India's 'Tiger Census' will be released on March 28, environment minister Jairam Ramesh announced on Thursday and hoped that the country will be able to report that the big cat's population is more than the existing figure of 1,411 after the results of the exercise are out.
"It is the most comprehensive census we have done so far and very systematically, involving a large number of people. We are releasing it on March 28," Jairam said.
The census was carried out by installing cameras at strategic points, like water bodies in the forests, as also in the respective territories of the big cats and a computer analysis was done to collate the data.
The 2007 census had shown a sharp fall in the number of tigers in 'protected areas' - reserves, national parks and wildlife sanctuaries - in 19 states across the country. According to it, India had only 1,411 wild cats left in its forests.
"I hope that on March 28 we will be able to report that tiger population figure of 1,411 in India is infact more than 1,411," Jairam told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.
However, he expressed concern over the threat to the forest eco-system from multitude of sources, a true representation of the tigers.
"Tiger is a representation of our forest eco-system is under severe threat from our eco-system which is underserious threat from variety of sources, severe threat from poachers, hoteliers, hotels, from mining mafias, from political networks and from people who in made rush of inda becoming the next economic super power," he said.
Jairam said the government's endeavour would be to see tigers in the wild rather than in captivity.
"Over 50% of 3500 tigers in the wild are in India and 17,000 are in captivity. We dont want to see tigers in captivity but in wild," he said.
Asked about the rising cases of man-animal conflict in the Corbett National Park, Jairam expressed hope the government will be able to solve the problem with the state government there.
"I have given a detailed action plan for Corbett to the chief minister. I hope he will take action on that," he said.
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_tiger-census-to-be-released-on-march-28-jairam-ramesh_1521248
Friday, March 18, 2011
Rathore opposed rampant construction at anthambore - TNN
JAIPUR: Rampant construction at the Ranthambore national park seemed to have irked tiger man, the late Fateh Singh Rathore. In a document prepared last year on "Issues and Challenges of Ranthambore" the former director of the park has highlighted unnecessary civil construction in the park as one of the major challenges in it.
Interestingly, his warnings had come much before the recent curbs on construction inside the park by the Central Empowered Committee ( CEC) of the Supreme Court on a petition by Belinda Wright, executive director of the Wildlife Protection Society of India.
In his document, Singh has pointed out the tendency of the forest department to built chowkis whereever there is a need to monitor the tiger or the forest.
Terming this as a new human interference, he wrote: "Forest guards use the same water sources for various requirements like bathing, washing clothes and drinking, which keeps animals away. In order to monitor the forest and tiger it is not required to build new guard posts each time, this can easily be done with the help of monitoring vehicles. The forest department admits due to the conflict with the villagers the guard posts on the periphery remain vacant. But this does not mean that the prime areas which are the central areas of the park be colonised by such choukies."
Singh also took exception to many roads being constructed as many trees had been cut down.
"The park has several roads; tourists use some of them and disturb the animals. Moreover, Ranthambore already has enough roads, hence there is no need for more," he wrote. In particular, he mentioned the road in the heart of the park at Nalghati and said, "uch unnecessary roads should be blocked and new construction should not be encouraged."
Fateh Singh had opposed the moves by the forest department in building annicuts and artificial water bodies. This time the CEC's objection was against those proposed to be build.
"There is a place called Sukhi Talai (dry pond) in Ranthambore, which gives fantastic tiger sightings, but in spite of the name there is water in this place until December. Today there are 50 - 60 such dry ponds created in Ranthambore by the forest department but with no water!" he wrote.
He had also warned of alternation in the habitat due to building of such waterbodies.
Most notable in his advice was to refrain setting up foundation stones in lieu of donations from various bodies. "This is a tiger reserve but it looks like a memorial now in many places!," he wrote.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Rathore-opposed-rampant-construction-at-anthambore/articleshow/7731578.cms
Interestingly, his warnings had come much before the recent curbs on construction inside the park by the Central Empowered Committee ( CEC) of the Supreme Court on a petition by Belinda Wright, executive director of the Wildlife Protection Society of India.
In his document, Singh has pointed out the tendency of the forest department to built chowkis whereever there is a need to monitor the tiger or the forest.
Terming this as a new human interference, he wrote: "Forest guards use the same water sources for various requirements like bathing, washing clothes and drinking, which keeps animals away. In order to monitor the forest and tiger it is not required to build new guard posts each time, this can easily be done with the help of monitoring vehicles. The forest department admits due to the conflict with the villagers the guard posts on the periphery remain vacant. But this does not mean that the prime areas which are the central areas of the park be colonised by such choukies."
Singh also took exception to many roads being constructed as many trees had been cut down.
"The park has several roads; tourists use some of them and disturb the animals. Moreover, Ranthambore already has enough roads, hence there is no need for more," he wrote. In particular, he mentioned the road in the heart of the park at Nalghati and said, "uch unnecessary roads should be blocked and new construction should not be encouraged."
Fateh Singh had opposed the moves by the forest department in building annicuts and artificial water bodies. This time the CEC's objection was against those proposed to be build.
"There is a place called Sukhi Talai (dry pond) in Ranthambore, which gives fantastic tiger sightings, but in spite of the name there is water in this place until December. Today there are 50 - 60 such dry ponds created in Ranthambore by the forest department but with no water!" he wrote.
He had also warned of alternation in the habitat due to building of such waterbodies.
Most notable in his advice was to refrain setting up foundation stones in lieu of donations from various bodies. "This is a tiger reserve but it looks like a memorial now in many places!," he wrote.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Rathore-opposed-rampant-construction-at-anthambore/articleshow/7731578.cms
A tiger in a bird sanctuary - Amit Sengupta
At the declining Koeladeo National Park, also popular as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, the Siberian Cranes have not arrived for quite a while. Nor have rare long-distance bird species, who would fill the water bodies and trees with their exquisite crackling and colourful wings as spring arrives in the forest. However, surprisingly, a new guest has arrived from the dark: a big cat in full bloom.
The tiger from Ranthambhore, T-7, after a long, adventurous journey beyond the national park, hitting the highway literally around the Mathura Refinery, and some rather unsavoury encounters with humans and habitations, has finally found a comfort zone in the deeper interiors of the bird sanctuary. This is because of the rich prey base with not only an abundant nilgai population, but also the hundreds of cows (who are productively useless) abandoned in the wild by their owners to fend for themselves and thereby wait for death. (Incidentally, Hindu religious centre Mathura is the mythical epicentre of the cow-belt, with legends of Krishna around cows, milk, butter and ghee, intrinsic to its memory and culture.)
In the past, inside the back of the sanctuary, where tourists don't go, through the solitary shadows, there was always a surreal sight waiting for adventure-seekers. Dead cows, their skeletons sprawled all over, across the zigzag landscape. In this eerie, tragic landscape, you could see dead cows all over, and living cows waiting to die. This was the dominant memory of these forests, where, suddenly, even the birds stop chirping. As if the graveyard in green has chosen to become speechless.
