year old Jagmal. "As of now, we cannot confirm whether it is the same big cat or not. The bodies of two victims were recovered on January 6 and January 8 last," he said and added that forest department experts were still looking for the pugmarks of the tiger that killed Jagmal, the second victim.
Saligram was killed by a tigress. His body recovered from sugarcane field in Sadar beat of Katarniaghat was not eaten by the big cat. The pugmarks around the body were that of the tigress. On the other hand, Jagmal's body was recovered a day after from the dense part of Katarniaghat forest. Jagmal's right foot was missing and believed to be eaten by the wild animal. Forest officers did not confirm if the body was eaten by tiger or any other wild animal. The two bodies were recovered from spots about 12 kms apart from each other.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Tiger spotted in Temni village
GONDIA: A tiger was spotted by some villagers in village Temni, about 5 km from Gondia, in the wee hours on Saturday.
Shashikumar Rahangdale, an environment expert at the Kanha National Reserve Forest and a resident of the village viewed the pug marks and confirmed that they were of a tiger.
"The pug marks are those of a male tiger which may be old. The beast might be from the nearby forest on the Madya Pradesh border. Due to old age he may be wandering in search of a safe place," said Rahangdale.
A few days ago, villagers of Dasgaon saw a tiger on the banks of the river Vainganga, about 20 km from Gondia. However, there was no official confirmation.
Shashikumar Rahangdale, an environment expert at the Kanha National Reserve Forest and a resident of the village viewed the pug marks and confirmed that they were of a tiger.
"The pug marks are those of a male tiger which may be old. The beast might be from the nearby forest on the Madya Pradesh border. Due to old age he may be wandering in search of a safe place," said Rahangdale.
A few days ago, villagers of Dasgaon saw a tiger on the banks of the river Vainganga, about 20 km from Gondia. However, there was no official confirmation.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Govt to curb revenge killings' with double compensation
JAIPUR: The Rajasthan government is mulling increase in compensation to villagers in case wild animals kill their livestock. The amount may be doubled or even more in some cases.
The move follows bid by the government to check revenge killings' by the villagers, whose livestock often fall victim to wild animals.
Sources said the proposal is being considered by the state finance department and may soon be approved. The current amount is very little as it was fixed years ago. The compensation at present is Rs 300 for a goat and Rs 3,000 for a cow or a buffalo.
"We had given such a proposal some time ago. The proposal is under consideration," confirmed H M Bhatia, chief wildlife warden, Rajasthan.
"It is high time for the forest department to revise compensation rates for villagers whose livestock is eaten by tigers. The sum can hardly be compared with market rates of animals which is somewhere around 10 times the amount. Also, the process for giving this sum needs to be simplified. Currently, the department takes a very long time to hand over the cheque to the villager," said Rajpal Singh, member, state wildlife board. It is due to this paltry sum that tigers are often poisoned by villagers.
A month ago, a male tiger ST-1 that killed a buffalo in Sariska was later poisoned. Sources said the villagers smeared poison on the half-eaten carcass of the buffalo when the tiger was away.
A similar fear looms large over the fate of tigress T-13 which ventured out of the Ranthambore national park towards the Chambal river along with its cubs and killed a bull some days days ago.
While R P Gupta, DFO Ranthambore, maintains, "We have visited the village and met the sarpanch and the owner of the bull. We have assured them of a compensation soon and asked them not to graze their cattle in that area anymore." But this assurance may not prove beneficial in case T-13 makes another kill as it is just 2 km from human habitation.
The only immediate relief that came to the villager was when an NGO paid the owner of the bull Rs 5,000.
Adding to the complications of the current system of compensation is the fact that while the forest department recognises villagers staying in sanctuaries and even pays them a sum for relocation, it does not pay any compensation when their livestock is killed while grazing as this is not permitted in sanctuaries. Compensation is given only when a tiger strays out of the forest and kills livestock of villagers on the periphery of the forest.
The move follows bid by the government to check revenge killings' by the villagers, whose livestock often fall victim to wild animals.
Sources said the proposal is being considered by the state finance department and may soon be approved. The current amount is very little as it was fixed years ago. The compensation at present is Rs 300 for a goat and Rs 3,000 for a cow or a buffalo.
"We had given such a proposal some time ago. The proposal is under consideration," confirmed H M Bhatia, chief wildlife warden, Rajasthan.
"It is high time for the forest department to revise compensation rates for villagers whose livestock is eaten by tigers. The sum can hardly be compared with market rates of animals which is somewhere around 10 times the amount. Also, the process for giving this sum needs to be simplified. Currently, the department takes a very long time to hand over the cheque to the villager," said Rajpal Singh, member, state wildlife board. It is due to this paltry sum that tigers are often poisoned by villagers.
A month ago, a male tiger ST-1 that killed a buffalo in Sariska was later poisoned. Sources said the villagers smeared poison on the half-eaten carcass of the buffalo when the tiger was away.
A similar fear looms large over the fate of tigress T-13 which ventured out of the Ranthambore national park towards the Chambal river along with its cubs and killed a bull some days days ago.
While R P Gupta, DFO Ranthambore, maintains, "We have visited the village and met the sarpanch and the owner of the bull. We have assured them of a compensation soon and asked them not to graze their cattle in that area anymore." But this assurance may not prove beneficial in case T-13 makes another kill as it is just 2 km from human habitation.
The only immediate relief that came to the villager was when an NGO paid the owner of the bull Rs 5,000.
Adding to the complications of the current system of compensation is the fact that while the forest department recognises villagers staying in sanctuaries and even pays them a sum for relocation, it does not pay any compensation when their livestock is killed while grazing as this is not permitted in sanctuaries. Compensation is given only when a tiger strays out of the forest and kills livestock of villagers on the periphery of the forest.
