Leopard enters house, takes away cat

COIMBATORE: Fear gripped Valparai and surroundings after a leopard entered a house on Monday night and took away a pet cat.

Jayanthi Sivan (40), a resident of Cooperative Colony in Valparai, was busy in the kitchen when she heard pounding sounds and growls around 8.15pm. When she went to the main hall to check out the noise, she saw the leopard walk out of the house with one of her cats. A shocked Jayanthi cried for help. By the time neighbours arrived, the animal had slipped into darkness.

The house is situated close to Nadumalai Tea Estate, where leopard sightings have become common after dark. Hamsa Bava, a neighbour, said the leopard is likely to return since it knows that about the other cat.

The other cat is so scared that it has not eaten any food so far, said Jayanthi.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/Leopard-enters-house-takes-away-cat/articleshow/18248555.cms

Visakhapatnam beaches give Olive Ridleys a raw deal

A full-grown Olive Ridley turtel found dead on
the sands of RK Beach in Visakhapatnam.

VISAKHAPATNAM: They travel thousands of miles from the coast of Mexico to Visakhapatnam, weathering numerous storms and threats along the way just to breed and nest in peace. But at the fag end of their journey, many of these intrepid travellers meet a ghastly end when they get caught in fishing nets and die of asphyxiation or fall prey to dog attacks on the beach.

The endangered Olive Ridley turtles, listed under schedule one of the endangered species list, land up in thousands on Indian shores between the months of November and March. While Odisha's Rushikulya and Gahirmatha beaches are mass breeding grounds, beaches along the Vizag coast like RK Beach, Rushikonda, Bhimili, Pudimadaka and Jodugudulapalem are sporadic nesting grounds that are proving to be hostile as in Odisha the fisherfolk fiercely guards these turtles and their nests.

According to experts, matured turtles, especially females, that move closer to the beaches to nest get caught in fishing nets due to the practice of bottom trawling followed by mechanized boats and trawlers off the coast of Vizag. "Each year from December to March, at least 40 to 50 matured turtles die each month after getting entangled in nets," said Pradip Nath of Visakhapatnam Society for Prevention and Care of Animals (VSPCA).

"Fishermen are supposed to use nets fixed with the TED (turtle exclusion device) but don't do it as it has not been made mandatory," added Professor Bharata Lakshmi from the Zoology Department of Andhra University.

"When we tried to enforce the TED, fishermen argued that their fish catch comes down by 10 to 20% when the real impact is only a 2% reduction. A turtle needs to surface every 45 minutes for oxygen but when they get entangled in the nets they are held underwater for a period of over 2 hours, which kills them," explained Nath of VSPCA.

The turtles lucky enough to dodge the fishing nets either fall prey to packs of hungry dogs or are crushed by callous beachgoers.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Visakhapatnam-beaches-give-Olive-Ridleys-a-raw-deal/articleshow/18230705.cms

Another rhino killed by poachers in Kaziranga

PTI
JORHAT: A rhino was killed and its horn removed at the Kaziranga National Park in Assam making it the fifth to have fallen prey to poachers this month.

The rhino was killed yesterday near Hatibandi Camp under Bagori range on the southern side of the park along Nagaon and Karbi Anglong districts, divisional forest officer (DFO) D D Gogoi said today.

Two empty cartridges of AK-47 assault rifle were recovered near the carcass, Gogoi said.

The police suspect the involvement of Karbi Peoples Liberation Tiger (KPLT) insurgents in the poaching.

A male rhino was killed on Sunday night near Borholla camp in the Burapahar range of the park.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Another-rhino-killed-by-poachers-in-Kaziranga/articleshow/18236778.cms

India, US join hands to tackle illegal wildlife trade

PTI 
NEW DELHI: India and the US have decided to join hands to tackle illegal wildlife trade, which involves billions of dollars annually.

US and Indian government officials, representatives of NGOs, wildlife lawyers and enforcement officials today discussed some of their challenges and successes in combating wildlife trafficking in the roundtable organised by the US Embassy and WWF/TRAFFIC India — two global organisations engaged in wildlife related issues — here.

"The United States and India have worked together on wildlife conservation for over 25 years. We will continue to work together to combat poaching, manage our wildlife resources, improve enforcement capacity, and reduce consumer demand for illegal wildlife products," said a joint statement issued after the meeting.

Co-chairing a panel discussion on Illegal Trade in Wildlife with WWF-India CEO and secretary general Ravi Singh, US under secretary of state for economic growth, energy, and environment, Robert D Hormats, emphasised the need for high-level political will, public outreach, and greater international coordination and cooperation to combat wildlife trafficking.

He was also of the opinion that regional enforcement networks such as the South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN) should be strengthened to deal with the problem.

Singh noted the intimate link between the decline of India's wildlife species, and alarming trends in illegal wildlife trafficking.

"It is imperative that issues of illegal wildlife trade should be taken up in a strategic manner, linking national agencies and senior government executives. Here, the US government can be an important partner on global wildlife intelligence, networking and sharing of best practices in enforcement," he said.

According to the WWF-India, illegal wildlife trade is estimated at USD 10-20 billion annually, and is among the largest sources of illegal trade.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/India-US-join-hands-to-tackle-illegal-wildlife-trade/articleshow/18242281.cms

Singapore seizes biggest ivory haul in a decade

AFP

Singapore authorities said they had intercepted
1.8 tonnes of ivory from Africa worth 2 million USD in
the city-state's largest such haul in over a decade.
(AFP Photo)

SINGAPORE: Singapore authorities said on Wednesday they had intercepted 1.8 tonnes of ivory from Africa worth $2 million in the city-state's largest such haul in over a decade.

The seizure was made following a tip-off, said Gerald Neo, executive manager of the quarantine and inspection department of the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA).

"AVA and Singapore Customs conducted a joint inspection on a shipment that was declared as 'waste paper' on 23 January. We found 1,099 pieces of raw ivory tusks," Neo said.

The tusks -- valued at Sg$2.5 million ($2 million) -- were in transit from Africa, a joint statement by the AVA and Singapore Customs said. The destination of the shipment was not mentioned.

International trade in ivory has been banned under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) since 1989. Singapore is a signatory to the convention.

The statement said the AVA was "working with local and international agencies to investigate this case".

It was the biggest haul since June 2002 when authorities seized around six tonnes of ivory tusks and cut ivory pieces.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Singapore-seizes-biggest-ivory-haul-in-a-decade/articleshow/18258601.cms

Forest panels to be reconstituted

Forest minister K.B. Ganesh Kumar has said the constituency level forest committees in the district will be reconstituted to solve the issues related to forests and wildlife.

Speaking to mediapersons here on Tuesday, after attending a meeting of the representatives of political parties, three-tier local administrative bodies, and senior officials of Forest and Revenue Departments, Mr. Ganesh Kumar said the committees would discuss all the welfare activities and protection measures related to the two forest divisions and Wayanad Wild life Sanctuary (WWS) in the district.

The Minister’s meeting with the officials was to form a consensus on various issues relating to forests and wildlife such as a ban on parking of vehicles along National Highway 212 inside the WWS during night and demarcation of the ecological sensitive zone around the sanctuary.

The MLAs of each constituency would be the chairmen of the committees and Divisional Forest Officers or Warden the conveners. Presidents of local bodieswould be the members.


Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/forest-panels-to-be-reconstituted/article4359498.ece

Birding Fair devoted to conservation of urban lakes

The 16th Birding Fair, starting at the scenic Man Sagar lake here this Friday, will be devoted to conservation of urban lakes which are getting extinct at an alarming rate because of lack of priority and inadequate administrative control in most of the cities. Ironically lakes are dying out at a time when the crisis for water is increasing.

The two-day fair, organised by the Tourism and Wildlife Society of India, will be led by Rani Vidya Devi of Jaipur's erstwhile royal family. Columnist Sohail Hashmi will address a session to demonstrate how citizens can be involved in the drive to save lakes.

The World Wide Fund for Nature, Bombay Natural History Society, Bishnoi Tiger Force and the U.S.-based Environmental Education and Conservation Global are extending support to the much-awaited annual event.

