Who is to be blamed for the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary not being declared a tiger reserve?

TNN | Dec 12, 2011, 05.42AM IST PANAJI: The Goa government is to be blamed for not taking necessary and timely steps for declaring the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary as a tiger reserve. The forest department for more than a decade has failed miserably in generating awareness to garner support for transforming this tiger habitat, known for the rich and varied biodiversity, into the Mhadei tiger reserve. The proposed tiger reserve will not only protect the big cat but will help in safeguarding the water resources for posterity in our land. Priyavanda Parab human resources executive, Aravale-Sanquelim It is some one with a mining interest that is trying to stop the department from declaring the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary it as a tiger reserve. They want to convert the place into a mining area. I have been to Vagheri for a trek and have taken photos of tiger pugmarks. Anand Masur associate professor, Margao Obviously, the state government and the forest department must be blamed for the Mhadei sanctuary not being declared as a tiger reserve in Goa. The present politicians are mining tycoons and sick politicians. The known fact is that maximum number of tigers are in Mhadei area and everybody knows it. However its surprising that the government is still unaware about the fact. Swapnil Sabnis engineer, Sanquelim I am all for declaring the Mhadei sanctuary as a tiger reserve. It is our duty to protect the tigers to prevent their extinction. The mining lobby is probably influencing the delay in declaring the sanctuary as a tiger reserve. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Who-is-to-be-blamed-for-the-Mhadei-wildlife-sanctuary-not-being-declared-a-tiger-reserve/articleshow/11076917.cms

Pench's anti-poaching squad defunct since two years

Vijay Pinjarkar, TNN | Dec 12, 2011, 03.30AM IST NAGPUR: The anti-poaching squad attached to the Pench Tiger Reserve seems to have virtually been poached! The squad is allegedly non-functional for the past over two years with its in charge-officer handling dual charges. With the anti-poaching squad becoming defunct, illegal fishing in Totladoh reservoir inside the tiger reserve has increased. On November 29, 13 villagers from Fulzari were arrested for poisoning Pench waters for getting better fish yield. However, A Ashraf, chief conservator of forests (CCF), Pench, denies that the squad has become defunct. As per the Supreme Court orders, fishing in Pench tiger reserve is prohibited. Yet, it continues rampantly. The fishermen, residing on the periphery of Pench reserve, enter the reservoir in the evening and are involved in fishing throughout the night. Huge cache of fish is shifted outside the reserve early morning and despatched to Nagpur in private vehicles. Sporadic action by the officials has failed to deter fishermen, for whom fishing is the only source of easy livelihood. The squad comprises one range forest officer (RFO) and two forest guards. RFO KG Patil, who heads the squad, is in additional charge of East Pench range since April 20, 2009 after S T Londhe was shifted to Kuhi. Since then Patil is holding dual charge of a range as well as the squad. The two guards with the anti-poaching squad sit idle at Nagpur office. Ashraf admits that a squad of three is too meagre to take on many fishermen. "Yet, we do patrolling in the wee hours, a fact which cannot be noticed by the outsiders. You have to see it to believe it. As the RFO concerned stays at Pench, it helps to control fishing," he says. However, the fact remains that there is no action against the culprits by the anti-poaching squad. The patrolling boats at Pench are lying idle and fishing is going on right under the nose of the squad - even near the dam wall where the squad is posted. The fishing activity has caused lot of disturbance in the park affecting wildlife. The issue calls for a proper posting policy. The new incumbent, A D Kulkarni from Beed district, who has been posted to East Pench in August, is left with just 16 months to retire. He is on leave due to family problems but is expected to join on December 18. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Penchs-anti-poaching-squad-defunct-since-two-years/articleshow/11076049.cms

Big cat pawprint growing at Rajaji; calls for ‘tiger park’

MONDAY, 12 DECEMBER 2011 00:19 PARITOSH KIMOTHI | DEHRADUN HITS: 95 The Rajaji National Park should be made a tiger park considering the rising big cat population and the fact that a thriving prey base and healthy environment makes it an ideal habitat for both predators and herbivores. The World Bank programme director for the Global Tiger Initiative (GTI), Keshav Varma said this while talking to The Pioneer on the sidelines of the international conference on eco-engineering for connecting wildlife corridors. Though the Corbett National Park is famous for its high density of tiger population, the population of big cats has also been rising in Rajaji which is known for elephants. According to Varma, the tiger population in Rajaji has increased from about 3.2 per 100 sq km to 6 per 100 sq km. In addition to tigers, there are more than 200 leopards in this national park which is due to the rich prey base here. “There are 72 ungulate species per sq km in Rajaji which can sustain a healthy population of predators. The tiger is also a politically important animal in India so it is easier to elicit focus and efforts for tiger conservation, which in turn will benefit all wildlife. The biotic pressure faced here will increase further in the future considering which it is important to make Rajaji a tiger park”, stressed Varma. He further said that the GTI could talk to the National Tiger Conservation Authority in this regard and also assist in facilitation of capacity building and training if the national park is made a tiger park. Focus on this issue will also facilitate the movement of tigers and elephants between Corbett and Rajaji, he added. http://dailypioneer.com/nation/27182-big-cat-pawprint-growing-at-rajaji-calls-for-tiger-park.html

