Story/Place-Jaipur
Rachna Singh, May 29, 2011,
JAIPUR: A three-day conference on 'Responsible wood trade, forest certification and market links' to build capacities of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the processing sectors of Rajasthan, Kerala, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh is underway in the city. The conference, which brought major stakeholders from wood and handicraft industry, and the World Wildlife Fund, was organised here as the city has become a ub for export of handicraft items. "This was the first time a mass awareness programme was planned for the SMEs in Jaipur and the city being the hub of export handicraft items was chosen as a prime location for organising the conference," T R Manoharan, head of Forest Programme India, said. The conference, which began on May 27, was in line with a project supported by the European Commission under its SWITCH ASIA programme. "A major objective of this project is to build capacity among SMEs in wood processing sectors of Rajasthan, Kerala, and Uttar Pradesh to provide certified sustainable forest products to national and international markets," Manoharan said. The conference organised during the International Year of the Forests saw a series of meetings with industry experts and resource persons speaking on issues ranging from responsible sourcing of wood to forest certification, legal compliance and environmental regulation in the export market of India's wood products. Art and design improvement techniques and methods of reusing and recycling the wood waste were also discussed that would help reduce wood consumption and hence reduce the cost. The experts gave focus on a new WWF report which says policymakers and business leaders must quickly back a bold target to stop forest loss as part of efforts to conserve biodiversity and fight climate change. The WWF's 'Living Forests Report', examines the drivers of deforestation and identifies the opportunities to shift from business as usual to a new model of sustainability, which can benefit government, business and communities.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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Sunday, May 29, 2011
New guidelines to resettle tribals near tiger parks
Story/Place-New Delhi
May 28, 2011, 02.03am IST Tags:
NEW DELHI: Scarred by the controversy over the environment ministry's attempt to brazenly relocate tribals from wildlife sanctuaries and parks, Jairam Ramesh has now proposed guidelines to resettle people specifically from tiger reserves.
The environment ministry had to withdraw the controversial regulations when it came under flak from tribal groups and re-issue a fresh set of rules.
The guidelines issued on Friday are specifically intended for tiger reserves. The relocation of people from tiger reserves as well as other sanctuaries has always been a controversial process but this got mired in greater conflict when the Forest Rights Act was promulgated. Just before the Act was enacted, the environment ministry moved swiftly to amend the Wildlife Protection Act and create a special dispensation for tiger reserves as different from other wildlife parks and sanctuaries.
The overlap of the two laws created a piquant situation requiring the government to get the existing wildlife parks and sanctuaries to be re-christened as 'critical wildlife habitats' if the forest department wanted to keep them free of people through a process set in the Forest Rights Act. This process is yet to begin.
For the tiger-bearing areas – whether national parks or sanctuaries – the environment ministry is required to get them declared as 'tiger reserves' by demarcating the lands and resettling people after settling the rights of the people under the Forest Rights Act.
The regulations are intended to set a formal protocol for such relocations from the identified tiger reserves. In the last meeting of the apex National Tiger Conservation Authority, several non-official members had raised concerns about cases where rights of the people were not respected while attempting to relocate them and declare the site as tiger reserve.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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May 28, 2011, 02.03am IST Tags:
NEW DELHI: Scarred by the controversy over the environment ministry's attempt to brazenly relocate tribals from wildlife sanctuaries and parks, Jairam Ramesh has now proposed guidelines to resettle people specifically from tiger reserves.
The environment ministry had to withdraw the controversial regulations when it came under flak from tribal groups and re-issue a fresh set of rules.
The guidelines issued on Friday are specifically intended for tiger reserves. The relocation of people from tiger reserves as well as other sanctuaries has always been a controversial process but this got mired in greater conflict when the Forest Rights Act was promulgated. Just before the Act was enacted, the environment ministry moved swiftly to amend the Wildlife Protection Act and create a special dispensation for tiger reserves as different from other wildlife parks and sanctuaries.
The overlap of the two laws created a piquant situation requiring the government to get the existing wildlife parks and sanctuaries to be re-christened as 'critical wildlife habitats' if the forest department wanted to keep them free of people through a process set in the Forest Rights Act. This process is yet to begin.
For the tiger-bearing areas – whether national parks or sanctuaries – the environment ministry is required to get them declared as 'tiger reserves' by demarcating the lands and resettling people after settling the rights of the people under the Forest Rights Act.
The regulations are intended to set a formal protocol for such relocations from the identified tiger reserves. In the last meeting of the apex National Tiger Conservation Authority, several non-official members had raised concerns about cases where rights of the people were not respected while attempting to relocate them and declare the site as tiger reserve.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Wildlife related crimes come down
Story/Place-Bangalore,
May 29, 2011,
BANGALORE: The Forest Department have said crime against wildlife has reduced in the State. This is attributed to the anti-poaching camps organised in villages around all reserved forest areas and wildlife sanctuaries. However, the taste for deer meat has led to the department taking more stringent measures.
A matter of envy for other states which are combating with the shortage of field staff for their sanctuaries, the anti-poaching groups are full in the state with vacancies in single digit numbers. "There were several cases of poaching registered a few years back. After the camps, the cases of capturing animals for trade has drastically lessened," said Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Swaminath M H.
When asked about an upward trend in cases registered in this year, he said that the poaching is now mainly restricted to hunting for meat. "Cases are regularly registered against villagers living around the sanctuaries or reserved forest areas where they hunt deer once in a few months. We have been talking to them and hope to veer them off from this habit," he explained. The two big cases in the last one year were the arrest of an interstate gang operating in Bandipur when they tried selling tiger skin but the other and more recent incident put the Forest Department on alert: student selling deer meat to Dubai.
"In that case, a student posing as visitor to the BRT range used to hunt spotted deer and hide it in the car. Once smuggled out, he would cut the meat into pieces and export it to Dubai," said Swaminath. After that incident, the Forest Department is alert to the problems and has asked its staff to inspect vehicles vigorously.
source-ibnlive.in.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
May 29, 2011,
BANGALORE: The Forest Department have said crime against wildlife has reduced in the State. This is attributed to the anti-poaching camps organised in villages around all reserved forest areas and wildlife sanctuaries. However, the taste for deer meat has led to the department taking more stringent measures.
A matter of envy for other states which are combating with the shortage of field staff for their sanctuaries, the anti-poaching groups are full in the state with vacancies in single digit numbers. "There were several cases of poaching registered a few years back. After the camps, the cases of capturing animals for trade has drastically lessened," said Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Swaminath M H.
When asked about an upward trend in cases registered in this year, he said that the poaching is now mainly restricted to hunting for meat. "Cases are regularly registered against villagers living around the sanctuaries or reserved forest areas where they hunt deer once in a few months. We have been talking to them and hope to veer them off from this habit," he explained. The two big cases in the last one year were the arrest of an interstate gang operating in Bandipur when they tried selling tiger skin but the other and more recent incident put the Forest Department on alert: student selling deer meat to Dubai.
