Story/place-Jaipur.
Oct 12, 2010,
JAIPUR: Despite crores being spent in the name of conservation and Project Tiger, illegal mining activity is back in full gear in the protected area of Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary.
"Rampant mining is going on at Jaisinghpura, Malana, Goverdhanpura, Palpura and Jamwa Ramgarh, in spite of the Supreme Court's 1991 order banning mining in the area. After SC's order, 215 mines were closed. But recently, some of them have restarted activity in the middle of the sanctuary," said Rajender Singh, the waterman of Rajasthan, whose NGO Tarun Bharat Sangh had filed the writ petition in the apex court.
Singh added that these villages fall in the protected area and are a rich reservoir of dolomite. "Nearly 30-40 mines have begun operation again, some of them run by leading names in the industry," he said. According to Singh, mining had picked up in Project Tiger area's buffer zones and was causing irreparable damage to tiger habitat and the sanctuary's ecosystem. "Mine owners' money and muscle power has made officials and politicians turn a blind eye to the illegal activity," said Singh who claimed he was attacked thrice by the mining mafia.
Confirming Singh's statement, Delhi-based Tarun Kanti Bose, who has done extensive research on mining in Rajasthan, said, "While public sector mines remain closed as per the apex court's ruling, many mines in the unorganized sector have again started mining marble in the belt, which has good deposits."
In villages like Tilwad and Tilwadi in Alwar, marble mining operations are taking place right in the middle of the villages on private agricultural land. Many large landholders in the villages are today keen on selling their agricultural land as they are getting high returns for it, he said. "Mining is expanding rapidly in an area which has some of the most fertile lands with plenty of water," said Tarun.
Tarun said in all the big mines operating in Sariska, local people seem to be playing the roles of contractors and middlemen. They are also employed as cashiers and administrators. "Ranges in Sariska are covered with densely forested slopes, home to the tiger and other wildlife and an entire ecosystem. But it is fast dwindling with mining and other commercial activity," he said
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Kaziranga National Park to be extended
Story/place-Guwahati.
GUWAHATI: The Assam government is set to complete the legal process for extension of the Kaziranga National Park from the present 430 square kilometres to double the area.
The state's forest and tourism minister, Rockybul Hussain, said the government was expeditiously trying to settle the land acquisition process for the extension so that animals, including the prized one-horned rhinos, were better protected.
Although the park has already a more-than-800-square- kilometre-area, it was not legally sanctioned thus preventing the authorities from removing human settlements in the proposed extended area.
Asserting that there was no encroachment in the existing forest area, Hussain recently said, ''Very soon we will have the legal formalities completed for the area expansion.''
The minister said steps were being taken to plant saplings in 20,000 hectares. A process was also on to raise a Assam Forest Protection Force .
Hussain, who also holds the charge of the state's information and public relation department, said an initiative had been taken to project the state's development in proper perspective through booklets, banners, hoardings and documentaries.
The minister said efforts were on to boost schemes and attract more and more tourists to the state.
Internationally-acclaimed film-maker Jahnu Baruah has been roped in to popularise the tourism sector in a big way, the minister said.
The public toilets under Sulabh International would be set up in public places along the national and state highways, Hussain said.
source-economictimes.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
GUWAHATI: The Assam government is set to complete the legal process for extension of the Kaziranga National Park from the present 430 square kilometres to double the area.
The state's forest and tourism minister, Rockybul Hussain, said the government was expeditiously trying to settle the land acquisition process for the extension so that animals, including the prized one-horned rhinos, were better protected.
Although the park has already a more-than-800-square- kilometre-area, it was not legally sanctioned thus preventing the authorities from removing human settlements in the proposed extended area.
Asserting that there was no encroachment in the existing forest area, Hussain recently said, ''Very soon we will have the legal formalities completed for the area expansion.''
The minister said steps were being taken to plant saplings in 20,000 hectares. A process was also on to raise a Assam Forest Protection Force .