Noted environmentalist and TWSI honorary secretary Harsh Vardhan said here on Wednesday that the city-centric lakes in the country receive most of the water from the sewerage released by people through open drains, while the municipal authorities often do not try to treat sewage or re-use the treated water.

The Union Environment and Forest Ministry, which seems to be the agency taking charge of lakes, has funded more than Rs.1,000 crore to over 100 lakes during the past decade. “However, it is not known how many of them were conserved at the parameters set out by the Ministry,” said Mr. Vardhan.

The confusion about the responsibility for lakes also persists because of the Urban Development Ministry not including urban lakes within its ambit while funding the city infrastructure. Mr. Vardhan pointed out that the 400-year-old Man Sagar lake was a “classic example”, as its control had changed hands from the Jaipur Municipal Corporation to the Jaipur Development Authority and the latter was in charge as of now.

“The JDA has not officially visited the lake for an overview of its health, better or worse, since 2005. Its water is with the Irrigation Department, fish with Fisheries Department and road cleanliness with Municipal Corporation, while the sewage treatment process is pitch-forked between JDA and municipal authorities,” pointed out Mr. Vardhan.

Against this scenario, the fair as citizens' initiative assumes the role to draw attention of the authorities towards the historic lake, as the future of the Pink City residents is intertwined with this water body in numerous ways, ranging from better health to enhancing the arrival of tourists.

On a positive note, Man Sagar is teeming with migratory birds these days, about 2,500 of them swimming or diving, like shovellers, pintails, coots, etc. The resident ducks such as spot-bill duck and common moorhen have bred in hundreds, signifying as the indicator of health of the scenic water body.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/birding-fair-devoted-to-conservation-of-urban-lakes/article4363276.ece

‘Run-of-the-river dams won’t affect inflows into India’

GARGI PARSAI
Amid concern in India over China’s plans to construct dams upstream on the Brahmaputra, a senior government official said here on Wednesday that the run-of-the-river projects would not affect inflows into India.

Reacting to the news that China plans to construct three new hydropower dams in the middle reaches of the Brahmaputra (or Yarlung Zangbo as it is known in China), Union Water Resources Secretary Dhruv Vijay Singh told The Hindu that the Indian government was aware of the dams being constructed/proposed by China. “We are keeping a close watch. These are run-of-the-river dams with no storage and will not affect inflows into India,” he said.

However, the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People, an NGO, said these being run-of-the-river projects, there may not be any change in the annual flows of the river, but the flow patterns may change and concern about flooding and erosioncould not be overlooked.

The Hindu reported on Tuesday that the Chinese State Council had approved the construction of three new dams on the Brahmaputra under a new energy development plan for 2015.

In India, the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation is constructing the Upper Siang Hydroelectric Project on the Siang tributary of the Brahmaputra in Arunachal Pradesh and the 2000 MW Lower Subansiri project on Subansiri, another tributary of the Brahmaputra on the Arunachal Pradesh, Assam border.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/runoftheriver-dams-wont-affect-inflows-into-india/article4363288.ece

Solar fence to keep wild animals at bay in Wayanad

As part of a project to tackle man-animal conflict in the North Wayanad forest division, villages bordering the forests in the Thirunelly grama panchayat limits have been ringed with a 34-km solar fence to stave off raids by wild animals. The Kerala Forest Development Corporation has installed the fence for the Forest and Wildlife Department. The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has financed the work.

Minister for Forests K.B. Ganesh Kumar inaugurated the first phase of the project at Kattikulam, near Mananthavady, on Tuesday.

The fence will be extended to a distance of 300 km through the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary and the North and South Wayanad forest divisions at a cost of Rs. 6 crore, K.J. Varghese, Managing Director of the corporation, told The Hindu .

The corporation has identified 100 locations, each covering 1.5 km to 3.5 km, under the 10 forest ranges of the three forest divisions in the district to erect the fence.

The fence is erected on metal posts at a height of 1.6 metre. A solar panel, a battery and an energiser are the main components of a fence. The energiser is the main apparatus, and 100 of them have been imported from New Zealand. High-voltage electric current (about 10 kW) will pass through the fence, and the wild animals will get an electric shock when they come into contact with it.

A memorandum of understanding with the Forest Department makes the corporation maintain the fence for five years, Mr. Varghese said. A four-member team will be stationed in a base camp on the corporation’s tea estate at Kambamala, near Mananthavady, to carry out the maintenance. The Forest Department will engage local people for day-to-day maintenance in each locality.

The department has submitted proposals to NABARD to execute such projects in Kannur, Kozhikode and Palakkad, he said.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/solar-fence-to-keep-wild-animals-at-bay-in-wayanad/article4363722.ece

Tiger died from poisoning, revenge killing suspected

R. KRISHNA KUMAR

• Special Tiger Protection Force deployed in the area to keep vigil on movement of tigers
• Forest Department will also interact with local community

A tiger, which was found dead in the Kakanakote forests (D.B. Kuppe range) of the Nagarahole National Park early this month, was poisoned in what is suspected to be an act of revenge.

The post-mortem report and visceral analysis indicate the presence of zinc phosphide, which is rat poison. This has sent shockwaves among conservationists and Forest Department officials.

This is said to be the first case of a tiger being poisoned in the national park, which is a major tiger reserve and home to about 70 of them.

R. Gokul, Director, Conservator of Forests and Director, Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, confirmed that the tiger, which was found dead on January 13 near the Kabini backwaters was poisoned. Its carcass, discovered two weeks ago, was intact, with no sign of external injuries, putting a question mark on cause of death.

Though there was a question of whether poachers had a hand in the death, this has been ruled out as neither the skin nor the claws had been removed. The needle of suspicion points to revenge killing and Mr. Gokul said the animal may have strayed out of its habitat and stalked livestock. Since tigers have a tendency to partially eat their prey and conceal it in bushes to consume over a period of time, the local community may have poisoned the carcass of the cattle, resulting in the tiger’s death, he said.

But the nearest human habitation is nearly 3 km from the spot where the tiger was found, casting doubt on that theory.

However, Mr. Gokul pointed out that tigers generally do not stray from their habitat in Nagarahole as the Kabini backwaters acts as a border between the national park and the adjoining human landscape. But due to severe drought, the backwaters has receded and turned into a grassland, with no demarcation separating the forestland from the outside landscape. “As a result, there is free movement of animals in the absence of a water barrier. We suspect the local community on the fringes may have driven their livestock inside the forests in search of fodder. The tiger may have killed one of the domestic animals and the village people may have subsequently poisoned the carcass as an act of revenge,” said Mr. Gokul.

There have been six incidents of tigers straying out of their habitat this season, which is unusually high. This is attributed to increase in tiger density inside the national park.

The authorities have deployed the Special Tiger Protection Force in the area to keep vigil on the movement of animals in the region. Apart from launching a full-fledged investigation into tiger poisoning, the Forest Department will also interact with the local community adjoining the forests and seek their help in wildlife conservation.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/tiger-died-from-poisoning-revenge-killing-suspected/article4359419.ece

Killing of rhino by tiger worries Dudhwa wildlife officials

ATIQ KHAN
A day after the half-eaten carcass of a 34-year-old female rhinoceros named Pavitri was recovered from the Rhino Rehabilitation Area in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR) at Dudhwa National Park (DNP) in Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh following her killing by a big cat, wildlife officials are perplexed at the tigers developing a liking for the one-horned animal despite the presence of ample prey base in the forest.

The late Monday night killing is the third instance of a rhino being killed by the roaming big cats in the last 14 months since the killing of a 35-year old male rhino in November 2011 followed by that of a young adult in December 2011. A female rhino named Himrani was attacked and injured by a tiger on December 1, 2011 but managed to survive due to the efforts of the park authorities.

In December last year another female rhino was mauled by a tiger in the rehabilitation area, but survived the deadly attack.

While the exact causes of the frequent attacks by the feline are yet to be ascertained, Deputy Director of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve Ganesh Bhatt said that it is not an unnatural phenomena as similar attacks have taken place in Kaziranga national park in Assam. “Calves and sub-adults and those rhinos who are weak are generally attacked by tigers, as had been the case with the adult female rhinoceros, Himrani, who too was weak,” Mr. Bhatt told The Hindu from DTR. However, the Dudhwa official clarified that the latest casualty, Pavitri was not weak bodied.