"In that case, a student posing as visitor to the BRT range used to hunt spotted deer and hide it in the car. Once smuggled out, he would cut the meat into pieces and export it to Dubai," said Swaminath. After that incident, the Forest Department is alert to the problems and has asked its staff to inspect vehicles vigorously.
source-ibnlive.in.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Friday, May 27, 2011
Online effort fetches over 1 lakh trees for wildlife areas in
Story/place-Udaipur,
PTI | 12:05 PM,May 08,2011
Yash Shethia, Team leader of FES working around Kumbhalgarh Sanctuary in Udaipur says it is a long-term initiative that aims at regeneration of local forest and communities living there."We work with local communities to have a good forest.Kumbhalgarh forest protects eastern part of Rajasthan from desertification. So, this effort has implications beyond wildlife also," says Shethia.Local types of tress are mainly planted in these areas, apart from economically viable options like bamboo, which can also be used in building houses by locals.The idea began when in June 2010, Pradip Shah, founder of CRISIL, a credit rating agency, was gifted a garden of 100 trees planted in his honour in Israel for technical assistance that he provided to a rating agency there."Tree planting creates low-skill jobs, and benefits current and future generations, has a direct impact on carbon reduction, restoring forests, improving wildlife habitats, and upgrading water catchment areas, and offer flowers, fruit fodder and fuel for local communities and all living creatures," says Shah.The philosophy is to help each interested individual to offset carbon emissions caused by him and his family or friends by using electricity, air-conditioners, aeroplanes etc. The cost of planting a tree is Rs 50."The per capita carbon emission in India is currently around 1.2 tonnes per annum, expected to rise to 2-2.5 tonnes by 2020 and 3-3.5 tonnes by 2030. A large tree inhales 20.3 kgs of carbon-dioxide in a year and exhales enough oxygen for a family of four for a year," says Shah.People have the option on the website to calculate the amount of carbon emitted due to them and they can also calculate the number of trees needed to offset this emission.The United Nations Environment Program has recognised efforts of Grow-Trees.com and has declared it as official partner in its 'Billion Tree Campaign'.For the future, says Shah, the target is to plant ten lakh trees and increase the plantations in cities by partnering with schools and colleges there.
Source-ibnlive.in.com
Sourced by jimsjungleretreat
PTI | 12:05 PM,May 08,2011
Yash Shethia, Team leader of FES working around Kumbhalgarh Sanctuary in Udaipur says it is a long-term initiative that aims at regeneration of local forest and communities living there."We work with local communities to have a good forest.Kumbhalgarh forest protects eastern part of Rajasthan from desertification. So, this effort has implications beyond wildlife also," says Shethia.Local types of tress are mainly planted in these areas, apart from economically viable options like bamboo, which can also be used in building houses by locals.The idea began when in June 2010, Pradip Shah, founder of CRISIL, a credit rating agency, was gifted a garden of 100 trees planted in his honour in Israel for technical assistance that he provided to a rating agency there."Tree planting creates low-skill jobs, and benefits current and future generations, has a direct impact on carbon reduction, restoring forests, improving wildlife habitats, and upgrading water catchment areas, and offer flowers, fruit fodder and fuel for local communities and all living creatures," says Shah.The philosophy is to help each interested individual to offset carbon emissions caused by him and his family or friends by using electricity, air-conditioners, aeroplanes etc. The cost of planting a tree is Rs 50."The per capita carbon emission in India is currently around 1.2 tonnes per annum, expected to rise to 2-2.5 tonnes by 2020 and 3-3.5 tonnes by 2030. A large tree inhales 20.3 kgs of carbon-dioxide in a year and exhales enough oxygen for a family of four for a year," says Shah.People have the option on the website to calculate the amount of carbon emitted due to them and they can also calculate the number of trees needed to offset this emission.The United Nations Environment Program has recognised efforts of Grow-Trees.com and has declared it as official partner in its 'Billion Tree Campaign'.For the future, says Shah, the target is to plant ten lakh trees and increase the plantations in cities by partnering with schools and colleges there.
Source-ibnlive.in.com
Sourced by jimsjungleretreat
Elephant countries form 'E-8' action group
Story/Place-New Delhi
AFP | May 24, 2011, 06.42pm IST
NEW DELHI: Eight countries with the largest number of elephants met for the first on Tuesday in New Delhi to plot new strategies to protect the animal.
"Delegates represent two-thirds of the world's wild elephant population," Indian environment minister Jairam Ramesh told the inaugural gathering of the Elephant-8 group.
"From poaching for their ivory to habitat loss, every issue to conserve the elephant needs to be addressed."
Wildlife experts say both the African and Asian elephant face numerous threats and a combined effort from all countries was needed to ensure the animal's long-term survival.
The meeting was attended by delegates from Botswana, Congo, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Thailand.
India is home to an estimated 25,000 Asian elephants but their numbers are falling due to poaching and habitat destruction.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
AFP | May 24, 2011, 06.42pm IST
NEW DELHI: Eight countries with the largest number of elephants met for the first on Tuesday in New Delhi to plot new strategies to protect the animal.
"Delegates represent two-thirds of the world's wild elephant population," Indian environment minister Jairam Ramesh told the inaugural gathering of the Elephant-8 group.
"From poaching for their ivory to habitat loss, every issue to conserve the elephant needs to be addressed."
Wildlife experts say both the African and Asian elephant face numerous threats and a combined effort from all countries was needed to ensure the animal's long-term survival.
The meeting was attended by delegates from Botswana, Congo, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Thailand.
India is home to an estimated 25,000 Asian elephants but their numbers are falling due to poaching and habitat destruction.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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The Tiger Paradox: Tiger area shrinks, number increases
Story/Place-Kolkata
Subhro Niyogi, TNN | May 17, 2011, 03.12pm IST
KOLKATA: Call it a tiger paradox. The number of tigers in India has increased from 1,411 to 1,706 in four years but the total no. of tiger area has shrunk from 9 million hectare to 7 million hectare. Tiger estimation based on camera trap and DNA testing was done after a gap of four years and new areas such as Sunderbans and parts of Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and North-east were included for the first time.
Despite that, south India and terrai region in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh accounted for about 40% of tigers in India. South India now has the highest concentration of tigers anywhere in the world in a region whereas Corbett with around 220 tigers having highest tiger density in a reserve. There was no change in number of big cats in central India, touted as tiger capital, with decline in their numbers in Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Jharkhand and an increase in Maharashtra, which has surprised wildlife experts.