Hussain, who also holds the charge of the state's information and public relation department, said an initiative had been taken to project the state's development in proper perspective through booklets, banners, hoardings and documentaries.
The minister said efforts were on to boost schemes and attract more and more tourists to the state.
Internationally-acclaimed film-maker Jahnu Baruah has been roped in to popularise the tourism sector in a big way, the minister said.
The public toilets under Sulabh International would be set up in public places along the national and state highways, Hussain said.
source-economictimes.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Vulture conservation campaign in Uttarakhand
Story/place-uttarakhand.
|
October 15, 2010
The Jim Corbett Vulture Conservation organization educated the people on the importance of vultures to the environment through the 'Ramleela' in Uttarakhand's Ramnagar District.
During the 'Ramleela', the organization connected the campaign with the mythical vulture Jatayu, who had informed Lord Ram of his wife's kidnapping in the 'Ramayan'.
Films on wildlife and vulture conservation were also shown, while researchers distributed pamphlets.
"The situation in India is reaching a crucial point now because now it has been at least five years since over 99 percent of vultures have disappeared, in terms of possible pandemic disease spreading," said Oliver Gray, a vulture conservationist from the United Kingdom.
"Now it is reaching a crucial point where the state of population has increased so much, and it is already starting to register scary statistics in terms of the health costs to India," he added.
The organization also pointed out the ill effects of drugs that killed vultures.
"You know, we are trying to tell people that the drug that has killed the vultures, Diclofenac, which was used for veterinary purposes, which is banned but there is an alternative and a very cheap alternate which is the human diclofenac, which is quite rampantly used in this area and our awareness is about that," said Sumanta Ghosh, director of Corbett Vulture Conservation organization.
Vultures eat the carcasses of livestock that have been administered veterinary diclofenac, and are poisoned by the accumulated chemical.
The use of diclofenac in animals has been reported to a sharp decline in the vulture population in the Indian subcontinent.
The organization has urged the dairy owners to stop using the hazardous chemical
source-news.webindia123.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
|
October 15, 2010
The Jim Corbett Vulture Conservation organization educated the people on the importance of vultures to the environment through the 'Ramleela' in Uttarakhand's Ramnagar District.
During the 'Ramleela', the organization connected the campaign with the mythical vulture Jatayu, who had informed Lord Ram of his wife's kidnapping in the 'Ramayan'.
Films on wildlife and vulture conservation were also shown, while researchers distributed pamphlets.
"The situation in India is reaching a crucial point now because now it has been at least five years since over 99 percent of vultures have disappeared, in terms of possible pandemic disease spreading," said Oliver Gray, a vulture conservationist from the United Kingdom.
"Now it is reaching a crucial point where the state of population has increased so much, and it is already starting to register scary statistics in terms of the health costs to India," he added.
The organization also pointed out the ill effects of drugs that killed vultures.
"You know, we are trying to tell people that the drug that has killed the vultures, Diclofenac, which was used for veterinary purposes, which is banned but there is an alternative and a very cheap alternate which is the human diclofenac, which is quite rampantly used in this area and our awareness is about that," said Sumanta Ghosh, director of Corbett Vulture Conservation organization.
Vultures eat the carcasses of livestock that have been administered veterinary diclofenac, and are poisoned by the accumulated chemical.
The use of diclofenac in animals has been reported to a sharp decline in the vulture population in the Indian subcontinent.
The organization has urged the dairy owners to stop using the hazardous chemical
source-news.webindia123.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Monday, October 11, 2010
Growing elephant deaths in Orissa raise alarm
Story/place-Orissa.
October 07, 2010
In the last 19 years in Orissa, 231 elephants fell victim to poachers while 166 were killed in accidents and 173 more died from natural causes, says a wildlife NGO. While the government gives more conservative estimates, experts say there is enough cause for alarm. Biswajit Mohanty, secretary
of NGO Wildlife Society of Orissa, who gave the figures, said at least 155 of the elephants died due to electrocution in over 10 years.
