JAIPUR: Ranthambore, which lost 10 tigers recently due to deaths or straying, may have got back its count with at least nine cubs being sighted in the park.
Since last September, five cubs have been caught on camera while forest guards spotted two more tigress which are said to be lactating, park sources said.
A trap camera caught three cubs recently. Though the news of the birth of the cubs came sometime back, forest officials could not confirm it as pictures were not available. "Now since we have pictures of the cubs we are sure," said R N Mehrotra , Rajasthan's principal chief conservator of forests.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Space crunch triggering man-tiger conflicts
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Tags:Villagers|Kaziranga National Park|Conflicts
KAZIRANGA: Over 2,000 rhinos, 1,292 elephants, 1,400 wild buffaloes and about 700 swamp deer are already jostling for space in the 430 sq km area of Kaziranga National Park. Add to it about 80-odd tigers. Kaziranga National Park, which boasts of highest tiger density in the world, has virtually run out of space. And the worst sufferers, it seems, are the tigers they stray out of the protected area in search of prey and run into the risk of getting engaged in fatal conflicts with fringe villagers.
Kaziranga Park authorities admit to the problem. "The need of the hour is to add new areas under the park's administration. Even as the process to add new areas is over, these areas are yet to be handed over to us," Kaziranga National Park director Surajit Dutta said.
"Regaining the sand islands on the Brahmaputra which are used as natural corridors by tigers is of utmost importance for proper conservation of the big cats and ensuring their safety. Most of these island are either encroached by human beings or are being used by them to set up cattle sheds. This increases human-tiger conflicts," he added.
A park official said if one combines the total number of big mammals in the park area, it only reveals a terrible space shortage. "Incidents of straying out by tigers and conflicts with locals living in villages along the park are rampant. We have to extend our management beyond the existing area of the park," an official observed.
"Whenever a tiger strays out, it preys on livestock. This triggers conflicts. In fact, human-tiger conflict has posed a challenge for us. However, in collaboration with WWF-India, we are making all efforts to mitigate the conflict by providing compensation to owners as early as possible," Dutta said.
A joint study by Aaranyak and WWF-India, in collaboration with the forest department, has confirmed that over 100 sand islands dotting the Brahmaputra between Kaziranga national park and Orang national park are frequently used by tigers for their movement.
Spotting tigers in places like Koliabor, Naltali and Dhakuakhana within the Kaziranga-Orang Riverine Landscape has confirmed that big cats are using the islands for establishing new home ranges once they move out of the protected areas.
The trend of more and more tigers straying out of Kaziranga is also a cause of concern for the fringe villagers. "Last monsoon, I lost three cows in tiger attacks. They sneak into our village and prey upon our cattle. Our cattle sheds are not well-protected ones," said 75-year-old Hemai Tokbi, the village headman of Inglem Pathar, a non-descript hamlet bang opposite the Kohora range of the national park.
Though Tokbi claimed that residents of Inglem Pathar have never tried to kill a tiger, he could not vouch the same for people of other villages surrounding Kaziranga. "It's a difficult question. Don't ask me that," was his curt reply.
P J Bora, programme coordinator of WWF-India's Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong Landscape Programme (KALP), said: "We provide these villagers with immediate relief whenever there's report of tiger depredation. For proper conservation of the tigers, managing the park and the firing villages is of utmost importance. One should always remember that the human and wildlife interface in an area like Kaziranga is quite diffused that there is constant interaction, sometime fierce, and close relationship among both the parties."
The 185 km long Kaziranga-Orang Riverine Landscape (KORL) comprises the protected areas of Kaziranga, Orang, Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary, Burachapori Wildlife Sanctuary and a number of reserve forests. The study said KORL served as a major gateway for movement of other animals including deer the major prey base for tigers.
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Tags:Villagers|Kaziranga National Park|Conflicts
KAZIRANGA: Over 2,000 rhinos, 1,292 elephants, 1,400 wild buffaloes and about 700 swamp deer are already jostling for space in the 430 sq km area of Kaziranga National Park. Add to it about 80-odd tigers. Kaziranga National Park, which boasts of highest tiger density in the world, has virtually run out of space. And the worst sufferers, it seems, are the tigers they stray out of the protected area in search of prey and run into the risk of getting engaged in fatal conflicts with fringe villagers.
Kaziranga Park authorities admit to the problem. "The need of the hour is to add new areas under the park's administration. Even as the process to add new areas is over, these areas are yet to be handed over to us," Kaziranga National Park director Surajit Dutta said.
"Regaining the sand islands on the Brahmaputra which are used as natural corridors by tigers is of utmost importance for proper conservation of the big cats and ensuring their safety. Most of these island are either encroached by human beings or are being used by them to set up cattle sheds. This increases human-tiger conflicts," he added.
A park official said if one combines the total number of big mammals in the park area, it only reveals a terrible space shortage. "Incidents of straying out by tigers and conflicts with locals living in villages along the park are rampant. We have to extend our management beyond the existing area of the park," an official observed.
"Whenever a tiger strays out, it preys on livestock. This triggers conflicts. In fact, human-tiger conflict has posed a challenge for us. However, in collaboration with WWF-India, we are making all efforts to mitigate the conflict by providing compensation to owners as early as possible," Dutta said.
A joint study by Aaranyak and WWF-India, in collaboration with the forest department, has confirmed that over 100 sand islands dotting the Brahmaputra between Kaziranga national park and Orang national park are frequently used by tigers for their movement.
Spotting tigers in places like Koliabor, Naltali and Dhakuakhana within the Kaziranga-Orang Riverine Landscape has confirmed that big cats are using the islands for establishing new home ranges once they move out of the protected areas.
The trend of more and more tigers straying out of Kaziranga is also a cause of concern for the fringe villagers. "Last monsoon, I lost three cows in tiger attacks. They sneak into our village and prey upon our cattle. Our cattle sheds are not well-protected ones," said 75-year-old Hemai Tokbi, the village headman of Inglem Pathar, a non-descript hamlet bang opposite the Kohora range of the national park.
Though Tokbi claimed that residents of Inglem Pathar have never tried to kill a tiger, he could not vouch the same for people of other villages surrounding Kaziranga. "It's a difficult question. Don't ask me that," was his curt reply.
P J Bora, programme coordinator of WWF-India's Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong Landscape Programme (KALP), said: "We provide these villagers with immediate relief whenever there's report of tiger depredation. For proper conservation of the tigers, managing the park and the firing villages is of utmost importance. One should always remember that the human and wildlife interface in an area like Kaziranga is quite diffused that there is constant interaction, sometime fierce, and close relationship among both the parties."
The 185 km long Kaziranga-Orang Riverine Landscape (KORL) comprises the protected areas of Kaziranga, Orang, Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary, Burachapori Wildlife Sanctuary and a number of reserve forests. The study said KORL served as a major gateway for movement of other animals including deer the major prey base for tigers.
A website that has different tales of tigers
A website based on the tigers of Bandhavgarh National Park in Umaria district not only identifies the big cats belonging to a particular zone by their pet names, but also traces their family tree. landofthewild.com, created by Sachin Rai, a wildlife
photographer, traces the family tree of tigers, describes their traits and has stories associated with them.
"Wildlife photography is a passion for me," Rai told PTI, when asked about the website and his hobby. "I used to visit Bandhavgarh at least three times a year and spend a fortnight each in the park to capture images and gather information about the tigers," he said.
The tigers in the family tree are identified with their names like B2, Bokha, Bamera Male, Kallu, Chakradhara, Jhujhura, Chorbehra, Mahaman, Banbehi and Mirchaini.
"Best part of the website is that the moment you click on B2, Mahaman or any other tiger, you get to see the actual
big cat in the wild," the awarding-winning lensman said.
Referring to B2, the website says, "a legend on his own, this tiger is probably the most photographed wild tiger in the world. Ruling more than half the tourism area for almost eight years now, he has fathered lots of cubs who have
been instrumental in shaping the future of Bandhavgarh."
"B2 has fathered Jhujura, one of the most bold and successful mothers. She had raised two healthy litters and was
taking care of her third one which consisted of three cubs (six-month-old). She was run over by a Forest Department
vehicle on May 19, 2010," it claimed.
photographer, traces the family tree of tigers, describes their traits and has stories associated with them.