"We don't agree with the number as of now," said PS Pable, MP's chief wildlife warden. There was also dissent on the estimation from Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Sunderbans, who doubted the methodology of the study. There were 150 tigers in Sunderbans as compared to 70 in present estimation.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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Subhro Niyogi, TNN | May 17, 2011, 03.12pm IST
KOLKATA: Call it a tiger paradox. The number of tigers in India has increased from 1,411 to 1,706 in four years but the total no. of tiger area has shrunk from 9 million hectare to 7 million hectare. Tiger estimation based on camera trap and DNA testing was done after a gap of four years and new areas such as Sunderbans and parts of Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and North-east were included for the first time.
Despite that, south India and terrai region in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh accounted for about 40% of tigers in India. South India now has the highest concentration of tigers anywhere in the world in a region whereas Corbett with around 220 tigers having highest tiger density in a reserve. There was no change in number of big cats in central India, touted as tiger capital, with decline in their numbers in Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Jharkhand and an increase in Maharashtra, which has surprised wildlife experts.
"We don't agree with the number as of now," said PS Pable, MP's chief wildlife warden. There was also dissent on the estimation from Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Sunderbans, who doubted the methodology of the study. There were 150 tigers in Sunderbans as compared to 70 in present estimation.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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Youths collecting tendu from Nagzira held
Story/Place-Nagpur,
May 9, 2011,
NAGPUR: Three youths were nabbed inside Nagzira wildlife sanctuary while collecting tendu leaves on Sunday. This has put a big question mark over protection inside the sanctuary.
According to sources, the youths from Pitezari village near Nagzira gate, were caught collecting tendu leaves on tiger trail in sanctuary's core area. The spot is several kilometres from the Pitezari gate.
Wildlife laws prohibit collection of tendu from inside a protected area. Actually, no tendu collection can be allowed three kilometres from the sanctuary boundary. Nagzira is set to be upgraded into a full-fledged tiger reserve.
The incident took place when additional principal chief conservator of forests (APCCF) for wildlife A K Saxena and other officials were on a visit of Nagzira on Sunday. Forest officials have not yet filed any primary offence report (POR) against the youths whose names were kept under wraps for being locals. However, the officials are trying to book the contractor who must have prompted the youths to enter the sanctuary to collect tendu leaves.
The youths were caught plucking tendu leaves for the second consecutive day. Sources said the youths entered the sanctuary in the wee hours and collected tendu in area prohibited even for tourists. They moved out after 11 am when tourist movement came to a standstill.
Meanwhile, officials have launch a hunt for accused involved in killing a wild boar on the periphery of Nagzira three days ago. The kingpin, Indrakumar Sahare of Dhanori, is absconding. He was earlier working as daily wager (van majoor) with the sanctuary.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
May 9, 2011,
NAGPUR: Three youths were nabbed inside Nagzira wildlife sanctuary while collecting tendu leaves on Sunday. This has put a big question mark over protection inside the sanctuary.
According to sources, the youths from Pitezari village near Nagzira gate, were caught collecting tendu leaves on tiger trail in sanctuary's core area. The spot is several kilometres from the Pitezari gate.
Wildlife laws prohibit collection of tendu from inside a protected area. Actually, no tendu collection can be allowed three kilometres from the sanctuary boundary. Nagzira is set to be upgraded into a full-fledged tiger reserve.
The incident took place when additional principal chief conservator of forests (APCCF) for wildlife A K Saxena and other officials were on a visit of Nagzira on Sunday. Forest officials have not yet filed any primary offence report (POR) against the youths whose names were kept under wraps for being locals. However, the officials are trying to book the contractor who must have prompted the youths to enter the sanctuary to collect tendu leaves.
The youths were caught plucking tendu leaves for the second consecutive day. Sources said the youths entered the sanctuary in the wee hours and collected tendu in area prohibited even for tourists. They moved out after 11 am when tourist movement came to a standstill.
Meanwhile, officials have launch a hunt for accused involved in killing a wild boar on the periphery of Nagzira three days ago. The kingpin, Indrakumar Sahare of Dhanori, is absconding. He was earlier working as daily wager (van majoor) with the sanctuary.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Activists question utility of fresh inquiry into Sariska shame
Story/Place-Jaipur,
Anindo Dey, May 8, 2011,
JAIPUR: Wildlife activists have questioned the utility of another investigation into the Sariska shame seven years after the reserve was poached of all its tigers.
"What do they hope to find after seven years since the tigers became extinct in the sanctuary. It is difficult to find anything even seven days after a tiger's death and seven years is a long time. Tigers are now back on the reserve," activists said.
"Take the example of the last tiger death in Sariska ---that of male tiger ST-1. We were unable to find much details even days after its death and this incident is now history," they add.
Seven years after it came to light in 2005, the Sariska tiger reserve was cleaned of all its big cats, the Rajasthan government on Monday began another investigation into the disappearance, poaching and lapses in security for tigers there. The investigation is being done by the state's additional chief secretary, development, B B Mohanty.
It comes at a time when not only are many of those accused in poaching at Sariska, including Sansar Chand and his brother, are behind bars but most of the officers and field staff that were present then have long been changed.
Even tigers, five to be precise, are now back again at Sariska with the state forest department embarking on an ambitious relocation programme in 2008..
But BB Mohanty sounded confident and claimed to have even discovered a "connivance"' that was ultimately responsible for wiping out tigers at the sanctuary.
"It will be a very different story once the investigations are over. I am trying to get down to the real issue. There is a sort of a connivance that exists in Sariska and we will bring this out after the investigation," he said.
Interestingly, the state government had not only ordered an inquiry by the then chief wildlife warden R N Mehrotra no sooner did Sariska's shame hit the national headlines, but that was followed by another committee set up by the Vidhan Sabha under the BJP MP from Bhilwara VP Singh. This again was followed by investigations by a special committee set up by the Prime Minister and the CBI.
"Though this inquiry was instituted in 2010, but it was only in March 2011 that I took over the investigations. I have visited Sariska twice and am being aided by a person from the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun. We will come out with the real, detailed story in about two-three months. Prior to this not much work had been done in the investigations," claimed Mohanty.
According to Mohanty the investigations will be focusing on carelessness in keeping a count of tigers, managerial failure in the project, security lapses, lapses in measures to protect wildlife, officers and other staff ultimately responsible for the poaching of tigers, lack of punitive action on staff responsible for poaching and the non-utilisation of budget.
"Sariska is not only facing a problem of lack of water bodies which are absolutely necessary for wildlife there, but problems also stem from the fact that villages in the sanctuary release their livestock to graze in the forest thereby robbing it of greenery. I am in touch with experts and have sought the advice of residents, school teachers etc so that we are able to do a transparent investigation," he added.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Anindo Dey, May 8, 2011,
JAIPUR: Wildlife activists have questioned the utility of another investigation into the Sariska shame seven years after the reserve was poached of all its tigers.