In this eerie terrain, the Ranthambhore tiger, T-7, has found an ephemeral, happy refuge. Precisely because of the rich prey base. Forest officials say, not less than 1,000 cows have been released in the forests by locals. They are all out there, chewing grass in peace. Suddenly aware that a predator has arrived amidst them.However, the cows have found relief. T-7 was tranquilised and shifted to Sariska, like four of his mates. There, he will have his own, huge, private territory. A new forest home. And a big prey base.
http://www.hardnewsmedia.com/2011/03/3882
The tiger from Ranthambhore, T-7, after a long, adventurous journey beyond the national park, hitting the highway literally around the Mathura Refinery, and some rather unsavoury encounters with humans and habitations, has finally found a comfort zone in the deeper interiors of the bird sanctuary. This is because of the rich prey base with not only an abundant nilgai population, but also the hundreds of cows (who are productively useless) abandoned in the wild by their owners to fend for themselves and thereby wait for death. (Incidentally, Hindu religious centre Mathura is the mythical epicentre of the cow-belt, with legends of Krishna around cows, milk, butter and ghee, intrinsic to its memory and culture.)
In the past, inside the back of the sanctuary, where tourists don't go, through the solitary shadows, there was always a surreal sight waiting for adventure-seekers. Dead cows, their skeletons sprawled all over, across the zigzag landscape. In this eerie, tragic landscape, you could see dead cows all over, and living cows waiting to die. This was the dominant memory of these forests, where, suddenly, even the birds stop chirping. As if the graveyard in green has chosen to become speechless.
In this eerie terrain, the Ranthambhore tiger, T-7, has found an ephemeral, happy refuge. Precisely because of the rich prey base. Forest officials say, not less than 1,000 cows have been released in the forests by locals. They are all out there, chewing grass in peace. Suddenly aware that a predator has arrived amidst them.However, the cows have found relief. T-7 was tranquilised and shifted to Sariska, like four of his mates. There, he will have his own, huge, private territory. A new forest home. And a big prey base.
http://www.hardnewsmedia.com/2011/03/3882
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Bid to sell tiger skin online lands two youths behind bars- TNN Vijay Pinjarkar & Soumittra S Bose
NAGPUR: The lure of fast bucks landed two youths from well-to-do families behind bars on Wednesday, when they were caught selling a 53-year-old trophy tiger skin online.
Devesh Subhashrao Raut (29) and Kapil Gangadharrao Devke (31), both residents of Civil Lines, Daryapur, Amravati district, were trying to sell the trophied skin of a full-grown tigress from a city hotel on Wardha Road.
The skin is 8ft 4 four inch in length and it could fetch more than Rs 25 lakh in the international market. The two youths were quoting a price of $400,000 or Rs 2 crore to sell the skin. Undercover cops trapped the duo in room no. 209 of Hotel Airport Centre Point by posing as buyers from America and fixing a deal through a local agent via the Internet.
It is perhaps the first case of cyber crime against wildlife exposed by city crime branch sleuths, who acted on a tip-off by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), western region.
Devesh and Kapil hit upon the idea to sell the tiger skin after reading about popular online shopping mall bazee.com and the new that a tiger skin was under the hammer for $1 million on the site. This particular skin was being touted as the world's largest tiger skin, at 11 feet 7 inches.
Devesh, an MSc in computers, and Kapil, a BSc graduate, also opened an online account and mentioned details about the skin and its genuineness. The Raut family had been in possession of the skin since 1958, when tiger hunting was still a sport. The skin had a mounted skull with eyes and jaws intact.
Police sources said their advertisement was spotted on 'tradeindia.com', where the duo had bragged about their business, including claiming the ability to supply various types of tiger skins and trophies for different purposes. They had advertised seven types of products on 'tigerskin.tradeindia.com'. Devesh had mentioned his surname as 'Patil' on the website.
The skin had been inherited by Devesh's father Subhashrao from his grandfather Vitthalrao, who was a hunter and had shot seven tigers in the forests of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. The tigress, whose skin was being traded, was shot by Vitthalrao in the forests of Warud in Amravati in 1958.
"We have an ownership certificate of the skin. It was renewed in 2003 by Amravati divisional forest officer (DFO)," Devesh said.
While Devesh is jobless, Kapil runs a computer institute in Daryapur. The idea behind selling the skin was to make fast bucks. Both the accused denied they were settling a deal for the skin at Rs 50 lakh.
"We wanted to gift the tiger skin and hence wanted to verify the credentials of the persons to whom handed over the skin. Hence, we came to the city hotel where we were called. Under the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA) 1972, gifting of tiger skin is allowed," Devesh told TOI.
Wildlife wing officials said Section 43 of the WPA, which deals with regular transfer of animals etc states that persons in possession of captive animals, trophies, articles cannot transfer or sell them. "You can inherit them but cannot gift. The vehicle used in the crime has also been seized," a senior wildlife officer said. The accused had come to the city in a Santro car owned by Kapil. The car has been seized.
Subhashrao, father of the accused, says Devesh and Kapil were going to gift the skin. "The seven tiger skins which were in our possession earlier were also gifted to other relatives," he said.
City police chief Ankush Dhanvijay had directed deputy commissioner of police Dilip Zalke of crime branch to supervise the trap after the WCCB sought their help. Assistant commissioner of police, crime branch, Nilesh Sawant led the team to conduct the operation. "The probe would be handed over to the forest department," said senior PI Sampatrao Bhosle of Sonegaon police station where the offence was registered.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Bid-to-sell-tiger-skin-online-lands-two-youths-behind-bars/articleshow/7723537.cms
Devesh Subhashrao Raut (29) and Kapil Gangadharrao Devke (31), both residents of Civil Lines, Daryapur, Amravati district, were trying to sell the trophied skin of a full-grown tigress from a city hotel on Wardha Road.
The skin is 8ft 4 four inch in length and it could fetch more than Rs 25 lakh in the international market. The two youths were quoting a price of $400,000 or Rs 2 crore to sell the skin. Undercover cops trapped the duo in room no. 209 of Hotel Airport Centre Point by posing as buyers from America and fixing a deal through a local agent via the Internet.
It is perhaps the first case of cyber crime against wildlife exposed by city crime branch sleuths, who acted on a tip-off by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), western region.
Devesh and Kapil hit upon the idea to sell the tiger skin after reading about popular online shopping mall bazee.com and the new that a tiger skin was under the hammer for $1 million on the site. This particular skin was being touted as the world's largest tiger skin, at 11 feet 7 inches.
Devesh, an MSc in computers, and Kapil, a BSc graduate, also opened an online account and mentioned details about the skin and its genuineness. The Raut family had been in possession of the skin since 1958, when tiger hunting was still a sport. The skin had a mounted skull with eyes and jaws intact.
Police sources said their advertisement was spotted on 'tradeindia.com', where the duo had bragged about their business, including claiming the ability to supply various types of tiger skins and trophies for different purposes. They had advertised seven types of products on 'tigerskin.tradeindia.com'. Devesh had mentioned his surname as 'Patil' on the website.
The skin had been inherited by Devesh's father Subhashrao from his grandfather Vitthalrao, who was a hunter and had shot seven tigers in the forests of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. The tigress, whose skin was being traded, was shot by Vitthalrao in the forests of Warud in Amravati in 1958.
"We have an ownership certificate of the skin. It was renewed in 2003 by Amravati divisional forest officer (DFO)," Devesh said.
While Devesh is jobless, Kapil runs a computer institute in Daryapur. The idea behind selling the skin was to make fast bucks. Both the accused denied they were settling a deal for the skin at Rs 50 lakh.
"We wanted to gift the tiger skin and hence wanted to verify the credentials of the persons to whom handed over the skin. Hence, we came to the city hotel where we were called. Under the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA) 1972, gifting of tiger skin is allowed," Devesh told TOI.