Tigress strays out of Ranthambhore national park with cubs
A Ranthambhore wild cat.
They are said to be in grave danger because they are moving around in crop fields, about 5 km away from the protected park.
Wildlife experts said the tigress must have moved out of her territory after sensing a serious threat to her cubs from tigers in the vicinity. Otherwise, it was unusual for a wild cat to desert its territory, they added.
"This shows the state of the sanctuary. It has become so overcrowded that it has led to a rise in territorial fights," Rajpal Singh, an expert with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), said.
Singh said the tigress moved out of Ranthambhore about 10 days ago along the overflow of the Mansarovar lake fed by the Chambal river. "The lives of the tigress and her two cubs are in danger as they have ventured into the man-animal conflict zone. Just three days ago, she hunted a bull in an agricultural field. Her continued presence in that area could provoke the villagers," Singh said.
Nonetheless, the forest staff has been keeping a watch on the predator and was trying to attract it back to the park by using baits, sources said.
The tigress had been untraceable for some days till forest officials recently discovered her pugmarks and those of her cubs along the Mansarovar lake.
In March last year, two adolescent tigers strayed from the park along with their mother. They were killed by shepherds using poisonous baits near Talwara village, about 15 km from the park's core zone.
So far, about a dozen tigers, including T13 and her two cubs, have reportedly strayed out of the park owing to overpopulation in the core area.
Some of the tigers were found to have moved at least 150 to 200 km away.
Going by the size of the park, it can accommodate about 28 tigers. But, it currently has about 40 tigers.
They are said to be in grave danger because they are moving around in crop fields, about 5 km away from the protected park.
Wildlife experts said the tigress must have moved out of her territory after sensing a serious threat to her cubs from tigers in the vicinity. Otherwise, it was unusual for a wild cat to desert its territory, they added.
"This shows the state of the sanctuary. It has become so overcrowded that it has led to a rise in territorial fights," Rajpal Singh, an expert with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), said.
Singh said the tigress moved out of Ranthambhore about 10 days ago along the overflow of the Mansarovar lake fed by the Chambal river. "The lives of the tigress and her two cubs are in danger as they have ventured into the man-animal conflict zone. Just three days ago, she hunted a bull in an agricultural field. Her continued presence in that area could provoke the villagers," Singh said.
Nonetheless, the forest staff has been keeping a watch on the predator and was trying to attract it back to the park by using baits, sources said.
The tigress had been untraceable for some days till forest officials recently discovered her pugmarks and those of her cubs along the Mansarovar lake.
In March last year, two adolescent tigers strayed from the park along with their mother. They were killed by shepherds using poisonous baits near Talwara village, about 15 km from the park's core zone.
So far, about a dozen tigers, including T13 and her two cubs, have reportedly strayed out of the park owing to overpopulation in the core area.
Some of the tigers were found to have moved at least 150 to 200 km away.
Going by the size of the park, it can accommodate about 28 tigers. But, it currently has about 40 tigers.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Another man killed by tiger in eastern UP
LUCKNOW: A second killing in as many days inside the Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, near Bahraich on the Nepal border, has set alarm bells ringing in the state forest department. The latest victim is a 55-year-old man, who was killed in a village situated inside the sanctuary on Friday.
Jagmal's partially eaten body was recovered from a dense forest on Saturday. The incident took place in Jamunia village, situated inside the sanctuary and is almost adjacent to the core area, an ideal tiger habitat.
Earlier, on Thursday, another villager Saligram, 60, was reportedly killed by the tiger when he had gone to work in his sugarcane field. The forest area from where Jagmal's body was recovered is about 12 km from the place where Saligram's body was found. ''The pugmarks found around Saligram's body were that of a tigress," said Katarniaghat range officer M K Shukla.
Read more: Another man killed by tiger in eastern UP - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Another-man-killed-by-tiger-in-eastern-UP/articleshow/7244880.cms#ixzz1AW3w8kJ7
Jagmal's partially eaten body was recovered from a dense forest on Saturday. The incident took place in Jamunia village, situated inside the sanctuary and is almost adjacent to the core area, an ideal tiger habitat.
Earlier, on Thursday, another villager Saligram, 60, was reportedly killed by the tiger when he had gone to work in his sugarcane field. The forest area from where Jagmal's body was recovered is about 12 km from the place where Saligram's body was found. ''The pugmarks found around Saligram's body were that of a tigress," said Katarniaghat range officer M K Shukla.
Read more: Another man killed by tiger in eastern UP - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Another-man-killed-by-tiger-in-eastern-UP/articleshow/7244880.cms#ixzz1AW3w8kJ7
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Tiger mauls one
LUCKNOW: The man-animal conflict has once again raised its ugly head. A 60-year-old man is the latest casualty to the big cat.
According to officials, the incident took place in Katarniaghat on Thursday morning. The fact that the body was intact and not consumed by the big cat gives some sense of respite to forest officers in the area.
"This is not a case of man-eating," said MK Shukla, Range Officer, Katarniaghat. 60-year-old Saligram, resident of Belahanpura village, was killed at around 10:30 on Thursday morning, when he had gone to work in his sugarcane field. The man had gone alone to the field.
The pugmarks found around the body appear to be of a tigress. In all possibilities, the tigress was already present in the dense sugarcane field, when the man reached the spot and was attacked by the tigress in retaliation.
The man had injury marks on his neck and died of excessive bleeding. A compensation of Rs 10,000 was released immediately to his family. Another Rs 1 lakh as compensation will be given by the state government once the formalities are done. The incident took place in compartment 4 of Sadar beat near Girijapuri barrage. The incident of this nature has not occurred in the area in recent past.
But the villagers have been alerted to follow precautions while venturing into sugarcane fields, especially when alone. When men move in groups, they mostly alert the tiger of their presence and in that case the big cat will avoid coming close to them.