"Wildlife photography is a passion for me," Rai told PTI, when asked about the website and his hobby. "I used to visit Bandhavgarh at least three times a year and spend a fortnight each in the park to capture images and gather information about the tigers," he said.
The tigers in the family tree are identified with their names like B2, Bokha, Bamera Male, Kallu, Chakradhara, Jhujhura, Chorbehra, Mahaman, Banbehi and Mirchaini.
"Best part of the website is that the moment you click on B2, Mahaman or any other tiger, you get to see the actual
big cat in the wild," the awarding-winning lensman said.
Referring to B2, the website says, "a legend on his own, this tiger is probably the most photographed wild tiger in the world. Ruling more than half the tourism area for almost eight years now, he has fathered lots of cubs who have
been instrumental in shaping the future of Bandhavgarh."
"B2 has fathered Jhujura, one of the most bold and successful mothers. She had raised two healthy litters and was
taking care of her third one which consisted of three cubs (six-month-old). She was run over by a Forest Department
vehicle on May 19, 2010," it claimed.
Was the wrong tiger killed in Kumaon?
LUCKNOW: A day after Uttarakhand forest officials shot a tiger claiming it had killed six people in and around Kumaon's Corbett Reserve, doubts are being raised if the big cat felled on Thursday was a man-eater.
The Corbett authorities who had earlier claimed that the man-eater was a tigress, on Friday said the feline shot by Ramnagar forest officials was a "rare specimen with female characterstics". With deformity in both its hind claws, the pug marks of the tiger made them look like that of a tigress. "Whatever doubts have arisen, could be because of this assumption of ours," said Corbett park warden U C Tiwari on Friday adding, "it was a tiger with female characteristics."
The contention was outrightly rejected by wildlife experts. "The pug mark impressions are very distinct and are impressions of paws and not claws," said former director of Dudhwa G C Mishra. He added that this leaves little chance of a goof up. "We are yet to come across a tiger with "female characteristics," he said.
"If they have killed a wrong tiger and a man-eater is still at large, killings (of men) will take place in some 15-20 days," he warned.
Former director, Project Tiger, R L Singh said: "I agree that pug marks are misleading evidence, but I have never ever come across a tiger with any of its claws like that of a female. Though the cubs can have their claws look like that of a female, the Corbett tiger was an old one."
The Corbett authorities who had earlier claimed that the man-eater was a tigress, on Friday said the feline shot by Ramnagar forest officials was a "rare specimen with female characterstics". With deformity in both its hind claws, the pug marks of the tiger made them look like that of a tigress. "Whatever doubts have arisen, could be because of this assumption of ours," said Corbett park warden U C Tiwari on Friday adding, "it was a tiger with female characteristics."
The contention was outrightly rejected by wildlife experts. "The pug mark impressions are very distinct and are impressions of paws and not claws," said former director of Dudhwa G C Mishra. He added that this leaves little chance of a goof up. "We are yet to come across a tiger with "female characteristics," he said.
"If they have killed a wrong tiger and a man-eater is still at large, killings (of men) will take place in some 15-20 days," he warned.
Former director, Project Tiger, R L Singh said: "I agree that pug marks are misleading evidence, but I have never ever come across a tiger with any of its claws like that of a female. Though the cubs can have their claws look like that of a female, the Corbett tiger was an old one."
Friday, January 28, 2011
Forest officials gun down Corbett man-eater
LUCKNOW: Ramanagar forest official shot down a man-eating tiger near Corbett Tiger Reserve on Thursday afternoon. The animal had reportedly killed and eaten a 27-year-old youth in the morning. Forest officials launched an extensive combing to trace the man-eater after mutilated remains of the youth -- sixth victim since November -- was found and killed the animal around 2.30 pm.
In the beginning, there was confusion whether this is the same tiger which has been a terror in the area for the past three months. But, Uttarakhand forest officials went on record on Thursday evening claiming that the tiger shot by them was the one which was killing humans in Corbett area since November. "We can not say that man-eating is over in Corbett forever but in this area it has ended for sure," said S Chandola, chief wildlife warden, Uttarakhand.
The tiger received multiple wounds in neck and thighs. "But I have found the an old wound as well. Though it had distinctly healed," said Chandola. The big cat was shot at on January 11 by forest officers when it was eating human flesh. "I had predicted that the wound to be on its shoulder," said the official. The same wound, he said, was found on the carcass of the tiger.
When asked about the earlier reports, confirmed even by local forest officials, that it was a tigress which was killing and eating humans in the area since November, Chandola said, "these were only deductions. It's a wild environment and a feline can not be expected to lift its paws to show if it is a male or female."
Earlier in the day, the locals went berserk after the remains of Puran Chand were recovered from Sunderkhal area in Ramnagar forest division. On Wednesday, Puran, son of Bhopal Ram, resident of Maldhan village, Ramnagar, went missing. According to a forest officer, Puran had left his motorcycle on the outskirts and ventured inside the forest area at around 1.00pm. It is common for the local people to cross the forest on foot to reach human settlements on the other side.
When Puran could not be traced till 7.00pm, locals approached Ramnagar officers and requested them to comb the area. His motorcycle was found parked. The locals had gheraoed the area and that probably did not allow the tiger to move out. On Thursday morning, the youth's legs were recovered from Sunderkhal forest area. The tiger had eaten the rest of the body. This triggered a large-scale protest in the area.
The forest officers had to call in police to control the mob which had blocked Ranikhet-Ramnagar highway. "We also called in three elephants for the combing," said Ramnagar DFO Ravindra Juyal. The tiger was finally spotted in Sunderkhal area and was shot. Its carcass has been brought to Ramnagar. There was a huge crowd in Ramanagr to have a look at the dead tiger.
In the beginning, there was confusion whether this is the same tiger which has been a terror in the area for the past three months. But, Uttarakhand forest officials went on record on Thursday evening claiming that the tiger shot by them was the one which was killing humans in Corbett area since November. "We can not say that man-eating is over in Corbett forever but in this area it has ended for sure," said S Chandola, chief wildlife warden, Uttarakhand.
The tiger received multiple wounds in neck and thighs. "But I have found the an old wound as well. Though it had distinctly healed," said Chandola. The big cat was shot at on January 11 by forest officers when it was eating human flesh. "I had predicted that the wound to be on its shoulder," said the official. The same wound, he said, was found on the carcass of the tiger.
When asked about the earlier reports, confirmed even by local forest officials, that it was a tigress which was killing and eating humans in the area since November, Chandola said, "these were only deductions. It's a wild environment and a feline can not be expected to lift its paws to show if it is a male or female."
Earlier in the day, the locals went berserk after the remains of Puran Chand were recovered from Sunderkhal area in Ramnagar forest division. On Wednesday, Puran, son of Bhopal Ram, resident of Maldhan village, Ramnagar, went missing. According to a forest officer, Puran had left his motorcycle on the outskirts and ventured inside the forest area at around 1.00pm. It is common for the local people to cross the forest on foot to reach human settlements on the other side.
When Puran could not be traced till 7.00pm, locals approached Ramnagar officers and requested them to comb the area. His motorcycle was found parked. The locals had gheraoed the area and that probably did not allow the tiger to move out. On Thursday morning, the youth's legs were recovered from Sunderkhal forest area. The tiger had eaten the rest of the body. This triggered a large-scale protest in the area.
The forest officers had to call in police to control the mob which had blocked Ranikhet-Ramnagar highway. "We also called in three elephants for the combing," said Ramnagar DFO Ravindra Juyal. The tiger was finally spotted in Sunderkhal area and was shot. Its carcass has been brought to Ramnagar. There was a huge crowd in Ramanagr to have a look at the dead tiger.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Tiger kills another man in Corbett
LUCKNOW: A man was killed by a tiger in Ramnagar forest division. This is the fifth human killing in Corbett by a big cat. The forest officers have reached the spot, said a forest staff at Ramnagar forest division.
The man was killed on Wednesday evening, said the staff. The officers, on the other hand, said they could share more about the incident once the primary investigation gets over.
The big cat killing humans in Corbett is an adult tigress. The tigress is a man-eater. It has killed three humans since November in Sarpduli range under Garjia forest area of Corbett national park.
The officers, however, were not sure whether the fourth human, whose body was found about 5-6 kms away from Garjia forest was also killed by the tigress.
The tigress was shot at on January 11 by forest officers. The feline was injured in the operation. The officers said that blood stains at the spot made them believe that the tigress was injured.
