By M Raghuram
In a surprising decision, the government has ordered the transfer of 178 forest watchers to the wildlife division to keep an eye on the tiger reserves of the state.
The order has not only created a serious shortage of personnel in the forest department, but also made life easier for the tree-fellers.
The order copy (No 38/2011-12) issued from the principal chief conservator of forests, exclusively available with DNA, has directed all the deputy conservators of forests, assistant conservators of forests and range forest officers to relieve the watchers immediately to take their positions in four different tiger conservation projects of Nagarahole, Bandipur, Bhadra and Anashi Tiger reserves.
The order transfers 60 watchers from Chamarajanagar, Kollegal, Mysore, Hunsur, Mandya, Chikmagalur, Koppa, Sirsi, Yellapur, Haliyal, Honnavar and Haveri to Bandipur Tiger Reserve, 63 from Karwar, Shimoga, Tumkur, Gulburga, Yadgir, Madikeri, Virajpet, Bellary, Chitradurga, Davanagere, Koppal, Ramanagar and Belgaum to Hunsur Wildlife division, 37 from Mangalore, Bangalore Urban and Bangalore Rural districts to Bhadra wildlife division, Chikmagalur and 18 from Kundapur and Kolar to Dandeli wildlife division in Uttara Kannada district.
This decision comes in the wake of Karnataka being declared as having the largest number of tigers in the wild in the country.
Questioning the decision, the green activists are baffled at the government order. “First, the government says no to the world heritage tag offer from the Unesco to 10 different in Western Ghats sites. Now, they have removed the watchers from the forests.
What could be the intention of the government?” asked Panduranga Pai of Sirsi Parisara Okkuta. Many of the forests are Naxalite-infested. It could be recalled that it was a watcher who had first reported Naxalite activities in Kudremukh National Park in 2001.
“Watchers are the primary source of information for the forest department. Their information was like the first information report for the police. Based on their report the officials rush to the spot and take required action in situations.
Without them many of the range forests will not have their eyes and ears,” said a forest official on conditions of anonymity.
However, the principal chief conservator of forests IB Shrivatsava said that the forest department will recruit more watchers and guards in the days to come. But it is a long-drawn process to fill up the posts created due to the en masse transfer.
To fill up the vacancies, it would need a year or so, during which period many things may go wrong, fear the green activists.
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_green-alert-karnataka-transfers-178-forest-watchers-to-tiger-reserves_1563558
Monday, July 11, 2011
NTCA to study Adani impact on Nagzira wildlife sanctuary-TNN
NAGPUR: The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), a statutory body under the ministry of environment and forest monitoring tiger reserves in the country, will study adverse impact on Nagzira wildlife sanctuary with the diversion of 163.84 hectares forest land for Adani power project in Tiroda in Gondia district.
A proposal for diversion of 163.84 hectares of forest land in Garadi village for establishment of 1980 MW coal-fired power plant at MIDC Tiroda is under consideration of the MoEF. The Adani Power Maharashtra Limited (APML) plant falls within 10 km of the forest land proposed for diversion and hence the study.
NTCA sources told TOI that the Authority had on July 1 written to three leading institutes in India to quote rates to take up the study. They are National Environment Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur; Pollution Control Research Institute (PCRI), Haridwar; and Environment Protection and Training Research Institute (EPTRI), Hyderabad.
"NTCA proposes to study adverse impact of gaseous and particulate emissions and additional thermal load from the proposed power plant on the flora and fauna in 152 sq km Nagzira sanctuary. We will recommend appropriate mitigation measures to eliminate and minimise the impact," said sources.
If NTCA is to be believed, MoEF has almost made up its mind to divert the said land to APML. TOI on January 1 was first to report about MoEF readying to divert the land close to the sanctuary. Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh is already under pressure from his cabinet colleagues to clear coal blocks for power projects. Government is keen on putting Adani plant on fast-track.
Adani is coming up with 3,300 MW power plant in Tiroda. Work on first phase of two 660 MW units is in full swing and the company needs 163.84 hectare forest land for expansion. It has applied to the MoEF for diversion of the proposed land under the Forest Conservation Act (FCA) 1980.
Wildlife experts recalled that MoEF's move would be a u-turn by Ramesh, who, during his Nagpur visit on September 13 last year, had said that if the land was close to Nagzira, then permission to divert it would not be granted. Ramesh has already agreed to make Nagzira-Navegaon a tiger reserve.
"The grant of diversion of forest land will be in contravention to MoEF rules that state that any proposal falling within 10 km of sanctuary or national park should be referred to National Board of Wild Life (NBWL) which is not being done in the case of APML," they said.
Earlier, two offences have been registered against the APML for violating the FCA twice - once on May 16 and another on June 4. Even after a year, the forest department has taken no action against the power company for those violations. In June 2010, a six-member committee headed by then PCCF (wildlife) and now head of forest force (HoFF) A K Joshi had visited the proposed site and studied the impact of diverting the said land on wildlife and tigers.
The panel has already stated that diversion of said land to APML would impact Nagzira, which is just 8.5 km from the plant's boundary.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/environment/flora-fauna/ntca-to-study-adani-impact-on-nagzira-wildlife-sanctuary/articleshow/9178416.cms
A proposal for diversion of 163.84 hectares of forest land in Garadi village for establishment of 1980 MW coal-fired power plant at MIDC Tiroda is under consideration of the MoEF. The Adani Power Maharashtra Limited (APML) plant falls within 10 km of the forest land proposed for diversion and hence the study.
NTCA sources told TOI that the Authority had on July 1 written to three leading institutes in India to quote rates to take up the study. They are National Environment Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur; Pollution Control Research Institute (PCRI), Haridwar; and Environment Protection and Training Research Institute (EPTRI), Hyderabad.
"NTCA proposes to study adverse impact of gaseous and particulate emissions and additional thermal load from the proposed power plant on the flora and fauna in 152 sq km Nagzira sanctuary. We will recommend appropriate mitigation measures to eliminate and minimise the impact," said sources.
If NTCA is to be believed, MoEF has almost made up its mind to divert the said land to APML. TOI on January 1 was first to report about MoEF readying to divert the land close to the sanctuary. Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh is already under pressure from his cabinet colleagues to clear coal blocks for power projects. Government is keen on putting Adani plant on fast-track.
Adani is coming up with 3,300 MW power plant in Tiroda. Work on first phase of two 660 MW units is in full swing and the company needs 163.84 hectare forest land for expansion. It has applied to the MoEF for diversion of the proposed land under the Forest Conservation Act (FCA) 1980.
Wildlife experts recalled that MoEF's move would be a u-turn by Ramesh, who, during his Nagpur visit on September 13 last year, had said that if the land was close to Nagzira, then permission to divert it would not be granted. Ramesh has already agreed to make Nagzira-Navegaon a tiger reserve.
"The grant of diversion of forest land will be in contravention to MoEF rules that state that any proposal falling within 10 km of sanctuary or national park should be referred to National Board of Wild Life (NBWL) which is not being done in the case of APML," they said.
Earlier, two offences have been registered against the APML for violating the FCA twice - once on May 16 and another on June 4. Even after a year, the forest department has taken no action against the power company for those violations. In June 2010, a six-member committee headed by then PCCF (wildlife) and now head of forest force (HoFF) A K Joshi had visited the proposed site and studied the impact of diverting the said land on wildlife and tigers.
The panel has already stated that diversion of said land to APML would impact Nagzira, which is just 8.5 km from the plant's boundary.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/environment/flora-fauna/ntca-to-study-adani-impact-on-nagzira-wildlife-sanctuary/articleshow/9178416.cms
Heritage panel seeks Manas report
ROOPAK GOSWAMI
Guwahati, July 10: The World Heritage Committee has asked the Centre to inform it by next year whether the Manas Tiger Conservation Foundation is operational and financial arrangements are in place for the site.
