Story/place-Orissa.
Place: Bhubaneswar:
Officials of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) have asked the Orissa Wildlife Department to inquire whether a local TV reporter incited villagers to chase and kill a male leopard that had accidentally strayed into a forest plantation near Bhubaneswar early in the morning on Thursday.
A one-and-a-half-year-old male leopard had strayed into a Forest Department plantation, located on a high sandbar on Kuakhia riverbed when it was spotted by people of Marichia village under Bhubaneswar panchayat samiti. Acting on the complaint of a member of National Board for Wildlife, Biswajit Mohanty, NTCA officials asked the state government to inquire into the incident.
Wildlife officials said the animal was trying to escape when the villagers stoned it to death. “The leopard was scared when some villagers spotted it. Though the local people informed the wildlife officials in Nandankanan zoological park, the animal was stoned to death by villagers just about the time when Nandankanan people reached the spot. The animal was hiding behind the tree plantation,” said Jayanta Kumar Das, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Bhubaneswar city division.
source-indianexpress.com
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Friday, January 28, 2011
Six booked for killing leopard
Story/place-Bhubaneswar.
TNN, Jan 14, 2011,
BHUBANESWAR: A day after a mob killed a leopard on the outskirts of the city, forest officials on Friday registered cases against six persons for killing a Scheduled I' animal. They were booked under different sections of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Preliminary investigation revealed that six persons took part in the killing. "A detailed probe is currently on," DFO Jayant Dash said. "Cases, if necessary, will be registered against others found involved in the crime," he said.
The DFO could not, however, throw any light on the area from where the animal came and how it strayed into the riverbed, which is located not far from the village. "The male adult leopard did not enter the village. It hid in the bushes in the river bank. The animal got irritated only after some villagers shouted and threw stones at it, forcing it to run for its life. In the process, the leopard came face to face with the villagers who barred its flight and were wounded. The villagers finally overpowered it and beat it to death," the DFO said.
Dash said there had been no reports of leopard attacks in the vicinity of Bhubaneswar till date. "From the circumstances it indicates that the leopard was not a man-eater. It turned hostile only after it was disturbed by all that noise and the crowd of angry villagers," he said.
The residents of Gandarpur village, however, maintained that it was the animal that attacked villagers and that the killing was only in self-defence. "It was only after we heard the screams that we rushed to the spot. On reaching the location, I found my son and another persons, both badly wounded, trying to fight the animal in self-defence. Had we not reached there in time, the animal would have mauled them. My son, Chitrasen, was bleeding heavily," said Ganesh Padhiary. "We are not animal killers. When we heard the leopard attacking people, we rushed in to save them," he added. "Those alleging that we killed the animal on purpose are not aware of what happened on location. We had no option but to kill the animal," he added.
According to the post mortem report by the OUAT, the animal died of brain haemorrhage. "The animal suffered severe head injuries, leading to profuse bleeding from its mouth and nose. Its lungs were also damaged due to heavy blows to its rear limbs," the report stated.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
TNN, Jan 14, 2011,
BHUBANESWAR: A day after a mob killed a leopard on the outskirts of the city, forest officials on Friday registered cases against six persons for killing a Scheduled I' animal. They were booked under different sections of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Preliminary investigation revealed that six persons took part in the killing. "A detailed probe is currently on," DFO Jayant Dash said. "Cases, if necessary, will be registered against others found involved in the crime," he said.
The DFO could not, however, throw any light on the area from where the animal came and how it strayed into the riverbed, which is located not far from the village. "The male adult leopard did not enter the village. It hid in the bushes in the river bank. The animal got irritated only after some villagers shouted and threw stones at it, forcing it to run for its life. In the process, the leopard came face to face with the villagers who barred its flight and were wounded. The villagers finally overpowered it and beat it to death," the DFO said.
Dash said there had been no reports of leopard attacks in the vicinity of Bhubaneswar till date. "From the circumstances it indicates that the leopard was not a man-eater. It turned hostile only after it was disturbed by all that noise and the crowd of angry villagers," he said.
The residents of Gandarpur village, however, maintained that it was the animal that attacked villagers and that the killing was only in self-defence. "It was only after we heard the screams that we rushed to the spot. On reaching the location, I found my son and another persons, both badly wounded, trying to fight the animal in self-defence. Had we not reached there in time, the animal would have mauled them. My son, Chitrasen, was bleeding heavily," said Ganesh Padhiary. "We are not animal killers. When we heard the leopard attacking people, we rushed in to save them," he added. "Those alleging that we killed the animal on purpose are not aware of what happened on location. We had no option but to kill the animal," he added.
According to the post mortem report by the OUAT, the animal died of brain haemorrhage. "The animal suffered severe head injuries, leading to profuse bleeding from its mouth and nose. Its lungs were also damaged due to heavy blows to its rear limbs," the report stated.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Solar fencing to contain rampaging wild boars
Story/place-Orissa
Friday, January 14, 2011,
Kendrapara (Orissa), Jan 14 (PTI) To prevent theincreasing wild boar menace at villages surrounding theBhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary and subsequent retaliation byvillagers, the Forest department here has decided to ring thesanctuary with solar-powered fencing.
Buzz up!
There has been, of late, a spate of killing of wild boarswho invade the villages to feed on crops and vegetable plantsresulting in a man-animal conflict.
The animals also in their turn chase and assaultvillagers whenever they see them in their vicinity. Over adozen persons are reported to have been attacked by theanimals recently.
"It is sort of a war of attrition," a Forest Departmentofficial observed.
The villagers had even taken some Forest Departmentpersonnel hostage to register their protest, alleging that thedepartment was lax in preventing the boars from straying intohuman habitations.
Forest Department sources said the shock-inducing fenceshave already come up in some forest corridors and habitats tokeep elephants at bay, but for the first time this will beused to hold off wild boars.
The mangrove forest cover within the sanctuary is home tothousands of wild boars - plant eating herbivorous animals.
But in the recent years, a sharp rise in their population hasemerged as a major worry for wildlife officials. (MORE) PTICORR SKN MDNIK
Manoj Kumar Mahapatra, Divisional Forest Officer of Rajnagar Mangrove (Wildlife) Forest Division, said, "For astart, solar-powered fencing will be erected along a five-kmforest stretch across the Talchua-Dangmal area".
As the forest in this area had maximum concentration ofboar population, the fencing would create a buffer, he said.
With a pulsating flow of current the solar fence wouldact as a deterrent for the wild boars by giving them a mildshock, the DFO said and allayed fears that the shock wouldcause physical injury or harm to the animals.
Besides keeping wild boars at bay, this would alsoprevent straying of spotted dear into the forest-side villagesas both the species love eating ripe grains.
"Our lives and annual crop yield are in danger as boarsare on rampage at villages. The people were forced to take lawinto hands to kill wild boars in self-defence," a group ofvillagers rued.
The DFO said that there was no provision for compensationfor injury due to boar attack and crop loss under the law, butstill the department has taken up the matter with higherauthorities so that affected farmers could receive crop losscompensation.
souce-news.oneindia.in
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Friday, January 14, 2011,
Kendrapara (Orissa), Jan 14 (PTI) To prevent theincreasing wild boar menace at villages surrounding theBhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary and subsequent retaliation byvillagers, the Forest department here has decided to ring thesanctuary with solar-powered fencing.
Buzz up!
There has been, of late, a spate of killing of wild boarswho invade the villages to feed on crops and vegetable plantsresulting in a man-animal conflict.
The animals also in their turn chase and assaultvillagers whenever they see them in their vicinity. Over adozen persons are reported to have been attacked by theanimals recently.
"It is sort of a war of attrition," a Forest Departmentofficial observed.
The villagers had even taken some Forest Departmentpersonnel hostage to register their protest, alleging that thedepartment was lax in preventing the boars from straying intohuman habitations.
Forest Department sources said the shock-inducing fenceshave already come up in some forest corridors and habitats tokeep elephants at bay, but for the first time this will beused to hold off wild boars.
The mangrove forest cover within the sanctuary is home tothousands of wild boars - plant eating herbivorous animals.
But in the recent years, a sharp rise in their population hasemerged as a major worry for wildlife officials. (MORE) PTICORR SKN MDNIK
Manoj Kumar Mahapatra, Divisional Forest Officer of Rajnagar Mangrove (Wildlife) Forest Division, said, "For astart, solar-powered fencing will be erected along a five-kmforest stretch across the Talchua-Dangmal area".
As the forest in this area had maximum concentration ofboar population, the fencing would create a buffer, he said.
With a pulsating flow of current the solar fence wouldact as a deterrent for the wild boars by giving them a mildshock, the DFO said and allayed fears that the shock wouldcause physical injury or harm to the animals.
Besides keeping wild boars at bay, this would alsoprevent straying of spotted dear into the forest-side villagesas both the species love eating ripe grains.
"Our lives and annual crop yield are in danger as boarsare on rampage at villages. The people were forced to take lawinto hands to kill wild boars in self-defence," a group ofvillagers rued.
The DFO said that there was no provision for compensationfor injury due to boar attack and crop loss under the law, butstill the department has taken up the matter with higherauthorities so that affected farmers could receive crop losscompensation.
souce-news.oneindia.in
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
16 killed by tigers in Uttar Pradesh in 10 months
Story/place-Lucknow.
Lucknow, January 13, 2011
The increasing human-animal conflict due to shrinking habitat for wildlife has led to killing of 16 people by tigers over the past 10 months in Uttar Pradesh, wildlife officials said on Thursday. Attributing the deaths to "unabated human infiltration in the core wildlife areas", chief wildlife
conservator B K Patnaik said: "Increase in the human population and their enhanced penetration into forests is largely responsible for the rise in this conflict that had also left 22 people wounded over the same period."
"The situation has become alarming in Katarniaghat wildlife park, where three killings had occurred over the past one week alone," he said.
