JAIPUR: While there is reason enough for the forest department to rejoice the increasing tiger population in the state, its inaction over bringing back big cats that have strayed out of the forest has irked conservationists. The rebuff comes in the wake of little efforts from the department in bringing back a five-year-old tigress that had strayed to Kota from the Ranthambore tiger reserve.
"That it's a tigress is a reason to worry. While it may be common for sub-adult males to stray into areas outside the park but this big cat is a female that can become a mother. Therefore it is not just a question of one tigress but also the litter of cubs she produces," a conservationist said. In January 2010, the tigress had moved out of the Ranthambore tiger reserve. A team of officials had been hot on its trail in January. But with the tiger settling down in the ravines of the Kalisind river on the border of Kota and Baran districts, there has been little effort in bringing it back.
Sub-adults, especially males stray out of the forest in search of a territory. They generally return but this tigress hasn't.
It may be natural for tigers to stray out but there is a fear of poaching, too.
"The Kota tigress is a potential mother and could have added to the baby boom that the park has seen this year," he added. The Ranthambore national park after a dry year when no cubs were born, this year had 17 cubs taking the estimated population of the big cat in the park to about 50. A census is on at the park.
There are at least five tigers that have been missing from the park and three tigers have migrated to other areas. The missing tigers are T-21 or the Chiroli male, T-27 or the Gilai Sagar female, T-29 of Berda, T-40 or the Berda male and T-43 the second Jhailkho male cub. And the strayed ones are T-35 a tigress which is in Kota, T-38 or the Sultanpur male that has migrated to Kuno in Madhya Pradesh while T-47 has made Dholpur its home.
Officials of the department while accepting that not much effort was being made in this regard, assured that the tigress was fine. "The tigress is being monitored and she is okay," the officials said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Kota-tigress-Tardy-relocation-bid-irks-conservationists/articleshow/9020952.cms
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Sariska’s future tense
CONSERVATION
Sariska’s future tense
The Sariska National Park is facing a bleak future. Based on prey base and habitat, Sariska can easily accommodate more than 40 tigers. Plans are now on to relocate more tigers to Sariska, but tiger lovers are hoping that the government realises that given the dwindling tiger population in the country, this is not the best time to experiment. In the present conditions, tigers are still not safe, observes Navnith Krishnan
Aflurry of alarm calls reverberating through the valley alerted us. The setting sun gave it an eerie background. Sambhars started giving vent to their unmistakable dhunks.
Peacocks took to the trees with their hoarse cries. Higher up on the trees, langurs were ducking their heads up and down, and warning others with their sounds.
All indicated the presence of a predator on the move. The Aravalli Ranges stood like a mute spectator to this daily drama. We were in the Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan.
The tiger monitoring group had told us about the presence of the female tiger ST2 and the male ST4 in that area.
These are among the many tigers relocated here from Ranthambhore. We strained our necks looking for the elusive cat. Time stood still. Our driver, Jagdish, was the first to spot the tigress as she majestically strode on to the road, hardly 30 feet from us. She was ST2. She just looked back at us and walked straight to the water hole.
Nestled in one of the oldest mountain ranges, Aravallis, Sariska National Park, with a total area of more than 800 sq km, is a repository of serene dense forest, wide valleys and sprawling plateaus. With a natural grandeur, it was once the hunting preserve of the Maharajas of Alwar where British royalty, viceroys and dignitaries vied with each other in shooting tigers. All shootings were banned in 1955 when Sariska was declared a wildlife reserve. In 1978, it was declared a tiger reserve and in 1982, a national park.
Vanishing tigers
It was just five years back that Sariska hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons. The state wildlife department was merrily giving out tiger figures every year, and when an intrepid journalist came out with the revelation that there are no tigers left in the Sariska Tiger Reserve, it attracted worldwide attention.
A subsequent CBI enquiry ordered by the Prime Minister and an investigation by the Wildlife Institute of India confirmed the stark truth. How Sariska, with its valleys, forests, water holes, an enormous prey base and a habitat better than even Ranthambhore, lost its tigers is a long story. It was a case of ineptitude, inadequacy and shameful neglect.
To quote the Tiger Task Force, “While officials were busy misreporting the record of tiger numbers, poachers roamed about and cleaned the reserve out.”
Community-related issues
The one and only problem faced by Sariska is the hostile attitude of the villagers — 28 of their hamlets are strewn around the sanctuary; some even inside the core area. These villagers have stuck around the forest area’s main water holes, rearing their cattle. All efforts to relocate them have come to naught.
Closeness to cities like Alwar and easy transportation have made milk trade a roaring business. Added to this is the rearing of goats for meat. The villagers, mostly cattle grazers, have nothing to spend on feeding since these cattle and goats are driven into the sanctuary every day and occasionally tigers get attracted to it.
The government’s compensation of Rs 3,000 for every cattle killed by tigers, villagers say, is grossly inadequate compared to the actual value of more than Rs 20,000. They stick on to these villages in spite of all these disadvantages and carry out revenge killings and poaching. They also join together and scuttle any probe into the killing. For them, it is more profitable.
The bonanza of Rs 10 lakh per family offered as compensation for relocation has no effect on them. Adding to the woes of the villagers and the government is the activism of the so-called human rights NGOs, who advise villagers not to shift unless the compensation is raised to Rs 25 lakh. It is no surprise that out of 28 villages, only one village, Badhani, the smallest of them all, has been relocated completely since the process began.
Relocation from Ranthambore
In their efforts to save the tiger, the government carried out an ambitious programme — to relocate some tigers to Sariska from Ranthambhore. Five tigers, tagged ST1 to ST5, were released into the park in 2008. Skeptics were proved right when the male TS1 was poisoned on November 14, 2010 by villagers as a revenge killing. The government received much flak for this and the field director was shifted.
They have now posted R S Shekhawat as the field director, one of the ablest in the state. One more tiger has been now been relocated from Ranthambhore and has been tagged as ST6. All the tigers are radio collared, are tracked and logged in separate jeeps, round the clock, at high costs.
With hostile villagers located all around the park, forest officers are on tenter hooks. How long can they monitor tigers like this? In Rajesh Gopal, we have a dedicated and hard working Project Tiger Chief, but unless the state government takes more interest and gets these villagers shifted from the park, the future of relocated tigers in Sariska is bleak.
Based on prey base and habitat, Sariska can easily accommodate more than 40 tigers. Plans are now on to relocate more tigers to Sariska. But tiger lovers are hoping that the government realises that given the dwindling tiger population in the country, this is not the best time to experiment, for in the present conditions, tigers are still not safe.
Sariska still offers a bonanza for tourists and nature lovers. The sanctuary is teeming with wildlife. There are more than 7,000 sambhars, an equal number of nilgais, chital, wild boars, striped hyenas, caracals and leopards to quote a few.
It is also blessed with rich avifaunal diversity encompassing more than 211 species of domestic and migratory birds. It also houses 404 plant species. It is of interest to note that 50,000 visitors have visited this park last year alone.
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/171934/sariskas-future-tense.html
Sariska’s future tense
The Sariska National Park is facing a bleak future. Based on prey base and habitat, Sariska can easily accommodate more than 40 tigers. Plans are now on to relocate more tigers to Sariska, but tiger lovers are hoping that the government realises that given the dwindling tiger population in the country, this is not the best time to experiment. In the present conditions, tigers are still not safe, observes Navnith Krishnan
Aflurry of alarm calls reverberating through the valley alerted us. The setting sun gave it an eerie background. Sambhars started giving vent to their unmistakable dhunks.
Peacocks took to the trees with their hoarse cries. Higher up on the trees, langurs were ducking their heads up and down, and warning others with their sounds.
All indicated the presence of a predator on the move. The Aravalli Ranges stood like a mute spectator to this daily drama. We were in the Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan.
The tiger monitoring group had told us about the presence of the female tiger ST2 and the male ST4 in that area.
These are among the many tigers relocated here from Ranthambhore. We strained our necks looking for the elusive cat. Time stood still. Our driver, Jagdish, was the first to spot the tigress as she majestically strode on to the road, hardly 30 feet from us. She was ST2. She just looked back at us and walked straight to the water hole.