The Sarpduli range of Garjia forest area has considerable human interference. The presence of Garjia temple near Corbett national park also makes it a busy place.
The locals have already risen in resentment against the park authorities after the killings.
On the other hand, tigress has completely lost the fear for humans. That is evident from the time period which kept on reducing between the killings. The second killing came more than a month after the first one. The third killing was made after a gap of just a week.
Read more: Tiger kills another man in Corbett - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Tiger-kills-another-man-in-Corbett/articleshow/7371811.cms#ixzz1CEupSgUa
The man was killed on Wednesday evening, said the staff. The officers, on the other hand, said they could share more about the incident once the primary investigation gets over.
The big cat killing humans in Corbett is an adult tigress. The tigress is a man-eater. It has killed three humans since November in Sarpduli range under Garjia forest area of Corbett national park.
The officers, however, were not sure whether the fourth human, whose body was found about 5-6 kms away from Garjia forest was also killed by the tigress.
The tigress was shot at on January 11 by forest officers. The feline was injured in the operation. The officers said that blood stains at the spot made them believe that the tigress was injured.
The Sarpduli range of Garjia forest area has considerable human interference. The presence of Garjia temple near Corbett national park also makes it a busy place.
The locals have already risen in resentment against the park authorities after the killings.
On the other hand, tigress has completely lost the fear for humans. That is evident from the time period which kept on reducing between the killings. The second killing came more than a month after the first one. The third killing was made after a gap of just a week.
Read more: Tiger kills another man in Corbett - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Tiger-kills-another-man-in-Corbett/articleshow/7371811.cms#ixzz1CEupSgUa
Tigers could triple in Asia
WASHINGTON: Asian tiger reserves could support more than 10,000 wild tigers, or three times the current number, if core breeding sites are protected, say the world's leading conservationists.
The study, co-authored by World Wildlife Fund (WWF) scientists, is the first assessment of the commitment made by all 13 countries at a summit in November that vowed to double tiger population in Asia by 2022.
The study finds that it will take a global effort to ensure that core breeding reserves are connected via habitat corridors, the journal Conservation Letters reports.
"We absolutely need to stop the bleeding, the poaching of tigers and their prey in core breeding areas, but we need to go much further and secure larger tiger landscapes before it is too late," said Eric Dinerstein, chief scientist at WWF and study co-author, according to a WWF statement.
Wild tiger numbers have declined from about 100,000 in the early 1900s to as few as 3,200 today due to poaching of tigers and their prey, habitat destruction and human/tiger conflict.
Most of the remaining tigers are scattered in small, isolated pockets across 13 Asian countries.
"By saving the tiger, we save all the plants and animals that live under the tiger's umbrella," said study co-author John Seidensticker of the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in the US.
The authors found that the 20 priority tiger conservation landscapes with the highest probability of long-term tiger survival could support more than 10,500 tigers, including about 3,400 breeding females.
The study, co-authored by World Wildlife Fund (WWF) scientists, is the first assessment of the commitment made by all 13 countries at a summit in November that vowed to double tiger population in Asia by 2022.
The study finds that it will take a global effort to ensure that core breeding reserves are connected via habitat corridors, the journal Conservation Letters reports.
"We absolutely need to stop the bleeding, the poaching of tigers and their prey in core breeding areas, but we need to go much further and secure larger tiger landscapes before it is too late," said Eric Dinerstein, chief scientist at WWF and study co-author, according to a WWF statement.
Wild tiger numbers have declined from about 100,000 in the early 1900s to as few as 3,200 today due to poaching of tigers and their prey, habitat destruction and human/tiger conflict.
Most of the remaining tigers are scattered in small, isolated pockets across 13 Asian countries.
"By saving the tiger, we save all the plants and animals that live under the tiger's umbrella," said study co-author John Seidensticker of the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in the US.
The authors found that the 20 priority tiger conservation landscapes with the highest probability of long-term tiger survival could support more than 10,500 tigers, including about 3,400 breeding females.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
In Bangalore Tiger kills leopard, experts say it’s a rare case
A leopard aged about two-and-half-years was found dead in Muthodi range of Bhadra tiger reserve on Monday morning. Forest officials said the death was the result of a tiger attack. This is a rare case because the two don’t usually engage in fights.
However, experts pointed out that it does happen rarely.Principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) BK Singh pointed out that the postmortem reports revealed that the cause of the leopard’s death was due to a tiger attack.
“Such things are not common as leopards are swift and the tigers cannot reach them,” he said. “However, in this case, the leopard did have a fight with the tiger,” he added.
The leopard had bled profusely and was injured in the liver. There were pounce marks on the carcass and injuries on its back and abdomen.
The report revealed that the leopard was aged around two-and-half years and was a female. Though the tiger had not killed the leopard, there were signs of fight in the vicinity of the carcass.
Noted tiger scientist and director of Centre for Wildlife Studies, K Ullas Karanth, said, “There have been cases in the past where a lion or a tiger have killed a leopard. This happens due to inter-specific competition. Usually a tiger finds it hard to catch a leopard as the latter climbs trees and escape. But once it gets hold of a leopard, the tiger kills it. This is because the leopards are 3-4 times smaller than tigers. Similar killings have been spotted in Khana and Ranthambore. Once a Y radio-collared tigress had held a leopard on a tree for an entire night, and the next day the leopard was found dead.”
About 20 tigers and 40 leopards are estimated to habituate the Bhadra tiger reserve.
However, experts pointed out that it does happen rarely.Principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) BK Singh pointed out that the postmortem reports revealed that the cause of the leopard’s death was due to a tiger attack.
“Such things are not common as leopards are swift and the tigers cannot reach them,” he said. “However, in this case, the leopard did have a fight with the tiger,” he added.
The leopard had bled profusely and was injured in the liver. There were pounce marks on the carcass and injuries on its back and abdomen.
The report revealed that the leopard was aged around two-and-half years and was a female. Though the tiger had not killed the leopard, there were signs of fight in the vicinity of the carcass.
Noted tiger scientist and director of Centre for Wildlife Studies, K Ullas Karanth, said, “There have been cases in the past where a lion or a tiger have killed a leopard. This happens due to inter-specific competition. Usually a tiger finds it hard to catch a leopard as the latter climbs trees and escape. But once it gets hold of a leopard, the tiger kills it. This is because the leopards are 3-4 times smaller than tigers. Similar killings have been spotted in Khana and Ranthambore. Once a Y radio-collared tigress had held a leopard on a tree for an entire night, and the next day the leopard was found dead.”
About 20 tigers and 40 leopards are estimated to habituate the Bhadra tiger reserve.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Tiger pugmarks found near Anjunem dam
ANJUNEM: The pugmarks of a tigress and a cub were recently found again in the vicinity of the Anjunem Irrigation Project (AIP) reservoir indicating the presence of the big cat in the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary.
Assistant engineer of water resources department (WRD), associated with the AIP dam, M P Hudelgaddi said, "Our workers noticed the pugmarks of the big cats in the area on the left bank of the reservoir." Parshuram Kambli, a worker involved in water proofing work at the Anjunem dam, noticed the pugmarks.
In the last week of December 2010, when Pandurang Gawas and his father from Ghoteli no 2 of Sattari were returning from Chorla, they saw a tiger majestically crossing the road in the jungle of Ponsuli in the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary.
Security guards at the dam said, "For the last fortnight, specially during the nights, we are living under grave fear as the tiger comes repeatedly in the vicinity of the reservoir. We heard the roaring of the tiger during these days."
In the last week, Harishchandra Narayan Gawas from Halitwada-Keri who was on a morning walk, had to return halfway from his destination since he heard the tiger roar.
Hudelgaddi informed the deputy conservator of forests, North Goa division, G T Kumar about the pugmarks of the big cat. Keri range forest officer Deepak Betkikar said, "Our officials will document these pugmarks and necessary action in the matter will be taken."
Parshuram Kambli said, "Early in the morning and late in evening, the jungle here witnesses the sounds of herbivorous animals like bison, barking deer and other deer. During this time carnivorous animals like tigers come out in search of prey. Beside the pugmarks of a tigress and a cub, the area has the pugmarks of deer also."
In 2009, assistant conservator of forests, Ponda, Subhash Henrique, had noticed the pugmarks of a tigress and a cub in the vicinity of AIP reservoir. In 2010, the tiger census conducted by the forest department had recorded the pugmarks of the tiger in the submerged Kelavade village.