Sources said the committee had asked for the report by February 1 next year for examination at its 36th session in 2012.
The committee in its report said sustained finance to the site remains a critical long-term requirement to secure its full recovery.
It urged the authorities to ensure that the Manas Tiger Conservation Foundation was made operational as soon as possible and that funding for the property from the Centre was channelled through the foundation to avoid future delays in the transfer of funds to the property.
The Centre has informed the committee that the proposal for the Manas Tiger Conservation Foundation is currently awaiting Parliament approval, which is expected to come soon.
Though the foundation was formed two years back, it has still not been operationalised.
“All the hard work seems to have gone in vain and it is now nearly two years but the foundation has still not been operationalised,” a park official said.
The joint IUCN/Unesco monitoring mission, which visited the park in January this year, had pointed out that though lack of funds had not prevented activities necessary to allow recovery of the outstanding universal value of the site, the situation would have been much better if the funds-release problem had been fully addressed.
The slow release of funds for the site from the state government is an issue that has been raised by all previous Unesco/IUCN monitoring missions since 1997.
In fact, in 2009 and 2010 the park management was forced to operate for two years on one year’s budget as the state released the funds at the end of the year, rather than disbursing them directly to Manas at the time of receipt from the federal government.
A 2005 ruling by the Supreme Court states that funds must be released by the state government within 15 days of receipt from the Centre but this has not been implemented in the case of Manas.
Every year, the park management has to submit three annual plans of operation — one for project tiger, biosphere scheme and elephant project, but unfortunately the release of funds is sometimes delayed which has a serious impact on the efficient implementation of management activities.
The monitoring mission had also found the majority of available cash flow to the site comes from the BTC of which a major proportion of these funds is spent on staff salaries.
The park has also been asked to submit a comprehensive tourism management plan and a recovery plan for swamp deer by February 1 next year.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110711/jsp/northeast/story_14221385.jsp
Guwahati, July 10: The World Heritage Committee has asked the Centre to inform it by next year whether the Manas Tiger Conservation Foundation is operational and financial arrangements are in place for the site.
Sources said the committee had asked for the report by February 1 next year for examination at its 36th session in 2012.
The committee in its report said sustained finance to the site remains a critical long-term requirement to secure its full recovery.
It urged the authorities to ensure that the Manas Tiger Conservation Foundation was made operational as soon as possible and that funding for the property from the Centre was channelled through the foundation to avoid future delays in the transfer of funds to the property.
The Centre has informed the committee that the proposal for the Manas Tiger Conservation Foundation is currently awaiting Parliament approval, which is expected to come soon.
Though the foundation was formed two years back, it has still not been operationalised.
“All the hard work seems to have gone in vain and it is now nearly two years but the foundation has still not been operationalised,” a park official said.
The joint IUCN/Unesco monitoring mission, which visited the park in January this year, had pointed out that though lack of funds had not prevented activities necessary to allow recovery of the outstanding universal value of the site, the situation would have been much better if the funds-release problem had been fully addressed.
The slow release of funds for the site from the state government is an issue that has been raised by all previous Unesco/IUCN monitoring missions since 1997.
In fact, in 2009 and 2010 the park management was forced to operate for two years on one year’s budget as the state released the funds at the end of the year, rather than disbursing them directly to Manas at the time of receipt from the federal government.
A 2005 ruling by the Supreme Court states that funds must be released by the state government within 15 days of receipt from the Centre but this has not been implemented in the case of Manas.
Every year, the park management has to submit three annual plans of operation — one for project tiger, biosphere scheme and elephant project, but unfortunately the release of funds is sometimes delayed which has a serious impact on the efficient implementation of management activities.
The monitoring mission had also found the majority of available cash flow to the site comes from the BTC of which a major proportion of these funds is spent on staff salaries.
The park has also been asked to submit a comprehensive tourism management plan and a recovery plan for swamp deer by February 1 next year.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110711/jsp/northeast/story_14221385.jsp
Two tiger cubs brought to Van Vihar from Bandhavgarh
Two tiger cubs were brought from Bandhavgarh National Park to Van Vihar here last night. These two cubs from the same mother are about two-years-old. After arrival of these male tiger cubs, the number of tigers in Van Vihar has reached 12. There are nine tigers and one white tigress already in the Van Vihar.
These two tiger cubs have been kept in separate housing in Van Vihar. They will be quarantined from other animals for one month. During this period, their health checks and vaccinations will be undertaken.
Generally, a tigress keeps a cub with her for one and a half years. After this period, cubs are separated from mother. These two cubs are offspring of Mirachhani tigress of Bandhavgarh National Park, who had given birth to them in the same litter in 2009.
Now the number of man-eater tiger in the Van Vihar has reached 12. Earlier in 2008, another man-eater tiger Nahar was brought to the Van Vihar. Besides these tigers, there are five man-eater leopards also in the Van Vihar. Their names are Salman, Jhiriya, Khusi, Neemu and Nimi. Man-eater tigers and leopards are kept under adequate security and constant vigil is maintained on the enclosures where they are kept. Man-eater tigers become aggressive on seeing human beings. Therefore, they are kept at places where there is minimum human interference. These tigers are used for conservation breeding.
http://www.centralchronicle.com/viewnews.asp?articleID=63623
These two tiger cubs have been kept in separate housing in Van Vihar. They will be quarantined from other animals for one month. During this period, their health checks and vaccinations will be undertaken.
Generally, a tigress keeps a cub with her for one and a half years. After this period, cubs are separated from mother. These two cubs are offspring of Mirachhani tigress of Bandhavgarh National Park, who had given birth to them in the same litter in 2009.
Now the number of man-eater tiger in the Van Vihar has reached 12. Earlier in 2008, another man-eater tiger Nahar was brought to the Van Vihar. Besides these tigers, there are five man-eater leopards also in the Van Vihar. Their names are Salman, Jhiriya, Khusi, Neemu and Nimi. Man-eater tigers and leopards are kept under adequate security and constant vigil is maintained on the enclosures where they are kept. Man-eater tigers become aggressive on seeing human beings. Therefore, they are kept at places where there is minimum human interference. These tigers are used for conservation breeding.
http://www.centralchronicle.com/viewnews.asp?articleID=63623
Sunday, July 10, 2011
More sightings at Mudumalai Tiger Reserve
With sighting of tigers in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) near here now being not as difficult as it used to be till about a year ago, the management has put in place a plan of action to step up its vigil.
Pointing out that a series of measures would be taken in a phased manner to protect the national animal, MTR Field Director K. Srivastava told The Hindu here on Saturday that chances of sighting tigers have increased because their population at Mudumalai was growing. Describing it as a welcome trend, he attributed it to the effective conservation measures implemented by the department with the help of its staff, particularly anti-poaching watchers and the local people.
Twenty anti-poaching camps and two floating camps have been set up. While the routine patrolling has been intensified, elephant patrolling has been introduced. Simultaneously habitat improvement has been taken up to ensure that the prey base is healthy. Tourism is being regulated in the area. Fixed surveillance cameras are being mounted at appropriate places.
Adverting to a scheme now under implementation to rehabilitate people residing in the core area of the MTR, Mr. Srivastava said that it would help the reserve gain about 300 hectares of grass and marshy land. Stating that direct sighting of tigers was being frequently reported, he said: “A heartening feature is that many of them are sub-adults and cubs.” He added that over the last two years, 27 direct sightings had been reported.
Union Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh and the Wildlife Institute of India have acknowledged the development. Due to better management practices, the population of other animals had also gone up. The number of elephants now is 1,000 against 835 last year, he said
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2215890.ece
Pointing out that a series of measures would be taken in a phased manner to protect the national animal, MTR Field Director K. Srivastava told The Hindu here on Saturday that chances of sighting tigers have increased because their population at Mudumalai was growing. Describing it as a welcome trend, he attributed it to the effective conservation measures implemented by the department with the help of its staff, particularly anti-poaching watchers and the local people.