"Immediate measures are required if we want to protect the elephants. The animals are dying due to lack of proper measures by the government," a worried Mohanty said.
"Wildlife has little chance to survive due to rapid loss of habitat in the state which is obsessed with mining and industrialisation," he added.
"The State Board for Wildlife, a high-power body chaired by the chief minister, has not met even once in the last two years, though it is mandatory that a meeting takes place every six months," he said.
There has been no meeting of honorary wildlife wardens in the last two years, Mohanty pointed out.
"This clearly reveals the abject apathy of the forest department to engage with wildlife experts and conservationists who can provide valuable inputs and advice for protection of wildlife in the state," he said.
"The department is wary of calling meetings as they might face uncomfortable questions about their abject failure to protect wildlife and allow mining in wildlife-rich areas," he claimed.
Activist Ranjit Pattnaik, another wildlife expert, said: "It is really alarming the way elephants are dying. The central as well as the state governments need to take urgent measures to protect these mammals."
Government figures on elephant deaths are, however, way less.
Orissa chief wildlife warden P.N. Padhi said: "On an average, about 50 elephants died every year in the past 10 years. While about six to seven die from electrocution, about six elephants get poached every year."
"The number of deaths due to accidents is becoming more than those due to poaching. Accidents include electrocution, trains mowing them down and the animals falling into pits," he said.
In the latest incidents, two full grown elephants died of electrocution Sep 6 - one in Dhenkanal district and another in Cuttack.
Most of the accidents take place in Keonjhar, Sundergarh, Sambalpur and Dhenkanal districts.
Orissa is home to 1,886 elephants, according to the census earlier this year. There are three elephant reserves in the state at Mayurbhanj, Mahanadi and Sambalpur.
"We have taken action against forest staff and booked electricians under the wildlife protection act after four elephants died early this year," Padhi said.
Three elephants had been killed due to sagging electric wires in Durlabhpur village in Keonjhar district in August and another died soon after in Ongul district.
"We are sensitising the officials. We started an elephant management plan last year from the state's own resources. In this plan, we will include four components, including an increase in forest cover, especially habitats of the elephants, habitat protection and anti-poaching measures," he added.
source-hindustantimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
October 07, 2010
In the last 19 years in Orissa, 231 elephants fell victim to poachers while 166 were killed in accidents and 173 more died from natural causes, says a wildlife NGO. While the government gives more conservative estimates, experts say there is enough cause for alarm. Biswajit Mohanty, secretary
of NGO Wildlife Society of Orissa, who gave the figures, said at least 155 of the elephants died due to electrocution in over 10 years.
"Immediate measures are required if we want to protect the elephants. The animals are dying due to lack of proper measures by the government," a worried Mohanty said.
"Wildlife has little chance to survive due to rapid loss of habitat in the state which is obsessed with mining and industrialisation," he added.
"The State Board for Wildlife, a high-power body chaired by the chief minister, has not met even once in the last two years, though it is mandatory that a meeting takes place every six months," he said.
There has been no meeting of honorary wildlife wardens in the last two years, Mohanty pointed out.
"This clearly reveals the abject apathy of the forest department to engage with wildlife experts and conservationists who can provide valuable inputs and advice for protection of wildlife in the state," he said.
"The department is wary of calling meetings as they might face uncomfortable questions about their abject failure to protect wildlife and allow mining in wildlife-rich areas," he claimed.
Activist Ranjit Pattnaik, another wildlife expert, said: "It is really alarming the way elephants are dying. The central as well as the state governments need to take urgent measures to protect these mammals."
Government figures on elephant deaths are, however, way less.
Orissa chief wildlife warden P.N. Padhi said: "On an average, about 50 elephants died every year in the past 10 years. While about six to seven die from electrocution, about six elephants get poached every year."
"The number of deaths due to accidents is becoming more than those due to poaching. Accidents include electrocution, trains mowing them down and the animals falling into pits," he said.
