People living in wildlife areas causing tiger death, MP govt tells SC

Chetan Chauhan, Hindustan Times New Delhi, February 15, 2012 War of words over on what harms the tigers more --- humans or tourism – has got bigger with Madhya Pradesh blaming people living in tigers reserves for death of big cats and Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), an NGO, putting the onus on increased tourism. This was in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in the Supreme Court by RTI activist Ajay Dubey demanding ban on tourism in core areas of tiger reserves with environment ministry’s National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) backing the PIL. The NTCA has already issued guidelines asking the states to shift the tourism activity to buffer zone and ban tourism in core areas. An area of 800-1,000 sq kms have be declared as core tiger habitat, where no tourism can be allowed. “In the present circumstances tourism will not sustain in the buffer areas of alone because the buffer areas do not get the level of protection as granted to the core area and hence the density of the wildlife in buffer area is very less,” the state government said in an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court. Instead of restricting tourism to buffer zones, the state government argued that relocation of people (around 6,000 families in 41 tiger reserves) living in tiger reserves and imposing restrictions on collection of minor forest produce was a better way to protect tigers. The logic presented was that tourism does not exploit resources on which the wildlife depends like humans and thereby, it has minimum impact on wildlife. Countering the claims of MP government, the WTI told the court that adverse impact of tourism could be seen on tigers in Kanha, Pench and Badhavgarh in Madhya Pradesh in MP, Ranthambore in Rajasthan and Corbett in Uttarakhand. Quoting the tiger task force report of 2005, WTI said there are 21 resorts within one km of the core area of Kanha tiger reserve and another 25 within five kms. It also said that so called restrictions imposed on tourism – distance between two vehicles minimum 500 meters --- is flouted in almost all tiger reserves. The WTI also pointed out sustainable growth of lodges and resorts in the buffer zones around tiger reserves without any planning had turned them into “biggest” threat to viable forest corridors for movement of animals. In addition, these resorts put additional burden on local ecology. Around 93 per cent of the resorts run on locally procured wood and around 50 % using underground water. “There is a critical need to restrict and regulate tourism activities within and outside tiger reserves,” the WTI said, in its application filed before the court. After hearing all the parties on Tuesday, the court decided to appoint Ram Punjwani as amicus (friend of the court) in the case and gave him a month to submit a report to the court. http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/MadhyaPradesh/People-living-in-wildlife-areas-causing-tiger-death-MP-govt-tells-SC/Article1-811882.aspx

Greens raise voice against resort near TATR core area

TNN | Feb 16, 2012, 01.25AM IST CHANDRAPUR: Conservationist organization Green Planet Society has raised serious cognisance over tourist resorts that are coming up in the buffer area of the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve. The organization has even lodged a complaint with the TATR authorities and the MoEF over the new tourist resort being set up very close to the core area. "A major hotel group from Nagpur has acquired 22 acres of land close to Moharli village on the periphery of TATR core zone. Trees have been chopped and land has been cleared. Around 10 borewells have been dug and construction of rooms has been initiated. The shocking fact is that the place is located mere 100 feet from the core zone and had a movement of tiger in it," alleged president, Green Planet Society, Suresh Chopne. He claimed that they have found tiger faeces on the land acquired for the resort. Chopne informed that there are clear directives of NTCA about not allowing any new resort in two km periphery of core zone in buffer area of tiger reserve. Any commercial construction close to tiger reserve needs approval from revenue department, which is based on the say of forest authorities. "Still some resorts have come up around core zone of tiger reserve despite buffer area was notified around TATR last year. Some of these resorts illegally cater meat and liquor to their customers, which is perilous for wildlife in the area," he said. He held that rising number of resorts in buffer area of TATR is threat to the wildlife and the environment. Hence no further approval should be given to any new resort in buffer area, Chopne demanded. He even threatened to go to the court of law, if situation demands. Field director and CCF, TATR, VK Sinha ratified that the owner of the particular land has initiated construction of rooms. "Our RFO has visited the site and advised the owner of the land to verity whether any such construction fits under the norms of buffer zone with forest authorities and until then refrain from further construction. As per regulation, SDO provides the permission for non-agriculture use of land in such areas, but only after seeking say of forest department. Unless they have clearance of forest authorities, no commercial construction could be allowed in the buffer area," he said. He informed that provisions of sanctuary are applicable to the buffer area. As per provision, forest department has authority to restrict any development which may affect safety and movement of wildlife, conservation of sanctuary and development of habitat. "Stress is laid on the community-based tourism in buffer area. If the case does not fit under the norms, we have all the authority to deny the permission," he said. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Greens-raise-voice-against-resort-near-TATR-core-area/articleshow/11904934.cms