Wildlife wing officials said Section 43 of the WPA, which deals with regular transfer of animals etc states that persons in possession of captive animals, trophies, articles cannot transfer or sell them. "You can inherit them but cannot gift. The vehicle used in the crime has also been seized," a senior wildlife officer said. The accused had come to the city in a Santro car owned by Kapil. The car has been seized.
Subhashrao, father of the accused, says Devesh and Kapil were going to gift the skin. "The seven tiger skins which were in our possession earlier were also gifted to other relatives," he said.
City police chief Ankush Dhanvijay had directed deputy commissioner of police Dilip Zalke of crime branch to supervise the trap after the WCCB sought their help. Assistant commissioner of police, crime branch, Nilesh Sawant led the team to conduct the operation. "The probe would be handed over to the forest department," said senior PI Sampatrao Bhosle of Sonegaon police station where the offence was registered.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Bid-to-sell-tiger-skin-online-lands-two-youths-behind-bars/articleshow/7723537.cms
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Vidarbha may soon become the tiger capital - PTI
Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region, which has several tiger projects and wild life sanctuaries in close proximity is fast shaping up as the potential Tiger Capital of the country.
Former Union Minister and Nagpur MP Vilas Muttemwar, who wrested the initiative in this direction has approached all the top ministers at the State and Central level to push for the tiger capital project.
According to him, since Tadoba Tiger project is situated about 160 kms from the city and Bor sanctuary (about 90 kms), Navegaon and Nagzira wild life sanctuaries (about 150 kms) are located in Vidarbha, besides the Kanha National Park in neighbouring Seoni district (about 200 kms from Nagpur), the region can be well-developed as the tiger capital.
More than 250 tigers out of total population of 1,400 in the country inhabit in the Vidarbha region.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has liked the concept and agreed to take up the issue with Centre. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Union Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahai and Union Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh, have also evinced interest in the project.
Last week, Mr. Muttemwar wrote to the PM who has acknowledged the concept. Mr. Ramesh went a step ahead and said the Government of India has decided to open three regional offices of National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) with the first expected to be opened in Nagpur next month.
“The regional office of NTCA would take forward the work of tiger conservation in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh which are very important tiger habitats where close to 40 percent of India’s tiger population reside,” Mr. Ramesh said recently in a communication to Mr. Muttemwar.
Mr. Ramesh further said the Centre is in touch with Maharashtra government to notify two more tiger reserves in the State in Nagzira/Navegaon and Bor.
Also, it is taking many measures to protect the Tadoba-Andhari habitat in Chandrapur district, he said.
Mr. Sahai in a communication last Friday told Mr. Muttemwar that Vidarbha has got all the potential to develop as a wild and adventure tourism destination.
The region could also attract productive investments besides creating employment opportunities, he said.
Mr. Muttemwar said about 80 million tourists visit India and a majority of them are interesting in seeing the wild cat roaming freely in the jungles. If they can be attracted to Vidarbha with good infrastructure like accommodation, transport and tourist guides and other facilities, a good amount of revenue from tourism can be earned here.
There can be employment opportunities for about 20,000 to 30,000 youth in various support staff like drivers for tourist vehicles, guides, hotel staff and travel and tourism agencies operating here, he said.
The MP said a two-day conference on tiger project capital is being organised in early April and said both Central ministers along with Mr. Chavan and Maharashtra Forest Minister Patangrao Kadam are being invited along with stake holders to discuss threadbare the project.
Former Union Minister and Nagpur MP Vilas Muttemwar, who wrested the initiative in this direction has approached all the top ministers at the State and Central level to push for the tiger capital project.
According to him, since Tadoba Tiger project is situated about 160 kms from the city and Bor sanctuary (about 90 kms), Navegaon and Nagzira wild life sanctuaries (about 150 kms) are located in Vidarbha, besides the Kanha National Park in neighbouring Seoni district (about 200 kms from Nagpur), the region can be well-developed as the tiger capital.
More than 250 tigers out of total population of 1,400 in the country inhabit in the Vidarbha region.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has liked the concept and agreed to take up the issue with Centre. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Union Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahai and Union Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh, have also evinced interest in the project.
Last week, Mr. Muttemwar wrote to the PM who has acknowledged the concept. Mr. Ramesh went a step ahead and said the Government of India has decided to open three regional offices of National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) with the first expected to be opened in Nagpur next month.
“The regional office of NTCA would take forward the work of tiger conservation in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh which are very important tiger habitats where close to 40 percent of India’s tiger population reside,” Mr. Ramesh said recently in a communication to Mr. Muttemwar.
Mr. Ramesh further said the Centre is in touch with Maharashtra government to notify two more tiger reserves in the State in Nagzira/Navegaon and Bor.
Also, it is taking many measures to protect the Tadoba-Andhari habitat in Chandrapur district, he said.
Mr. Sahai in a communication last Friday told Mr. Muttemwar that Vidarbha has got all the potential to develop as a wild and adventure tourism destination.
The region could also attract productive investments besides creating employment opportunities, he said.
Mr. Muttemwar said about 80 million tourists visit India and a majority of them are interesting in seeing the wild cat roaming freely in the jungles. If they can be attracted to Vidarbha with good infrastructure like accommodation, transport and tourist guides and other facilities, a good amount of revenue from tourism can be earned here.
There can be employment opportunities for about 20,000 to 30,000 youth in various support staff like drivers for tourist vehicles, guides, hotel staff and travel and tourism agencies operating here, he said.
The MP said a two-day conference on tiger project capital is being organised in early April and said both Central ministers along with Mr. Chavan and Maharashtra Forest Minister Patangrao Kadam are being invited along with stake holders to discuss threadbare the project.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Villagers beat 2 cubs to death TNN
BAHRAICH: Even as a national campaign is underway to save India's tiger population, farmers on Sunday clubbed to death two one-year-old leopard cubs in an apparent revenge attack after the mother leopard attacked a woman in a tiger reserve.
The incident happened in the Katarniaghat wildlife reserve in Bahraich district barely 24 hours after the woman was mauled. According to Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) wildlife R K Singh, the cubs were killed, when a large number of local farmers surrounded them after a farmer's wife was attacked by the mother leopard, while the woman was watering her fields'.
He said, "The mother leopard managed to leap to safety, but the one-year-old cubs were cornered and beaten to death."
Geeta (25), the woman attacked by the leopard, was admitted to a Bahraich hospital and is stated to be out of danger. Her husband Surendra Singh, an ex-serviceman, who was with her at the time of the attack, said, "The leopard would have killed my wife had the farmers not immediately rushed to her help."
Katarniaghat along the Indo-Nepal border, is an extended part of Uttar Pradesh's Dudhwa National Park. It has an an estimated population of 30 leopards and about 40 tigers.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Villagers-beat-2-cubs-to-death/articleshow/7702782.cms
The incident happened in the Katarniaghat wildlife reserve in Bahraich district barely 24 hours after the woman was mauled. According to Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) wildlife R K Singh, the cubs were killed, when a large number of local farmers surrounded them after a farmer's wife was attacked by the mother leopard, while the woman was watering her fields'.
He said, "The mother leopard managed to leap to safety, but the one-year-old cubs were cornered and beaten to death."