In the latest incidents, two full grown elephants died of electrocution Sep 6 - one in Dhenkanal district and another in Cuttack.
Most of the accidents take place in Keonjhar, Sundergarh, Sambalpur and Dhenkanal districts.
Orissa is home to 1,886 elephants, according to the census earlier this year. There are three elephant reserves in the state at Mayurbhanj, Mahanadi and Sambalpur.
"We have taken action against forest staff and booked electricians under the wildlife protection act after four elephants died early this year," Padhi said.
Three elephants had been killed due to sagging electric wires in Durlabhpur village in Keonjhar district in August and another died soon after in Ongul district.
"We are sensitising the officials. We started an elephant management plan last year from the state's own resources. In this plan, we will include four components, including an increase in forest cover, especially habitats of the elephants, habitat protection and anti-poaching measures," he added.
source-hindustantimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Nothing new in zoo this Wildlife Week
Story/place-Chandigarh.
Oct 2, 2010,
CHANDIGARH: In a development that is ought to disappoint animal-lovers in the city, the ongoing Wildlife Week at Chhatbir zoo, which kick-started on Saturday, will see no new entries of animals from outside. Contrary to promises made by Chhatbir authorities to tie-up with other menageries for introducing new animals ahead of the much-awaited Wildlife Week, the zoo has failed to strike an exchange deal with other zoological parks.
With no inmates in its kitty for the exchange programme, no menagerie seems to be interested in getting into a deal with Chhatbir. Recently, a Rajasthan-based zoological park turned down Chhatbir's request for a tiger. Also, zoo authorities were trying to bring new tigers and lions from other zoological parks in Ludhiana, Rajkot and Nagpur.
In July, the menagerie had introduced a 12-year-old lioness Divya from Renuka. At present, there are two lioness, one lion and 10 tigers at the zoo. Most of these are past their prime. Sources said the fact that most of the animals possessed by Chhatbir are in old age makes other menageries disinterested in entering into an exchange arrangement with the zoo. At present, all the lions and tigers in the zoo are above 15 years.
Speaking to TOI, chief wildlife warden, Punjab, Gurbaz Singh said, "We are following the CZA directions. We had stopped the breeding process of lions and tigers due to their old age. The lions and tigers at the zoo are above age. CZA has directed that they should complete their life span and not be forced to breed. We will introduce more lions and tigers in upcoming days. Talks are still going on with other zoo authorities." Apart from lions and tigers, Chhatbir has a very good and healthy breed of spotted deers. The menagerie has 10-12 extra spotted deers, we are planning to exchange these with tigers, Gurbaz added.
Zoo director Charchil Kumar said the menagerie had to defer its proposals due to monsoon season. "During rainy season, the possibility of infection is way more than normal weather. Animals from destinations as far as Nagpur and Rajkot were to be brought to Chhatbir. With monsoon coming to an end, we plan to gear up the proceedings".
When asked about the possibility of introducing more animals during the Wildlife Week, Charchil said it would take some more time to take such a step. "However, the deal is final with other zoo authorities. Some paperwork is yet to be completed,".
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Oct 2, 2010,
CHANDIGARH: In a development that is ought to disappoint animal-lovers in the city, the ongoing Wildlife Week at Chhatbir zoo, which kick-started on Saturday, will see no new entries of animals from outside. Contrary to promises made by Chhatbir authorities to tie-up with other menageries for introducing new animals ahead of the much-awaited Wildlife Week, the zoo has failed to strike an exchange deal with other zoological parks.
With no inmates in its kitty for the exchange programme, no menagerie seems to be interested in getting into a deal with Chhatbir. Recently, a Rajasthan-based zoological park turned down Chhatbir's request for a tiger. Also, zoo authorities were trying to bring new tigers and lions from other zoological parks in Ludhiana, Rajkot and Nagpur.