Hand-reared tigress gives birth in wild

TNN | Feb 16, 2012, 04.36AM IST BHOPAL: A five year-old tigress, tagged T-4, has become the world's first feline reared in captivity and shifted to the wild to spawn two cubs at Madhya Pradesh's Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR). "This is for the first time in the world that a semi-wild tigress shifted to the wild has adjusted to new environs and begotten cubs. The tigress was born in May 2006 in the Kanha Tiger Reserve and within days had mother had died," PTR field director R S Murthy told TOI. T-4 was reared in an enclosure and fed by the Kanna staffers. The semi-wild tigress was carted out to Panna and released into the wild on March 27 last year. There were apprehensions about the tigress' survival in the wild, given that she was reared in an enclosure. But, she took to the jungle easily. Here she met a translocated tiger, and mated. She delivered two cubs, and one of them was spotted by a PTR official on December 15. T-4 and her two cubs have now started moving out of their den since last week. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Hand-reared-tigress-gives-birth-in-wild/articleshow/11906509.cms

Village in Rajasthan relocated to protect tigers

Last Updated: Wednesday, New Delhi: Around 82 families in a village in Rajasthan, have been moved to a new location in a bid to increase the dwindling tiger population, officials say. The village of Umri in the Sariska tiger reserve, is the second village to be relocated to provide a secure habitat for the tigers. The families have been compensated with either a payment of Rs 10 lakh or a combination of land, cash and livestock. The tiger population in India has declined with just 1,700 of the majestic animal in the wild. “The process took place with the cooperation of the families,” said an official. “We expect to relocate all families in different villages inside the reserve by 2013.” http://zeenews.india.com/news/eco-news/village-in-rajasthan-relocated-to-protect-tigers_758660.html

Tiger scare makes canvassing tough in Malihabad

TNN Feb 15, 2012, 02.33AM IST LUCKNOW: Perhaps it is mounting pressure from the candidates contesting from Malihabad that has compelled the forest department to summon a shooter from Hyderabad to tranquilise the roaming tiger. Locals and staff deployed to cordon the area share that candidates are finding it difficult to campaign in some villages due to the tiger which has been on the prowl in Rahmankhera for past one and a half month. The forest department has failed to trap the tiger despite installing cameras in the area. The forest officers from Awadh division (Lucknow) have also been camping here. The department has spent a sizable amount in its tiger-trapping operation but in vain. Local villagers and the employees of Central Institute of Subtropical Horticulture have a consatnt fear of attack from the big cat. Polling in Malihabad is scheduled for February 19. And, there are several villages like Ullaspur and Mandawli which are reeling under the fear of the tiger Chief Wildlife Warden, UP, Mohammad Ehsan, however denied any political pressure to speed up the operation. "There is no such pressure," he said. The entry of shooter from Hyderabad (Name)... has raised fears that the department might be planning to shoot down the tiger. "We hope the department realises its responsibility to tranquilise the tiger safely," said Sanjay Narain, secretary, Tiger and Terrain. Ehsan, however, dismissed this. "There is no plan to shoot down the animal," he said. He o said the department has a very simple plan. "We are focussing on caging the animal. If that does not happen, tranquilising is the next option," he said. On the shooter joining the operation, he said, "It's true he had earlier shot down a man-eating tigress in Faizabad." http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-02-15/lucknow/31062912_1_tiger-and-terrain-big-cat-chief-wildlife-warden