Since the tiger attacks have taken place in the months of November and December when the entire Terai region of Uttar Pradesh where Dudhwa is located is enveloped by dense fog it has been suggested that the big cats might have mistook the rhinos for some other animal.

Following the death of the female of the species, there are 33 rhinos in the rehabilitation area, which owes it origin to the Rhino Rehabilitation Project when seven rhinos were relocated in Dudhwa in 1984-85.

The movement of the rhinos in the rehabilitation area is being closely monitored and tracked by the authorities with the help of a unique identification system--the rhinos have been provided with identity numbers.

The rhino rehabilitation area in Salukapur in Sonaripur range of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve is spread over an area of about 28 square kilometre. The entire area is fenced but as the Deputy Director of the Tiger Reserve said that barring the elephants the other animals including the tiger can cross the fence and enter the rehabilitation area. Even the rhinos cannot venture out of their home.

The grasslands of the Terai region once served as the natural habitat for the Great Indian Rhinoceros ( “Rhinoceros Unicornis” ) before the last rhino was hunted down by “ shikaris ” and poachers in the 19th century. Some years after the Dudhwa National Park came into existence in 1977, conservationists played an enabling role in relocating rhinos in the area. In 1984, five rhinos including three females were relocated from Kaziranga national park under the Rhino Rehabilitation Project. Two of the animals later died.

In 1985 four females from Shukla Phanta in bordering Nepal were shifted to Dudhwa in exchange of 16 elephants. Today there are 33 rhinos in the rehabilitation area.

Since the majority of the rhinos in the area have been sired by a single male of the species - Bankey, now in his 36th year ( the rhinos can live up to 60 years ), who was relocated from Assam in 1984 as a calf ---wild life enthusiasts have felt that in-breeding would effect the immune system of the animals.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/killing-of-rhino-by-tiger-worries-dudhwa-wildlife-officials/article4363274.ece

National Highway To Doom

BAHAR DUTT

No, Mr PM. Our green laws are not impeding the country’s development

AT A recent Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh lamented that green laws are the new ‘Licence Raj’. This is not the first time the PM has expressed this view; in 2011, he emphasised at a public forum that “saving the environment could not be at the cost of development”.

In 2008, he laid the foundation stone for the 3,000 MW Dibang hydropower project in Arunachal Pradesh, even though it had yet to get the green clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF). The clearance was in limbo because the public hearing had not been held as mandated under the Environment (Protection) Act (EPA).

The PM’s attitude towards green laws seems to propagate a myth that such laws are impeding development. For every three projects rejected by the MoEF’S statutory bodies, 97 are cleared. And those that are rejected can apply again. Also, more than 100 projects on 9,000 hectares of forestland have been cleared by the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) in the past three months, which means we are losing forestland at the rate of 100 hectares per day.

Two coal mining projects were cleared in Odisha despite glaring violations found by the FAC. In the September meeting of the FAC, (Source: EIA Resource and Response Centre, New Delhi) more than 93 percent projects didn’t show any history of compensatory afforestation, yet they were considered. Worse, more than 90 percent projects were approved, even though the nodal forest officer, who has to give detailed comments on why the project should be given a go-ahead on prime forests, had either just signed or left the columns blank. Even areas rich in biodiversity are not spared, such as the Gola corridor, which is crucial for elephants and tigers in Uttarakhand.

The NHAI recently threatened to sue the MoEF over delays in green clearances. Here again, one needs to look at the ministry data. If you look at three highway projects that came up for discussion with the FAC, two were cleared and one sent back for additional information.

Take the example of Yamunotri-Saharanpur Highway. More than 1 lakh trees are facing the axe, and the application makes no mention of the damage to wildlife or biodiversity, yet it was cleared. Worse still, the project is based in UP, but a certificate from the collector of Mahasamand (a district in Chhattisgarh) was provided! Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan has made it amply clear that clearances are being held up because of incomplete application forms or false information. But these statistics seem to escape the prime minister’s eye.

In his 2011 Independence Day speech, the PM took credit for setting up the National Green Tribunal, but it faces many hurdles. Two years later, the regional benches are yet to be set up; there is no proper courtroom; many members have quit due to lack of accommodation; and a chairperson was appointed only after the SC forced the Centre’s hand.

Green laws are not ‘Licence Raj’, Mr PM. They were introduced by your government, the Constitution and Parliament. The development brigade may show you the example of China. China’s breakneck speed of development has overshadowed the environmental disasters facing the country. Sixteen of the 20 most polluted cities in the world are in China. More than 70 percent of China’s rivers, lakes and streams are heavily polluted. Every year, 6,000 square miles of grasslands and forests are lost to desertification and over 300 species are endangered or threatened. Is this the development model we want?

Of course, we want to develop. But not at the cost of our right to fresh air and clean water or our wildlife. That’s what the EPA and the Forest Conservation Act ensure. They protect our rights to have access to clean air; they ensure the industries you give the licence to operate do so with some system of checks and balances. You would do well by supporting your environment minister, who has a tough job of balancing the environment and development needs, while ensuring these checks are in place. And the industry could do well by respecting the law of the land instead of being a constant crybaby.

Bahar Dutt is Environment Editor, CNN-IBN
letters@tehelka.com

Source: http://tehelka.com/national-highway-to-doom/

Cauvery delta ecosystem in deep water

G.SATHYAMOORTHI
The Cauvery eco-system is in deep trouble with the current year being one of the worst drought years that the river has witnessed.

The delta region, known as ‘Marudha Nilam’, can no longer have that nomenclature as it is now shorn of Marudu trees, a native plant. The ‘minimum viable population’ (MVP) size of this tree has gone down and has become virtually an ‘endangered species’.

Frequent loss of flows in the river over the past four decades has resulted in gradual degradation of the eco-system, laments K.V.Krishnamurthy, former Head of the Department of Botany, Bharathidasan University, considered an authority on the Cauvery’s flora and fauna.

Even the migratory birds would shun the State if the current drought-like situation continued, warns S. Balachandran, Deputy Director, Bombay Natural History Society.

Potability of the water along the banks of the Cauvery and the Coleroon is going to be a question mark sooner or later, apprehends V.Ganapathi, advisor, Exnora International.

Indiscriminate sand quarrying all along the banks of the Cauvery has resulted in the gradual loss of water- holding capacity of the river itself, says R.Nandakumar, who has spearheaded a movement against sand mining and has won a major case in the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court recently. “Loss of one cubic metre of sand will result in the loss of capacity to hold three cubic metres of water’, he adds.

Prof.Krishnamurthy told The Hindu that it was during 1970s such loss of flows in the Cauvery started and over the years the phenomenon has resulted in creation of “huge islands of vegetation” all along the course of the river.

“Such an island virtually looks like a forest near Grand Anaicut’, he points out.

The major problem arising out of this situation is that the sand in the river gets reduced and mud is formed. “The typical riverine land structure will be lost”, both with regard to “physical and biological parameters”. “Thus sand will become soil.”

Even in the Coleroon and some parts of the Cauvery such islands of vegetation have formed an aquatic bed and the size of this vegetation patch will gradually increase.” This will become a major problem in due course of time”.

As flow of water has become less, stagnant pools are formed and they give rise to noxious aquatic elements that prevent the flow of water.

Along the banks, the native vegetation is gone and that space is occupied by “alien invasive flora (plants)”. During the last 15-20 years this has been happening substantially. “Thus the threshold value of many of the native plants including Marudu has slumped”, says Prof.Krishnamurthy.

With regard to fauna, he says there were 80 species of 23 fish families in the Cauvery system 40 years ago. Of them five species are exclusive for the Cauvery. Now their population has dwindled and many of them have lost their MVP size. Same is the case with “fresh water prawns”. On the other hand, mosquito population has been on the rise.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/article3748784.ece

Formula to identify “inviolate” forest areas where mining will be banned

PRISCILLA JEBARAJ

Revival of “no-go” zone idea?