In July, the menagerie had introduced a 12-year-old lioness Divya from Renuka. At present, there are two lioness, one lion and 10 tigers at the zoo. Most of these are past their prime. Sources said the fact that most of the animals possessed by Chhatbir are in old age makes other menageries disinterested in entering into an exchange arrangement with the zoo. At present, all the lions and tigers in the zoo are above 15 years.
Speaking to TOI, chief wildlife warden, Punjab, Gurbaz Singh said, "We are following the CZA directions. We had stopped the breeding process of lions and tigers due to their old age. The lions and tigers at the zoo are above age. CZA has directed that they should complete their life span and not be forced to breed. We will introduce more lions and tigers in upcoming days. Talks are still going on with other zoo authorities." Apart from lions and tigers, Chhatbir has a very good and healthy breed of spotted deers. The menagerie has 10-12 extra spotted deers, we are planning to exchange these with tigers, Gurbaz added.
Zoo director Charchil Kumar said the menagerie had to defer its proposals due to monsoon season. "During rainy season, the possibility of infection is way more than normal weather. Animals from destinations as far as Nagpur and Rajkot were to be brought to Chhatbir. With monsoon coming to an end, we plan to gear up the proceedings".
When asked about the possibility of introducing more animals during the Wildlife Week, Charchil said it would take some more time to take such a step. "However, the deal is final with other zoo authorities. Some paperwork is yet to be completed,".
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Maneater on the prowl, mauls 3 in Mathura
Story/place-New Delhi.
Oct 5, 2010,
NEW DELHI: Barely 150km from Delhi, near Mathura, a lone tiger mauled three people in the village of Satah on Monday morning. Not only did the incident terrify residents but also caught forest officials and other experts off guard as this was definitely not a known tiger territory.
The forest department, with help from Wildlife SOS Delhi, set up traps to catch the animal on Monday but were unsuccessful. "We are also expecting help from the Rajasthan wildlife department. While nothing is confirmed so far, the tiger probably strayed from the Bharatpur area since it is the closest known place that can support a tiger population," said Kartick Satyanarayan, director, Wildlife SOS.
According to sources, the animal was spotted around 6am on Monday, around 1km from the highway. "The Satah village area mostly consists of fields. The animal was probably seen when it was crossing from one field to another. Initially, it attacked the first person it saw in the field and then attacked others as they came to rescue the injured person. Three people have sustained serious injuries. However, it doesn't seem to be a maneater and probably attacked in defence since it has used only its paws and not its teeth," said Dr K L Meena, DFO, Mathura.
According to reports, the entire area has been fenced off but angry villagers broke through the barriers to attack the animal. Police had to be brought in to manage the situation. Meena added that traps had been laid to catch the big cat. "A goat has been used as a bait and our men are stationed on a neem tree near this cage. We are hoping to sedate the animal," he said.
While not too many details were available about the gender or age of the animal, experts said that this was definitely a transient tiger. "I don't have details with me but if this is a sub-adult or juvenile, it could have been displaced either in a turf war or was out to hunt and got marooned in the area. However, it is most probably from the Bharatpur area. We have had reports of tigers being sighted in Bharatpur but never this far," said Satyanarayan.
Meena agreed, adding that the animal could have also come from as far off as Madhya Pradesh.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Oct 5, 2010,
NEW DELHI: Barely 150km from Delhi, near Mathura, a lone tiger mauled three people in the village of Satah on Monday morning. Not only did the incident terrify residents but also caught forest officials and other experts off guard as this was definitely not a known tiger territory.
The forest department, with help from Wildlife SOS Delhi, set up traps to catch the animal on Monday but were unsuccessful. "We are also expecting help from the Rajasthan wildlife department. While nothing is confirmed so far, the tiger probably strayed from the Bharatpur area since it is the closest known place that can support a tiger population," said Kartick Satyanarayan, director, Wildlife SOS.
