Story/place-Nagpur.
NAGPUR: When alarm bells are ringing for the Great Indian Bustards (GIBs) in the state, sighting of two GIBs on Thursday evening in Mandwa near Bhiwapur in the Nagpur Forest Division has come has a good news for wildlife buffs and forest officials. GIB is an endangered bird like the tiger and leopard and listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA) 1972.
This is after more than two years that GIBs were sighted in the Nagpur Division. N Rambabu, conservator of forests (CF), Nagpur Division, claimed the last sighting of a GIB in the division was recorded on October 1, 2008. "In the past two census, we drew a blank," he said.
The two GIBs -- perhaps male and female - were sighted in a farm at 4.45 pm by a wildlife volunteer Rohit Karoo. Karoo said that one GIB was sighted in the same area two years ago. Since then there were no sightings of the birds.
Gopal Thosar, a veteran bird expert and who has been volunteering to organise GIB census with the forest department, had similar information about the GIBs near Mandwa last month but couldn't sight the bird.
"The information is correct. From 1982 to 2004, two GIBs were sighted every year in Umred tehsil. There may be more birds but as there is no regular monitoring, it is difficult to say how many GIBs are there in the division," Thosar told TOI.
Mandwa, where the birds were sighted, is 58 km from Nagpur. Earlier, a lone GIB was sighted in Temasna village, 22 km from Nagpur on August 3 and again on October 1, 2008.
In the annual exercise conducted from August 3-5, in GIB pockets in Vidarbha, only five birds (two males and three females) were sighted in Warora in Chandrapur district. No GIB was sighted in the Nagpur Division, which had a record of three GIBs.
Similarly, from a record 33 GIBs in 2007, this year, shockingly 9 birds were sighted in Nannaj Bustard Sanctuary. After Rajasthan, Maharashtra comes second in India as far as of GIB population is concerned.
Thosar adds the GIB has adopted flat farmlands as its habitat as grasslands are vanishing. Mines and power plants are emerging threats. Hence, farmers protecting these birds on their land need to be honoured and benefitted.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Aquatic life in troubled waters at Chambal
Story/place-Kanpur.
KANPUR: The National Chambal Sanctuary in Etawah district which is a habitat of aquatic animals has become a dangerous terrain for these animals. Rampant poaching of the aquatic animals, including endangered turtle, gharial, crocodile and Gangetic dolphin, is posing a threat to their existence. Found in 1979 and spread over 435 km, the sanctuary is among the country's premier wildlife sanctuaries.
The Chambal river was once considered a safe haven for aquatic creatures to breed. Wildlife experts are a worried lot as the forest and wildlife department has not yet come up with any initiative to save the endangered aquatic species from being killed.
According to wildlife experts, the number of dolphins is 94, as per a survey conducted in 2007-2008. "The sanctuary, a favourable habitat for aquatic animals, is facing a serious threat from poachers," Dr Rajiv Chauhan, secretary, Society for Conservation of Nature, told TOI.
Most of these poachers belonging to `Mallah' and `Machua' tribes are residing in villages situated on the banks of linked rivers like the Yamuna, the Sindh, the Pahuj and the Chambal.
"In the absence of proper monitoring, the most affected at present are aquatic animals, particularly turtles, gharials, crocodiles and Gangetic dolphins. The government agencies should try to make better arrangements at the earliest so that the animals do not suffer. It is high time they should be conserved," Chauhan said further.
He said it was shocking that till date no proper measures have been adopted by the state government to save the Gangetic dolphin, even after it was declared the national aquatic animal, early this year.
"The Gangetic dolphins found in the region are a rare species. Earlier, it was found in the Ganga river basin and all the linked rivers. But, now their habitat is limited to only a few rivers. The Brahmaputra, the Ganga and the Chambal rivers are its natural habitat. In these specific rivers, there must be around 2,000 to 2,500 dolphins," said Dr Rajiv Chauhan, secretary, Society for Conservation of Nature, further.
According to the forest department, besides providing a safe harbour to Gangetic dolphin, turtles, gharial and crocodile, the 435 km stretch of the Chambal also boasts of smooth-coated otters, various species of terrapins, chinkara, sambar, nilgai, chital, hyena, wolf, wild boar, bar-headed goose, brown hawk Owl, booted eagle, black-bellied tern, river tern, black ibis, jungle babbler, fishing cats and white wagtail and endless varieties of monkeys and python, and a profusion of 250 species of birds, which includes the state bird Indian sarus.
"Gangetic dolphins are the lifeline of Gangetic basin. If the dolphin number increases, it is a sign of pollution-free river. If the number decreases, it is a sign of increasing pollution in the river," said Neeraj Kumar, deputy conservator of forest, National Chambal Sanctuary, Agra.
Not very long ago, a dead dolphin was recovered from the banks of Chambal in Etawah. The forest department officials said the dolphin had died due to heat, Dr Chauhan said. Though the forest department started a probe into the incident, the final conclusion was reached without proper investigations, he claimed.
Another wildlife enthusiast informed that Gangetic dolphins have been included in Schedule-I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, "thereby affording them the highest degree of protection".
The National Chambal sanctuary falls in two other states (Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh) as well and is also known as a pet habitat for the endangered gharial.
Another aquatic animal, which has become a soft-target for poachers is the turtle. `Mallah' and `Kanjar' tribes from places like Pinahut in Agra and Gyanpura and Bansari in Etawah are known for trapping turtles in Chambal region. Only recently, nearly 37 kg of plasterol skin of these turtles was seized by Etawah district police. "They are killing these freshwater reptiles in the upstream of Chambal river in Etawah and Agra region for a measly amount of Rs 50 to Rs 100," said ASP, Manoj Sonker, while talking to TOI.
The smugglers use ordinary handbags to carry the turtles, to avoid being caught. In February this year, Etawah police had conducted several raids in Kanjaranpurwa village and recovered nearly 2,000 turtles after being tipped off by the forest department officials and locals.
Turtles were found in large numbers in the 425 km long stretch of Chambal river, considered to be their pet habitat. This was till hunters in the region discovered that their dry plasterol skin could bring them huge profits. The skin is used for preparing soup, which is liked in the south Asian countries. Every breeding season, the harmless creatures are killed by the hunters. They lay traps in deep waters of Chambal to catch the endangered species. A senior forest department official admitted that gangs, particularly from both these tribes, are active in the region.
Another wildlife expert revealed that the consignments first reach Kolkata and Assam via train routes and from there these turtles are smuggled to countries like Thailand and Malaysia through sea routes, where they fetch a good amount.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
KANPUR: The National Chambal Sanctuary in Etawah district which is a habitat of aquatic animals has become a dangerous terrain for these animals. Rampant poaching of the aquatic animals, including endangered turtle, gharial, crocodile and Gangetic dolphin, is posing a threat to their existence. Found in 1979 and spread over 435 km, the sanctuary is among the country's premier wildlife sanctuaries.
The Chambal river was once considered a safe haven for aquatic creatures to breed. Wildlife experts are a worried lot as the forest and wildlife department has not yet come up with any initiative to save the endangered aquatic species from being killed.
According to wildlife experts, the number of dolphins is 94, as per a survey conducted in 2007-2008. "The sanctuary, a favourable habitat for aquatic animals, is facing a serious threat from poachers," Dr Rajiv Chauhan, secretary, Society for Conservation of Nature, told TOI.
Most of these poachers belonging to `Mallah' and `Machua' tribes are residing in villages situated on the banks of linked rivers like the Yamuna, the Sindh, the Pahuj and the Chambal.
"In the absence of proper monitoring, the most affected at present are aquatic animals, particularly turtles, gharials, crocodiles and Gangetic dolphins. The government agencies should try to make better arrangements at the earliest so that the animals do not suffer. It is high time they should be conserved," Chauhan said further.
He said it was shocking that till date no proper measures have been adopted by the state government to save the Gangetic dolphin, even after it was declared the national aquatic animal, early this year.