Conference on tiger conservation held Source: DNA | Last Updated 03:17(11/12/11) Bhopal: A conference on tiger conservation and protection was organised in collaboration by Centre for Research in International Law (CRIL), NLIU, NGO Prayatana and ILSA at the regional museum of natural history, Bhopal. The daylong session was attended by luminaries and students and targeted the youth to generate awareness. Addressing the inaugural session, Dr Raka Arya and Capt Ruchi Vijaywargiya from the People's group highlighted the importance of Indian laws on tiger conservation and drew a comparison with USA and the European Union where successfully other programmes of rare species conservation are being carried out. Senior journalist Abhilash Jhandekar spoke on reality of tigers in sanctuaries drawing from his personal experiences. Dr Ramprasad addressed the gathering on the situation of tiger poaching and the ineffectiveness of the present laws. Dr Rajesh Gopal, chief guest from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), spoke about the status and number of tigers left, the areas and states that are threatened in the country. He highlighted the rising tourism in reserves citing that it has become a major problem and even contributed to rising poaching. http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/MP-BHO-conference-on-tiger-conservation-held-2631264.html

'India has habitat to sustain 2200 tigers'

TNN | Dec 11, 2011, 08.47AM IST BHOPAL: The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) member secretary Rajesh Gopal said on Saturday that India was having space to sustain around 2200 tigers. "I think that the country is having space to sustain 500 more tigers. Now we are having some 1700 big cats," Gopal said addressing a programme Save Tiger: Challenges and Future here, organized by an NGO. He said that 10 more tiger reserves are coming up in the country but even after it, the country was not having the habitat to sustain 500 more tigers. NTCA member secretary said that the man-animal conflict was on a rise due to the shrinking habitat of the striped animal adding that some instances of the big cats straying into human habitat have come to light. Gopal said that he was of the view that the Sariska and Panna became devoid of the tigers because the two places didn't have buffer zones. He said that buffer zone plays an important role in the protection of big cats. "India is having the largest number of striped animals among the nations having these endangered species," Gopal said. He said that India has taken a slew of measures to protect tiger which was missing in other countries having striped animals. Gopal recalled that after the number of wild cat dwindled drastically, the central government took many measures, including banning tiger hunting in 1970, and enactment of Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972. Tiger Task Force was constituted which was headed by former prime minister late Indira Gandhi in 1973. After this, he said the project tiger was launched first in Jim Corbett National Park on April 1, 1973. NTCA member secretary said that he strongly feels that the tiger won't become extinct in the country adding that in 90s and last decades there were apprehensions that big cat would vanish. "They all were proved wrong," he added. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/India-has-habitat-to-sustain-2200-tigers/articleshow/11067211.cms

Central body pulls up State Forest dept

Sivasish Thakur GUWAHATI, Dec 8 – The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) under the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests has pulled up the State Forest Department for its “casual approach” in handling the situation arising out of a straying tigress from Kaziranga National Park, which ultimately led to the gunning down of the traumatized animal by armed police personnel. Even though the State Government had immediately instituted a high-level inquiry into the incident, the NTCA also started a parallel probe into the shooting which conservation circles widely believe could have been averted but for the “lax and unprofessional” conduct of the forest authorities. Talking to The Assam Tribune, SP Yadav, Joint Director, NTCA, said that there was prima facie evidence of lapses on the part of the Forest Department. “The killing of the tigress is sad and most unfortunate…it was prima facie a case of lack of leadership and casual approach on the part of the park authorities and the Forest Department,” Yadav said, adding that the NTCA has submitted its findings to the Government of India. Yadav, however, refrained from divulging the details as the Union Minister for Forest and Environment who was outside the country was supposed to go through it first. The killing of the tigress could be even more distressing in view of reports – unconfirmed though as yet – that she was a lactating mother with cubs. In such a case, the survival prospects of the cubs would be rather bleak. A wildlife activist wishing anonymity said that with a little effort towards crowd control, the tigress could have been sent back safely to the wilds. “Unlike in the Moirabari (Morigaon) incident last year when there was a huge angry crowd, this time there were about a hundred people only. Moreover, the forest was also quite near and the animal could have easily been sent back,” he said. The State Government-appointed inquiry committee headed by Additional Conservator of Forests OP Pandey and his deputy CR Bhobora has also started its probe. “We are now hearing evidences and expect to complete our job within the stipulated 15-day time,” Bhobora said. The committee will inquire into the circumstances leading to the incident, fix responsibility and suggest ways to prevent recurrence of such incidents. Killing of straying tigers has emerged as a disquieting trend in the State, with two big cats gunned down in the past two years at Moirabari (Morigaon) and Jakhalabandha (Nagaon) in 2010 and 2009 respectively. With straying tigers showing an increasing trend at Kaziranga, conservation circles believe that unless the forest authorities exhibit greater sincerity and commitment – and put in place a firm protocol defining the role of various agencies including the police – such tragedies would continue to recur. http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=dec0911/at08