Twenty anti-poaching camps and two floating camps have been set up. While the routine patrolling has been intensified, elephant patrolling has been introduced. Simultaneously habitat improvement has been taken up to ensure that the prey base is healthy. Tourism is being regulated in the area. Fixed surveillance cameras are being mounted at appropriate places.
Adverting to a scheme now under implementation to rehabilitate people residing in the core area of the MTR, Mr. Srivastava said that it would help the reserve gain about 300 hectares of grass and marshy land. Stating that direct sighting of tigers was being frequently reported, he said: “A heartening feature is that many of them are sub-adults and cubs.” He added that over the last two years, 27 direct sightings had been reported.
Union Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh and the Wildlife Institute of India have acknowledged the development. Due to better management practices, the population of other animals had also gone up. The number of elephants now is 1,000 against 835 last year, he said
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2215890.ece
NTCA committee on orphaned tiger cubs Vijay Pinjarkar, TNN
NAGPUR: The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has constituted a three-member committee for examining issues relating to abandoned and orphaned tiger cubs from the wild, so as to explore the feasibility of their in-situ rearing and release in low tiger density habitats. The committee members are Prof PC Tyagi, YV Jhala, both scientists with Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, and SP Yadav, deputy inspector general (DIG) of NTCA as the member convener.
Yadav said that the terms of reference (ToR) of the committee will include country-wide assessment of the wild caught orphaned and abandoned cubs; identification of low density tiger reserves; to give recommendation for rehabilitation of such cubs vis-à-vis the NTCA guidelines; to prescribe 'minimum standards' for creation of tiger safaris; and to examine feasibility of ex-situ to in-situ linkage in the context of tiger. The committee will submit its report in 60 days, Yadav said.
MoEF meet on tiger reserves: The ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) has called a meeting of field directors of all tiger reserves at Bandipur in Karnataka. The two-day meet on July 29 and 30, will be inaugurated by union environment and forest minister Jairam Ramesh. All chief wildlife wardens of tiger-bearing states have been told to attend the meeting and make presentations on status of tiger reserves in their states.
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-07-05/nagpur/29738237_1_tiger-reserves-tiger-cubs-ntca
Yadav said that the terms of reference (ToR) of the committee will include country-wide assessment of the wild caught orphaned and abandoned cubs; identification of low density tiger reserves; to give recommendation for rehabilitation of such cubs vis-à-vis the NTCA guidelines; to prescribe 'minimum standards' for creation of tiger safaris; and to examine feasibility of ex-situ to in-situ linkage in the context of tiger. The committee will submit its report in 60 days, Yadav said.
MoEF meet on tiger reserves: The ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) has called a meeting of field directors of all tiger reserves at Bandipur in Karnataka. The two-day meet on July 29 and 30, will be inaugurated by union environment and forest minister Jairam Ramesh. All chief wildlife wardens of tiger-bearing states have been told to attend the meeting and make presentations on status of tiger reserves in their states.
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-07-05/nagpur/29738237_1_tiger-reserves-tiger-cubs-ntca
Friday, July 8, 2011
Tadoba oustees settling in Vijay Pinjarkar, TNN
NAGPUR: Villagers who moved out of Tadoba Andhari Tiger reserve in 2007 are beginning to settle down with their feeling of well-being going up, a study has found. It has also found that this is not as a result of government effort and but due to the various survival strategies adopted by relocated families of Bhagwanpur in Mul tehsil of Chandrapur district.
The study, funded by Ashoka Trust, Bangalore, was conducted by Rucha Ghate and Suresh Ghate of Shodh, the Institute for Research and Development, Nagpur. It says difficulties imposed on the villagers in terms of food insecurity, non-availability of fuel wood and fodder, deprivation of income from sale of non-timber forest produce (NTFPs) had resulted in overall fall of their welfare. Recently, both presented a paper based on the study at a conference on climate change at the University of Michigan, USA.
In Bhagwanpur, welfare plummeted immediately after the relocation for 69 families of Botezari and 40 families from Kolsa inside TATR. This was evident in 2009 when over 17 villagers, tired of their difficulties, returned to Botezari in the hope of starting cultivation again on their old farms. The villagers were arrested and released but cases are still pending against them. Looking at the Bhagwanpur mess, other villages are reluctant to move out.
Shodh, which has been associated with the six villages Rantalodhi, Kolsa, Botezari, Palasgoan, Jamni and Navegaon inside TATR since 1999 when relocation was actually announced, made an attempt to compare the level of welfare and feeling of well-being as perceived by the communities in 2004, 2007 and 2011.
For this, the NGO identified 12 indicators that the community considers important determinant of wellness. These included housing, access to education, opportunities of employment, ownership of agriculture land, productivity of land, livestock, wealth indicators, and species diversity in adjoining forest, accessibility to forest products, crop depredation and threat of cattle lifting by wild animals.
"Our analysis clearly shows that people think they are better off now but it was not so immediately after relocation. The lowering of welfare is the cost borne by the community for protection of tigers," says Ghate.
The study reveals that, the two villages that moved out were poor in civic amenities compared to new location at Bhagwanpur.
For example, the primary health centre (PHC) was 26km from Botezari but it is just 4km from Bhagwanpur. Similarly, bank, school and colleges which were 30-45km away from both the villages are now between of 4-14km. The subdistrict headquarters is also at 14km from earlier 45-75km.
Ironically, villagers were relocated to create inviolate spaces for wildlife but threat to them from wildlife has increased as the relocation site is also surrounded by forests. Within the PA, a large number of herbivores ensured sufficient prey for the carnivores but in degraded forests near Bhagwanpur, spill over population of leopards and tigers from Tadoba finds easy prey in cattle.
The study also reveals that social and cultural fabric of the community has been broken after relocation.
Two major indicators are that Ganesh and Durga festival are not celebrated.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Tadoba-oustees-settling-in/articleshow/9145542.cms
The study, funded by Ashoka Trust, Bangalore, was conducted by Rucha Ghate and Suresh Ghate of Shodh, the Institute for Research and Development, Nagpur. It says difficulties imposed on the villagers in terms of food insecurity, non-availability of fuel wood and fodder, deprivation of income from sale of non-timber forest produce (NTFPs) had resulted in overall fall of their welfare. Recently, both presented a paper based on the study at a conference on climate change at the University of Michigan, USA.
In Bhagwanpur, welfare plummeted immediately after the relocation for 69 families of Botezari and 40 families from Kolsa inside TATR. This was evident in 2009 when over 17 villagers, tired of their difficulties, returned to Botezari in the hope of starting cultivation again on their old farms. The villagers were arrested and released but cases are still pending against them. Looking at the Bhagwanpur mess, other villages are reluctant to move out.
Shodh, which has been associated with the six villages Rantalodhi, Kolsa, Botezari, Palasgoan, Jamni and Navegaon inside TATR since 1999 when relocation was actually announced, made an attempt to compare the level of welfare and feeling of well-being as perceived by the communities in 2004, 2007 and 2011.
For this, the NGO identified 12 indicators that the community considers important determinant of wellness. These included housing, access to education, opportunities of employment, ownership of agriculture land, productivity of land, livestock, wealth indicators, and species diversity in adjoining forest, accessibility to forest products, crop depredation and threat of cattle lifting by wild animals.
"Our analysis clearly shows that people think they are better off now but it was not so immediately after relocation. The lowering of welfare is the cost borne by the community for protection of tigers," says Ghate.
The study reveals that, the two villages that moved out were poor in civic amenities compared to new location at Bhagwanpur.
For example, the primary health centre (PHC) was 26km from Botezari but it is just 4km from Bhagwanpur. Similarly, bank, school and colleges which were 30-45km away from both the villages are now between of 4-14km. The subdistrict headquarters is also at 14km from earlier 45-75km.