"The Gangetic dolphins found in the region are a rare species. Earlier, it was found in the Ganga river basin and all the linked rivers. But, now their habitat is limited to only a few rivers. The Brahmaputra, the Ganga and the Chambal rivers are its natural habitat. In these specific rivers, there must be around 2,000 to 2,500 dolphins," said Dr Rajiv Chauhan, secretary, Society for Conservation of Nature, further.
According to the forest department, besides providing a safe harbour to Gangetic dolphin, turtles, gharial and crocodile, the 435 km stretch of the Chambal also boasts of smooth-coated otters, various species of terrapins, chinkara, sambar, nilgai, chital, hyena, wolf, wild boar, bar-headed goose, brown hawk Owl, booted eagle, black-bellied tern, river tern, black ibis, jungle babbler, fishing cats and white wagtail and endless varieties of monkeys and python, and a profusion of 250 species of birds, which includes the state bird Indian sarus.
"Gangetic dolphins are the lifeline of Gangetic basin. If the dolphin number increases, it is a sign of pollution-free river. If the number decreases, it is a sign of increasing pollution in the river," said Neeraj Kumar, deputy conservator of forest, National Chambal Sanctuary, Agra.
Not very long ago, a dead dolphin was recovered from the banks of Chambal in Etawah. The forest department officials said the dolphin had died due to heat, Dr Chauhan said. Though the forest department started a probe into the incident, the final conclusion was reached without proper investigations, he claimed.
Another wildlife enthusiast informed that Gangetic dolphins have been included in Schedule-I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, "thereby affording them the highest degree of protection".
The National Chambal sanctuary falls in two other states (Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh) as well and is also known as a pet habitat for the endangered gharial.
Another aquatic animal, which has become a soft-target for poachers is the turtle. `Mallah' and `Kanjar' tribes from places like Pinahut in Agra and Gyanpura and Bansari in Etawah are known for trapping turtles in Chambal region. Only recently, nearly 37 kg of plasterol skin of these turtles was seized by Etawah district police. "They are killing these freshwater reptiles in the upstream of Chambal river in Etawah and Agra region for a measly amount of Rs 50 to Rs 100," said ASP, Manoj Sonker, while talking to TOI.
The smugglers use ordinary handbags to carry the turtles, to avoid being caught. In February this year, Etawah police had conducted several raids in Kanjaranpurwa village and recovered nearly 2,000 turtles after being tipped off by the forest department officials and locals.
Turtles were found in large numbers in the 425 km long stretch of Chambal river, considered to be their pet habitat. This was till hunters in the region discovered that their dry plasterol skin could bring them huge profits. The skin is used for preparing soup, which is liked in the south Asian countries. Every breeding season, the harmless creatures are killed by the hunters. They lay traps in deep waters of Chambal to catch the endangered species. A senior forest department official admitted that gangs, particularly from both these tribes, are active in the region.
Another wildlife expert revealed that the consignments first reach Kolkata and Assam via train routes and from there these turtles are smuggled to countries like Thailand and Malaysia through sea routes, where they fetch a good amount.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Thursday, December 9, 2010
To save straying tigers, NTCA chief for enforcing Sec 144 CrPC
Story/place-New delhi.
Dec 6, 2010,
NEW DELHI: In view of increasing cases of tigers straying from protected areas, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) chief Rajesh Gopal has suggested restricting the movement of people by imposing Section 144 CrPC on such tracts to avoid lethal man-animal encounters.
Lawyers handling wildlife cases have given a thumbs-up to the "pro-conservation advisory" but doubted if it could be smoothly implemented as the Section, which also allows for preventive detention, is usually enforced as a precautionary measure against untoward incidents like riots or protests.
The suggestion came in the wake of increasing cases of tiger straying particularly in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra where due to a mob frenzy either the locals get killed by the straying animal or vice-versa, threatening the conservation efforts.
Lamenting that such moving tigers get "branded" as "man-eaters" and eventually land in 'zoos' or get eliminated, Gopal stressed on a need to address the issue actively at the ground level with enforcement of Section 144 CrPc being one of the solution.
With only 1,411 big cats left in the forests, NTCA member secretary said every tiger is precious to us.
"An instance of a straying big cat or leopard should be treated on a par with any other situation involving violence, and adequate deployment of local police and state armed force needs to be done, besides sensitising the local people," he said.
He said, perhaps, to avoid lethal encounters, it is advisable to impose Section 144 of the CrPC in such areas.
Saurabh Sharma, a lawyer with Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), was all for the implementation of the Section but had a word of caution. "Administratively it is a difficult proposition. At times straying of the animal becomes a major incident especially when a mob is involved.
"Nevertheless, it can be experimented with to ascertain its success. Its a good pro-conservation advisory." he added.
Advocate Avinash Baskar from Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) led by tiger expert Belinda Wright too echoed similar views saying the Section is an enabling provision for the state in such cases.
"But at the ground level due to practical reasons it has to be looked into if there is sufficient time for machinery to move in to execute the measure," Baskar said.
Besides advising enforcement of Section 144 CrPc, Gopal also underlined the need for mapping the traditional movement path of tigers for restoration inputs and encouraging the people to make the areas inviolate by offering them incentives. P
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Dec 6, 2010,
NEW DELHI: In view of increasing cases of tigers straying from protected areas, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) chief Rajesh Gopal has suggested restricting the movement of people by imposing Section 144 CrPC on such tracts to avoid lethal man-animal encounters.
Lawyers handling wildlife cases have given a thumbs-up to the "pro-conservation advisory" but doubted if it could be smoothly implemented as the Section, which also allows for preventive detention, is usually enforced as a precautionary measure against untoward incidents like riots or protests.
The suggestion came in the wake of increasing cases of tiger straying particularly in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra where due to a mob frenzy either the locals get killed by the straying animal or vice-versa, threatening the conservation efforts.
Lamenting that such moving tigers get "branded" as "man-eaters" and eventually land in 'zoos' or get eliminated, Gopal stressed on a need to address the issue actively at the ground level with enforcement of Section 144 CrPc being one of the solution.
With only 1,411 big cats left in the forests, NTCA member secretary said every tiger is precious to us.
"An instance of a straying big cat or leopard should be treated on a par with any other situation involving violence, and adequate deployment of local police and state armed force needs to be done, besides sensitising the local people," he said.
He said, perhaps, to avoid lethal encounters, it is advisable to impose Section 144 of the CrPC in such areas.
Saurabh Sharma, a lawyer with Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), was all for the implementation of the Section but had a word of caution. "Administratively it is a difficult proposition. At times straying of the animal becomes a major incident especially when a mob is involved.
"Nevertheless, it can be experimented with to ascertain its success. Its a good pro-conservation advisory." he added.
Advocate Avinash Baskar from Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) led by tiger expert Belinda Wright too echoed similar views saying the Section is an enabling provision for the state in such cases.
"But at the ground level due to practical reasons it has to be looked into if there is sufficient time for machinery to move in to execute the measure," Baskar said.
Besides advising enforcement of Section 144 CrPc, Gopal also underlined the need for mapping the traditional movement path of tigers for restoration inputs and encouraging the people to make the areas inviolate by offering them incentives. P
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Jairam Ramesh, the indefatigable
Story/place-tamil nadu
Jairam Ramesh, the indefatigable Minister for Environment and Forests, exhorted the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister on July 15, 2010 to ‘consider the possibility of proposing the Sathyamangalam Wild Life Sanctuary as a Tiger Reserve, vis-à-vis the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972' as ‘ the area is contiguous with the forests of Chamrajnagar-Bandipur-Mudumalai'. This came on cue and with clockwork precision after it was reported early this year that the tiger numbers had doubled to 18 in a year. The ground was prepared when a good 36 per cent of the 1455.31 sq km of Sathyamangalam in Guthiyalathur and Talamalai Forests, an area of 524.35 sq km, was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 2008 itself.