Tiger cub injured in Bandipur

Lawrence Milton, TNN | Feb 15, 2012, 04.26AM IST MYSORE: Forest department officials who have noticed an injured tiger cub at Bandipur tiger reserve are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the injury does not threaten its life. Authorities are keeping close tabs on the injured 15-month-old male cub, which is with its mother and three other cubs. The cub is slightly injured in its hip region and the wound is approximately 4-5cm in diameter, an official said. The injured cub, however, is licking its wound which is a good indication. The injured tiger cub was sighted by visitors during a safari in the national park last week and it was brought to the notice of the authorities. Bandipur forest officials who inspected it from a distance and confirmed that the cub was suffering from an injury. The cub, however, was not struggling to move around, they said. The mother and its cubs were roaming near the safari area till Monday, but officials seem to have lost track of them on Tuesday. Officials who wanted to know the nature of the injury and how serious it was, decided to photograph the injured cub, which was done last weekend. Later, the pictures of the cub's wound were circulated among experts and their counterparts in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu forest department to seek suggestions and to take a decision on what needs to be done to treat the cub. An expert attached to Bannerghatta National Park, Bangalore, has suggested monitoring the injured cub till the wound heals. He is claimed to have said as of now intervention to treat the cub is not necessary because the cub is licking the injured part and it is a sign of healing. Meanwhile, another expert from Madumalai National Park, abutting Bandipur National park, suspects that the tiger cub was injured while hunting for wild boar, spotted deer or sambar or while sharing food with other cubs. Usually, tiger cubs start separating from their mother at this age and the inexperienced and young cats try their luck in hunting and may have been injured. The injury does not appear serious but it should be monitored. Bandipur National Park DCF K T Hanumanthappa, who confirmed to TOI that the tiger cub was injured in the region, said they are keeping close tabs to ensure the cub is healthy. To a query, the official said they are yet to decide on whether they need to step in. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysore/Tiger-cub-injured-in-Bandipur/articleshow/11893150.cms

Village vacated for big cats

SUNNY SEBASTIAN Almost five years after the first relocation of a village, inhabitants of another settlement inside the Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan's Alwar district have moved out lock, stock and barrel, allowing more space for the wild animals and the existing population of tigers. The residents of Umri, village of Gujjar settlers, left last week for Rundh Mozpur, some 40 km away. “The village they cleared comes to some 2 sq km but that has facilitated some 50 sq km of inviolate space for the wild animals in Sariska,” said P.S. Somasekhar, Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Rajasthan. “This is the second village to move out completely from the park. The whole process was peaceful with the full cooperation of the families involved,” he said. Sariska, much in the news in recent times for all the wrong reasons — perhaps, barring the experimental wild-to-wild re-introduction of tigers — is devoid of the status of a National Park because of the presence of 11 villages in the proposed area. Umri had a population of about 250, and cattle heads, double that number. “The families accepted the option of taking agricultural land as compensation. Each of the family gets six bighas of land and about Rs. 2 lakh as financial assistance in building a house. We have made arrangements for water supply and electricity to the new village,” said Mr. Somasekhar. The families have been divided into clusters of four for allotment of land. Mr. Somasekhar was the Field Director in Sariska when the first village, Baghani, moved out in 2007-08 to Barod Rundh, a locality in Alwar district not far from the Jaipur-Delhi stretch of the National Highway. After five years outside the forest, the residents of Barod Rundh are happy now about their decision. In fact, the good rehabilitation package given to the first village by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) seemingly helped others also to come forward. “We are finished with the work of clearing the settlement. The JCBs which brought down the houses have gone back. The villagers have collected what all they wanted from their settlements,” said Raghuveer Singh Shekhawat, Field Director, Sariska, speaking to The Hindu on phone. “Initially at least some families wanted more time. A little bit of persuasion from a visiting Forest Minister Bina Kak and the fact that the mustard crops they have planted in their newly allocated land are ripening made them go — rather happily, I would say,” Mr. Shekhawat noted. It appears that the shifting of Umri would have a cascading effect. “Rodkayla and Dabli villages are in the process of moving out. Eighty per cent of the families are done,” informed Mr. Shekhawat. Another four villages – Kiraska, Devri, Rourkala, and Hamirpur — are in various stages of relocation. In Kiraska, 80 families have moved out and 16 others have taken the second instalment of the package. “At this speed we expect the shifting to be complete in 2012-13,” Mr. Shekhawat observed. “February-March is the best time for shifting. Thereafter April-May-June.” There is a tailpiece to this happy ending. Mr. Shekhawat testifies that two big cats — ST 4 and ST 5 — were spotted in the habitation cleared by humans and the cattle. “They were there all these past three days rushing to the place as if they were waiting for the humans to leave,” he observed. http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2893876.ece

Unseen tiger triggers jungle safari!