Ironically, villagers were relocated to create inviolate spaces for wildlife but threat to them from wildlife has increased as the relocation site is also surrounded by forests. Within the PA, a large number of herbivores ensured sufficient prey for the carnivores but in degraded forests near Bhagwanpur, spill over population of leopards and tigers from Tadoba finds easy prey in cattle.
The study also reveals that social and cultural fabric of the community has been broken after relocation.
Two major indicators are that Ganesh and Durga festival are not celebrated.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Tadoba-oustees-settling-in/articleshow/9145542.cms
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Vehicles banned on forest route to Sabarimala
A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Wednesday prohibited movement of vehicles, other than those of forest officials, through the Fourth Mile-Uppupara forest route to Sabarimala.
The Bench, comprising Justice Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan and Justice K. Surendra Mohan, also directed the authorities, including the police, to ensure that this prohibition was enforced forthwith.
The court directed that any official found to have violated the order would be proceeded against.
The court ordered the police to ensure that there was no traffic congestion on the Vandiperiyar-Sabarimala road.
Disaster management
The Bench also reminded the government that it should take urgent steps to put in place a disaster management plan at Sabarimala.
The court issued the directives on a suo motu proceeding initiated in connection with the Pulmedu stampede in January 14 this year in which 102 Sabarimala pilgrims were killed.
Noise pollution
The court said it did not find any reason to permit private vehicles through the Fourth Mile to Uppupara Road as it was not a tourist spot.
The court added that allowing a large number of vehicles through this route would not only create problems such as noise pollution but also affect the flora and fauna of the Periyar Tiger Reserve.
Tiger reserve
The court said the road passed through the tiger reserve, which has been declared a wildlife sanctuary. So, persons other than forest officials should not be allowed to enter the road.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2201783.ece
The Bench, comprising Justice Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan and Justice K. Surendra Mohan, also directed the authorities, including the police, to ensure that this prohibition was enforced forthwith.
The court directed that any official found to have violated the order would be proceeded against.
The court ordered the police to ensure that there was no traffic congestion on the Vandiperiyar-Sabarimala road.
Disaster management
The Bench also reminded the government that it should take urgent steps to put in place a disaster management plan at Sabarimala.
The court issued the directives on a suo motu proceeding initiated in connection with the Pulmedu stampede in January 14 this year in which 102 Sabarimala pilgrims were killed.
Noise pollution
The court said it did not find any reason to permit private vehicles through the Fourth Mile to Uppupara Road as it was not a tourist spot.
The court added that allowing a large number of vehicles through this route would not only create problems such as noise pollution but also affect the flora and fauna of the Periyar Tiger Reserve.
Tiger reserve
The court said the road passed through the tiger reserve, which has been declared a wildlife sanctuary. So, persons other than forest officials should not be allowed to enter the road.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2201783.ece
Panna trail leads to MLA kin; minister blames dacoit - DNA
Bhopal/Indore: Relatives of a BJP MLA have been linked to a tiger death in the Panna Tiger Reserve.
The forest department recently handed over details of nearly two dozen cases related to tiger deaths in Panna to the home department asking for a CBI probe. The government picked up only three cases considering them worthy of an independent investigation.
One of these cases trails back to a close relative of BJP MLA from Bundelkhand region.
According to Prayatna, an environmental action group that has been demanding CBI probe into the tiger deaths, forest officials had seized a jeep with Uttar Pradesh registration plates (UP 92/9434) in 2007. The jeep was reportedly trying to enter the Panna Tiger Reserve with armed passengers, forcefully.
The jeep was later released to one Babbu Singh, a close relative of a BJP MLA from Bundelkhand region, sources said.
The officials said that a case was lodged under the primary offence report (POR) 355/2007. There was apparently no follow up on the matter for several years.
The other two cases of tiger deaths shortlisted for a CBI enquiry also expose chronic laxity on part of the government.
In one of these cases, forest officials recovered jaw trap and bones of tiger acting on a complainant filed by one Kalyan Singh, resident of village Sukhwah in Panna district. The tiger, whose body parts were seized by the police, was reportedly killed between 2004 and 2005, but the POR was registered only in January 28 this year.
When contacted, highly placed officials said that the forest department had sought details of these cases from the director of the sanctuary. No records were provided to the headquarters.
In the third case taken up by the government, it has been revealed that the officials never lodged a POR about the killing at all. The tiger in this case was killed between 2004 and 2005. The forest department, however, did not register a POR.
Their inaction has raised serious questions on the intentions officials dealing with the Panna tiger deaths.
Ajay Dubey of Prayatna alleged that the forest department has overlooked even more serious cases with clear evidence.
"What is interesting is that they were clear cases of poaching but were recorded as revenge killings," Dubey said.
Reacting to the NGO's allegations, minister for forests, Sartaj Singh told DNA that gender imbalances and threat from dacoit 'Thokia' led to the elimination of the tigers from PTR.
The minister further clarified that, "the forest guards could not protect the tigers due to presence of dacoits in the area."
http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/GUJ-AHD-panna-trail-leads-to-mla-kin-minister-blames-dacoit-2241600.html
The forest department recently handed over details of nearly two dozen cases related to tiger deaths in Panna to the home department asking for a CBI probe. The government picked up only three cases considering them worthy of an independent investigation.
One of these cases trails back to a close relative of BJP MLA from Bundelkhand region.
According to Prayatna, an environmental action group that has been demanding CBI probe into the tiger deaths, forest officials had seized a jeep with Uttar Pradesh registration plates (UP 92/9434) in 2007. The jeep was reportedly trying to enter the Panna Tiger Reserve with armed passengers, forcefully.
The jeep was later released to one Babbu Singh, a close relative of a BJP MLA from Bundelkhand region, sources said.
The officials said that a case was lodged under the primary offence report (POR) 355/2007. There was apparently no follow up on the matter for several years.
The other two cases of tiger deaths shortlisted for a CBI enquiry also expose chronic laxity on part of the government.
In one of these cases, forest officials recovered jaw trap and bones of tiger acting on a complainant filed by one Kalyan Singh, resident of village Sukhwah in Panna district. The tiger, whose body parts were seized by the police, was reportedly killed between 2004 and 2005, but the POR was registered only in January 28 this year.
When contacted, highly placed officials said that the forest department had sought details of these cases from the director of the sanctuary. No records were provided to the headquarters.
In the third case taken up by the government, it has been revealed that the officials never lodged a POR about the killing at all. The tiger in this case was killed between 2004 and 2005. The forest department, however, did not register a POR.
Their inaction has raised serious questions on the intentions officials dealing with the Panna tiger deaths.
Ajay Dubey of Prayatna alleged that the forest department has overlooked even more serious cases with clear evidence.
"What is interesting is that they were clear cases of poaching but were recorded as revenge killings," Dubey said.
Reacting to the NGO's allegations, minister for forests, Sartaj Singh told DNA that gender imbalances and threat from dacoit 'Thokia' led to the elimination of the tigers from PTR.
The minister further clarified that, "the forest guards could not protect the tigers due to presence of dacoits in the area."
http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/GUJ-AHD-panna-trail-leads-to-mla-kin-minister-blames-dacoit-2241600.html
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Eye in the sky to help track big cats of Palamau A.S.R.P. MUKESH
Ranchi, July 5: Goodbye pugmark spotting. Enter Global Positioning System (GPS).
The 1,014sqkm Palamau Tiger Reserve is set to hit hi-tech highway with navigational satellites monitoring its rich treasure trove of flora and fauna, protecting particularly the towering rows of Shorea robusta or sal from the axe brigade and the majestic but endangered Panthera tigris or Royal Bengal Tiger from poachers.
