Story/place-Rajasthan.
Fri, 19 Nov 2010
A day after a relocated tiger died in Sariska in Rajasthan, Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday admitted to “governance and administration failure”, but defended the tiger revival plan saying it was not wrong.
“I take responsibility for the death of the tiger in the Sariska sanctuary. I admit that there has been governance and administration failure. Those were the reasons for the unfortunate death of the big cat,” Ramesh said here.
The death of the tiger, the first to be moved to Sariska park two years ago as part of the translocation process, has come as a setback to the government’s species revival plan. Since 2008, five tigers have been relocated to Sariska, of which one is now dead probably due to territorial fight with another predator in the park, which had all its native species to poachers during 2005-06.
Ramesh said it was too early to predict the real cause for the tiger’s death. “National Tiger Conservation Authority head, Rajesh Gopal is at the spot to assess the reasons for the death and will soon submit the post-mortem report to the ministry.”
source-indianexpress.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Search for missing tigress continues
Story/place-Nagpur.
November 18, 2010
A massive hunt is on in Tadoba tiger reserve in Chandrapur district, some 180 kms from Nagpur in east Vidarbha, to locate a tigress who sustained a leg injury while chasing a deer last week. A team of veterinary doctors from Nagpur is trying to locate the 5-year-old tigress since Wednesday morning.
The tigress was found injured in Mohrali forest range in Tadoba Tiger reserve on Friday last. She has three cubs.
The team, equipped with tranquilisers and medicine are now camping in the reserve for the necessary relief operation. The team has spotted the pugmarks of her cubs.
The state wildlife warden banned the movement of tourists in the area since Tuesday.
According to reports, a forest guard of the mobile squad of the Mohrali range first noticed that the tigress, which had given birth to three cubs five-six months ago, was injured. He immediately informed the field director, Vinay Sinha, who went with a team to the spot. The tigress was seen limping in the area with her three cubs.
"We have laid cameras at the location. We have also seen three cubs along with the tigress around a lake in the forest till Tuesday. However, the tigress was not spotted on Wednesday when the relief team was searching for her," Sinha informed.
The team wants to tranquilise the animal for treatment. If the tigress fails to get immediate medical help, her survival as well as that of its cubs would be in danger as she would be unable to hunt whilst injured.
source-hindustantimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
November 18, 2010
A massive hunt is on in Tadoba tiger reserve in Chandrapur district, some 180 kms from Nagpur in east Vidarbha, to locate a tigress who sustained a leg injury while chasing a deer last week. A team of veterinary doctors from Nagpur is trying to locate the 5-year-old tigress since Wednesday morning.
The tigress was found injured in Mohrali forest range in Tadoba Tiger reserve on Friday last. She has three cubs.
The team, equipped with tranquilisers and medicine are now camping in the reserve for the necessary relief operation. The team has spotted the pugmarks of her cubs.
The state wildlife warden banned the movement of tourists in the area since Tuesday.
According to reports, a forest guard of the mobile squad of the Mohrali range first noticed that the tigress, which had given birth to three cubs five-six months ago, was injured. He immediately informed the field director, Vinay Sinha, who went with a team to the spot. The tigress was seen limping in the area with her three cubs.
"We have laid cameras at the location. We have also seen three cubs along with the tigress around a lake in the forest till Tuesday. However, the tigress was not spotted on Wednesday when the relief team was searching for her," Sinha informed.
The team wants to tranquilise the animal for treatment. If the tigress fails to get immediate medical help, her survival as well as that of its cubs would be in danger as she would be unable to hunt whilst injured.
source-hindustantimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Leopard poachers get six years' jail
Story/place-New delhi.
New Delhi, Nov 15 (IANS) Three leopard poachers were sentenced to six years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs.10,000 each by a court in Madhya Pradesh Monday.
Ittu Baiga, Bahilal Baiga and Iqbal alias Atiq Ahmed, who is absconding, were sentenced under the Wildlife Protection Act by the Chief Judicial Magistrate, A.A. Ansari in Katni.
The accused poisoned a water-hole June 25 last year in the Dhimarkheda range of the Katni forest division with organo-phosphate pesticide that led to the death of several wild animals, including three leopards, two civet cats, one spotted deer and one langur.
Poisoning of water-holes is a terrible method of poaching that results in indiscriminate killing of animals, irrespective of which species the poacher is after, the NGO Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) said here in a statement.
The leopard is listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, and the civet cat is listed in Part II of Schedule II of the Act.
The penalty for a first time offence involving these species is between three to seven years in jail and a fine of not less than Rs.10,000. The prosecution of the case was handled by advocate Manjula Shrivastava, lawyer for WPSI in Katni.
source-sify.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
New Delhi, Nov 15 (IANS) Three leopard poachers were sentenced to six years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs.10,000 each by a court in Madhya Pradesh Monday.
Ittu Baiga, Bahilal Baiga and Iqbal alias Atiq Ahmed, who is absconding, were sentenced under the Wildlife Protection Act by the Chief Judicial Magistrate, A.A. Ansari in Katni.
The accused poisoned a water-hole June 25 last year in the Dhimarkheda range of the Katni forest division with organo-phosphate pesticide that led to the death of several wild animals, including three leopards, two civet cats, one spotted deer and one langur.
Poisoning of water-holes is a terrible method of poaching that results in indiscriminate killing of animals, irrespective of which species the poacher is after, the NGO Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) said here in a statement.
The leopard is listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, and the civet cat is listed in Part II of Schedule II of the Act.
The penalty for a first time offence involving these species is between three to seven years in jail and a fine of not less than Rs.10,000. The prosecution of the case was handled by advocate Manjula Shrivastava, lawyer for WPSI in Katni.
source-sify.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Fathesagar lake in danger due to unscientific construction
Story/place-Udaipur.
Nov 15, 2010,
UDAIPUR: This is yet another test for the 400-year-old Fathesagar lake in Udaipur. The safety and stability of this lake is said to be uncertain due to the unscientific construction of Vibhuti Park' in the "toe" portion of the dam. Fatehsagar is the largest of the lake system of Udaipur and holds about 427 mcft of water now. The dam is full of water, thanks to good rainfall this year.
The dam has withstood several threats like deep borewell and haphazard trench drilling and several such detrimental activities in the past. They resulted in collapse of earth fill of the dam. The leakage from the PHED pipeline embedded have earlier collapsed the soil of side slopes.
Anil Mehta of the Jheel Samrashan Samiti (JSS), which has been spearheading a campaign against the unscientific construction on the lake side, said on October 17, an earth-moving machine was employed to dig a trench over the dam body. Ten days later a number of such (JCB) machines were employed in the downstream toe area of the dam in order to construct some structures in Vibhuti Park'. On October 28 the soil on the slopes of the dam collapsed and there were visible cracks on the road side tiles on the embankment.
This was a warning for the administration to immediately restrict vehicular movement over the dam and to start dumping soil and earth fill over the slopes. Mehta said, for any dam the process to put soil on slopes requires specific methods and technical supervision. The soil has to be put in layers and each layer requires simultaneous consolidation in order to get proper density. Anil is an engineer.