Source: DNA | Last Updated 04:16(14/02/12) Indore: Even as forest officials are yet to sight the tiger reported in Choral jungles by villages, the location around the forest has become a hot spot for visitors. Inquisitive animal lovers have started thronging the forest where the officials had found pug marks of the tiger. The unsolicited tourism started soon after the forest officers disclosed location of their findings while carrying out large-scale conservation efforts to save the big cat. Wildlife expert Dr Sudhir Khetawat told that the forest department should have ideally concealed exact location of the tiger. "They could have revealed information about presence of tiger but hidden where it was. This would have prevented people from visiting the jungles and disturbing the feline's territory," he suggested. However, a forest officer admitted that the department can't stop people from visiting the area. We know that movements of human beings might upset the tiger believed to be marking his territory, a senior forest officer on condition of anonymity said. In some cases, the forest department provided vehicles for VIP visitors to reach the exact spot where the evidence of tiger presence was collected. "We are bound by instructions from superiors," the forest officer said. The forest department had instructions to ensure that the tiger is preserved using all means possible. The officers were also told to prevent any kind of man-wildlife contact before the tiger settles down in the unprotected jungles. But the hype and hoopla created by the tiger sightings have led to binocular-trotting animal lovers from the city to spend weekends in nearby jungles. On how they plan to deal with a situation where they encounter the tiger in unprotected domain, the visitors had no answer. Dr Khetawat claimed that at present it is the animal lovers who are trying to locate the tiger. "Just imagine, if poachers also knew about the tiger's location in the unprotected jungles! We have lot of members from Pardhi community in the vicinity. They are infamous for tiger poaching," he added. http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/MP-IND-unseen-tiger-triggers-jungle-safari-2860632.html

Forest dept to save injured wild tiger cub in Bandipur

February 14, 2012 DC Bengaluru The Forest Department will soon treat an ailing wild tiger cub inside the Bandipur Tiger Reserve. The cub, aged little over a year, was sighted three days ago inside Bandipur game area with serious injuries. The department staff on a safari vehicle saw the cub and informed the higher-ups. On tracking the cub, the officials found out that it has been living its two siblings and the mother. The tracking team wanted to photograph the cub to know the extent and nature of the injury. But despite searching for the family whole of Sunday, they could not sight it and the operation had to be called off. An expert team from the Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP) was sent to Bandipur on Monday morning. By noon, the injured tiger was sighted on Somap-ura Road inside the forest. The search team photographed the cub and is trying to analyse the nature of the injury. “The tiger cub was lying near a water pond and we could take pictures of the injuries, which might have been caused either by a deer or by a tiger outside the family. We are waiting for orders to tranquilise the cub, so that the veterinarians can treat it. Till Monday evening, the tiger remained out of veterinarians’ reach, and the rescue operation will begin on Tuesday morning,” sources told Deccan Chronicle. “The tiger will be captured and treatment procedure will be initiated. Depending on the recovery, the cub will be released back in the same area where it is normally seen with its mother and two siblings,” the sour-ces added. But wildlife expert term have been opposing the forest department move, saying it is “intervention with the nature”. “Tigers have high mortality rate and one cannot intervene in the natural cycle of carnivores, such as tigers. But sometimes on humanitarian grounds such forced interventions become inevit-able,” said tiger biologist Dr K. Ullas Karanth. There have been such interventions earlier when researchers and forest officials have treated tigers and elephants. Last year, a team from the CID Forest Cell tried to save an ailing tusker on the banks of Kabini river after the mammoth refused to eat. But it failed, and the elephant died. In 2000, a male tiger caught in a jaw trap was treated by forest officials. But the tiger could not be released back into the wild as the doctors had to amputate its forelimb. The tiger, named Maasti, is now housed at a special enclosure in the Bannerghatta zoo. http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/bengaluru/forest-dept-save-injured-wild-tiger-cub-bandipur-906