Connecting corridor
The Sathyamangalam forest division is contiguous to the Biligirirangan Temple Wildlife Sanctuary in the neighbouring Chamarajanagar District of Karnataka. This forest links the Eastern and Western Ghats. It connects to the 321 sq km Mudumalai, the 872.24 sq km Bandipur and the 643.35 sq km Nagarhole Critical Tiger Habitats (CTHs). All that remains now is the 344 sq km Wayanad Wild Life Sanctuary. Together, this will constitute the biggest tiger and elephant habitat in the country! Already, the proposal to notify 580 sq km of the Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary as a CTH has been approved close on the heels of the approvals in Sunabeda in Orissa, Shahyadri in Maharashtra, Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh and Ratapani in Madhya Pradesh.
The 25,551 sq km of tiger forests in 2007 rapidly expanded to 32,878 sq km, a whopping 22 per cent increase in just three years! The number of Tiger Reserves jumped from 28 to 39, spread over 17 states. Already the buffer zone spans a vast 11,029.0781 sq km in just 13 CTHs. There are 26 more yet to figure out the buffer zone. Those who had all along coexisted with tigers are to be pushed out from the CTH. The 2006 amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act requires the CTH to be ‘inviolate', freed of all human activity. Once depopulated, the tiger habitats are to be the secured enclosures for the exclusive delight of the prosperous class for whose ‘development' and ‘growth' the forests and its wildlife are primarily decimated.
Jairam Ramesh in his press statement of May 4, 2010 was categorical: ‘there is no such proposal' to ban tourism in tiger reserves. In fact, he assures us that ‘tourism is essential' for the tiger conservation though ‘tourism in the 39 Project Tiger Reserves, particularly in core areas, will be strictly regulated'. Wildlife officials collaborating with the tourism industry and the self-proclaimed wild-lifers, who normally never cohabit with tigers, will take total control of these ‘inviolate' areas. A new tiger-forest dependent community for their livelihood is created in and around this free of all human activity CTH! You might say it is an oxymoron; it surely is!
On the fast track
Tigers spell money and lots of them. From a mere Rs. 12 crores per year during 1972 to 2004, the Project Tiger budget leapfrogged to Rs. 201.53 crores during 2009-10. Project Tiger got fast-tracked and is showcased as a national obsession and pride.
It all started in early 2005 when the tigers in Sariska of Rajasthan turned out to be just paper tigers, a ploy to extract funds. The tigers had all vanished. By then Rs. 2 crores had already been spent per tiger. The outraged nation, at least the influential urbanites, took the government to task. The result was ‘Joining the Dots' on what ails our tiger reserves, the 2005 Report of the five-member Tiger Task Force. It found that the current approach of guns, guards and fences is simply not the answer. The forest and wildlife bureaucracy relationship with those who coexist with and share the tiger's habitat had turned from bad to worse; less than 10 per cent of the families in tiger reserves were relocated in 30 years. The simmering anger was a sure recipe for disaster for both conservation and wildlife.
The Manmohan Singh government quickly moved in within months of the damning Report, quite unusual though, with an amendment to the rather colonial and archaic anti-people Wildlife Protection Act. This amendment of 2006 created the National Tiger Conservation Authority. Tiger Reserves, until then an administrative category of Project Tiger, became a statutory one. The Left parties in the Parliament introduced the much-needed democratic procedure for determining CTHs. This itself was an outcome of the raging misplaced tribal versus tiger debate that followed the introduction of Forest Rights Act in the Parliament in 2005. The rapidly swelling tide of discontent in the forest areas forced the political parties and the governments to sit up and concede that a ‘historic injustice' had been perpetrated on forest peoples. They agreed to resolve this once and for all. The Forest Rights Act of 2006, a much-delayed decolonisation of forest legislations, was the outcome. It influenced the amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act in 2006.
Everything seemed to be going swell; the number of tigers was increasing, and the forest dwellers were happy that finally their traditional rights in the forest were recognised and that they were central to the conservation strategy. But upsetting this flagship political project of tribal and tiger of the UPA government, the forest bureaucracy and the newly constituted National Tiger Conservation Authority went about systematically subverting the process. Old habits die hard it seems!
Bypassing the law
The law requires that CTHs are notified through a public consultation, with scientific evidence and opinion of experts, the consent of forest dwellers in the area, and an agreed-upon relocation package. This was to prevent arbitrary declarations of areas as “critical tiger habitats” and “buffer zones”. The forest bureaucracy and the state governments instead by-passed all these and notified CTHs, mostly in December 2007 itself. The implementation of the Forest Rights Act itself has been tardy in all the three southern states with none getting any title as yet in Tamil Nadu.
Unrest spread throughout Mudumalai with protests, bandhs and blockades peaking in December 2009, when over half a lakh tribals protested on the streets of Gudalur in Nilgiris. The Soligas of Biligirirangan Temple Wildlife Sanctuary have vowed to oppose the CTH declaration. Wayanad has long history of Adivasi struggles for land rights. Nagarhole has seen protests against eviction and non-compliance with the Forest Rights Act. Will Sathyamangalam too join in this spreading unrest? The largest tiger habitat has been successfully turned into a conflict zone by the state and forest bureaucracy endangering both the tribals and the tigers.
source-hindu.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Jairam Ramesh, the indefatigable Minister for Environment and Forests, exhorted the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister on July 15, 2010 to ‘consider the possibility of proposing the Sathyamangalam Wild Life Sanctuary as a Tiger Reserve, vis-à-vis the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972' as ‘ the area is contiguous with the forests of Chamrajnagar-Bandipur-Mudumalai'. This came on cue and with clockwork precision after it was reported early this year that the tiger numbers had doubled to 18 in a year. The ground was prepared when a good 36 per cent of the 1455.31 sq km of Sathyamangalam in Guthiyalathur and Talamalai Forests, an area of 524.35 sq km, was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 2008 itself.
Connecting corridor
The Sathyamangalam forest division is contiguous to the Biligirirangan Temple Wildlife Sanctuary in the neighbouring Chamarajanagar District of Karnataka. This forest links the Eastern and Western Ghats. It connects to the 321 sq km Mudumalai, the 872.24 sq km Bandipur and the 643.35 sq km Nagarhole Critical Tiger Habitats (CTHs). All that remains now is the 344 sq km Wayanad Wild Life Sanctuary. Together, this will constitute the biggest tiger and elephant habitat in the country! Already, the proposal to notify 580 sq km of the Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary as a CTH has been approved close on the heels of the approvals in Sunabeda in Orissa, Shahyadri in Maharashtra, Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh and Ratapani in Madhya Pradesh.
The 25,551 sq km of tiger forests in 2007 rapidly expanded to 32,878 sq km, a whopping 22 per cent increase in just three years! The number of Tiger Reserves jumped from 28 to 39, spread over 17 states. Already the buffer zone spans a vast 11,029.0781 sq km in just 13 CTHs. There are 26 more yet to figure out the buffer zone. Those who had all along coexisted with tigers are to be pushed out from the CTH. The 2006 amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act requires the CTH to be ‘inviolate', freed of all human activity. Once depopulated, the tiger habitats are to be the secured enclosures for the exclusive delight of the prosperous class for whose ‘development' and ‘growth' the forests and its wildlife are primarily decimated.
Jairam Ramesh in his press statement of May 4, 2010 was categorical: ‘there is no such proposal' to ban tourism in tiger reserves. In fact, he assures us that ‘tourism is essential' for the tiger conservation though ‘tourism in the 39 Project Tiger Reserves, particularly in core areas, will be strictly regulated'. Wildlife officials collaborating with the tourism industry and the self-proclaimed wild-lifers, who normally never cohabit with tigers, will take total control of these ‘inviolate' areas. A new tiger-forest dependent community for their livelihood is created in and around this free of all human activity CTH! You might say it is an oxymoron; it surely is!
On the fast track
Tigers spell money and lots of them. From a mere Rs. 12 crores per year during 1972 to 2004, the Project Tiger budget leapfrogged to Rs. 201.53 crores during 2009-10. Project Tiger got fast-tracked and is showcased as a national obsession and pride.