According to sources, the animal was spotted around 6am on Monday, around 1km from the highway. "The Satah village area mostly consists of fields. The animal was probably seen when it was crossing from one field to another. Initially, it attacked the first person it saw in the field and then attacked others as they came to rescue the injured person. Three people have sustained serious injuries. However, it doesn't seem to be a maneater and probably attacked in defence since it has used only its paws and not its teeth," said Dr K L Meena, DFO, Mathura.
According to reports, the entire area has been fenced off but angry villagers broke through the barriers to attack the animal. Police had to be brought in to manage the situation. Meena added that traps had been laid to catch the big cat. "A goat has been used as a bait and our men are stationed on a neem tree near this cage. We are hoping to sedate the animal," he said.
While not too many details were available about the gender or age of the animal, experts said that this was definitely a transient tiger. "I don't have details with me but if this is a sub-adult or juvenile, it could have been displaced either in a turf war or was out to hunt and got marooned in the area. However, it is most probably from the Bharatpur area. We have had reports of tigers being sighted in Bharatpur but never this far," said Satyanarayan.
Meena agreed, adding that the animal could have also come from as far off as Madhya Pradesh.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Wildlife dept works on Bhindawas revival plan
Story/place-Chandigarh.
CHANDIGARH: Here is some good news for another lake in Haryana. The Bhindawas Lake, which had been dying due to neglect, has got a fresh lease of life. The Haryana wildlife department is working on a comprehensive five-year maintenance plan for the lake. The lake, for the past few weeks, has seen an increase in the number of migratory birds landing here.
A month back, a huge quantity of fish had died in the lake. Experts blamed the wildlife department for ignoring the drying lake in Rohtak, which caused the fish deaths.
But the dead fishes, according to wildlife department officials, have helped restore the sinking number of migratory birds coming to the lake.
The fishes died due to natural reasons but they have helped boost the number of winged visitors. This is just the beginning. We will have more
variety of birds coming to the lake. This is a major tourist spot and with the Commonwealth Games just round the corner, we expect the number to go up this year, said C R Jhojuwal, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Haryana.
Bhindawas is a natural habitat for many varieties of birds. The place was declared a bird sanctuary in 1985. Spread over an area of 1,017 acres, it is the largest wet land of the state. The Centre has sanctioned Rs 5 lakh for a comprehensive management plan to revive the lake. The Haryana government will rope in experts for the plan.
The Haryana government is working on a similar revival package for the Sultanpur National Park, near Farukh Nagar. The package, according to officials, will bring back the lost charm of the place. The idea is to showcase Haryana as the destination for wildlife, said an official.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sorced by jimsjungleretreat.com
CHANDIGARH: Here is some good news for another lake in Haryana. The Bhindawas Lake, which had been dying due to neglect, has got a fresh lease of life. The Haryana wildlife department is working on a comprehensive five-year maintenance plan for the lake. The lake, for the past few weeks, has seen an increase in the number of migratory birds landing here.
A month back, a huge quantity of fish had died in the lake. Experts blamed the wildlife department for ignoring the drying lake in Rohtak, which caused the fish deaths.
But the dead fishes, according to wildlife department officials, have helped restore the sinking number of migratory birds coming to the lake.
The fishes died due to natural reasons but they have helped boost the number of winged visitors. This is just the beginning. We will have more
variety of birds coming to the lake. This is a major tourist spot and with the Commonwealth Games just round the corner, we expect the number to go up this year, said C R Jhojuwal, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Haryana.
Bhindawas is a natural habitat for many varieties of birds. The place was declared a bird sanctuary in 1985. Spread over an area of 1,017 acres, it is the largest wet land of the state. The Centre has sanctioned Rs 5 lakh for a comprehensive management plan to revive the lake. The Haryana government will rope in experts for the plan.
The Haryana government is working on a similar revival package for the Sultanpur National Park, near Farukh Nagar. The package, according to officials, will bring back the lost charm of the place. The idea is to showcase Haryana as the destination for wildlife, said an official.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sorced by jimsjungleretreat.com
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