He pointed out the well-known reasons for any dam failure are piping and collapse of slope soil. The drilling on upstream and downstream sides of the dam may develop a continuous channel of water beneath the dam body. The flow of water through such channel carries away soil particles ----weakening the foundation of any dam, he said.
The Jheel Samrashan Samiti has accused the UIT of callousness. The district administration and the UIT without determining and ensuring the structural and hydraulic parameters of the centuries old dam, are doing detrimental and haphazard tempering of the dam. As such, the safety and stability of the dam and lives of the people residing in the downstream area are in danger, the JSS says.
Rajasthan has several such historical and important dam structures. But nowhere the present status of safety and stability of these structures have been determined, despite various methods of testing are available, complained Anil.
Following the JSS protest, the Urban Improvement Trust (UIT) has decided to seek experts opinion from the irrigation department and if necessary from experts of IIT, Roorkee.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Nov 15, 2010,
UDAIPUR: This is yet another test for the 400-year-old Fathesagar lake in Udaipur. The safety and stability of this lake is said to be uncertain due to the unscientific construction of Vibhuti Park' in the "toe" portion of the dam. Fatehsagar is the largest of the lake system of Udaipur and holds about 427 mcft of water now. The dam is full of water, thanks to good rainfall this year.
The dam has withstood several threats like deep borewell and haphazard trench drilling and several such detrimental activities in the past. They resulted in collapse of earth fill of the dam. The leakage from the PHED pipeline embedded have earlier collapsed the soil of side slopes.
Anil Mehta of the Jheel Samrashan Samiti (JSS), which has been spearheading a campaign against the unscientific construction on the lake side, said on October 17, an earth-moving machine was employed to dig a trench over the dam body. Ten days later a number of such (JCB) machines were employed in the downstream toe area of the dam in order to construct some structures in Vibhuti Park'. On October 28 the soil on the slopes of the dam collapsed and there were visible cracks on the road side tiles on the embankment.
This was a warning for the administration to immediately restrict vehicular movement over the dam and to start dumping soil and earth fill over the slopes. Mehta said, for any dam the process to put soil on slopes requires specific methods and technical supervision. The soil has to be put in layers and each layer requires simultaneous consolidation in order to get proper density. Anil is an engineer.
He pointed out the well-known reasons for any dam failure are piping and collapse of slope soil. The drilling on upstream and downstream sides of the dam may develop a continuous channel of water beneath the dam body. The flow of water through such channel carries away soil particles ----weakening the foundation of any dam, he said.
The Jheel Samrashan Samiti has accused the UIT of callousness. The district administration and the UIT without determining and ensuring the structural and hydraulic parameters of the centuries old dam, are doing detrimental and haphazard tempering of the dam. As such, the safety and stability of the dam and lives of the people residing in the downstream area are in danger, the JSS says.
Rajasthan has several such historical and important dam structures. But nowhere the present status of safety and stability of these structures have been determined, despite various methods of testing are available, complained Anil.
Following the JSS protest, the Urban Improvement Trust (UIT) has decided to seek experts opinion from the irrigation department and if necessary from experts of IIT, Roorkee.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Monday, November 15, 2010
Outsiders at home
Story/place-Karnataka.
Nov 12, 2010,
From coexistence to a conservation choice. The lush forests of Biligere Ranganatha Temple (BRT) sanctuary of southern Karnataka, recently given the status of a tiger reserve (in-principle), has a poignant dilemma at hand: whom will the forest nurture, the tigers or the Soligas (tribals of the region)?
Ever since the Centre approved the state's proposal to turn the park into a tiger reserve in September, the 1500-odd Soliga families have been living with the insecurity that they will any day be urged to leave the core area and be relocated outside the forest. The proposal received a further boost, with the tiger census this year giving clear indications of a "healthy presence". In fact, the estimation has revealed 16 direct sightings.
The forest department is determined that the forests are made inviolate. Relocation from the core area will be a voluntary option, but the department cites success stories like Bhadra where ungulate and, in turn, tiger population had increased considerably after the relocation of tribals, to press its case.
"We are not planning to drive anyone out. We will be taking their consent for any relocation and the department is offering a good package of Rs 10 lakh. They will not be relocated to distant places, only to fringe areas. We don't see why concerns should arise," says principal chief conservator of forests B K Singh.
Power and water lines in the park will have to be removed and those who choose to stay back will face problems in the days to come, says Singh. School and healthcare facilities will become much more inaccessible once the tiger reserve is notified.
According to Singh, the rights of around 1,100 families have been recognized as per the Forest Rights Act; the remaining are in the process.
The rollout, however, does not appear to be all that simple. There are as many as 22 podus (tribal colonies) in the core area of this 540sqkm sanctuary and the life of the Soligas has been intrinsically linked to the ways of the forest for centuries.
There are around 40,000 Soligas in the Chamrajnagar district of southern Karnataka. As many as 42 of the podus are in the fringe areas of BRT forest. Before the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 came into force, they were practising shifting cultivation and collecting non-timber forest produce (NTFP) such as fruits, honey, lichen, soap berry and others. However, since the act was implemented two years later, their right over the produce was gradually curbed. And in 2004, NTFP collection was completely banned.
"Even with the last deputy conservator of forests, we argued and told them how closely our lives are linked to the collection of non-timber produce. We showed him documents from Sunabeda sanctuary in Orissa were the tribals' rights to collect such produce were restored. The DCF temporarily allowed us to collect honey and broomstick. We also submitted a petition to Rahul Gandhi when he came here. But now, we have a more serious problem at hand," says Madegowda C of the Jilla Budakattu Girijana Abhivruddi Sangha.
As far as the gritty Soligas are concerned, they will not evacuate the core area of the forest, irrespective of the compensation offered. While it is apparent that their lifestyles have become modernized and one can no longer expect to see them in tribal clothes, they claim their lives are still entwined with the forest.
"I will not go out, no matter what," says Hanumegowda, a senior Soliga leader who is now a coffee planter. His wife, Pangamma cuts in, "Tell them we will not move even if they give us Rs 50 lakh."
Many tribal leaders also feel that the forest department is able to do its job only with Soliga help. Since they know the forest better and understand animal behaviour, they have been helping the skeletal department staff patrol the area.
"Tribal knowledge says there are at the most 15 to 20 tigers and not 34 tigers as the staff has estimated. Many of us work as watchers for the forest department," says Soliga leader J Bommaiah. "What trouble are we giving to the forest? If they have to relocate us, they have to relocate Lord Biligere himself, who had married a Soliga girl, Kusumale."
Adds Chari Madegowda, a senior leader of the podus: "We have been living with the animals for all these years. They sleep on that side and we on this side. Have we given trouble to each other? We eat fruits and tubers from the forest on a daily basis. If we are taken out, we will be like fish out of water."
Other tribals have a different take. They feel it will be easier for poachers to strike once the Soligas are moved out and the zone is declared a tiger reserve. "Soligas were like wild monkeys. You could not differentiate between them and the wild animals. Even today, tourism puts much more pressure on the ecosystem here than us," says Achugegowda. "The forest department staff are scared of poachers. It is we who have been protecting the forests."