It all started in early 2005 when the tigers in Sariska of Rajasthan turned out to be just paper tigers, a ploy to extract funds. The tigers had all vanished. By then Rs. 2 crores had already been spent per tiger. The outraged nation, at least the influential urbanites, took the government to task. The result was ‘Joining the Dots' on what ails our tiger reserves, the 2005 Report of the five-member Tiger Task Force. It found that the current approach of guns, guards and fences is simply not the answer. The forest and wildlife bureaucracy relationship with those who coexist with and share the tiger's habitat had turned from bad to worse; less than 10 per cent of the families in tiger reserves were relocated in 30 years. The simmering anger was a sure recipe for disaster for both conservation and wildlife.
The Manmohan Singh government quickly moved in within months of the damning Report, quite unusual though, with an amendment to the rather colonial and archaic anti-people Wildlife Protection Act. This amendment of 2006 created the National Tiger Conservation Authority. Tiger Reserves, until then an administrative category of Project Tiger, became a statutory one. The Left parties in the Parliament introduced the much-needed democratic procedure for determining CTHs. This itself was an outcome of the raging misplaced tribal versus tiger debate that followed the introduction of Forest Rights Act in the Parliament in 2005. The rapidly swelling tide of discontent in the forest areas forced the political parties and the governments to sit up and concede that a ‘historic injustice' had been perpetrated on forest peoples. They agreed to resolve this once and for all. The Forest Rights Act of 2006, a much-delayed decolonisation of forest legislations, was the outcome. It influenced the amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act in 2006.
Everything seemed to be going swell; the number of tigers was increasing, and the forest dwellers were happy that finally their traditional rights in the forest were recognised and that they were central to the conservation strategy. But upsetting this flagship political project of tribal and tiger of the UPA government, the forest bureaucracy and the newly constituted National Tiger Conservation Authority went about systematically subverting the process. Old habits die hard it seems!
Bypassing the law
The law requires that CTHs are notified through a public consultation, with scientific evidence and opinion of experts, the consent of forest dwellers in the area, and an agreed-upon relocation package. This was to prevent arbitrary declarations of areas as “critical tiger habitats” and “buffer zones”. The forest bureaucracy and the state governments instead by-passed all these and notified CTHs, mostly in December 2007 itself. The implementation of the Forest Rights Act itself has been tardy in all the three southern states with none getting any title as yet in Tamil Nadu.
Unrest spread throughout Mudumalai with protests, bandhs and blockades peaking in December 2009, when over half a lakh tribals protested on the streets of Gudalur in Nilgiris. The Soligas of Biligirirangan Temple Wildlife Sanctuary have vowed to oppose the CTH declaration. Wayanad has long history of Adivasi struggles for land rights. Nagarhole has seen protests against eviction and non-compliance with the Forest Rights Act. Will Sathyamangalam too join in this spreading unrest? The largest tiger habitat has been successfully turned into a conflict zone by the state and forest bureaucracy endangering both the tribals and the tigers.
source-hindu.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Saturday, December 4, 2010
NTCA meet on NH6 inconclusive
Story/place- Nagpur
Dec 2, 2010
NAGPUR: The meeting called by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), on Tuesday, to look into the violations in four-laning of national highway No 6 in the 85-km patch between Deori and Lakhni in Gondia and Bhandara districts remained inconclusive.
This was for the first time in the past two years that the NTCA called a meeting in Delhi. It was attended by joint director SP Yadav, chief conservator of forest (CCF) Nagpur Wildlife Circle, AK Saxena, National Highway Authority of India's (NHAI) VK Sharma, assistant inspector general of forests (IGF) Umakant and manager of Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) Milind Pariwakkam.
Sources said the meeting remained inconclusive as the principal chief conservator of forests for wildlife is yet to give his opinion on the report submitted by the CCF on series of violations and how the four-laning work cuts tiger corridor. Another meeting will be held on December 20.
Although the official from the state supported his stand of constructing open span bridges (flyovers) in five vulnerable patches which will threaten wildlife, the NHAI official from Delhi was non-committal.
Sharma is learnt to have told the NTCA that the NHAI had appointed consultant RN Indurkar, retired chief wildlife warden, to study the vulnerable areas and accordingly prepared a mitigation plan. However, the report has been rejected by the CCF's office.
On October 13, the standing committee of National Board for Wild Life (NBWL), headed by union environment minister Jairam Ramesh, has already rejected NHAI's proposal to divert 85 hectare forest land (now curtailed to 38 hectare) for four-laning under the Forest Conservation Act (FCA) 1980.
The four-laning work has seen large-scale violations of Forest Conservation Act 1980. It has also destroyed the tiger corridor in many patches connecting Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary and Navegaon National Par.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Dec 2, 2010
NAGPUR: The meeting called by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), on Tuesday, to look into the violations in four-laning of national highway No 6 in the 85-km patch between Deori and Lakhni in Gondia and Bhandara districts remained inconclusive.
This was for the first time in the past two years that the NTCA called a meeting in Delhi. It was attended by joint director SP Yadav, chief conservator of forest (CCF) Nagpur Wildlife Circle, AK Saxena, National Highway Authority of India's (NHAI) VK Sharma, assistant inspector general of forests (IGF) Umakant and manager of Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) Milind Pariwakkam.
Sources said the meeting remained inconclusive as the principal chief conservator of forests for wildlife is yet to give his opinion on the report submitted by the CCF on series of violations and how the four-laning work cuts tiger corridor. Another meeting will be held on December 20.
Although the official from the state supported his stand of constructing open span bridges (flyovers) in five vulnerable patches which will threaten wildlife, the NHAI official from Delhi was non-committal.
Sharma is learnt to have told the NTCA that the NHAI had appointed consultant RN Indurkar, retired chief wildlife warden, to study the vulnerable areas and accordingly prepared a mitigation plan. However, the report has been rejected by the CCF's office.
On October 13, the standing committee of National Board for Wild Life (NBWL), headed by union environment minister Jairam Ramesh, has already rejected NHAI's proposal to divert 85 hectare forest land (now curtailed to 38 hectare) for four-laning under the Forest Conservation Act (FCA) 1980.
The four-laning work has seen large-scale violations of Forest Conservation Act 1980. It has also destroyed the tiger corridor in many patches connecting Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary and Navegaon National Par.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Double the count of tigers by 2022 realistic goal?
Dec 3, 2010,
The World Bank is keen on funding a tiger recovery programme in the countries where the big cats still roam free today – including Russia, China and India – with the motive of doubling the count. India has so far turned down World Bank's money and expertise for conservation, but 13 countries came on board, at a recent "tiger summit" in St Petersburg hosted by Russian premier Vladimir Putin. Dr Y V Jhala, senior wildlife biologist at Wildlife Institute of India, who was part of India's delegation, tells Sudeshna Chatterjee that the Russian forum may mark a significant turn.
At the Global Tiger Recovery Program, it was pledged to double the number of wild tigers from around 3,200 to 7,000 by 2022, the next year of the tiger according to the Chinese lunar calendar. How hopeful are you of that target?
The Tx2 goal is a catchy phrase to attract global attention of funders and leaders. However, for tiger conservation, it is more important to consolidate existing source populations through strict protection. Once this is achieved, we should strive to enhance the quality of the habitat that connects several breeding tiger populations. Yes, the tiger numbers can be doubled within the stipulated timeframe. The goal is realistic. In India, we have more than 300,000 sq km of tiger habitat, of which only 93,000 sq km have tigers.
Some tiger reserves like Srisailam (Andhra Pradesh), Simlipal (Orissa), Palamau (Jharkhand), Sanjay and Panna (Madhya Pradesh) and Achanakmar (Chhattisgarh) are below their carrying capacity. Good management, protection and increase of prey can easily double or treble the number of tigers in these reserves.
What is the outcome of the Russian forum?
The national leaders of the Tiger Range Countries adopted the Global Tiger Recovery Program by endorsing it. The GTRP consists of National Tiger Recovery Plan of each range country, which spells out the details of how each country will achieve its committed goal of tiger conservation along with the financial requirements to implement it. There is a pledge to raise funds to the tune of $350 million to be paid by rich countries such as Germany and US and agencies like World Bank, Global Environment Facility and World Wide Fund for Nature. The figure is very encouraging, though there will still be a significant amount of deficit.
