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
Monday, May 9, 2011
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
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