Assistant engineer of water resources department (WRD), associated with the AIP dam, M P Hudelgaddi said, "Our workers noticed the pugmarks of the big cats in the area on the left bank of the reservoir." Parshuram Kambli, a worker involved in water proofing work at the Anjunem dam, noticed the pugmarks.
In the last week of December 2010, when Pandurang Gawas and his father from Ghoteli no 2 of Sattari were returning from Chorla, they saw a tiger majestically crossing the road in the jungle of Ponsuli in the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary.
Security guards at the dam said, "For the last fortnight, specially during the nights, we are living under grave fear as the tiger comes repeatedly in the vicinity of the reservoir. We heard the roaring of the tiger during these days."
In the last week, Harishchandra Narayan Gawas from Halitwada-Keri who was on a morning walk, had to return halfway from his destination since he heard the tiger roar.
Hudelgaddi informed the deputy conservator of forests, North Goa division, G T Kumar about the pugmarks of the big cat. Keri range forest officer Deepak Betkikar said, "Our officials will document these pugmarks and necessary action in the matter will be taken."
Parshuram Kambli said, "Early in the morning and late in evening, the jungle here witnesses the sounds of herbivorous animals like bison, barking deer and other deer. During this time carnivorous animals like tigers come out in search of prey. Beside the pugmarks of a tigress and a cub, the area has the pugmarks of deer also."
In 2009, assistant conservator of forests, Ponda, Subhash Henrique, had noticed the pugmarks of a tigress and a cub in the vicinity of AIP reservoir. In 2010, the tiger census conducted by the forest department had recorded the pugmarks of the tiger in the submerged Kelavade village.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Cameras in Ranthambore National Park Spot Two New Tiger Cubs
A small but significant boost to tiger numbers has been received with the news of two new born cubs being spotted in Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan. The two cubs believed to be born to a tigress last year were spotted in Sawai Madhopur district of the National Park.
"Cameras installed in the Indala range shot pictures of the cubs but they are not very clear. We believe they are newborn and we are verifying it further," Principal Chief Wild Life Warden, HM Bhatia said.
Ranthambore National Park has seen a mixture of good and bad tiger news since the past few months. While news of new cubs has been reported often, there has also been news of death of adult tigers, mainly due to internal fights among the big cats.
Ranthambore National Park located close to the capital Jaipur is a popular National Park visited by wildlife enthusiast throughout the year. Tourists in most cases have been fortunate to spot tigers on a safari in the National Park. A new rule enforced at the National Park now makes it compulsory for all tourists to carry their identification card, before being allowed to enter the National Park. Also in a bid to protect the eco sensitive environment of the National Park, the park’s petrol run jeeps which take tourist on the safaris inside the park will be replaced with diesel run vehicles.
The state government has also taken steps to protect the tigers in the National Park. Often tigers stray from the park to the villages situated close on the periphery of the park, which results in killings of cattle by the big cats. The villagers then poison the big cats to revenge their loss. In order to prevent such incidents, the state government has now taken a decision to double the compensation of the villagers for the loss of their cattle, thus sparing the wild and endangered species of the Royal Bengal Tigers a circumstance of an unfortunate death.
"Cameras installed in the Indala range shot pictures of the cubs but they are not very clear. We believe they are newborn and we are verifying it further," Principal Chief Wild Life Warden, HM Bhatia said.
Ranthambore National Park has seen a mixture of good and bad tiger news since the past few months. While news of new cubs has been reported often, there has also been news of death of adult tigers, mainly due to internal fights among the big cats.
Ranthambore National Park located close to the capital Jaipur is a popular National Park visited by wildlife enthusiast throughout the year. Tourists in most cases have been fortunate to spot tigers on a safari in the National Park. A new rule enforced at the National Park now makes it compulsory for all tourists to carry their identification card, before being allowed to enter the National Park. Also in a bid to protect the eco sensitive environment of the National Park, the park’s petrol run jeeps which take tourist on the safaris inside the park will be replaced with diesel run vehicles.
The state government has also taken steps to protect the tigers in the National Park. Often tigers stray from the park to the villages situated close on the periphery of the park, which results in killings of cattle by the big cats. The villagers then poison the big cats to revenge their loss. In order to prevent such incidents, the state government has now taken a decision to double the compensation of the villagers for the loss of their cattle, thus sparing the wild and endangered species of the Royal Bengal Tigers a circumstance of an unfortunate death.
24X7 protection for tigers in Karnataka soon
Jan. 23: Tigers roaming in the dense forests of Karnataka will get watchdogs for their protection round-the-clock soon. The much awaited 112-member Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF), is likely to take guard in another five months, and become the first full-fledged STPF to be rolled out in India.
The State Forest Department has speeded up the training, after receiving a pat on the back from the Central government, which accorded tiger reserve status to Biligiriranga Wildlife Sanctuary (BRT). With this addition, flora-fauna rich Karnataka, has the highest number of tiger reserves in South India, and is next only to Madhya Pradesh in the country.
The forest department has decided to extend the purview of STPF to BRT. Initially, the plan was to test the STPF in Bandipur and Nagarhole tiger reserves, which are one of the sensitive and pristine forest covers in India today, and later extend it to other tiger reserves like Bhadra and Dandeli Anshi.
Ravishankar, DCF (Wildlife), BRT, told the Deccan Chronicle that STPF was currently undergoing training at six forest guard training schools, and would later get three-month special training from the state police department, and central paramilitary forces, based on a syllabus for skill development, to combat poaching, and to enable intelligence-based enforcement in a forest terrain.
He added, “The office of STPF would come up in Gundlupet taluk in Chamarajanagar, which is the strategic point to access all three reserves BRT, Bandipur, and Nagarhole”.
Top official sources said that National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) would set up its regional office in Bengaluru in about a month, further boosting the conservation efforts of the department.
On the other hand, the 112-member STPF has no one from the region, though the plan was to have a mix of forest guards and local tribes. Sources said that tribals were not interested in the job despite offer of healthy salaries, and the majority were upset with the department over rehabilitation. People from Belgaum, Gulbarga, and Bijapur, who have no familiarity with forest terrain, are in the STPF.
The State Forest Department has speeded up the training, after receiving a pat on the back from the Central government, which accorded tiger reserve status to Biligiriranga Wildlife Sanctuary (BRT). With this addition, flora-fauna rich Karnataka, has the highest number of tiger reserves in South India, and is next only to Madhya Pradesh in the country.
The forest department has decided to extend the purview of STPF to BRT. Initially, the plan was to test the STPF in Bandipur and Nagarhole tiger reserves, which are one of the sensitive and pristine forest covers in India today, and later extend it to other tiger reserves like Bhadra and Dandeli Anshi.
Ravishankar, DCF (Wildlife), BRT, told the Deccan Chronicle that STPF was currently undergoing training at six forest guard training schools, and would later get three-month special training from the state police department, and central paramilitary forces, based on a syllabus for skill development, to combat poaching, and to enable intelligence-based enforcement in a forest terrain.
He added, “The office of STPF would come up in Gundlupet taluk in Chamarajanagar, which is the strategic point to access all three reserves BRT, Bandipur, and Nagarhole”.
Top official sources said that National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) would set up its regional office in Bengaluru in about a month, further boosting the conservation efforts of the department.
On the other hand, the 112-member STPF has no one from the region, though the plan was to have a mix of forest guards and local tribes. Sources said that tribals were not interested in the job despite offer of healthy salaries, and the majority were upset with the department over rehabilitation. People from Belgaum, Gulbarga, and Bijapur, who have no familiarity with forest terrain, are in the STPF.
Park to curb tourist flow - Move in aid of animals to hit kaziranga business
Kaziranga, Jan. 23: Business and wildlife are on a collision course at Kaziranga National Park with park authorities wanting to impose regulations on tourist flow.
The restrictions are likely to hit the tourism industry, including business ventures such as luxury resorts and jeep safaris, hard.
The owners of several luxury resorts near the park have opposed the move, fearing that the restrictions might lead to fewer tourists.
“We make a living off Kaziranga. If restrictions are imposed on tourists, we will be doomed,” an owner of a resort near the park told this correspondent.
Businesses associated with the park make huge profits. The Jeep Safari Association of the park earned a revenue of Rs 10 lakh in November last year. The park remains open for tourists from November to April every year.