Centre sanctions Rs 3 crore for Valmikinagar tiger reserve

PTI | 08:12 PM,Dec 07,2011 Patna, Dec 7 (PTI) The Centre has sanctioned Rs three crores to Valmikinagar Tigers Reserve (VTR) for putting in quality infrastructure and develop the place as a tourist attraction, Bihar Tourism Minister Sunil Kumar Pintu said today. The funds will be used for laying down various infrastructure, like toilet, landscaping, cleanliness and other facilities at the VTR, he said in reply to a question in the Legislative Council. The minister said that apart from tigers, the Valmikinagar reserve areas have religious places like Goddess Sita's abodes, play grounds of her children, etc. The VTR region, having a large number of tigers, is likely to be opened for tourists early next year, official sources said. http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/centre-sanctions-rs-3-crore-for-valmikinagar-tiger-reserve/923054.html

51 tigers died in 2011: Report

Avijit Ghosh & Vijay Pinjarkar, TNN | Dec 7, 2011, 03.39AM IST NEW DELHI: Fifty-one tigers have died in different states of India between January and Dec 5, 2011, according to statistics collated by a prominent wildlife NGO. A tigress shot dead outside Kaziranga Park in Assam on Monday is the latest in that list. Figures provided by Wildlife Protection Society of India show that 14 tigers perished in Uttarakhand, the highest in a single state. Karnataka takes the second place with six deaths while Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh account for five each. Poaching, road accident, infighting and fight with other animals are some of the reasons for the deaths. Some tigers died of natural causes and diseases too. A few were killed by villagers, police and the forest department. "Tiger poachers are still active. On Dec 2, forest department officials recovered a tiger trap placed by poachers in the Nagarjunasagar Srisailam tiger reserve of Andhra Pradesh," says Tito Joseph, programme manager, WPSI. Skins, bones, skulls and claws of the royal big cat have also been seized in Manipur, Orissa, Maharashtra and Uttarakhand this year. A tigress was found dead without claws, canines and whiskers in Chhattisgarh's Bhoramdeo Wildlife Sanctuary on Nov 15. "A labourer engaged in patrolling had committed the act. He has been arrested and jailed. He confessed that he had poisoned a cow killed by the tigress. The big cat came back for the kill and died of poisoning. He then took out the claws and other parts of its body," Ram Prakash, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Chhattisgarh told TOI over phone. There were three more tiger deaths in November. On Nov 3, a tigress was accidentally electrocuted by a cable connection connected to an electric motor pump in vihirgaon village in Maharashtra's Chandrapur district. In another case on Nov 20, tiger died after getting trapped in a wire set up by villagers near Tipeswar Wildlife Sanctuary, Yavatmal, Mahrashtra. "The tiger got entangled and was strangulated after it tried to break free. A local farmer has been arrested," says AK Saxena, Additional PCCF Wildlife, Maharashtra. On Nov 20, an injured 14-year-old tiger known as B2 was tranquilized and rescued by forest department in Madhya Pradesh's Bandhavgarh reserve. But the tiger died some time after the capture, WPSI sources say. The tiger census figures released officially in Jan 2008, showed a mere 1,411 tigers alive as compared to 3,508 in 1997, a drastic drop of 60%. According to fresh government estimates in March 2011, the number now is anywhere between 1,571 and 1,875; the average working out to 1,706. WPSI figures show 58 tiger deaths in 2010: poaching and seizure (30). Other reasons make up for the remaining 28. Samir Sinha, head of TRAFFIC-India that monitors illegal wildlife trade, said the loss of every tiger should be cause for worry. "We must also be prepared to accept that any population will have a certain level of mortality. More than the numbers, it's the nature and cause of death that's the concern," he says. Conservationists say while the death of every tiger counts, there's a positive side to the story. There are reports of 20 new cubs from Tadoba-Andhari, Pench (MP) and Bandhavgarh tiger reserves in Central India. Extrapolate these figures to other tiger habitats, and the rise in numbers could be significant. However, only when the cubs survive the first two years do they get into the official census figures. WPSI officials say that the main problem with tiger protection today is lack of intelligence-led enforcement leading a failure in breaching organised poaching gangs. There's also a need to improve co-operation from local people in tiger conservation and perk up management effectiveness, says Joseph. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/51-tigers-died-in-2011-Report/articleshow/11013784.cms