Katarniaghat has a sizable population of big cats, both tigers and leopards. The tigers being present in sugarcane field is a common phenomenon in terai belt. Mostly, tigress with cubs are present in the fields. The killings taking place during the day are mostly the ones where tigers charge in retaliation when they are consciously or unconsciously disturbed.
In most of the incidents, where tigers have killed men in the recent past, big cats have not ventured out of the forest area. On the contrary, men have entered forests and got killed.
The officers said that since tigers live in the core area of the forests, they do not venture out of forest unless they turn into compulsive maneaters.
The forest department has increased the vigil in the area in order to avoid even the remotest chance of a similar incident happening again. The area has some villages in its vicinity.
According to officials, the incident took place in Katarniaghat on Thursday morning. The fact that the body was intact and not consumed by the big cat gives some sense of respite to forest officers in the area.
"This is not a case of man-eating," said MK Shukla, Range Officer, Katarniaghat. 60-year-old Saligram, resident of Belahanpura village, was killed at around 10:30 on Thursday morning, when he had gone to work in his sugarcane field. The man had gone alone to the field.
The pugmarks found around the body appear to be of a tigress. In all possibilities, the tigress was already present in the dense sugarcane field, when the man reached the spot and was attacked by the tigress in retaliation.
The man had injury marks on his neck and died of excessive bleeding. A compensation of Rs 10,000 was released immediately to his family. Another Rs 1 lakh as compensation will be given by the state government once the formalities are done. The incident took place in compartment 4 of Sadar beat near Girijapuri barrage. The incident of this nature has not occurred in the area in recent past.
But the villagers have been alerted to follow precautions while venturing into sugarcane fields, especially when alone. When men move in groups, they mostly alert the tiger of their presence and in that case the big cat will avoid coming close to them.
Katarniaghat has a sizable population of big cats, both tigers and leopards. The tigers being present in sugarcane field is a common phenomenon in terai belt. Mostly, tigress with cubs are present in the fields. The killings taking place during the day are mostly the ones where tigers charge in retaliation when they are consciously or unconsciously disturbed.
In most of the incidents, where tigers have killed men in the recent past, big cats have not ventured out of the forest area. On the contrary, men have entered forests and got killed.
The officers said that since tigers live in the core area of the forests, they do not venture out of forest unless they turn into compulsive maneaters.
The forest department has increased the vigil in the area in order to avoid even the remotest chance of a similar incident happening again. The area has some villages in its vicinity.
After tigers, Pilibhit forest to see survey for other fauna
The forest cover of Pilibhit in Western Uttar Pradesh — its tigers and the rich reserve of flora and fauna — has become a hub for wildlife enthusiasts.
A team of experts from the Wildlife Research Institute (WRI) will be camping in the region to understand and survey the fauna of the Terai region. This is the third team which will be studying this region in the last six months. Earlier too, teams from the Wildlife Trust of India have surveyed the area to assess the tiger habitat.
According to official information, the team is headed by Dr Barry Richard Noon, a professor in the department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, College of Natural Resources, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. A Fulbright scholar, he lecturing on Data Collection and Analysis for Wildlife Conservation at WTI at Dehradun.
The two-member team, which will be spending nearly a month in the region, will be studying Ungulate herbivore species of antelopes and deer like the Rusa Unicolour (Sambhar), Hard hoofed swamp deer (Barahsingha), Four-horned Antelope (Chausingha or Tetracerus quadricornis) and Hog Deer (Axis porcinus). The study will determine their presence, population and also, the suitable environment for their breeding. It will correlate the presence of these species with the increasing area of the tigers in the region.
This is the first time that so many teams will be surveying the forest in the district. Giving details, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Pilibhit, VK Singh, said: “We have had one or two teams which were so far understanding the region as a tiger terrain. But recent findings have shown that there is a good population of smaller animals like deer, which primarily are also the prey for the tigers, in the region. Hence, experts have started coming in from various institutes to study all these factors.”
A team of experts from the Wildlife Research Institute (WRI) will be camping in the region to understand and survey the fauna of the Terai region. This is the third team which will be studying this region in the last six months. Earlier too, teams from the Wildlife Trust of India have surveyed the area to assess the tiger habitat.
According to official information, the team is headed by Dr Barry Richard Noon, a professor in the department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, College of Natural Resources, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. A Fulbright scholar, he lecturing on Data Collection and Analysis for Wildlife Conservation at WTI at Dehradun.
The two-member team, which will be spending nearly a month in the region, will be studying Ungulate herbivore species of antelopes and deer like the Rusa Unicolour (Sambhar), Hard hoofed swamp deer (Barahsingha), Four-horned Antelope (Chausingha or Tetracerus quadricornis) and Hog Deer (Axis porcinus). The study will determine their presence, population and also, the suitable environment for their breeding. It will correlate the presence of these species with the increasing area of the tigers in the region.
This is the first time that so many teams will be surveying the forest in the district. Giving details, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Pilibhit, VK Singh, said: “We have had one or two teams which were so far understanding the region as a tiger terrain. But recent findings have shown that there is a good population of smaller animals like deer, which primarily are also the prey for the tigers, in the region. Hence, experts have started coming in from various institutes to study all these factors.”
Friday, January 7, 2011
NTCA releases Rs 18 cr to resettle Melghat villages
NAGPUR: In a big boost to relocation of villages from inside the Melghat Tiger Reserve (MTR), the ministry of environment and forest ( MoEF) has released Rs 18 crore for the purpose. The amount will help resettle at least two villages.
According to sources, the funds were released a few days ago, however, the state government will have to come out with another GR to actually release the money for the relocation.
The principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) had sent a proposal to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) for Rs 75.50 crore to resettle 22 villages from inside the Melghat reserve. Out of this amount, the NTCA has released Rs 18 crore.
In addition to this, as promised by chief minister Prithiviraj Chavan, Rs 2 crore has been released for relocation of Vairat village. The funds will also be utilised at Ghatladki in Amravati district, where the villagers are being shifted.
Melghat, spread over 2,000 sq km, is under tremendous pressure from domestic cattle of 22 villages inside the core area. Till now only four villages; Koha, Kund, Bori (2001-02) and Churni (2009-10) have been resettled. Half of Vairat village has been shifted while the remaining families are under process of being shifted.
Sources said that it was not an easy job to get the money released. Satpuda Foundation chief Kishor Rithe had raised the issue with environment minister Jairam Ramesh. He promised to do the needful and accordingly issued directives to NTCA. Besides, there was continuos follow-up by chief wildlife warden DC Pant, field director AK Mishra and Amravati divisional commissioner Praveen Pardeshi.
After relocating the three villages, the government will have actually freed 75 sq km area around the core of the reserve - Gugamal National Park. "Reduction in grazing pressure has actually encouraged the prey population to bounce back here. Today, we see tigers in these places," said Rithe.
Plans are now afoot to relocate as many villages as possible with the Rs 18 crore. As per the new norms, the relocation package has been enhanced from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 lakh. "The first village to be taken up for relocation will be Pastalai. It will give a big boost for tigers in Gugamal National Park," an official said.
According to sources, the funds were released a few days ago, however, the state government will have to come out with another GR to actually release the money for the relocation.
The principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) had sent a proposal to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) for Rs 75.50 crore to resettle 22 villages from inside the Melghat reserve. Out of this amount, the NTCA has released Rs 18 crore.
In addition to this, as promised by chief minister Prithiviraj Chavan, Rs 2 crore has been released for relocation of Vairat village. The funds will also be utilised at Ghatladki in Amravati district, where the villagers are being shifted.
Melghat, spread over 2,000 sq km, is under tremendous pressure from domestic cattle of 22 villages inside the core area. Till now only four villages; Koha, Kund, Bori (2001-02) and Churni (2009-10) have been resettled. Half of Vairat village has been shifted while the remaining families are under process of being shifted.
Sources said that it was not an easy job to get the money released. Satpuda Foundation chief Kishor Rithe had raised the issue with environment minister Jairam Ramesh. He promised to do the needful and accordingly issued directives to NTCA. Besides, there was continuos follow-up by chief wildlife warden DC Pant, field director AK Mishra and Amravati divisional commissioner Praveen Pardeshi.
After relocating the three villages, the government will have actually freed 75 sq km area around the core of the reserve - Gugamal National Park. "Reduction in grazing pressure has actually encouraged the prey population to bounce back here. Today, we see tigers in these places," said Rithe.
Plans are now afoot to relocate as many villages as possible with the Rs 18 crore. As per the new norms, the relocation package has been enhanced from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 lakh. "The first village to be taken up for relocation will be Pastalai. It will give a big boost for tigers in Gugamal National Park," an official said.
Panel to frame tourism norms for tiger sanctuaries
LUCKNOW: Tigers will soon have a peaceful existence in wildlife sanctuaries during the tourist season. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has constituted an eco-tourism committee to formulate tourism guidelines for tiger reserves. The idea is to protect tiger sanctuaries from any interference or disturbance by tourists.
Even at present, the state forest department follows some 'do-not-disturb-tiger' guidelines and strictly adhere to the advisories issued by the NTCA from time to time. The tourists are allowed to visit tiger reserves only in morning and evening shifts.
"We ensure that timings are followed besides telling tourists not to litter or play music inside the park," said an official in Dudhwa National Park. The park is open for tourists from November 15 to June 15. Tourists can only visit those parts of the park which are identified as tourist spots. Besides, blowing of horns is a strict 'no'.
The NTCA has issued advisories to the field directors of all tiger reserves in the past as well with respect to tourism in the area.
In August, the NTCA had issued a letter to all field directors which said: "The patrolling amps/chowkis/ watch towers inside a tiger reserve (core as well as buffer) should not be used for accommodating tourists or facilitating tourism."
The letter read further: "As these structures have been constructed under Project Tiger for the sole purpose of accommodating the front line field staff (at places with wireless), it needs to be ensured that they are solely used for patrolling/anti-poaching work."
Even at present, the state forest department follows some 'do-not-disturb-tiger' guidelines and strictly adhere to the advisories issued by the NTCA from time to time. The tourists are allowed to visit tiger reserves only in morning and evening shifts.
"We ensure that timings are followed besides telling tourists not to litter or play music inside the park," said an official in Dudhwa National Park. The park is open for tourists from November 15 to June 15. Tourists can only visit those parts of the park which are identified as tourist spots. Besides, blowing of horns is a strict 'no'.
The NTCA has issued advisories to the field directors of all tiger reserves in the past as well with respect to tourism in the area.
In August, the NTCA had issued a letter to all field directors which said: "The patrolling amps/chowkis/ watch towers inside a tiger reserve (core as well as buffer) should not be used for accommodating tourists or facilitating tourism."
The letter read further: "As these structures have been constructed under Project Tiger for the sole purpose of accommodating the front line field staff (at places with wireless), it needs to be ensured that they are solely used for patrolling/anti-poaching work."
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Tigress found dead in Periyar Tiger Reserve
A tigress was found dead in Thekkady Lake on Wednesday.
The forest area adjoining the lake is part of the Periyar Tiger Reserve.
The carcass of the nearly three-year-old animal was found floating in the lake. No external injuries could be seen on the body, officials said.
A team of experts including K.K. Ramachandran, Head of the Wildlife Biology Department of the Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, two veterinarians of the Kerala State Forest Department and a local veterinarian, had inspected the carcass.