Known worldwide as the abode of one-horned rhinos, Kaziranga was declared a tiger reserve in 2006. Since then, there has been pressure from the Centre to impose restrictions on the flow of tourists to the national park.
The Royal Bengal tiger is given top priority in the conservation list at Kaziranga since funds from the Centre come only for protection of the tiger. Earlier, central funds were also released for protection of the rhinos. However, the aid stopped once the rhino population reached a safe zone with the last count pegging it at 2,200.
With Project Tiger came a set of new guidelines that implied restrictions on the flow of tourists. The park authorities have so far failed to the follow the guidelines as it affects businesses.
However, Project Tiger being the only source of funds for the park, the authorities are now forced to implement these guidelines.
Park director Surajeet Dutta said 70 tigers were found in a census carried out by camera-trapping method in half the portion of the national park recently. “We are expecting about 120 tigers in Kaziranga,” he said.
In a separate census conducted by an NGO a couple of years ago, Kaziranga was found to have the highest density of tigers in the world. Dutta said the 430 square km area of the national park would be declared a core area very soon and the flow of tourists would be restricted.
Construction of new hotels and restaurants near the park area has also been banned.
“There has been a tremendous pressure on the animals with a large number of tourists visiting the park regularly. We need to restrict the tourist flow as it has an impact on the animals. Moreover, mushrooming of hotels and resorts has also harmed the animals since most of these are built on areas where animals visit frequently,” Dutta told this correspondent.
“The rhinos at Mihimukh in the Kohora range are almost used to humans. This is not a good sign at all,” he said.
According to norms, not more than 50 vehicles are allowed inside the park on a particular day.
Dutta said the authorities had made other plans for tourists. Jeep and elephant safaris would be introduced in the newly-added areas of the national park to reduce pressure on the core area.
The park has been extended to about 860 square km with new areas being added in recent times. “This year itself, we have opened four entry points for tourists. We are also thinking of starting boat safaris in some areas very soon,” he said.
The restrictions are likely to hit the tourism industry, including business ventures such as luxury resorts and jeep safaris, hard.
The owners of several luxury resorts near the park have opposed the move, fearing that the restrictions might lead to fewer tourists.
“We make a living off Kaziranga. If restrictions are imposed on tourists, we will be doomed,” an owner of a resort near the park told this correspondent.
Businesses associated with the park make huge profits. The Jeep Safari Association of the park earned a revenue of Rs 10 lakh in November last year. The park remains open for tourists from November to April every year.
Known worldwide as the abode of one-horned rhinos, Kaziranga was declared a tiger reserve in 2006. Since then, there has been pressure from the Centre to impose restrictions on the flow of tourists to the national park.
The Royal Bengal tiger is given top priority in the conservation list at Kaziranga since funds from the Centre come only for protection of the tiger. Earlier, central funds were also released for protection of the rhinos. However, the aid stopped once the rhino population reached a safe zone with the last count pegging it at 2,200.
With Project Tiger came a set of new guidelines that implied restrictions on the flow of tourists. The park authorities have so far failed to the follow the guidelines as it affects businesses.
However, Project Tiger being the only source of funds for the park, the authorities are now forced to implement these guidelines.
Park director Surajeet Dutta said 70 tigers were found in a census carried out by camera-trapping method in half the portion of the national park recently. “We are expecting about 120 tigers in Kaziranga,” he said.
In a separate census conducted by an NGO a couple of years ago, Kaziranga was found to have the highest density of tigers in the world. Dutta said the 430 square km area of the national park would be declared a core area very soon and the flow of tourists would be restricted.
Construction of new hotels and restaurants near the park area has also been banned.
“There has been a tremendous pressure on the animals with a large number of tourists visiting the park regularly. We need to restrict the tourist flow as it has an impact on the animals. Moreover, mushrooming of hotels and resorts has also harmed the animals since most of these are built on areas where animals visit frequently,” Dutta told this correspondent.
“The rhinos at Mihimukh in the Kohora range are almost used to humans. This is not a good sign at all,” he said.
According to norms, not more than 50 vehicles are allowed inside the park on a particular day.
Dutta said the authorities had made other plans for tourists. Jeep and elephant safaris would be introduced in the newly-added areas of the national park to reduce pressure on the core area.
The park has been extended to about 860 square km with new areas being added in recent times. “This year itself, we have opened four entry points for tourists. We are also thinking of starting boat safaris in some areas very soon,” he said.
Assam No 2 in tiger mortality
: The tiger doesn't seem to be burning bright anymore in India. The country, once home to 40,000 tigers, is left with just 1,200-1,500 big cats, according to the last census (2008) by the National Tiger Conservation Authority. If that isn't bad enough, Wildlife Protection Society of India's (WPSI) wildlife crime database has even more depressing news for officials. According to the 2010 WPSI study, 58 tigers died under various circumstances and Assam ranks second in tiger mortality index, just behind Madhya Pradesh. Of the 58 deaths, 30 (51%) were poaching and seizure-related.
Assam, which was in the news days ago after the Kaziranga reserve reported the highest tiger density in the world, lost nine tigers last year. "Skeletons of two tigers were seized, one was a confirmed poaching case, four tigers were found dead, one man-eater was shot dead and another tiger died from reported infighting. Of the nine tigers, five were from Kaziranga. The origin of the two tiger skeletons is not known," said WPSI executive director Belinda Wright.
According to Biswajit Roy Chowdhury of Nature Environment and Wildlife Society, Assam is the gateway for smuggling activities towards southeast Asia. "Smugglers reach China via Arunachal and Myanmar from Assam. Tibet is also accessible on this route. That's why poaching is rampant in Assam," he said.
Md Firoz Ahmed, wildlife biologist with a Guwahati-based conservation organisation Aaranyak, told TOI: "The tiger density in Kaziranga is too high given its 500 sqkm core area. In terms of prey base, it can support a density of 30 tigers per 100 sqkm, but area-wise it may not be able to sustain the population." According to him, relocation will not be a solution. "Orang is already populated with big cats. Retaliation deaths are being reported from Nameri and Manas."
The WPSI database also shows that of the 58 deaths in 2010, while 15 tigers (25.86%) were found dead, 10 died from reported infighting (17.24%). One tiger was shot by the forest department, while another was killed in a road accident.
Assam, which was in the news days ago after the Kaziranga reserve reported the highest tiger density in the world, lost nine tigers last year. "Skeletons of two tigers were seized, one was a confirmed poaching case, four tigers were found dead, one man-eater was shot dead and another tiger died from reported infighting. Of the nine tigers, five were from Kaziranga. The origin of the two tiger skeletons is not known," said WPSI executive director Belinda Wright.
According to Biswajit Roy Chowdhury of Nature Environment and Wildlife Society, Assam is the gateway for smuggling activities towards southeast Asia. "Smugglers reach China via Arunachal and Myanmar from Assam. Tibet is also accessible on this route. That's why poaching is rampant in Assam," he said.
Md Firoz Ahmed, wildlife biologist with a Guwahati-based conservation organisation Aaranyak, told TOI: "The tiger density in Kaziranga is too high given its 500 sqkm core area. In terms of prey base, it can support a density of 30 tigers per 100 sqkm, but area-wise it may not be able to sustain the population." According to him, relocation will not be a solution. "Orang is already populated with big cats. Retaliation deaths are being reported from Nameri and Manas."
The WPSI database also shows that of the 58 deaths in 2010, while 15 tigers (25.86%) were found dead, 10 died from reported infighting (17.24%). One tiger was shot by the forest department, while another was killed in a road accident.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Tiger census in Pilibhit and Dudhwa over
LUCKNOW: The census exercise for tigers is over in Pilibhit and Dudhwa National Park. But it has to be taken up in Kishenpur sanctuary. The results for tiger census might take time to come. The forest department has already taken to an intensive technology used to count the number of tigers.
In Uttar Pradesh, out of the total forested habitat 3,175 sq km constitutes potential tiger habitat. In census 2008, tigers were found to occupy 2,766 sq km of forest with an estimated population of 109 (91-127) in UP. Will the scale tip to right or left of this count, is still to come.
Within UP, tigers are distributed in one major population and three smaller populations. Sporadic occupancy is reported in Sonbhadra forests. The major population is constituted by DTR comprising Dudhwa National Park, Kishenpur Wildlife Sanctuary, Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary and forests of Pilibhit, north and south Kheri Forest Divisions.