The forest animals, indeed, are worshipped, points out Madegowda. "We worship Huliveerappa, the tiger god. Many clans worship other animals. We have around 487 sacred sites inside the forest where we worship. We have a very deep emotional and cultural relationship with the forest that cannot be overlooked," he says.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Nov 12, 2010,
From coexistence to a conservation choice. The lush forests of Biligere Ranganatha Temple (BRT) sanctuary of southern Karnataka, recently given the status of a tiger reserve (in-principle), has a poignant dilemma at hand: whom will the forest nurture, the tigers or the Soligas (tribals of the region)?
Ever since the Centre approved the state's proposal to turn the park into a tiger reserve in September, the 1500-odd Soliga families have been living with the insecurity that they will any day be urged to leave the core area and be relocated outside the forest. The proposal received a further boost, with the tiger census this year giving clear indications of a "healthy presence". In fact, the estimation has revealed 16 direct sightings.
The forest department is determined that the forests are made inviolate. Relocation from the core area will be a voluntary option, but the department cites success stories like Bhadra where ungulate and, in turn, tiger population had increased considerably after the relocation of tribals, to press its case.
"We are not planning to drive anyone out. We will be taking their consent for any relocation and the department is offering a good package of Rs 10 lakh. They will not be relocated to distant places, only to fringe areas. We don't see why concerns should arise," says principal chief conservator of forests B K Singh.
Power and water lines in the park will have to be removed and those who choose to stay back will face problems in the days to come, says Singh. School and healthcare facilities will become much more inaccessible once the tiger reserve is notified.
According to Singh, the rights of around 1,100 families have been recognized as per the Forest Rights Act; the remaining are in the process.
The rollout, however, does not appear to be all that simple. There are as many as 22 podus (tribal colonies) in the core area of this 540sqkm sanctuary and the life of the Soligas has been intrinsically linked to the ways of the forest for centuries.
There are around 40,000 Soligas in the Chamrajnagar district of southern Karnataka. As many as 42 of the podus are in the fringe areas of BRT forest. Before the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 came into force, they were practising shifting cultivation and collecting non-timber forest produce (NTFP) such as fruits, honey, lichen, soap berry and others. However, since the act was implemented two years later, their right over the produce was gradually curbed. And in 2004, NTFP collection was completely banned.
"Even with the last deputy conservator of forests, we argued and told them how closely our lives are linked to the collection of non-timber produce. We showed him documents from Sunabeda sanctuary in Orissa were the tribals' rights to collect such produce were restored. The DCF temporarily allowed us to collect honey and broomstick. We also submitted a petition to Rahul Gandhi when he came here. But now, we have a more serious problem at hand," says Madegowda C of the Jilla Budakattu Girijana Abhivruddi Sangha.
As far as the gritty Soligas are concerned, they will not evacuate the core area of the forest, irrespective of the compensation offered. While it is apparent that their lifestyles have become modernized and one can no longer expect to see them in tribal clothes, they claim their lives are still entwined with the forest.
"I will not go out, no matter what," says Hanumegowda, a senior Soliga leader who is now a coffee planter. His wife, Pangamma cuts in, "Tell them we will not move even if they give us Rs 50 lakh."
Many tribal leaders also feel that the forest department is able to do its job only with Soliga help. Since they know the forest better and understand animal behaviour, they have been helping the skeletal department staff patrol the area.
"Tribal knowledge says there are at the most 15 to 20 tigers and not 34 tigers as the staff has estimated. Many of us work as watchers for the forest department," says Soliga leader J Bommaiah. "What trouble are we giving to the forest? If they have to relocate us, they have to relocate Lord Biligere himself, who had married a Soliga girl, Kusumale."
Adds Chari Madegowda, a senior leader of the podus: "We have been living with the animals for all these years. They sleep on that side and we on this side. Have we given trouble to each other? We eat fruits and tubers from the forest on a daily basis. If we are taken out, we will be like fish out of water."
Other tribals have a different take. They feel it will be easier for poachers to strike once the Soligas are moved out and the zone is declared a tiger reserve. "Soligas were like wild monkeys. You could not differentiate between them and the wild animals. Even today, tourism puts much more pressure on the ecosystem here than us," says Achugegowda. "The forest department staff are scared of poachers. It is we who have been protecting the forests."
The forest animals, indeed, are worshipped, points out Madegowda. "We worship Huliveerappa, the tiger god. Many clans worship other animals. We have around 487 sacred sites inside the forest where we worship. We have a very deep emotional and cultural relationship with the forest that cannot be overlooked," he says.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Jumbo smuggling racket busted in Assam, 9 rescued
Story/place-Guwahati.
Nov 1, 2010,
GUWAHATI: It's 'heritage' plunder of jumbo proportions. Wild elephants are being trapped, whipped to submission, sedated and then smuggled out of Assam.
The administration had no clue to this racket until an NGO tipped them off about a consign-ment of nine elephants, including a mother and a calf, heading out of Kokrajhar two days ago.
Just a week ago, the central government had accorded heritage status to elephants.
According to sources, this was just the one consignment detected. Many more have slipped past border check-gates to Bengal and Bihar and even crossed the international border into Myanmar.
With the Sonepur fair in Bihar (famed for elephant trade) approaching, wildlife crime experts fear the worst for the gentle jumbos of Assam.
The nine elephants are said to have been brought from Upper Assam to Kokrajhar in Lower Assam. Police intercepted the trucks at Sreerampur on the Assam-Bengal border. A Kokrajhar-based NGO, Green Heart Nature Club, filed a complaint with police, leading to the arrest of four persons, among them West Bengal-based businessman Rabindra Singh and Dayaram Doloi of Assam's Golaghat district.
If these jumbos had been smuggled out, each would have been sold for at least `40 lakh.
"These arrests have exposed the thriving inter-state racket in elephant smuggling. Our volunteers prevented an elephant calf from being traded at Bokakhat area of Golaghat district on Saturday," said People for Animals (PFA) chairperson Sangeeta Goswami who fears more than 90 elephants have been smuggled out of Assam since 2002.
The jumbo smuggling racket works much the same way as human trafficking rackets. Forged paperwork and false identities are created to pass off wild elephants as captivated, domesticated ones. Even microchips, a must for domestic elephants, are 'arranged'.
Officials involved in tackling wildlife crime say several hard-core elephant traders from Bihar have already fanned out in various districts of upper Assam, especially those sharing border with Arunachal Pradesh, to procure elephants for the Sonepur fair.
"The latest arrests only the tip of the iceberg. Most of the elephants are taken out of the state without proper documents," a wildlife crime expert said.
Elephant, being a Schedule-I species under Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Act 1972, cannot be traded, but it can be moved from one state to another with permission from the chief wildlife warden. The racket exploits the law to carry out this nefarious trade.
Very often, it involves putting the elephants through a brutal regimen to make them submissive. These elephants are then brought to Assam and given a fresh 'identity' from a dead captive elephant. Even micro-chips are managed for the captured elephants.
"This is why, we demand a complete ban on movement of elephants from Assam or the northeast to any other part of the country. Once they are taken out, legally or illegally, the elephants are often subjected to great hardship. Elephants are majestic elephants and should be treated as such," elephant expert Kushal Kumar Sarma said.
According to sources, Rajasthan, Bihar, Delhi and some southern states procured most of the captive elephants of Assam.