Nestled in one of the oldest mountain ranges, Aravallis, Sariska National Park, with a total area of more than 800 sq km, is a repository of serene dense forest, wide valleys and sprawling plateaus. With a natural grandeur, it was once the hunting preserve of the Maharajas of Alwar where British royalty, viceroys and dignitaries vied with each other in shooting tigers. All shootings were banned in 1955 when Sariska was declared a wildlife reserve. In 1978, it was declared a tiger reserve and in 1982, a national park.
Vanishing tigers
It was just five years back that Sariska hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons. The state wildlife department was merrily giving out tiger figures every year, and when an intrepid journalist came out with the revelation that there are no tigers left in the Sariska Tiger Reserve, it attracted worldwide attention.
A subsequent CBI enquiry ordered by the Prime Minister and an investigation by the Wildlife Institute of India confirmed the stark truth. How Sariska, with its valleys, forests, water holes, an enormous prey base and a habitat better than even Ranthambhore, lost its tigers is a long story. It was a case of ineptitude, inadequacy and shameful neglect.
To quote the Tiger Task Force, “While officials were busy misreporting the record of tiger numbers, poachers roamed about and cleaned the reserve out.”
Community-related issues
The one and only problem faced by Sariska is the hostile attitude of the villagers — 28 of their hamlets are strewn around the sanctuary; some even inside the core area. These villagers have stuck around the forest area’s main water holes, rearing their cattle. All efforts to relocate them have come to naught.
Closeness to cities like Alwar and easy transportation have made milk trade a roaring business. Added to this is the rearing of goats for meat. The villagers, mostly cattle grazers, have nothing to spend on feeding since these cattle and goats are driven into the sanctuary every day and occasionally tigers get attracted to it.
The government’s compensation of Rs 3,000 for every cattle killed by tigers, villagers say, is grossly inadequate compared to the actual value of more than Rs 20,000. They stick on to these villages in spite of all these disadvantages and carry out revenge killings and poaching. They also join together and scuttle any probe into the killing. For them, it is more profitable.
The bonanza of Rs 10 lakh per family offered as compensation for relocation has no effect on them. Adding to the woes of the villagers and the government is the activism of the so-called human rights NGOs, who advise villagers not to shift unless the compensation is raised to Rs 25 lakh. It is no surprise that out of 28 villages, only one village, Badhani, the smallest of them all, has been relocated completely since the process began.
Relocation from Ranthambore
In their efforts to save the tiger, the government carried out an ambitious programme — to relocate some tigers to Sariska from Ranthambhore. Five tigers, tagged ST1 to ST5, were released into the park in 2008. Skeptics were proved right when the male TS1 was poisoned on November 14, 2010 by villagers as a revenge killing. The government received much flak for this and the field director was shifted.
They have now posted R S Shekhawat as the field director, one of the ablest in the state. One more tiger has been now been relocated from Ranthambhore and has been tagged as ST6. All the tigers are radio collared, are tracked and logged in separate jeeps, round the clock, at high costs.
With hostile villagers located all around the park, forest officers are on tenter hooks. How long can they monitor tigers like this? In Rajesh Gopal, we have a dedicated and hard working Project Tiger Chief, but unless the state government takes more interest and gets these villagers shifted from the park, the future of relocated tigers in Sariska is bleak.
Based on prey base and habitat, Sariska can easily accommodate more than 40 tigers. Plans are now on to relocate more tigers to Sariska. But tiger lovers are hoping that the government realises that given the dwindling tiger population in the country, this is not the best time to experiment, for in the present conditions, tigers are still not safe.
Sariska still offers a bonanza for tourists and nature lovers. The sanctuary is teeming with wildlife. There are more than 7,000 sambhars, an equal number of nilgais, chital, wild boars, striped hyenas, caracals and leopards to quote a few.
It is also blessed with rich avifaunal diversity encompassing more than 211 species of domestic and migratory birds. It also houses 404 plant species. It is of interest to note that 50,000 visitors have visited this park last year alone.
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/171934/sariskas-future-tense.html
Pench's bid to win locals' trust -TNN
NAGPUR: The Pench national park and tiger reserve has geared up to win trust of stakeholders in a bid to boost forest and tiger conservation.
On Sunday, the park management and a group of doctors named 'Doctors of Wildlife' organized a health check-up camp at Sillari for nine villages in the periphery of the reserve. Conservator of forest and Pench field director A Ashraf informed that 264 villagers were benefited from the camp. Free medicines were also distributed to the villagers.
"It was a small effort but could go a long way in tiger and forest protection. There are 40 villages in Pench buffer and similar camps will be organized post-monsoon for other villages," said Ashraf.
The camp was inaugurated by AK Saxena, additional principal chief conservator of forests (APCCF) for wildlife, East. Dr Ravi Waikar and Dr Anil Pimplapure were also present.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/developmental-issues/Penchs-bid-to-win-locals-trust/articleshow/9019608.cms
On Sunday, the park management and a group of doctors named 'Doctors of Wildlife' organized a health check-up camp at Sillari for nine villages in the periphery of the reserve. Conservator of forest and Pench field director A Ashraf informed that 264 villagers were benefited from the camp. Free medicines were also distributed to the villagers.
"It was a small effort but could go a long way in tiger and forest protection. There are 40 villages in Pench buffer and similar camps will be organized post-monsoon for other villages," said Ashraf.
The camp was inaugurated by AK Saxena, additional principal chief conservator of forests (APCCF) for wildlife, East. Dr Ravi Waikar and Dr Anil Pimplapure were also present.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/developmental-issues/Penchs-bid-to-win-locals-trust/articleshow/9019608.cms
Simlipal launches foundation to boost tiger conservation - AMARENDRA BOSE,TNN
BARIPADA: The Simlipal Tiger Reserve (STR), on the lines of the Corbett, Ranthambhore and Bandipur tiger reserves, has launched the Simlipal Tiger Conservation Foundation (STCF) in a bid to give a boost to tiger conservation and define a niche for the rare animal in the reserve, HS Upadhaya, STR field director said.
The foundation shall be an autonomous body that will facilitate and support tiger conservation and protect the biodiversity of its habitat in Simlipal. It will also take initiatives in eco-development with the active involvement of forest fringe dwellers in the development process, Upadhaya added.
The STCF has been registered under the Registration of Societies Act, 1860 and was approved by the additional registrar of societies on Wednesday. It shall have operational jurisdiction over the STR, which encompasses a total area of 2,750 sq km, and its adjoining landscape with possible corridor value for dispersal of wild animals from the tiger reserve, sources at STR said.
The foundation will use funds from income generated by levying entry fee on tourists besides contributions from other sources in terms of specific projects from national as well as international agencies as permitted by law. It will also use grants received from internal agencies, grants-in-aid, donations or assistance of any kind from any individual or organization, including foreign governments and other external agencies as permitted by law, sources added.
The governing body of the foundation has been constituted with the state's forest and environment minister, Debi Prasad Mishra, as president, the principal secretary of forests and environment, Aurobindo Behera, as vice-president, and the principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) who is also the CWLW (chief wildlife warden), Orissa as member-secretary.
Other members of the governing body include the principal chief conservator of forests (general) Orissa, the field director and deputy director of the STR, two prominent scientists or experts in the field to be nominated by the government, the Jashipur (Mayurbhanj) MLA and the chairperson of zilla parishad, Mayurbhanj and two members of the executive committee of the foundation.
Tigers, elephants, bisons and the unique four-horned chowsinghas are among the larger denizens of Simlipal, while the toothless long-tongued scaly ant-eater, the pangolin, is among the smaller ones. The black Royal Bengal Tiger is yet another important attraction for the visitors as well as researchers visiting the reserve, sources said.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/environment/developmental-issues/simlipal-launches-foundation-to-boost-tiger-conservation/articleshow/9017280.cms
The foundation shall be an autonomous body that will facilitate and support tiger conservation and protect the biodiversity of its habitat in Simlipal. It will also take initiatives in eco-development with the active involvement of forest fringe dwellers in the development process, Upadhaya added.