Divisional forest officer (core) of the reserve Premjit Anand said they had procured four GPS apparatus some time ago and the system would debut soon after reserve officials were trained.
“A three-day crash course is scheduled for our 20-odd front-line members of staff from tomorrow. After successful installation of some four dozen cameras along tiger corridors, we are ready to launch the GPS,” he said, explaining that the system would enable precise monitoring of the entire reserve — right from animal movements to status of check dams and water bodies.
“We have four GPS gadgets at hand for the core area. Once the system takes off, more devices will be introduced to cover buffer zones as well,” he added.
According to Anand, forest guards will be trained on how to use the satellite-based system to capture details on territorial tiger behaviour, distribution of animals in the core area, level of water bodies and tourist movements.
“First, the animal corridors will be mapped based on co-ordinates (latitude and longitude). Then, this data will be linked to three different satellites and fed into the computer through a common server. Once these are done, forest officials will have electronic access to every nook and cranny of the reserve on a real-time basis,” Anand explained.
The Palamau Tiger Reserve is also planning to impose a blanket ban by this year on private vehicles like Rajasthan’s Sariska Tiger Reserve and Uttarakhand’s Corbett National Park.
The idea is for the reserve to gradually organise a fleet of vehicles from local private operators to facilitate tourist tours. But, for starters, the authorities have decided to enforce a colour code on private vehicles.
Bright is bane for big cats and so, only black, white and grey cars will be allowed inside the reserve.
“Animals, especially tigers, tend to react in an unpredictable manner to flashy colours like red, yellow, orange, et al. This leads to accidents. Hence, we will first regulate colours of vehicles and then gradually disallow private vehicles,” Anand said.
According to the senior forest official, banning private vehicles all at once may affect tourist influx. “So, we will go step by step to ensure proper regulation of vehicles and maintenance of the reserve,” he said.
Reserve officials are currently scouting for vehicle operators in the Palamau region to be registered by the forest department.
“We will soon begin registration of local operators. Once we have a substantial pool of vehicles to take tourists around the reserve, we will bar entry of private cars,” Anand said.
adding that the car hire rates would be advertised at the entrance.
Every reserve tour vehicle will have a tracker-cum-guide. “This will help us in two ways. First, tourists will have expert escorts. Second, we will be able to monitor illegal activities such as poaching and damage to flora,” the divisional forest officer said.
The 1,014sqkm Palamau Tiger Reserve is set to hit hi-tech highway with navigational satellites monitoring its rich treasure trove of flora and fauna, protecting particularly the towering rows of Shorea robusta or sal from the axe brigade and the majestic but endangered Panthera tigris or Royal Bengal Tiger from poachers.
Divisional forest officer (core) of the reserve Premjit Anand said they had procured four GPS apparatus some time ago and the system would debut soon after reserve officials were trained.
“A three-day crash course is scheduled for our 20-odd front-line members of staff from tomorrow. After successful installation of some four dozen cameras along tiger corridors, we are ready to launch the GPS,” he said, explaining that the system would enable precise monitoring of the entire reserve — right from animal movements to status of check dams and water bodies.
“We have four GPS gadgets at hand for the core area. Once the system takes off, more devices will be introduced to cover buffer zones as well,” he added.
According to Anand, forest guards will be trained on how to use the satellite-based system to capture details on territorial tiger behaviour, distribution of animals in the core area, level of water bodies and tourist movements.
“First, the animal corridors will be mapped based on co-ordinates (latitude and longitude). Then, this data will be linked to three different satellites and fed into the computer through a common server. Once these are done, forest officials will have electronic access to every nook and cranny of the reserve on a real-time basis,” Anand explained.
The Palamau Tiger Reserve is also planning to impose a blanket ban by this year on private vehicles like Rajasthan’s Sariska Tiger Reserve and Uttarakhand’s Corbett National Park.
The idea is for the reserve to gradually organise a fleet of vehicles from local private operators to facilitate tourist tours. But, for starters, the authorities have decided to enforce a colour code on private vehicles.
Bright is bane for big cats and so, only black, white and grey cars will be allowed inside the reserve.
“Animals, especially tigers, tend to react in an unpredictable manner to flashy colours like red, yellow, orange, et al. This leads to accidents. Hence, we will first regulate colours of vehicles and then gradually disallow private vehicles,” Anand said.
According to the senior forest official, banning private vehicles all at once may affect tourist influx. “So, we will go step by step to ensure proper regulation of vehicles and maintenance of the reserve,” he said.
Reserve officials are currently scouting for vehicle operators in the Palamau region to be registered by the forest department.
“We will soon begin registration of local operators. Once we have a substantial pool of vehicles to take tourists around the reserve, we will bar entry of private cars,” Anand said.
adding that the car hire rates would be advertised at the entrance.
Every reserve tour vehicle will have a tracker-cum-guide. “This will help us in two ways. First, tourists will have expert escorts. Second, we will be able to monitor illegal activities such as poaching and damage to flora,” the divisional forest officer said.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Tadoba tiger reserve to be partially closed during monsoon Mazhar Ali, TNN
CHANDRAPUR: It's final - the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) will remain partially closed in the monsoon period. From July 15 to September 30, the park will see restricted movement. Tadoba is only tiger reserve in the country that remains open during the monsoon for the tourist. TATR management had forwarded a proposal for closure of the park during monsoon this year and it has been approved with certain conditions. Orders to this effect were received at TATR office on Monday.
The proposal seeking closure of the TATR on lines of other tiger reserves was forwarded by the CCF and field director Vinaykumar Sinha earlier in May this year. However it evoked debate among the greens whether the closure would be in the interest of the park or not. While reasons like breeding and germination season for wildlife and flora respectively, hurdles created by tourist vehicle getting struck in muddy roads etc were given in favour of the closure, concerns were raised about poaching and forest theft if tourism gets closed. Even the higher-ups in forest department pondered deeply over the pros and cons of closure.
Chief wildlife warden SK Khetrapal held a meeting in Nagpur on June 21 to discuss the issue, but the subject remained undecided at that time. Khetrapal sought additional data over vehicular movement on pucca road and carrying capacity on this patch.
After scrutinizing the data provided by the TATR, Khetrapal on Saturday issued orders for partial closure of the tiger reserve from July 15 to September 30. It is for first time in over 15 years of creation of TATR, when specific tourist regulation directives have been issued for monsoon period.
CCF, TATR, Vinaykumar Sinha informed that as per orders the tourist movement on kuccha roads in the park would be completely closed during monsoon. The 19 km long pucca road between Moharli and Tadoba would remain open for tourists, but the private vehicular movement would be greatly restricted. "Only tourist 16 vehicles, i.e. eight vehicles per shift, would be allowed in the park during the day. The tourist vehicles would start from Moharli gate and travel up to Tadoba on pucca road and return through same route. All the gates other than Moharli would remain closed for the tourist during the monsoon period," he said.
At present over 120 tourist vehicles are allowed to enter into the park during a day from four different gates of tiger reserve.
Sinha however maintained that that there would be no restriction of movement of state transport's bus that moves across the tiger reserve during its passenger ferries. Similarly there would be no restriction upon the movement of villagers residing inside the park from any of the gates.
When asked about increasing security during the monsoon season after closure of tourism on internal roads, he said that TATR would observe monsoon patrolling programme devised for rainy season. "Special squads have been constituted in each forest round on the tiger reserve. These squads would move from one protection hut to other carrying out extensive patrolling and would submit daily report to the higher-ups," he said.
Welcoming the decision conservationist Bandu Dhotre, said, "It's a balanced decision and interest of tourist and wildlife and their habitat has been take care of. Restriction of tourism on internal roads would help the wildlife and their habitat to flourish. At the same time allowing the tourists on pucca road would ensure the earnings of stakeholders dependent on tourism."