Row over prowling tiger at CISH as shooter called in

Controversy has erupted over a tiger prowling on the Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture (CISH) campus under Awadh Forest Division in Uttar Pradesh, barely 15 km from Lucknow. While the Forest Department and the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) have failed to tranquilise it even after a month and a licensed shikari brought in to tackle it, National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has stepped into protect the wild cat. A letter written by Deputy Director, NTCA and addressed to the Chief Wildlife Warden has stated that under no circumstances the straying tiger should be killed. Ironically, the move of NTCA comes only after certain wildlife activists including the former Environment Minister Maneka Gandhi raised hue and cry over the shikari’s arrival. The letter from NTCA says that the guidelines specified by the authority in handling man-tiger conflict must be strictly adhered to. The strayed animal should be monitored unobtrusively for tranquilising by trained personnel involving the Wildlife Institute of India for subsequent release in the wild after due examination with respect to disabilities, it said. The four-year-old tiger strayed into the campus from the Pilibhit forest, near River Gomti that runs across the forest reaching Lucknow. The tiger moved through the thick vegetation on either side of the river and sneaked into the CISH campus. The tiger is now trapped as it is unable to cross the highway due to heavy human pressures and traffic. After a month when the combined team of the State Forest Department and WTI have failed to tranquilise the animal, licensed shooter Nawab Shafath Ali Khan has been brought from Hyderabad. According to Chief Wildlife Warden, Mohammad Ehsaan, it is not easy to tranquilise a tiger. “The tranquilising gun can at best operate within a range of 25 metres, the process can only happen during the day. Khan has been summoned to tranquilise the animal,” he added. Well-placed sources pointed out that Khan is a national- level shooter, who carries a .458 Winchester Magnum. In 2009, Khan had been invited by the Awadh Forest division to shoot a tigress, which had killed five persons. However, this time, there has not been any such incident of either human or even cattle killing so far. “Hence, one fails to understand why the shooter had to be brought in the first place?” sources said. Reacting to the whole episode Maneka Gandhi asked, “Why did the NTCA have to wait for a month to sprig into action?” She said the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department should exercise utmost caution in dealing with the situation and not try to eliminate such strayed animals. http://dailypioneer.com/nation/42246-row-over-prowling-tiger-at-cish-as-shooter-called-in.html

Tiger foils tranquillising attempts

Efforts to tranquillise the tiger that strayed into the Central Institute of Sub Tropical Horticulture campus at Rehmankheda in the Awadh Forest Division of Lucknow proved futile, as it charged twice at the team tasked with sedating it. Hyderabadi shooter Nawab Shafat Ali Khan, was on the cow elephant, Roopkali, when the tiger charged at it on Friday, forcing the pachyderm to turn away in panic. After some time, when the elephant pressed ahead again, the feline came “dangerously close.” “Because of the high bushes, the view was not clear for using the tranquillising gun,” said Mr. Khan, who took charge of ‘Operation Rehmankheda Tiger.' There are thorny and lantana bushes 10-12 feet high on the CISTH campus, giving the tiger a natural cover. What is more, a nala flows through it. On Saturday, the elephant was not used, as the tiger moved 200-250 metres deeper into the bushes. A half-eaten buffalo calf was found. Officials waited through the day hoping the tiger would come out to gather the kill. “But it did not come near the machan or cages,” said Ashok Mishra, DFO, Awadh Forest Division. Four teams with as many tranquillising guns were on the job. No order to shoot has been issued as the tiger has not harmed any human. “We are hopeful of capturing it,” Mr. Mishra said. http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2883536.ece

Officials look for hurt tiger cub

Express News Service , The New Indian Express BANGALORE:� A 17-month-old male tiger cub was injured in a territorial fight near Somanakoppa in Bandipur National Park (BNP). The divisional forest officer of BNP was instructed to tranquillise the big cat immediately and treat its injuries before the wound worsens. “The safari on the� Somanakoppa side for tourists will be closed till the treatment is over,” said Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) B K Singh. He told Express that a tigress had given birth to four cubs - two males and two females - last year. The tigress was residing with its cubs inside the national park. Two days ago, a forest guard spotted a male tiger cub with injuries on its tail and other parts of the body. It is speculated the male cub got engaged in a territorial fight with another tiger and sustained injuries. Singh said there is an immediate need to treat the injured tiger else it would die of infection. Singh said, “The forest department is keen to protect the big cats across the state forests. The vigilance is upgraded by deploying more men in tiger core zones. This� helped� to reduce poaching cases in Karnataka.” http://ibnlive.in.com/news/officials-look-for-hurt-tiger-cub/229505-60-115.html