In September, villagers in Jairampur in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh prevented two elephants from being smuggled to Myanm-ar. Two mahouts were arres-ted. Police suspected the involvement of militant outfit NSCN(K) in smuggling elephants across the international border
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Nov 1, 2010,
GUWAHATI: It's 'heritage' plunder of jumbo proportions. Wild elephants are being trapped, whipped to submission, sedated and then smuggled out of Assam.
The administration had no clue to this racket until an NGO tipped them off about a consign-ment of nine elephants, including a mother and a calf, heading out of Kokrajhar two days ago.
Just a week ago, the central government had accorded heritage status to elephants.
According to sources, this was just the one consignment detected. Many more have slipped past border check-gates to Bengal and Bihar and even crossed the international border into Myanmar.
With the Sonepur fair in Bihar (famed for elephant trade) approaching, wildlife crime experts fear the worst for the gentle jumbos of Assam.
The nine elephants are said to have been brought from Upper Assam to Kokrajhar in Lower Assam. Police intercepted the trucks at Sreerampur on the Assam-Bengal border. A Kokrajhar-based NGO, Green Heart Nature Club, filed a complaint with police, leading to the arrest of four persons, among them West Bengal-based businessman Rabindra Singh and Dayaram Doloi of Assam's Golaghat district.
If these jumbos had been smuggled out, each would have been sold for at least `40 lakh.
"These arrests have exposed the thriving inter-state racket in elephant smuggling. Our volunteers prevented an elephant calf from being traded at Bokakhat area of Golaghat district on Saturday," said People for Animals (PFA) chairperson Sangeeta Goswami who fears more than 90 elephants have been smuggled out of Assam since 2002.
The jumbo smuggling racket works much the same way as human trafficking rackets. Forged paperwork and false identities are created to pass off wild elephants as captivated, domesticated ones. Even microchips, a must for domestic elephants, are 'arranged'.
Officials involved in tackling wildlife crime say several hard-core elephant traders from Bihar have already fanned out in various districts of upper Assam, especially those sharing border with Arunachal Pradesh, to procure elephants for the Sonepur fair.
"The latest arrests only the tip of the iceberg. Most of the elephants are taken out of the state without proper documents," a wildlife crime expert said.
Elephant, being a Schedule-I species under Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Act 1972, cannot be traded, but it can be moved from one state to another with permission from the chief wildlife warden. The racket exploits the law to carry out this nefarious trade.
Very often, it involves putting the elephants through a brutal regimen to make them submissive. These elephants are then brought to Assam and given a fresh 'identity' from a dead captive elephant. Even micro-chips are managed for the captured elephants.
"This is why, we demand a complete ban on movement of elephants from Assam or the northeast to any other part of the country. Once they are taken out, legally or illegally, the elephants are often subjected to great hardship. Elephants are majestic elephants and should be treated as such," elephant expert Kushal Kumar Sarma said.
According to sources, Rajasthan, Bihar, Delhi and some southern states procured most of the captive elephants of Assam.
In September, villagers in Jairampur in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh prevented two elephants from being smuggled to Myanm-ar. Two mahouts were arres-ted. Police suspected the involvement of militant outfit NSCN(K) in smuggling elephants across the international border
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Train-hit tusker loses battle for life
Story/place-Near uttarakhand.
Nov 5, 2010,
DEHRADUN: A 25-year-old tusker, battling for its life after an express train knocked it down near Uttarakhand's Lalkuna on October 21, succumbed to its injuries on Thursday. The elephant had fractured its hip-joint and thigh and was fighting for its life in the forest with a large team of veterinarians virtually turning the area into an open-air ICU.
Sources said the vets tried their best to save the tusker, but it had developed a serious lung infection and blood clot.
Dr J L Singh, who conducted the tusker's post-mortem along with Dr A K Sattoo, said the tusker had suffered supracondyle femur fracture. "It also suffered excessive bleeding and septicemia that killed the animal," he said.
The Uttarakhand forest department had briefly considered petitioning the Union environment and forests ministry for the tusker's mercy killing. But the elephant fought back bravely and the officials had hoped that it'll survive. Earlier, they had followed the injured animal 12km inside the forest, got a small crane to move it and had floodlights installed to work on saving the jumbo.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Nov 5, 2010,
DEHRADUN: A 25-year-old tusker, battling for its life after an express train knocked it down near Uttarakhand's Lalkuna on October 21, succumbed to its injuries on Thursday. The elephant had fractured its hip-joint and thigh and was fighting for its life in the forest with a large team of veterinarians virtually turning the area into an open-air ICU.
Sources said the vets tried their best to save the tusker, but it had developed a serious lung infection and blood clot.
Dr J L Singh, who conducted the tusker's post-mortem along with Dr A K Sattoo, said the tusker had suffered supracondyle femur fracture. "It also suffered excessive bleeding and septicemia that killed the animal," he said.
The Uttarakhand forest department had briefly considered petitioning the Union environment and forests ministry for the tusker's mercy killing. But the elephant fought back bravely and the officials had hoped that it'll survive. Earlier, they had followed the injured animal 12km inside the forest, got a small crane to move it and had floodlights installed to work on saving the jumbo.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
'Jumbo protests' in Kerala against proposed elephant rules
Story/place-Kerala.
Nov 9, 2010,
THRISSUR (Kerala): It was a protest march with a difference! Elephants accompanied activists of the Kerala State Pooram-Perunnal Festival Coordination Committee as they marched to District Forest Offices (DFO) here and four other places Monday to protest the Elephant Task Force's recommendations.
The committee has been up in arms ever since the Elephant Task Force, which submitted its recommendations to union environment and forests minister Jairam Ramesh in Delhi Aug 31, advocated making elephants the "national heritage animal" and change the ownership of domesticated elephants by their present owners to only guardianship.
The activists had brought a total of 16 elephants but only used one following a request by police that the 16 would cause traffic problems.
Ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) legislator Babu. M. Palissery, who is also the patron of the committee, contended the Task Force's recommendation would affect the use of domesticated elephants in religious festivals in Kerala.
"(Task Force chief Mahesh) Rangarajan had prepared the recommendations without conducting any meaningful discussion with those sections of the society here who are involved with the elephants. Can you imagine the famed Thrissur Pooram without the elephants? elephants are part and parcel of the festivals in temples and churches in the state," Palissery said.
Similar protest marches were held in Palakkad, Ernakulam, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta.
"We are now meeting chief minister VS Achuthanandan for the urgent need for his intervention and we will request him to call an all party meeting to discuss this issue. We want an all party delegation from here to meet Jairam Ramesh to see that these recommendations do not come into force," said Palissery.
There are 900 captive elephants in Kerala presently.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Nov 9, 2010,
THRISSUR (Kerala): It was a protest march with a difference! Elephants accompanied activists of the Kerala State Pooram-Perunnal Festival Coordination Committee as they marched to District Forest Offices (DFO) here and four other places Monday to protest the Elephant Task Force's recommendations.
The committee has been up in arms ever since the Elephant Task Force, which submitted its recommendations to union environment and forests minister Jairam Ramesh in Delhi Aug 31, advocated making elephants the "national heritage animal" and change the ownership of domesticated elephants by their present owners to only guardianship.