• “Identified pristine forest areas, where any mining activity would lead to irreversible damage, should be damaged from non-forest activity”
• India to be divided into grids of one square kilometre each, which will be scored using existing data

In what seems to be a successor to the controversial “no-go zone” concept, mining and other harmful non-forestry activities could soon be completely banned from forest areas identified as “inviolate”, using a formula created by a high-level Environment Ministry panel.

Wildlife sanctuaries, tiger reserves, national parks – as well as a buffer zone of one km around such protected areas – compact patches of very dense forest, the last remnant of a forest type and forests very near perennial rivers will all be automatically placed within the inviolate zone, according to a report of the Committee to Formulate Objective Parameters for Identification of Inviolate Forest Areas.

The panel was formed in the wake of the demise of the “no-go zone” approach, conceptualised by the former Environment Minister, Jairam Ramesh, which identified dense forest areas in nine major coal fields where forest clearances would be denied. Following intense pressure from the mining industry and the Coal Ministry, a ministerial group headed by then-Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee vetoed the idea.

However, in September 2011, the group of Ministers suggested that “identified pristine forest areas, where any mining activity would lead to irreversible damage, should be barred from any kind of non-forest activity.” Accordingly, the Environment Ministry, now headed by Jayanthi Natarajan, formed a panel to formulate parameters to identify such “inviolate” forest areas.

The panel submitted a report in July 2012, but the Ministry only made it public on Thursday. The next step is to actually prepare geo-referenced maps of inviolate areas using this formula. Apart from the automatic exclusions mentioned earlier, the formula calls for scoring of forest areas based on six principles: forest type, biological richness, wildlife value, forest cover, landscape integrity and hydrological value. The country will be divided into grids of one square kilometre each, which will be scored, mostly using existing data. An average score above 70, out of a possible 100, will also be declared inviolate.

As far as the fate of mining blocks are concerned, the report says that a block would be “considered inviolate if a majority of grids falling within a block have been labelled as inviolate.”

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/formula-to-identify-inviolate-forest-areas-where-mining-will-be-banned/article4346599.ece

The monkey menace

GAURAV VIVEK BHATNAGAR

Away from human habitation:Rehabilitated monkeys
at the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary in New Delhi.
Photo: R. V. Moorthy

When Delhi’s Deputy Mayor S. S. Bajwa died in 1997 due to head injuries following a fall from the terrace of his house after an attack by monkeys, it brought to the fore the issue of monkey menace that haunts the Capital.

In the same year, the Delhi High Court had set up an enforcement committee to deal with this growing menace. In its report, the committee had suggested trapping of monkeys from inhabited areas and their relocation at Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary. The Court then directed the civic agencies to catch the simians, mostly rhesus monkeys, and ordered the Delhi Government to relocate them.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi then approached the Court claiming that it did not possess the trained manpower to handle the monkeys and asked the Court to direct the Delhi Government’s Forests and Wild Life Department instead to catch them. The Delhi Government in its submission said it was the responsibility of the civic body to catch the monkeys. The High Court ruled that the civic agencies would continue to catch the monkeys, while the Delhi Government would rehabilitate them in Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary on the southern periphery of the city. The Wildlife Department is required to provide the knowhow and cages. Chief Conservator of Forest and Chief Wildlife Warden A. K. Shukla said prior to this Delhi had also tried contacting other States for rehabilitating its monkeys. “We had sent some of them to Bahraich in Uttar Pradesh and to Madhya Pradesh. But the States were reluctant to have them on the grounds that ‘they are carriers of rabies’ and the disease may spread into the wildlife. Then we suggested that we will keep them in rescue shelters and took back a few consignments.”

Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest G. N. Sinha said the Delhi Government has been accommodating the monkeys from all over the city at Asola Bhatti. “To ensure the right ambience for them, the Territorial Army looks after the entire area, and fruit and leafy trees that can survive in the Ridge profile have been planted. A five-year period has been provided for raising them.”

Mr. Shukla said: “We have constructed 30 platforms for feeding them there (in the sanctuary) and about Rs.20 lakh per annum is being spent on arranging their food. There is also a contract with Azadpur Subzi Mandi to provide vegetables and fruits at reasonable rates.”

The wildlife officials believe that since due to the availability of sufficient food and safe environment the population of monkeys would grow manifold in the sanctuary and then may spill over into surrounding colonies, it was essential to introduce some population control programme.

“Sterilisation or tubectomy has not been found to be successful with monkeys as they open the wounds and so we are exploring the possibility of discussing with Wildlife Institute of India, Dehra Dun, if some oral contraceptives are available for them,” an official said.

Mr. Sinha said Delhi is also facing the problem of having few monkey catchers. “They are paid Rs.250-Rs.300 per catch and these days it is not a big amount.”

He said the Delhi Government is also running a “rescue shelter” at Rajokri where the simians are provided treatment and vaccination before they are relocated at the sanctuary.

The Wildlife Department is hoping that more emphasis would be laid on restricting the number of monkeys soon as after a point they would come in conflict with nearby human habitations. As of now it even lacks a veterinary doctor of its own; the lone post has been lying vacant.

It also believes that their population control was essential for maintaining a balance between primates and secondary species. “A sanctuary is meant for a variety of animal and plant species. The monkeys are ‘outside species’ for the area and their dominance would also disturb the food cycle,” said Mr. Sinha.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-newdelhi/the-monkey-menace/article4349713.ece

Scramble for waterfront villas threatens river

G. KRISHNAKUMAR

With the increasing demand for waterfront property in Ernakulam district, encroachments have become rampant at the Kadambrayar and its adjoining wetlands.

Apartments, villas and other private buildings have
come up along the bed of the nearly 7.52-km-long creek

Several apartments, villas and other private buildings have come up along the bed of the nearly 7.52 km-long creek.

Reclamation of the wetlands and the creek is commonplace at many areas along the Kadambrayar, making a mockery of the district administration’s claims of a crackdown against the encroachers.

Reduced width

A cruise down the creek from its entrance at the Kizhakambalam stretch reveals that the width of the river had reduced at areas near Pallikara, Athani, Thengodu, Thamarachal and the confluence of Kadambrayar and Chitrapuzha near Brahmapuram.

Recalling that the lack of authentic data on the actual width of the river was helping real estate developers, V. N. Sivasankara Pillai, former Director of the School of Environmental Studies who had conducted extensive studies on Kadambrayar, pointed out that reclamation of wetlands was rampant in many areas near the creek. “The big developers are confident of overcoming legal and other hurdles while buying a waterfront property or a wetland. They exploit loopholes in the existing regulations to own land,” he said.

Media house

S. Sitaraman, noted environmentalist, has alleged that the Thrikkakara municipal authorities helped a media house which allegedly encroached about 550 sq. m of the creek opposite the Kochi Corporation’s solid waste treatment plant at Brahmapuram.

“They were issued a stay after the local residents and the Kadambrayar Samrakshana Samithi complained of encroachment. But work has resumed at the site and the authorities are yet to restore the reclaimed land to its original condition,” he said.

Denying the allegation, P.A. Mohammed Ali, chairman of Thrikkakara municipality, said that the media house had encroached between five and eight metres into the creek and the stay order still stands. “We will send officials of the engineering department tomorrow to stop the work, if any,” he said.

The municipal chairman’s statement was corroborated by a police official at the Thrikkakara police station, who had visited the site following tension between property owners and local residents.

He told The Hindu that the municipality had already issued a stay but there had been no communication about it being vacated till Monday.

Local residents near Pallikara and Kakkanad pointed out that the demand for land in areas near Kadambrayar was high.

“A major chunk of the land close to the creek is owned by leading jewellery groups. This place is also one of the most sought-after investment destinations of the Malayalam film industry,” a promoter of a tourism project in Kadambrayar said.

Suggesting that a scientific study be held to ascertain the original width of the creek, Prof. Pillai and Prof. Sitaraman recommended that the authorities check further encroachments to save one of the few freshwater sources in Ernakulam district.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/scramble-for-waterfront-villas-threatens-river/article4356057.ece

Leopard kills 12-year-old boy

A 12-year-old boy was killed in a leopard attack on Saturday evening on the fringes of Sanjay Gandhi National Park. Saurabh Yadav had gone out to relieve himself when the incident took place, police said.