"What do they hope to find after seven years since the tigers became extinct in the sanctuary. It is difficult to find anything even seven days after a tiger's death and seven years is a long time. Tigers are now back on the reserve," activists said.
"Take the example of the last tiger death in Sariska ---that of male tiger ST-1. We were unable to find much details even days after its death and this incident is now history," they add.
Seven years after it came to light in 2005, the Sariska tiger reserve was cleaned of all its big cats, the Rajasthan government on Monday began another investigation into the disappearance, poaching and lapses in security for tigers there. The investigation is being done by the state's additional chief secretary, development, B B Mohanty.
It comes at a time when not only are many of those accused in poaching at Sariska, including Sansar Chand and his brother, are behind bars but most of the officers and field staff that were present then have long been changed.
Even tigers, five to be precise, are now back again at Sariska with the state forest department embarking on an ambitious relocation programme in 2008..
But BB Mohanty sounded confident and claimed to have even discovered a "connivance"' that was ultimately responsible for wiping out tigers at the sanctuary.
"It will be a very different story once the investigations are over. I am trying to get down to the real issue. There is a sort of a connivance that exists in Sariska and we will bring this out after the investigation," he said.
Interestingly, the state government had not only ordered an inquiry by the then chief wildlife warden R N Mehrotra no sooner did Sariska's shame hit the national headlines, but that was followed by another committee set up by the Vidhan Sabha under the BJP MP from Bhilwara VP Singh. This again was followed by investigations by a special committee set up by the Prime Minister and the CBI.
"Though this inquiry was instituted in 2010, but it was only in March 2011 that I took over the investigations. I have visited Sariska twice and am being aided by a person from the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun. We will come out with the real, detailed story in about two-three months. Prior to this not much work had been done in the investigations," claimed Mohanty.
According to Mohanty the investigations will be focusing on carelessness in keeping a count of tigers, managerial failure in the project, security lapses, lapses in measures to protect wildlife, officers and other staff ultimately responsible for the poaching of tigers, lack of punitive action on staff responsible for poaching and the non-utilisation of budget.
"Sariska is not only facing a problem of lack of water bodies which are absolutely necessary for wildlife there, but problems also stem from the fact that villages in the sanctuary release their livestock to graze in the forest thereby robbing it of greenery. I am in touch with experts and have sought the advice of residents, school teachers etc so that we are able to do a transparent investigation," he added.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Monday, May 9, 2011
Still a long way to go, feel wildlife experts
Story/Place-Nagpur,
Vaibhav Ganjapure & Manka Behl,Apr 16, 2011
NAGPUR: The city expressed its unreserved joy at the announcement by Union minister Jairam Ramesh that he was in principal approving the city's demand to be named the tiger capital. MP Vilas Muttemwar, who has been pursuing the tiger tourism concept for the last two years, too expressed joy over Ramesh's nod on Friday to the idea of developing Nagpur as a gateway to tiger land.
"Tourism in Vidarbha is a gold mine waiting to be explored. The rich biodiversity and quick access from Nagpur to a large number of tiger reserves can be transformed into an economic asset, just like the Taj Mahal. A large number of foreign and domestic tourists can be attracted if the tiger gateway is effectively managed and gets the right infrastructure," said Muttemwar.
The senior Congress leader had drawn Ramesh's attention to this in a letter on August 3 2009. Before that, Muttemwar's efforts had led to the then Union tourism minister Ambika Soni sanctioning Rs 37 crore for a mega circuit covering Pench-Ramtek-Khindsi and Nagardhan.
Most of the people said that the Orange City has finally got a status it has deserved for so many years. The TOI initiative in this regard had evoked massive response from citizens. Those who had long aspired for this status were on cloud nine when TOI broke this news to them. Most of them however cautioned that it's just the beginning and there's a long way to go before the city actually becomes the Gateway to Tigerland.
"Now, the focus should be on infrastructure development in the city and on the tiger sanctuaries. We should expedite setting up of National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) for better conservation of the majestic beast. A national-level conference on tigers should be immediately convened in the city, where Ramesh should be invited as chief guest," Vidarbha Economic Development (VED) Council president Vilas Kale said.
Endorsing his views, nature lover Anuradha Paul said tourism should be properly monitored and controlled. "I think local communities like villagers and tribals living on forest periphery should be involved in the planning process and they should be given jobs on priority."
Wildlife lover Bandu Dhotre stressed that focus should now shift to the tiger's safety and conservation rather than tourism. "Their safety should be the first priority. Also, awareness is needed in villages near forests and proper facilities should be provided to areas where tigers are frequently sighted."
source-source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Vaibhav Ganjapure & Manka Behl,Apr 16, 2011
NAGPUR: The city expressed its unreserved joy at the announcement by Union minister Jairam Ramesh that he was in principal approving the city's demand to be named the tiger capital. MP Vilas Muttemwar, who has been pursuing the tiger tourism concept for the last two years, too expressed joy over Ramesh's nod on Friday to the idea of developing Nagpur as a gateway to tiger land.
"Tourism in Vidarbha is a gold mine waiting to be explored. The rich biodiversity and quick access from Nagpur to a large number of tiger reserves can be transformed into an economic asset, just like the Taj Mahal. A large number of foreign and domestic tourists can be attracted if the tiger gateway is effectively managed and gets the right infrastructure," said Muttemwar.
The senior Congress leader had drawn Ramesh's attention to this in a letter on August 3 2009. Before that, Muttemwar's efforts had led to the then Union tourism minister Ambika Soni sanctioning Rs 37 crore for a mega circuit covering Pench-Ramtek-Khindsi and Nagardhan.
Most of the people said that the Orange City has finally got a status it has deserved for so many years. The TOI initiative in this regard had evoked massive response from citizens. Those who had long aspired for this status were on cloud nine when TOI broke this news to them. Most of them however cautioned that it's just the beginning and there's a long way to go before the city actually becomes the Gateway to Tigerland.
"Now, the focus should be on infrastructure development in the city and on the tiger sanctuaries. We should expedite setting up of National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) for better conservation of the majestic beast. A national-level conference on tigers should be immediately convened in the city, where Ramesh should be invited as chief guest," Vidarbha Economic Development (VED) Council president Vilas Kale said.
Endorsing his views, nature lover Anuradha Paul said tourism should be properly monitored and controlled. "I think local communities like villagers and tribals living on forest periphery should be involved in the planning process and they should be given jobs on priority."
Wildlife lover Bandu Dhotre stressed that focus should now shift to the tiger's safety and conservation rather than tourism. "Their safety should be the first priority. Also, awareness is needed in villages near forests and proper facilities should be provided to areas where tigers are frequently sighted."
source-source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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Bawanthadi irri project likely to have crossovers for wildlife
Story/Place-Nagpur
Vijay Pinjarkar, TNN, Apr 25, 2011
NAGPUR: In bid to suggest mitigative measures for damage to wildlife after the construction of Rajiv Sagar (Bawanthadi) major irrigation project, a team of two forest officials will tour the area on Wednesday.