How important is this forum for tiger conservation?
For the first time ever, commitment at the highest national level was convened to discuss the saving of one species other than humans.
Has there been any change of attitude in countries like China which is a major market for tiger body parts?
China and South East Asian countries are the major consumers of tiger body parts - this is the primary reason for the endangerment of the tiger. Initially, when the Global Tiger Initiative consultations began in early 2009, Chinese delegates were quite unwilling to even consider that China was a problem for tiger conservation. Gradually, I believe the Chinese attitude has become more positive and their government is now taking stringent steps to curb poaching and illegal trade in tiger parts.
Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina has called for international support to declare Sunderbans one of the new seven wonders of the world. Do you think it can help in increasing the tiger population in the Sunderbans of both India and Bangladesh?
The increased tourism may bring in more revenue to the region. If this money becomes available to the conservation agencies, then it could assist tiger conservation in the region.
What is the state of funding in India?
The Centre spends about Rs 300 crore a year for tiger conservation that includes a lucrative incentive of Rs 10 lakh per family for voluntary relocation out of core areas of tiger reserves. This is over and above the state funding for staff salary, infrastructure and other costs. I believe India invests the maximum in tiger conservation, compared to any other country in the world. The Planning Commission of India has assured a sum of over $1 billion over the next 5 years to meet this expenditure. This is a significant commitment towards conservation since the tiger serves as the umbrella species for conservation and it can only survive in a forest if the entire ecosystem is intact and functioning naturally.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
The World Bank is keen on funding a tiger recovery programme in the countries where the big cats still roam free today – including Russia, China and India – with the motive of doubling the count. India has so far turned down World Bank's money and expertise for conservation, but 13 countries came on board, at a recent "tiger summit" in St Petersburg hosted by Russian premier Vladimir Putin. Dr Y V Jhala, senior wildlife biologist at Wildlife Institute of India, who was part of India's delegation, tells Sudeshna Chatterjee that the Russian forum may mark a significant turn.
At the Global Tiger Recovery Program, it was pledged to double the number of wild tigers from around 3,200 to 7,000 by 2022, the next year of the tiger according to the Chinese lunar calendar. How hopeful are you of that target?
The Tx2 goal is a catchy phrase to attract global attention of funders and leaders. However, for tiger conservation, it is more important to consolidate existing source populations through strict protection. Once this is achieved, we should strive to enhance the quality of the habitat that connects several breeding tiger populations. Yes, the tiger numbers can be doubled within the stipulated timeframe. The goal is realistic. In India, we have more than 300,000 sq km of tiger habitat, of which only 93,000 sq km have tigers.
Some tiger reserves like Srisailam (Andhra Pradesh), Simlipal (Orissa), Palamau (Jharkhand), Sanjay and Panna (Madhya Pradesh) and Achanakmar (Chhattisgarh) are below their carrying capacity. Good management, protection and increase of prey can easily double or treble the number of tigers in these reserves.
What is the outcome of the Russian forum?
The national leaders of the Tiger Range Countries adopted the Global Tiger Recovery Program by endorsing it. The GTRP consists of National Tiger Recovery Plan of each range country, which spells out the details of how each country will achieve its committed goal of tiger conservation along with the financial requirements to implement it. There is a pledge to raise funds to the tune of $350 million to be paid by rich countries such as Germany and US and agencies like World Bank, Global Environment Facility and World Wide Fund for Nature. The figure is very encouraging, though there will still be a significant amount of deficit.
How important is this forum for tiger conservation?
For the first time ever, commitment at the highest national level was convened to discuss the saving of one species other than humans.
Has there been any change of attitude in countries like China which is a major market for tiger body parts?
China and South East Asian countries are the major consumers of tiger body parts - this is the primary reason for the endangerment of the tiger. Initially, when the Global Tiger Initiative consultations began in early 2009, Chinese delegates were quite unwilling to even consider that China was a problem for tiger conservation. Gradually, I believe the Chinese attitude has become more positive and their government is now taking stringent steps to curb poaching and illegal trade in tiger parts.
Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina has called for international support to declare Sunderbans one of the new seven wonders of the world. Do you think it can help in increasing the tiger population in the Sunderbans of both India and Bangladesh?
The increased tourism may bring in more revenue to the region. If this money becomes available to the conservation agencies, then it could assist tiger conservation in the region.
What is the state of funding in India?
The Centre spends about Rs 300 crore a year for tiger conservation that includes a lucrative incentive of Rs 10 lakh per family for voluntary relocation out of core areas of tiger reserves. This is over and above the state funding for staff salary, infrastructure and other costs. I believe India invests the maximum in tiger conservation, compared to any other country in the world. The Planning Commission of India has assured a sum of over $1 billion over the next 5 years to meet this expenditure. This is a significant commitment towards conservation since the tiger serves as the umbrella species for conservation and it can only survive in a forest if the entire ecosystem is intact and functioning naturally.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Friday, December 3, 2010
At last, Mansinghdeo is a sanctuary
At last, Mansinghdeo is a sanctuary
Nov 27, 2010,
NAGPUR/MUMBAI: Former chief minister Ashok Chavan had to quit office over Adarsh society building that had vilated environment laws, but days before leaving office, he gave a big boost to conservation efforts by notifying the Mansinghdeo Wildlife Sanctuary adjoining Pench.
The official notification for 183 sq km Mansinghdeo Sanctuary was issued on November 2. It includes 174 sq km reserve forest (RF) and 9 sq km protected forest (PF). This fulfils a 17 year old demand for declaring the area as sanctuary. At present, the state had 41 protected areas (PAs), covering 15,331 sq km, which is 5% of state's geographical area. It should be over 7% as per forest policy. Mansinghdeo is the 42nd protected area.
The original proposal for Mansinghdeo was submitted in July 1993 by conservationists Prafulla Bhamburkar and Nitin Desai of World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Since then, the proposal was stuck in red tape. On June 14, 2007, the State Wildlife Board (SWB), headed by chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, approved the proposal.
It still did not materialise due to opposition from FDCM that had its standing teak plantations on a part of the area. In 2008, chief minister Ashok Chavan had almost made up his mind to declare Mansinghdeo a sanctuary. He fulfilled his promise before leaving office.
Mansingdeo will comprises 74 sq km (23 compartments) area of FDCM; 99 sq km (41 compartments) of Nagpur Forest Division and 9 sq km area as PF including some rithi (abandoned) area of Bakhari. The area is rich in wildlife and is contiguous with Pench Tiger Reserve, a prime habitat for tigers, leopards and other wildlife. Located between Pench, Nagzira, Tadoba and Melghat, Mansinghdeo will help connect these habitats to each other.
TOI was first to report the covert move by the state government to curtail the Mansingdeo area to 143 sq km by keeping FDCM area out. Based on this report on July 8, Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) chairman M K Ranjitsinh raised the issue with Union minister for environment and forests Jairam Ramesh.
Ramesh then wrote to then CM Chavan cautioning that any move to curtail Mansinghdeo area will lead to holding back the denotification of 8,500 sq km Nanaj Bustard Sanctuary in Kolhapur. The National Board for Wild Life (NBWL) had asked the state to declare six sanctuaries including Mansinghdeo in lieu of 8,500 sq km bustard sanctuary, which will be reduced to 1,200 sq km.
The other proposed sanctuaries to be notified include Isapur Bird Sanctuary (Yavatmal) 121.55 sq km; Rajmachi in Thane, Pune and Alibag (122.96 sq km); Sudhagarh-Tamni in Western Ghats (220.18 sq km); and Kopela (90.93 sq km) and Tipagarh (52.4 sq km) in Gadchiroli district.
Kishor Rithe, chief of Satpuda Foundation, said during a meeting with Chavan in October, among the host of assurances, Mansinghdeo was one. "We should really thank him for his gift to tigers," he said. "It's good that entire 183 sq km area has been notified. Curtailing the sanctuary would have meant Mansingdeo losing meaning. It is richer than Pench and is contiguous," said Prafulla Bhamburkar, manager of WTI.