Saurabh was accompanied by a friend, who managed to run away after sighting the leopard, police said.

“The boy lives in Adarsh Nagar with his family. His friend ran back home and narrated the incident to his family, who informed us,” said an official at Aarey police station. He said the police search team and locals started looking out for Saurabh.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-newdelhi/leopard-kills-12yearold-boy/article4355595.ece

Leopard attack leaves three persons injured

Three persons were injured in a leopard attack inside a home at Siliguri in Darjeeling district on Monday.

Capture & release

The incident took place at a house in the Hakimpara area of the city before a team from the State Forest Department could reach the spot and tranquilise the leopard, Divisional Forest Officer S. H. Basavaraj told The Hindu over telephone from Darjeeling.

“The animal has been tranquilised and is doing fine now. It will be kept under observation for a couple of days before it is released in the forest area in the Mahananda Wildlife Reserve,” Mr. Basavaraj said.

Spring-time straying

He said that in the spring season it is not uncommon for leopards to stray from the forest towards areas of human habitation.

The forests of Baikunthapur and Mahananda are very near Siliguri, he added.

The injured persons were rushed to a local hospital, he said.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-otherstates/leopard-attack-leaves-three-persons-injured/article4356077.ece

Ranganathittu comes alive with winged beauties

M.T. SHIVA KUMAR

More than 8,000 birds of various species have arrived at
Ranganathittu sanctuary in recent days.
— Photo: B. MAHADEVA

The mini-islets of Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary in Srirangapatna have come alive with birds of different species flocking here to herald the nesting and breeding season.

According to Forest Department officials, at least 8,000 migratory birds of various plumes have arrived from different parts of the world in recent days.

Birds from Siberia, Latin America and a few parts of north India have descended on the islands to hatch eggs.

“Around 8,000 birds have arrived in the last two weeks and the number may reach 40,000 in a couple of months,” P. Lakshmeesha, Deputy Range Forest Officer, said on Friday.

A good number of Pelicans, Painted Storks, Open Billed Storks, River Terns, Spoon Bills, Night Herons, Cormorants and other birds have begun to flock to Ranganathittu, he said. However, species such as Egrets, Asian Openbill Storks, Woolly-necked Storks, Black Ibis, Lesser Whistling Duck, Oriental Darter and other species are yet to arrive in big numbers.

“The mini-islets attract birds from across the world during mid-winter commencing from December last week. The winged beauties arrive here to nestle during winter. They stay throughout the summer and fly away after breeding ahead of the onset of monsoon,” he said. The bird sanctuary is attracting tourists from different parts of the country too.

A good number of tourists from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra have visited the sanctuary in the last two weeks, Forest Department officials said.

As per the statistics available with the Department of Forests, 10.87 lakh tourists visited Ranaganathittu between 2008-09 and 2011-12. Among them 46,049 were from foreign countries.

Around 1,500 tourists visit the sanctuary during weekends. The number might go down to 300 during week days, Mr. Lakshmeesha said.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/ranganathittu-comes-alive-with-winged-beauties/article4352532.ece

Forest Department wields the stick against plastic

IGNATIUS PEREIRA

Dumping to invite prosecution; all plastic waste to be cleared

One with nature:A plastic-free forest area under the
Edamalayar range where visitors are not permitted.
— Photo: C. Suresh Kumar

The Forest Department is initiating strong measures to get rid of plastic waste left behind by visitors to forest areas. The measures include prosecuting those found dumping plastic and other waste in forests and wildlife sanctuaries.

Chief of the Forest Force R. Raja Raja Varma told The Hindu that dumping of plastic waste in certain forest areas with a heavy flow of visitors had assumed ominous proportions. In view of the situation, Mr. Varma, on instructions from Forest Minister K.B. Ganesh Kumar, issued directions to the department on January 22 to clear plastic waste from all forest areas of the State within 15 days.

The cleaning operation is being carried out on a war-footing by the department personnel and volunteers of the local Environment Development Committees and the Vana Samrakshana Samithis.

Mr. Varma said he would review the operation at the State level on Tuesday. Apart from huge quantities of plastic bottles, packets and containers with food waste were also dumped. Many animals were attracted by the salt content of such food, and even consumed the containers because of the salt traces in it. This had proved fatal for many animals. Plastic had also been found in the droppings of animals, including elephants and deer. During the digestion process, it inflicted serious damage on the animals’ intestines, proving fatal in the long run, he said.

The environmental degradation to forest areas because of the dumping of plastic was severe, he said.

This had compelled the department to prevent visitors from carrying plastic items into forest areas, he said. Vehicles would be checked at all entry points as a preventive measure.

Water bottles

A measure contemplated by the department to prevent visitors from carrying plastic water bottles into the forest areas was to sell its own Sabari brand of water to the visitors and charge them Rs.5 more. This would be refunded when the visitor returned and submitted the empty bottle at the forest counter. The proposal would be implemented soon at the Palaruvi waterfalls, coming under the Aryankavu forest range in Kollam district.

Mr. Varma said information on all prosecution measures would be passed on to the media so that it acted as a deterrent. Boards would be prominently displayed in all forest areas where visitors were permitted to warn them of prosecution if plastic and other waste were dumped. Details of the punishment for the offence would also be put up. The boards were being designed at the forest headquarters to maintain uniformity, he said.

Visitors parking their vehicles inside forest areas and feeding wild animals would also invite prosecution, Mr. Varma said. He said visitors should not feed the animals since the animals knew how to forage for food. Providing them food could even erode the natural instincts of the animals to look for food, and they could become dependent on the food provided by visitors, he said.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/forest-department-wields-the-stick-against-plastic/article4352453.ece

Farmers of the forests

N. SHIVA KUMAR

The bulky beaked hornbills, known for their perseveranceand seed dispersal skill, are facing the threat of vanishing woodlands and mushrooming concrete jungles

Great Pied Hornbill:Getting rare by the day.Photos: N. Shiva Kumar

Bangalore to Beijing and Baghdad to Bangkok there will be no husband worth his weight in gold when compared to the hornbill. A bird blessed with immense patience and perseverance in the world of bird brain — a definition with which human beings tend to delight in describing other creatures. Taking this into cognisance, recently the Environment Ministry declined a proposal to set up a RADAR installation on a secluded Island in the Andamans — thus saving the remaining 300 wild Narcondam Hornbills from extinction.

Hornbills are a group of birds distinguished by very large bulky curved beaks. If that is not enough, most Hornbill species have an extra projection known as casque on the upper beak and the precise use of this outcrop has yet not been deciphered by scientists. The utility of such an enormous beak in these birds is intriguing because it is almost half the size of its body.

Watching hornbills in the Silent Valley and Periyar Sanctuary of Kerala and in the jungles of Digboi, Kaziranga and Namdapha national parks in the north east, I wondered whether the birds topple forward with their oversized beaks. However, I learnt that the big beak is not as heavy as it looks since it contains perforated spaces to make it lightweight. Perfectly built and suitably streamlined, the beak of the bird is designed to fly like an airbus with a “nozzle nose” in front. The big beak is, however, dexterously deployed to pluck ripened fruits and berries from tree-top canopies.

Scientists at the San Diego Safari Park, USA, explain that hornbills are the only birds in which the first two neck vertebrae (the axis and atlas) are fused together. This probably provides a stable platform for carrying big beaks with ample agility even while airborne.

While most hornbills inhabit thick jungles of the north-east and south-west India, Indian Grey Hornbill, the smallest, is sighted even in Allahabad, Chandigarh and Delhi due to availability of tree canopy. Basically arboreal, all hornbills are sighted in pairs as they tend to be life-long couples. As the birds grow older, their feathers turn black and yellow from grey. The beaks also obtain grey, yellow to orange and all hues in-between as they mature.

The most exceptional aspect of all hornbills is that they nest in naturally ‘prefabricated’ cavity of large trees that are refurbished with love and care. A peculiar characteristic of this bird during nesting is that the female stays inside the nest and is literally imprisoned. The male, assisted by the female from inside, seals the nest entrance leaving only a small opening for feeding the female. By this clever modus operandi, the eggs and hatchlings are protected from possible predators and vagaries of nature as well. The entire process takes about three to four months depending upon specific species.