MONSOON CLOSURE:
* Tourist movement on kuccha roads closed during monsoon
* Only Moharli gate will remain open, all others close
* 19-km stretch between Moharli and Tadoba will remain open
* Private vehicular movement severely restricted
* Only 16 tourist vehicles - 8 per shift - will be allowed during a day
* Special monsoon patrol squads formed
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Tadoba-tiger-reserve-to-be-partially-closed-during-monsoon/articleshow/9105123.cms
The proposal seeking closure of the TATR on lines of other tiger reserves was forwarded by the CCF and field director Vinaykumar Sinha earlier in May this year. However it evoked debate among the greens whether the closure would be in the interest of the park or not. While reasons like breeding and germination season for wildlife and flora respectively, hurdles created by tourist vehicle getting struck in muddy roads etc were given in favour of the closure, concerns were raised about poaching and forest theft if tourism gets closed. Even the higher-ups in forest department pondered deeply over the pros and cons of closure.
Chief wildlife warden SK Khetrapal held a meeting in Nagpur on June 21 to discuss the issue, but the subject remained undecided at that time. Khetrapal sought additional data over vehicular movement on pucca road and carrying capacity on this patch.
After scrutinizing the data provided by the TATR, Khetrapal on Saturday issued orders for partial closure of the tiger reserve from July 15 to September 30. It is for first time in over 15 years of creation of TATR, when specific tourist regulation directives have been issued for monsoon period.
CCF, TATR, Vinaykumar Sinha informed that as per orders the tourist movement on kuccha roads in the park would be completely closed during monsoon. The 19 km long pucca road between Moharli and Tadoba would remain open for tourists, but the private vehicular movement would be greatly restricted. "Only tourist 16 vehicles, i.e. eight vehicles per shift, would be allowed in the park during the day. The tourist vehicles would start from Moharli gate and travel up to Tadoba on pucca road and return through same route. All the gates other than Moharli would remain closed for the tourist during the monsoon period," he said.
At present over 120 tourist vehicles are allowed to enter into the park during a day from four different gates of tiger reserve.
Sinha however maintained that that there would be no restriction of movement of state transport's bus that moves across the tiger reserve during its passenger ferries. Similarly there would be no restriction upon the movement of villagers residing inside the park from any of the gates.
When asked about increasing security during the monsoon season after closure of tourism on internal roads, he said that TATR would observe monsoon patrolling programme devised for rainy season. "Special squads have been constituted in each forest round on the tiger reserve. These squads would move from one protection hut to other carrying out extensive patrolling and would submit daily report to the higher-ups," he said.
Welcoming the decision conservationist Bandu Dhotre, said, "It's a balanced decision and interest of tourist and wildlife and their habitat has been take care of. Restriction of tourism on internal roads would help the wildlife and their habitat to flourish. At the same time allowing the tourists on pucca road would ensure the earnings of stakeholders dependent on tourism."
MONSOON CLOSURE:
* Tourist movement on kuccha roads closed during monsoon
* Only Moharli gate will remain open, all others close
* 19-km stretch between Moharli and Tadoba will remain open
* Private vehicular movement severely restricted
* Only 16 tourist vehicles - 8 per shift - will be allowed during a day
* Special monsoon patrol squads formed
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Tadoba-tiger-reserve-to-be-partially-closed-during-monsoon/articleshow/9105123.cms
NTCA committee on orphaned tiger cubs Vijay Pinjarkar, TNN
NAGPUR: The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has constituted a three-member committee for examining issues relating to abandoned and orphaned tiger cubs from the wild, so as to explore the feasibility of their in-situ rearing and release in low tiger density habitats. The committee members are Prof PC Tyagi, YV Jhala, both scientists with Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, and SP Yadav, deputy inspector general (DIG) of NTCA as the member convener.
Yadav said that the terms of reference (ToR) of the committee will include country-wide assessment of the wild caught orphaned and abandoned cubs; identification of low density tiger reserves; to give recommendation for rehabilitation of such cubs vis-Ã -vis the NTCA guidelines; to prescribe 'minimum standards' for creation of tiger safaris; and to examine feasibility of ex-situ to in-situ linkage in the context of tiger. The committee will submit its report in 60 days, Yadav said.
MoEF meet on tiger reserves: The ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) has called a meeting of field directors of all tiger reserves at Bandipur in Karnataka. The two-day meet on July 29 and 30, will be inaugurated by union environment and forest minister Jairam Ramesh. All chief wildlife wardens of tiger-bearing states have been told to attend the meeting and make presentations on status of tiger reserves in their states.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/NTCA-committee-on-orphaned-tiger-cubs/articleshow/9105095.cms
Yadav said that the terms of reference (ToR) of the committee will include country-wide assessment of the wild caught orphaned and abandoned cubs; identification of low density tiger reserves; to give recommendation for rehabilitation of such cubs vis-Ã -vis the NTCA guidelines; to prescribe 'minimum standards' for creation of tiger safaris; and to examine feasibility of ex-situ to in-situ linkage in the context of tiger. The committee will submit its report in 60 days, Yadav said.
MoEF meet on tiger reserves: The ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) has called a meeting of field directors of all tiger reserves at Bandipur in Karnataka. The two-day meet on July 29 and 30, will be inaugurated by union environment and forest minister Jairam Ramesh. All chief wildlife wardens of tiger-bearing states have been told to attend the meeting and make presentations on status of tiger reserves in their states.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/NTCA-committee-on-orphaned-tiger-cubs/articleshow/9105095.cms
Monday, July 4, 2011
Big cats find a new home — Goa's Mhadei sanctuary -HT
Your leisure trip to Goa will soon have an added advantage — tracking wild tigers. Over 35 tigers have been found residing in Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary in north Goa, about 60 to 90 kms from hot tourism hot spot beaches such as Anjum, Bombolin and Colva. Goa was not a traditional
home for tigers but in the last few years, tigers from neighbouring Bimgad and Anshi Dandeli tiger reserves in Karnataka had visited forests areas in Sattari Taluk of north Goa because of biotic pressures.
"There is evidence to show that tigers in Goa are not merely transient animals and but are resident population as," Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh said.
Mhadei sanctuary is a contiguous tiger landscape with tiger areas in Karnataka.
In the recent few years, tiger numbers have increased in the landscape in Western Ghats pushing the tigers to look for new habitats.
"Tigers can travel long distances to find their home base and it has also happened in case of Goa," said an official of the National Tiger Conservation Authority.
The Dehraduun-based Wildlife Institute of India has spotted 35 tigers in Mhadei, situated in Sattauri Taluk of north Goa and said the sanctuary has a good habitat for maintaining a stable tiger population.
Ramesh, in a letter to Goa chief minister Digambar Kamat said there was considerable support for the creation of a tiger reserve and wildlife conservation. "By declaring Mhadei wildlife sanctuary as a tiger reserve, we could also ensure the long-term protection of bio-diversity rich areas," he said.
The state government has been asked to submit a proposal to declare the wildlife sanctuary, which has been so far out of bounds for tourists, as a tiger reserve.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Goa-new-home-for-tigers/Article1-716511.aspx
home for tigers but in the last few years, tigers from neighbouring Bimgad and Anshi Dandeli tiger reserves in Karnataka had visited forests areas in Sattari Taluk of north Goa because of biotic pressures.
"There is evidence to show that tigers in Goa are not merely transient animals and but are resident population as," Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh said.
Mhadei sanctuary is a contiguous tiger landscape with tiger areas in Karnataka.
In the recent few years, tiger numbers have increased in the landscape in Western Ghats pushing the tigers to look for new habitats.
"Tigers can travel long distances to find their home base and it has also happened in case of Goa," said an official of the National Tiger Conservation Authority.
The Dehraduun-based Wildlife Institute of India has spotted 35 tigers in Mhadei, situated in Sattauri Taluk of north Goa and said the sanctuary has a good habitat for maintaining a stable tiger population.