Experts suspect disease as the cause of death. Toxicology studies will be held on samples from the carcass. The exact cause of death could be ascertained only after obtaining post mortem report. The carcass will be burned after completing the mandatory steps, officials said.
The forest area adjoining the lake is part of the Periyar Tiger Reserve.
The carcass of the nearly three-year-old animal was found floating in the lake. No external injuries could be seen on the body, officials said.
A team of experts including K.K. Ramachandran, Head of the Wildlife Biology Department of the Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, two veterinarians of the Kerala State Forest Department and a local veterinarian, had inspected the carcass.
Experts suspect disease as the cause of death. Toxicology studies will be held on samples from the carcass. The exact cause of death could be ascertained only after obtaining post mortem report. The carcass will be burned after completing the mandatory steps, officials said.
Viability of Kanha-Pench Tiger Corridor questioned in PIL
06.01.2011 | 13:46
Jabalpur
Supriya Amber
The First Bench of Chief Justice SR Alam and Justice RS Jha have issued notice in a matter pertaining to Kanha Pench Tiger corridor. A petition in the nature of public interest litigation was filed by three individuals pointing out impracticality of the tiger corridor. Raising questions on the design of the corridor as well as its impact on population as well as the wild-life the petition seeks restriction of commercial activities in the area as well as other safeguards for safety of the wild-life.
The bench issued notices to Union of India through ministry of environment and forest, state forest department, national tiger conservation authority, project tiger directorate, Satpura foundation through its managing director and collector Seoni to file reply within 3 weeks.
Senior counsel Adarsh Muni Trivedi appeared for petitioner.
Jabalpur
Supriya Amber
The First Bench of Chief Justice SR Alam and Justice RS Jha have issued notice in a matter pertaining to Kanha Pench Tiger corridor. A petition in the nature of public interest litigation was filed by three individuals pointing out impracticality of the tiger corridor. Raising questions on the design of the corridor as well as its impact on population as well as the wild-life the petition seeks restriction of commercial activities in the area as well as other safeguards for safety of the wild-life.
The bench issued notices to Union of India through ministry of environment and forest, state forest department, national tiger conservation authority, project tiger directorate, Satpura foundation through its managing director and collector Seoni to file reply within 3 weeks.
Senior counsel Adarsh Muni Trivedi appeared for petitioner.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Agitation against tiger project turns ugly in Satara
Published: Wednesday, Jan 5, 2011, 11:32 IST
By DNA Correspondent | Place: Satara (Maharashtra) | Agency: DNA
The protest march by villagers against the Sahyadri Tiger Project took an ugly turn on Monday evening when angry villagers pelted stones on the forest department (wildlife) office in Patan in Satara district.
The villagers were agitating against the Sahyadri Tiger Project, which was initiated last year by combining the Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary and Chandoli National Park.
The rally, led by Zilla Parishad (ZP) member, Rajabhau Shelar; Patan Panchayat Samiti’s former president, Satyajeetsinh Patankar; ZP’s former deputy president, Vikrambaba Patankar; and Panchayat Samiti president, Pooja Kadam; started from Koynanagar bus stand.
However, when the villagers reached the forest office, they suddenly started pelting stones at the forest office and broke the doors and windows. They also raised slogans like ‘Save man, not tiger’.
Opposing the project, spread over four districts of Satara, Ratnagiri, Kolhapur and Sangli, they submitted a memorandum to tehsildar, Pralhad Hiramani.
There are 90 villages in the buffer zone of the project and 83 villages in the core zone. Though the villagers will not be relocated, the project shall restrict development activities in the hamlets.
By DNA Correspondent | Place: Satara (Maharashtra) | Agency: DNA
The protest march by villagers against the Sahyadri Tiger Project took an ugly turn on Monday evening when angry villagers pelted stones on the forest department (wildlife) office in Patan in Satara district.
The villagers were agitating against the Sahyadri Tiger Project, which was initiated last year by combining the Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary and Chandoli National Park.
The rally, led by Zilla Parishad (ZP) member, Rajabhau Shelar; Patan Panchayat Samiti’s former president, Satyajeetsinh Patankar; ZP’s former deputy president, Vikrambaba Patankar; and Panchayat Samiti president, Pooja Kadam; started from Koynanagar bus stand.
However, when the villagers reached the forest office, they suddenly started pelting stones at the forest office and broke the doors and windows. They also raised slogans like ‘Save man, not tiger’.
Opposing the project, spread over four districts of Satara, Ratnagiri, Kolhapur and Sangli, they submitted a memorandum to tehsildar, Pralhad Hiramani.
There are 90 villages in the buffer zone of the project and 83 villages in the core zone. Though the villagers will not be relocated, the project shall restrict development activities in the hamlets.
Tiger mauls teen
OUR CORRESPONDENT
Guwahati, Jan. 4: A 16-year-old boy was mauled by a tiger at Kaziranga National Park this morning when he was tending to his cattle.
A senior park official said Saibur Rahman, a resident of Bhujmari village, was attacked around 10.30am.
“The high density of tigers… is leading to increased tiger-human conflict incidents,” a forest official said.
Experts said given the high density of tigers in the national park, incidents like this will happen.
A camera-trapping study of tigers carried out has reported that there are 32 tigers per 100sqkm of the national park, the highest in the world.
The usual density of tigers varies from 3-12 per 100sqkm in different reserves throughout the country.
The study had said one of the key reasons for the high tiger density in Kaziranga is an abundance of prey, including hog deer, sambar, swamp deer and wild buffalo.
Villagers found Saibur’s body today and cremated him.
The forest official said park employees have been deployed in the area where the tiger has attacked Saibur to monitor the animals.