Inside the nest, the female uses its own feathers to line up the nest bottom to cushion the delicate eggs and the chicks as they hatch. All the while, the male feeds the female and the fast growing chicks even as it itself becomes emaciated with the toil. The fresh growth of feathers on the female hornbill corresponds with maturity of the young chicks at which point the nest entrance is broken open and the mother escapes from its captive tree hollow. Now both parents feed the perpetually hungry chicks in the nest until they grow big enough to flutter away to freedom. As hornbills are omnivorous, they feed on fruits, occasionally crunchy insects, lizards; even rodents and small snakes are also relished.

Unfortunately, most of the 10 hornbill species in the subcontinent are now endangered due to fragmentation of forests, vanishing woodlands and mushrooming concrete jungles. These birds cannot live and procreate without the help of large trees. While the tree provides space to make a home in its wooden lair, the birds provide bird excreta rejected from the nest serving as manure for the tree. They are also excellent at dispersing seeds from the canopy to various locations propagating forest growth. A perfect example of interaction between two different organisms that is beneficial to both species, hence scientists the world over acknowledge that hornbills as the farmers of the forests.

In December last year, a Hornbill Festival was held in Nagaland to enhance the understanding of hornbills through tourism and a variety of cultural activities. The event used rock concerts, motor races, trekking, painting competitions, dance and drama to spread the message of nature conservation and to discourage tribal hunters who use hornbill beaks as decorative headgear for their rituals.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-in-school/farmers-of-the-forests/article4351884.ece

Officials, civil society join hands to restore wildlife corridor

Subhash Chandra N S Bangalore

Govt declares Kaniyanapura and nearby villages as reserve forest

This is one classic example of how concerted efforts by government officials and civil society can make a difference to conservation. 

Sustained pursuance of the case by a few bureaucrats and wildlife activists has ensured that revenue land, over 5,000 acres, falling in a critical wildlife corridor at Kaniyanapura is declared a reserve forest. The efforts bring to an end the two-decade old issue of protecting the Kaniyanapura elephant corridor - which links Bandipur Tiger Reserve and Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu.

Kaushik Mukherjee, former additional chief secretary, B J Hosmath, field director, Project Tiger, Sanjay Gubbi, member, State Board for Wildlife, Basavaraju, assistant commissioner, Kollegal and Manjunath, tahsildar, Gundlupet have together got thousands of acres of revenue land, which had features of forest, declared reserve forest.

“A notification under Section 4 of Karnataka Forest Act has been issued with an intention to provide legal status to this forest patch,” Kumar Pushkar, Chief Conservator of Forests, Bandipur Tiger Reserve, told Deccan Herald. The notification - dated February 2, 2012 - grants reserve forest status to more than 5,000 acres of revenue land to ensure their protection.

Pushkar said the corridor was very important as far as wildlife protection is concerned as almost all animals, including tiger and elephant, use this stretch for their movement. He said declaring such a huge stretch of land as reserve forest was not an easy task. Not doing so would have been a great loss to wildlife as the notified area binds north and south ears of the corridor, he said.

“This area had become a hub of numerous activities. We would have lost the habitat. By declaring it reserve forest, we have secured it for wildlife,” he said.
“This is the patch which connects Biligirirangana Hills Tiger Reserve and Satyamangala forest with Nagarhole and Bandipur,” he added.

The revenue land falling in the limits of Chikyelchetti, Bachalli, Kebbepura, Kaniyanpura, Mangala, Yeriyur, Heggavadi and Kundukere villages have forests that connected the two important protected areas within the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.

“Despite a Supreme Court order that land with characteristics of forests should not be diverted for non-forestry activities without proper permissions, several resorts and private farms had come up here. Many of them were illegal and had reduced the corridor to a chicken neck in some locations,” explained a wildlife expert who has conducted a study of this corridor.

Sanjay Gubbi conducted a quick survey of the area with the help of volunteers from Vanya and Aranya wildlife groups in 2011. An area of 9,662.3 acres was found to have forest cover and a report was submitted to the government recommending that these areas be declared reserved forest.

Finding that an area of 5,599.05 acres was not diverted to private use, the department officials made a proposal to the government to declare it reserved forest under the Karnataka Forest Act, 1963. This finally led to the notification declaring the area as reserve forest.

Source: http://www.deccanherald.com/content/257712/officials-civil-society-joi

Winged wonders spotted in Kaiga skies

DC | Gururaj paniyadi

Bird watchers observing the winged beauties near Kaiga.

Karwar: Twenty species of birds which were not seen earlier in this part of the Western Ghats have been spotted near Kaiga by bird watchers and birding enthusiasts.

This observation was made during the recently held ‘Kaiga Bird Marathon- 2013.’ Kaiga Generating Station (KGS) has been organizing “Kaiga Bird Marathon,” an annual birding event since 2011 under the aegis of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited with the aim of identifying bird species around Kaiga Generating Stations and Kaiga town.

One hundred and twenty four bird watchers including Professional Birders from NKBN (North Karnataka Birders Network) lead by President Prof Samad Kottur and students from Forestry College, Sirsi took part in the “Kaiga Bird Marathon-2013” organised last week.

The area in and around Kaiga was divided into six transects. Each team had to travel through their allotted transect of about 6-7 km and record all sightings of aquatic, wetland, grassland, raptor and land birds. A total distance of about 42 kms was covered during the event around Kaiga.

This year’s bird marathon alone identified 162 species of birds of which 20 species are those not spotted so far in this part of Western Ghats. “These 20 species might have been living in this forest earlier too. They were not seen during the last two Marathons but were spotted this year,” Prof. Samad told Deccan Chronicle.

The 20 new varieties  include Nilgiri Flowerpecker, Crested Goshawk, Rufous-bellied Eagle, Brown Fish Owl, Blyth's Starling, Crested Treeswift, Clamorous Reed Warbler, Peregrine Falcon, Besra and Oriental Honey Buzzard.

Source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com/130123/news-current-affairs/article/winged-wonders-spotted-kaiga-skies

Another big cat relocated, Sariska tiger count reaches 9

TNN | Jan 24, 2013

The tigress was released in a separate enclosure in
Nayapani area of Sariska at 3.35pm

SARISKA: Re-populating of the Sariska tiger reserve continued for the second day on Wednesday with the relocation of yet another tigress from Ranthambhore. Two-year-old Beena 2, sibling of the tigress relocated on Tuesday, was tranquilized and taken by road to Sariska.

Officials said the tigress was tranquilized in Ranthambhore at 9 am and a satellite collar fixed on her. Later she was put in a cage on a canter as she began her six hour journey.

The tigress was released in a separate enclosure in Nayapani area of Sariska at 3.35pm. The tigress immediately ran into a bush. She will be released later in the forest.

On Tuesday, Beena 1 was also shifted to Sariska. The total count of tigers in Sariska has now reached nine - two males, two cubs and five females.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Another-big-cat-relocated-Sariska-tiger-count-reaches-9/articleshow/18156934.cms

Female leopard succumbs in conflict between male, female leopards

By Bipin Chand Agarwal, TNN | Jan 23, 2013

The forest personnel took the carcass to the
range office after taking photographs of the spot.

BAHRAICH: In a fight between two leopards, one male and the other female, the latter died at Katarniaghat wildlife sanctuary.

Forest officers reached the spot and took the carcass in their custody.

Forest officers informed that the female leopard died in the conflict and that a panel of three doctors had been formed to perform the autopsy.

Project officer of World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) Dabeer Hasan said the mating season of lion and leopard would last till February 15 and such conflict between the male and females is common.

Roar of the leopards was heard in southern part of beat no 28 at Motipur range under Katarniaghat wildlife sanctuary and after about half an hour when the forest personnel went to the spot they found the leopard dead with marks of injury on the body and bleeding profusely.

The forest ranger also reached the spot along with his team followed by sub divisional officer of Katarniaghat wildlife sanctuary Vinay Kumar Srivastava and sub divisional forest officer Subhash Chandra.

The forest ranger said "the leopard had deep injuries on the neck and two different kinds of pug marks were found around the spot. It seems the male and the female leopard fought with each other."

