When the tiger shows us the passageways

While experts dither over corridor viability, big cats from Rajasthan offer some lessons
Jay Mazoomdaar
IT WAS Jaipur, late 2007. A few months before the PMO cleared the plan to fly in tigers to Sariska from Ranthambhore, an IAS officer was holding forth on the subject at a private function. “Let’s build a corridor for tigers; 100-metre wide. How much land (do) we require? It’s not even 200 km between the two forests,” he said, clearly exasperated by the delay. Just 140 km, a colleague assured him, and generously proposed that the width of the passage be doubled: “We will put trees and all. It will be fenced and safe.” The enthusiasm was infectious till a senior forest officer jumped in to play spoilsport.

As forests get fragmented due to rapid incursion of roads, railways, mines, cropland or settlements, maintaining connectivity and therefore healthy gene flow among small wild populations is becoming more challenging than ever. More so, because the popular perception of a wildlife corridor, particularly to those in the corridors of power, is indistinguishable from say, freight corridors.

The term corridor gives an impression of linearity. But animals seldom move like crows fly. The shortest course we chart out for tigers at official meetings and even in research papers may not suit them at all. The route may not have enough water sources or vegetation cover in which they can sneak around. Or it may be just too crowded.

For many years now, experts and officials have been wondering how to make the 2-4 km stretch between Ranthambhore National Park (RNP) and Keladevi Wildlife Sanctuary (KWLS) — both part of the Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve (RTR) but separated by the Banas river — a safe animal corridor so that tigers from the park can populate the sanctuary.

The ravine wilderness that connects RNP and KWLS is being flattened for agriculture by local villagers who have established several hamlets to manage their new cropland. Though ecologically vibrant, ravines are classified as wasteland, reclamation of which is officially encouraged. Illegal sand mining on several stretches along the Banas further chokes this passageway. Unsurprisingly, of the 50-odd Ranthambhore tigers, only one is settled in KWLS, crowded by dozens of villages and their livestock.

But while the close proximity of RNP and KWLS makes restoring connectivity look feasible, any prospect of reviving the Ranthambhore-Kuno corridor has long been written off. Tigers from Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh mated frequently till the trans-Chambal link snapped three decades ago. While Kuno remained connected to other MP forests, Ranthambhore became an island, hemming in its then population of 14 tigers.

The numbers have multiplied almost four-fold in RNP since. But the only way the Ranthambhore tigers can escape disastrous consequences of inbreeding is through revival of the gene flow from MP. But nobody gave the lost corridor a chance. Once the resident tigers of Kuno were poached, it was readied for lions from Gujarat. When Narendra Modi refused to oblige, the focus shifted to reintroducing cheetahs from Africa.

BETWEEN RTR and Kuno, the Chambal river forms the boundary between Rajasthan and MP. In this stretch, five Rajasthan rivers — Mez, Chakan, Kharad, Kundli and Banas — join the Chambal from the north. Another six tributaries — Kalisindh, Parbati, Seep, Param, Doni and Kuno — reach from the south.

Dispersing tigers prefer to keep to watercourses. Each of these meandering rivers connects RNP to neighbouring forests. Along the Chambal axis, Chakan, Kharad and Kundli lead to Sawai Mansingh sanctuary while Mez offers passage to Ramgarh Bishdhari forests. Kalisindh is the access to Darrah sanctuary while Parbati reaches the forests of Baran district. Kuno and Param rivers pass through the Kuno sanctuary while Doni and Seep flow in the larger Kuno landscape.

In the recent past, Ranthambhore tigers have travelled far and wide — Kota, Bharatpur and Mathura — as the rivers flow. There was no reason why they, if their nerve held, would not reach Kuno in MP. In fact, quite a few floaters — the last one in 2010 — ventured south inside MP across the Chambal, but eventually moved back to Rajasthan.

So, many considered it a fluke when a Ranthambhore male (T38) walked out of RNP’s Sultanpur area in late 2010 and reached Kuno in January 2011. The itinerary is sketchy but T38 walked southeast to cross the Banas and spent two weeks in a patch of ravine forest before crossing the Chambal at its confluence with Param and then followed the river upstream to reach the heart of Kuno. It was a leisurely journey, with many stopovers and kills.