With as many as 36 villages in and around Katarniaghat core forest area, human conflict had been on the rise there, Patnaik added. Katarniaghat is in Bahraich district, 130 km from Lucknow.
Ruling out the presence of any man-eater, Patnaik said: "What was worse that each of the three killings appeared to have been done by three different tigers, which speaks volumes about the rising menace."
However, other than setting up four special teams to monitor movement of the state's 110 tigers and 208 leopards in the state's three core tiger areas - Dudhwa National Park, Katarniaghat and Pilibhit Forest Reserve - there was precious little that the government was able to do so far.
"In addition to these four teams that were keeping a watch in each of the tiger areas, a special tranquilising team was also camping here to get into action wherever the need arises", Patnaik said.
"But let me tell you, this is much more than what we were able to do until three years back, when we were terribly short of resources as well as trained manpower," he added.
Patnaik was however of the view that much was still needed to counter the menace.
"Firstly there is need to expand the grasslands in the core forest areas so that we could enhance the availability of food for the herbivorous animals, which in turn form prey for the wild cats and secondly there is need to provide alternative sources of fuel as well as avenues of employment to tribals and other living in villages in and around the core wildlife areas," he stressed.
Claiming that measures taken by the wildlife department had brought down the incidence of poaching, Patnaik emphasised the need for better cooperation by other government departments, "who were totally indifferent to the cause of preservation of wildlife in the state".
He cited the case of the railways that had not paid any heed to repeated demand of the wildlife department for diverting some 70 km of railway track that was passing through core forest areas of the state.
"We have been writing to the rail authorities for the past 30 years but to no avail," the chief wildlife conservator lamented.
source-.hindustantimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Lucknow, January 13, 2011
The increasing human-animal conflict due to shrinking habitat for wildlife has led to killing of 16 people by tigers over the past 10 months in Uttar Pradesh, wildlife officials said on Thursday. Attributing the deaths to "unabated human infiltration in the core wildlife areas", chief wildlife
conservator B K Patnaik said: "Increase in the human population and their enhanced penetration into forests is largely responsible for the rise in this conflict that had also left 22 people wounded over the same period."
"The situation has become alarming in Katarniaghat wildlife park, where three killings had occurred over the past one week alone," he said.
With as many as 36 villages in and around Katarniaghat core forest area, human conflict had been on the rise there, Patnaik added. Katarniaghat is in Bahraich district, 130 km from Lucknow.
Ruling out the presence of any man-eater, Patnaik said: "What was worse that each of the three killings appeared to have been done by three different tigers, which speaks volumes about the rising menace."
However, other than setting up four special teams to monitor movement of the state's 110 tigers and 208 leopards in the state's three core tiger areas - Dudhwa National Park, Katarniaghat and Pilibhit Forest Reserve - there was precious little that the government was able to do so far.
"In addition to these four teams that were keeping a watch in each of the tiger areas, a special tranquilising team was also camping here to get into action wherever the need arises", Patnaik said.
"But let me tell you, this is much more than what we were able to do until three years back, when we were terribly short of resources as well as trained manpower," he added.
Patnaik was however of the view that much was still needed to counter the menace.
"Firstly there is need to expand the grasslands in the core forest areas so that we could enhance the availability of food for the herbivorous animals, which in turn form prey for the wild cats and secondly there is need to provide alternative sources of fuel as well as avenues of employment to tribals and other living in villages in and around the core wildlife areas," he stressed.
Claiming that measures taken by the wildlife department had brought down the incidence of poaching, Patnaik emphasised the need for better cooperation by other government departments, "who were totally indifferent to the cause of preservation of wildlife in the state".
He cited the case of the railways that had not paid any heed to repeated demand of the wildlife department for diverting some 70 km of railway track that was passing through core forest areas of the state.
"We have been writing to the rail authorities for the past 30 years but to no avail," the chief wildlife conservator lamented.
source-.hindustantimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Snake show at school irks wildlife activists
Story/place-Chandrapur.
TNN, Jan 11, 2011, 05.15am IST
Tags:Wildlife Activists|Vidya Mandir High School|Indian Rock Python
CHANDRAPUR: A show of snakes by a bunch of sarpa mitras or friends of snakes at Vidya Mandir High School in Urjanagar on Friday has irked wildlife activists. The show was called off mid way after a verbal complaint was lodged with the forest authorities by the joint secretary of Green Planet Society, Prof Sachin Wazalar. Though no offence was registered under the violation of the Wildlife Protection Act, the offenders were let off with a stern warning.
Before the forest officials and wild activists arrived, one of the accused removed all the snakes from the venue. Later, the accused were taken to the range forest office for questioning, but no snakes were seized.
"An Indian Rock python and two Russell vipers were on display during the show. The weak and unhealthy reptiles were handled with sticks," alleged Wazalwar, adding that the python is an endangered schedule-I animal. "Mishandling and endangering it is similar to endangering the tiger," said Wazalwar.
"Those involved in the snake show are associated with the Snake Friends Organisation. Since they are newly trained, they are causing injuries to the rare species. After rescuing snakes, they keep them in a closed plastic container instead of releasing them in the forests. Captivity makes snakes weak. They become incompatible to the natural habitat," added Wazalwar.
He lamented the fact that no action was taken against offenders and that they were let off with just a mild warning. Acting RFO, Rajiv Pawar, told TOI that the snake friends were warned and allowed to go as there was no complaint lodged against them.
"If wildlife activists give us written complaints with concrete evidence, we are ready to take stringent action against the offenders," Pawar said.
source-http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
TNN, Jan 11, 2011, 05.15am IST
Tags:Wildlife Activists|Vidya Mandir High School|Indian Rock Python
CHANDRAPUR: A show of snakes by a bunch of sarpa mitras or friends of snakes at Vidya Mandir High School in Urjanagar on Friday has irked wildlife activists. The show was called off mid way after a verbal complaint was lodged with the forest authorities by the joint secretary of Green Planet Society, Prof Sachin Wazalar. Though no offence was registered under the violation of the Wildlife Protection Act, the offenders were let off with a stern warning.
Before the forest officials and wild activists arrived, one of the accused removed all the snakes from the venue. Later, the accused were taken to the range forest office for questioning, but no snakes were seized.
"An Indian Rock python and two Russell vipers were on display during the show. The weak and unhealthy reptiles were handled with sticks," alleged Wazalwar, adding that the python is an endangered schedule-I animal. "Mishandling and endangering it is similar to endangering the tiger," said Wazalwar.
"Those involved in the snake show are associated with the Snake Friends Organisation. Since they are newly trained, they are causing injuries to the rare species. After rescuing snakes, they keep them in a closed plastic container instead of releasing them in the forests. Captivity makes snakes weak. They become incompatible to the natural habitat," added Wazalwar.
He lamented the fact that no action was taken against offenders and that they were let off with just a mild warning. Acting RFO, Rajiv Pawar, told TOI that the snake friends were warned and allowed to go as there was no complaint lodged against them.
"If wildlife activists give us written complaints with concrete evidence, we are ready to take stringent action against the offenders," Pawar said.
source-http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Two poachers held with over 40 tortoises
Story/place-Luchnow.
2011-01-10 11:10:00
Lucknow, Jan 10 (IANS) Two poachers were arrested with over 40 tortoises in Hathras in Uttar Pradesh, police said Monday.
Mohammad Qayam and Ramesh Chandra, around 35 years, were nabbed Sunday from Jairara area.
'Acting on a tip-off, we intercepted a Tata Sumo car in which the two were travelling. They were arrested after two sacks containing tortoises were recovered from their car,' police inspector D.K. Dubey told reporters in Hathras, some 300 km from Lucknow.
'Though we are yet to establish where from the tortoises were brought, preliminary investigations indicate that the two were supposed to hand over the tortoises to their gang members in south India,' he said.
According to police, some of the tortoises seized from the duo's possession were alive and handed over to the forest officials.
'The two are jointly being interrogated by police and forest officials. They have admitted that they have been into the illegal wildlife trade for the last five years. Both of them are natives of Uttar Pradesh,' said Dubey.
A case under Section 9 (prohibition of hunting) and Section 49B (prohibition of animal trading) of the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA) has been registered against the two men.
India banned the trade of tortoises under the 1972 Wildlife Protection Act, but the huge premium and lax laws are increasingly luring poachers to the trade.
Tortoises are killed for their meat and for their use in preparation of some medicines, officials said.
source-sify.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
2011-01-10 11:10:00
Lucknow, Jan 10 (IANS) Two poachers were arrested with over 40 tortoises in Hathras in Uttar Pradesh, police said Monday.
Mohammad Qayam and Ramesh Chandra, around 35 years, were nabbed Sunday from Jairara area.
'Acting on a tip-off, we intercepted a Tata Sumo car in which the two were travelling. They were arrested after two sacks containing tortoises were recovered from their car,' police inspector D.K. Dubey told reporters in Hathras, some 300 km from Lucknow.
'Though we are yet to establish where from the tortoises were brought, preliminary investigations indicate that the two were supposed to hand over the tortoises to their gang members in south India,' he said.
According to police, some of the tortoises seized from the duo's possession were alive and handed over to the forest officials.
'The two are jointly being interrogated by police and forest officials. They have admitted that they have been into the illegal wildlife trade for the last five years. Both of them are natives of Uttar Pradesh,' said Dubey.
A case under Section 9 (prohibition of hunting) and Section 49B (prohibition of animal trading) of the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA) has been registered against the two men.
India banned the trade of tortoises under the 1972 Wildlife Protection Act, but the huge premium and lax laws are increasingly luring poachers to the trade.
Tortoises are killed for their meat and for their use in preparation of some medicines, officials said.
source-sify.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Focus on wildlife conservation
Stoey/place-Karnataka.
TNN, Jan 9, 2011, 09.28pm IST
MYSORE: Depleting natural resources calls for instant conservation measures. Realising the need to create awareness among students, the Mysore zoo conducted a 26-week training in wildlife management and conservation of nature. This annual event of the Mysore Zoo Youth Club concluded here on Sunday.