The activists had brought a total of 16 elephants but only used one following a request by police that the 16 would cause traffic problems.
Ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) legislator Babu. M. Palissery, who is also the patron of the committee, contended the Task Force's recommendation would affect the use of domesticated elephants in religious festivals in Kerala.
"(Task Force chief Mahesh) Rangarajan had prepared the recommendations without conducting any meaningful discussion with those sections of the society here who are involved with the elephants. Can you imagine the famed Thrissur Pooram without the elephants? elephants are part and parcel of the festivals in temples and churches in the state," Palissery said.
Similar protest marches were held in Palakkad, Ernakulam, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta.
"We are now meeting chief minister VS Achuthanandan for the urgent need for his intervention and we will request him to call an all party meeting to discuss this issue. We want an all party delegation from here to meet Jairam Ramesh to see that these recommendations do not come into force," said Palissery.
There are 900 captive elephants in Kerala presently.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
CJM dismisses Ranthambore noise pollution case
Story/place-Jaipur.
Nov 3, 2010,
JAIPUR: The chief judicial magistrate at Sawai Madhopur on Tuesday dismissed a petition alleging violation of wildlife, environment and civic laws during the wedding of celebrity couple Russell Brand and Katy Perry held recently at Ranthambore.
The petition was filed by Ranthambore Park Bachao Samiti through its president and local lawyer Akshay Sharma. It was alleged that the forest officials and the district administration officials overlooked violations of noise and air pollution and different sections of the Wildlife Protection Act by the star couple and their guests during their stay at the tiger reserve.
The Samiti has now decided to move a revision petition before a higher court in an effort to bring the culprits to justice. "It's unfortunate that before dismissing it, the magistrate didn't even consider it proper to get the complaint investigated first," Sharma told TOI while reacting to the court decision. "I'll take the petition to the district judge tomorrow (Wednesday)," he asserted, adding that the Samiti would never cease fighting for the protection of Ranthambore tigers.
While arguing the petition before the chief judicial magistrate on October 31, Sharma accused the forest officials of causing territorial fights among the tigers just to please high-profile visitors and make illegal money. The Samiti holds the forest officials responsible for the death of a three-year-old male tiger, T-36, killed in a territorial fight with an older tiger, T-42. The fight was linked to the Russell-Katy marriage and the forest officials were accused of driving the big cats from their territories towards the celebrity couple's place of stay at a resort inside the national park.
The Samiti also accused the couple of breaking the rules against loud music after 10 pm, smoking, consuming liquor and carrying firearms in the forest area, disturbing the endangered animals, changing movement routes assigned to them by the forest authorities and getting into a scuffle with the paparazzi inside the park and thereby risking human lives in the tigers reserve.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Nov 3, 2010,
JAIPUR: The chief judicial magistrate at Sawai Madhopur on Tuesday dismissed a petition alleging violation of wildlife, environment and civic laws during the wedding of celebrity couple Russell Brand and Katy Perry held recently at Ranthambore.
The petition was filed by Ranthambore Park Bachao Samiti through its president and local lawyer Akshay Sharma. It was alleged that the forest officials and the district administration officials overlooked violations of noise and air pollution and different sections of the Wildlife Protection Act by the star couple and their guests during their stay at the tiger reserve.
The Samiti has now decided to move a revision petition before a higher court in an effort to bring the culprits to justice. "It's unfortunate that before dismissing it, the magistrate didn't even consider it proper to get the complaint investigated first," Sharma told TOI while reacting to the court decision. "I'll take the petition to the district judge tomorrow (Wednesday)," he asserted, adding that the Samiti would never cease fighting for the protection of Ranthambore tigers.
While arguing the petition before the chief judicial magistrate on October 31, Sharma accused the forest officials of causing territorial fights among the tigers just to please high-profile visitors and make illegal money. The Samiti holds the forest officials responsible for the death of a three-year-old male tiger, T-36, killed in a territorial fight with an older tiger, T-42. The fight was linked to the Russell-Katy marriage and the forest officials were accused of driving the big cats from their territories towards the celebrity couple's place of stay at a resort inside the national park.
The Samiti also accused the couple of breaking the rules against loud music after 10 pm, smoking, consuming liquor and carrying firearms in the forest area, disturbing the endangered animals, changing movement routes assigned to them by the forest authorities and getting into a scuffle with the paparazzi inside the park and thereby risking human lives in the tigers reserve.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Wildlife Dept nod to be made must for erecting mobile towers
25 Oct, 2010
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Telecommunication Department has decided to insist on mobile phone operators for obtaining clearance from the Wildlife Division of the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) for setting up mobile phone towers in view of the possible ill-effects of radiation from such installations on animals, birds and bees.
This was made clear by a senior Telecommunication official at the first meeting of the Experts' Committee formed by MoEF to study possible impact of communication tower on wildlife held recently, according to Dr Sainudeen Pattazhy, a member of the panel.
Mobile phone operators are already required to get clearance from Defence and Civil Avation authorities for installing towers in areas which had a bearing on their operations.
"Quite a few studies in India and abroad have pointed out that radiation from mobile towers seriously harmed wildlife, especially birds, bees and insects. So, it is important that the telecom operators get clearance from Wildlife Department before erecting towers, especially in areas close to forests, animal parks and zoos", Pattazhy said.
The committee,headed by Dr Asad Rahmani, Director of Bomaby Natural History Society, decided to formulate a set of guidelines for installation of towers so as to avoid their ill-effects on animals as well human beings.
Telecommunication offical, who is a member of the panel, told the meeting that measures to avoid installation of towers in crowded areas, schools, narrow lanes and roof-tops had already been taken.
He also maintained that the safety standards in India is very high in this regard and that no authentic evidence had so far surfaced to prove that the towers grievously harmed humans and animals in the country.
Some members of the panel suggested expansion of its scope so as to cover the entire spectrum of wildlife including reptiles and amphibions
source-economictimes.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Telecommunication Department has decided to insist on mobile phone operators for obtaining clearance from the Wildlife Division of the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) for setting up mobile phone towers in view of the possible ill-effects of radiation from such installations on animals, birds and bees.
This was made clear by a senior Telecommunication official at the first meeting of the Experts' Committee formed by MoEF to study possible impact of communication tower on wildlife held recently, according to Dr Sainudeen Pattazhy, a member of the panel.
Mobile phone operators are already required to get clearance from Defence and Civil Avation authorities for installing towers in areas which had a bearing on their operations.
"Quite a few studies in India and abroad have pointed out that radiation from mobile towers seriously harmed wildlife, especially birds, bees and insects. So, it is important that the telecom operators get clearance from Wildlife Department before erecting towers, especially in areas close to forests, animal parks and zoos", Pattazhy said.
The committee,headed by Dr Asad Rahmani, Director of Bomaby Natural History Society, decided to formulate a set of guidelines for installation of towers so as to avoid their ill-effects on animals as well human beings.
Telecommunication offical, who is a member of the panel, told the meeting that measures to avoid installation of towers in crowded areas, schools, narrow lanes and roof-tops had already been taken.
He also maintained that the safety standards in India is very high in this regard and that no authentic evidence had so far surfaced to prove that the towers grievously harmed humans and animals in the country.