14 rounds from AK-47 fired at tiger: probe panel

OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT The carcass of the tigress. Telegraph picture Jorhat, Dec. 6: The National Tiger Conservation Authority has found that Assam police personnel fired at least 14 shots from two AK-47 rifles to kill the tigress at Basagaon near Kaziranga National Park yesterday. A two-member committee, comprising Firoz Ahmed and Jyoti Das, formed by the tiger conservation authority to probe the incident, completed its inquiry today and will submit the report soon. The panel has also found that negligence on part of the forest department and “pro-activeness” on part of the Assam Police led to the death of the animal, listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The forest department, on its part, has also ordered an inquiry into the killing. The tigress had strayed from Kaziranga National Park into a village in Basagaon yesterday. It snatched a pig from a house and was eating it with its cub inside a bamboo grove, when a large crowd began gathering in the area, forcing the forest department to call the police to control the people. The tiger came out of the hiding and came face-to-face with the police team and a reporter of a local TV channel, who was filming the incident. Probably in panic, the tigress pounced at the reporter, prompting a police constable to leap to the journalist’s rescue. As the policeman struggled with the tiger, gun shots rang out. The cub could not be traced; it could have scampered back to the park. A forest official said the nine-month-old cub had been sighted by several villagers yesterday. “Although there were signs of suckling on the carcass, the cub is old enough to fend for itself,” he said. Sources close to probe panel told The Telegraph that had the forest department personnel taken necessary steps, the incident could have been avoided. “There were police personnel, instead of forest personnel, at the site. Forest personnel should have taken the initiative to protect the tiger by not allowing people to come so close to the animal,” the source said. The probe report also stated that it was proactive action on part of the Assam police personnel deputed in the area which led to the killing of the tiger. “Panic gripped the police personnel as soon as the tiger came out of its hiding and they opened fire immediately,” the report said. The post-mortem conducted on the carcass found two bullets and at least 14 bullet injury marks. The veterinarian who conducted the autopsy said the bullets would be sent to the forensic laboratory. Assam forest minister Rakibul Hussain said a high-level inquiry would be conducted under the supervision of O.P. Pandey, additional principal chief conservator of forest, and C.R. Bhobora, deputy conservator of forests, from tomorrow. The team has been asked to submit its report within 15 days. http://telegraphindia.com/1111207/jsp/northeast/story_14846548.jsp

Tiger buzz in Saranda forest Pug mark test on in UP

KUMUD JENAMANI & A.S.R.P. MUKESH Jamshedpur/Ranchi, Dec. 3: Tiger triumph for reclaimed red den Saranda? Yes, if pug marks and hair found in the core area can prove the majestic animal’s resident status. No, if one maverick big cat has strayed into the sprawling forests of West Singhbhum from neighbouring Odisha’s Simlipal reserve. Speculation on whether Jharkhand’s striped population has taken a leap has been rife ever since Project Tiger authorities in Betla, Palamau, confirmed early this week that the pug marks found beside the carcass of a bison at Ghatkuri in the Gua range of Saranda earlier this month were indeed that of a tiger. However, actual sightings or pictures and DNA verification are necessary to confirm whether the tiger count has gone up in the state. Chief wildlife conservator of forests A.K. Gupta admitted they had no visual evidence in Saranda so far, but added that presence of the big cat could not be ruled out. Divisional forest officer (DFO), Saranda, K.K. Tiwary said four distinct tiger paw prints were found in the first week of November. “We first spotted a mauled bison, which suggested a predator attack. Next, we found clear pug marks and collected them using a tracing paper and plaster of Paris. And, finally, on a patch of flattened grass, we found feline hair. It appears, the tiger lazed around after a lavish meal,” he explained. Tiwary maintained that big cats were generally found in forests where prey was available in plenty. Saranda, which sprawls over 850sqkm, boasts vast swathes of grasslands and has a large herbivore population. According to the last census, there are some 1,000 cheetals, 300 sambars and 25 bison in its forests. S.E.H. Kazmi, the director of the Palamau reserve, confirmed that pug marks had been found in Saranda. “The DFO had sent us prints and hair found in the forest. We examined them and confirmed that they were of a big cat.” Kazmi, however, said the animal might have strayed into Saranda from adjoining Odisha. “Tigers are solitary creatures with high territorial awareness. They can have a territory of 20sqkm to 100sqkm. Whether this big cat is a Saranda denizen needs to be ascertained,” he added. Chief wildlife conservator Gupta sounded more sceptical. “To our knowledge, the tiger may have migrated from Simlipal in Odisha. Besides, after the pug marks were found no other animal was mauled,” he reasoned. But wildlife activist and member of state steering committee on Project Tiger D.S. Srivastava claimed that Saranda was a grand tiger territory some two decades ago. If the big cat count hasn’t been kept in the past years that is only because the forest department has manpower crunch, he said. “Against 72 posts of forest guards in four ranges, there are only four in action,” Srivastava, who was among the first to have spotted a pug mark in Saranda this September, said. He added that hair collected from the Gua range had been sent to Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India for verification. “Circumstantial evidence compel us to believe that there are tigers in Saranda. We need an official seal.” Echoing Tiwary, he asserted that the West Singhbhum forest was home to barking deer, antelope and wild boars. “These are prime tiger preys. If these animals are there, their predator has to be nearby.” Currently, only the Palamau Tiger Reserve has 10 striped inmates, the first-ever camera proof having come in early June this year. http://telegraphindia.com/1111204/jsp/frontpage/story_14836087.jsp