Guwahati, Jan. 4: A 16-year-old boy was mauled by a tiger at Kaziranga National Park this morning when he was tending to his cattle.
A senior park official said Saibur Rahman, a resident of Bhujmari village, was attacked around 10.30am.
“The high density of tigers… is leading to increased tiger-human conflict incidents,” a forest official said.
Experts said given the high density of tigers in the national park, incidents like this will happen.
A camera-trapping study of tigers carried out has reported that there are 32 tigers per 100sqkm of the national park, the highest in the world.
The usual density of tigers varies from 3-12 per 100sqkm in different reserves throughout the country.
The study had said one of the key reasons for the high tiger density in Kaziranga is an abundance of prey, including hog deer, sambar, swamp deer and wild buffalo.
Villagers found Saibur’s body today and cremated him.
The forest official said park employees have been deployed in the area where the tiger has attacked Saibur to monitor the animals.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Jairam stands between shooter’s gun and Corbett tigress
Will the Sunderkhal tigress at Corbett Tiger Reserve be terminated?
Differences have cropped up between Union Forest & Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh and the Uttarakhand Forest Department on a directive issued by the latter to eliminate the big cat following reporters of three human kills.
Chief Wildlife Warden S Chandola confirmed to The Pioneer that the order to terminate the tigress was issued on December 30. At the same time, Ramesh told this correspondent that the tigress would be tranquillised and relocated in the core area.
The tigress has been active in Sundarkhal, Garjia and Dhikuli ranges and has killed three persons during the past one-and-a-half months.
According to Corbett Tiger Reserve field director Ranjan Mishra, the tigress killed two women — Nandi Devi and Devki Devi — in the area on November 12 and December 29, respectively. One Kalpana Devi was killed on November 12, in Chukum area, under Ramnagar Forest Division.
He added, “The nature of killings indicates that her actions had been intentional. In such a situation, the Forest Department has to address grievances of the local population. Hence, the order (to shoot her) has been passed.”
Mishra said the tigress had not been sighted in the past two to three days, though five teams are searching for her. “A team of hunters has been sent to the jungles to kill the big cat,” he noted.
The Corbett field director was of the opinion that it is not possible to tranquillise a moving tiger.
Warden Chandola pointed out that after a tiger is found with human kill, there is no way out but to terminate it. In this case, the tigress was identified through pug impression pads (PIP) made by preparing a layer of fine soil about 2 cm thick on forest paths and animal tracks. Her pugmarks have been discovered near the human kill, according to him.
Experts, however, observed that PIP is an obsolete method of tracking. “Sunderkhal is a very important corridor area, at the periphery of Corbett and connecting Almora and Nainital Forest Divisions. The passage is often used by animals, including carnivores. In such a situation, it is important to identify animals actually responsible for the killings,” said one expert.
The more scientific DNA tests should be adopted in such cases, they opined.
Further, they pointed out that there had been no tiger chart mapping done to identify big cats in their respective territories. With another tiger in the same territory, how can it be said with certainty that the same tigress has made all three kills?
Locals also noted that the affected village — placed as it is in the periphery of the reserve — is an encroachment and the cat’s termination order, politically motivated. “The Forest Department should come out with long term plans to check increasing man-animal conflicts in the region. Merely killing a tigress will not solve the problem,” said an expert.
All may well not be over yet. On the basis of statements made by Ramesh, sources in the Ministry of Environment & Forest gave indications that the tigress would eventually be tranquillised and relocated in the forest. “After all, political pressures in the periphery of the forest have to be pacified… so the termination order was issued,” a source added.
Differences have cropped up between Union Forest & Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh and the Uttarakhand Forest Department on a directive issued by the latter to eliminate the big cat following reporters of three human kills.
Chief Wildlife Warden S Chandola confirmed to The Pioneer that the order to terminate the tigress was issued on December 30. At the same time, Ramesh told this correspondent that the tigress would be tranquillised and relocated in the core area.
The tigress has been active in Sundarkhal, Garjia and Dhikuli ranges and has killed three persons during the past one-and-a-half months.
According to Corbett Tiger Reserve field director Ranjan Mishra, the tigress killed two women — Nandi Devi and Devki Devi — in the area on November 12 and December 29, respectively. One Kalpana Devi was killed on November 12, in Chukum area, under Ramnagar Forest Division.
He added, “The nature of killings indicates that her actions had been intentional. In such a situation, the Forest Department has to address grievances of the local population. Hence, the order (to shoot her) has been passed.”
Mishra said the tigress had not been sighted in the past two to three days, though five teams are searching for her. “A team of hunters has been sent to the jungles to kill the big cat,” he noted.
The Corbett field director was of the opinion that it is not possible to tranquillise a moving tiger.
Warden Chandola pointed out that after a tiger is found with human kill, there is no way out but to terminate it. In this case, the tigress was identified through pug impression pads (PIP) made by preparing a layer of fine soil about 2 cm thick on forest paths and animal tracks. Her pugmarks have been discovered near the human kill, according to him.
Experts, however, observed that PIP is an obsolete method of tracking. “Sunderkhal is a very important corridor area, at the periphery of Corbett and connecting Almora and Nainital Forest Divisions. The passage is often used by animals, including carnivores. In such a situation, it is important to identify animals actually responsible for the killings,” said one expert.
The more scientific DNA tests should be adopted in such cases, they opined.
Further, they pointed out that there had been no tiger chart mapping done to identify big cats in their respective territories. With another tiger in the same territory, how can it be said with certainty that the same tigress has made all three kills?
Locals also noted that the affected village — placed as it is in the periphery of the reserve — is an encroachment and the cat’s termination order, politically motivated. “The Forest Department should come out with long term plans to check increasing man-animal conflicts in the region. Merely killing a tigress will not solve the problem,” said an expert.