The 2008 census also found smaller population in the west in Bijnor forests covering an area of about 221 sq km and maintained by dispersing tigers from Corbett Tiger Reserve. The two smaller eastern populations were located in Suhelwa wildlife sanctuary with a tiger occupancy of 490 sq km and Sohagibarwa wildlife sanctuary having a tiger occupancy of 139 sq km in two separate blocks. The current census, however, will throw light on changes in distribution of tigers, from the last time, in the state. "The census is taking place only for source population of tigers," said sources in the department. The cameras were installed within forest area. The transient population of tigers in sugarcane fields might have therefore missed the count this time again.
The transient tigers are those which mostly stray and try to establish their own territory.
In Uttar Pradesh, out of the total forested habitat 3,175 sq km constitutes potential tiger habitat. In census 2008, tigers were found to occupy 2,766 sq km of forest with an estimated population of 109 (91-127) in UP. Will the scale tip to right or left of this count, is still to come.
Within UP, tigers are distributed in one major population and three smaller populations. Sporadic occupancy is reported in Sonbhadra forests. The major population is constituted by DTR comprising Dudhwa National Park, Kishenpur Wildlife Sanctuary, Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary and forests of Pilibhit, north and south Kheri Forest Divisions.
The 2008 census also found smaller population in the west in Bijnor forests covering an area of about 221 sq km and maintained by dispersing tigers from Corbett Tiger Reserve. The two smaller eastern populations were located in Suhelwa wildlife sanctuary with a tiger occupancy of 490 sq km and Sohagibarwa wildlife sanctuary having a tiger occupancy of 139 sq km in two separate blocks. The current census, however, will throw light on changes in distribution of tigers, from the last time, in the state. "The census is taking place only for source population of tigers," said sources in the department. The cameras were installed within forest area. The transient population of tigers in sugarcane fields might have therefore missed the count this time again.
The transient tigers are those which mostly stray and try to establish their own territory.
Tribal skins electrocuted tiger
HYDERABAD: At a time when the Centre is mobilizing all possible resources to save the big cat, a bizarre incident of electrocution of a tiger has come to light in Kagaznagar in Adilabad district.
According to sources, the state forest department officials in Kagaznagar arrested Madavi Anand Rao, a Kolan tribal, who reportedly admitted to killing the tiger unintentionally and later skinning and passing on its hide to one of his relatives in Maharashtra to sell it. Tiger skin fetches Rs one to Rs 3 lakh in the domestic market and four times more in the international market.
Anand Rao, 32, reportedly told investigating forest officials that he had put up an electric fence around his field in Vempalli village which is located in the reserve forest on January 2 to save his crop from wild boar menace. When he went to the field the next morning, he found a tiger electrocuted. Instead of informing the forest officials or the police, he decided to make some money. He peeled off the skin which was burnt in parts, stuffed it in a gunny bag and went to the nearby Sonapur village in Chandrapur district of Maharashtra. He contacted his brother-in-law Seedam Bheem Rao and asked him to find a customer for the tiger skin. Even as Bheem Rao was trying to sell the skin, he, along with five others were arrested by the Maharashtra police.
On interrogation they gave away the name of the relative. The Maharashtra police alerted senior forest officials in Adilabad district. Anand Rao was arrested on January 7. Based on his confession three forest officials, M A Mabood, DFO, G Ravinder, sub-DFO and range officer Zahid Ali went to the field where he had buried the carcass. It was exhumed and sent for postmortem.
The tiger was one of the four big cats found in Kagaznagar. It was an eight-year-old male. Now only the female along with her two cubs are said to be left in the forest which once boasted of scores of big cats.
A senior official expressed surprised at the electrocution of the tiger and blamed it on bad monitoring of the forest. "There are 30 base camps in the district with strike force and several trackers. It is unfortunate that such an event takes place in spite of having so many people on keeping a watch on the forest,'' he said.
DFO Mabood said, "On the face of it, the crime does not appear to be a handiwork of an organized gang. However, the accused have been sent for judicial custody and investigations are on. We are not ruling out any angle at this level.''
According to sources, the state forest department officials in Kagaznagar arrested Madavi Anand Rao, a Kolan tribal, who reportedly admitted to killing the tiger unintentionally and later skinning and passing on its hide to one of his relatives in Maharashtra to sell it. Tiger skin fetches Rs one to Rs 3 lakh in the domestic market and four times more in the international market.
Anand Rao, 32, reportedly told investigating forest officials that he had put up an electric fence around his field in Vempalli village which is located in the reserve forest on January 2 to save his crop from wild boar menace. When he went to the field the next morning, he found a tiger electrocuted. Instead of informing the forest officials or the police, he decided to make some money. He peeled off the skin which was burnt in parts, stuffed it in a gunny bag and went to the nearby Sonapur village in Chandrapur district of Maharashtra. He contacted his brother-in-law Seedam Bheem Rao and asked him to find a customer for the tiger skin. Even as Bheem Rao was trying to sell the skin, he, along with five others were arrested by the Maharashtra police.
On interrogation they gave away the name of the relative. The Maharashtra police alerted senior forest officials in Adilabad district. Anand Rao was arrested on January 7. Based on his confession three forest officials, M A Mabood, DFO, G Ravinder, sub-DFO and range officer Zahid Ali went to the field where he had buried the carcass. It was exhumed and sent for postmortem.
The tiger was one of the four big cats found in Kagaznagar. It was an eight-year-old male. Now only the female along with her two cubs are said to be left in the forest which once boasted of scores of big cats.
A senior official expressed surprised at the electrocution of the tiger and blamed it on bad monitoring of the forest. "There are 30 base camps in the district with strike force and several trackers. It is unfortunate that such an event takes place in spite of having so many people on keeping a watch on the forest,'' he said.
DFO Mabood said, "On the face of it, the crime does not appear to be a handiwork of an organized gang. However, the accused have been sent for judicial custody and investigations are on. We are not ruling out any angle at this level.''
Friday, January 21, 2011
Tiger spotted in Sahyadri reserve
For decades, the presence of tigers in the Sahyadri wildlife sanctuary had remained, at best, only speculation. No more, though. A report from the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in Hyderabad has confirmed the presence of a tiger, proof finally that tigers exist in Sahyadri sanctuary
To save the tiger, save jungle
Without a holistic approach nothing can protect India's wildlife from human greed and bestiality. If we don’t act now, the tiger, leopard, elephant, deer and even marine and avian species will face extinction
Last Tuesday it was Gurgaon. On Wednesday, it happened on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar. On Thursday, it was near Guwahati. By the time January is out, the toll can only be anticipated to multiply. On an average three to four leopards are mercilessly beaten to death every week by bloodthirsty villagers. Some die in accidents such as the cub that got run over by a train in Assam. But mostly the big cats are mauled to death by gruesome methods. Having encircled and trapped the terrified creature that may have strayed into human habitation in search of food, villagers pelt them with stones; beat them with iron rods and in a few instances are known to have even gouged their eyes out in an orgy of bestiality.
Eyewitnesses say that a carnival atmosphere prevails while the hapless cat cries out in pain. People congregate with drums as if to celebrate victory in battle. Cunningly, the carcass is dragged outside village precincts, sprayed with kerosene and set alight to remove traces of the crime. By the time forest officials or the police arrive, if at all they do, the deed is done. If confronted, belligerent villagers dare the officers to act. Outnumbered, enforcers of the law beat a hasty retreat and file a report blaming unknown persons for the murder. Few are prosecuted; leave alone punished.
In recent years the supposed man-animal conflict has become a one-sided affair with a variety of wild creatures being regularly bludgeoned to death. A recent report said that enraged by the alleged depredations of a herd of elephants, villagers managed to catch hold of a two-year-old calf that got left behind and beat it to death the same way as they often do with leopards. Fearful of the tiger, people don’t venture to kill them in frontal combat, but have increasingly started to use poison with which they lace a bait and wait for the unwary beast to consume it to die a slow, painful death. This has been reported particularly from Rajasthan and eastern Uttar Pradesh where incidents of tigers straying from sanctuaries have risen markedly. There are two worrisome facets to these developments. First, the Government’s much-hyped conservation efforts are being defeated at the grassroots by villagers unconvinced of the need to preserve the country’s dwindling wildlife. Second, steady encroachment of animal habitats is resulting in migration out of sanctuaries, enhancing the chances of more frequent confrontations between villagers and animals in desperate search of food. Even more than encroachment, the disappearance of animal corridors in Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan, the construction or expansion of highways running through Reserved Forests and the grant of mining leases in protected forest areas has led to the sharpening of the problem.