The STCF has been registered under the Registration of Societies Act, 1860 and was approved by the additional registrar of societies on Wednesday. It shall have operational jurisdiction over the STR, which encompasses a total area of 2,750 sq km, and its adjoining landscape with possible corridor value for dispersal of wild animals from the tiger reserve, sources at STR said.
The foundation will use funds from income generated by levying entry fee on tourists besides contributions from other sources in terms of specific projects from national as well as international agencies as permitted by law. It will also use grants received from internal agencies, grants-in-aid, donations or assistance of any kind from any individual or organization, including foreign governments and other external agencies as permitted by law, sources added.
The governing body of the foundation has been constituted with the state's forest and environment minister, Debi Prasad Mishra, as president, the principal secretary of forests and environment, Aurobindo Behera, as vice-president, and the principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) who is also the CWLW (chief wildlife warden), Orissa as member-secretary.
Other members of the governing body include the principal chief conservator of forests (general) Orissa, the field director and deputy director of the STR, two prominent scientists or experts in the field to be nominated by the government, the Jashipur (Mayurbhanj) MLA and the chairperson of zilla parishad, Mayurbhanj and two members of the executive committee of the foundation.
Tigers, elephants, bisons and the unique four-horned chowsinghas are among the larger denizens of Simlipal, while the toothless long-tongued scaly ant-eater, the pangolin, is among the smaller ones. The black Royal Bengal Tiger is yet another important attraction for the visitors as well as researchers visiting the reserve, sources said.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/environment/developmental-issues/simlipal-launches-foundation-to-boost-tiger-conservation/articleshow/9017280.cms
Monday, June 27, 2011
Sariska to get 3 more tigresses Rajender Sharma, TNN
ALWAR: The Sariska tiger reserve will soon host atleast three more tigeress from Ranthambore. Currently, the reserve has two tigers and three tigeress.
This was stated by Union forest minister Jairam Ramesh during his visit to the reserve. The minister spotted a tiger at the reserve for the first time in his life. "I have been visiting reserves in the country since 1984 but this is for the first time that I have spotted a tiger," the minister said.
Sources revealed that the minister spotted the tiger ST-6. This is the same tiger that had attacked ranger Daulat Singh Shaktawat and had fled to Bharatpur from where it was eventually brought to Sariska.
"In the next two or three months, we will be shifting three more females from Ranthambore," he said. However, Ramesh made it clear that the next male to set foot in the reserve would be from Madhya Pradesh. The minister was worried as no cubs were being born in Sariska for the past four years since the first tiger was relocated.
"It is just not Sariska but there are 13 tigresses out of a total 20 females in Ranthambore which, too, have not littered since the past five to six years. We are worried and have sent scat samples of these tigresses and from some in Sariska to Hyderabad for a hormonal test," he said. .
The ministry has recently sanctioned Rs 2 crore for the purchase of ten 35-seater buses for ferrying passengers from the gates of the sanctuary to Pandupole. A research centre, Kailash Sankhla research centre, would also be set up. The Centre will give various information on wildlife and will serve as a museum too.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Sariska-to-get-3-more-tigresses/articleshow/9006923.cms
This was stated by Union forest minister Jairam Ramesh during his visit to the reserve. The minister spotted a tiger at the reserve for the first time in his life. "I have been visiting reserves in the country since 1984 but this is for the first time that I have spotted a tiger," the minister said.
Sources revealed that the minister spotted the tiger ST-6. This is the same tiger that had attacked ranger Daulat Singh Shaktawat and had fled to Bharatpur from where it was eventually brought to Sariska.
"In the next two or three months, we will be shifting three more females from Ranthambore," he said. However, Ramesh made it clear that the next male to set foot in the reserve would be from Madhya Pradesh. The minister was worried as no cubs were being born in Sariska for the past four years since the first tiger was relocated.
"It is just not Sariska but there are 13 tigresses out of a total 20 females in Ranthambore which, too, have not littered since the past five to six years. We are worried and have sent scat samples of these tigresses and from some in Sariska to Hyderabad for a hormonal test," he said. .
The ministry has recently sanctioned Rs 2 crore for the purchase of ten 35-seater buses for ferrying passengers from the gates of the sanctuary to Pandupole. A research centre, Kailash Sankhla research centre, would also be set up. The Centre will give various information on wildlife and will serve as a museum too.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Sariska-to-get-3-more-tigresses/articleshow/9006923.cms
Eight sentenced to jail for tiger poaching-PTI
Alwar (Rajasthan), Jun 17 (PTI) A local court has awarded seven poachers seven years of imprisonment and another poacher five years in jail for killing a tiger in Sariska reserve in 2002.Additional chief judicial magistrate Himankani Gaud sentenced Zahuru, Ramjan, Hazari, Darra, Fazru, Umardin and Sukka to seven years in jail and Heera Lal was awarded five years of imprisonment.The magistrate also slapped a fine of Rs 1.5 lakh each on Zuhru and Ramjan, Rs 30,000 on Lal and Rs 85,000 on others.The hunters killed the tiger in Sariska and had sold its skin in 2002.
http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/eight-sentenced-to-jail-for-tiger-poaching/739286.html
http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/eight-sentenced-to-jail-for-tiger-poaching/739286.html
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Another tiger enters Sundarban village
Sundarbans (WB), Jun 26 (PTI) A full-grown tiger from the mangrove forest today entered a village in Gosaba area of the Sundarban delta and killed six sheep.
Officials said the tiger came from Pirkhali jungle of Sundarbans Tiger Reserve and swam the Bidya river to prey on livestock at Sonargaon village.
It killed six sheep at a villager''s house.
Forest department officials from Sajnekhali office of the tiger reserve encircled the area with nylon nets and laid a trap to catch the tiger. The animal will be released deep in the jungle after being caught in the trap, forest officials said.
Another tigress that entered Satjelia area of Gosaba delta yesterday to prey on livestock will be released into the jungle today. It was tranquilised by the forest department officials last afternoon.
http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5236380
Officials said the tiger came from Pirkhali jungle of Sundarbans Tiger Reserve and swam the Bidya river to prey on livestock at Sonargaon village.
It killed six sheep at a villager''s house.
Forest department officials from Sajnekhali office of the tiger reserve encircled the area with nylon nets and laid a trap to catch the tiger. The animal will be released deep in the jungle after being caught in the trap, forest officials said.
Another tigress that entered Satjelia area of Gosaba delta yesterday to prey on livestock will be released into the jungle today. It was tranquilised by the forest department officials last afternoon.
http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5236380
Bandhavgarh fencing usurps tiger turf
Moushumi Basu | New Delhi
Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh is slowly getting converted into a zoo. The 108 sq km area covering the twin ranges of Tala and Kallwah in the reserve is being enclosed by chain links or iron mesh fencing.
The purpose, according to the Forest Department, is to minimise man-animal conflict. However, wildlife experts question its rationale. They point out that restricted territories are leading to infighting among the big cats, resulting in deaths of sub-adults. Such a situation can also lead to more and more in-breeding in the long run.
Experts also point out that while fences are able to prevent movement of other wildlife, tigers just jump over them in search of prey, bringing them in conflict with humans more often than not. Prior to fencing, the tigers were free to go out of the reserve area and hunt. Now, the prey base within the reserve, like deer, is fast disappearing.
On May 23, two persons — one man and a woman — were killed near Damna village in Tala range. They were attacked by a tiger while collecting tendu leaves. Local sources said three cubs are often seen moving out of the Mirchaini area of the reserve and venturing into nearby villages.
On June 11, an 18-20 month-old female cub was found dead in the Sukhi Pathiya area. Her death had been caused due to infighting.
“In the above circumstances, what purpose is the chain link fence serving?” asked Saptarishi Saigal, assistant conservator of NGO Save The Stripes.
According to him, the chain link is certainly not controlling man-animal conflict, but is affecting the big cats in two ways. First, confining the boundary of the reserve has put tremendous pressure on them. Battling against shrinking habitat, sub-adults or cubs are being pushed out of protected areas, which is worsening the conflict with humans. “Second, when the tiger is going out of the protected area, then there is also a threat of its getting poached,” Saigal added.