Some members of the panel suggested expansion of its scope so as to cover the entire spectrum of wildlife including reptiles and amphibions
source-economictimes.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Corporates join hands for tiger conservation
story/place-New delhi.
- Oct 23, 2010,
New Delhi (IANS) - Contemporary Indian art is conveying powerful messages. One of them is concern for environment and tigers.
A unique public art initiative, Artiger, is bringing 57 renowned artists, 50 corporate houses, 52 public spaces and the Ranthambore Foundation, the non-profit development groups and the common men under one umbrella to work for the cause for conserving tigers.
Conceived by curator and gallerist Aparajita Jain, art collector and promoter Swapan Seth and Delhi-based youth activist Nandita Kathpalia Baig, the project will facilitate dialogue between the common people and the stakeholders about tiger conservation with display of tiger art in public spaces.
The four-month project will be launched early December with the unveiling of "57 life-size fibre glass tigers" at locations across the capital.
Billed by the team as one of the largest public art displays in the country, it will feature prominent artists like Anjolie Ela Menon, Arpita Singh, Chittrovanu Mazumdar, G.R. Iranna, Jayasri Burman, Manu Parekh, Satish Gujral and several more.
Some of the corporate sponsors on the list include Abhishek Dalmia and Deepali Dalmia, Ambuja Realty, Apollo Tyres, Apolloindia (Raaja Kanwar), Artemis Hospital (Dr. Katariya), DLF and Borosil.
Announcing the project Friday, co-organiser Aprajita Jain said: "Art in public spaces is a highly potent awareness tool in a diverse country like India as it transcends boundaries. The overwhelming response that we have received proves we will make a difference."
The project will be implemented by Saath Saath Arts, an NGO that uses art to generate funds and awareness about public issues.
Commenting on the initiative, Swapan Seth, managing partner of art house Henry S. Clark, said: "Artiger was a remarkable testimony to the coming together of artists, corporates and government to leave behind an imprint on public spaces. It is often felt that Indian art has never received a collective corporate or governmental blessing."
The 57 fibre glass sculptures have been booked by corporate organisations. The funds raised from the corporates will be donated to Ranthambore Foundation, one of India's oldest and most well-known organisations working in the
source-indiavision.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
- Oct 23, 2010,
New Delhi (IANS) - Contemporary Indian art is conveying powerful messages. One of them is concern for environment and tigers.
A unique public art initiative, Artiger, is bringing 57 renowned artists, 50 corporate houses, 52 public spaces and the Ranthambore Foundation, the non-profit development groups and the common men under one umbrella to work for the cause for conserving tigers.
Conceived by curator and gallerist Aparajita Jain, art collector and promoter Swapan Seth and Delhi-based youth activist Nandita Kathpalia Baig, the project will facilitate dialogue between the common people and the stakeholders about tiger conservation with display of tiger art in public spaces.
The four-month project will be launched early December with the unveiling of "57 life-size fibre glass tigers" at locations across the capital.
Billed by the team as one of the largest public art displays in the country, it will feature prominent artists like Anjolie Ela Menon, Arpita Singh, Chittrovanu Mazumdar, G.R. Iranna, Jayasri Burman, Manu Parekh, Satish Gujral and several more.
Some of the corporate sponsors on the list include Abhishek Dalmia and Deepali Dalmia, Ambuja Realty, Apollo Tyres, Apolloindia (Raaja Kanwar), Artemis Hospital (Dr. Katariya), DLF and Borosil.
Announcing the project Friday, co-organiser Aprajita Jain said: "Art in public spaces is a highly potent awareness tool in a diverse country like India as it transcends boundaries. The overwhelming response that we have received proves we will make a difference."
The project will be implemented by Saath Saath Arts, an NGO that uses art to generate funds and awareness about public issues.
Commenting on the initiative, Swapan Seth, managing partner of art house Henry S. Clark, said: "Artiger was a remarkable testimony to the coming together of artists, corporates and government to leave behind an imprint on public spaces. It is often felt that Indian art has never received a collective corporate or governmental blessing."
The 57 fibre glass sculptures have been booked by corporate organisations. The funds raised from the corporates will be donated to Ranthambore Foundation, one of India's oldest and most well-known organisations working in the
source-indiavision.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Monday, November 1, 2010
Sariska mining leases to stay
Story -Jaipur
Oct 25, 2010
JAIPUR: The Rajasthan government has refused to cancel new mining leases in the Sariska range despite Union forests minister Jairam Ramesh asking chief minister Ashok Gehlot to put an end to mining in the Aravali ranges and cancel all new leases. The Supreme Court had earlier ruled: "no mining in Aravalis till further orders".
On October 21, TOI had reported that new mining leases were issued near Sariska wildlife sanctuary. The next day, Ramesh had asked Gehlot to cancel the leases immediately. In a letter to TOI, the state mines department claimed the newspaper report was not based on fact. According to the letter, "The orders of the Supreme Court passed on February 2, 2010, are being fully implemented... The court has restrained mining in cases of such mines where the renewal application is pending but lessees are doing mining as per the deeming provisions of rule 24A of Mineral Conservation Rules, 1960. The mining in such cases has been stopped completely."
However, the SC order said, ``There are about 261 mining leases in Rajasthan. Some of the mining leases have been renewed after 16.02.2002, though it was not strictly pemissible as per the order passed on that date."
The SC order also said, "A large number of applications are also pending with the authorities taking advantage of the deemed provisions of the Rule 24-A and almost all lease-holders are carrying on mining operations uninterruptedly. We, accordingly, restrain all those lease holders whose applications for renewal of their respective leases are pending from doing any mining."
So, going by its letter, the state government still allows mining which remains in violation of the SC order.
The SC had also directed the Forest Survey of India to carry out satellite imaging of the entire Aravali range in Rajasthan. It also clarified that the imagery should not be confined only to peaks/parts of hills 100m above ground level.
However, the mines department's letter claimed that the ``state government never pleaded before the SC that Rule 24A of the Minerals Concession Rules, 1960 provides definition of Aravali Hills''.
The mines department admits that one of the mining leases (127/07) was barely 20km from Sariska tiger reserve. In fact, the state has said that leases have been given to mines ``20-60km from Sariska tiger reserve''. A list of 17 such mining leases issued recently has been attached with the letter.
According to environment experts, this could disturb the ecology of the area and may endanger the habitat of the Sariska tigers that have been brought from Ranthambore. Five tigers have already been shifted to Sariska from Ranthambore. Few more will be shifted soon. A tiger needs its own territory of 8-10km.
Rajasthan's additional government counsel, wildlife and forests, Mahendra Singh Kachhawa, said, "Any sort of new mining lease in Aravalli ranges is contemptuous as it violates the SC ruling."
Sources said the mines department had to cancel several leases after TOI reported it. Some of them were almost on the boundary of the Sariska tiger reserve.
sorce-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sorced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Oct 25, 2010
JAIPUR: The Rajasthan government has refused to cancel new mining leases in the Sariska range despite Union forests minister Jairam Ramesh asking chief minister Ashok Gehlot to put an end to mining in the Aravali ranges and cancel all new leases. The Supreme Court had earlier ruled: "no mining in Aravalis till further orders".