"A study to reassess wildlife presence needs to be done in the current situation," felt Nitin Desai, Central India director of Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI). Forest officials said the proposal was delayed as Saoner MLA Sunil Kedar was concerned about six villages that would be unable to use roads if the area was declared a sanctuary.
"There are no villages in the Mansinghdeo area itself," officials said. The six villages Dhavlapur, Ghatkukda, Saleghat, Sawangi, Pardi and Ambezari are not part of the sanctuary but their connectivity would be affected.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Nov 27, 2010,
NAGPUR/MUMBAI: Former chief minister Ashok Chavan had to quit office over Adarsh society building that had vilated environment laws, but days before leaving office, he gave a big boost to conservation efforts by notifying the Mansinghdeo Wildlife Sanctuary adjoining Pench.
The official notification for 183 sq km Mansinghdeo Sanctuary was issued on November 2. It includes 174 sq km reserve forest (RF) and 9 sq km protected forest (PF). This fulfils a 17 year old demand for declaring the area as sanctuary. At present, the state had 41 protected areas (PAs), covering 15,331 sq km, which is 5% of state's geographical area. It should be over 7% as per forest policy. Mansinghdeo is the 42nd protected area.
The original proposal for Mansinghdeo was submitted in July 1993 by conservationists Prafulla Bhamburkar and Nitin Desai of World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Since then, the proposal was stuck in red tape. On June 14, 2007, the State Wildlife Board (SWB), headed by chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, approved the proposal.
It still did not materialise due to opposition from FDCM that had its standing teak plantations on a part of the area. In 2008, chief minister Ashok Chavan had almost made up his mind to declare Mansinghdeo a sanctuary. He fulfilled his promise before leaving office.
Mansingdeo will comprises 74 sq km (23 compartments) area of FDCM; 99 sq km (41 compartments) of Nagpur Forest Division and 9 sq km area as PF including some rithi (abandoned) area of Bakhari. The area is rich in wildlife and is contiguous with Pench Tiger Reserve, a prime habitat for tigers, leopards and other wildlife. Located between Pench, Nagzira, Tadoba and Melghat, Mansinghdeo will help connect these habitats to each other.
TOI was first to report the covert move by the state government to curtail the Mansingdeo area to 143 sq km by keeping FDCM area out. Based on this report on July 8, Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) chairman M K Ranjitsinh raised the issue with Union minister for environment and forests Jairam Ramesh.
Ramesh then wrote to then CM Chavan cautioning that any move to curtail Mansinghdeo area will lead to holding back the denotification of 8,500 sq km Nanaj Bustard Sanctuary in Kolhapur. The National Board for Wild Life (NBWL) had asked the state to declare six sanctuaries including Mansinghdeo in lieu of 8,500 sq km bustard sanctuary, which will be reduced to 1,200 sq km.
The other proposed sanctuaries to be notified include Isapur Bird Sanctuary (Yavatmal) 121.55 sq km; Rajmachi in Thane, Pune and Alibag (122.96 sq km); Sudhagarh-Tamni in Western Ghats (220.18 sq km); and Kopela (90.93 sq km) and Tipagarh (52.4 sq km) in Gadchiroli district.
Kishor Rithe, chief of Satpuda Foundation, said during a meeting with Chavan in October, among the host of assurances, Mansinghdeo was one. "We should really thank him for his gift to tigers," he said. "It's good that entire 183 sq km area has been notified. Curtailing the sanctuary would have meant Mansingdeo losing meaning. It is richer than Pench and is contiguous," said Prafulla Bhamburkar, manager of WTI.
"A study to reassess wildlife presence needs to be done in the current situation," felt Nitin Desai, Central India director of Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI). Forest officials said the proposal was delayed as Saoner MLA Sunil Kedar was concerned about six villages that would be unable to use roads if the area was declared a sanctuary.
"There are no villages in the Mansinghdeo area itself," officials said. The six villages Dhavlapur, Ghatkukda, Saleghat, Sawangi, Pardi and Ambezari are not part of the sanctuary but their connectivity would be affected.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
World leaders aim for deal to save the Tiger
World leaders aim for deal to save the Tiger
Try and double the number of wild Tigers by 2022 Click photo to enlarge © Vivek R. Sinha/WWF-Canon St Petersburg, Russia, 24th November 2010—Leaders from Tiger range countries have endorsed a Global Tiger Recovery Programme (GTRP) that aims to ensure a doubling of the world’s wild Tiger population by 2022.
Currently the estimated number of wild Tigers is around 3,200 animals, down from 100,000 a Century ago.
This is the first time such a high level meeting has taken place to save a single species, one that is under threat from ever-diminishing habitats but also faces an even more imminent threat—that of poaching and trafficking of its parts.
Demand for the parts is fuelling the poaching of Tigers, especially in South-East Asia and India.
Yesterday, Steven Broad, Executive Director of TRAFFIC, addressed the Tiger Forum during an agenda item on illegal trade. He focused of the results of a recent TRAFFIC investigation, which found that parts of at least 1,069 Tigers had been illegally trafficked over a decade in 11 of the Tiger range countries.
Key to the GTRP’s success in addressing illegal tiger trade will be the effectiveness of enforcement efforts by the Tiger range countries, as well as close regional and international co-operation on these efforts. The Tiger Forum highlighted strengthened regional law enforcement activities to combat illegal tiger trade through bilateral and multilateral arrangements, including the ASEAN-WEN (ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network), SAWEN (South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network) and bilateral protocols between key Tiger range countries.
John Scanlon, Secretary-General of CITES, also announced the formal creation of a new consortium to fight wildlife smuggling. The International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC, pronounced ‘eye-quick’) comprises five member organizations: CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), INTERPOL, UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime), the World Bank and WCO (World Customs Organization).
Scanlon said the goal of ICCWC was “to introduce a new era to wildlife law enforcement by drawing upon the complementary skills of the Consortium.”
The cost of implementing the GTRP is an estimated USD350 million. Several governments and organizations have already announced commitments of significant sums towards Tiger conservation at the Forum, including:
WWF’s Director Jim Leape said his organization aims to mobilize USD85 million over the next five years. The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has committed USD50 million over the next decade, while the US Government will allocate an additional USD 9.2 million to tiger conservation to combat illegal poaching and trafficking, the German Government will allocate an additional USD 17.2 million for tiger landscape conservation in Russia, Thailand, Laos, and Viet Nam and the World Bank USD100 million in a loan package to three tiger range countries. Yesterday, actor Leonardo DiCaprio announced a USD1 million donation to support WWF’s efforts to protect wild Tigers.
source-traffic.org
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Try and double the number of wild Tigers by 2022 Click photo to enlarge © Vivek R. Sinha/WWF-Canon St Petersburg, Russia, 24th November 2010—Leaders from Tiger range countries have endorsed a Global Tiger Recovery Programme (GTRP) that aims to ensure a doubling of the world’s wild Tiger population by 2022.
Currently the estimated number of wild Tigers is around 3,200 animals, down from 100,000 a Century ago.
This is the first time such a high level meeting has taken place to save a single species, one that is under threat from ever-diminishing habitats but also faces an even more imminent threat—that of poaching and trafficking of its parts.
Demand for the parts is fuelling the poaching of Tigers, especially in South-East Asia and India.
Yesterday, Steven Broad, Executive Director of TRAFFIC, addressed the Tiger Forum during an agenda item on illegal trade. He focused of the results of a recent TRAFFIC investigation, which found that parts of at least 1,069 Tigers had been illegally trafficked over a decade in 11 of the Tiger range countries.
Key to the GTRP’s success in addressing illegal tiger trade will be the effectiveness of enforcement efforts by the Tiger range countries, as well as close regional and international co-operation on these efforts. The Tiger Forum highlighted strengthened regional law enforcement activities to combat illegal tiger trade through bilateral and multilateral arrangements, including the ASEAN-WEN (ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network), SAWEN (South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network) and bilateral protocols between key Tiger range countries.