The student-members from 29 institutions were given an opportunity to monitor behaviour of animals and were educated about saving wildlife.
BJ Hosmath, chief conservator of forest and member secretary, Zoo Authority of Karnataka, said, "Every natural resource on earth is drying up. Every person must at least plant a sapling in front of their houses. The depleting ground water level is a great threat."
Wildlife photographers Krupakar and Senani, who recently won Wildlife Oscar, called upon youths to protect nature.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
TNN, Jan 9, 2011, 09.28pm IST
MYSORE: Depleting natural resources calls for instant conservation measures. Realising the need to create awareness among students, the Mysore zoo conducted a 26-week training in wildlife management and conservation of nature. This annual event of the Mysore Zoo Youth Club concluded here on Sunday.
The student-members from 29 institutions were given an opportunity to monitor behaviour of animals and were educated about saving wildlife.
BJ Hosmath, chief conservator of forest and member secretary, Zoo Authority of Karnataka, said, "Every natural resource on earth is drying up. Every person must at least plant a sapling in front of their houses. The depleting ground water level is a great threat."
Wildlife photographers Krupakar and Senani, who recently won Wildlife Oscar, called upon youths to protect nature.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Open core areas of wildlife parks to tourists: Khurshid
Story/place-Lucknow.
2011-01-07 19:30:00
Lucknow, Jan 7 (IANS) Union Minister for Corporate and Minority Affairs Salman Khurshid Friday expressed the need for opening core areas in wildlife parks to tourists.
Speaking at the 'Billy Arjan Singh Memorial Convention', organised by NGO Tiger and Terrain on the noted wildlife enthusiast's first death anniversary here, Khurshid said that opening of core areas to tourists would go a long way in curbing poaching.
He, however, noted that 'entry to core areas must be strictly regulated and some criterion need to be laid down to allow such entry'.
Wildlife enthusiasts at the convention earlier sought to draw the minister's attention to the fact that the core areas of wildlife parks and sanctuaries had turned into the safe haven for poachers.
'Since there were not enough functionaries and those too inadequately equipped, core areas remained unfrequented even by the staff, with the result that poacher gangs could easily slip in and carry out their nefarious activities,' Tiger and Terrain secretary Kaushlendra Singh said.
His views found favour with the minister, who is himself a wildlife enthusiast.
Ranjit Bhargava, who has been honoured with Padmashri for his wildlife conservation work, stressed on the need for diversion of a rail track and a highway from a 25 km stretch of Uttar Pradesh's Dudhwa National Park, the second largest wildlife reserve after the world famous Corbett Park in Uttarakhand in north India.
Former Uttar Pradesh chief conservator of forests Gian Chand Misra expressed deep concern over the dwindling numbers of deer, which is the favoured food of tigers.
Most speakers felt that the official tiger count was 'highly inflated'. However, Misra was of the view that fudging of tiger figures would come to an end once the modern counting system based on DNA match is introduced in all the parks.
source-sify.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
2011-01-07 19:30:00
Lucknow, Jan 7 (IANS) Union Minister for Corporate and Minority Affairs Salman Khurshid Friday expressed the need for opening core areas in wildlife parks to tourists.
Speaking at the 'Billy Arjan Singh Memorial Convention', organised by NGO Tiger and Terrain on the noted wildlife enthusiast's first death anniversary here, Khurshid said that opening of core areas to tourists would go a long way in curbing poaching.
He, however, noted that 'entry to core areas must be strictly regulated and some criterion need to be laid down to allow such entry'.
Wildlife enthusiasts at the convention earlier sought to draw the minister's attention to the fact that the core areas of wildlife parks and sanctuaries had turned into the safe haven for poachers.
'Since there were not enough functionaries and those too inadequately equipped, core areas remained unfrequented even by the staff, with the result that poacher gangs could easily slip in and carry out their nefarious activities,' Tiger and Terrain secretary Kaushlendra Singh said.
His views found favour with the minister, who is himself a wildlife enthusiast.
Ranjit Bhargava, who has been honoured with Padmashri for his wildlife conservation work, stressed on the need for diversion of a rail track and a highway from a 25 km stretch of Uttar Pradesh's Dudhwa National Park, the second largest wildlife reserve after the world famous Corbett Park in Uttarakhand in north India.
Former Uttar Pradesh chief conservator of forests Gian Chand Misra expressed deep concern over the dwindling numbers of deer, which is the favoured food of tigers.
Most speakers felt that the official tiger count was 'highly inflated'. However, Misra was of the view that fudging of tiger figures would come to an end once the modern counting system based on DNA match is introduced in all the parks.
source-sify.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Sea turtles on the brink of extinction
Reactions:
Shrinking sea turtle’s nest
Story/place-Dehradun.
A senior scientist of Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has warned that Orissa’s Gahirmatha marine sanctuary may no longer be the world’s largest rookery of the Olive Ridley marine turtles, due to massive erosion.
The spectacular arribada (Spanish for "mass congregation") of Olive Ridleys for nesting has intrigued both scientists and nature lovers throughout the world as they are trying to find out why these tiny turtles swim thousands of miles before they haul themselves onto the sandy beaches of Orissa.
The state’s coast has Olive Ridley rookeries at the Gahirmatha and Rushikulya rivermouths — two of seven known in the world. The Gahirmatha rookery had a nesting beach running 32 km when it was discovered in 1974-75. According to wildlife officials, researchers and activists, at least 2-3 lakh turtles used to congregate there every February-March for nesting.
Senior scientist B C Choudhury of the WII’s endangered species division told The Indian Express that the Gahirmatha nesting beach has shrunk to 900 metres in the past three decades. "A few years ago the migratory turtles used to lay eggs on a 6-km-long sandbar which got divided into two — Nasi I and Nasi II islands. The turtles have deserted Nasi-I while Nasi II, where they now lay eggs, is about 900 metres long," he said.
Turtle researcher in the Orissa Wildlife Department Chandra Sekhar Kar agreed that the government is concerned about the erosion but claims Gahirmatha is still the largest rookery for Olive Ridleys. "In 2009-10, more than 3.5 lakh turtles nested at Gahirmatha," he said.
source-indianexpress.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Shrinking sea turtle’s nest
Story/place-Dehradun.
A senior scientist of Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has warned that Orissa’s Gahirmatha marine sanctuary may no longer be the world’s largest rookery of the Olive Ridley marine turtles, due to massive erosion.
The spectacular arribada (Spanish for "mass congregation") of Olive Ridleys for nesting has intrigued both scientists and nature lovers throughout the world as they are trying to find out why these tiny turtles swim thousands of miles before they haul themselves onto the sandy beaches of Orissa.
The state’s coast has Olive Ridley rookeries at the Gahirmatha and Rushikulya rivermouths — two of seven known in the world. The Gahirmatha rookery had a nesting beach running 32 km when it was discovered in 1974-75. According to wildlife officials, researchers and activists, at least 2-3 lakh turtles used to congregate there every February-March for nesting.
Senior scientist B C Choudhury of the WII’s endangered species division told The Indian Express that the Gahirmatha nesting beach has shrunk to 900 metres in the past three decades. "A few years ago the migratory turtles used to lay eggs on a 6-km-long sandbar which got divided into two — Nasi I and Nasi II islands. The turtles have deserted Nasi-I while Nasi II, where they now lay eggs, is about 900 metres long," he said.
Turtle researcher in the Orissa Wildlife Department Chandra Sekhar Kar agreed that the government is concerned about the erosion but claims Gahirmatha is still the largest rookery for Olive Ridleys. "In 2009-10, more than 3.5 lakh turtles nested at Gahirmatha," he said.
source-indianexpress.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Wildlife board for ban on diclofenac
Story/place-Lucknow.
TNN, Jan 13, 2011, 07.14am IST
LUCKNOW: In a bid to control the rising incidents of man-animal conflict, the state wildlife board has made some strong recommendations to the state forest department.
One of the several recommendations made by the wildlife board includes halt to the usage of diclofenac, a banned drug. According to experts, the drug is one of the major causes for decline in vulture population in the country. Veterinary doctors still treat livestock with diclofenac. And when the cattle treated with diclofenac dies, vultures prey on them, get infected and die.
The other recommendations of the board include conservation of fossil parks and rock paintings in Mirzapur and Sonbhadra divisions and developing better co-ordination with tourism department for conservation and promotion of the protected areas and sanctuaries.
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TNN, Jan 13, 2011, 07.14am IST
LUCKNOW: In a bid to control the rising incidents of man-animal conflict, the state wildlife board has made some strong recommendations to the state forest department.
One of the several recommendations made by the wildlife board includes halt to the usage of diclofenac, a banned drug. According to experts, the drug is one of the major causes for decline in vulture population in the country. Veterinary doctors still treat livestock with diclofenac. And when the cattle treated with diclofenac dies, vultures prey on them, get infected and die.
The other recommendations of the board include conservation of fossil parks and rock paintings in Mirzapur and Sonbhadra divisions and developing better co-ordination with tourism department for conservation and promotion of the protected areas and sanctuaries.
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Wounded Corbett tigress spotted
Story/place-Corbett.
January 15, 2011 12:21:30 PM
The wounded Corbett National Park tigress was sighted again on Thursday. As it is still bleeding, it has therefore moved towards hilly terrain.
Five teams, including those mounted on two elephants, are continuing the search for the injured feline in Corbett National Park. Park deputy director CK Kavidayal told The Pioneer that the animal was last seen on Thursday near the area in Sarpduli range where she made her last kill but has since moved towards hilly terrain.
Member secretary of the National Tiger Conservation Authority Rajesh Gopal, who has arrived in the national park, is monitoring the tracking operation along with State chief wildlife warden Shrikant Chandola. Gopal is observing the situation and is expected to discuss the same with higher authorities in order to facilitate efforts to relocate villagers from the Sunderkhal area in order to provide a long-term solution to the man-animal conflict in the region.