Geeta (25), the woman attacked by the leopard, was admitted to a Bahraich hospital and is stated to be out of danger. Her husband Surendra Singh, an ex-serviceman, who was with her at the time of the attack, said, "The leopard would have killed my wife had the farmers not immediately rushed to her help."
Katarniaghat along the Indo-Nepal border, is an extended part of Uttar Pradesh's Dudhwa National Park. It has an an estimated population of 30 leopards and about 40 tigers.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Villagers-beat-2-cubs-to-death/articleshow/7702782.cms
Monday, March 14, 2011
Tigers devour 3, villagers kill 2 leopards PTI
DEHRADUN/BAHRAICH: Three people, including an 11-year-old girl, were mauled to death by big cats while two leopards were killed by villagers in separate incidents in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, forest officials said on Sunday.
A tiger killed a 45-year-old man in Sunderkhal village near the Corbett Tiger Reserve in Uttarakhand where a girl was devoured by a leopard in Ron village in Almora district. Both these incidents happened on Saturday in the hill state, the forest officials said. An eight-year-old leopard was also found dead in a stream near Kimari-Bhirtali road in Uttarakhand on Saturday, they said.
In Uttar Pradesh's Bahraich district, a woman, aged 25, was killed by a tiger in Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary. The wild cat, who was dragging the woman towards the forest, fled leaving the body when villagers working infields raised an alaram.
A tiger killed a 45-year-old man in Sunderkhal village near the Corbett Tiger Reserve in Uttarakhand where a girl was devoured by a leopard in Ron village in Almora district. Both these incidents happened on Saturday in the hill state, the forest officials said. An eight-year-old leopard was also found dead in a stream near Kimari-Bhirtali road in Uttarakhand on Saturday, they said.
In Uttar Pradesh's Bahraich district, a woman, aged 25, was killed by a tiger in Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary. The wild cat, who was dragging the woman towards the forest, fled leaving the body when villagers working infields raised an alaram.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Man-eater strikes: Did officials kill wrong tiger? - Chetan Chauhan, Hindustan Times
Even as international experts had a brainstorming on how to save Indian tigers at Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve, a tiger killed another person just outside the main reserve. The person was a resident of Sundherkhal village in Corbett’s buffer zone, where a tiger had killed four persons in January
this year.
The Uttarakhand forest department officials shot dead the alleged man-eater near the village.
His death had provided air to claims that the state forest department had killed the wrong tiger in January.
“The man-eating animal was probably a tigress and not a tiger, claimed as man eater by the state forest department,” said Navin Raheja, former member of steering committee of Project Tiger.
Raheja was of the view that the man-eater tigress would resurface after some time and may attack people in other areas.
The Friday’s victim was attacked at a different location than the earlier incidents.
“The tigress is highly cautious and it making its moves in a calculated manner,” he said.
Unlike the January incident, the Uttarakhand forest department has not declared the animal as man-eater.
“We are not in a hurry. We will first try to capture the animal,” said Anil Baluni, deputy chairperson of state forest advisory council.
There are said to be 13 tigers roaming in the buffer zone of the Corbett, where over 1,000 people live in Sunderkhal village and are vulnerable to attacks by tigers. Baluni said the only option was to relocate those living in Sundherkhal.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority had this week held a consultation with wildlife experts from the United States and Australia, two nations, which do not have tigers, for better protection and conservation of the endangered big cat.
None of the experts, who are still in Corbett, visited the Sunderkhal village, after the incident, area officials said.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Man-eater-strikes-Did-officials-kill-wrong-tiger/Article1-672764.aspx
this year.
The Uttarakhand forest department officials shot dead the alleged man-eater near the village.
His death had provided air to claims that the state forest department had killed the wrong tiger in January.
“The man-eating animal was probably a tigress and not a tiger, claimed as man eater by the state forest department,” said Navin Raheja, former member of steering committee of Project Tiger.
Raheja was of the view that the man-eater tigress would resurface after some time and may attack people in other areas.
The Friday’s victim was attacked at a different location than the earlier incidents.
“The tigress is highly cautious and it making its moves in a calculated manner,” he said.
Unlike the January incident, the Uttarakhand forest department has not declared the animal as man-eater.
“We are not in a hurry. We will first try to capture the animal,” said Anil Baluni, deputy chairperson of state forest advisory council.
There are said to be 13 tigers roaming in the buffer zone of the Corbett, where over 1,000 people live in Sunderkhal village and are vulnerable to attacks by tigers. Baluni said the only option was to relocate those living in Sundherkhal.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority had this week held a consultation with wildlife experts from the United States and Australia, two nations, which do not have tigers, for better protection and conservation of the endangered big cat.
None of the experts, who are still in Corbett, visited the Sunderkhal village, after the incident, area officials said.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Man-eater-strikes-Did-officials-kill-wrong-tiger/Article1-672764.aspx
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Angry villagers force Jairam to cancel Corbett visit TNN
DEHRADUN: The concluding session of a three-day international workshop on tigers was abruptly cancelled on Friday following protests by residents of 14 different villages in Sunderkhal forest under the Corbett National Park.
Official sources said the protests also led to the cancellation of Union forest minister Jairam Ramesh's visit. The minister was to address the concluding session of a workshop which began on March 9 to mark the completion of 75 years of Corbett Tiger Reserve.
The protesters locked the gates to prevent over 25 tiger experts from India and abroad from entering the venue. As senior CTR officials' requests were ignored, the officials had no option but to cancel the workshop.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Angry-villagers-force-Jairam-to-cancel-Corbett-visit/articleshow/7683714.cms
Official sources said the protests also led to the cancellation of Union forest minister Jairam Ramesh's visit. The minister was to address the concluding session of a workshop which began on March 9 to mark the completion of 75 years of Corbett Tiger Reserve.
The protesters locked the gates to prevent over 25 tiger experts from India and abroad from entering the venue. As senior CTR officials' requests were ignored, the officials had no option but to cancel the workshop.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Angry-villagers-force-Jairam-to-cancel-Corbett-visit/articleshow/7683714.cms
Friday, March 11, 2011
Tiger reserve status for Sathyamangalam likely - The Hindu
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The proposal for according tiger reserve status for the Sathyamangalam Reserve Forests is under consideration, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden R. Sundararaju said here on Wednesday.
Mr. Sundararaju told presspersons that studies conducted using camera traps and scats had given an indication that there could be 19 to 25 tigers in Sathyamangalam forests. He also added that the forests across Tamil Nadu might have 100 to 110 tigers. This statistics was based on the camera traps, scat examination done in tiger reserves such as Mudumalai, Anamalai and Kalakkad - Mundanthurai.
Tamil Nadu had three tiger reserves and they shared borders with Kerala and Karnataka forests. To a query on incidents of sandalwood smuggling reported in ATR areas, Mr. Sundararaju said vigil had been stepped up with additional manpower and one person arrested for smuggling had been detained under Goondas Act.
Efforts were on to check man-animal conflict, especially elephants straying into human habitations in Valparai, where four persons were killed recently.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/article1525437.ece
The proposal for according tiger reserve status for the Sathyamangalam Reserve Forests is under consideration, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden R. Sundararaju said here on Wednesday.
Mr. Sundararaju told presspersons that studies conducted using camera traps and scats had given an indication that there could be 19 to 25 tigers in Sathyamangalam forests. He also added that the forests across Tamil Nadu might have 100 to 110 tigers. This statistics was based on the camera traps, scat examination done in tiger reserves such as Mudumalai, Anamalai and Kalakkad - Mundanthurai.