John Scanlon, Secretary-General of CITES, also announced the formal creation of a new consortium to fight wildlife smuggling. The International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC, pronounced ‘eye-quick’) comprises five member organizations: CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), INTERPOL, UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime), the World Bank and WCO (World Customs Organization).
Scanlon said the goal of ICCWC was “to introduce a new era to wildlife law enforcement by drawing upon the complementary skills of the Consortium.”
The cost of implementing the GTRP is an estimated USD350 million. Several governments and organizations have already announced commitments of significant sums towards Tiger conservation at the Forum, including:
WWF’s Director Jim Leape said his organization aims to mobilize USD85 million over the next five years. The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has committed USD50 million over the next decade, while the US Government will allocate an additional USD 9.2 million to tiger conservation to combat illegal poaching and trafficking, the German Government will allocate an additional USD 17.2 million for tiger landscape conservation in Russia, Thailand, Laos, and Viet Nam and the World Bank USD100 million in a loan package to three tiger range countries. Yesterday, actor Leonardo DiCaprio announced a USD1 million donation to support WWF’s efforts to protect wild Tigers.
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'Tiger Queen', wildlife flick shot in HD, vies for green crown
Story/place-Panaji.
Nov 28, 2010
PANAJI: "This is not a 'Save the tiger' campaign film," said S Nallamuthu before anyone even suggested it, "I think there are more NGOs working for the cause of tiger protection than there are tigers left in India. I don't want to be in the crowd."
Nallamuthu who prefers being called Nalla, said of his film 'Tiger Queen', "We have been following machli (the main tigress in the film) in the wild for many years and her life and struggles inspired me to make this film. She is 14 years old and won't live very long, so we decided to follow her life with her last litter."
India's first-ever wildlife film shot on high definition (HD) camera by director Nalla is among the 10 shortlisted environmental films vying for the Indian government's Vasudha award under the Short Film Category. The film premiered on National Geographic Worldwide and was shown on animal planet in the USA.
'Tiger Queen' explores the battle for power and supremacy in the wild tiger family. The action-packed film is set in Ranthambore and Sariska national parks in Rajasthan. "There are no anchors. It's a real story presented by tracking a tiger family in their habitat," said Nalla, who feels that after watching this emotional drama the audience will naturally be moved to protect the tiger.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Nov 28, 2010
PANAJI: "This is not a 'Save the tiger' campaign film," said S Nallamuthu before anyone even suggested it, "I think there are more NGOs working for the cause of tiger protection than there are tigers left in India. I don't want to be in the crowd."
Nallamuthu who prefers being called Nalla, said of his film 'Tiger Queen', "We have been following machli (the main tigress in the film) in the wild for many years and her life and struggles inspired me to make this film. She is 14 years old and won't live very long, so we decided to follow her life with her last litter."
India's first-ever wildlife film shot on high definition (HD) camera by director Nalla is among the 10 shortlisted environmental films vying for the Indian government's Vasudha award under the Short Film Category. The film premiered on National Geographic Worldwide and was shown on animal planet in the USA.
'Tiger Queen' explores the battle for power and supremacy in the wild tiger family. The action-packed film is set in Ranthambore and Sariska national parks in Rajasthan. "There are no anchors. It's a real story presented by tracking a tiger family in their habitat," said Nalla, who feels that after watching this emotional drama the audience will naturally be moved to protect the tiger.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Four day tiger summit in Russia
Nov. 28
Story/place-Bandhavgarh.
This week, at the four-day tiger summit hosted by Russia, premier Vladmir Putin drew attention to India's tiger population. India has the world's largest number of wild tigers. Putin even had at hand a Mahatma Gandhi quote -- "A country that is good for the tiger is good for everybody."
In India, the summit has renewed talk about protection policies. But how well do we know our 'star' tigers and their successors?
In the mid 90s, Machlli of Ranthambore and Raja of Sariska had top billing. In early 2000, it was Sita of Bandhavgarh. The Madhya Pradesh Tourism Corporation, in fact, highlighted the prominence of central India's tigers by pointing to the fact that Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book had been inspired by the tigers of the Kanha reserve.
The star phenomenon is more common in wildlife hotspots of northern and central India than in the south
and northeast. Reasons: the former
get a large number of tourists. Open forests ensure better sighting of the
big cat.
"The forests and grasslands are so dense in Kaziranga for instance that one may miss a tiger even if he is five metres away," said Firoz Ahmed, chief wildlife biologist with NGO Aaranayak.
That could be one of the reasons why despite the bad news of tigers vanishing from Sariska in Rajasthan and Panna in Madhya Pradesh, new star tigers have emerged, as enigmatic as their predecessors.
Sundari Ranthambore
Queen of jungle catwalks
Ranthambore's Sundari is bold and beautiful. Code-named T-17, this tigress has acquired the tag of star cat at the Ranthambore tiger reserve in the Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan.
For the past two years, Sundari (the name was given to her by local villagers in Raj Bhag, her home base), has been a big ticket tourist attraction in the reserve.
"Her walk is like that of a model on the ramp," says Dharmendra Kandal, a local wildlife conservationist.
Each time there is someone to click her photograph, she seems to stop and smile which could be the reason why she is being shown around the world through television channels. Wildlife enthusiasts say she strikes different poses and turns around to show off her body.
"The glitter in her eyes shows her confidence and it is no less than that of a top Bollywood actress," said Aditya Singh, a Ranthambore-based wildlife watcher.
Sundari owes her beauty to her mother, Machlli, who had been the star tigress in Ranthambore.
Her boldness matches that of any male tiger found in the wild.
To many, she is a male tiger tapped in a woman's body. She has a boyfriend code-named T-28 whose family members were recently relocated to Sariska. He was often seen in her company.
Sundari's liking for T-28 and the courage to protect her partner prevents other tigers in the 890 sq km of Ranthambore from entering her territory.
Khali Corbett
A 10-year-old with a harem of girlfriends
The story of this tiger in Corbett resembles that of Dalip Singh Rana, popularly known as the Great Khali for his antics in WWE.
No one in Corbett, Uttarakhand, knows about the tiger Khali's ancestry just like that of Rana, who hails from
a small underdeveloped village in
the Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh.
Like Rana, the tiger Khali rose to fame because of his physical strength. He dominated other tigers in the central part of the park and now holds the position of an undisputed leader.
"To us, the tiger Khali is no different from the real Khali," said Anil Baluni, vice-chairperson of the Environment and Forest Advisory committee of the Uttarakhand government.
As the name suggests, Khali, is huge. He is 1.5 times bigger than the standard tiger. His pugmarks are like that of an elephant and his roar shakes the entire Corbett area. Other tigers maintain a safe distance from him.
The 10-year-old maintains a harem of 3-4 tigresses and no other tiger dares to eye any of his girlfriends. "He has injured many tigers who have tried to enter his territory," said a local forest official.
Khali has, however, gone missing since the park opened in the first week of November.
"We are hopeful that he will be back," Baluni said, quoting two sightings by villagers.
Triveni Valmiki
Camera friendly, protective of her cubs
Unlike most tiger reserves in central India, the Valmiki tiger reserve in Bihar does not get many tourists. Still, it has a star tigress, Triveni. She is not camera shy as most tigers are and seems to like the 'click' sound.
"If the camera trap is not working, she hovers around the camera to find out why it is not emitting the sound," said Samir Sinha, a wildlife researcher working for Wildlife Trust of India. (WTI).
Triveni was born at the confluence (hence the name), of three rivers -- Ganga and two river-lets in the northern part of 200 sq km tiger reserve in Bihar. Those who have spotted her say she looks cute and that she is like a typical female tigress. She attacks anyone who tries to harm her cubs but otherwise is very calm.
With her three cubs, she holds outthe hope of reviving tiger population in a reserve which hadn't got much attention from conservationists.
Indiri Kanha
It's easy to get her darshan
Indiri, Kanha's most popular big cat, is the locals' tribute to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi who envisaged Project Tiger in 1973 and declared Kanha as a tiger reserve.