Tigress shot dead by armed police

TNN | Dec 6, 2011, 03.58AM IST JORHAT: Personnel of Assam Police's armed battalion shot dead an adult tigress at Kaziranga National Park, about 250 km from here, on Monday, after it sneaked into a human settlement and attacked people near the Kohora forest range of the park. Assam chief wildlife warden Suresh Chand said a two-member inquiry committee has been constituted under the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). Both the members are from the NTCA - biologist Jyoti Das and Firoz Ahmed. "The NTCA has instituted a two-member committee comprising Das and Ahmed to probe into the killing. We got information of the killing soon after the incident," Chand said. Kaziranga National Park director Surajit Dutta said the tigress was killed at Bosagaon near Kohora forest range at 8.30 this morning. "The armed police opened fire when the tigeress attempted to attack people in the area," Dutta said. Park officials said that the tigress was creating panic among the people of the area. "By the time we went for the rescue operation, the tiger had injured two persons, including a local news channel correspondent. When the tigress tried to attack another person, police opened fire," a forest official said. The injured journalist, Ranjit Rajak, said, "I was injured on my back by the tigress while I was trying to collect visuals of the incident." In April this year, a tiger carcass was found at the Kathanibari forest camp of the park's Kohora forest range. The reason of death of the tiger could not be ascertained. Also in January, another adult tigress was found dead on a sand island of the Brahmaputra in the park. Poisoning was suspected to be the cause of the tigress's death. Kaziranga lost five tigers last year, mostly because of territorial fights. The national park has the fourth highest tiger density in the country. The latest NTCA report - 'Status of Tigers, Co-predators and Prey in India, 2010' has 15.92 tigers per 100 square km. It is estimated that there are about 106 tigers within the 830 sq km of the Kaziranga tiger reserve. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/Tigress-shot-dead-by-armed-police/articleshow/11000465.cms

DFO injured in tiger attack

PTI | 09:12 PM,Dec 02,2011 Patna, Dec 2 (PTI) A senior forest officer today suffered serious injuries when a tiger attacked him in Bihar's Saran district when he went to capture the animal which had escaped from a forest reserve, police sources said. District Forest Officer (DFO) Ganesh Kumar was attacked by the tiger and wounded severely while he was trying to catch the animal, the sources said. The injured DFO has been referred to the Patna Medical College Hospital for treatment, they said. Earlier in the day, the natives of Kushhalpur village spotted an adult tiger in their vicinity and raised an alarm before Kumar arrived there with some forest guards to catch the animal which attacked him before escaping in the forested area, the sources said. The tiger was said to have escaped from the Valmiki Nagar forest reserve and swam through the Gandak river on way to Vaishali district from where it crossed to the other side of the river in Saran district, they said. A team of forest officials with tranquilizers and a cage were camping in the village to catch the animal, the chief warden, wildlife, D.K Shukla said.

Bihar gets trained elephant to track tiger

Patna, Dec 4, DHNS: Two days after a tiger critically injured a district forest officer before escaping into the bushy tracts near Sonepur in North Bihar, the State’s Environment and Forest Department has sought the services of a trained elephant to locate the big cat. A request has been made to the National Tiger Conservation Authority seeking its assistance in locating the tiger. The animal has reportedly strayed from the Valmikinagar Tiger Reserve, on the Bihar-Nepal border, and is still moving in the area spread over the Saran and Vaishali districts on the banks of the Gandak river. “Going by the pug marks, the tiger appears to be moving along the bushy tracts of the Gandak basin. Since the island is full of long grass, it’s difficult to locate the big cat. Besides, it’s dangerous to move on foot,” said Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Basir Ahmad. Trained elephant “We have, therefore, requested the National Tiger Conservation Authority to provide us with some experts to capture the big cat. We have also sought the services of a trained elephant, which will help the team move around the area and locate the tiger,” said Ahmad. The National Tiger Conservation Authority has, however, reportedly told the Bihar Forest Department officials that the animal should be left on its own for the next few days, so that it can settle down as it may be in an agitated state of mind after its encounter with human beings. That the tiger, which strayed into the Sonepur area had injured District Forest Officer K Ganesh Kumar when he fired the first round of tranquilisers. The tiger, after injuring the district forest officer, escaped into the bushy tracts though it was surrounded. Sources said that chances of tiger having further encounters with human beings is low as the terrain, where it is supposed to be resting, is full of blue bulls. “Besides, tigers have a strong sense of home ranging. Therefore, it’s quite possible that if left on its own, the tiger may find its way to Valmikinagar Tiger Reserve,” said a forest department official citing the example of a tiger which had strayed from the Ranthambore reserve in Rajasthan to Mathura in Uttar Pradesh. “It returned to Ranthambore in the next few days,” said the official. But the Bihar government is not prepared to take any chances. It has deputed a strong team of forest officials, besides the Vaishali and Saran district administrative and police officers, near Sonepur to deal with any eventuality. http://www.deccanherald.com/content/209399/bihar-gets-trained-elephant-track.html