Tamil Nadu had three tiger reserves and they shared borders with Kerala and Karnataka forests. To a query on incidents of sandalwood smuggling reported in ATR areas, Mr. Sundararaju said vigil had been stepped up with additional manpower and one person arrested for smuggling had been detained under Goondas Act.
Efforts were on to check man-animal conflict, especially elephants straying into human habitations in Valparai, where four persons were killed recently.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/article1525437.ece
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Ranthambore-Mukundra corridor in the offing TNN
JAIPUR: In a major boost to tiger conservation, chief minister Ashok Gehlot announced developing the area connecting Ranthambore National Park to Mukundra sanctuary as a corridor. The area is frequently used by straying tigers of Ranthambore and developing it would give the big cats a safer passage.
Even the Mukundra sanctuary, which already got an in-principle nod from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) as a tiger reserve during the recent visit of director Rajesh Gopal, will be developed during this year. The government will shortly be preparing a project report for the same.
"The United Nations is observing year 2011 as International Year of Forests and we are duty bound to follow the footsteps. Throughout the year, various projects will be undertaken for developing sanctuaries besides addressing issues of global warming," Gehlot said.
He also announced using grants to the tune of Rs 1,153 crore from the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) for implementing the Rajasthan Forestry and Bio-diversity Project (RFBP) in select areas of the state over a period of eight years between 2011 and 2019. The areas include 10 districts that have deserts in them, five districts without deserts and seven wildlife reserves.
Under the project, afforestation and bio-diversity conservation and soil and water conservation work will be done. Besides, poverty elimination and livelihood schemes will also be undertaken in 650 villages in these areas. Sundamata in Jhalore and Gura-Bishnoi in Jodhpur will also be developed as eco-tourism centres under the project.
Four treatment and rehabilitation centres for wild animals would also be established in Bikaner, Jodhpur and Nagaur. The centres will be developed using Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) funds.
After the recent incident at Ranthambore where tourism minister Bina Kak had to intervene to save tiger T-5 which had a deep wound on its body, the need for a mobile rescue van for the forest was being felt. Addressing the issue, Gehlot has made provisions in his budget for a mobile rescue van and two veterinarians in the park in case of any eventualities.
Besides, the state will also be giving Rs 1,000 to each of the 5,000 families staying inside the Ranthambore reserve for an LPG connection. The move is aimed at keeping away these families from felling trees for fire wood.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Ranthambore-Mukundra-corridor-in-the-offing/articleshow/7667203.cms
Even the Mukundra sanctuary, which already got an in-principle nod from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) as a tiger reserve during the recent visit of director Rajesh Gopal, will be developed during this year. The government will shortly be preparing a project report for the same.
"The United Nations is observing year 2011 as International Year of Forests and we are duty bound to follow the footsteps. Throughout the year, various projects will be undertaken for developing sanctuaries besides addressing issues of global warming," Gehlot said.
He also announced using grants to the tune of Rs 1,153 crore from the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) for implementing the Rajasthan Forestry and Bio-diversity Project (RFBP) in select areas of the state over a period of eight years between 2011 and 2019. The areas include 10 districts that have deserts in them, five districts without deserts and seven wildlife reserves.
Under the project, afforestation and bio-diversity conservation and soil and water conservation work will be done. Besides, poverty elimination and livelihood schemes will also be undertaken in 650 villages in these areas. Sundamata in Jhalore and Gura-Bishnoi in Jodhpur will also be developed as eco-tourism centres under the project.
Four treatment and rehabilitation centres for wild animals would also be established in Bikaner, Jodhpur and Nagaur. The centres will be developed using Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) funds.
After the recent incident at Ranthambore where tourism minister Bina Kak had to intervene to save tiger T-5 which had a deep wound on its body, the need for a mobile rescue van for the forest was being felt. Addressing the issue, Gehlot has made provisions in his budget for a mobile rescue van and two veterinarians in the park in case of any eventualities.
Besides, the state will also be giving Rs 1,000 to each of the 5,000 families staying inside the Ranthambore reserve for an LPG connection. The move is aimed at keeping away these families from felling trees for fire wood.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Ranthambore-Mukundra-corridor-in-the-offing/articleshow/7667203.cms
Panel's Ranthambore directive silences roar of machines
Moushumi Basu | New Delhi
Construction activities have been temporarily stopped at Ranthambore Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan following intervention by the Central Empowered Committee (CEC).
For several months now, the whine of excavators and pneumatic drills and the rumble of explosives had drowned out the roar of tigers at the reserve. With construction on the boom even in the core area, the chaos was a major source of stress for the wild cat.
The State irrigation department recently approved construction of 20 large dams, each costing in the range of Rs 35 lakh to Rs 75 lakh. Nearly 100 small anicuts and 20 telais (ponds) were constructed in the reserve in the past.
However, after the CEC’s directive to the State Chief Secretary, work has been stopped at the site. On being approached by the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) for intervention, the CEC pointed out that such non-forestry activities within protected areas were in violation of a Supreme Court order.
According to sources, the Chief Secretary is to set up an expert committee to decide on the issue. Till then, work in the protected area would stay stalled.
Ranthambore field director Anand Mohan, however, contended that this construction was part of a long-term water management plan and its ecological impact had been assessed by an expert panel. It is being carried out by the irrigation and forest departments, with MNREGA and Nabard funding.
A work order of Rs 40 crore has been earmarked jointly for Sariska and Ranthambore, Mohan said, of which Rs 2 crore has already been sanctioned by the irrigation department. “The very objective of this project is to improve availability of water within the park for wild animals,” he emphasised.
However, tiger expert and WPSI executive director Belinda Wright pointed to the gravity of the situation, saying the eco-system of Ranthambore was very fragile and any manipulation could cause irreversible damage. She felt there were many perennial natural waterholes in critical areas and that artificial cemented anicuts and uncalled-for human intervention could be destructive.
The proposed anicut, for instance, is at Adi Dagar, beyond Lakardah, on a nullah that runs from Lakardah to Bakola. The area has waterholes that are full during the critical summer months too. This was where tigress T-16 spent the summer of 2010, making kills around a waterhole.
It is feared that the proposed anicut may flood this natural waterhole, submerging the surrounding rock walls, which are home to a host of wildlife, including monitor lizards, mongooses and owls.
The construction of cement anicuts and earth dams around Galai Sagar, on the other hand, can affect the water-holding of this lake in an area where there are a number of resident big cats, including a tigress with cubs.
Many such rampant constructions close to natural water points will eventually lead to silting, which could choke water flow. Sooner or later, the natural water body would be finished, feel experts.
http://www.dailypioneer.com/323377/Panels-Ranthambore-directive-silences-roar-of-machines.html
Construction activities have been temporarily stopped at Ranthambore Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan following intervention by the Central Empowered Committee (CEC).
For several months now, the whine of excavators and pneumatic drills and the rumble of explosives had drowned out the roar of tigers at the reserve. With construction on the boom even in the core area, the chaos was a major source of stress for the wild cat.
The State irrigation department recently approved construction of 20 large dams, each costing in the range of Rs 35 lakh to Rs 75 lakh. Nearly 100 small anicuts and 20 telais (ponds) were constructed in the reserve in the past.