Wildlife experts further contended that such fencing blocks the corridor for tigers and other wildlife. Due to restricted space, it compels sub-adult tigers to stay in their mother’s territory for longer than they should, which, in turn, diminishes the prey base.
“The long-term impact of putting up chain-linking needs to be looked as there have been cases of ungulates not being able to save themselves when chased by predators once they are pushed to the fence,” said tiger expert Belinda Wright.
To add to it, local sources said the fence is also hurting the big cats. Tigress Laxmi injured her leg while another male tiger was also seen with a wire stuck in his paw pad.
However, according to Field Director Bandhavgarh, CK Patil, the chain link fencing has reduced the intrusion of the local villagers into the reserve and it would be further extended.
“It has also checked the entry of cattle into the forest”, he noted.
This was the very purpose for which the fence was erected. The human pressure was increasing every day and there had to be some way out to keep them at bay, he said. According to him the success of the chain link lies in the fact that that today agricultural fields have extended right up to the fencing area. Earlier, it would be at least 400-500 metres away.
Acknowledging the fact that the tigers are moving out, he said it was inevitable. Pointing to the shrinking habitat, he added that the reserve can accommodate about 15 male tigers, an average area of territory being 30 sq kms-40 sq kms. “It is but natural that the tigers would move out. The fence is barely 2 metres in height, which can not anyway stop tigers,” he said.
http://www.dailypioneer.com/348563/Bandhavgarh-fencing-usurps-tiger-turf.html
Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh is slowly getting converted into a zoo. The 108 sq km area covering the twin ranges of Tala and Kallwah in the reserve is being enclosed by chain links or iron mesh fencing.
The purpose, according to the Forest Department, is to minimise man-animal conflict. However, wildlife experts question its rationale. They point out that restricted territories are leading to infighting among the big cats, resulting in deaths of sub-adults. Such a situation can also lead to more and more in-breeding in the long run.
Experts also point out that while fences are able to prevent movement of other wildlife, tigers just jump over them in search of prey, bringing them in conflict with humans more often than not. Prior to fencing, the tigers were free to go out of the reserve area and hunt. Now, the prey base within the reserve, like deer, is fast disappearing.
On May 23, two persons — one man and a woman — were killed near Damna village in Tala range. They were attacked by a tiger while collecting tendu leaves. Local sources said three cubs are often seen moving out of the Mirchaini area of the reserve and venturing into nearby villages.
On June 11, an 18-20 month-old female cub was found dead in the Sukhi Pathiya area. Her death had been caused due to infighting.
“In the above circumstances, what purpose is the chain link fence serving?” asked Saptarishi Saigal, assistant conservator of NGO Save The Stripes.
According to him, the chain link is certainly not controlling man-animal conflict, but is affecting the big cats in two ways. First, confining the boundary of the reserve has put tremendous pressure on them. Battling against shrinking habitat, sub-adults or cubs are being pushed out of protected areas, which is worsening the conflict with humans. “Second, when the tiger is going out of the protected area, then there is also a threat of its getting poached,” Saigal added.
Wildlife experts further contended that such fencing blocks the corridor for tigers and other wildlife. Due to restricted space, it compels sub-adult tigers to stay in their mother’s territory for longer than they should, which, in turn, diminishes the prey base.
“The long-term impact of putting up chain-linking needs to be looked as there have been cases of ungulates not being able to save themselves when chased by predators once they are pushed to the fence,” said tiger expert Belinda Wright.
To add to it, local sources said the fence is also hurting the big cats. Tigress Laxmi injured her leg while another male tiger was also seen with a wire stuck in his paw pad.
However, according to Field Director Bandhavgarh, CK Patil, the chain link fencing has reduced the intrusion of the local villagers into the reserve and it would be further extended.
“It has also checked the entry of cattle into the forest”, he noted.
This was the very purpose for which the fence was erected. The human pressure was increasing every day and there had to be some way out to keep them at bay, he said. According to him the success of the chain link lies in the fact that that today agricultural fields have extended right up to the fencing area. Earlier, it would be at least 400-500 metres away.
Acknowledging the fact that the tigers are moving out, he said it was inevitable. Pointing to the shrinking habitat, he added that the reserve can accommodate about 15 male tigers, an average area of territory being 30 sq kms-40 sq kms. “It is but natural that the tigers would move out. The fence is barely 2 metres in height, which can not anyway stop tigers,” he said.
http://www.dailypioneer.com/348563/Bandhavgarh-fencing-usurps-tiger-turf.html
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Rise in tiger attacks on cattle in B R Hills - Indian Express
MYSORE: The increase in tiger attacks on cattle in residential areas has worried public in Biligiriranaga Betta (B R Hills). Tigers that entered PWD guest house premises, Sericulture department offices, Raghavendra Mutt and bus stand have injured cows, forcing people to stay doors.The movements of an aged tiger hunting cattle for its survival is frequently seen in the last 15 days. A tiger has attacked two cows grazing in sericulture office premises on Tuesday. However, the cattle were rescued from the public and its owner who raised an alarm scare the tiger.An increase in the attacks on cattle and people has created panic among the public. The felling of trees in revenue land to construct resorts destroying vegetation has forced wild animals to enter residential areas. The Forest Department has not restricted the development activities or construction of resorts as it falls under revenue land.Meanwhile, reports say that about 80 cows and calves have been attacked and killed by tigers and leopards in the fringe of the forest in recent months. The residents have not shown interest in claiming compensation accusing that the Forest Department pays `3,000 as against the actual value of `12,000 on the death of a cow. The cattle owners are forced to run from pillar to post to get their compensation. Meanwhile, RFO Nagraj said that they have received complaints of tigers sighted in residential areas. He said that they have taken initiatives to chase away tigers into the forest and ensure safety of the public.
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/rise-in-tiger-attacks-on-cattle-in-b-r-hills/161945-60-115.html
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/rise-in-tiger-attacks-on-cattle-in-b-r-hills/161945-60-115.html
Tiger's death due to ‘strangulation'
The tiger that was found dead at the Metikuppe range of Nagarahole National Park is suspected to have been caught in a snare.
The four-year-old tiger, which was found on Monday, reportedly had strangulation marks on its neck. Its injuries suggested that it had tried to wriggle out of the trap.
Sources said Forest Department officials agreed that death could be due to strangulation, but were unconvinced that it was a case of poaching. They said snares were laid for wild boars.
Meanwhile, wildlife activists allege that this line of argument would only suppress the figures on tiger deaths. It was well known that a metal snare could trap any wild animal, they pointed out. Besides, the carcass was found far from agricultural fields, near the forest, indicating that it was a trap set by poachers, they said.
The sources said the snares believed to have trapped the animal could not be found.
The incident has raised fresh concern about the presence of poachers in the Bandipur and Nagarahole national parks.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/karnataka/article2126600.ece
The four-year-old tiger, which was found on Monday, reportedly had strangulation marks on its neck. Its injuries suggested that it had tried to wriggle out of the trap.
Sources said Forest Department officials agreed that death could be due to strangulation, but were unconvinced that it was a case of poaching. They said snares were laid for wild boars.
Meanwhile, wildlife activists allege that this line of argument would only suppress the figures on tiger deaths. It was well known that a metal snare could trap any wild animal, they pointed out. Besides, the carcass was found far from agricultural fields, near the forest, indicating that it was a trap set by poachers, they said.
The sources said the snares believed to have trapped the animal could not be found.
The incident has raised fresh concern about the presence of poachers in the Bandipur and Nagarahole national parks.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/karnataka/article2126600.ece
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Tiger reserve tag likely for Kawwal wildlife sanctuary TNN
Read More:Assembly Speaker Nadendla Manohar|Adilabad District
HYDERABAD: Assembly Speaker Nadendla Manohar on Monday said that the Centre had in principle agreed to accord tiger reserve status for Kawwal wildlife sanctuary in Adilabad district.
Kawwal wildlife sanctuary, situated 260 km from here, was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1965 and is the oldest one in the state. This would be the second tiger reserve in the state after the Nagarjunasagar tiger reserve.