Fossils of world's oldest tiger found in China

FRIDAY, 02 DECEMBER 2011 19:57 PTI | WASHINGTON HITS: 728 Scientists have discovered what they believe is the oldest ever extinct species of tiger which lived in what is now northwestern China more than two million years ago. Although the skull of the ancient tiger, called Panthera zdanskyi, is smaller than most modern tigers, it appears very similar in shape, the researchers added. The jaguar-sized tiger, whose skull and jaw were found in northwestern China, is one of the largest living cats, a giant predator native to Asia, reaching up to 13 feet in length and weighing up to 300 kg. However, the beast's origins are under intense debate, with suggestions it arose in north-central China, southern China or northern Siberia, LiveScience reported. According to researchers, the tiger's fossils date back to 2.16 million to 2.55 million years, predating other known tiger fossils by up to a half-million years. This represents the oldest complete skull hitherto found of a pantherine cat -- the lineage that includes tigers and all other living big cats, said researcher Andrew Kitchener, principal curator of vertebrate biology at National Museums Scotland in Edinburgh. "The discovery of the identity of this fossil is vitally important for providing a greater understanding of the fossil history of big cats and the relationships between them." The fossils were unearthed in 2004 on the eastern slope of Longdan, a village in Gansu, China, giving it the informal name of the Longdan tiger. The skull of this extinct cat had robust, well-developed upper canine fangs and a relatively long nose, details typical of tigers. Although the size of the skull is comparable with that of the smallest females of living tiger subspecies, its overall shape suggests it belonged to a male, the researchers detailed in the journal PLoS ONE. Indeed, despite about two million years of separation, the skull of the Longdan tiger appears surprisingly similar to that of modern tigers, the researchers said. "It seems likely that this tiger's diet would have been similar to that of today's and would have included ungulates such as deer and pigs," Kitchener said. The researchers suggest this extinct cat was a sister species to the modern tiger. Their analysis argues that the tiger lineage developed features of its skull and upper teeth early on, while its lower jaw and teeth evolved at a different rate. A similar pattern of "mosaic evolution" is seen in the cheetah lineage, they noted. "It will be interesting to see whether further fossil big cats are discovered in China and elsewhere, which expand our knowledge of the distribution of this species and fill in more gaps in the tiger's fossil history," Kitchener said. "Confirming a more precise dating of Panthera zdanskyi would also be invaluable for understanding its position in the tiger's evolutionary timescale." http://www.dailypioneer.com/pioneer-news/dont-miss-it/24811-fossils-of-worlds-oldest-tiger-found-in-china.html

In tiger country, 800 camera traps will capture animals

Dipannita Das, TNN | Dec 2, 2011, 04.28AM IST PUNE: The state forest department will install camera traps in all four tiger reserves in Maharashtra to know the number of tigers and their prey population. Two cameras will be placed every 5 sq km. It will be part of the phase IV, all-India tiger estimation exercise across 41 protected areas in the country. The four tiger reserves where camera traps will be installed in the state include Melghat, Pench, Tadoba-Andhari and Sahyadri. Camera traps, also known as trail cameras, are used to capture images of animals in the wild with little human interference. S K Khetarpal, principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) Maharashtra, told TOI that the three phases of the exercise which have been completed gave the tiger population landscape-wise, but not wildlife sanctuary-wise. Hence, the phase IV exercise will estimate the minimum population of tigers in the reserves. About 800 camera traps will be needed for the four reserves. The exercise will start from the second week of January and the camera traps will be placed for 40-45 nights. "The camera traps will help us know the minimum tiger population in protected areas.We will also follow the line transect method. There will be continuous monitoring by forest guards in reserves to get information about poaching or other illegal activities for conservation efforts," he said. Remote cameras are used in sample sites to take pictures to estimate tiger population and density.A self-portrait of the tiger is generated when it passes in front of the camera trap. Since the stripes of each tiger is unique, like fingerprints in a human, it is able to identify individual tigers from their photographs. "This is for the first time that camera traps will be placed in all the tiger reserves across the country.We will float tenders to procure the cameras.We may not get 800 camera traps, but the exercise will be carried out across the country between January and March 2012, simultaneously. We will place the camera traps as they become available,'' he said. The National Tiger Conservation Authority will conduct a regional workshop for capacity building of forest staff on December 28 and 29 in Panna tiger reserve.Analysis will follow after the data is collected. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/In-tiger-country-800-camera-traps-will-capture-animals/articleshow/10951381.cms

Wildlife experts visit Katarniaghat sanctuary

TNN | Nov 30, 2011, 08.39AM IST BAHRAICH: A team of wildlife experts from London reached Katarniaghat to examine the status of tigers at Katarniaghat wildlife sanctuary. The team members said that the number of tigers is dwindling due to the man-animal conflict. However, the big cats can be conserved by educating the villagers. The expert Phil Davis of the organisation tiger awareness said that he has reached here following his visits in national parks of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Dudhwa national park. He added that danger of extinction is looming large over the Indian tigers due to the man-animal conflict. Davis said that after studying Katarniaghat, he will handover the report to his office and thereafter the organisation would contact the Indian forest ministry and run the operation in national parks and the villages adjoining the reserved forest areas for the awareness of villagers in order to conserve the tigers. Davis added that the number of tigers in Indian forest is about 1000, which is a matter of serious concern. The tigers can be conserved after educating the forest villagers. The tigers are important for the forest and the villagers have to understand this. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/allahabad/Wildlife-experts-visit-Katarniaghat-sanctuary/articleshow/10927309.cms