However, after the CEC’s directive to the State Chief Secretary, work has been stopped at the site. On being approached by the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) for intervention, the CEC pointed out that such non-forestry activities within protected areas were in violation of a Supreme Court order.
According to sources, the Chief Secretary is to set up an expert committee to decide on the issue. Till then, work in the protected area would stay stalled.
Ranthambore field director Anand Mohan, however, contended that this construction was part of a long-term water management plan and its ecological impact had been assessed by an expert panel. It is being carried out by the irrigation and forest departments, with MNREGA and Nabard funding.
A work order of Rs 40 crore has been earmarked jointly for Sariska and Ranthambore, Mohan said, of which Rs 2 crore has already been sanctioned by the irrigation department. “The very objective of this project is to improve availability of water within the park for wild animals,” he emphasised.
However, tiger expert and WPSI executive director Belinda Wright pointed to the gravity of the situation, saying the eco-system of Ranthambore was very fragile and any manipulation could cause irreversible damage. She felt there were many perennial natural waterholes in critical areas and that artificial cemented anicuts and uncalled-for human intervention could be destructive.
The proposed anicut, for instance, is at Adi Dagar, beyond Lakardah, on a nullah that runs from Lakardah to Bakola. The area has waterholes that are full during the critical summer months too. This was where tigress T-16 spent the summer of 2010, making kills around a waterhole.
It is feared that the proposed anicut may flood this natural waterhole, submerging the surrounding rock walls, which are home to a host of wildlife, including monitor lizards, mongooses and owls.
The construction of cement anicuts and earth dams around Galai Sagar, on the other hand, can affect the water-holding of this lake in an area where there are a number of resident big cats, including a tigress with cubs.
Many such rampant constructions close to natural water points will eventually lead to silting, which could choke water flow. Sooner or later, the natural water body would be finished, feel experts.
http://www.dailypioneer.com/323377/Panels-Ranthambore-directive-silences-roar-of-machines.html
Ramesh expects ''good news'' in tiger census
PTI | 08:03 PM,Mar 09,2011
New Delhi, Mar 9 (PTI) Tiger census will be out this month end amidst expectations that there will be "good news", government said today."We are releasing our latest tiger census on 28th of this month. We hope that we will have good news. I haven't seen the report yet," Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh told reporters here. The census was carried out by installing cameras at strategic points, like water bodies in the forests, as also in the respective territories of the big cats and a computer analysis was done to collate the data. The 2007 census had shown a sharp fall in the number of tigers in 'protected areas'--reserves, national parks and widelife sanctuaries-in 19 states across the country.According to it, India had only 1,411 wild cats left in its forests.
New Delhi, Mar 9 (PTI) Tiger census will be out this month end amidst expectations that there will be "good news", government said today."We are releasing our latest tiger census on 28th of this month. We hope that we will have good news. I haven't seen the report yet," Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh told reporters here. The census was carried out by installing cameras at strategic points, like water bodies in the forests, as also in the respective territories of the big cats and a computer analysis was done to collate the data. The 2007 census had shown a sharp fall in the number of tigers in 'protected areas'--reserves, national parks and widelife sanctuaries-in 19 states across the country.According to it, India had only 1,411 wild cats left in its forests.
Bad news for tiger conservation Vijay Pinjarkar, TNN
Nagpur: In a setback to process of creating inviolate spaces for highly endangered tigers, the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) has withdrawn the revised guidelines for determination of critical wildlife habitats (CWHs) thus stalling the entire process.
The MoEF on February 7 had circulated the revised guidelines about determination of CWH. However, members of some NGOs made representations to the ministry against some of the points in it. The organizations were of the view that the relocation of people from CWH needed to be fine-tuned to be compliant with provisions of Forest Rights Act 2006. Taking note of the concerns at a meeting held in Delhi on March 4, the guidelines were withdrawn. "Process to issue fresh guidelines has been initiated," NTCA officials said.
CWH are areas of national parks and sanctuaries that are required to be kept inviolate for the purposes of wildlife conservation as determined and notified by the MoEF, after open process of consultations by an expert committee. After notifying critical tiger habitats (CTHs) three years ago, the state initiated process to declare CWHs. A minimum inviolate space of 800-1000 sq km should be maintained to support a viable population of tigers in tiger landscapes, based on tiger parameters, territory sizes and populations viability analysis.
In Maharashtra, a state-level committee headed by chief wildlife warden has already given a go-ahead to 19 national parks and sanctuaries to complete consultations with stakeholders. In August last, to speed up the process of relocation of villages in CWHs, subcommittees with respective chief conservators (CCFs) and deputy conservators (DyCFs) were also constituted. These officials had initiated consultation process and even completed them in Navegaon National Park and Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary.
V K Mohan, chief conservator of forests (CCF) for wildlife administration, said the process would now be stalled until fresh guidelines were issued. Dilip Gode of the Vidarbha Nature Conservation Society (VNCS), who was part of the MoEF meeting on March 4, said: "We want the consultations to be held properly with involvement of all stakeholders. Entire process should be video recorded and there should be scope for scientific avenues. Not all CWH are needed to be declared inviolate."
Conservationists decried move. Already, there are many villages in tiger reserves that are needed to be relocated. Villagers living in parks and reserves are also keen to move out. The delay will further escalate cost of relocation and tigers, that are crying for space, will also have to wait, they said.
BOX
CWH process stalled?
* The first guidelines for CWH were issued on October 25, 2007. On February 7, 2011, MoEF issued revised ones. These too have been withdrawn on March 4, 2011
* CWHs can be declared only with voluntary consent of affected people. It involves secure livelihoods to persons to be relocated
* A state-level committee has given go-ahead to 19 national parks and sanctuaries in Maharashtra to complete consultations with stakeholders for CWH. Consultations in Navegaon and Tipeshwar have been completed. Of the remaining 17 parks, most of them are in second stage of consultation.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Bad-news-for-tiger-conservation/articleshow/7666523.cms
The MoEF on February 7 had circulated the revised guidelines about determination of CWH. However, members of some NGOs made representations to the ministry against some of the points in it. The organizations were of the view that the relocation of people from CWH needed to be fine-tuned to be compliant with provisions of Forest Rights Act 2006. Taking note of the concerns at a meeting held in Delhi on March 4, the guidelines were withdrawn. "Process to issue fresh guidelines has been initiated," NTCA officials said.
CWH are areas of national parks and sanctuaries that are required to be kept inviolate for the purposes of wildlife conservation as determined and notified by the MoEF, after open process of consultations by an expert committee. After notifying critical tiger habitats (CTHs) three years ago, the state initiated process to declare CWHs. A minimum inviolate space of 800-1000 sq km should be maintained to support a viable population of tigers in tiger landscapes, based on tiger parameters, territory sizes and populations viability analysis.
In Maharashtra, a state-level committee headed by chief wildlife warden has already given a go-ahead to 19 national parks and sanctuaries to complete consultations with stakeholders. In August last, to speed up the process of relocation of villages in CWHs, subcommittees with respective chief conservators (CCFs) and deputy conservators (DyCFs) were also constituted. These officials had initiated consultation process and even completed them in Navegaon National Park and Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary.
V K Mohan, chief conservator of forests (CCF) for wildlife administration, said the process would now be stalled until fresh guidelines were issued. Dilip Gode of the Vidarbha Nature Conservation Society (VNCS), who was part of the MoEF meeting on March 4, said: "We want the consultations to be held properly with involvement of all stakeholders. Entire process should be video recorded and there should be scope for scientific avenues. Not all CWH are needed to be declared inviolate."