National network of tiger poachers busted

Chetan Chauhan, Hindustan Times A nation-wide network of poachers spanning across four tiger states has been unearthed with the arrest of six members of two separate gangs in the last fortnight. Six leopard and tiger skins and about five kilogram of bones have been recovered from them. But, their claim of killing eight to ten tigers in less than six months, which is about 40 percent of poaching incidents big cat deaths during the period, has caused panic. “Their claim is alarming and we are verifying it,” said a senior Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) official. About 18 tiger deaths, of which five were killed this January, have been reported in last one year. Increase in tiger population from 1,411 to 1,706 in less than years has pushed the big cats outside the protected core areas, thereby making them vulnerable to poaching. The big catch was on Thursday when the WCCB officers arrested Dharambir and four accomplices from Bijnore in Uttar Pradesh with four leopard and one tiger skin. The animals were apparently killed with the help of iron traps in Corbett Tiger Reserve and Rajaji National Park in Uttarakhand when the elections were on. They have claimed to have already transported two consignments to international wildlife dealer in Delhi identified as Lavi Singh after the state assembly elections got over on January 30. They were unlucky third time when they were caught with the parts in Haridwar. The WCCB officials believe that the consignment was meant for sale in the international market. Belinda Wright of NGO Wildlife Protection Society of India said the international price of tiger parts has increased manifold. “We have seen a sudden spurt in demand in the last few weeks which may be cause of increase in poaching and seizures,” she said. The WCCB investigation has confirmed Wright’s apprehension with investigation into seizure of a tiger skin by customs officials in Siliguri, West Bengal revealing that tigers were killed in Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Chhattisgarh. The WCCB has been able to establish linkage with Siliguri seizure with the network of poachers in these three states. “The local poachers were employed to kill the tigers and then body parts were transported to Kolkatta. From there it was smuggled outside the country from Nepal and Myanmar borders,” the official said. The officials are also trying to link arrest of five persons in Kerala and recovery of a leopard and tiger skin from them with international wildlife smugglers. http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/National-network-of-tiger-poachers-busted/Article1-809187.aspx

Hyderabad shikari called upon to tackle Lucknow tiger menace

TNN | Feb 10, 2012, 02.36AM IST HYDERABAD: The tiger menace has returned to Awadh Forest Division dangerously close to Lucknow and licensed shikari Nawab Shafath Ali Khan from the city has been invited by the authorities to tackle the menace. With the tiger on the prowl at the Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture (CISH) campus, barely 15km from the Lucknow, for more than a month, residents have been living in fear. All attempts by the Awadh Forest division and the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) to track and tranquillise the big cat have been in vain. The four-year-old tiger got into the campus from Pilibhit forest, near river Gomti running from the forest to Lucknow. On either side of the river is thick forest like vegetation. The tiger entered the vegetation and travelled along the river. Unable to deviate, it reached the CISH campus. According to Khan, the forest department and WTI put together a six-member team to tranquillise the tiger so that it could be released back into its natural habitat. After 35 days, on February 7, the team of trackers used a buffalo calf as bait to lure the tiger. After realising that they had failed, the unsuspecting team went to release the calf only to be charged by the tiger. Khan received an invitation from Ashok Mishra, DFO Awadh Forest Division, on February 8 to tranquillise the animal. When contacted, DFO Ashok Mishra confirmed that Khan has indeed been invited by the Awadh Forest Department and will be leaving for Lucknow to tranquillise the tiger on February 10 at 10 am. "The CISH campus forest abuts the Lucknow-Haridwar highway. The tigeris trapped because it is unable to cross the highway into the proper forest due to heavy traffic," said Khan, who resides in Bazaar Guard area. Tigers move from one place to another with the change of season and the forest department is afraid that the wild cat might enter Lucknow anytime, he added. Tigers always charge towards the shooter when they are tranquillised. As a precautionary measure and for safety of his team, Khan will carry a .458 Winchester Magnum which has enough stopping power to take on a charging tiger in its tracks and a range of 100 metres. "The forest department doesn't have powerful weapons to tackle man-eaters or rogue elephants," he noted, adding this is the first time that a private individual has been called by the forest department to tranquilise the national animal. On February 24, 2009, Khan was invited by the Awadh Forest division to put down a tigress which turned man-eater and had killed five people and mauled many more. The tigress had travelled 350 km from Pilibheet to Faizabad and terrorised farmers. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Hyderabad-shikari-called-upon-to-tackle-Lucknow-tiger-menace/articleshow/11830002.cms

Buffer zone protects human habitation

Express News Service , The New Indian Express CHIKMAGALUR:� The conservation guild activists claimed that owing to buffer zone, the Project Tiger area in the Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary will not affect human habitation around it. In a statement issued here on Thursday, activists of Wild Cat-C, Bhadra wildlife Conservation Trust and the Nature Conservation Guild, Sridev Hulikere and D V Girish, claimed that Project Tiger buffer zone formation would affect industrial units and construction of jungle resorts. According to them, there was no need for people around Bhadra Wildlife sanctuary to panic. The activists added that the cultivable lands, including plantations, are within a 10 km radius of the Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary. The buffer zone area will be carved out of government lands and 90 per cent of it falls under the reserve forests. The� Environment Conservation Act states that� buffer zone should be formed in ecologically sensitive areas and care should be taken not to disturb areas of� human habitation. Sridev and Girish said that people residing within 10 km radius of the sanctuary would� willingly move out. Those moving out, would be rehabilitated suitably. http://ibnlive.in.com/news/buffer-zone-protects-human-habitation/228821-60-115.html