Tiger cub separates from mother in Corbett

TUESDAY, 29 NOVEMBER 2011 00:23 RAJENDRA S MARKUNA | HALDWANI HITS: 102 A tiger cub, which was separated from its mother a few days ago in the Dhikala zone of the Corbett Tiger Reserve, now has to fight it out alone. Foresters have been closely monitoring the movements of the tiger cub. Corbett officials initially believed that the cub had not separated from the mother. But since it was not certain, movement of the general public and tourists was restricted in the area where the tiger cub was found. Wildlife experts are of the view that wild animals desert their cubs at certain age of their lives to enable them to learn to survive in tougher wild environs. Some others have stated that the mother and the cub are living together in the area. It seems the cub is still with its mother in Dhikala zone of the Corbett Tiger Reserve, though it is a bit weak, said Anil Balooni, vice president, State forest and environment advisory committee, while talking to The Pioneer. The officials are keeping an eye on the tiger cub's movements and efforts are being made to ensure food arrangements for the cub in one of the most visited zone of the Corbett Tiger Reserve. When contacted UC Tiwari, park warden, Corbett Tiger Reserve, told The Pioneer that it seems the tiger cub is not separated from its mother and is still with her. But nothing is clear yet. "Whatever may be the case, we have been closely monitoring the movements of the tiger cub. Efforts are on to feed the tiger cub." Since it is a very sensitive matter and it is not clear whether the tiger cub is separated or still under the mother's care, more external intervention can't be employed to rescue the tiger cub, maintained the wildlife experts. We can't lift the tiger cub at this juncture as it is not certain that the tiger cub is totally separated, informed Tiwari. In the meantime to ensure minimum human intervention in this hitherto highly reserved wildlife sanctuary, the CTR administration has restricted the movements of the tourists /visitors in the Sambhar Road of the Dhikala zone . The restrictions would continue for some time the park warden said. The famous Dhikala zone of the CTR has been opened to public from November 15. Since then hundreds of tourists from different parts of the country and abroad have visited this tourist spot. It was the tourists who informed the foresters about the movements of the aforesaid tiger cub on the Sambhar road alone. http://www.dailypioneer.com/nation/23992-tiger-cub-separates-from-mother-in-corbett.html

Setting up of Tiger Project

Under the ongoing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Project Tiger, an amount of Rs. 288.73 lakhs has been provided to the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (Maharashtra) during the 11th Plan period, for voluntary relocation of people living in the notified core / critical tiger habitat of the said reserve. This information was given by the Minister of State for Environment and Forests (independent charge) Shrimati Jayanthi Natarajan in a written reply to a question by . Shri Hansraj G. Ahir in Lok Sabha today.