Conservationists decried move. Already, there are many villages in tiger reserves that are needed to be relocated. Villagers living in parks and reserves are also keen to move out. The delay will further escalate cost of relocation and tigers, that are crying for space, will also have to wait, they said.
BOX
CWH process stalled?
* The first guidelines for CWH were issued on October 25, 2007. On February 7, 2011, MoEF issued revised ones. These too have been withdrawn on March 4, 2011
* CWHs can be declared only with voluntary consent of affected people. It involves secure livelihoods to persons to be relocated
* A state-level committee has given go-ahead to 19 national parks and sanctuaries in Maharashtra to complete consultations with stakeholders for CWH. Consultations in Navegaon and Tipeshwar have been completed. Of the remaining 17 parks, most of them are in second stage of consultation.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Bad-news-for-tiger-conservation/articleshow/7666523.cms
Two more watch towers at Mudumalai reserve TNN
UDHAGAMANDALAM: In a bid to improve vigilance inside the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve in the Nilgiris, two more watch towers are being erected in the area.
"Works for the two new watch towers are nearing completion. One is being erected near a water body at Mavanallah and the other at Nir Hallah, adjacent to Karnataka border," Rajiv K Srivastava, Field Director, Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, told TOI.
The watch tower at Mavanallah will also serve the purpose of watching migratory birds which visit the dam near Mavanallah during season, according to Srivastava. Another tower near the Karnataka border will be used to observe the migration of carnivores and other animals.
Already, there are 5 towers inside the reserve. "Together, the towers will help keep vigil over a larger area and help detect the movements of wild animals," said the official.
According to the official the new towers, built at the cost of `10 lakh, will be completed by end of March.
The 312 sq km Mudumalai tiger reserve is home to at least 40 tigers and nearly 900 Asian elephants besides a wide variety of wild life and vegetation.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/Two-more-watch-towers-at-Mudumalai-reserve/articleshow/7668190.cms
"Works for the two new watch towers are nearing completion. One is being erected near a water body at Mavanallah and the other at Nir Hallah, adjacent to Karnataka border," Rajiv K Srivastava, Field Director, Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, told TOI.
The watch tower at Mavanallah will also serve the purpose of watching migratory birds which visit the dam near Mavanallah during season, according to Srivastava. Another tower near the Karnataka border will be used to observe the migration of carnivores and other animals.
Already, there are 5 towers inside the reserve. "Together, the towers will help keep vigil over a larger area and help detect the movements of wild animals," said the official.
According to the official the new towers, built at the cost of `10 lakh, will be completed by end of March.
The 312 sq km Mudumalai tiger reserve is home to at least 40 tigers and nearly 900 Asian elephants besides a wide variety of wild life and vegetation.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/Two-more-watch-towers-at-Mudumalai-reserve/articleshow/7668190.cms
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Crucial meeting on tiger conservation begins today
A crucial meeting of tiger conservation experts is slated to begin here from Wednesday to chalk out a plan for conservation of the elusive wildcat, officials said.
Union Minister of State for Environment and Forest, Jairam Ramesh is also expected to participate in the three-day meeting that is being organised by Uttarakhand forest department and National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) at Ramnagar near Jim Corbett National park, Director of Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR) R.K. Mishra said.
Some experts from United States will also participate in the meeting, he added.
The participants of the meeting would first study the different aspects related to Corbett Park and later give their recommendations for the conservation of tiger, he said.
http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/article1519787.ece
Union Minister of State for Environment and Forest, Jairam Ramesh is also expected to participate in the three-day meeting that is being organised by Uttarakhand forest department and National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) at Ramnagar near Jim Corbett National park, Director of Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR) R.K. Mishra said.
Some experts from United States will also participate in the meeting, he added.
The participants of the meeting would first study the different aspects related to Corbett Park and later give their recommendations for the conservation of tiger, he said.
http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/article1519787.ece
Monday, March 7, 2011
Tigress killed, eaten by another in MP
BHOPAL: A tigress was killed and eaten by another tigress after a territorial fight in Madhya Pradesh's Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, officials said.
The carcass of 9-year-old tigress Laxmi, who also had two cubs, was recovered from Salatekari area at Tala Range of the Reserve, in Umaria district on Saturday, a top forest official said.
Laxmi was killed and eaten by another tigress named Kankati (4), after a possible fight over territory, Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve's Field Director C K Patil said, adding, Kankati had sustained an eye injury.
Forest guards on Saturday saw Kankati eating the slain tigress, he said, adding, Laxmi and Kankati had fought in the past too.
This was probably the first instance of a tiger killing and eating someone of its own species in Bandhavgarh, spread over an area of 700 sq km in eastern Madhya Pradesh.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Tigress-killed-eaten-by-another-in-MP/articleshow/7643713.cms
The carcass of 9-year-old tigress Laxmi, who also had two cubs, was recovered from Salatekari area at Tala Range of the Reserve, in Umaria district on Saturday, a top forest official said.
Laxmi was killed and eaten by another tigress named Kankati (4), after a possible fight over territory, Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve's Field Director C K Patil said, adding, Kankati had sustained an eye injury.
Forest guards on Saturday saw Kankati eating the slain tigress, he said, adding, Laxmi and Kankati had fought in the past too.
This was probably the first instance of a tiger killing and eating someone of its own species in Bandhavgarh, spread over an area of 700 sq km in eastern Madhya Pradesh.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Tigress-killed-eaten-by-another-in-MP/articleshow/7643713.cms
Tiger experts meet today
A meeting of top global experts on tiger is being held in New Delhi on Monday to discuss the “new way forward” in tiger conservation efforts. Those participating in the meeting include George Shaller, Alan Rabinowitz and Joe Smith from Panthera, an American non-profit organisation, Belinda Wright, Bittu Sahgal and Valmik Thapar from India. Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh will chair the meet.
Ahead of the meeting a brainstorming session was held on Sunday.
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Tiger-experts-meet-today/758666/
Ahead of the meeting a brainstorming session was held on Sunday.
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Tiger-experts-meet-today/758666/
Tiger reserves ignoring local communities Vijay Pinjarkar, TNN
NAGPUR: Improving protected areas (PAs) management by involving communities with eco-development as one of its components is the best tiger conservation strategy but the tiger reserves in Vidarbha do not appear to believe in it. Disturbingly, all three tiger reserves in Vidarbha - Tadoba-Andhari, Melghat and Pench - have fared badly on community development work in recent evaluation of tiger reserves conducted by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
The administration of three tiger reserves seems to have only now woken up to this aspect. The reserves, while giving emphasis on resettlement of villages from the core, also focused on protection but failed to concentrate on eco-development works in the villages in buffer zones. "Village eco-development was aimed at reducing negative impacts of locals on parks. This asks for participatory micro-planning of activities at the village level to help the forest department and villages decide on set reciprocal promises," says wildlife conservationist Prafulla Bhamburkar.
"It is sad yet true that our tiger reserves have not focused on systematic community development works," admits Kishor Rithe, member, National Board for Wild Life (NBWL). To ensure tiger reserves in Vidarbha get funds from NTCA for community development work under Eco-development Programme (EDP) and villagers employment through conservation works, on December 15, 2007, Rithe's Satpuda Foundation had submitted a proposal to the chief wildlife warden for preparing village micro plans around Melghat, TATR and Pench. However, nothing happened. The Foundation again submitted the proposal on January 2011, to the present chief wildlife warden who responded positively but no action resulted.