Two machans were erected near the site of the last kill by the tigress and when it returned to claim its kill, eight bullets were fired by department personnel and hunters deputed on the task of terminating the feline.
The first of these bullets hit the feline in the middle of its flank after which it escaped from the site. Since then the feline has been moving around in the same area with the departmental teams undertaking the task during daylight hours to track the injured tigress. According to Kavidayal, two elephants are being used in the tracking operation. Another elephant will also be brought in for the operation.
Kavidayal said a strong and healthy tiger can recover from a single bullet injury and continue to cover considerable distances in an injured state by dint of stamina and high endurance. Meanwhile, NTCA member secretary Rajesh Gopal, who is also in the national park, is monitoring the situation along with the State chief wildlife warden.
Earlier, the Corbett administration had pressed into service sniffer dogs to locate the tigress. But they too could not trace her.
source-dailypioneer.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
January 15, 2011 12:21:30 PM
The wounded Corbett National Park tigress was sighted again on Thursday. As it is still bleeding, it has therefore moved towards hilly terrain.
Five teams, including those mounted on two elephants, are continuing the search for the injured feline in Corbett National Park. Park deputy director CK Kavidayal told The Pioneer that the animal was last seen on Thursday near the area in Sarpduli range where she made her last kill but has since moved towards hilly terrain.
Member secretary of the National Tiger Conservation Authority Rajesh Gopal, who has arrived in the national park, is monitoring the tracking operation along with State chief wildlife warden Shrikant Chandola. Gopal is observing the situation and is expected to discuss the same with higher authorities in order to facilitate efforts to relocate villagers from the Sunderkhal area in order to provide a long-term solution to the man-animal conflict in the region.
Two machans were erected near the site of the last kill by the tigress and when it returned to claim its kill, eight bullets were fired by department personnel and hunters deputed on the task of terminating the feline.
The first of these bullets hit the feline in the middle of its flank after which it escaped from the site. Since then the feline has been moving around in the same area with the departmental teams undertaking the task during daylight hours to track the injured tigress. According to Kavidayal, two elephants are being used in the tracking operation. Another elephant will also be brought in for the operation.
Kavidayal said a strong and healthy tiger can recover from a single bullet injury and continue to cover considerable distances in an injured state by dint of stamina and high endurance. Meanwhile, NTCA member secretary Rajesh Gopal, who is also in the national park, is monitoring the situation along with the State chief wildlife warden.
Earlier, the Corbett administration had pressed into service sniffer dogs to locate the tigress. But they too could not trace her.
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Is Sukhna sanctuary in Chandigarh home to leopards?
Wednesday, January 12.2011
Story/place-Chandigarh
One of the two Southeast Asian clouded leopards, (Neofelis Nebulosa) who re...
Chandigarh: Chandigarh houses over a million people and now it seems leopards too have found it suitable for a home! Substantial evidence on the presence of the big cats in the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary on the city outskirts has sent a ripple of excitement across wildlife activists and forest officials.
"During the recently concluded wildlife census (Dec 9-11), we have got strong and adequate proof of the presence of leopards in the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary," Santosh Kumar, Chandigarh's chief wildlife warden and conservator of forests, said.
"Out of the eight groups constituted to do the census, seven groups have found the pugmarks of leopards at various places in the sanctuary," he said.
The Chandigarh forest department conducted the wildlife census in association with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, which is the nodal agency for wildlife management in India. The report will be out in two to three months.
Kumar said forest officials earlier believed that leopards followed a migratory lifestyle.
"They came to the sanctuary in search of food and water and returned to the hills in a day or two. But finding their pugmarks uniformly spread over the sanctuary reinforced the notion that some of them must have made it their permanent home."
He said there were instances when leopards crossed over into the sanctuary from the adjoining Shivalik Hills, but they never made it their home.
After finding pugmarks, a trap camera has been set up in the sanctuary.
"WII has taken pictures of pugmarks and is studying them. We have also set up a trap camera in the sanctuary area where we had found maximum pugmarks. The camera will capture the images and activities of leopards. We would check the images of the camera after every three-four days," he said.
He said over 30 trap cameras, each costing of Rs.15,000, will be installed in the sanctuary in the coming days.
The Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary, adjoining rain-fed Sukhna Lake, is spread over an area of 25.42 sq km and is one of the prominent tourist destinations of Chandigarh.
A variety of butterflies, birds and animals like wild boar, pangolin, mongoose, deer, Indian civet, peacocks, Red Jungle Fowl and snakes like the Indian python and Russell's viper have made this sanctuary their abode.
There are 193 water bodies in the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary. They continuously feed the Sukhna lake and support wildlife and migratory birds that flock to this sanctuary. The place, which is fenced from all sides, was declared a wildlife sanctuary in March 1998.
"It is the thick green cover and availability of sufficient food and water that attract leopards. We are very happy with this news and it would certainly draw more wildlife lovers to Chandigarh," Puneet Bhalla, a nature lover and wildlife activist here, said.
Visitors have to take prior permission from the Chandigarh forest department for visiting the sanctuary.
Chandigarh, the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana, is the only planned city in independent India. Its green cover is 38.8 percent of its geographical area - one of the highest in the country.
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Story/place-Chandigarh
One of the two Southeast Asian clouded leopards, (Neofelis Nebulosa) who re...
Chandigarh: Chandigarh houses over a million people and now it seems leopards too have found it suitable for a home! Substantial evidence on the presence of the big cats in the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary on the city outskirts has sent a ripple of excitement across wildlife activists and forest officials.
"During the recently concluded wildlife census (Dec 9-11), we have got strong and adequate proof of the presence of leopards in the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary," Santosh Kumar, Chandigarh's chief wildlife warden and conservator of forests, said.
"Out of the eight groups constituted to do the census, seven groups have found the pugmarks of leopards at various places in the sanctuary," he said.
The Chandigarh forest department conducted the wildlife census in association with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, which is the nodal agency for wildlife management in India. The report will be out in two to three months.
Kumar said forest officials earlier believed that leopards followed a migratory lifestyle.
"They came to the sanctuary in search of food and water and returned to the hills in a day or two. But finding their pugmarks uniformly spread over the sanctuary reinforced the notion that some of them must have made it their permanent home."
He said there were instances when leopards crossed over into the sanctuary from the adjoining Shivalik Hills, but they never made it their home.
After finding pugmarks, a trap camera has been set up in the sanctuary.
"WII has taken pictures of pugmarks and is studying them. We have also set up a trap camera in the sanctuary area where we had found maximum pugmarks. The camera will capture the images and activities of leopards. We would check the images of the camera after every three-four days," he said.
He said over 30 trap cameras, each costing of Rs.15,000, will be installed in the sanctuary in the coming days.
The Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary, adjoining rain-fed Sukhna Lake, is spread over an area of 25.42 sq km and is one of the prominent tourist destinations of Chandigarh.
A variety of butterflies, birds and animals like wild boar, pangolin, mongoose, deer, Indian civet, peacocks, Red Jungle Fowl and snakes like the Indian python and Russell's viper have made this sanctuary their abode.
There are 193 water bodies in the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary. They continuously feed the Sukhna lake and support wildlife and migratory birds that flock to this sanctuary. The place, which is fenced from all sides, was declared a wildlife sanctuary in March 1998.
"It is the thick green cover and availability of sufficient food and water that attract leopards. We are very happy with this news and it would certainly draw more wildlife lovers to Chandigarh," Puneet Bhalla, a nature lover and wildlife activist here, said.
Visitors have to take prior permission from the Chandigarh forest department for visiting the sanctuary.
Chandigarh, the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana, is the only planned city in independent India. Its green cover is 38.8 percent of its geographical area - one of the highest in the country.
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Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Big cat reported shot in Corbett Reserve
Story/place-Corbett Tiger Reserve.
January 12, 2011 4:41:17 PM
The fourth human kill by a big cat on Monday night, within the same Sarapdully range of Corbett Tiger Reserve in Uttarakhand within a span of two months, has raised questions about the lapses on the part of the forest department.
The shooters pressed into service by the department fired eight rounds on Tuesday night to kill the suspected big cat. However, they had failed to track any wounded big cat or its carcass till the filing of the report.
Such critical cases of man-animal conflict come at a time when the oldest tiger reserve of the country is getting ready to observe the forthcoming platinum jubilee celebrations.
The fourth incident of human kill — about 100 metres away from the Garjiya Forest Chowki — has occurred even as the forest department is on a high alert, after three recent human kills by a suspected tigress from nearby territory.
Talking to The Pioneer, Chief Wildlife Warden S Chandola pointed out, “The nature of the kill in the latest case of 60-year-old Shanti Devi is different from the three previous ones, considering that the big cat has not preyed upon it.”
“Hence, it may not be the same tigress as pointed out earlier. A half-eaten carcass of a sambar has been found in the vicinity of the woman’s body, raising possibilities that the woman had ventured into the forest and may have accidentally run into the predator,” he added.
Chandola had issued terminating orders for the tigress on December 30 and since then, the department has laid traps and dispatched hunters to kill the big cat on the prowl.
According to sources, the shooters — who were waiting on the wings near the kills — fired at a big cat that had supposedly arrived near the half-eaten sambar kill. However, even if blood stains have been found in the vicinity, the department could not find any carcass of the tiger. The search would be made on Wednesday morning.
“We had sent our trained shooter Lakhpat Singh Rawat and others, to shoot the animal,” said Anil Baluni, vice-chairman of Environment & Forest advisory committee, Uttarakhand, adding that unrest among villagers was mounting.
Experts have raised serious questions in the wake of the incident. “Why was the woman allowed within the forest in such a critical situation? How was the department caught unawares even when the incident occurred so close to the forest chowki? Where were the members of Eco Development Committee of Dhikuli village (of which Garjiya is an extension) when the woman walked into the forest?” asked one.