Indiri, the queen of Kanha, is also called Route No-7. This is the road where she is often sighted. She has another nickname: manhar nala, after the water-body where she quenches her thirst. "She can be spotted with her 8-9 cubs which is rare in the wilds," said Tarun Bhatti, a local wildlife watcher.
Getting the star tag in Kanha is an achievement. There are around 130 tigers in the reserve. Many believe that her liking for being photographed with her cubs like a star mother is the reason for her status. "All of us know where she can be found at what time," said Umesh Kumar, a local guide. Not much though is known of her past. But she attained stardom once the tigers such as Konda and Agasthya got older. But Indiri is 14. Kanha is on the look-out for a new star.
Kalua Bandhavgarh
A tiger who makes his size matter
Bandhavgarh is no less than Bollywood when it comes to promoting the child of a star couple. The most popular tiger in this central Indian tiger reserve, Kalua, is the son of Sita and Charger, who were the star attractions for more than five years in the late 90s. After a debut in the Indian television channels, Kalua (so named because of the black shade of his body fur) is an international star; he has featured in shows on Discovery and National Geographic channels.
After the death of his star parents, Kalua, code named B-2, took their place. He is considered more close to his mother than his father who was aggressive and would fight with other tigers.
"He is serious and slightly introvertish," said Rishi Bhat, a local wildlife conservationist. Even though Kalua is timid and soft, his huge size, which he inherited from his father, helps him intimidate the other big cats, who want to become a star like him. He has been dormant in the core area of the reserve for over five years.
Unlike most tigers Kalua is not a loner. He is normally spotted with a companion in the park.
Till recently, he used to roam around with his brother Bhura, who is much fairer than him. And, as he has grown older he has found a girlfriend -- the tigress Mirchani.
source-poten.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Story/place-Bandhavgarh.
This week, at the four-day tiger summit hosted by Russia, premier Vladmir Putin drew attention to India's tiger population. India has the world's largest number of wild tigers. Putin even had at hand a Mahatma Gandhi quote -- "A country that is good for the tiger is good for everybody."
In India, the summit has renewed talk about protection policies. But how well do we know our 'star' tigers and their successors?
In the mid 90s, Machlli of Ranthambore and Raja of Sariska had top billing. In early 2000, it was Sita of Bandhavgarh. The Madhya Pradesh Tourism Corporation, in fact, highlighted the prominence of central India's tigers by pointing to the fact that Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book had been inspired by the tigers of the Kanha reserve.
The star phenomenon is more common in wildlife hotspots of northern and central India than in the south
and northeast. Reasons: the former
get a large number of tourists. Open forests ensure better sighting of the
big cat.
"The forests and grasslands are so dense in Kaziranga for instance that one may miss a tiger even if he is five metres away," said Firoz Ahmed, chief wildlife biologist with NGO Aaranayak.
That could be one of the reasons why despite the bad news of tigers vanishing from Sariska in Rajasthan and Panna in Madhya Pradesh, new star tigers have emerged, as enigmatic as their predecessors.
Sundari Ranthambore
Queen of jungle catwalks
Ranthambore's Sundari is bold and beautiful. Code-named T-17, this tigress has acquired the tag of star cat at the Ranthambore tiger reserve in the Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan.
For the past two years, Sundari (the name was given to her by local villagers in Raj Bhag, her home base), has been a big ticket tourist attraction in the reserve.
"Her walk is like that of a model on the ramp," says Dharmendra Kandal, a local wildlife conservationist.
Each time there is someone to click her photograph, she seems to stop and smile which could be the reason why she is being shown around the world through television channels. Wildlife enthusiasts say she strikes different poses and turns around to show off her body.
"The glitter in her eyes shows her confidence and it is no less than that of a top Bollywood actress," said Aditya Singh, a Ranthambore-based wildlife watcher.
Sundari owes her beauty to her mother, Machlli, who had been the star tigress in Ranthambore.
Her boldness matches that of any male tiger found in the wild.
To many, she is a male tiger tapped in a woman's body. She has a boyfriend code-named T-28 whose family members were recently relocated to Sariska. He was often seen in her company.
Sundari's liking for T-28 and the courage to protect her partner prevents other tigers in the 890 sq km of Ranthambore from entering her territory.
Khali Corbett
A 10-year-old with a harem of girlfriends
The story of this tiger in Corbett resembles that of Dalip Singh Rana, popularly known as the Great Khali for his antics in WWE.
No one in Corbett, Uttarakhand, knows about the tiger Khali's ancestry just like that of Rana, who hails from
a small underdeveloped village in
the Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh.
Like Rana, the tiger Khali rose to fame because of his physical strength. He dominated other tigers in the central part of the park and now holds the position of an undisputed leader.
"To us, the tiger Khali is no different from the real Khali," said Anil Baluni, vice-chairperson of the Environment and Forest Advisory committee of the Uttarakhand government.
As the name suggests, Khali, is huge. He is 1.5 times bigger than the standard tiger. His pugmarks are like that of an elephant and his roar shakes the entire Corbett area. Other tigers maintain a safe distance from him.
The 10-year-old maintains a harem of 3-4 tigresses and no other tiger dares to eye any of his girlfriends. "He has injured many tigers who have tried to enter his territory," said a local forest official.
Khali has, however, gone missing since the park opened in the first week of November.
"We are hopeful that he will be back," Baluni said, quoting two sightings by villagers.
Triveni Valmiki
Camera friendly, protective of her cubs
Unlike most tiger reserves in central India, the Valmiki tiger reserve in Bihar does not get many tourists. Still, it has a star tigress, Triveni. She is not camera shy as most tigers are and seems to like the 'click' sound.
"If the camera trap is not working, she hovers around the camera to find out why it is not emitting the sound," said Samir Sinha, a wildlife researcher working for Wildlife Trust of India. (WTI).
Triveni was born at the confluence (hence the name), of three rivers -- Ganga and two river-lets in the northern part of 200 sq km tiger reserve in Bihar. Those who have spotted her say she looks cute and that she is like a typical female tigress. She attacks anyone who tries to harm her cubs but otherwise is very calm.
With her three cubs, she holds outthe hope of reviving tiger population in a reserve which hadn't got much attention from conservationists.
Indiri Kanha
It's easy to get her darshan
Indiri, Kanha's most popular big cat, is the locals' tribute to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi who envisaged Project Tiger in 1973 and declared Kanha as a tiger reserve.
Indiri, the queen of Kanha, is also called Route No-7. This is the road where she is often sighted. She has another nickname: manhar nala, after the water-body where she quenches her thirst. "She can be spotted with her 8-9 cubs which is rare in the wilds," said Tarun Bhatti, a local wildlife watcher.
Getting the star tag in Kanha is an achievement. There are around 130 tigers in the reserve. Many believe that her liking for being photographed with her cubs like a star mother is the reason for her status. "All of us know where she can be found at what time," said Umesh Kumar, a local guide. Not much though is known of her past. But she attained stardom once the tigers such as Konda and Agasthya got older. But Indiri is 14. Kanha is on the look-out for a new star.
Kalua Bandhavgarh
A tiger who makes his size matter
Bandhavgarh is no less than Bollywood when it comes to promoting the child of a star couple. The most popular tiger in this central Indian tiger reserve, Kalua, is the son of Sita and Charger, who were the star attractions for more than five years in the late 90s. After a debut in the Indian television channels, Kalua (so named because of the black shade of his body fur) is an international star; he has featured in shows on Discovery and National Geographic channels.
After the death of his star parents, Kalua, code named B-2, took their place. He is considered more close to his mother than his father who was aggressive and would fight with other tigers.
"He is serious and slightly introvertish," said Rishi Bhat, a local wildlife conservationist. Even though Kalua is timid and soft, his huge size, which he inherited from his father, helps him intimidate the other big cats, who want to become a star like him. He has been dormant in the core area of the reserve for over five years.
Unlike most tigers Kalua is not a loner. He is normally spotted with a companion in the park.
Till recently, he used to roam around with his brother Bhura, who is much fairer than him. And, as he has grown older he has found a girlfriend -- the tigress Mirchani.
source-poten.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
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