The decision was taken on Wednesday at a meeting called by Krishna Mohan, chief conservator of forests (CCF), Nagpur Territorial. Forest and irrigation department officials too were present.
The dam site is near Kudwa village in Katangi in Balaghat (MP) and Sitekasa village of Tumsar in Bhandara district (Maharashtra). The Bawanthadi project will help irrigate 18,615 hectare land in Balaghat district and 17,537 hectares in Bhandara district.
Over 828.469 hectares of additional forest land in Maharashtra and 473.310 hectare forest land in MP is being diverted for the Bawanthadi project. The ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) in 2008-09 had in-principle granted environment clearance under the Forest Conservation Act (FCA) 1980.
Last week the MoEF issued a letter to the state government asking it to fulfill 18 conditions. One of the conditions is that the irrigation department has to ensure that there shall be no damage to wildlife in the area and it should help the state forest department in promotion of wildlife conservation at its cost as advised by the forest department.
Accordingly, the meeting between irrigation and forest officials was held on April 20. It has been decided to depute GK Vashisht, assistant conservator of forests (ACF), Pench, and ACF A W Nimje from Bhandara.
Bawanthadi forest is connected to Pench and Nagzira tiger sanctuaries. It spreads towards the west upto national highway 7 and joins Mansingdeo Wildlife Sanctuary too.
The irrigation department is under pressure for early completion of the project. They have constructed many deep canals which fall in the path of wildlife crossing.
"We will visit the Bawanthadi site and suggest design and specifications for crossovers for wild animals. We will also inspect the existing ducts constructed for passing of animals and submit a report in May," said Vashisht.
The issue assumes significance as big irrigation projects like Gosikhurd and Bawanthadi will choke wildlife corridors spelling doom for tigers. No mitigation measures were taken while constructing Gosikhurd irrigation project, which connects Navegaon National Park and Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR). It has resulted in numerous wild life deaths.
"Failure of irrigation department in taking mitigative measures while constructing Gosikhurd has choked the tiger corridor from Tadoba. This is resulting in deaths of scheduled animals including sambar, deer, bisons and of late a leopard," alleged Kundan Hate, working for saving wildlife.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Vijay Pinjarkar, TNN, Apr 25, 2011
NAGPUR: In bid to suggest mitigative measures for damage to wildlife after the construction of Rajiv Sagar (Bawanthadi) major irrigation project, a team of two forest officials will tour the area on Wednesday.
The decision was taken on Wednesday at a meeting called by Krishna Mohan, chief conservator of forests (CCF), Nagpur Territorial. Forest and irrigation department officials too were present.
The dam site is near Kudwa village in Katangi in Balaghat (MP) and Sitekasa village of Tumsar in Bhandara district (Maharashtra). The Bawanthadi project will help irrigate 18,615 hectare land in Balaghat district and 17,537 hectares in Bhandara district.
Over 828.469 hectares of additional forest land in Maharashtra and 473.310 hectare forest land in MP is being diverted for the Bawanthadi project. The ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) in 2008-09 had in-principle granted environment clearance under the Forest Conservation Act (FCA) 1980.
Last week the MoEF issued a letter to the state government asking it to fulfill 18 conditions. One of the conditions is that the irrigation department has to ensure that there shall be no damage to wildlife in the area and it should help the state forest department in promotion of wildlife conservation at its cost as advised by the forest department.
Accordingly, the meeting between irrigation and forest officials was held on April 20. It has been decided to depute GK Vashisht, assistant conservator of forests (ACF), Pench, and ACF A W Nimje from Bhandara.
Bawanthadi forest is connected to Pench and Nagzira tiger sanctuaries. It spreads towards the west upto national highway 7 and joins Mansingdeo Wildlife Sanctuary too.
The irrigation department is under pressure for early completion of the project. They have constructed many deep canals which fall in the path of wildlife crossing.
"We will visit the Bawanthadi site and suggest design and specifications for crossovers for wild animals. We will also inspect the existing ducts constructed for passing of animals and submit a report in May," said Vashisht.
The issue assumes significance as big irrigation projects like Gosikhurd and Bawanthadi will choke wildlife corridors spelling doom for tigers. No mitigation measures were taken while constructing Gosikhurd irrigation project, which connects Navegaon National Park and Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR). It has resulted in numerous wild life deaths.
"Failure of irrigation department in taking mitigative measures while constructing Gosikhurd has choked the tiger corridor from Tadoba. This is resulting in deaths of scheduled animals including sambar, deer, bisons and of late a leopard," alleged Kundan Hate, working for saving wildlife.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
WWI team in Sariska to change male tiger's collar
Story/Place-Jaipur
TNN, Apr 25, 2011,
JAIPUR: A Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, team is currently at the Sariska national park. It will try to change the VHS radio collar of male tiger ST-4 that has become defunct for quite some time.
According to forest department officials, "A two-member team from the WII has been in the park for some time. They will try to tranquillise the male tiger in a day or two. We are changing the radio collar of ST-4. It has been defunct for quite some time and we are not receiving signals from it," they said.
Initially, the plans were to replace the collar of tigress ST-2 that has not been working well, but officials said it has now started functioning and will not be replaced immediately.
"In case of ST-2 we will also have to be more careful and there are chances of the tigress being pregnant and in that case tranquillising it will not advisable," officials said.
However, what remains intriguing is lack of effort of the department in introducing satellite collars for tigers. Satellite collars send constant signals no matter where the tigers are as against VHS collars that often stop signals when tigers stray far go into valleys. However, the cost of satellite collars are more than VHS ones.
Union minister for forest and environment Jairam Ramesh, during one of his visit to Sariska after the death of male tiger ST-1, had also suggested use of satellite collars despite their costs. He had even instructed Rajesh Gopal, director, National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), but the move seems to have no takers.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
TNN, Apr 25, 2011,
JAIPUR: A Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, team is currently at the Sariska national park. It will try to change the VHS radio collar of male tiger ST-4 that has become defunct for quite some time.
According to forest department officials, "A two-member team from the WII has been in the park for some time. They will try to tranquillise the male tiger in a day or two. We are changing the radio collar of ST-4. It has been defunct for quite some time and we are not receiving signals from it," they said.
Initially, the plans were to replace the collar of tigress ST-2 that has not been working well, but officials said it has now started functioning and will not be replaced immediately.
"In case of ST-2 we will also have to be more careful and there are chances of the tigress being pregnant and in that case tranquillising it will not advisable," officials said.