The Speaker, who is the chairman of AP legislature committee on wildlife and forests, said the central and state governments had promptly responded to their pleas on this issue. He said a request to develop the santuary at a cost of Rs 25 crore has been forwarded to the Centre.
The Speaker said nearly 62 families that would be affected will be relocated with proper relief and rehabilitation measures.
Couple of months back, animal rights activist Amala Akkineni called on Manohar urging him to take steps to ensure that the tiger habitat in Kawwal wildlife sanctuary was protected.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Tiger-reserve-tag-likely-for-Kawwal-wildlife-sanctuary/articleshow/8930413.cms
HYDERABAD: Assembly Speaker Nadendla Manohar on Monday said that the Centre had in principle agreed to accord tiger reserve status for Kawwal wildlife sanctuary in Adilabad district.
Kawwal wildlife sanctuary, situated 260 km from here, was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1965 and is the oldest one in the state. This would be the second tiger reserve in the state after the Nagarjunasagar tiger reserve.
The Speaker, who is the chairman of AP legislature committee on wildlife and forests, said the central and state governments had promptly responded to their pleas on this issue. He said a request to develop the santuary at a cost of Rs 25 crore has been forwarded to the Centre.
The Speaker said nearly 62 families that would be affected will be relocated with proper relief and rehabilitation measures.
Couple of months back, animal rights activist Amala Akkineni called on Manohar urging him to take steps to ensure that the tiger habitat in Kawwal wildlife sanctuary was protected.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Tiger-reserve-tag-likely-for-Kawwal-wildlife-sanctuary/articleshow/8930413.cms
Tadoba to remain closed partially Vijay Pinjarkar, TNN
NAGPUR: The meeting called on Monday to discuss the closure of Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) during the rainy season seems to have ended up without any final decision being taken by the chief wildlife warden S K Khetarpal. Repeated attempts to contact Khetarpal proved futile.
However, it is learnt that Tadoba would not remain completely closed. The PCCF (wildlife) seems to have made up his mind to keep the 15-km tar road patch from Moharli to Tadoba open for tourists.
Field director VK Sinha has been asked to provide data of vehicles of private and tour operators to know whether stakeholders stand to lose anything. He will be submitting the carrying capacity in this patch and only that many vehicles will then be allowed.
It could not be ascertained if vehicles from other Kolara and Kolsa gates would be allowed.
Forest, NHAI officials to visit site again: The talks between the wildlife wing officials and the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) on Monday came to naught with no solution on saving the tiger corridor between Navegaon and Nagzira due to four-laning.
While forest officials stuck to their demand of constructing open span bridges (flyovers) in five vulnerable patches on NH6, the NHAI consultant and retired chief wildlife warden RN Indurkar was firm that the design suggested by him for underpasses for wildlife was suitable.
Khetarpal is learnt to have asked forest officials to make another site visit to the vulnerable patches and submit a report. Accordingly, a team will now visit the spots on June 30. Based on its report, Khetarpal will send his comments to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
Monday's meeting was attended by additional PCCFs AK Saxena, Nand Kishore, NHAI project director Naresh Wadetwar, chief conservator (CCF) for Nagpur Circle C R Gajbhiye and deputy conservator (DyCF) Mukesh Ganatra, ACF Kishore Mishrikotkar and Prafulla Bhamburkar, manager of WTI.
The patches where flyovers or underpasses need to be constructed constitute most important corridor vital for the movement of wild animals. "It is back to square one now as the process will be started from zero. The mitigation measures (culvert boxes) proposed by the NHAI do not at all satisfy the needs of the wild animals," said Bhamburkar.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Tadoba-to-remain-closed-partially/articleshow/8930910.cms
However, it is learnt that Tadoba would not remain completely closed. The PCCF (wildlife) seems to have made up his mind to keep the 15-km tar road patch from Moharli to Tadoba open for tourists.
Field director VK Sinha has been asked to provide data of vehicles of private and tour operators to know whether stakeholders stand to lose anything. He will be submitting the carrying capacity in this patch and only that many vehicles will then be allowed.
It could not be ascertained if vehicles from other Kolara and Kolsa gates would be allowed.
Forest, NHAI officials to visit site again: The talks between the wildlife wing officials and the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) on Monday came to naught with no solution on saving the tiger corridor between Navegaon and Nagzira due to four-laning.
While forest officials stuck to their demand of constructing open span bridges (flyovers) in five vulnerable patches on NH6, the NHAI consultant and retired chief wildlife warden RN Indurkar was firm that the design suggested by him for underpasses for wildlife was suitable.
Khetarpal is learnt to have asked forest officials to make another site visit to the vulnerable patches and submit a report. Accordingly, a team will now visit the spots on June 30. Based on its report, Khetarpal will send his comments to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
Monday's meeting was attended by additional PCCFs AK Saxena, Nand Kishore, NHAI project director Naresh Wadetwar, chief conservator (CCF) for Nagpur Circle C R Gajbhiye and deputy conservator (DyCF) Mukesh Ganatra, ACF Kishore Mishrikotkar and Prafulla Bhamburkar, manager of WTI.
The patches where flyovers or underpasses need to be constructed constitute most important corridor vital for the movement of wild animals. "It is back to square one now as the process will be started from zero. The mitigation measures (culvert boxes) proposed by the NHAI do not at all satisfy the needs of the wild animals," said Bhamburkar.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Tadoba-to-remain-closed-partially/articleshow/8930910.cms
Fire incidents dip in the Melghat tiger reserve TNN
AMRAVATI: Due to the efforts of the officials and employees, incidents of fire have dropped considerably in the Melghat tiger reserve.
Every year, the flora and fauna of the reserve gets damaged because of summer fires. In 2007, around 15,159 hectares (7.5%) was destroyed. This year, the figure has come down to 6485.5 hectares (3.2%).
Generally, the high temperature in summer leads to forest fires but human interference too plays a part. Taking note of the alarming rise in fire incidents, the PCCF of Nagpur had in 2005 constituted a committee to curb the menace. The committee had given certain suggestions which were implemented.
Since the last two years, director of the Melghat Tiger Project, AK Mishra too has been working hard. Fire control squads comprising labourers and regional employees were formed. The department also provided equipment to fight the fires.
When the officials learnt that tribals were setting parts of the jungle afire to extract gum from trees, the department imposed a ban on the practice in the Ambarawa sanctuary. The department also came down on employees remaining absent during the fire season.
Talking to ToI, Mishra said that incidents of fire in Melghat was a matter of concern as animals and plants were getting destroyed.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Fire-incidents-dip-in-the-Melghat-tiger-reserve/articleshow/8917877.cms
Every year, the flora and fauna of the reserve gets damaged because of summer fires. In 2007, around 15,159 hectares (7.5%) was destroyed. This year, the figure has come down to 6485.5 hectares (3.2%).
Generally, the high temperature in summer leads to forest fires but human interference too plays a part. Taking note of the alarming rise in fire incidents, the PCCF of Nagpur had in 2005 constituted a committee to curb the menace. The committee had given certain suggestions which were implemented.
Since the last two years, director of the Melghat Tiger Project, AK Mishra too has been working hard. Fire control squads comprising labourers and regional employees were formed. The department also provided equipment to fight the fires.
When the officials learnt that tribals were setting parts of the jungle afire to extract gum from trees, the department imposed a ban on the practice in the Ambarawa sanctuary. The department also came down on employees remaining absent during the fire season.
Talking to ToI, Mishra said that incidents of fire in Melghat was a matter of concern as animals and plants were getting destroyed.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Fire-incidents-dip-in-the-Melghat-tiger-reserve/articleshow/8917877.cms
Tourism takes a plunge in Red-hit Simlipal reserve, TNN
BARIPADA: Tourist flow to the famous tiger abode in Simlipal Tiger Reserve (STR) has nosedived from 20,743 in 2008-09 to 9,712 in 2010-11.
A series of Maoist attacks in Simlipal on March 28, 2009 kept the tiger reserve off tourist bounds from March 29, 2009 to December 21, 2010. The forest department, however, decided to keep the reserve open for day tourism only from December 16, 2010 with strict instructions to the visitor to leave the area before evening.