Huge haul of poached animal parts, 5 held

FRIDAY, 10 FEBRUARY 2012 00:41 PNS | DEHRADUN HITS: 112 The pelts of one tiger, four leopards and about 3 kg big cat bones were seized from five persons who were arrested in Najibabad in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday. The wildlife contraband is said to have been sourced from Uttarakhand. According to regional deputy director (northern region) of Wildlife Crime Control Bureau Ramesh K Pandey, a joint operation involving the WCCB, UP STF and Najibabad police arrested five persons based on intelligence provided by the bureau. The five were arrested with one tiger and four leopard pelts, bones and two iron traps used specifically for trapping big cats. The kingpin of the gang, Dharmveer Kanjar, was also among those arrested. The rest have been identified as Sunil Nath and Omar of Najibabad, Navi Singh of Dharchula and the car driver, Punit Chauhan. It is believed that Dharmveer received wildlife contraband from the plains and hilly regions of Uttarakhand. According to Pandey, Najibabad is a convenient town with links to both the hills and the plains due to which Dharmveer was able to source banned wildlife commodities from all parts of the State. The arrested persons confessed that while three leopard pelts have been sourced from Kugadda in Kalagarh forest range in Uttarakhand, the tiger skin and one leopard pelt were obtained from Rajaji National Park. http://dailypioneer.com/nation/41549-huge-haul-of-poached-animal-parts-5-held.html

Security scan at Corbett, 4 other tiger hubs on cards

THURSDAY, 09 FEBRUARY 2012 00:16 PNS | DEHRADUN HITS: 158 The National Tiger Conservation Authority will be conducting security audit in five tiger reserves across the country including the Corbett tiger reserve in Uttarakhand. Though the NTCA deputy inspector general SP Yadav said he was too busy to either recall the names of these tiger reserves or the parameters of the security audit, wildlife activists state that all wildlife and environment in addition to tigers could benefit greatly if the security audit is undertaken efficiently and its recommendations are executed effectively at the ground level. Apart from being India’s national animal, the tiger is also important because its conservation will ensure the conservation of many other animals and the environment. India also holds over half of the world’s tiger population (in the wild) with 1,706 living in the nation according to the latest tiger census report released by the NTCA in March 2011. This makes the security audit of tiger reserves all the more important because inspite of efforts undertaken by the authority and State forest departments, poaching of tigers and other big cats, their prey species and anthropogenic damage in protected areas has continued in many parts of the nation. According to the letter issued by the NTCA to five tiger reserves including Nagarhole tiger reserve in Karnataka, Tadoba-Andheri in Maharashtra, Bandavgarh in Madhya Pradesh, Kaziranga in Assam and Corbett in Uttarakhand in January this year, security audit of these reserves will be undertaken within six months. http://www.dailypioneer.com/nation/41299-security-scan-at-corbett-4-other-tiger-hubs-on-cards.html

PTR tiger count stalled for want of equipment

TNN Feb 4, 2012, 10.35PM IST DALTONGANJ: The fourth phase of the tiger census in Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR) is likely to be delayed. Sources said the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has asked for an estimate of tigers here but for want of infrastructural facilities, the process if likely to be delayed. The PTR does not have digital and trapping cameras in large numbers, global positioning system equipment and range finders. Sources said without these equipment, PTR cannot go for the fourth phase of the count. The tech support is necessary for accuracy of figures. Sources said the number of tigers in PTR has been fudged. In early 1994, there used to be 49 tigers whereas today the PTR struggles to count a little near a dozen big cats. The field director-cum-conservator, S E H Kazmi, conceded, " Right now these equipment are not with the PTR and hence it is difficult to go for any estimation. The fourth phase count is a sophisticated procedure in which all information is to be fed into a software and even a minor inaccuracy will be declared an error." DNA test of scat of tigers is now the main plank of counting its population but there are other things like a range finder. A range finder gives the exact position of wildlife in any tiger reserve. The PTR is segmented into 30 zones and sources said more than half the zones are in highly sensitive areas affected by extremism. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-02-04/ranchi/31024319_1_palamu-tiger-reserve-tiger-census-ptr