All may well not be over yet. On the basis of statements made by Ramesh, sources in the Ministry of Environment & Forest gave indications that the tigress would eventually be tranquillised and relocated in the forest. “After all, political pressures in the periphery of the forest have to be pacified… so the termination order was issued,” a source added.
Tiger protection force may be delayed
Jan. 3: The much- awaited Tiger Protection Force (TPF), formed under the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), which will be deployed at Tiger Reserves in the State, is suffering from a financial crunch. By mid-2011, around 50 members of the TPF will be deployed in Nagarhole and Bandipur Tiger Reserves and in the next few months, the officers recruited under the new Force will be given weapons training.
Senior forest officials say that the Force will swing into action by June this year, provided the Central government releases funds on time. “We are awaiting the Centre’s funds for purchasing weapons for the recruited officers, who will soon be ready to be deployed.
The weapons training will be organized with the help of the Karnataka Police and the officers will be put on the job in the Tiger Reserves,” said a senior officer. According to forest officials, even before the first batch of TPF can complete its nine-month training, 20 guards and four foresters have withdrawn their applications.
At present, 44 guards and 14 foresters are undergoing training. The officials are now hoping for an early release of funds so that the weapons and communication command centre inside the Protected Areas (PAs) can be established.
Senior forest officials say that the Force will swing into action by June this year, provided the Central government releases funds on time. “We are awaiting the Centre’s funds for purchasing weapons for the recruited officers, who will soon be ready to be deployed.
The weapons training will be organized with the help of the Karnataka Police and the officers will be put on the job in the Tiger Reserves,” said a senior officer. According to forest officials, even before the first batch of TPF can complete its nine-month training, 20 guards and four foresters have withdrawn their applications.
At present, 44 guards and 14 foresters are undergoing training. The officials are now hoping for an early release of funds so that the weapons and communication command centre inside the Protected Areas (PAs) can be established.
Forest Gujjars get quota in tiger force
Welcome sign
Lucknow, Jan. 3: Van Gujjars, the mountain gypsies ousted from their camping sites in the Corbett and Rajaji national parks in the mid-nineties, have been granted 30 per cent reservation as forest guards force, while their plains counterparts in Rajasthan are agitating for a state job quota.
Unlike the Gujjars of Rajasthan, who are Hindus, Van Gujjars are Muslims.
The forest dwellers, who are vegetarians, will get 30 per cent reservation in a new tiger protection force being set up to check poaching in the Corbett reserve.
The Van Gujjars, numbering over 25,000 according to estimates by NGOs, resided in the Shivalik mountain range near the Jim Corbett National Park for over a century. Their caravans moving from the Doon Valley to the higher areas of the Himalayas in search of forest patches with their cattle in summer made for a curious sight to the people of Dehra Dun. Their food was mostly honey and fruits collected from the forests and the milk from their cattle.
But in the mid-nineties, the Van Gujjars were given government land near Hardwar and told to give up their forest life on suspicion that they were colluding with poachers to kill tigers.
However, when the central government last year approved the setting up of the Corbett tiger force, it asked forest officials to use the Van Gujjars’ knowledge of the forests effectively as they are familiar with the 520 sqkm Corbett park which now has 112 tigers.
The Uttarakhand cabinet okayed the proposal last week to make provision for the quota.
The tiger force will have a similar role like police with power under Section 197 of the criminal procedure code to register a case after a magisterial inquiry in cases of poaching.
Three platoons will be raised for Corbett, each with 30 personnel. Each platoon will be headed by a ranger, said M.H. Khan, secretary, forests and wildlife, in Dehra Dun today.
Khan said 27 posts would be reserved for the Van Gujjars. The force will employ more Gujjars when Rajaji National Park is included.
The forest and environment ministry has sanctioned a budget of Rs 4 crore a year for the force.
“Immediately, the project will be employed for the security of the Corbett Park but it may later be extended to other forest areas,” said another state forest official.
“This decision will help the Gujjars regain their self-respect after being branded poachers by government officials,” said A. Kaushal of the Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra, an NGO that was fighting for the rights of the Van Gujjars to dwell in the forests.
The Van Gujjars are traditionally vegetarians and they should not have been targeted for the poaching in Corbett, said Shiva Tyagi, another rights activist.
In Rajasthan, the Gujjars, who are farmers, have been agitating for nearly 14 days now over the job quota demand.
Lucknow, Jan. 3: Van Gujjars, the mountain gypsies ousted from their camping sites in the Corbett and Rajaji national parks in the mid-nineties, have been granted 30 per cent reservation as forest guards force, while their plains counterparts in Rajasthan are agitating for a state job quota.
Unlike the Gujjars of Rajasthan, who are Hindus, Van Gujjars are Muslims.
The forest dwellers, who are vegetarians, will get 30 per cent reservation in a new tiger protection force being set up to check poaching in the Corbett reserve.
The Van Gujjars, numbering over 25,000 according to estimates by NGOs, resided in the Shivalik mountain range near the Jim Corbett National Park for over a century. Their caravans moving from the Doon Valley to the higher areas of the Himalayas in search of forest patches with their cattle in summer made for a curious sight to the people of Dehra Dun. Their food was mostly honey and fruits collected from the forests and the milk from their cattle.
But in the mid-nineties, the Van Gujjars were given government land near Hardwar and told to give up their forest life on suspicion that they were colluding with poachers to kill tigers.
However, when the central government last year approved the setting up of the Corbett tiger force, it asked forest officials to use the Van Gujjars’ knowledge of the forests effectively as they are familiar with the 520 sqkm Corbett park which now has 112 tigers.
The Uttarakhand cabinet okayed the proposal last week to make provision for the quota.
The tiger force will have a similar role like police with power under Section 197 of the criminal procedure code to register a case after a magisterial inquiry in cases of poaching.