The tiger is to India’s conservation efforts what cricket is to sport. While Government and private efforts at tiger conservation have heightened consciousness about the majestic creature, the bulk of attention and finances are routed to projects related to it. No doubt, the effort is most laudable and let us hope that the next tiger census (currently underway), conducted by the more scientific camera trap method, will show a rise in numbers beyond the paltry 1,141 that the last headcount revealed. Organisations like NDTV, sponsors like Aircel and others must be complimented for the recent daylong Telethon in which I was honoured to be a participant. So, it is certainly not my case that the tiger is receiving undue attention or funds.
However, I believe that the tiger cannot be protected without a holistic policy towards environment and wildlife. For example, if streams in the jungle dry up because of rampant extraction of groundwater and bottling plants being set up at source, the tigers’ prey too cannot survive. If deer are forced to migrate out of forests or die of thirst, tigers and other predators like leopards would be compelled to move towards human habitations in search of food and water. If forest cover declines or degenerates, wildlife would find less and less greens to forage and over time their reproductive capacity too would be adversely affected. An ecological balance involving forest cover, water sources, prey base for big cats is essential for wildlife to prosper. It is not possible to ensure a significant rise in tiger numbers merely by pumping in funds or relocating some to reserves from which they were eliminated through poaching or inhospitable environs.
Leopards and elephants are at a huge risk in India because of human incursions close to their traditional habitats. The leopard, being a smaller cat compared to the tiger is endangered by the steady decline in its prey base in the jungles. Besides, by nature they live on the outskirts of forests rather than the deep interiors. On the periphery of Mumbai, for instance, leopard sightings were fairly common till recently, just as the Aravali highlands close to Delhi-Gurgaon was the leopards’ terrain not before long. As townships and industrial complexes are built in these areas with mounting speed, the leopard is seriously threatened and compelled to abandon protective jungle cover to hunt for food. The accident last year in which two young leopards were run over by a speeding vehicle on the Delhi-Jaipur Highway (NH 8) is a telling example of the leopards’ predicament. Unfortunately, there is no quick-fix solution to this, except a long-term policy regarding the peripheries of reserved forests or shrub lands in the Aravalis that are the leopards’ natural habitat. How much encroachment can be allowed to builders of housing colonies, shopping malls and entertainment parks in the neighbourhood of our burgeoning metros? As far as I know, the frenetic expansion of human settlement around Gurgaon, which began in the 1990s, never had any form of environmental clearance whatsoever. Instead of maximising habitation within existing colonies, builders are in the business of promoting golf courses, artificial lakes, sprawling villas and other attractive features to draw high-end buyers to housing and farmhouse complexes being built on lands that were once traversed by a variety of wildlife.
The abuse of areas peripheral to National Parks is so rampant that it hardly bears recalling. With over 700 resorts in operation just outside the perimeter of Corbett National Park, the discomfort caused to and consequent dislocation of wildlife has assumed serious dimensions. While I feel Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh’s heart is in the right place, he has failed miserably to curb human intrusion into tiger reserves. Has anybody thought of the disturbance caused to wildlife by the relentless foray of tourists on jeep safaris in Ranthambhore? As it is, the park is overcrowded, but unchecked movement of people inside the sanctuary must be among the reasons that forced tigress T 13 with her two hungry eight-month-old cubs to venture out of the park, risking death by poisoning or starvation.
Last Tuesday it was Gurgaon. On Wednesday, it happened on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar. On Thursday, it was near Guwahati. By the time January is out, the toll can only be anticipated to multiply. On an average three to four leopards are mercilessly beaten to death every week by bloodthirsty villagers. Some die in accidents such as the cub that got run over by a train in Assam. But mostly the big cats are mauled to death by gruesome methods. Having encircled and trapped the terrified creature that may have strayed into human habitation in search of food, villagers pelt them with stones; beat them with iron rods and in a few instances are known to have even gouged their eyes out in an orgy of bestiality.
Eyewitnesses say that a carnival atmosphere prevails while the hapless cat cries out in pain. People congregate with drums as if to celebrate victory in battle. Cunningly, the carcass is dragged outside village precincts, sprayed with kerosene and set alight to remove traces of the crime. By the time forest officials or the police arrive, if at all they do, the deed is done. If confronted, belligerent villagers dare the officers to act. Outnumbered, enforcers of the law beat a hasty retreat and file a report blaming unknown persons for the murder. Few are prosecuted; leave alone punished.
In recent years the supposed man-animal conflict has become a one-sided affair with a variety of wild creatures being regularly bludgeoned to death. A recent report said that enraged by the alleged depredations of a herd of elephants, villagers managed to catch hold of a two-year-old calf that got left behind and beat it to death the same way as they often do with leopards. Fearful of the tiger, people don’t venture to kill them in frontal combat, but have increasingly started to use poison with which they lace a bait and wait for the unwary beast to consume it to die a slow, painful death. This has been reported particularly from Rajasthan and eastern Uttar Pradesh where incidents of tigers straying from sanctuaries have risen markedly. There are two worrisome facets to these developments. First, the Government’s much-hyped conservation efforts are being defeated at the grassroots by villagers unconvinced of the need to preserve the country’s dwindling wildlife. Second, steady encroachment of animal habitats is resulting in migration out of sanctuaries, enhancing the chances of more frequent confrontations between villagers and animals in desperate search of food. Even more than encroachment, the disappearance of animal corridors in Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan, the construction or expansion of highways running through Reserved Forests and the grant of mining leases in protected forest areas has led to the sharpening of the problem.
The tiger is to India’s conservation efforts what cricket is to sport. While Government and private efforts at tiger conservation have heightened consciousness about the majestic creature, the bulk of attention and finances are routed to projects related to it. No doubt, the effort is most laudable and let us hope that the next tiger census (currently underway), conducted by the more scientific camera trap method, will show a rise in numbers beyond the paltry 1,141 that the last headcount revealed. Organisations like NDTV, sponsors like Aircel and others must be complimented for the recent daylong Telethon in which I was honoured to be a participant. So, it is certainly not my case that the tiger is receiving undue attention or funds.
However, I believe that the tiger cannot be protected without a holistic policy towards environment and wildlife. For example, if streams in the jungle dry up because of rampant extraction of groundwater and bottling plants being set up at source, the tigers’ prey too cannot survive. If deer are forced to migrate out of forests or die of thirst, tigers and other predators like leopards would be compelled to move towards human habitations in search of food and water. If forest cover declines or degenerates, wildlife would find less and less greens to forage and over time their reproductive capacity too would be adversely affected. An ecological balance involving forest cover, water sources, prey base for big cats is essential for wildlife to prosper. It is not possible to ensure a significant rise in tiger numbers merely by pumping in funds or relocating some to reserves from which they were eliminated through poaching or inhospitable environs.
Leopards and elephants are at a huge risk in India because of human incursions close to their traditional habitats. The leopard, being a smaller cat compared to the tiger is endangered by the steady decline in its prey base in the jungles. Besides, by nature they live on the outskirts of forests rather than the deep interiors. On the periphery of Mumbai, for instance, leopard sightings were fairly common till recently, just as the Aravali highlands close to Delhi-Gurgaon was the leopards’ terrain not before long. As townships and industrial complexes are built in these areas with mounting speed, the leopard is seriously threatened and compelled to abandon protective jungle cover to hunt for food. The accident last year in which two young leopards were run over by a speeding vehicle on the Delhi-Jaipur Highway (NH 8) is a telling example of the leopards’ predicament. Unfortunately, there is no quick-fix solution to this, except a long-term policy regarding the peripheries of reserved forests or shrub lands in the Aravalis that are the leopards’ natural habitat. How much encroachment can be allowed to builders of housing colonies, shopping malls and entertainment parks in the neighbourhood of our burgeoning metros? As far as I know, the frenetic expansion of human settlement around Gurgaon, which began in the 1990s, never had any form of environmental clearance whatsoever. Instead of maximising habitation within existing colonies, builders are in the business of promoting golf courses, artificial lakes, sprawling villas and other attractive features to draw high-end buyers to housing and farmhouse complexes being built on lands that were once traversed by a variety of wildlife.