However, what remains intriguing is lack of effort of the department in introducing satellite collars for tigers. Satellite collars send constant signals no matter where the tigers are as against VHS collars that often stop signals when tigers stray far go into valleys. However, the cost of satellite collars are more than VHS ones.
Union minister for forest and environment Jairam Ramesh, during one of his visit to Sariska after the death of male tiger ST-1, had also suggested use of satellite collars despite their costs. He had even instructed Rajesh Gopal, director, National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), but the move seems to have no takers.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
5-day wildlife census in Mudumalai from May 4
Story/Place-Nilgiris,
Shantha Thiagarajan, TNN, Apr 26, 2011, 12.58am IST
UDHAGAMANDALAM: For the first time, a wildlife census in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) and its buffer zones in the Nilgiris will be launched on May 4.
Volunteers from NGOs and colleges and forest officials will participate in the five-day census that will cover more than 700sqkm of forest areas in the Mudumalai reserve and the buffer zones, which comprise the north eastern slope reserve forests in the Nilgiris.
"The census is conducted periodically in the MTR reserve for different animals but this is the first time, a total wildlife census is being launched," said A Ameer Haja, deputy director, Mudumalai Tiger Reserve and Mukurthi National Park.
The census will cover the MTR which extends over an area of about 321 square kilometres at the junction of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka, apart from buffer zones comprising an area of about over 380 sqkm. The buffer zones comprise the three main forest reserves of Sigur, Singara and Thengumarahada.
"Forty seven transact lines have been identified in the forest area for the purpose of the census. Different strategies will be followed while conducting animal census," said Haja, adding that it will be a synchronized census. At least 100 volunteers will be participating in the operation.
The volunteers include members of the Nilgiri Wildlife and Environment Association and college students. "Forty seven teams will be formed and each team will include a forest watcher and a forest guard. Range finders will also be used for the census," said the official.
The census teams will follow the line transacts already marked in the forest and look for animals. In the indirect counting method, dung counts will be recorded for elephants and gaur and signs such as pug marks and scratch marks will be recorded for carnivores.
On April 27 and 28, a training class will be held for the forest officials and the volunteers will be trained on May 3. "The volunteers will be instructed not to wear bright coloured clothing while performing census duty," said Haja. They will also be instructed not to use perfume or talk loudly.
Recently, a tiger census and an elephant census were conducted in MTR. The Mudumalai reserve will be again closed to the public for five days during the census from May 4, according to the official.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Shantha Thiagarajan, TNN, Apr 26, 2011, 12.58am IST
UDHAGAMANDALAM: For the first time, a wildlife census in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) and its buffer zones in the Nilgiris will be launched on May 4.
Volunteers from NGOs and colleges and forest officials will participate in the five-day census that will cover more than 700sqkm of forest areas in the Mudumalai reserve and the buffer zones, which comprise the north eastern slope reserve forests in the Nilgiris.
"The census is conducted periodically in the MTR reserve for different animals but this is the first time, a total wildlife census is being launched," said A Ameer Haja, deputy director, Mudumalai Tiger Reserve and Mukurthi National Park.
The census will cover the MTR which extends over an area of about 321 square kilometres at the junction of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka, apart from buffer zones comprising an area of about over 380 sqkm. The buffer zones comprise the three main forest reserves of Sigur, Singara and Thengumarahada.
"Forty seven transact lines have been identified in the forest area for the purpose of the census. Different strategies will be followed while conducting animal census," said Haja, adding that it will be a synchronized census. At least 100 volunteers will be participating in the operation.
The volunteers include members of the Nilgiri Wildlife and Environment Association and college students. "Forty seven teams will be formed and each team will include a forest watcher and a forest guard. Range finders will also be used for the census," said the official.
The census teams will follow the line transacts already marked in the forest and look for animals. In the indirect counting method, dung counts will be recorded for elephants and gaur and signs such as pug marks and scratch marks will be recorded for carnivores.
On April 27 and 28, a training class will be held for the forest officials and the volunteers will be trained on May 3. "The volunteers will be instructed not to wear bright coloured clothing while performing census duty," said Haja. They will also be instructed not to use perfume or talk loudly.
Recently, a tiger census and an elephant census were conducted in MTR. The Mudumalai reserve will be again closed to the public for five days during the census from May 4, according to the official.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Rare Clouded Leopard Cubs Released In India
INDIA (ENDANGERED SPECIES) –This is the first known instance of the rare clouded leopard being rehabilitated and radio-collared in India. – Global Animal
International Fund for Animal Welfare
Manas, India - Two clouded leopard cubs have been radio-collared and returned to the wild by the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW –www.ifaw.org), and its partner the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI). This is the first known instance of clouded leopards being rehabilitated and radio-collared in India.
The radio-collars will help rehabilitators track the movement of the cubs as they become completely independent of human care and begin exploring on their own.
An extremely shy, nocturnal, and tree-dwelling species found in India’s northeast region, the clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) is in peril today with only about 10,000 remaining in the wild. The clouded leopard is listed in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and is classified ‘vulnerable’ in IUCN Red List of threatened species.
“BTC has been supporting this effort to rehabilitate these clouded leopards in Ripu Reserve Forest –a part of Manas Tiger Reserve- and we are eagerly waiting for the result. The clouded leopard is seen in limited numbers in these forests and this effort will contribute in the conservation of this rare animal. The Council is very thankful to IFAW-WTI for this venture,” said GC Basumatary, Council Head, Forest Department, BTC.
The orphaned cubs, rescued by the Assam Forest Department in March last year, were hand-raised at an IFAW-supported mobile veterinary station. In September, 2009, the two cubs were relocated to Manas National Park for in situ acclimatization.
“The cubs have undergone eight months of acclimatization in the wild. Initially, they were taken for walks during the day, while being kept in a spacious enclosure at night for safety. In the past two months, the cubs were allowed to be in the wild 24/7. As the cubs are now free-ranging and no longer dependent on the enclosure, it was prudent to radio-collar them for monitoring,” added Dr Ashraf.
source-globalanimal.org
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
International Fund for Animal Welfare
Manas, India - Two clouded leopard cubs have been radio-collared and returned to the wild by the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW –www.ifaw.org), and its partner the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI). This is the first known instance of clouded leopards being rehabilitated and radio-collared in India.
The radio-collars will help rehabilitators track the movement of the cubs as they become completely independent of human care and begin exploring on their own.
An extremely shy, nocturnal, and tree-dwelling species found in India’s northeast region, the clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) is in peril today with only about 10,000 remaining in the wild. The clouded leopard is listed in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and is classified ‘vulnerable’ in IUCN Red List of threatened species.
“BTC has been supporting this effort to rehabilitate these clouded leopards in Ripu Reserve Forest –a part of Manas Tiger Reserve- and we are eagerly waiting for the result. The clouded leopard is seen in limited numbers in these forests and this effort will contribute in the conservation of this rare animal. The Council is very thankful to IFAW-WTI for this venture,” said GC Basumatary, Council Head, Forest Department, BTC.