The SDO said the dead female leopard was around one-year-old.

The forest personnel took the carcass to the range office after taking photographs of the spot.

Forest ranger J K Verma said deep injury marks on the neck indicate the male leopard attacked the female with its teeth and caused the death.

Hasan said leopards are counted temporarily and at the moment their number is 50 to 60. He said the trapping work was completed a week ago in the forest reserve area and a CD had been sent to wildlife institute Dehradun. The counting of tigers would also help count the number of leopards precisely.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Female-leopard-succumbs-in-conflict-between-male-female-leopards/articleshow/18141793.cms

Poisonous plant killed 51 cheetals in Kanha

By P Naveen, TNN | Jan 23, 2013

BHOPAL: Regular consumption of Lantana camara, a poisonous plant found in abundance in the forest areas, has been found to be the cause behind the death of 51 spotted deers (cheetals) kept in a 35 acre-enclosure at the Kanha Tiger Reserve. The deers kept as prey stock for hand-reared tiger cubs died between January 4 and 16.

Initially it was suspected that the deers died of cold and malnutrition. Consumption of Lantana camara - plant which contains pentacyclic triterpenoids (akin to steroids) - in starvation led to the death of the spotted deers revealed investigations carried out by Jabalpur veterinary college experts.

Fearing an adverse impact on big cats population, veterinary experts have asked KTR officials to not to send remaining deer's from enclosure as prey to the tigers.

"All remaining deer's in the enclosure have infected livers and offering them as prey may be dangerous to tigers also," said a veterinary expert wishing anonymity.

Chemical named triterpenes in Lantana causes liver damage in animals when enough leaves are consumed, he said adding symptoms of poisoning include muscle weakness, gastrointestinal problems, lethargy, and cardiac collapse.

The major effect of Lantana is photosensitization, in acute cases death occurs in 2 to 4 days, whereas in sub-acute cases death may occur after 1 to 3 weeks of illness and weight loss. When contacted KTR director J S Chouhan said; "Tiger cubs have nine deers in their enclosure, so we don't need to shift more," he told TOI.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Poisonous-plant-killed-51-cheetals-in-Kanha/articleshow/18142314.cms

Madhya Pradesh conducts vulture population estimation in Panna Tiger Reserve

By Suchandana Gupta, TNN | Jan 23, 2013

The dramatic decline in vulture population prompted the
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
to put vultures on its list of 'critically endangered' species.

BHOPAL: The Vulture Population Estimation-2013 has been concluded in the Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh, the state government said on Wednesday. Counting started a week ago and 867 vultures including 160 migratory and 48 of unidentified origins were found. Technical report of Vulture Population Estimation-2013 is expected to be submitted by February-end. About 102 live nests were also found in the tiger reserve, the state claimed.

Another survey will be made in April-May 2013 to assess success rate of vulture breeding in Panna Tiger Reserve. Since the year 2010, Vulture Population Estimation is being undertaken in Panna Tiger Reserve in January every year. The number of vultures found this year is less compared to last year. The reason could be the sudden increase in temperature in the area during the estimation week. Seven out of nine vulture species in the Indian sub-continent were found in Panna, the state government said.

Regional director Panna Tiger Reserve R. Shriniwas Moorthy explained that 659 residential vultures were found in Panna Tiger Reserve during Vulture Population Estimation-2013. These included 476 Long Billed Vultures, 86 White Backed Vultures, 52 Egyptian Vultures and 45 Red-headed Vultures. Similarly, out of 160 migratory vultures found during the estimation, 41 were European Griffon, 115 Himalayan Griffon and four vultures of cinereous species. It is being considered to include Paragrin spies of vulture also in the Vulture Population Estimation next year.

Since 2011, Vulture Estimation in Panna is carried out with public private participation with the co-operation of bird watchers from across the country. For this two-phase estimation, 112 bird watchers from 10 states had applied. Following scrutiny, 94 participants were selected this year. The selected participants came from the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Haryana, Bihar, Maharashtra, New Delhi besides Madhya Pradesh. They were assisted by 16 guides of the park. The team conducted estimation under the guidance of forest department officers.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Madhya-Pradesh-conducts-vulture-population-estimation-in-Panna-Tiger-Reserve/articleshow/18153168.cms

Dolphin population rises to 152 in Chilika lake in Orissa

PTI | Jan 22, 2013

As per estimation carried out in 2013 there had been
an increase in population by 4.6 per cent compared to
last year, he said adding the number of dolphins
last year was 145.

BHUBANESWAR: Good news for wildlife lovers from Chilika Lake. The population of Irrawaddy dolphins has increased by 4.6 per cent compared to last year's census.

"Irrawaddy dolphin population of Chilika lagoon is estimated to be 152 comprising 118 adults, 16 sub-adults and 18-calves & neonates," Ajit K Patnaik, the chief executive of Chilika Development Authority (CDA) said today.

As per estimation carried out in 2013 there had been an increase in population by 4.6 per cent compared to last year, he said adding the number of dolphins last year was 145.

The number of calves and neonates observed during the survey carried out recently is 18. A significant observation of 2013 population estimation was the sighting of dolphins in Northern sector. Eight dolphins were sighted from Northern sector, an indication of expansion of their habitat, he said.

Another significant observation is the increase in the number of calves and neonates, which is 38.9 per cent increase over the last year's figure.

Chilika, about 70 km from here, is the natural abode of highly endangered Irrawaddy dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris). The present distribution range of this species is only in Asia - from Chilika to Indonesia within South East Asia and South Asia.

The total population of these animals in the world is estimated to be less than 7500 (highest 6400 reported from Bangladesh) and the population in Chilika is considered to be the highest single lagoonal population, Patnaik said.

A number of organizations, including state's forest department, were engaged in the population survey which was carried out following line Transect method.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Dolphin-population-rises-to-152-in-Chilika-lake-in-Orissa/articleshow/18134076.cms

Forest department calls for removal of exotic trees in Kodai

By Padmini Sivarajah, TNN | Jan 22, 2013

MADURAI: The Kodaikanal district forest officer (DFO) has sent a proposal to the Central government seeking permission to eradicate the exotic foreign plants such as the wattle and pine, which were endangering the ecosystem of the hills. The proposal has been a long-pending demand of the eco-conscious citizens of the hill station.

Speaking to this newspaper D Venketesh, district forest officer, Kodaikanal said man-animal conflicts, especially those between the Indian gaur and people were on rise in the region. "We get regular calls from the people complaining about the gaurs' entry in farms, school premises, market place and others. Even on Monday, this was the grievance expressed to the state government's petition committee that visited Kodaikanal by the farmers and people.

The people sought the erection of solar fences and digging of elephant trenches in various many places to prevent animals from entering their farms. These animals were destroying banana and pear orchards in large numbers.

But the DFO said this won't solve the problem. "The real problem lays in the fact is that the exotic plant species, such as wattle or acacia and pine, have invaded the shola grasslands and the animals have nowhere to look for food and started entering the private properties," he said. "I don't know why felling of these trees in the region is banned, which has resulted in the trees' invasion of about 5,000 hectares of grasslands in the upper Palani hills," he added.

"The gaur population is ever increasing. It is our duty to restore their habitat to them," he said. Venketesh is confident that the government would give a favourable answer to his proposal. Wattle and pine have also resulted in the 90% swamp area, which is the major water source for the entire Kodaikanal region and also to animals shrinking. This is a major cause of concern for the future of this fragile eco-system.

Eradicating these trees is not an easy task because the seeds spread far and can stay dormant in the soil. But the forest department has removed them to a stretch of about 10 metres on the Kodaikanal - Berijam Road and has been successful in the attempt. He said the eradication programme once approved, would take about 15 years, but it would be a beginning.

Conflicts between man and gaurs have become regular phenomenon. On Saturday, a man was attacked by an animal at Vandaravu. Chasing away these animals is not an easy task because they intimidate the people by their sheer size.

Till 1995, the trees, which are now estimated to cover about 27,000 hectares did not pose a threat because they were regularly felled for manufacturing rayon. But the ban on felling was introduced and the trees began disturbingdestroying the eco-system both space land and the ground water.