The abuse of areas peripheral to National Parks is so rampant that it hardly bears recalling. With over 700 resorts in operation just outside the perimeter of Corbett National Park, the discomfort caused to and consequent dislocation of wildlife has assumed serious dimensions. While I feel Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh’s heart is in the right place, he has failed miserably to curb human intrusion into tiger reserves. Has anybody thought of the disturbance caused to wildlife by the relentless foray of tourists on jeep safaris in Ranthambhore? As it is, the park is overcrowded, but unchecked movement of people inside the sanctuary must be among the reasons that forced tigress T 13 with her two hungry eight-month-old cubs to venture out of the park, risking death by poisoning or starvation.
Cubs clicked at R'bore, tigress unseen
JAIPUR: There may be fresh addition to the tiger population at the Ranthambore National Park. Two cubs were clicked by a camera trap at the park recently.
However, officials of the forest department are not sure as to who is the mother of these cubs as her picture was not available on the camera trap. The cubs were clicked at the Indala area of the forest.
According to H M Bhatia, chief wildlife warden, Rajasthan, "We have clicked the picture of two cubs. These are fresh addition to the tiger population in the park. But since the camera trap was not able to a photo of the mother we are not sure which tiger has littered. There were two or three expecting tigresses."
R P Gupta, DFO, Ranthambore, said "As of now it is just T-13 that has given birth. Though currently she is in a different area it might just be that the cubs are hers and therefore are not a fresh addition to the population. Till we have the picture of the mother we cannot say anything for certain," he said.
The birth of the cubs will be a big respite for officials of the state forest department that has been fighting hard to explain numerous tigers straying away from the Ranthambore tiger reserve. Added to that, the death of the first relocated tiger ST-1 to Sariska has been a big jolt for the department.
Moreover, there has been a lull in the birth of cubs at Ranthambore since 2008 for almost two years till T-13 gave birth last year some time in September.
However, officials of the forest department are not sure as to who is the mother of these cubs as her picture was not available on the camera trap. The cubs were clicked at the Indala area of the forest.
According to H M Bhatia, chief wildlife warden, Rajasthan, "We have clicked the picture of two cubs. These are fresh addition to the tiger population in the park. But since the camera trap was not able to a photo of the mother we are not sure which tiger has littered. There were two or three expecting tigresses."
R P Gupta, DFO, Ranthambore, said "As of now it is just T-13 that has given birth. Though currently she is in a different area it might just be that the cubs are hers and therefore are not a fresh addition to the population. Till we have the picture of the mother we cannot say anything for certain," he said.
The birth of the cubs will be a big respite for officials of the state forest department that has been fighting hard to explain numerous tigers straying away from the Ranthambore tiger reserve. Added to that, the death of the first relocated tiger ST-1 to Sariska has been a big jolt for the department.
Moreover, there has been a lull in the birth of cubs at Ranthambore since 2008 for almost two years till T-13 gave birth last year some time in September.
Study says India most vulnerable to tiger skin, parts trade
NAGPUR: From 40,000 tigers hundred years ago, today India is down to just 1,411. No wonder. Latest study by Traffic International, the wildlife trade network in 11 of the 13 tiger range countries, reveals that India is most vulnerable when it comes to tiger skin and body parts trade.
The study 'Reduced to skin and bones', an analysis of tiger seizures from 11 tiger range countries in a decade (2000-2010), reveals that in addition to habitat loss and degradation, human encroachment, excessive poaching of key prey species and illegal trade in tiger parts were greatly contributing to the rapid decline of tigers in the wild.
"The study included all seizure information available from January 2000 to April 30, 2010. No data were recorded from Cambodia and Bhutan and hence these countries were omitted," said Samir Sinha, head, Traffic India. A total of 481 seizures were analysed, suggesting a minimum of 1,069 (annual average 104.2) and maximum of 1,220 (annual average 118.9) tigers killed for their parts and derivatives. The vast majority of these seizures took place in India (276), followed by China (40), Nepal (39), Indonesia (36) and Vietnam (28).
"Owing to the illicit nature of the trade, it must be assumed that the 1069-1220 tigers implicated in this analysis are fewer than the actual number of tigers killed and their parts trafficked around the world," the study says. Parts seized in tiger range countries were most commonly in the form of skins (480), bones and skeletons (1253.53 kg), dead individuals (197) and claws (1,313).
The study 'Reduced to skin and bones', an analysis of tiger seizures from 11 tiger range countries in a decade (2000-2010), reveals that in addition to habitat loss and degradation, human encroachment, excessive poaching of key prey species and illegal trade in tiger parts were greatly contributing to the rapid decline of tigers in the wild.
"The study included all seizure information available from January 2000 to April 30, 2010. No data were recorded from Cambodia and Bhutan and hence these countries were omitted," said Samir Sinha, head, Traffic India. A total of 481 seizures were analysed, suggesting a minimum of 1,069 (annual average 104.2) and maximum of 1,220 (annual average 118.9) tigers killed for their parts and derivatives. The vast majority of these seizures took place in India (276), followed by China (40), Nepal (39), Indonesia (36) and Vietnam (28).
"Owing to the illicit nature of the trade, it must be assumed that the 1069-1220 tigers implicated in this analysis are fewer than the actual number of tigers killed and their parts trafficked around the world," the study says. Parts seized in tiger range countries were most commonly in the form of skins (480), bones and skeletons (1253.53 kg), dead individuals (197) and claws (1,313).
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Villages around tiger reserve safe havens for Naxals
DALTONGANJ: Villages around Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR) are safe havens for CPI (Maoist) where the Maoists run their writ. One such village is Ukamar under Project Tiger division while another is Ghaseedag village.
At Mandal village, a superintending engineer of north koyal Baijnath Mishra was killed in the late 90s and a small portion of the Mandal dam was also damaged by extremists belonging to Mazdoor Kissan Sangharsh Samiti.
At Kolpurwa village, security forces battled with the Maoists. Hehegara is a village of this tiger division which hit the national news stand not for any sighting of tigers but for the Naxals repeated assault on the rail tracks here.
According to directorate Project Tiger records, there are 199 villages in and around Palamu Tiger Reserve. Villages like Kaer and Labher areNaxal dens where Naxals trigger land mines as easily as children explode crackers, said a tracker of the Betla National Park, who refused to be identified.
The member of the National Tiger Conservation Authority Management Effective Evaluation East and North East D S Srivastava agreed that infestation of Naxals is here in majority of 199 villages here.
Srivastava reminded that Naxals had restored five huge tusks stolen by thieves to the authority in the mid 90s here. Five huge tusks were stolen from the Nature Interpretation Centre in Betla which were later recovered by the Naxals in which top functionaries of the Palamu Tiger Project had also participated.
Srivastava wanted project officials to strike an emotional chord with these villages and their people for a better co ordination. The director, P Upadhaya, has gone on record to say that a large segment of the total 30 segments of the Tiger Reserve here are unwatched because of the infestations of the extremists.
At Mandal village, a superintending engineer of north koyal Baijnath Mishra was killed in the late 90s and a small portion of the Mandal dam was also damaged by extremists belonging to Mazdoor Kissan Sangharsh Samiti.
At Kolpurwa village, security forces battled with the Maoists. Hehegara is a village of this tiger division which hit the national news stand not for any sighting of tigers but for the Naxals repeated assault on the rail tracks here.
According to directorate Project Tiger records, there are 199 villages in and around Palamu Tiger Reserve. Villages like Kaer and Labher areNaxal dens where Naxals trigger land mines as easily as children explode crackers, said a tracker of the Betla National Park, who refused to be identified.
The member of the National Tiger Conservation Authority Management Effective Evaluation East and North East D S Srivastava agreed that infestation of Naxals is here in majority of 199 villages here.
Srivastava reminded that Naxals had restored five huge tusks stolen by thieves to the authority in the mid 90s here. Five huge tusks were stolen from the Nature Interpretation Centre in Betla which were later recovered by the Naxals in which top functionaries of the Palamu Tiger Project had also participated.
Srivastava wanted project officials to strike an emotional chord with these villages and their people for a better co ordination. The director, P Upadhaya, has gone on record to say that a large segment of the total 30 segments of the Tiger Reserve here are unwatched because of the infestations of the extremists.
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