Ramesh, in a letter to Goa chief minister Digambar Kamat said there was considerable support for the creation of a tiger reserve and wildlife conservation. "By declaring Mhadei wildlife sanctuary as a tiger reserve, we could also ensure the long-term protection of bio-diversity rich areas," he said.
The state government has been asked to submit a proposal to declare the wildlife sanctuary, which has been so far out of bounds for tourists, as a tiger reserve.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Goa-new-home-for-tigers/Article1-716511.aspx
Tiger reserve water bodies full to the brim TNN
DALTONGANJ: Wildlife in the Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR) can now enjoy water sport.
The good monsoon after more than three years has helped fill up the water bodies at Madhu Chuan, Bouliyya and Noohahee, inundating the PTR.
Elephants of the reserve are enjoying a "deluxe bath", said a tracker as there is sufficient water for them in the ponds. Elephants use more water for bath than any other wild animal.
The newly built 16 water turfs are also friendly to the wildlife. PTR field director S E H Kazmi said there were water turfs built in the past too, but its design was not friendly to wild animal because of its structure.
"This time the department has constructed 16 water turfs in the design of a plate, where the surface is coarse to prevent fall of any wildlife," said Kazmi. The field director is hopeful that these water will sustain this reserve in the coming summer also.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ranchi/Tiger-reserve-water-bodies-full-to-the-brim/articleshow/9091260.cms
The good monsoon after more than three years has helped fill up the water bodies at Madhu Chuan, Bouliyya and Noohahee, inundating the PTR.
Elephants of the reserve are enjoying a "deluxe bath", said a tracker as there is sufficient water for them in the ponds. Elephants use more water for bath than any other wild animal.
The newly built 16 water turfs are also friendly to the wildlife. PTR field director S E H Kazmi said there were water turfs built in the past too, but its design was not friendly to wild animal because of its structure.
"This time the department has constructed 16 water turfs in the design of a plate, where the surface is coarse to prevent fall of any wildlife," said Kazmi. The field director is hopeful that these water will sustain this reserve in the coming summer also.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ranchi/Tiger-reserve-water-bodies-full-to-the-brim/articleshow/9091260.cms
Slot for N-E in tiger body
Guwahati, July 3: The Northeast has finally got a voice in the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), the apex body of tiger conservation in the country.
Firoz Ahmed, a wildlife biologist with Aaranyak who has carried out camera trapping in wildlife parks of Assam, has been inducted as a member of the NTCA.
Ahmed’s term is for one year and it will end in September next year. The notification for his appointment was issued in the last week of June.
“I will try to highlight the issues of the Northeast in the tiger conservation policies of the Centre,” he told The Telegraph today.
Ahmed was the team leader of the Kaziranga camera trapping exercise, which put the park on top of the world after it was found that the park had a tiger density of 32 per 100 sq km. Ahmed said though tiger reserves in the region have resources, rigorous planning was required at the management level to use the resources to their best.
He is also developing individual profile of tigers in Kaziranga, Orang, Manas and Nameri under the Tiger Informatics through Geospatial and Ecological Research (TIGER) project.
“This will assist the managers and other stakeholders with updated information on tigers of the region and create awareness among the masses,” Ahmed said.
He had recently carried out an appraisal of Dampa tiger reserve in Mizoram, one of the important landscapes in the Indo-Bangladesh border with contiguous forests in both the countries.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110704/jsp/northeast/story_14192136.jsp
Firoz Ahmed, a wildlife biologist with Aaranyak who has carried out camera trapping in wildlife parks of Assam, has been inducted as a member of the NTCA.
Ahmed’s term is for one year and it will end in September next year. The notification for his appointment was issued in the last week of June.
“I will try to highlight the issues of the Northeast in the tiger conservation policies of the Centre,” he told The Telegraph today.
Ahmed was the team leader of the Kaziranga camera trapping exercise, which put the park on top of the world after it was found that the park had a tiger density of 32 per 100 sq km. Ahmed said though tiger reserves in the region have resources, rigorous planning was required at the management level to use the resources to their best.
He is also developing individual profile of tigers in Kaziranga, Orang, Manas and Nameri under the Tiger Informatics through Geospatial and Ecological Research (TIGER) project.
“This will assist the managers and other stakeholders with updated information on tigers of the region and create awareness among the masses,” Ahmed said.
He had recently carried out an appraisal of Dampa tiger reserve in Mizoram, one of the important landscapes in the Indo-Bangladesh border with contiguous forests in both the countries.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110704/jsp/northeast/story_14192136.jsp
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Nepal to 'fingerprint' tigers for conservation-TNN
KATHMANDU: To pinpoint the exact population of wild Bengal tigers and to combat poaching, Nepal will start "fingerprinting" its big cats from this fall, marking a switchover to hi-tech DNA profiling from the current tiger censuses conducted the old-fashioned way by using cameras and assessing pugmarks.
The two-year Nepal Tiger Genome Project, funded by the US Agency for International Development, will be conducted by Kathmandu-based Center for Molecular Dynamics Nepal (CMDN) in collaboration with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech University and the University of Idaho.
According to Dibesh Karmacharya, CMDN international director as well as the project’s principal investigator, from September-October, teams will fan out to the four national parks in Parsa, Bardiya, Chitwan and Kailali districts, the habitats of the bulk of Nepal’s big cats, and other areas where strays are found, to collect faeces. These will then be analysed at CMDN’s laboratory to create a DNA data base of Nepal’s tiger population.
As per the last tiger census, there were 155 tigers in Nepal in 2010. However, one of the big cats, Namo Buddha, who was captured, fitted with a collar to keep track of his movements and then translocated in January 2011, went missing soon after that. In June, it was officially acknowledged that he had been killed by poachers.
"The genome data base will be more accurate than pugmark spotting or camera sightings," Karmacharya told TNN. "It will also help identify carcasses found in the border areas."
With wild animals from Nepal, including elephants and rhinos, straying into Indian forests and vice versa, the DNA bank will also help Nepal assess whether tigers found killed in the border areas were from Nepal or India. Furthermore, it could lead to an assessment of favoured habitats as well as areas where poaching gangs are active and help boost security measures. The results of the project will be shared with experts worldwide through scientific publications and presentations.
This is the first time that Nepal will begin the genome-mapping of a wild, semi-extinct species. In India, scientists are already developing DNA data banks of tigers and snow leopards.
http://m.economictimes.com/environment/flora-fauna/nepal-to-fingerprint-tigers-for-conservation/articleshow/9063971.cms
The two-year Nepal Tiger Genome Project, funded by the US Agency for International Development, will be conducted by Kathmandu-based Center for Molecular Dynamics Nepal (CMDN) in collaboration with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech University and the University of Idaho.
According to Dibesh Karmacharya, CMDN international director as well as the project’s principal investigator, from September-October, teams will fan out to the four national parks in Parsa, Bardiya, Chitwan and Kailali districts, the habitats of the bulk of Nepal’s big cats, and other areas where strays are found, to collect faeces. These will then be analysed at CMDN’s laboratory to create a DNA data base of Nepal’s tiger population.
As per the last tiger census, there were 155 tigers in Nepal in 2010. However, one of the big cats, Namo Buddha, who was captured, fitted with a collar to keep track of his movements and then translocated in January 2011, went missing soon after that. In June, it was officially acknowledged that he had been killed by poachers.
"The genome data base will be more accurate than pugmark spotting or camera sightings," Karmacharya told TNN. "It will also help identify carcasses found in the border areas."
With wild animals from Nepal, including elephants and rhinos, straying into Indian forests and vice versa, the DNA bank will also help Nepal assess whether tigers found killed in the border areas were from Nepal or India. Furthermore, it could lead to an assessment of favoured habitats as well as areas where poaching gangs are active and help boost security measures. The results of the project will be shared with experts worldwide through scientific publications and presentations.