Three platoons will be raised for Corbett, each with 30 personnel. Each platoon will be headed by a ranger, said M.H. Khan, secretary, forests and wildlife, in Dehra Dun today.
Khan said 27 posts would be reserved for the Van Gujjars. The force will employ more Gujjars when Rajaji National Park is included.
The forest and environment ministry has sanctioned a budget of Rs 4 crore a year for the force.
“Immediately, the project will be employed for the security of the Corbett Park but it may later be extended to other forest areas,” said another state forest official.
“This decision will help the Gujjars regain their self-respect after being branded poachers by government officials,” said A. Kaushal of the Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra, an NGO that was fighting for the rights of the Van Gujjars to dwell in the forests.
The Van Gujjars are traditionally vegetarians and they should not have been targeted for the poaching in Corbett, said Shiva Tyagi, another rights activist.
In Rajasthan, the Gujjars, who are farmers, have been agitating for nearly 14 days now over the job quota demand.
MANAS reserve SHOWS SIGNS OF RECOVERY
A tiger in Manas National Park (Courtesy: T Ganesh)
A decade ago, Manas National Park in Assam, a natural world heritage site (WHS), was reeling from political turmoil which damaged habitat and wildlife. In 1992, UNESCO declared the park a heritage site in danger; seven years after it was inscribed in the WHS list.
The decline in violence following the 2003 agreement between the Indian government and Bodo leaders has benefited Manas. UNESCO has shown interest in removing it from the endangered list. But lack of reliable scientific data on the major wildlife populations has proved to be a hurdle. In the absence of such data, it was difficult to prepare heritage site management plan.
Our study conducted between 2006 and 2008 provided baseline information about the major wildlife populations. Using scientific techniques of population estimation, we found the presence of tigers in low abundance. But interestingly there was a marked improvement in signs that indicated tigers’ presence, like pugmarks. In the absence of previous estimates of the carnivore and prey base, we tried comparing tiger and prey densities of Manas with that of other tiger reserves.
After analysis, we found that while Manas still has the lowest abundance of both tiger and prey compared to other four tiger reserves, it has a fairly good prey population that can potentially sustain more tigers. The study was carried out in one range of the National Park; the park has three ranges.
Several organisations including the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWFIndia program), Aaranyak and ATREE/UNESCO are collaborating to provide technical support to government efforts at estimating wildlife population in Manas.
T GANESH
Senior fellow, Suri Sehgal Centre for Conservation Science Ashoka Trust for Researc
A decade ago, Manas National Park in Assam, a natural world heritage site (WHS), was reeling from political turmoil which damaged habitat and wildlife. In 1992, UNESCO declared the park a heritage site in danger; seven years after it was inscribed in the WHS list.
The decline in violence following the 2003 agreement between the Indian government and Bodo leaders has benefited Manas. UNESCO has shown interest in removing it from the endangered list. But lack of reliable scientific data on the major wildlife populations has proved to be a hurdle. In the absence of such data, it was difficult to prepare heritage site management plan.
Our study conducted between 2006 and 2008 provided baseline information about the major wildlife populations. Using scientific techniques of population estimation, we found the presence of tigers in low abundance. But interestingly there was a marked improvement in signs that indicated tigers’ presence, like pugmarks. In the absence of previous estimates of the carnivore and prey base, we tried comparing tiger and prey densities of Manas with that of other tiger reserves.
After analysis, we found that while Manas still has the lowest abundance of both tiger and prey compared to other four tiger reserves, it has a fairly good prey population that can potentially sustain more tigers. The study was carried out in one range of the National Park; the park has three ranges.
Several organisations including the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWFIndia program), Aaranyak and ATREE/UNESCO are collaborating to provide technical support to government efforts at estimating wildlife population in Manas.
T GANESH
Senior fellow, Suri Sehgal Centre for Conservation Science Ashoka Trust for Researc
Finally, officials call meet to discuss Mansinghdeo
NAGPUR: A meeting to discuss modalities and various issues related to the newly created Mansinghdeo Wildlife Sanctuary adjoining Pench Tiger Reserve will be held on January 5.
Even though the sanctuary notification was issued on November 2, the government did not make any efforts as to who would take over the management of the sanctuary. TOI, on Monday, reported that handing over of Mansinghdeo is being delayed. On Monday, A K Saxena, chief conservator of forests (CCF) for Nagpur Wildlife Circle, and Krishna Mohan, CCF for Nagpur Territorial Circle held discussions and decided to call a meeting.
The meeting will be attended by regional manager of Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra (FDCM), conservator of forests for Nagpur Division and the two circle heads.
Sources said officials will discuss legal process to hand over the sanctuary to Pench Tiger Reserve. The other issues include existing staff strength, area, boundaries, and rights among a host of other things.
This is the first meeting after two months the notification has been issued. It's an indication that official process to give shape to the 183 sq km Mansinghdeo sanctuary has started.
Even though the sanctuary notification was issued on November 2, the government did not make any efforts as to who would take over the management of the sanctuary. TOI, on Monday, reported that handing over of Mansinghdeo is being delayed. On Monday, A K Saxena, chief conservator of forests (CCF) for Nagpur Wildlife Circle, and Krishna Mohan, CCF for Nagpur Territorial Circle held discussions and decided to call a meeting.
The meeting will be attended by regional manager of Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra (FDCM), conservator of forests for Nagpur Division and the two circle heads.
Sources said officials will discuss legal process to hand over the sanctuary to Pench Tiger Reserve. The other issues include existing staff strength, area, boundaries, and rights among a host of other things.
This is the first meeting after two months the notification has been issued. It's an indication that official process to give shape to the 183 sq km Mansinghdeo sanctuary has started.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)