One person who is happy about the DFO's proposal, is Rajesh Mani of the Centre for Environmental Studies and Conservation said, "We took out a protest march on December 23 demanding the removal of the exotic trees from the region and also sent petitions to the DFO. We are happy with the proposal."

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Forest-department-calls-for-removal-of-exotic-trees-in-Kodai/articleshow/18125412.cms

Blackbucks threatened by poaching, inbreeding and diseases

TNN | Jan 21, 2013

KANPUR: The blackbuck is an antelope species native to the Indian Subcontinent that has been classified as near-threatened by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) since 2003. They are horned animals and only living species of the genus Antilope.

Black bucks generally live in open plains in herds of 15 to 20 animals with one dominant male. They are very fast, and speeds of more than 80 km/h (50 mph) have been recorded. They are sometimes preyed upon by wolves and feral dogs. The maximum life span recorded is 16 years and the average is 12 years.

The blackbuck is hunted for its flesh and skin. The Indian law strictly prohibits the hunting of these endangered animals, but occasional incidents of poaching still occur. The remaining populations are under threat from inbreeding. The natural habitat of the blackbuck is being encroached upon by man's need for arable land and grazing ground for domesticated cattle. Exposure to domesticated cattle also exposes them to bovine diseases.

Its protected status gained publicity through a widely reported court case, in which Bollywood star Salman Khan was sentenced to five years imprisonment for killing two blackbucks and several endangered chinkaras. The arrest was prompted by intense protests from the Bishnoi ethnic group, which holds animals and trees sacred, and on whose land the hunting had taken place.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Blackbucks-threatened-by-poaching-inbreeding-and-diseases/articleshow/18112906.cms

Hosing down forest fire threat

E.M. MANOJ

Gruelling summer can touch off blaze in the woods

Fire work:Forest fire watchers making fire lines on the
border of the Chethalayath forest range under the
 South Wayanad forest division in the district.
— Photo: E.M. Manoj.

The dry weather is keeping the Forest and Wildlife Department on its toes as the coming summer can touch off fires in the forests of Wayanad.

The dry bamboo groves are posing a serious threat to the wildlife habitat this year, Roy P. Thomas, Wildlife Warden, says. He has proposed to the State Wildlife Board that the dry bamboo inside the sanctuary be uprooted.

The department has taken steps to prevent forest fires in the State and funds will not be a constraint, V. Gopinath, Chief Wildlife Warden, told The Hindu . Construction of fire lines, engaging fire watchers and campaigns to sensitise the public, especially those in the villages on the fringes of the forest, are among the steps.

Close to 348.55 km of fire lines have been erected at a cost of Rs. 52.72 lakh on the borders of the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, where wild animals from all over the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve come to slake their thirst during the summer, sources say.

As many as 234 fire protection watchers, 66 of them on permanent service, have been appointed.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/hosing-down-forest-fire-threat/article4334637.ece

Dogs kill 31 blackbuck inside Kanpur zoo

Blackbuck is protected in India
under Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972

As many as 31 endangered blackbuck were found killed by stray dogs inside the Kanpur zoo on Sunday morning. The dogs attacked the blackbuck on Saturday night after entering the zoo from where the boundary is broken.

Two dogs were found eating the carcasses inside the zoo on Sunday morning by the forest guards during the routine morning inspection. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Rupak De said the guards killed both the dogs immediately. Another dog that was found roaming inside the zoo area was also killed, he said.

He said the dogs seemed to have entered the zoo from the area where the boundary wall was damaged. He said the wall was being repaired and the guards used to tie wires across the open area after the construction work got over in the evening to stop anyone from entering. However, they did not tie the fence wires last evening, he said.

Following the incident, De conducted an inquiry and submitted the report to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who is also the Minister for Forests. Yadav suspended director of the Kanpur zoo K Praveen Rao, forester J P Awashthi, forest guards Nathuram Dwivedi and Udaibhan, keeper Parshuram and watchman Shera for dereliction in performing their duties.

He also directed the Kanpur District Magistrate and the City Commissioner of Kanpur Municipal Corporation for running campaign against stray dogs in the city.

The blackbuck is protected in India by the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature has categorised the animal as near threatened species.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/dogs-kill-31-blackbuck-inside-kanpur-zoo/1062318/

Supreme Court bans tourists from taking trunk road passing through Jarawa area in Andamans

J. VENKATESAN

Order follows Andaman and Nicobar Administration’s January 17 notification

In this file photo, a Jarawa woman is being offered some
edibles by a bus passenger on the Andaman Trunk Road
that has been ordered shut for tourists.
Photo: Pankaj Sekhsaria

The Supreme Court on Monday banned tourists from taking the Andaman Nicobar Trunk Road that passes through the area where the Jarawas live. The road is used to reach the Limestone Cave.

The court has already banned all commercial and tourism activities within a five-km radius of the Jarawa Tribal Reserve on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

A Bench of Justices G.S. Singhvi and H.L. Gokhale passed the order, taking on record the Andaman and Nicobar Administration’s January 17 notification to comply with the court directives issued last year.

Except 30 villages notified in the schedule, the notification declares a buffer zone of an area up to a five-km radius, adjacent and contiguous to the Jarawa Tribal Reserve Area — starting from the Constance Bay in South Andaman to Lewis Inlet Bay in Middle Andaman. No person shall operate any commercial or tourist establishment directly or indirectly in the buffer zone. Furthermore, no one shall carry out any activity, which may be prejudicial to the safety, security and interests of the Jarawas in any of the settlement villages.

The Bench directed that only government officials, persons residing in the reserve and vehicles carrying essential commodities for the Jarawas would be allowed on the Trunk Road.

Justice Singhvi told counsel, “You provide helicopter service to… tourists to reach the cave as there is a total ban in the buffer area.”

“File affidavit”

The Bench directed the Andaman and Nicobar Administration to file an affidavit, along with a detailed map indicating the areas of Jarawas and settlement of others. It posted the matter for further hearing on February 26.

The October 30, 2007 notification, imposing the ban, was quashed by the Calcutta High Court.

On an appeal, the Supreme Court, stayed the order and asked the administration to strictly enforce the notification till it was considered by the court. This was followed by the January 17 notification.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/supreme-court-bans-tourists-from-taking-trunk-road-passing-through-jarawa-area-in-andamans/article4329360.ece

‘Reach out to local communities to prevent forest fires’

Advocacy group submits memorandum to the Forest Department

The Forest Department has been urged to hire people from the local communities as fire watchers in view of a prolonged dry season and the threat of forest fire in national parks.

It has also been suggested that funding could be sought from State Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority.

A memorandum in this regard was submitted to Dipak Sarmah, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden, by Wildlife First, an advocacy group promoting conservation.

Praveen Bhargav of Wildlife First told The Hindu that they had submitted a list of suggestions, coupled with analysis of earlier incidents of forest fires, to officials at a meeting in Bangalore a couple of days ago. Preventive steps were described as imperative in view of the devastating fire at Nagarahole last year which reduced a vast swathe of the national park to cinders.

Wildlife First called for a moratorium oncivil works, including “urgent” year-end works that “distracted the attention of officials and eat into their precious time”. It called for closure of designated zones to tourism and pointed out that tourist vehicles could be deployed for fire protection work to transport guards and watchers in a swift manner.

Wildlife First urged the Forest Department to finalise two appropriate fire watch towers as identified in a study conducted by the National Remote Sensing Agency and the Forest Department and ensure their construction within four to six weeks.

Mr. Bhargav called for strengthening intelligence gathering mechanism to identify disgruntled elements who might be waiting to indulge in arson. This could be based on a thorough review of cases booked during the year and other inputs from the rangers and other frontline staff of the Forest Department.

However, the key suggestion to prevent forest fires was to rope in the services of the local community and make them participants in forest management by appointing them as fire watchers.

Mr. Bhargav said the department was receptive to the suggestions and Wildlife First would supplement their efforts in fire prevention and control by booking slots in radio and TV channels . It has been created with the collaboration of Kumble Foundation and the appeal in Kannada, to prevent forest fires, was by former cricketer Anil Kumble, Mr. Bhargav said.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/reach-out-to-local-communities-to-prevent-forest-fires/article4327600.ece