On October 21, TOI had reported that new mining leases were issued near Sariska wildlife sanctuary. The next day, Ramesh had asked Gehlot to cancel the leases immediately. In a letter to TOI, the state mines department claimed the newspaper report was not based on fact. According to the letter, "The orders of the Supreme Court passed on February 2, 2010, are being fully implemented... The court has restrained mining in cases of such mines where the renewal application is pending but lessees are doing mining as per the deeming provisions of rule 24A of Mineral Conservation Rules, 1960. The mining in such cases has been stopped completely."
However, the SC order said, ``There are about 261 mining leases in Rajasthan. Some of the mining leases have been renewed after 16.02.2002, though it was not strictly pemissible as per the order passed on that date."
The SC order also said, "A large number of applications are also pending with the authorities taking advantage of the deemed provisions of the Rule 24-A and almost all lease-holders are carrying on mining operations uninterruptedly. We, accordingly, restrain all those lease holders whose applications for renewal of their respective leases are pending from doing any mining."
So, going by its letter, the state government still allows mining which remains in violation of the SC order.
The SC had also directed the Forest Survey of India to carry out satellite imaging of the entire Aravali range in Rajasthan. It also clarified that the imagery should not be confined only to peaks/parts of hills 100m above ground level.
However, the mines department's letter claimed that the ``state government never pleaded before the SC that Rule 24A of the Minerals Concession Rules, 1960 provides definition of Aravali Hills''.
The mines department admits that one of the mining leases (127/07) was barely 20km from Sariska tiger reserve. In fact, the state has said that leases have been given to mines ``20-60km from Sariska tiger reserve''. A list of 17 such mining leases issued recently has been attached with the letter.
According to environment experts, this could disturb the ecology of the area and may endanger the habitat of the Sariska tigers that have been brought from Ranthambore. Five tigers have already been shifted to Sariska from Ranthambore. Few more will be shifted soon. A tiger needs its own territory of 8-10km.
Rajasthan's additional government counsel, wildlife and forests, Mahendra Singh Kachhawa, said, "Any sort of new mining lease in Aravalli ranges is contemptuous as it violates the SC ruling."
Sources said the mines department had to cancel several leases after TOI reported it. Some of them were almost on the boundary of the Sariska tiger reserve.
sorce-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sorced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Captured man eater sent to Lucknow Zoo
story/place-Lucknow.
Oct 15, 2010,
LUCKNOW: A man eater tiger, captured after killing eight people in the forests of Uttar Pradesh in the last six months, has been sent to the Lucknow Zoo for rehabilitation.
The sub-adult male big cat, which had kept wildlife officials and villagers on tenterhooks since May while evading baits and dart attempts, was trapped yesterday.
"The tiger has been brought to Lucknow zoo, where it has been kept in isolation and observation after medical examination," forest department official Sukhjinder Singh said.
A team of UP forest department officials who were assisted by experts from New Delhi-based NGO Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) caught the predator when it was hiding in an isolated patch of vegetation in Nagla Hira Singh village in Farrukhabad forest division.
It was darted thrice, even as a huge crowd gathered around the animal's refuge, pelting it with stones. Several people were injured and one was severely mauled.
"We identified the tiger as the one that we were tracking by comparing its stripe pattern to photographs taken in previous capture attempts and also by comparing its pugmarks with those traced earlier," said DFO, Shahjehanpur Forest Division, P P Singh who led the team.
Known to have wandered off Pilibhit Forest Division near the Indo- Nepal border, the tiger claimed its first victim on May 4. Over the months, it moved south through Pilibhit, Shahjehanpur, South Kheri, Hardoi and Farrukhabad Forest Divisions. Till August 26, it killed eight people.
However, the experts do not consider the tiger an obligate man-eater.
"It is extremely unfortunate that eight people lost their lives. Yet, the tiger was not exclusively attacking humans but was also predating on wild prey like blue bull, spotted deer, wild boar and black buck. Moreover, the human victims were killed within forested areas," said WTI biologist Milind Pariwakam.
"The rapid response group comprised three teams working in close coordination. A village-level vigilance team including local people, forest department staff worked closely with the affected villagers while creating awareness among them," said Anil Kumar Singh, Head of WTI's Conflict Mitigation division.
"It was not easy to dart the feline as it was becoming increasingly difficult to capture as it was getting more wary with every attempt. Moreover, there were other challenges to counter, like rains washing away evidence of the tiger and assuaging public frustration," he said
sorce-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sorced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Oct 15, 2010,
LUCKNOW: A man eater tiger, captured after killing eight people in the forests of Uttar Pradesh in the last six months, has been sent to the Lucknow Zoo for rehabilitation.
The sub-adult male big cat, which had kept wildlife officials and villagers on tenterhooks since May while evading baits and dart attempts, was trapped yesterday.
"The tiger has been brought to Lucknow zoo, where it has been kept in isolation and observation after medical examination," forest department official Sukhjinder Singh said.
A team of UP forest department officials who were assisted by experts from New Delhi-based NGO Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) caught the predator when it was hiding in an isolated patch of vegetation in Nagla Hira Singh village in Farrukhabad forest division.
It was darted thrice, even as a huge crowd gathered around the animal's refuge, pelting it with stones. Several people were injured and one was severely mauled.
"We identified the tiger as the one that we were tracking by comparing its stripe pattern to photographs taken in previous capture attempts and also by comparing its pugmarks with those traced earlier," said DFO, Shahjehanpur Forest Division, P P Singh who led the team.
Known to have wandered off Pilibhit Forest Division near the Indo- Nepal border, the tiger claimed its first victim on May 4. Over the months, it moved south through Pilibhit, Shahjehanpur, South Kheri, Hardoi and Farrukhabad Forest Divisions. Till August 26, it killed eight people.
However, the experts do not consider the tiger an obligate man-eater.
"It is extremely unfortunate that eight people lost their lives. Yet, the tiger was not exclusively attacking humans but was also predating on wild prey like blue bull, spotted deer, wild boar and black buck. Moreover, the human victims were killed within forested areas," said WTI biologist Milind Pariwakam.
"The rapid response group comprised three teams working in close coordination. A village-level vigilance team including local people, forest department staff worked closely with the affected villagers while creating awareness among them," said Anil Kumar Singh, Head of WTI's Conflict Mitigation division.
"It was not easy to dart the feline as it was becoming increasingly difficult to capture as it was getting more wary with every attempt. Moreover, there were other challenges to counter, like rains washing away evidence of the tiger and assuaging public frustration," he said
sorce-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sorced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Elephant gets national heritage tag
Story/place-New delhi.
NEW DELHI: The elephant has been declared the national heritage animal by the government with an aim to step up measures for its protection.
A notification in this regard was issued by the environment ministry on Friday as recommended by the task force on elephant project and approved by the standing committee of national board of wildlife in its meeting on October 13.
The long-awaited move has cheered the conservationists who feel that jumbos, being closely associated with religion and culture in the country since ages, need to be given the same degree of importance as enjoyed by the tiger. The government also plans to amend Wildlife (Protection) Act to pave way for setting up of national elephants conservation authority (NECA) on the lines of the NTCA that has been constituted for the tiger conservation.