Baluni says, “It is difficult to stop the entry of the villagers in the forest as it is their sustainable source of livelihood.” If pressure is mounted to prevent their entry, then there is the threat of tigers getting poisoned. Hence, it is a very difficult balance that needs to be maintained, he felt.
Experts further felt that it was indeed ironical that when the reserve is going to spend nearly Rs 5 crore on its platinum jubilee celebrations, why has it not been able to conduct DNA mapping of the tigers, which could have helped in their proper identification.
source-dailypioneer.com
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January 12, 2011 4:41:17 PM
The fourth human kill by a big cat on Monday night, within the same Sarapdully range of Corbett Tiger Reserve in Uttarakhand within a span of two months, has raised questions about the lapses on the part of the forest department.
The shooters pressed into service by the department fired eight rounds on Tuesday night to kill the suspected big cat. However, they had failed to track any wounded big cat or its carcass till the filing of the report.
Such critical cases of man-animal conflict come at a time when the oldest tiger reserve of the country is getting ready to observe the forthcoming platinum jubilee celebrations.
The fourth incident of human kill — about 100 metres away from the Garjiya Forest Chowki — has occurred even as the forest department is on a high alert, after three recent human kills by a suspected tigress from nearby territory.
Talking to The Pioneer, Chief Wildlife Warden S Chandola pointed out, “The nature of the kill in the latest case of 60-year-old Shanti Devi is different from the three previous ones, considering that the big cat has not preyed upon it.”
“Hence, it may not be the same tigress as pointed out earlier. A half-eaten carcass of a sambar has been found in the vicinity of the woman’s body, raising possibilities that the woman had ventured into the forest and may have accidentally run into the predator,” he added.
Chandola had issued terminating orders for the tigress on December 30 and since then, the department has laid traps and dispatched hunters to kill the big cat on the prowl.
According to sources, the shooters — who were waiting on the wings near the kills — fired at a big cat that had supposedly arrived near the half-eaten sambar kill. However, even if blood stains have been found in the vicinity, the department could not find any carcass of the tiger. The search would be made on Wednesday morning.
“We had sent our trained shooter Lakhpat Singh Rawat and others, to shoot the animal,” said Anil Baluni, vice-chairman of Environment & Forest advisory committee, Uttarakhand, adding that unrest among villagers was mounting.
Experts have raised serious questions in the wake of the incident. “Why was the woman allowed within the forest in such a critical situation? How was the department caught unawares even when the incident occurred so close to the forest chowki? Where were the members of Eco Development Committee of Dhikuli village (of which Garjiya is an extension) when the woman walked into the forest?” asked one.
Baluni says, “It is difficult to stop the entry of the villagers in the forest as it is their sustainable source of livelihood.” If pressure is mounted to prevent their entry, then there is the threat of tigers getting poisoned. Hence, it is a very difficult balance that needs to be maintained, he felt.
Experts further felt that it was indeed ironical that when the reserve is going to spend nearly Rs 5 crore on its platinum jubilee celebrations, why has it not been able to conduct DNA mapping of the tigers, which could have helped in their proper identification.
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Man-eater tiger killed one more woman in CTR
Story/place-Rishikesh.
Rishikesh, Jan 11 (PTI) A woman was killed by a man-eater big cat in Corbett Tiger Reserve, the fourth such incident in the area since past two months, officials said.
The incident took place yesterday near Bulwa Nallah in Sunderkhal area when the woman had gone to fetch firewood, Jim Corbett National Park Deputy Director C K Kavidayal said.
The body with biting wounds on neck was today recovered by forest officials from the area, he said.
Forest officials believe that it is the same tiger which had killed three women during the past two months.
Chief Wildlife Warden Srikant Chandola had declared the tiger man-eater and issued orders to shoot it on December 30.
However, the animal has not been identified as yet.
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Rishikesh, Jan 11 (PTI) A woman was killed by a man-eater big cat in Corbett Tiger Reserve, the fourth such incident in the area since past two months, officials said.
The incident took place yesterday near Bulwa Nallah in Sunderkhal area when the woman had gone to fetch firewood, Jim Corbett National Park Deputy Director C K Kavidayal said.
The body with biting wounds on neck was today recovered by forest officials from the area, he said.
Forest officials believe that it is the same tiger which had killed three women during the past two months.
Chief Wildlife Warden Srikant Chandola had declared the tiger man-eater and issued orders to shoot it on December 30.
However, the animal has not been identified as yet.
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Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Open core areas of wildlife parks to tourists: Khurshid
Lucknow, Jan 7 (IANS) Union Minister for Corporate and Minority Affairs Salman Khurshid Friday expressed the need for opening core areas in wildlife parks to tourists.
Speaking at the 'Billy Arjan Singh Memorial Convention', organised by NGO Tiger and Terrain on the noted wildlife enthusiast's first death anniversary here, Khurshid said that opening of core areas to tourists would go a long way in curbing poaching.
He, however, noted that 'entry to core areas must be strictly regulated and some criterion need to be laid down to allow such entry'.
Wildlife enthusiasts at the convention earlier sought to draw the minister's attention to the fact that the core areas of wildlife parks and sanctuaries had turned into the safe haven for poachers.
'Since there were not enough functionaries and those too inadequately equipped, core areas remained unfrequented even by the staff, with the result that poacher gangs could easily slip in and carry out their nefarious activities,' Tiger and Terrain secretary Kaushlendra Singh said.
His views found favour with the minister, who is himself a wildlife enthusiast.
Ranjit Bhargava, who has been honoured with Padmashri for his wildlife conservation work, stressed on the need for diversion of a rail track and a highway from a 25 km stretch of Uttar Pradesh's Dudhwa National Park, the second largest wildlife reserve after the world famous Corbett Park in Uttarakhand in north India.
Former Uttar Pradesh chief conservator of forests Gian Chand Misra expressed deep concern over the dwindling numbers of deer, which is the favoured food of tigers.
Most speakers felt that the official tiger count was 'highly inflated'. However, Misra was of the view that fudging of tiger figures would come to an end once the modern counting system based on DNA match is introduced in all the parks.
Source - news.in.MSN.com
sources by - Jimsjungleretreat.com
Speaking at the 'Billy Arjan Singh Memorial Convention', organised by NGO Tiger and Terrain on the noted wildlife enthusiast's first death anniversary here, Khurshid said that opening of core areas to tourists would go a long way in curbing poaching.
He, however, noted that 'entry to core areas must be strictly regulated and some criterion need to be laid down to allow such entry'.
Wildlife enthusiasts at the convention earlier sought to draw the minister's attention to the fact that the core areas of wildlife parks and sanctuaries had turned into the safe haven for poachers.
'Since there were not enough functionaries and those too inadequately equipped, core areas remained unfrequented even by the staff, with the result that poacher gangs could easily slip in and carry out their nefarious activities,' Tiger and Terrain secretary Kaushlendra Singh said.
His views found favour with the minister, who is himself a wildlife enthusiast.
Ranjit Bhargava, who has been honoured with Padmashri for his wildlife conservation work, stressed on the need for diversion of a rail track and a highway from a 25 km stretch of Uttar Pradesh's Dudhwa National Park, the second largest wildlife reserve after the world famous Corbett Park in Uttarakhand in north India.
Former Uttar Pradesh chief conservator of forests Gian Chand Misra expressed deep concern over the dwindling numbers of deer, which is the favoured food of tigers.
Most speakers felt that the official tiger count was 'highly inflated'. However, Misra was of the view that fudging of tiger figures would come to an end once the modern counting system based on DNA match is introduced in all the parks.
Source - news.in.MSN.com
sources by - Jimsjungleretreat.com
Wildlife friends help conservation of Asiatic lions in Gi
Story/place-Ahmedabad.
27/12/2010
Ahmedabad, Dec 27 (PTI) Vanprani mitra, the wildlife friends, deputed by the Gujarat forest department in the last abode of Asiatic lions in Gir Sanctuary have become an important factor in conservation of the endangered species.
There are many instances where ''wildlife friends'' have given crucial information to forest authorities about illegal activities going on in and around the protected sanctuary areas.
"We felt that it was of utmost importance to involve local communities in wildlife conservation efforts to save the last population of Asiatic lions in Gir," Chief Conservator of Forest of Gir region R L Meena told PTI.
This need was strongly felt after the 2007 incident when eight lions in the Gir became victim of poaching by tribal gang belonging to Katni area of Madhya Pradesh, he said.
"It has paid results as a lot of information regarding what is going on in and around the sanctuary comes from them.
Three major arrests could be made due to information provided by wildlife friends recently," Meena said, adding this unique concept has opened a new chapter in wildlife conservation activity in the country.
More than 20 tribal people were arrested on December 13 from the outskirts of Gir forest for selling fake lion parts, based on the information given by a wildlife friend, Meena said. .
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27/12/2010
Ahmedabad, Dec 27 (PTI) Vanprani mitra, the wildlife friends, deputed by the Gujarat forest department in the last abode of Asiatic lions in Gir Sanctuary have become an important factor in conservation of the endangered species.
There are many instances where ''wildlife friends'' have given crucial information to forest authorities about illegal activities going on in and around the protected sanctuary areas.
"We felt that it was of utmost importance to involve local communities in wildlife conservation efforts to save the last population of Asiatic lions in Gir," Chief Conservator of Forest of Gir region R L Meena told PTI.
This need was strongly felt after the 2007 incident when eight lions in the Gir became victim of poaching by tribal gang belonging to Katni area of Madhya Pradesh, he said.
"It has paid results as a lot of information regarding what is going on in and around the sanctuary comes from them.
Three major arrests could be made due to information provided by wildlife friends recently," Meena said, adding this unique concept has opened a new chapter in wildlife conservation activity in the country.
More than 20 tribal people were arrested on December 13 from the outskirts of Gir forest for selling fake lion parts, based on the information given by a wildlife friend, Meena said. .