This is the first time that Nepal will begin the genome-mapping of a wild, semi-extinct species. In India, scientists are already developing DNA data banks of tigers and snow leopards.
http://m.economictimes.com/environment/flora-fauna/nepal-to-fingerprint-tigers-for-conservation/articleshow/9063971.cms
Friday, July 1, 2011
Chhattisgarh asked to propose tiger reserve status for Guru Ghasidas park-PTI
The Centre has asked Chhattisgarh government to submit a proposal to National Tiger Conservation Authority to declare Guru Ghasidas National Park in the State as a tiger reserve, saying it had the potential to support a viable population of the big cat.
This national park lies between Madhya Pradesh’s Bandhavgarh and Jharkhand’s Palamau tiger reserves. It is also contiguous with Madhya Pradesh’s Sanjay-Dubri Tiger Reserve.
In a letter to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said, “This would ensure (use of) the largest landscape within this part of Central India for tiger conservation“.
Noting that the area was surveyed by the Wildlife Institute of India last year, the Minister said, “Though the prey population in the habitat is very low at present, it has considerable diversity.”
“Therefore, with good management and protection under Project Tiger, the area has a potential for supporting a viable tiger population along with the Sanjay-Dubri Tiger Reserve,” Mr. Ramesh added.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/other-states/article2147726.ece
This national park lies between Madhya Pradesh’s Bandhavgarh and Jharkhand’s Palamau tiger reserves. It is also contiguous with Madhya Pradesh’s Sanjay-Dubri Tiger Reserve.
In a letter to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said, “This would ensure (use of) the largest landscape within this part of Central India for tiger conservation“.
Noting that the area was surveyed by the Wildlife Institute of India last year, the Minister said, “Though the prey population in the habitat is very low at present, it has considerable diversity.”
“Therefore, with good management and protection under Project Tiger, the area has a potential for supporting a viable tiger population along with the Sanjay-Dubri Tiger Reserve,” Mr. Ramesh added.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/other-states/article2147726.ece
Use armed force to guard Simlipal: Jairam to CM
More than a year after the massacre of more than a dozen elephants in Orissa’s Simlipal Tiger Reserve, the country’s fourth biggest tiger reserve, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh has asked Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to take urgent measures to safeguard the tigers in the state’s Similipal national park.
Similipal is one of India’s first Project Tiger reserves. Spread over 845.70 sq km, it is home to many Royal Bengal Tigers and elephants.
Between April and May last year, 14 elephants were slaughtered by poachers inside the tiger reserve situated in Mayurbhanj district of Orissa. A probe team from National Tiger Conservation Authority, which found seven elephant carcasses, in its report said the staff of the tiger reserve had burnt and destroyed the carcasses.
“There was a concerted effort to destroy the remains of the elephant carcasses, which amounts to destruction of evidence without registering a case. Although there is absolutely no evidence to suggest the involvement of forest staff in the actual killing of the elephants, the destruction of evidence and the fact that the elephant deaths were not reported by the staff, should be treated as a very serious matter,” the NTCA committee said in its report.
http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/RAJ-JPR-sariskas-tale-of-woes-continues-with-sluggish-relocation-of-villagers-2231507.html
Similipal is one of India’s first Project Tiger reserves. Spread over 845.70 sq km, it is home to many Royal Bengal Tigers and elephants.
Between April and May last year, 14 elephants were slaughtered by poachers inside the tiger reserve situated in Mayurbhanj district of Orissa. A probe team from National Tiger Conservation Authority, which found seven elephant carcasses, in its report said the staff of the tiger reserve had burnt and destroyed the carcasses.
“There was a concerted effort to destroy the remains of the elephant carcasses, which amounts to destruction of evidence without registering a case. Although there is absolutely no evidence to suggest the involvement of forest staff in the actual killing of the elephants, the destruction of evidence and the fact that the elephant deaths were not reported by the staff, should be treated as a very serious matter,” the NTCA committee said in its report.
http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/RAJ-JPR-sariskas-tale-of-woes-continues-with-sluggish-relocation-of-villagers-2231507.html
Sariska's tale of woes continues with sluggish relocation of villagers -DNA
Jaipur: Rehabilitating villages situated in critical tiger habitats is perhaps the most crucial task for the forest department authorities involved in tiger conservation works, however work in this regard is moving at a snail's pace in Rajasthan.
"Out of the twenty eight villages earmarked for relocation, only Bhagani village has been shifted till date. Work on shifting Umri, Sukol and Dabli villages is also on. However, the major problem we face is that these villages, after taking relocation packages, settle again in the nearby villages. So, the whole purpose of relocation is being defeated," said an official posted at Sariska Tiger Reserve.
In Sariska, relocation work at Kankwari, the village where tiger ST1 was poisoned, and Rotlyala and Kraska villages is yet to begin even after the Forest department already having the financial sanction for the work.
Situation is more or less same in Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve. Only two villages, Indala and Machanki, have been shifted out of the park so far while the relocation work in seven other villages is still pending despite financial sanctions.
In Ranthambhore, Kalighat, Bhid, Kathuli, Hindwad, Mopr Doongari, Dangra, Bheempura, Mudarhedi villages, having more than 1,500 families, are still to be shifted out of the park. Forest authorities maintain they are in the process of shifting these villages but officials don't wish to come on the record.
"The lethargic Forest department is affecting the tiger conservation work in the state as nobody in the department seems to be bothered about the growing human- animal conflict situation. In Ranthambhore, villagers leave their cattle in the jungle to graze during monsoon while forest officials turn a blind eye towards the situation. Hoards of villagers coming out with fuel wood is a very common scene every evening in Ranthambhore," said Shatrunjai Singh, a tiger conservationist. All tiger conservation efforts will go waste if the villages are not shifted out of the park soon, Singh added.
http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/RAJ-JPR-sariskas-tale-of-woes-continues-with-sluggish-relocation-of-villagers-2231507.html
MoEF in favour of declaring Mhadei as a tiger reserve -PTI
Panaji, Jun 29 (PTI) Union Ministry of Environment and Forest's letter asking Government of Goa to prepare a proposal to declare Mhadei wildlife sanctuary as a tiger reserve will have far reaching consequences on the Iron ore mining industry there, a noted environmentalist said today.Rajendra Kerkar, who has been campaigning to notify Mhadei as a tiger reserve said, "Around 36 mines, which are active around Mhadei will be hit directly while several others will be affected once the tiger reserve is notified"."The mining activity in the areas like Pissurlem and Honda in Sattari talukas will be shut down as it will fall in the buffer zone," Kerkar said, adding currently there is no buffer zone for state's wildlife sanctuaries.Union minister for Environment and Forest Jairam Ramesh yesterday wrote a letter to Chief Minister Digambar Kamat asking him to submit a proposal to notify Mhadei wildlife sanctuary as a tiger reserve.The green activists in the state have been lobbying for several years to declare this bio-diverse hotspot in the Western Ghats as a reserve for big cats.Goa is the largest exporter of iron ore in the country with around 45 million metric tonnes of ore being extracted annually.The environmentalists had been protesting against mining activities going on within the reserve forest area and wildlife sanctuaries. Mhadei Wildlife sanctuary, spread across 208 sq km, was notified in the year 1999 and is surrounded by thickly-forested Bhimgad, Bondla, Mahaveer, Anshi-Dandeli and Sawantwadi.Goa chief wildlife warden Dr Shashi Kumar said, "It will not be difficult to prepare a proposal for the tiger reserve. But it has to be done in consultation with the locals." In case there is human habitation in the sanctuary, the state will need to take decision on their rehabilitation, he added.
http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/moef-in-favour-of-declaring-mhadei-as-a-tiger-reserve/742636.html
http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/moef-in-favour-of-declaring-mhadei-as-a-tiger-reserve/742636.html
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