Eco-Pro activists stage agitation

TNN | Feb 9, 2012, 06.15AM IST CHANDRAPUR: Wildlife organization Eco-Pro staged a day-long sit-in agitation before the office of chief conservator of forests (CCF) on Wednesday to press the demand of initiating fire protection works in the forest. However, it turned out that fire protection works have been stranded across the state for lack of grants. The organization is now planning to the take up the matter with the state forest minister. Incidents of fire in forests generally begin in March, and therefore forest authorities accomplish their preparation to tackle the fires by February 15 every year. However, this year, no initiative in this regard has been taken so far due to lack of funds. Alarmed by the delay, Eco-Pro had raised the issue with APCCF (planning and development) Shri Bhagwan during his recent visit here. But as no grants were released for fire protection, Eco-Pro activists led by their president Bandu Dhotre staged the sit-in. "Lack of fire protection works such as fire line cutting and deployment of fire watchers, puts entire forest and wildlife in danger. While precious forest is lost in fires, herbivores too are deprived of their food in the area. Uncontrolled fires also lead to the death of newborns and cubs of wild animals, as they are unable to move away swiftly. Only fire protection measures can help checking this problem, but thanks to lack of funds its works are withheld," said Bandu Dhotre. CCF of Chandrapur circle BSK Reddy agreed that fire protection works are held up due to lack of grants. "The situation is the same across the state as grants are not available to take up fire protection work. We have received a part of aid on Wednesday itself, and it would be immediately released to start the work," he said. Reddy said that they have sought help from Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) for taking up fire protection works in the buffer zone of tiger reserve. TATR is going provide some aid from its tiger protection foundation for fire protection in buffer, he added. Dhotre said that as fire protection works are held up across the state, his organization would take up the issue with the forest minister Patangrao Kadam. More than two dozen activists of Eco-Pro participated in the agitation. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Eco-Pro-activists-stage-agitation/articleshow/11817708.cms

NGOs kept out of tiger census

Vijay Pinjarkar, TNN | Feb 8, 2012, 07.20AM IST NAGPUR: SK Khetarpal, the state's principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife), has shut the door on NGOs but kept it open for individuals to participate in the phase IV tiger monitoring exercise beginning on Friday. "But it's up to the park managers to decide on the participation of individuals. I won't interfere in this matter," Khetarpal told TOI on Tuesday. The exercise, which was to start earlier from February 2 to 7, will now be held between February 10 and 17 in tiger reserves and their buffer areas, and sanctuaries and national parks. Khetarpal had told TOI in January that only volunteers with wildlife and genuine credentials would be allowed to take part in the monitoring. On Monday, TOI received several calls from wildlife buffs on being denied participation by park managers. The wildlife chief said the department has enough staff to conduct the exercise. "The real field work can be done in a better way by forest staffers who are familiar with the areas. It's also an opportunity for the new forest recruits to learn techniques," he said. On transparency, the chief wildlife warden said, "What can be more transparent than the cameras. We've good number of tigers that are spilling over in non-protected areas. The camera traps cannot be tampered with. Moreover, the Wildlife Institute of India ( WII) will check the data which cannot be distorted." VK Sinha, field director & chief conservator (CCF) of Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), said the first lot of compass and rangefinders needed on transact lines has been received. More are expected in a few days. Unavailability of these gears, along with zilla parishad and panchayat polls, was one of the reasons to postpone the monitoring exercise. The exercise will go on even without rangefinders in the hilly terrain and dense forests of Melghat Tiger Reserve (MTR) as it difficult to sight animals beyond 30-40 metres. "MTR needed 275 rangefinders but considering the topography I have sought only 10," said A K Mishra, field director of MTR. MTR will allow the participation of wildlife lovers. "They need to produce a photo identity card for verification," said Mishra. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Centre for Wildlife Studies (CWS) are among the NGOs which have been denied permission. WWF coordinator for Satpuda Maikal Landscape Project, Chhitaranjan Dave, has expressed disappointment over the move. SP Yadav, the deputy inspector general (DIG) of National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), confirmed that it has left the participation of NGOs to PCCFs. "All we insist is that the national monitoring protocol be followed," he said. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/NGOs-kept-out-of-tiger-census/articleshow/11802640.cms