The park was closed to visitors on June 16 due to monsoon, thus allowing only 181 days for the visitors to enjoy the vibrant nature in its pristine glory in Simlipal from December 16, 2010 to June 15, 2011.
The collection of revenue from wildlife tourism in Simlipal from a record Rs.26,98,952 collected in 2008-09 dropped to Rs 6,84,020 too during 2010-11, as disclosed at the sixth general body meeting of the Simlipal Eco- tourism Society (SES) held at Baripada on Saturday afternoon under the presidentship of H S Upadhyay, field director of the STR-cum-president of the society.
The revenue from wildlife tourism dropped by nearly rupees twenty lakhs, as there was a decline in the number of foreign tourists too fom 182 in 2008-09 to only 49 during the 2010-2011 tourism season.
http://m.timesofindia.com/city/bhubaneswar/Tourism-takes-a-plunge-in-Red-hit-Simlipal-reserve/articleshow/8918091.cms
A series of Maoist attacks in Simlipal on March 28, 2009 kept the tiger reserve off tourist bounds from March 29, 2009 to December 21, 2010. The forest department, however, decided to keep the reserve open for day tourism only from December 16, 2010 with strict instructions to the visitor to leave the area before evening.
The park was closed to visitors on June 16 due to monsoon, thus allowing only 181 days for the visitors to enjoy the vibrant nature in its pristine glory in Simlipal from December 16, 2010 to June 15, 2011.
The collection of revenue from wildlife tourism in Simlipal from a record Rs.26,98,952 collected in 2008-09 dropped to Rs 6,84,020 too during 2010-11, as disclosed at the sixth general body meeting of the Simlipal Eco- tourism Society (SES) held at Baripada on Saturday afternoon under the presidentship of H S Upadhyay, field director of the STR-cum-president of the society.
The revenue from wildlife tourism dropped by nearly rupees twenty lakhs, as there was a decline in the number of foreign tourists too fom 182 in 2008-09 to only 49 during the 2010-2011 tourism season.
http://m.timesofindia.com/city/bhubaneswar/Tourism-takes-a-plunge-in-Red-hit-Simlipal-reserve/articleshow/8918091.cms
Monday, June 20, 2011
'Relocation of people from tiger reserves in process'
PUNE: The process of relocating local people from notified core or critical tiger habitats of tiger reserves is currently underway in the state, said forest minister Patangrao Kadam .
Kadam said rehabilitating locals from Melghat Tiger Reserve is in the process and an amount of Rs 10 lakh per family is given for voluntary rehabilitation.
Speaking at Vanmahotsav, organised by the Pune forest department, at the Bharatiya Vidyapeeth Gramin Hospital, Lavale village, Mulshi taluka, on Sunday,
Kadam said the tiger population in the state has increased to 66, and the overall increase in the country is 218 .
The regional office of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) will soon be operational in Nagpur and it will ensure that the NTCA guidelines are implemented effectively and there is better cooperation between the tiger states, he said.
Kadam said his department aims to plant 13 crore saplings across the state this year. This will be carried out by all departments concerned . The steps are in tune with the National Environment Policy's target of achieving 33 per cent forest cover. At present, the state has a 22 per cent land under forests. On tree felling, the minister said the ban on felling trees has helped maintain existing tree density and increase the forest cover.
M K Rao, conservator of forest (wildlife), said the demarcation of core and buffer zones of Sahyadri Tiger Reserve is going on. It will follow a proposal for notification of core and buffer areas. It will take another six months to finalise the core areas. The rehabilitation of local people is in process in Satara, he said.
A S K Sinha, conservator of forest (territorial), Pune, said rampant tree felling is reported from private lands in Konkan region and Marathwada districts. Committees have been formed to look into this matter.
Last year, 3.53 crore saplings were planted in the state, which was beyond the target of 2.90 crore. This year, the forest department's target is to plant 3.70 crore saplings and the social forestry has set a target of 80 ,000, said Sinha. He said Vanmohatsav is celebrated to create awareness on conservation of forests. A total of 25,000 trees will be planted in Lavale village by the department , he said.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/environment/flora-fauna/relocation-of-people-from-tiger-reserves-in-process/articleshow/8920539.cms
Kadam said rehabilitating locals from Melghat Tiger Reserve is in the process and an amount of Rs 10 lakh per family is given for voluntary rehabilitation.
Speaking at Vanmahotsav, organised by the Pune forest department, at the Bharatiya Vidyapeeth Gramin Hospital, Lavale village, Mulshi taluka, on Sunday,
Kadam said the tiger population in the state has increased to 66, and the overall increase in the country is 218 .
The regional office of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) will soon be operational in Nagpur and it will ensure that the NTCA guidelines are implemented effectively and there is better cooperation between the tiger states, he said.
Kadam said his department aims to plant 13 crore saplings across the state this year. This will be carried out by all departments concerned . The steps are in tune with the National Environment Policy's target of achieving 33 per cent forest cover. At present, the state has a 22 per cent land under forests. On tree felling, the minister said the ban on felling trees has helped maintain existing tree density and increase the forest cover.
M K Rao, conservator of forest (wildlife), said the demarcation of core and buffer zones of Sahyadri Tiger Reserve is going on. It will follow a proposal for notification of core and buffer areas. It will take another six months to finalise the core areas. The rehabilitation of local people is in process in Satara, he said.
A S K Sinha, conservator of forest (territorial), Pune, said rampant tree felling is reported from private lands in Konkan region and Marathwada districts. Committees have been formed to look into this matter.
Last year, 3.53 crore saplings were planted in the state, which was beyond the target of 2.90 crore. This year, the forest department's target is to plant 3.70 crore saplings and the social forestry has set a target of 80 ,000, said Sinha. He said Vanmohatsav is celebrated to create awareness on conservation of forests. A total of 25,000 trees will be planted in Lavale village by the department , he said.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/environment/flora-fauna/relocation-of-people-from-tiger-reserves-in-process/articleshow/8920539.cms
'Protect wildlife interest in NH6 widening' Vijay Pinjarkar, TNN
NAGPUR: Ahead of Monday's meeting to discuss mitigation measures for wildlife on National Highway 6 between Deori and Sakoli, Kishor Rithe, member, National Board for Wild Life (NBWL), has called for more scientific and technically advanced approach to deal with the road widening issue in view of tiger crisis.
In a letter to S K Khetarpal, PCCF (wildlife), Rithe said the issue was serious and needed to be resolved for ensuring tiger landscape connectivity in Central India. Looking at the corridor value of the patches between Sakoli and Deori which would be cut by widening work, on October 8, 2010, an expert committee had made certain recommendations.
However, NHAI seems to be underestimating the seriousness of the threat to wildlife, specially the tiger. Wildlife and NHAI officials will discuss the issue on Monday. Khetarpal has to send his comments to the NTCA on the NHAI report.
Rithe said large and wide-ranging carnivores faced huge threat and more constant declines than most other mammals. One of the reasons is linear intrusion like canals, roads and highways constructed without consideration of biological aspects.
Tiger scientist like Dr Alan Rabinowitz suggests GIS based models for identifying corridors and later designing site-specific plans to deal with the linear intrusion issues. "When National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) are working on such policies, states also need to take such issues more seriously. Hence, I really appreciate the efforts put by your office to ensure this," said Rithe.
In the US, the government departments have adopted an integrated approach to reduce the negative impact of projects on wildlife. "I expect that NHAI consultant should focus on target species in the area and using GIS and biological inputs, should produce more practical and site specific mitigation report," urged Rithe. "If it is not so, your office should not allow such project to come up," he demanded.
The Wildilife Trust of India (WTI) was first to raise the issue and has taken up the matter with the Supreme Court's centrally empowered committee (CEC). An affidavit filed by the Chhattisgarh government recently demanded construction of flyovers in the affected patch on their side.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Protect-wildlife-interest-in-NH6-widening/articleshow/8918216.cms
In a letter to S K Khetarpal, PCCF (wildlife), Rithe said the issue was serious and needed to be resolved for ensuring tiger landscape connectivity in Central India. Looking at the corridor value of the patches between Sakoli and Deori which would be cut by widening work, on October 8, 2010, an expert committee had made certain recommendations.