Tiger poaching in Panna a cause of concern

SATURDAY, 26 NOVEMBER 2011 00:39 PIONEER HITS: 467 Though as many as 19 tigers were killed by poachers in Panna Tiger Reserve since 1989 the authorities have failed to trace the poachers. This has been stated in a report by the Panna Tiger Reserve intelligence cell submitted to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, reports Ritesh Mishra As many as 19 tigers have died in the Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR) since 1989, but the authorities are yet to trace the poachers that are probably from Satna in Madhya Pradesh and bordering Uttar Pradesh. Besides, many forest officials starting from Forest Guard to Field Director are also under scanner for tiger poaching. This has been stated in a highly-confidential report submitted by the Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR) intelligence cell to Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) about the poaching history in and around Panna Tiger Reserve-'Decimation of Panna Tigers'-- on January 28, 2011. The report has further recommended a high-level probe to investigate the role and omissions of PTR Establishment in decline of tigers in Panna. Surprisingly, till now no such probe has been ordered by the department, which reflects the apathy of the Forest Department towards the dwindling numbers of the tigers. The report claims that to crack up the forward linkages from scene of crime may not be possible for the establishment of present Field Director, PTR. Moreover, such an action will invite lot of criticism and allegations from the alleged officers of omission and commission of that time. Hence, it was strongly recommended that a Rs Panna Tiger Reserve High Powered Special Investigation Team' (PTR HPSIT) be constituted by an order of Government of Madhya Pradesh immediately to investigate the Rs Poaching Issues and Nexus between the PTR Establishment and the Poachers, and Omissions and Commissions of Forest Officers as a Cause of Decimation of Tigers. Besides, the poaching history records in and around PTR indicates that the periods between 2002-2007 were turbulent for the tigers and other animals of PTR where the establishment of PTR at least at the range/sub-divisional level of Chandranagar Range and Madla sub-division tried to suppress the cases, even ignoring to resister the cases. The undersigned strongly feels that this angle be investigated thoroughly to ensure the future survival and sustenance of tigers and Tiger Reintroduction Project at PTR. The report further states that the SIT should be constituted with officers of highest integrity and professional ethics. Draft composition of the committee proposed for this HPSIT is enclosed for your perusal. The PTR Intelligence had done this report with an unbiased and dispassionate approach with a single motto of securing the success of Tiger Reintroduction Project and ensuring its perpetual dynamic presence in the landscape. "We cannot offer to lose the remaining tigers from any of the forested landscapes. If possible as a department we should allow this God's creation to disperse and survive in the adjoining areas. I would like to categorically and reiterate that this report does not have personal bias against anybody. All the inferences are based on either material or documentary evidence. Every care was taken to be factual but if there is any deviation the under signed owns full responsibility for such a lapse," wrote Field Director of PTR in a letter attached to the report. History of poaching Behalias /Pardhis were part (and active) of this landscape even from 1989 onwards. They were poaching big carnivores mainly inside the park obviously because of higher densities. It is also clear that the the staff were either lenient or mixed up with this crime nexus. High and mighty feudalistic structure of this landscape successfully coerced to overlook their misdeeds with respect to poaching. On the other hand, Bhusor and Patkoha circles of Chandranagar range have been highly vulnerable to poaching from 1989 onwards. All the six (or five) cases of poaching of 2005 took place in this area. Five out of these six cases took place inside the PTR. Unfortunately, PTR establishment from FG to SDO are party to the omissions and commissions of the crime scene. In spite of the sustained proactive efforts of PTRIC from the last quarter of 2009 seven (each) poaching cases occurred in 2010 and 11 respectively in and around PTR. It is pertinent to point out that seven poaching cases of 2011 happened in just one month. These numbers pertain to known poaching cases including wild animal deaths due to accidents and natural mortality in and around PTR (inclusive of herbivores) between mid 2009 and early 2011 (see Table III). If we take number of unearthed cases into account the figures may touch three digits per year. Methods of Poaching People of this area poach the animals with almost all available methods including shooting with the gun (symbolising feudalistic mighty of the region), poisoning, with the help of dogs, nooses and naked electric wires (by the farming communities in and around PTR) and metal traps (usually by the traditional hunting communities). These methods are really eating into and depleting the herbivore capital of PTR. Present Geharighat and Kishangargh ranges of PNP are example of this situation. The herbivore population is very low in these areas. The metal trap method is employed by the commercial poaching network starting from nomadic traditional poaching communities (scene of crime) to Sansarchand (New Delhi) which has taken care of big cat poaching. Thus, all the methods of poaching has resulted in reduction of prey density and elimination of Panna tigers in the recent part. This is not to deny the fact that sub-adult tigers and some adult tigers should have wandered out of the park before they were able to fight for the prime territories inside PNP and in search of females (whose numbers were nil from mid 2006 onwards) respectively. The analysis clearly focuses one point that the area is infested with heavy poaching. With staff omissions and commissions the crime nexus is complete from the Scene of Crime (PTR) to Sansarchand (New Delhi) including nomadic traditional poaching communities, local tribes and influential people, middle-level traders (Mohammed Rise and Nawab Khan) and Sansarchands. Unless MPFD takes cognisance of this factual truth and puts in place an effective corrective measures without losing time, reintroduced tigers and their progeny are not in safe heaven. The security threats that decimated original Panna tigers will become active and succeeds even for once with respect to tiger poaching the positive efforts till now that resulted in successful reintroduction will get nullified in no time. It is clear from the report that this is a clear cut case of fence eating the crop syndrome and genuine locals loosing heart for PTR. Recommendations made by the report Creation of secure environment to the reintroduced tigers in and around PTR in perpetuity by confirming the final identification of the culprits of the PTR establishment and the actual criminals including traders by constituting PTR High Power Special InvestigationTeam to unfold the full big picture of Panna Debacle and pinning them down . Taking the locals into confidence without whose sacrifice no PA can boast of its existence. For bigger cause of tiger and biodiversity conservation, it is the Hinautians (people of Hinauta village) and Pannaites who loose very many small day-to-day benefits from the forests to connecting their land with railhead for overall development of the landscape. For this, we have to create a corpus fund for development of the local villages and this should be done invariably through PTR establishment so that small to big grudges against park gets rectified to some extent. RTI activist Ajay Dubey's version “I am continuously raising the questions in this regard. Why the department has not ordered a probe in this whole issue even after recommendations from the field. If nothing is done soon, I will make it a public issue. Tiger is related to Goddess Durga and therefore everyone should come forward to protect the feline. About 40 tigers have been killed so far in Panna Region” http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/bhopal/23316-tiger-poaching-in-panna-a-cause-of-concern.html

Radio collars & tiger mating put Rajasthan foresters in a fix

The 1.5 kg collars probably make it tough for tigers to breed. Collars preventing tigers from breeding? The Rajasthan forest department has been in a fix over removing the radio collars of tigers in Sariska Tiger Reserve. The 1.5 kg collars are apparently threatening the existence of the tigers as the cats have been finding it difficult to mate with the heavy contraption around their necks. Scientists suspect that Ranthambhore National Park tigress T-17, renamed Krishna after champion athlete Krishna Poonia of Rajasthan, and three other females shifted to Sariska were finding the radio collars a burden during mating. Following requests from environmentalists, including state wildlife board member Rajpal Singh, forest officials got rid of T-17's collar last week as the device stopped sending signals 18 months ago. Singh and wildlife enthusiast Dhirendra Godha argued that T-17 had not had a litter but her sister, T-19, who was not collared, gave birth to three cubs around six months ago. Forest officials don't know what to do because once the gadgets are removed the tigers would become vulnerable to poachers. And if they aren't, the tigers wouldn't mate and procreate. None of the three tigresses in Sariska has been able to reproduce though experts haven't detected any hormonal imbalance affecting their fertility. As an experiment, forest officials are now contemplating removing the collar of at least one tigress. Ironically, they have reportedly chosen ST-2, who is eight years old and whose collar has not been sending proper signals for quite some time. Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/foresters-in-jam-over-mating-tigers-radio-collars/1/161820.html