The orphaned cubs, rescued by the Assam Forest Department in March last year, were hand-raised at an IFAW-supported mobile veterinary station. In September, 2009, the two cubs were relocated to Manas National Park for in situ acclimatization.
“The cubs have undergone eight months of acclimatization in the wild. Initially, they were taken for walks during the day, while being kept in a spacious enclosure at night for safety. In the past two months, the cubs were allowed to be in the wild 24/7. As the cubs are now free-ranging and no longer dependent on the enclosure, it was prudent to radio-collar them for monitoring,” added Dr Ashraf.
source-globalanimal.org
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Wildlife board approves trolley service for Thane shrine
Story/Place-Mumbai,
Apr 28, 2011, 03.43am IST
MUMBAI: The National Wildlife Board has approved the setting up of funicular trolleys to ferry devotees to Haji Malangad, a well-known dargah in Thane district.
Tourism minister Chhagan Bhujbal said that trolleys would also be set up at other places of worship such as Saptashrungigad, Mahurgad and Jejuri.
Though the Haji Malangad proposal had been approved by the Union environment ministry in 2008, the proposal required the sanction of the Matheran Monitoring Committee and the National Wildlife Board as it is part of the Matheran eco-sensitive zone.
At Malangad, the trolley will be constructed on a build, own, operate basis. It will comprise two trolleys each with a passenger capacity of 60. There will be one station constructed at the base and the other at the top.
The state cabinet had approved Rs 46 crore for the project. The contract has been awarded to Supreme Suyog Yashita Consortium for a period of 24 years.
sourc-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Apr 28, 2011, 03.43am IST
MUMBAI: The National Wildlife Board has approved the setting up of funicular trolleys to ferry devotees to Haji Malangad, a well-known dargah in Thane district.
Tourism minister Chhagan Bhujbal said that trolleys would also be set up at other places of worship such as Saptashrungigad, Mahurgad and Jejuri.
Though the Haji Malangad proposal had been approved by the Union environment ministry in 2008, the proposal required the sanction of the Matheran Monitoring Committee and the National Wildlife Board as it is part of the Matheran eco-sensitive zone.
At Malangad, the trolley will be constructed on a build, own, operate basis. It will comprise two trolleys each with a passenger capacity of 60. There will be one station constructed at the base and the other at the top.
The state cabinet had approved Rs 46 crore for the project. The contract has been awarded to Supreme Suyog Yashita Consortium for a period of 24 years.
sourc-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Wildlife board accepts panel's report on Kolleru
Story/Place-Hyderabad,
Mir Ayoob Ali Khan, Apr 29, 2011,
HYDERABAD: In a swift move, the National Board for Wildlife accepted the Azeez Committee recommendations on retaining the Kolleru Wildlife Sanctuary area at plus five feet contour. The move comes as a blow to the State Wildlife Board as it is learnt that it was planning to meet, discuss and reject the proposal.
According to sources, the state government perturbed over the committee report had wanted to call for a meeting of the SWLB and declare that the recommendations, if accepted, would go against the interests of the aqua farmers in the area.
Meanwhile, unaware of the state government thinking, the NBW which met earlier this week decided to accept the committee recommendations.
The NBW had set up the seven-member committee headed by Dr Azeez of Coimbatore on April 29, 2010 to study the conditions related to Kolleru lake and recommend whether its contours could be reduced to plus three feet from the existing plus five feet. The committee which visited the lake, conducted interviews with a large cross-section of the population, studied material available on the subject and submitted its report last week.
The committee concluded that the villages around the lake are facing frequent floods owing to human intervention that is interfering with the hydrological regimes and flow pattern.
Kolleru, the largest fresh water lake in India, falls in the West Godavari and Krishna districts. The lake is formed on two large conjoined elliptical sub basins and flows in to the Bay of Bengal through the meandering channel called Upputeru, which is about 65 km long. The channel is under strong tidal influence and turns brackish especially towards its downstream stretch.
sourc-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Mir Ayoob Ali Khan, Apr 29, 2011,
HYDERABAD: In a swift move, the National Board for Wildlife accepted the Azeez Committee recommendations on retaining the Kolleru Wildlife Sanctuary area at plus five feet contour. The move comes as a blow to the State Wildlife Board as it is learnt that it was planning to meet, discuss and reject the proposal.
According to sources, the state government perturbed over the committee report had wanted to call for a meeting of the SWLB and declare that the recommendations, if accepted, would go against the interests of the aqua farmers in the area.
Meanwhile, unaware of the state government thinking, the NBW which met earlier this week decided to accept the committee recommendations.
The NBW had set up the seven-member committee headed by Dr Azeez of Coimbatore on April 29, 2010 to study the conditions related to Kolleru lake and recommend whether its contours could be reduced to plus three feet from the existing plus five feet. The committee which visited the lake, conducted interviews with a large cross-section of the population, studied material available on the subject and submitted its report last week.
The committee concluded that the villages around the lake are facing frequent floods owing to human intervention that is interfering with the hydrological regimes and flow pattern.
Kolleru, the largest fresh water lake in India, falls in the West Godavari and Krishna districts. The lake is formed on two large conjoined elliptical sub basins and flows in to the Bay of Bengal through the meandering channel called Upputeru, which is about 65 km long. The channel is under strong tidal influence and turns brackish especially towards its downstream stretch.
sourc-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Villagers claim sighting of three tigers in Tipeshwar
Story/Place-Yavatmal,
Apr 30, 2011,
YAVATMAL: Though not officially confirmed, the villagers in the vicinity of Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary in Yavatmal district have claimed to have sighted at least three tigers in the forest during the last one year. They have justified their claim on the basis of the 'kill case' parameters.
The recently concluded tiger census across the country has shown an appreciable increase in the tiger population. Though there was confirmation of one tiger in Yavatmal forest in the previous census report, this time it was found missing. The reason for the disappearance of tiger was stated as regular migration from one region to another.
Yavatmal district has two wildlife sanctuaries, namely, Tipeshwar and Painganga. Tipeshwar sanctuary is spread over 1,300 square kilometre area of which 1,000 sq km come under Pattan range while the remaining 300 sq km is in Parwa range.
As per norms, the survey is conducted every year in the sanctuary while once in four years in the adjoining jungles. In the recent past, the movement of wildlife was seen through latest cameras. However, this arrangement is not made available in Tipeshwar sanctuary and the forest officials adopt traditional methods such as pug marks and excreta. They also take into account the 'kill cases' to conclude the nature and size of animals.
In Painganga sanctuary, there are panthers and other comparatively less fierce animals but nobody claimed to have spotted tigers there. The presence of these wild animals is also identified with their preys/hunts.