However, NHAI seems to be underestimating the seriousness of the threat to wildlife, specially the tiger. Wildlife and NHAI officials will discuss the issue on Monday. Khetarpal has to send his comments to the NTCA on the NHAI report.
Rithe said large and wide-ranging carnivores faced huge threat and more constant declines than most other mammals. One of the reasons is linear intrusion like canals, roads and highways constructed without consideration of biological aspects.
Tiger scientist like Dr Alan Rabinowitz suggests GIS based models for identifying corridors and later designing site-specific plans to deal with the linear intrusion issues. "When National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) are working on such policies, states also need to take such issues more seriously. Hence, I really appreciate the efforts put by your office to ensure this," said Rithe.
In the US, the government departments have adopted an integrated approach to reduce the negative impact of projects on wildlife. "I expect that NHAI consultant should focus on target species in the area and using GIS and biological inputs, should produce more practical and site specific mitigation report," urged Rithe. "If it is not so, your office should not allow such project to come up," he demanded.
The Wildilife Trust of India (WTI) was first to raise the issue and has taken up the matter with the Supreme Court's centrally empowered committee (CEC). An affidavit filed by the Chhattisgarh government recently demanded construction of flyovers in the affected patch on their side.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Protect-wildlife-interest-in-NH6-widening/articleshow/8918216.cms
Should TATR be shut during rains? Vijay Pinjarkar /, TNN
The 625 sq km Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), the only tiger reserve in India to remain open even during the rainy season, may be closed for tourists during monsoon. In the past 35 years, this will be for the first time that the park will be closed for tourists.
Although a decision in this regard is expected to be taken by the chief wildlife warden SK Khetarpal in a day or two, the forest officials' perspective of closing the park is scientific and based on tiger conservation.
They feel that the park closure will help them divert attention from tourism activity to better management and protection. Khetarpal has already said that he favoured the closure of the park for a shorter period when there are heavy rains.
On the contrary, tour operators and stakeholders feel the park's closure will hamper protection and will mean vacation for the field staff which doesn't move even during the routine course. It shouldn't end up with nothing happening - tourism nor conservation and protection.
As there are many pros and cons, the debate rages. TOI's Vijay Pinjarkar presents the views of the stakeholders, officials and experts.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Should-TATR-be-shut-during-rains/articleshow/8918243.cms
Although a decision in this regard is expected to be taken by the chief wildlife warden SK Khetarpal in a day or two, the forest officials' perspective of closing the park is scientific and based on tiger conservation.
They feel that the park closure will help them divert attention from tourism activity to better management and protection. Khetarpal has already said that he favoured the closure of the park for a shorter period when there are heavy rains.
On the contrary, tour operators and stakeholders feel the park's closure will hamper protection and will mean vacation for the field staff which doesn't move even during the routine course. It shouldn't end up with nothing happening - tourism nor conservation and protection.
As there are many pros and cons, the debate rages. TOI's Vijay Pinjarkar presents the views of the stakeholders, officials and experts.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Should-TATR-be-shut-during-rains/articleshow/8918243.cms
Centre gives nod to Kudremukh tiger reserve Ajith Athrady, DHNS
There has been no reply from Karnataka government: Jairam
Amid stiff opposition from the State government against including ten sites of Western Ghats for natural heritage property tag from Unesco, the Centre has given in-principle approval to declare Kudremukh National Park (KNP) as the fifth tiger reserve in Karnataka.
The KNP, is one among the 10 sties in Western Ghats in Karnataka, which was recommended to the world body seeking heritage status. Kudremukh, spread across Chikmagalur (110 sq km), Hassan (130 sq km), Dakshina Kannada (70 sq km) and Udupi (50 sq km) districts, will be the 41st tiger reserve in the country.
Disclosing the government decision, Union Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh told Deccan Herald that “though since last one and half months I have been asking the Karnataka government to submit a detailed report to enable the ministry to release required financial assistance, I have not received any reply from other end. I hope the state government will not oppose the tiger reserve status and submit a detailed project report to take advantage of the scheme to protect wildlife treasure,” he said.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), an organisation working under the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF), had decided to give in-principle approval for tiger reserve to a total of six national parks, including KNP and the same has been communicated to the states. After getting a detailed report about the areas and required infrastructure, the ministry will issue a formal notification to this effect.
According to the minister, the declaration of Kudremukh as a tiger reserve would help the state get Central aid under the Project Tiger to facilitate relocation of families. Nearly 450 families in the vicinity have requested the state government to relocate them and 12 families were shifted last year, the minister said.
Earlier while seeking the tiger reserve tag, the Karnataka Forest Department had informed the MoEF that an area of around 600.32 sq km can be brought under the ambit of the project. The MoEF has already declared Bandipur, Bhadra, Dandeli-Anasi, Nagarhole and Biligiri Ranganathaswamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary as tiger reserves in the State.
Kudremukh reserve has unique tropical evergreen forests and high altitude grasslands with highly endangered and wildlife species, including tigers, leopards and wild dogs. This apart, the park is home for more than 169 species of birds of which eight are endemic to the Western Ghats. It also houses around 50 species of reptiles and 34 species of amphibians.
According to the last all-India tiger census, the Kudremukh-Bhadra landscape has one of the three distinct tiger populations existing in Karnataka which extends up to the Bhimsankar area of Maharashtra, the minister said.
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/170087/centre-gives-nod-kudremukh-tiger.html
Amid stiff opposition from the State government against including ten sites of Western Ghats for natural heritage property tag from Unesco, the Centre has given in-principle approval to declare Kudremukh National Park (KNP) as the fifth tiger reserve in Karnataka.
The KNP, is one among the 10 sties in Western Ghats in Karnataka, which was recommended to the world body seeking heritage status. Kudremukh, spread across Chikmagalur (110 sq km), Hassan (130 sq km), Dakshina Kannada (70 sq km) and Udupi (50 sq km) districts, will be the 41st tiger reserve in the country.
Disclosing the government decision, Union Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh told Deccan Herald that “though since last one and half months I have been asking the Karnataka government to submit a detailed report to enable the ministry to release required financial assistance, I have not received any reply from other end. I hope the state government will not oppose the tiger reserve status and submit a detailed project report to take advantage of the scheme to protect wildlife treasure,” he said.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), an organisation working under the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF), had decided to give in-principle approval for tiger reserve to a total of six national parks, including KNP and the same has been communicated to the states. After getting a detailed report about the areas and required infrastructure, the ministry will issue a formal notification to this effect.
According to the minister, the declaration of Kudremukh as a tiger reserve would help the state get Central aid under the Project Tiger to facilitate relocation of families. Nearly 450 families in the vicinity have requested the state government to relocate them and 12 families were shifted last year, the minister said.
Earlier while seeking the tiger reserve tag, the Karnataka Forest Department had informed the MoEF that an area of around 600.32 sq km can be brought under the ambit of the project. The MoEF has already declared Bandipur, Bhadra, Dandeli-Anasi, Nagarhole and Biligiri Ranganathaswamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary as tiger reserves in the State.
Kudremukh reserve has unique tropical evergreen forests and high altitude grasslands with highly endangered and wildlife species, including tigers, leopards and wild dogs. This apart, the park is home for more than 169 species of birds of which eight are endemic to the Western Ghats. It also houses around 50 species of reptiles and 34 species of amphibians.
According to the last all-India tiger census, the Kudremukh-Bhadra landscape has one of the three distinct tiger populations existing in Karnataka which extends up to the Bhimsankar area of Maharashtra, the minister said.
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/170087/centre-gives-nod-kudremukh-tiger.html
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Tiger not tracked daily following ex-DFO's letter-TNN Rajender Sharma
ALWAR: The death of ST-1, the first relocated tiger to the Sariska reserve, may have been the result of a fallout of negligence of higher officials of the reserve and not just that of the lower rank staff or that of the team from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) that had been given the task of monitoring the tiger’s movements.