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Palamu graded "poor" by tiger watch body
TNN, Dec 26, 2010, 03.
DALTONGANJ: It's official. Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR) has been categorized "poor" by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) responsible for categorizing tiger reserves under Project Tiger. Set up in 1974, PTA is battling hard for its existence and survival.
According to a member of the Management Effective Evaluation (EM) of NOTCH, D S Srivastava, the conclusion was reached after two evaluations of the tiger reserve. Consequently, a report was sent to NTCA in Delhi for placement before the Prime Minister. NTCA was set up in 2005 on the recommendations of Tiger Task Force, constituted by the Prime Minister.
Srivastava elaborated, "A preliminary evaluation was done by a team of experts, including Sameer Sinha of Wildlife Trust of India, Rashin Burman of Assam, Rajinder Mishra of Chhatisgarh and R K Singh of Delhi. Another evaluation was done this November by Prerna Bhendra and R L Singh among other wildlife experts."
A total of 120 parameters decide on the grade. "PTR scored the lowest in all from funding, its usage, habitat management, grassland management, anti-fire measures and anti-poaching measures," he said.
But he added that there are reasons why Palamu has fared so poorly. He felt that for starters, the government should fill up all vacant posts of ground staff. "There are only 39 forest guards in PTR as against the sanctioned strength of 179," he revealed.
The other task before the government is to prioritize wildlife management. "It is not on the agenda of the government it appears. No government fund has come to PTA since nine months," he rued.
The challenge, he said, is to revive and restore its glory. In 1974, there were 22 tigers and 32 elephants. Today the number of tigers has dwindled whereas the number of elephants has shot up to 225. "The other task is to strike a balance between human and wildlife population as the man-animal conflict has taken a toll on PTA," he said.
Srivastava favoured people's participation in the management of wildlife. There should be smaller monitoring units entrusted with the maintenance of PTR.
When asked if it is possible for PTR to regain its old position, he said, "First, people living in and outside PTR must feel that every tiger, every elephant is theirs and that protecting them is their responsibility. Only then will the situation improve in PTR."
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
DALTONGANJ: It's official. Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR) has been categorized "poor" by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) responsible for categorizing tiger reserves under Project Tiger. Set up in 1974, PTA is battling hard for its existence and survival.
According to a member of the Management Effective Evaluation (EM) of NOTCH, D S Srivastava, the conclusion was reached after two evaluations of the tiger reserve. Consequently, a report was sent to NTCA in Delhi for placement before the Prime Minister. NTCA was set up in 2005 on the recommendations of Tiger Task Force, constituted by the Prime Minister.
Srivastava elaborated, "A preliminary evaluation was done by a team of experts, including Sameer Sinha of Wildlife Trust of India, Rashin Burman of Assam, Rajinder Mishra of Chhatisgarh and R K Singh of Delhi. Another evaluation was done this November by Prerna Bhendra and R L Singh among other wildlife experts."
A total of 120 parameters decide on the grade. "PTR scored the lowest in all from funding, its usage, habitat management, grassland management, anti-fire measures and anti-poaching measures," he said.
But he added that there are reasons why Palamu has fared so poorly. He felt that for starters, the government should fill up all vacant posts of ground staff. "There are only 39 forest guards in PTR as against the sanctioned strength of 179," he revealed.
The other task before the government is to prioritize wildlife management. "It is not on the agenda of the government it appears. No government fund has come to PTA since nine months," he rued.
The challenge, he said, is to revive and restore its glory. In 1974, there were 22 tigers and 32 elephants. Today the number of tigers has dwindled whereas the number of elephants has shot up to 225. "The other task is to strike a balance between human and wildlife population as the man-animal conflict has taken a toll on PTA," he said.
Srivastava favoured people's participation in the management of wildlife. There should be smaller monitoring units entrusted with the maintenance of PTR.
When asked if it is possible for PTR to regain its old position, he said, "First, people living in and outside PTR must feel that every tiger, every elephant is theirs and that protecting them is their responsibility. Only then will the situation improve in PTR."
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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Forest rangers capture wild elephant calf in Jalpaiguri
Story/place-Jalpaiguri.
Forest Rangers of Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary captured a two-year-old male elephant calf from the vicinity of Madarihat village in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri District.
The elephant calf was residing in and around the village located near the sanctuary for the last 13 days.
The elephant calf had got detached from its herd few days back and later the herd probably refused its re-entry.
Consequently, it returned to the village where the people began treating the elephant calf like a family member.
"It doest not like forest anymore but lives with us. We also love it and we treat it as part of our family. As we feel sad when our family members go away somewhere similarly we felt good when it lived with us and not go away," said Budhu Orai, a villager.
On Thursday, rangers tranquillised the elephant and took it away in a truck.
The Divisional Forest Officer said the calf would be nurtured till it becomes mature and then send it back to its natural habitat after proper medical check-up.
"I also feel that this time when an elephant calf has left its herd and has been living with the villagers. This may have resulted in accidents where villagers might have got hurt. That is why we captured it to save the villagers. It is healthy but seems tired. We will get it examined and then train it to become a mature elephant," said Om Prakash Gupta, Divisional Forest Officer. By Tarak Sarkar (ANI)
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Forest Rangers of Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary captured a two-year-old male elephant calf from the vicinity of Madarihat village in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri District.
The elephant calf was residing in and around the village located near the sanctuary for the last 13 days.
The elephant calf had got detached from its herd few days back and later the herd probably refused its re-entry.
Consequently, it returned to the village where the people began treating the elephant calf like a family member.
"It doest not like forest anymore but lives with us. We also love it and we treat it as part of our family. As we feel sad when our family members go away somewhere similarly we felt good when it lived with us and not go away," said Budhu Orai, a villager.
On Thursday, rangers tranquillised the elephant and took it away in a truck.
The Divisional Forest Officer said the calf would be nurtured till it becomes mature and then send it back to its natural habitat after proper medical check-up.
"I also feel that this time when an elephant calf has left its herd and has been living with the villagers. This may have resulted in accidents where villagers might have got hurt. That is why we captured it to save the villagers. It is healthy but seems tired. We will get it examined and then train it to become a mature elephant," said Om Prakash Gupta, Divisional Forest Officer. By Tarak Sarkar (ANI)
source-sify.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Man Eater Leopard Shot Dead
Story/place-Srinagar.
Srinagar, Dec 31, KONS: Three days after two leopards, roaming in North Kashmir villages, were declared as man-eaters, wildlife officials killed one of them today much to the relief of panic stricken villagers.
Officials said that a special team of wildlife department deputed to assist Handwara wildlife officials five days ago, managed to kill the jungle cat in Satkochi forests in Handwara in Kupwara district Thursday evening.
Six people have been killed and more than 14, including two wildlife officials, injured in the past two months by leopards in Handwara, prompting officials to declare two jungle cats “man-eaters.”
On Monday , a teenager and a woman were killed by a leopard in Rajwar forest area. Mohammad Iqbal Bogi, 16, was mauled to death by a leopard when he was on his way home near Checki Satcoachi forest area in Rajwar belt. In a similar attack Raja Begum, 45, wife of Ab Ahad War died after she was attacked by a leopard in Lawoosa area of Mawer in Handwara.
Earlier four people had become victims of the leopard attacks in the north Kashmir district in the recent months. They included Zahid Mukhtar, 12, son of Mukhtar Khan of Devar Lolab and Kulsooma Bano, 12, daughter of Mohammad Maqbool Sheikh, of Dogarpora Handwara; Ishfaq Bara, son of Ghulam Rasool, of Hafruda, Handwara, and Rubeena Bano, daughter of Abdul Khaliq Bhat of Malikpora.
Besides injuring 14 people, including two wildlife officials, 50 cattle have perished in leopard attacks this year.
source-kashmirobserver.net
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Srinagar, Dec 31, KONS: Three days after two leopards, roaming in North Kashmir villages, were declared as man-eaters, wildlife officials killed one of them today much to the relief of panic stricken villagers.
Officials said that a special team of wildlife department deputed to assist Handwara wildlife officials five days ago, managed to kill the jungle cat in Satkochi forests in Handwara in Kupwara district Thursday evening.
Six people have been killed and more than 14, including two wildlife officials, injured in the past two months by leopards in Handwara, prompting officials to declare two jungle cats “man-eaters.”
On Monday , a teenager and a woman were killed by a leopard in Rajwar forest area. Mohammad Iqbal Bogi, 16, was mauled to death by a leopard when he was on his way home near Checki Satcoachi forest area in Rajwar belt. In a similar attack Raja Begum, 45, wife of Ab Ahad War died after she was attacked by a leopard in Lawoosa area of Mawer in Handwara.
Earlier four people had become victims of the leopard attacks in the north Kashmir district in the recent months. They included Zahid Mukhtar, 12, son of Mukhtar Khan of Devar Lolab and Kulsooma Bano, 12, daughter of Mohammad Maqbool Sheikh, of Dogarpora Handwara; Ishfaq Bara, son of Ghulam Rasool, of Hafruda, Handwara, and Rubeena Bano, daughter of Abdul Khaliq Bhat of Malikpora.
Besides injuring 14 people, including two wildlife officials, 50 cattle have perished in leopard attacks this year.
source-kashmirobserver.net
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
No wild partying, just enjoy the green
Story/place-Bangalore.
BANGALORE: Pass through the wild, but don't party in it. That's the message of the forest department to New Year revellers.
While there is a great deal of enthusiasm among youngsters to party bang in the middle of the forest, experts say this is not very good for wildlife. They advise people to stay within the wild but remain quiet and enjoy the serenity. Stay green within the greens.
One of the few things you could do for the green and wild is to avoid crowding at forest areas, which have a wildlife. Most of Karnataka's beauty lies in its forest, be it Bandipur or Nagarhole or even Chikmagalur.