Villagers in the vicinity of Tipeshwar claimed to have sighted tiger in the forest. Pavan Patil saw a tiger drinking water near a hand pump in his village.
When contacted, deputy conservator of forest Sudhakar Dhole said that Tipeshwar sanctuary comes under the jurisdiction of the wildlife department. He has claimed to have undergone special training for identification of tigers a couple of years ago and said the presence of tigers can easily be determined by way of analysing the method of 'kill case' and the claim of three tigers in Tipeshwar cannot be ruled out as the villagers have confirmed having seen the tigers.
"It is the need of the hour to go for a thorough survey in Tipeshwar and Painganga wildlife sanctuaries to find out the veracity of the claim of sighting three tigers," chief conservator of forest Devendra Kumar said, adding that wild animals like tigers and panthers frequently change their habitat.
However, both Dhole and Devendra Kumar did not deny the claim of the presence of three tigers in Tipeshwar.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Apr 30, 2011,
YAVATMAL: Though not officially confirmed, the villagers in the vicinity of Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary in Yavatmal district have claimed to have sighted at least three tigers in the forest during the last one year. They have justified their claim on the basis of the 'kill case' parameters.
The recently concluded tiger census across the country has shown an appreciable increase in the tiger population. Though there was confirmation of one tiger in Yavatmal forest in the previous census report, this time it was found missing. The reason for the disappearance of tiger was stated as regular migration from one region to another.
Yavatmal district has two wildlife sanctuaries, namely, Tipeshwar and Painganga. Tipeshwar sanctuary is spread over 1,300 square kilometre area of which 1,000 sq km come under Pattan range while the remaining 300 sq km is in Parwa range.
As per norms, the survey is conducted every year in the sanctuary while once in four years in the adjoining jungles. In the recent past, the movement of wildlife was seen through latest cameras. However, this arrangement is not made available in Tipeshwar sanctuary and the forest officials adopt traditional methods such as pug marks and excreta. They also take into account the 'kill cases' to conclude the nature and size of animals.
In Painganga sanctuary, there are panthers and other comparatively less fierce animals but nobody claimed to have spotted tigers there. The presence of these wild animals is also identified with their preys/hunts.
Villagers in the vicinity of Tipeshwar claimed to have sighted tiger in the forest. Pavan Patil saw a tiger drinking water near a hand pump in his village.
When contacted, deputy conservator of forest Sudhakar Dhole said that Tipeshwar sanctuary comes under the jurisdiction of the wildlife department. He has claimed to have undergone special training for identification of tigers a couple of years ago and said the presence of tigers can easily be determined by way of analysing the method of 'kill case' and the claim of three tigers in Tipeshwar cannot be ruled out as the villagers have confirmed having seen the tigers.
"It is the need of the hour to go for a thorough survey in Tipeshwar and Painganga wildlife sanctuaries to find out the veracity of the claim of sighting three tigers," chief conservator of forest Devendra Kumar said, adding that wild animals like tigers and panthers frequently change their habitat.
However, both Dhole and Devendra Kumar did not deny the claim of the presence of three tigers in Tipeshwar.
source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
Harmful practices being carried out inside reserve forests
A member of National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has drawn the Environment Ministry’s attention to harmful practices like building of rest houses inside reserve forests and its failure in stopping the trend.
“Under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) programme, many harmful forestry practices are being carried out for plantations, clearing and burning of weeds, civil works including plush rest houses, barracks in the core areas of Tiger Reserves, Protected Areas, etc,” a Ministry document quoted NBWL member Biswajit Mohanty as saying.
The issue was discussed recently at the Standing Committee Meeting of NBWL, which was chaired by Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh.
“Such activities impact wildlife and its habitat. There is no monitoring by the MoEF (Ministry of Environment and Forest) about such activities in the forest areas,” it said.
CAMPA, an ambitious central scheme for sustainable forest management, has over Rs 11,000 crore including accrued interest and the money, which had been lying in its bank accounts since 2002.
It was released for partial distribution to states by a Supreme Court ruling 2009, soon after Mr. Ramesh came to office.
The incidents of “harmful forestry practices” are reported from CAMPA beneficiary states of Orissa, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra, ministry sources said.
Mr. Mohanty, who pushed the agenda before the standing committee said there is “rampant burning of forest undergrowth” to clear them for plantations.
“Similarly, cutting of creepers like bahunia, etc which are useful fodder species for elephants is leading to increase in man elephant conflict,” Mr. Mohanty said.
The Committee should set up a sub-committee comprising of NBWL members, MoEF officers and Wildlife Institute of India (WII) scientists to tour the country in major CAMPA beneficiary states “to verify the harmful plantation practices or other civil works” carried out inside reserve forests, he said.
“This sub-committee can file reports with the MoEF about such activities that imperil wildlife and the MoEF can issue appropriate directions to the states,” he said.
Last month, Mr. Ramesh had said the Ministry was planning to review scheme as he was “horrified” by reports on its implementation in some states.
source-thehindu.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
“Under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) programme, many harmful forestry practices are being carried out for plantations, clearing and burning of weeds, civil works including plush rest houses, barracks in the core areas of Tiger Reserves, Protected Areas, etc,” a Ministry document quoted NBWL member Biswajit Mohanty as saying.
The issue was discussed recently at the Standing Committee Meeting of NBWL, which was chaired by Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh.
“Such activities impact wildlife and its habitat. There is no monitoring by the MoEF (Ministry of Environment and Forest) about such activities in the forest areas,” it said.
CAMPA, an ambitious central scheme for sustainable forest management, has over Rs 11,000 crore including accrued interest and the money, which had been lying in its bank accounts since 2002.
It was released for partial distribution to states by a Supreme Court ruling 2009, soon after Mr. Ramesh came to office.
The incidents of “harmful forestry practices” are reported from CAMPA beneficiary states of Orissa, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra, ministry sources said.
Mr. Mohanty, who pushed the agenda before the standing committee said there is “rampant burning of forest undergrowth” to clear them for plantations.
“Similarly, cutting of creepers like bahunia, etc which are useful fodder species for elephants is leading to increase in man elephant conflict,” Mr. Mohanty said.
The Committee should set up a sub-committee comprising of NBWL members, MoEF officers and Wildlife Institute of India (WII) scientists to tour the country in major CAMPA beneficiary states “to verify the harmful plantation practices or other civil works” carried out inside reserve forests, he said.
“This sub-committee can file reports with the MoEF about such activities that imperil wildlife and the MoEF can issue appropriate directions to the states,” he said.
Last month, Mr. Ramesh had said the Ministry was planning to review scheme as he was “horrified” by reports on its implementation in some states.
source-thehindu.com
sourced by jimsjungleretreat.com
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