"We will introduce it (amendment) in the winter session of Parliament," environment minister Jairam Ramesh had said recently underlining the urgency to protect the jumbos in the country before they could go the tiger way whose count stands just around 1,411.
Declaring elephants as national heritage animal and setting up NECA for their protection are part of recommendations of the elephant task force, set up by the government, in its report "securing the future for elephants in India."
The report has called for protection of jumbos by creating new reserves, curbing poaching and restricting development in the corridors they use to travel between forested areas."
According to the task force, there are over 25,000 elephants in the country, including 3,500 in captivity in zoos and temples — particularly in southern and north-eastern parts of the country. pti
source-indiatimea.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
NEW DELHI: The elephant has been declared the national heritage animal by the government with an aim to step up measures for its protection.
A notification in this regard was issued by the environment ministry on Friday as recommended by the task force on elephant project and approved by the standing committee of national board of wildlife in its meeting on October 13.
The long-awaited move has cheered the conservationists who feel that jumbos, being closely associated with religion and culture in the country since ages, need to be given the same degree of importance as enjoyed by the tiger. The government also plans to amend Wildlife (Protection) Act to pave way for setting up of national elephants conservation authority (NECA) on the lines of the NTCA that has been constituted for the tiger conservation.
"We will introduce it (amendment) in the winter session of Parliament," environment minister Jairam Ramesh had said recently underlining the urgency to protect the jumbos in the country before they could go the tiger way whose count stands just around 1,411.
Declaring elephants as national heritage animal and setting up NECA for their protection are part of recommendations of the elephant task force, set up by the government, in its report "securing the future for elephants in India."
The report has called for protection of jumbos by creating new reserves, curbing poaching and restricting development in the corridors they use to travel between forested areas."
According to the task force, there are over 25,000 elephants in the country, including 3,500 in captivity in zoos and temples — particularly in southern and north-eastern parts of the country. pti
source-indiatimea.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Baby elephant killed with spears, sticks on camera
Story/place-Assam
Oct 27th, 2010
Heritage Animal, entitling it to the same sort of protection as the tiger, a video has captured villagers in Assam beating a baby elephant to death.
The three-year-old calf had was injured and had been abandoned by his herd. Villagers are seen in the video riding on the injured calf, while policemen watch.
The villagers then attacked the calf with spears and sticks till he died.
The officer in charge of the police station in Jagiroad area of Morigaon district in central Assam has been suspended.
The conflict between elephants and humans in Assam has been escalating. With forests widely encroached, elephants are forced to stray out of their habitat and sometimes destroy paddy fields, prompting attacks by villagers.
A fortnight ago, four elephants were found dead in tea gardens near Kaziranga. Experts said they seemed to have been poisone
source-flashnewstoday.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Oct 27th, 2010
Heritage Animal, entitling it to the same sort of protection as the tiger, a video has captured villagers in Assam beating a baby elephant to death.
The three-year-old calf had was injured and had been abandoned by his herd. Villagers are seen in the video riding on the injured calf, while policemen watch.
The villagers then attacked the calf with spears and sticks till he died.
The officer in charge of the police station in Jagiroad area of Morigaon district in central Assam has been suspended.
The conflict between elephants and humans in Assam has been escalating. With forests widely encroached, elephants are forced to stray out of their habitat and sometimes destroy paddy fields, prompting attacks by villagers.
A fortnight ago, four elephants were found dead in tea gardens near Kaziranga. Experts said they seemed to have been poisone
source-flashnewstoday.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Villagers fight elephants with poison in Assam
Villagers fight elephants with poison in Assam
Story/place-Assam.
Oct 14, 2010
GUWAHATI: A growing tussle for land between farmers and wild elephants in northeast India has resulted in the suspected poisoning deaths of four elephants in the past week, officials said Friday.
Officials in Assam believe the four animals were deliberately poisoned by lacing home-made alcohol with toxic chemicals.
"We have taken the matter very seriously and already an enquiry by the chief wildlife warden is on and strict action will be taken against anyone found guilty of poisoning the elephants," state forest minister Rockybul Hussain said.
Two calves died at the Diffolu tea garden, close to the Kaziranga National Park, about 220 kilometre (140 miles) east of Assam's main city of Guwahati on October 7.
Two days later a pregnant elephant was found dead on the periphery of the park, followed by an adult tusker just outside the sanctuary.
"In almost all the cases, the tongues had turned blue indicating that the elephants could have consumed something toxic," a veterinarian who examined the bodies said.
Hussain said preliminary investigations suggested locals in the Diffolu tea garden might be responsible.
In 2009, four elephants were poisoned and killed by angry villagers after going on the rampage in local paddy fields and villages, killing at least two people.
Wildlife officials said the locals had mixed the poison with home-made liquor that is brewed from fermented rice and often sought out by elephants.
Experts say shrinking forest cover and human encroachment on elephant corridors have forced the animals to stray out of their natural jungle habitat into human settlement areas.
"More often than not, they are attracted by the smell of locally brewed rice beer," said Kushal Konwar Sharma, a noted elephant expert and a teacher at the College of Veterinary Science in Guwahati.
A recent report by the wildlife department said wild Asiatic elephants have killed about 279 people in Assam since 2001, while 289 elephants have died during the period, many of them victims of human retaliation.
The last elephant census carried out by wildlife authorities recorded about 5,500 elephants in Assam, more than half of India's count of 10,000.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Story/place-Assam.
Oct 14, 2010
GUWAHATI: A growing tussle for land between farmers and wild elephants in northeast India has resulted in the suspected poisoning deaths of four elephants in the past week, officials said Friday.
Officials in Assam believe the four animals were deliberately poisoned by lacing home-made alcohol with toxic chemicals.
"We have taken the matter very seriously and already an enquiry by the chief wildlife warden is on and strict action will be taken against anyone found guilty of poisoning the elephants," state forest minister Rockybul Hussain said.
Two calves died at the Diffolu tea garden, close to the Kaziranga National Park, about 220 kilometre (140 miles) east of Assam's main city of Guwahati on October 7.
Two days later a pregnant elephant was found dead on the periphery of the park, followed by an adult tusker just outside the sanctuary.
"In almost all the cases, the tongues had turned blue indicating that the elephants could have consumed something toxic," a veterinarian who examined the bodies said.
Hussain said preliminary investigations suggested locals in the Diffolu tea garden might be responsible.
In 2009, four elephants were poisoned and killed by angry villagers after going on the rampage in local paddy fields and villages, killing at least two people.
Wildlife officials said the locals had mixed the poison with home-made liquor that is brewed from fermented rice and often sought out by elephants.
Experts say shrinking forest cover and human encroachment on elephant corridors have forced the animals to stray out of their natural jungle habitat into human settlement areas.
"More often than not, they are attracted by the smell of locally brewed rice beer," said Kushal Konwar Sharma, a noted elephant expert and a teacher at the College of Veterinary Science in Guwahati.
A recent report by the wildlife department said wild Asiatic elephants have killed about 279 people in Assam since 2001, while 289 elephants have died during the period, many of them victims of human retaliation.
The last elephant census carried out by wildlife authorities recorded about 5,500 elephants in Assam, more than half of India's count of 10,000.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
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