Save animals
Animals don't just get disturbed by the noise made by reveling humans; they are also affected by massive littering of plastic cups, bottles or packets. Too much vehicular traffic in these zones is also not a good idea.
"I went to Bandipur last week, and there was high traffic due to Christmas. Due to traffic itself animals get killed and there is much more tourist influx in the parks. Many a times I have noticed that people party on the fringes or bordering areas of parks, they have loud music and flashy lights," said assistant director, wildlife conservation society, Sanjay Gubbi.
According to principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF), B K Singh, the tourist influx to the parks has increased multifold but they are trying to fix a minimum number of people who can go in to the parks.
So the idea is to get to the wild, pass by it, but not party right in the heart of it. Else stay within the wild and enjoy its quiet environs.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
BANGALORE: Pass through the wild, but don't party in it. That's the message of the forest department to New Year revellers.
While there is a great deal of enthusiasm among youngsters to party bang in the middle of the forest, experts say this is not very good for wildlife. They advise people to stay within the wild but remain quiet and enjoy the serenity. Stay green within the greens.
One of the few things you could do for the green and wild is to avoid crowding at forest areas, which have a wildlife. Most of Karnataka's beauty lies in its forest, be it Bandipur or Nagarhole or even Chikmagalur.
Save animals
Animals don't just get disturbed by the noise made by reveling humans; they are also affected by massive littering of plastic cups, bottles or packets. Too much vehicular traffic in these zones is also not a good idea.
"I went to Bandipur last week, and there was high traffic due to Christmas. Due to traffic itself animals get killed and there is much more tourist influx in the parks. Many a times I have noticed that people party on the fringes or bordering areas of parks, they have loud music and flashy lights," said assistant director, wildlife conservation society, Sanjay Gubbi.
According to principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF), B K Singh, the tourist influx to the parks has increased multifold but they are trying to fix a minimum number of people who can go in to the parks.
So the idea is to get to the wild, pass by it, but not party right in the heart of it. Else stay within the wild and enjoy its quiet environs.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Wildlife teams to kill ‘maneater’ leopard
Story/place-North Kashmir.
Tags : J-K wildlife department, Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara Mohammad Shafi Rather
Posted: Wed Dec 29 2010, 01:47 hrs
The J-K wildlife department has declared two leopards as maneaters and asked its men to eliminate them after the animals mauled three persons, including a woman and a child, to death and spread panic among the villagers in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district. Confirming this, Deputy Commissioner Kupwara Mohammad Shafi Rather said that teams of the wildlife department are trying to locate the maneater leopards. In the past two days, a 22-year-old man, Mohammad Iqbal Doje, of Khanpora Satkuji and Raja Begum of Lawoosa were killed by the leopards in separate attacks inside the forests. Two weeks earlier, a six-year-old girl was also mauled to death by a leopard in the same area.
source-indianexpress.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Tags : J-K wildlife department, Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara Mohammad Shafi Rather
Posted: Wed Dec 29 2010, 01:47 hrs
The J-K wildlife department has declared two leopards as maneaters and asked its men to eliminate them after the animals mauled three persons, including a woman and a child, to death and spread panic among the villagers in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district. Confirming this, Deputy Commissioner Kupwara Mohammad Shafi Rather said that teams of the wildlife department are trying to locate the maneater leopards. In the past two days, a 22-year-old man, Mohammad Iqbal Doje, of Khanpora Satkuji and Raja Begum of Lawoosa were killed by the leopards in separate attacks inside the forests. Two weeks earlier, a six-year-old girl was also mauled to death by a leopard in the same area.
source-indianexpress.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Van Gujjars roped in for anti-poaching duty
Story/place-lucknow.
Lucknow, Jan. 3: Van Gujjars, the mountain gypsies ousted from their camping sites in the Corbett and Rajaji national parks in the mid-nineties, have been granted 30 per cent reservation as forest guards force, while their plains counterparts in Rajasthan are agitating for a state job quota.
Unlike the Gujjars of Rajasthan, who are Hindus, Van Gujjars are Muslims.
The forest dwellers, who are vegetarians, will get 30 per cent reservation in a new tiger protection force being set up to check poaching in the Corbett reserve.
The Van Gujjars, numbering over 25,000 according to estimates by NGOs, resided in the Shivalik mountain range near the Jim Corbett National Park for over a century. Their caravans moving from the Doon Valley to the higher areas of the Himalayas in search of forest patches with their cattle in summer made for a curious sight to the people of Dehra Dun. Their food was mostly honey and fruits collected from the forests and the milk from their cattle.
But in the mid-nineties, the Van Gujjars were given government land near Hardwar and told to give up their forest life on suspicion that they were colluding with poachers to kill tigers.
However, when the central government last year approved the setting up of the Corbett tiger force, it asked forest officials to use the Van Gujjars’ knowledge of the forests effectively as they are familiar with the 520 sqkm Corbett park which now has 112 tigers.
The Uttarakhand cabinet okayed the proposal last week to make provision for the quota.
The tiger force will have a similar role like police with power under Section 197 of the criminal procedure code to register a case after a magisterial inquiry in cases of poaching.
Three platoons will be raised for Corbett, each with 30 personnel. Each platoon will be headed by a ranger, said M.H. Khan, secretary, forests and wildlife, in Dehra Dun today.
Khan said 27 posts would be reserved for the Van Gujjars. The force will employ more Gujjars when Rajaji National Park is included.
The forest and environment ministry has sanctioned a budget of Rs 4 crore a year for the force.
“Immediately, the project will be employed for the security of the Corbett Park but it may later be extended to other forest areas,” said another state forest official.
“This decision will help the Gujjars regain their self-respect after being branded poachers by government officials,” said A. Kaushal of the Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra, an NGO that was fighting for the rights of the Van Gujjars to dwell in the forests.
The Van Gujjars are traditionally vegetarians and they should not have been targeted for the poaching in Corbett, said Shiva Tyagi, another rights activist.
In Rajasthan, the Gujjars, who are farmers, have been agitating for nearly 14 days now over the job quota demand.
source-telegraphindia.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Lucknow, Jan. 3: Van Gujjars, the mountain gypsies ousted from their camping sites in the Corbett and Rajaji national parks in the mid-nineties, have been granted 30 per cent reservation as forest guards force, while their plains counterparts in Rajasthan are agitating for a state job quota.
Unlike the Gujjars of Rajasthan, who are Hindus, Van Gujjars are Muslims.
The forest dwellers, who are vegetarians, will get 30 per cent reservation in a new tiger protection force being set up to check poaching in the Corbett reserve.
The Van Gujjars, numbering over 25,000 according to estimates by NGOs, resided in the Shivalik mountain range near the Jim Corbett National Park for over a century. Their caravans moving from the Doon Valley to the higher areas of the Himalayas in search of forest patches with their cattle in summer made for a curious sight to the people of Dehra Dun. Their food was mostly honey and fruits collected from the forests and the milk from their cattle.
But in the mid-nineties, the Van Gujjars were given government land near Hardwar and told to give up their forest life on suspicion that they were colluding with poachers to kill tigers.
However, when the central government last year approved the setting up of the Corbett tiger force, it asked forest officials to use the Van Gujjars’ knowledge of the forests effectively as they are familiar with the 520 sqkm Corbett park which now has 112 tigers.
The Uttarakhand cabinet okayed the proposal last week to make provision for the quota.
The tiger force will have a similar role like police with power under Section 197 of the criminal procedure code to register a case after a magisterial inquiry in cases of poaching.
Three platoons will be raised for Corbett, each with 30 personnel. Each platoon will be headed by a ranger, said M.H. Khan, secretary, forests and wildlife, in Dehra Dun today.
Khan said 27 posts would be reserved for the Van Gujjars. The force will employ more Gujjars when Rajaji National Park is included.
The forest and environment ministry has sanctioned a budget of Rs 4 crore a year for the force.
“Immediately, the project will be employed for the security of the Corbett Park but it may later be extended to other forest areas,” said another state forest official.
“This decision will help the Gujjars regain their self-respect after being branded poachers by government officials,” said A. Kaushal of the Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra, an NGO that was fighting for the rights of the Van Gujjars to dwell in the forests.
The Van Gujjars are traditionally vegetarians and they should not have been targeted for the poaching in Corbett, said Shiva Tyagi, another rights activist.
In Rajasthan, the Gujjars, who are farmers, have been agitating for nearly 14 days now over the job quota demand.
source-telegraphindia.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Jairam stands between shooter’s gun and Corbett tigress
Story/place-jim corbett.
January 04, 2011 4:53:13 PM
Moushumi Basu | New Delhi
Will the Sunderkhal tigress at Corbett Tiger Reserve be terminated?
Differences have cropped up between Union Forest & Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh and the Uttarakhand Forest Department on a directive issued by the latter to eliminate the big cat following reporters of three human kills.
Chief Wildlife Warden S Chandola confirmed to The Pioneer that the order to terminate the tigress was issued on December 30. At the same time, Ramesh told this correspondent that the tigress would be tranquillised and relocated in the core area.
The tigress has been active in Sundarkhal, Garjia and Dhikuli ranges and has killed three persons during the past one-and-a-half months.
According to Corbett Tiger Reserve field director Ranjan Mishra, the tigress killed two women — Nandi Devi and Devki Devi — in the area on November 12 and December 29, respectively. One Kalpana Devi was killed on November 12, in Chukum area, under Ramnagar Forest Division.
He added, “The nature of killings indicates that her actions had been intentional. In such a situation, the Forest Department has to address grievances of the local population. Hence, the order (to shoot her) has been passed.”
Mishra said the tigress had not been sighted in the past two to three days, though five teams are searching for her. “A team of hunters has been sent to the jungles to kill the big cat,” he noted.
The Corbett field director was of the opinion that it is not possible to tranquillise a moving tiger.