"We are doing a lot of community-based conservation work on our own around the tiger reserves but it does not get any place in official records and hence the parks could not fetch points allotted on this count," lamented Satpuda Foundation executive director Giri Venkatesan.
TATR field director V K Sinha admitted there was need to set up eco-development committees (EDCs) on the lines of joint forest management committees (JFMs). There is an administration order on EDCs but there is no formal government resolution (GR), on providing benefits to stakeholders. Conservationists say the tiger reserves should take the remark of NTCA evaluation committee seriously and learn lessons.
Nature Conservation Society Amravati (NCSA), which has developed a good community-based conservation model in buffer zone of MTR, stated that field directors really needed to count communities living in the buffer areas. "Earlier, field directors used to participate in the community meetings organized by NCSA and resolve many issues. However, the practice has stopped now," said Nishikant Kale, ex-president of NCSA. Officials have even started ignoring health initiatives started by NCSA exclusively for buffer villages since 2005, Kale added.
Kale said wildlife wing officials needed to learn from tiger reserves like Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) in Tamil Nadu where park administration was working with the communities and reducing biotic pressure on reserves. The NTCA evaluation of tiger reserves in Maharashtra put MTR at the eighth spot, ahead of high-profile tiger reserves like Corbett and Ranthambore and Tadoba and Pench at 14th and 15th spot.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Tiger-reserves-ignoring-local-communities/articleshow/7643363.cms
The administration of three tiger reserves seems to have only now woken up to this aspect. The reserves, while giving emphasis on resettlement of villages from the core, also focused on protection but failed to concentrate on eco-development works in the villages in buffer zones. "Village eco-development was aimed at reducing negative impacts of locals on parks. This asks for participatory micro-planning of activities at the village level to help the forest department and villages decide on set reciprocal promises," says wildlife conservationist Prafulla Bhamburkar.
"It is sad yet true that our tiger reserves have not focused on systematic community development works," admits Kishor Rithe, member, National Board for Wild Life (NBWL). To ensure tiger reserves in Vidarbha get funds from NTCA for community development work under Eco-development Programme (EDP) and villagers employment through conservation works, on December 15, 2007, Rithe's Satpuda Foundation had submitted a proposal to the chief wildlife warden for preparing village micro plans around Melghat, TATR and Pench. However, nothing happened. The Foundation again submitted the proposal on January 2011, to the present chief wildlife warden who responded positively but no action resulted.
"We are doing a lot of community-based conservation work on our own around the tiger reserves but it does not get any place in official records and hence the parks could not fetch points allotted on this count," lamented Satpuda Foundation executive director Giri Venkatesan.
TATR field director V K Sinha admitted there was need to set up eco-development committees (EDCs) on the lines of joint forest management committees (JFMs). There is an administration order on EDCs but there is no formal government resolution (GR), on providing benefits to stakeholders. Conservationists say the tiger reserves should take the remark of NTCA evaluation committee seriously and learn lessons.
Nature Conservation Society Amravati (NCSA), which has developed a good community-based conservation model in buffer zone of MTR, stated that field directors really needed to count communities living in the buffer areas. "Earlier, field directors used to participate in the community meetings organized by NCSA and resolve many issues. However, the practice has stopped now," said Nishikant Kale, ex-president of NCSA. Officials have even started ignoring health initiatives started by NCSA exclusively for buffer villages since 2005, Kale added.
Kale said wildlife wing officials needed to learn from tiger reserves like Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) in Tamil Nadu where park administration was working with the communities and reducing biotic pressure on reserves. The NTCA evaluation of tiger reserves in Maharashtra put MTR at the eighth spot, ahead of high-profile tiger reserves like Corbett and Ranthambore and Tadoba and Pench at 14th and 15th spot.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Tiger-reserves-ignoring-local-communities/articleshow/7643363.cms
To appease VIP tourists, officials flout norms in Ranthambore Anindo Dey, TNN
JAIPUR: For Ranthambore National Park, VIP tourists and flouting of norms seem to go hand in hand. Recently a park official, while escorting a VIP tourist, chose to meander off the safari track on hot trail of a tiger, much to the amazement of others. The official, a ranger, choose to enter no-go areas in zone number 4 in Lakarda to please his tourist friends, said a witness.
"The patrol vehicle the ranger was in, along with his friends, spotted a tiger and started following it. The vehicle then went off the safari tracks into the grass much to the amazement of other tourists who were in the same area then," he said.
"Seeing the vehicle follow the tiger, an American tourist who was close by also wanted his guides to go in the same direction. But the guides explained it was against the rules. The American enquired as to why the other jeep had gone that way and he had to be told that there was an official in it and so he was free' to do what he wanted," he said.
The tourist then clicked a picture of the jeep and intimated wildlife activists. "How do you propose to impose laws and rules to such places where the rulers themselves are unruly? If officials of the department flout rules of conservation, then what do you expect from ordinary people?" asked an activist.
In August last year, even when the park remained on its annual closure, 40 tourists aboard luxury train Palace on Wheels were allowed to go inside the park for tiger-sighting.
In October last year, during the wedding of British comedian Russell Brand and US pop singer Katy Perry, complaints of noise pollution and the couple entering the park premises with commodities which are strictly banned were reported.
"Not just this, officials often choose to take their guests to prime zones even if they do not get it by default. According to the rules, the zones are allotted on a rotational basis. But rules just apply to commoners and not the VIPs or officials," said a source.
However, officials of the department denied the allegations. "All rules are strictly adhered to by one and all. In the event someone has done something wrong, we will look into it and act suitably," said an official.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/To-appease-VIP-tourists-officials-flout-norms-in-Ranthambore/articleshow/7643023.cms
"The patrol vehicle the ranger was in, along with his friends, spotted a tiger and started following it. The vehicle then went off the safari tracks into the grass much to the amazement of other tourists who were in the same area then," he said.
"Seeing the vehicle follow the tiger, an American tourist who was close by also wanted his guides to go in the same direction. But the guides explained it was against the rules. The American enquired as to why the other jeep had gone that way and he had to be told that there was an official in it and so he was free' to do what he wanted," he said.
The tourist then clicked a picture of the jeep and intimated wildlife activists. "How do you propose to impose laws and rules to such places where the rulers themselves are unruly? If officials of the department flout rules of conservation, then what do you expect from ordinary people?" asked an activist.
In August last year, even when the park remained on its annual closure, 40 tourists aboard luxury train Palace on Wheels were allowed to go inside the park for tiger-sighting.
In October last year, during the wedding of British comedian Russell Brand and US pop singer Katy Perry, complaints of noise pollution and the couple entering the park premises with commodities which are strictly banned were reported.
"Not just this, officials often choose to take their guests to prime zones even if they do not get it by default. According to the rules, the zones are allotted on a rotational basis. But rules just apply to commoners and not the VIPs or officials," said a source.
However, officials of the department denied the allegations. "All rules are strictly adhered to by one and all. In the event someone has done something wrong, we will look into it and act suitably," said an official.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/To-appease-VIP-tourists-officials-flout-norms-in-Ranthambore/articleshow/7643023.cms
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