The new twist to the death of the big cat comes with the surfacing of a letter written by the then DFO of Sariska tiger reserve S Sharma. In the letter written by him on January 29, 2009, Sharma had asked all range officers to keep track of the tiger’s movements with help of its VHF collar only once in two days. The letter states that the monitoring of the movement should be done just once in two days and that too during the day time only.
The condition, however, violates earlier agreement by the state forest department of monitoring the movement of the tigers 24x7. In fact, it was with this in mind that all the relocated tigers were fitted with a radio collar. A special team from the WII was also assigned the task of tracking the tigers for not only to study their behaviour, but also to ensure that they don’t fall prey to poachers or to the whims of villagers living in the reserve.
However, after the letter, most range officers and the tiger tracking team dropped guards and eventually the tiger was poisoned by villagers in reserve. The body was recovered by the forest department days after being poisoned. The government, as a punitive measure, had suspended some officers and staffers of the reserve. However, S Sharma eventually retired.
"When senior officers had ordered to monitor tigers just once in two days, where is the question of lower rung officers dropping guards. They were doing what they had been ordered. The mistake was committed by the senior officer," said an official.
Sharma is against 24-hour monitoring of tigers and he had even spoken his mind in a recently held seminar on ‘Challenges Ahead for Sariska’ in Jaipur. In the seminar, Sharma had pointed out the uselessness of radio collars and said, "My experience as the DFO in Sariska has been that these radio collars are more of a bane than a boon for tigers. They add to the stress of the animal. Whenever any tiger meets a tigress, four vehicles of different officials would instantly surround them and the duo were not able to mingle properly. I had asked the department not to keep track of these animals through this means once they had settled down in a territory for sometime."
Be that as it may, most wildlife experts had thwarted Sharma’s claims that radio collars were the reason for the tigresses not giving birth at Sariska. As of now, it is the letter by him that is being pointed to as the reason behind the death of ST-1.
http://m.timesofindia.com/city/jaipur/Tiger-not-tracked-daily-following-ex-DFOs-letter/articleshow/8848013.cms
The new twist to the death of the big cat comes with the surfacing of a letter written by the then DFO of Sariska tiger reserve S Sharma. In the letter written by him on January 29, 2009, Sharma had asked all range officers to keep track of the tiger’s movements with help of its VHF collar only once in two days. The letter states that the monitoring of the movement should be done just once in two days and that too during the day time only.
The condition, however, violates earlier agreement by the state forest department of monitoring the movement of the tigers 24x7. In fact, it was with this in mind that all the relocated tigers were fitted with a radio collar. A special team from the WII was also assigned the task of tracking the tigers for not only to study their behaviour, but also to ensure that they don’t fall prey to poachers or to the whims of villagers living in the reserve.
However, after the letter, most range officers and the tiger tracking team dropped guards and eventually the tiger was poisoned by villagers in reserve. The body was recovered by the forest department days after being poisoned. The government, as a punitive measure, had suspended some officers and staffers of the reserve. However, S Sharma eventually retired.
"When senior officers had ordered to monitor tigers just once in two days, where is the question of lower rung officers dropping guards. They were doing what they had been ordered. The mistake was committed by the senior officer," said an official.
Sharma is against 24-hour monitoring of tigers and he had even spoken his mind in a recently held seminar on ‘Challenges Ahead for Sariska’ in Jaipur. In the seminar, Sharma had pointed out the uselessness of radio collars and said, "My experience as the DFO in Sariska has been that these radio collars are more of a bane than a boon for tigers. They add to the stress of the animal. Whenever any tiger meets a tigress, four vehicles of different officials would instantly surround them and the duo were not able to mingle properly. I had asked the department not to keep track of these animals through this means once they had settled down in a territory for sometime."
Be that as it may, most wildlife experts had thwarted Sharma’s claims that radio collars were the reason for the tigresses not giving birth at Sariska. As of now, it is the letter by him that is being pointed to as the reason behind the death of ST-1.
http://m.timesofindia.com/city/jaipur/Tiger-not-tracked-daily-following-ex-DFOs-letter/articleshow/8848013.cms
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Katarniaghat, Dudhwa to remain close from today TNN
BAHRAICH: With the arrival of monsoon season Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary and Dudhwa National Park would remain closed for tourists from June 15th.
The Park would reopen for tourists on November 15 after the end of the monsoons, said officials of the Park on Tuesday.
Dudhwa National Park, established in 1958, is situated on the Indo-Nepal border. In 1988, the park was declared as a tiger reserve. It forms the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve together with the Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary.
Some rare species inhabit the park. Hispid Hare, earlier thought to have become extinct, was rediscovered in 1984.
In the mid 1980s, Indian Rhinoceros was reintroduced into Dudhwa from Assam and Nepal. The other animals to be seen here include Swamp Deer, Sambar Deer, Barking Deer, Spotted Deer, Hog Deer, Tiger, Rhinoceros, Sloth Bear, Ratel, Jackal, Civet, Jungle Cat, Fishing Cat, Leopard Cat.
The major attractions of Dudhwa National Park are the Tigers and Swamp Deer.
A strip of dense jungle adjoining the Indo-Nepal international border in District Bahraich which once comprised the West Bahraich Forest Division, was declared as Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary in May 1975. Four hundred forty sq km in area, this sanctuary is now being managed along with the Dudhwa National Park and Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary, as part of the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve under Project Tiger of the Government of India. The Katerniaghat Forests provide strategic connectivity between tiger habitats of Dudhwa and Kishanpur in India and the Bardia National Park in Nepal. Its fragile Terai ecosystem comprises a mesmerizing mosaic of Sal and Teak forests, lush grasslands, steaming swamps and wetlands. Unfortunately, the sanctuary is in most places just 10 km or less in width, making it increasingly vulnerable to intense human pressures along both its northern and southern boundaries. In spite of this, it is still quite unique for the number of endangered and critically endangered species which occur here and include the gharial, the tiger, the rhino, the Gangetic dolphin, the Swamp Deer, the Hispid hare, the Bengal florican and the White-backed and Long-billed vultures.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Katarniaghat-Dudhwa-to-remain-close-from-today/articleshow/8852738.cms
The Park would reopen for tourists on November 15 after the end of the monsoons, said officials of the Park on Tuesday.
Dudhwa National Park, established in 1958, is situated on the Indo-Nepal border. In 1988, the park was declared as a tiger reserve. It forms the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve together with the Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary.
Some rare species inhabit the park. Hispid Hare, earlier thought to have become extinct, was rediscovered in 1984.
In the mid 1980s, Indian Rhinoceros was reintroduced into Dudhwa from Assam and Nepal. The other animals to be seen here include Swamp Deer, Sambar Deer, Barking Deer, Spotted Deer, Hog Deer, Tiger, Rhinoceros, Sloth Bear, Ratel, Jackal, Civet, Jungle Cat, Fishing Cat, Leopard Cat.
The major attractions of Dudhwa National Park are the Tigers and Swamp Deer.
A strip of dense jungle adjoining the Indo-Nepal international border in District Bahraich which once comprised the West Bahraich Forest Division, was declared as Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary in May 1975. Four hundred forty sq km in area, this sanctuary is now being managed along with the Dudhwa National Park and Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary, as part of the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve under Project Tiger of the Government of India. The Katerniaghat Forests provide strategic connectivity between tiger habitats of Dudhwa and Kishanpur in India and the Bardia National Park in Nepal. Its fragile Terai ecosystem comprises a mesmerizing mosaic of Sal and Teak forests, lush grasslands, steaming swamps and wetlands. Unfortunately, the sanctuary is in most places just 10 km or less in width, making it increasingly vulnerable to intense human pressures along both its northern and southern boundaries. In spite of this, it is still quite unique for the number of endangered and critically endangered species which occur here and include the gharial, the tiger, the rhino, the Gangetic dolphin, the Swamp Deer, the Hispid hare, the Bengal florican and the White-backed and Long-billed vultures.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Katarniaghat-Dudhwa-to-remain-close-from-today/articleshow/8852738.cms
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