Warden Chandola pointed out that after a tiger is found with human kill, there is no way out but to terminate it. In this case, the tigress was identified through pug impression pads (PIP) made by preparing a layer of fine soil about 2 cm thick on forest paths and animal tracks. Her pugmarks have been discovered near the human kill, according to him.
Experts, however, observed that PIP is an obsolete method of tracking. “Sunderkhal is a very important corridor area, at the periphery of Corbett and connecting Almora and Nainital Forest Divisions. The passage is often used by animals, including carnivores. In such a situation, it is important to identify animals actually responsible for the killings,” said one expert.
The more scientific DNA tests should be adopted in such cases, they opined.
Further, they pointed out that there had been no tiger chart mapping done to identify big cats in their respective territories. With another tiger in the same territory, how can it be said with certainty that the same tigress has made all three kills?
Locals also noted that the affected village — placed as it is in the periphery of the reserve — is an encroachment and the cat’s termination order, politically motivated. “The Forest Department should come out with long term plans to check increasing man-animal conflicts in the region. Merely killing a tigress will not solve the problem,” said an expert.
All may well not be over yet. On the basis of statements made by Ramesh, sources in the Ministry of Environment & Forest gave indications that the tigress would eventually be tranquillised and relocated in the forest. “After all, political pressures in the periphery of the forest have to be pacified… so the termination order was issued,” a source added.
source-dailypioneer.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
January 04, 2011 4:53:13 PM
Moushumi Basu | New Delhi
Will the Sunderkhal tigress at Corbett Tiger Reserve be terminated?
Differences have cropped up between Union Forest & Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh and the Uttarakhand Forest Department on a directive issued by the latter to eliminate the big cat following reporters of three human kills.
Chief Wildlife Warden S Chandola confirmed to The Pioneer that the order to terminate the tigress was issued on December 30. At the same time, Ramesh told this correspondent that the tigress would be tranquillised and relocated in the core area.
The tigress has been active in Sundarkhal, Garjia and Dhikuli ranges and has killed three persons during the past one-and-a-half months.
According to Corbett Tiger Reserve field director Ranjan Mishra, the tigress killed two women — Nandi Devi and Devki Devi — in the area on November 12 and December 29, respectively. One Kalpana Devi was killed on November 12, in Chukum area, under Ramnagar Forest Division.
He added, “The nature of killings indicates that her actions had been intentional. In such a situation, the Forest Department has to address grievances of the local population. Hence, the order (to shoot her) has been passed.”
Mishra said the tigress had not been sighted in the past two to three days, though five teams are searching for her. “A team of hunters has been sent to the jungles to kill the big cat,” he noted.
The Corbett field director was of the opinion that it is not possible to tranquillise a moving tiger.
Warden Chandola pointed out that after a tiger is found with human kill, there is no way out but to terminate it. In this case, the tigress was identified through pug impression pads (PIP) made by preparing a layer of fine soil about 2 cm thick on forest paths and animal tracks. Her pugmarks have been discovered near the human kill, according to him.
Experts, however, observed that PIP is an obsolete method of tracking. “Sunderkhal is a very important corridor area, at the periphery of Corbett and connecting Almora and Nainital Forest Divisions. The passage is often used by animals, including carnivores. In such a situation, it is important to identify animals actually responsible for the killings,” said one expert.
The more scientific DNA tests should be adopted in such cases, they opined.
Further, they pointed out that there had been no tiger chart mapping done to identify big cats in their respective territories. With another tiger in the same territory, how can it be said with certainty that the same tigress has made all three kills?
Locals also noted that the affected village — placed as it is in the periphery of the reserve — is an encroachment and the cat’s termination order, politically motivated. “The Forest Department should come out with long term plans to check increasing man-animal conflicts in the region. Merely killing a tigress will not solve the problem,” said an expert.
All may well not be over yet. On the basis of statements made by Ramesh, sources in the Ministry of Environment & Forest gave indications that the tigress would eventually be tranquillised and relocated in the forest. “After all, political pressures in the periphery of the forest have to be pacified… so the termination order was issued,” a source added.
source-dailypioneer.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Hydro project in sanctuary sent for wildlife board nod
Story/place-Himachal.
Close on the heels of consecutive blows to four upcoming mega-projects in Himachal on the issue of forest and environmental clearance, a 200 megawatt hydro-power project allocated in the ecologically rich Dhauladhar Wildlife Sanctuary in Kangra district is pitching for clearance from the State Wildlife Board (SWB). Malana Power Company Limited (MPCL) was given permission during the previous Congress government for the proposal to set up the 200 MW Bara Bhangal hydro-power project on the Ravi river in Dhauladhar Wildlife Sanctuary.
Of the 945 sq km of Dhauladhar Wildlife Sanctuary area, at least 21.46 hectares are required to be diverted from the sanctuary for setting up the hydro-power project. The sanctuary in Baijnath block of Kangra district is rich in flora and fauna like the Snow Leopard, Himalayan Ibex, Western Tragopan, Monal, Koklas, Him Thar and Musk
source-indianexpress.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Close on the heels of consecutive blows to four upcoming mega-projects in Himachal on the issue of forest and environmental clearance, a 200 megawatt hydro-power project allocated in the ecologically rich Dhauladhar Wildlife Sanctuary in Kangra district is pitching for clearance from the State Wildlife Board (SWB). Malana Power Company Limited (MPCL) was given permission during the previous Congress government for the proposal to set up the 200 MW Bara Bhangal hydro-power project on the Ravi river in Dhauladhar Wildlife Sanctuary.
Of the 945 sq km of Dhauladhar Wildlife Sanctuary area, at least 21.46 hectares are required to be diverted from the sanctuary for setting up the hydro-power project. The sanctuary in Baijnath block of Kangra district is rich in flora and fauna like the Snow Leopard, Himalayan Ibex, Western Tragopan, Monal, Koklas, Him Thar and Musk
source-indianexpress.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
On-the-spot compensation to victims of man-animal conflict
Story/place-Jammu.
Jammu, December 22, 2010
With 97 people killed and 820 others injured in man-animal conflicts in Jammu and Kashmir during the past four years, the state government has ordered on-the-spot compensation to the victims. "The compensation shall be disbursed immediately after such incidents of man-animal conflicts and for this
purpose the government would delegate powers to the Wild Life Wardens for the on-the-spot disbursement," Minister for Forest and Environment Mian Altaf Hussain said today.
The government has decided to select two districts on pilot basis where the compensation for the losses caused by the wild animals by straying inside the human population areas would be given, he said.
The state government has formulated a comprehensive management plan for handling man-wildlife animal conflicts, which took a toll of 97 persons and injured 820 others in the state since 2006.
The State Board for Wildlife recommended financial allocation of Rs 1.20 crores for settling the pending compensation claims prior to 2005, he said.
source-hindustantimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Jammu, December 22, 2010
With 97 people killed and 820 others injured in man-animal conflicts in Jammu and Kashmir during the past four years, the state government has ordered on-the-spot compensation to the victims. "The compensation shall be disbursed immediately after such incidents of man-animal conflicts and for this
purpose the government would delegate powers to the Wild Life Wardens for the on-the-spot disbursement," Minister for Forest and Environment Mian Altaf Hussain said today.
The government has decided to select two districts on pilot basis where the compensation for the losses caused by the wild animals by straying inside the human population areas would be given, he said.
The state government has formulated a comprehensive management plan for handling man-wildlife animal conflicts, which took a toll of 97 persons and injured 820 others in the state since 2006.
The State Board for Wildlife recommended financial allocation of Rs 1.20 crores for settling the pending compensation claims prior to 2005, he said.
source-hindustantimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Pugmarks: UT asks visitors to be careful
Story/place-Chandigarh.
CHANDIGARH: After finding pugmarks of leopards in Sukhna wildlife sanctuary, UT forest and wildlife department has issued an advisory, asking city residents venturing into the area not to get down from their vehicles.
Making noise in the sanctuary and playing of loud music has also been banned not to disturb the wild animals. It is also been advised that children should not be left alone and vehicles be stopped only at the identified locations.
The first-ever wildlife census, conducted with expertise being provided by Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in the ecologically fragile area spread over 26 square kilometres, had given indications of presence of at least three leopards in close vicinity of Chandigarh.
The department has already decided to put up camera traps at 4-5 places to catch the leopards on camera before the entire report is sent to the WWI headquarters for approval.
The census will now be made a regular feature from now on to keep track of any increase or decrease in population of various rare species that are housed there, particularly mammals like sanbhar, cheetal and many reptiles like cobra, rat snake and common krait. Located north east of Sukhna Lake, the sanctuary land was acquired in 1962 for soil conservation measures as huge amounts of silt had eaten into 50 per cent of the lake's original area by then. The lower Shivaliks are very fragile and prone to erosion. Most of the area was then under some sort of cultivation while trees were being felled for fuel.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
CHANDIGARH: After finding pugmarks of leopards in Sukhna wildlife sanctuary, UT forest and wildlife department has issued an advisory, asking city residents venturing into the area not to get down from their vehicles.
Making noise in the sanctuary and playing of loud music has also been banned not to disturb the wild animals. It is also been advised that children should not be left alone and vehicles be stopped only at the identified locations.
The first-ever wildlife census, conducted with expertise being provided by Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in the ecologically fragile area spread over 26 square kilometres, had given indications of presence of at least three leopards in close vicinity of Chandigarh.
The department has already decided to put up camera traps at 4-5 places to catch the leopards on camera before the entire report is sent to the WWI headquarters for approval.
The census will now be made a regular feature from now on to keep track of any increase or decrease in population of various rare species that are housed there, particularly mammals like sanbhar, cheetal and many reptiles like cobra, rat snake and common krait. Located north east of Sukhna Lake, the sanctuary land was acquired in 1962 for soil conservation measures as huge amounts of silt had eaten into 50 per cent of the lake's original area by then. The lower Shivaliks are very fragile and prone to erosion. Most of the area was then under some sort of cultivation while trees were being felled for fuel.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
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