Yet, T38 was merely considered lucky, till a sub-adult tiger decided to match his skills last month. One of the three cubs of T26, the young male left RNP’s Khandar area on 23 January. It reached the Banas the next day and apparently sensing mining activities to its right, turned left along the river, crossed a couple of roads, and climbed atop the hills of KWLS using the only available pass by 26 January. Unimpressed by the mess inside Keladevi, it charted its course down to the Chambal river and across to MP in the next five days.

Here, its intuition took over again and it chose to follow the Kuno river southward. Parallel to the Chambal runs a 12- feet deep irrigation canal that briefly goes inside a tunnel while passing over the Kuno. The tiger reached the other side of the canal walking under this tunnel on 5 February and, as if to reward himself, made its first kill in MP soon after. Then it slowed down in the comfort zone of reserve forests south of Kuno sanctuary that offer ample feral cattle. The tiger has made three more kills since and is not showing any urgency to head southwards along the river. It has already walked at least 80 km, more than the linear distance between RNP and Kuno, without being spotted even once, and is a day’s walk away from joining predecessor T38 inside the sanctuary.

Unlike T38 in 2011, T26 junior is being tracked daily by the forest departments of the two states with the help of TigerWatch, a Ranthambhore NGO, and village wildlife watchers appointed for the task. Tired of waiting for lions, and now cheetahs, the guards at Kuno sound both excited and nervous to be hosting tigers again. Veterans, who still remember Kuno’s last tigers, are wary of poachers even as they pray that the next Ranthambhore crossover is a female.

The remarkable journeys of the Ranthambhore duo have three lessons for us. The wild does not need handholding and knows what it is up to. The river courses, and the surrounding ravines, must be secured and monitored for tiger migration. Every tiger in transit needs rigorous tracking to avoid poaching or conflict.

Meanwhile, with RNP finally having surplus tigers and habitats not improving in KWLS, dispersal of cats outside the reserve will continue. As a bunch of cubs get ready to break free in the coming months, Kuno is likely to welcome a few more tigers, hopefully females this time, from Ranthambhore.

Once the settlers start breeding in Kuno, young tigers will eventually venture further south inside MP to find partners or perhaps individuals from MP’s northernmost tiger pockets will come checking at Kuno. With time, the reverse wild traffic will hit Ranthambhore, carrying fresh genes to Rajasthan in many decades.

If only we take cue from the tiger instead of deciding for it.

Source: http://tehelka.com/when-the-tiger-shows-us-the-passageways/

How can we help to bridge critical gap in tiger conservation

By Dharmendra Khandal Feb 27 2013

Photo: Dharmendra Khandal

Famous tiger conservationists Belinda Wright wrote on a social networking site that “Unfortunately, there was news of two dead tigers, and a third caught in a poacher’s trap. One of the tigers was electrocuted in a live-wire trap set by poachers for wild meat in Katni District, adjoining Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. Shockingly, this was the third tiger to die in an electrocution trap set by poachers in the Bandhavgarh area since 18 November 2011, a period of only 15 weeks. Another tiger was found dead near Nagarhole NP. And a third young tiger was found in a metal jaw trap in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve. This one survived, although it is uncertain whether it can be returned to the wild.”

It is indeed a sad situation in which our national animal is being killed so heartlessly. Can we think of a solution and long-term vision for its survival? To understand the circumstances better, we have to differentiate these killing cases into three categories — first type is the crime, which is executed by hard core poachers, who are part of an organised poaching syndicate wanting to supply animal parts for money. The second type of killings is due to accident, because community living along the park were targeting deer or wild pig for the bush meat and the same trap killed a tiger or leopard. The third type is deliberate, revenge killing of tigers and leopards by the community to protect their livestock, which is a big crisis.

To control all these worrisome situations in right time and beforehand can be are really challenging. We have to admit that government agencies are still not equipped and trained to control these organised crimes. Some NGO’s performance fair better than the government agencies in the field of anti-poaching such as WPSI and WTI. While some local NGOs such as Tiger Watch are working effectively in and around single parks, in this case the Ranthambhore tiger reserve. But NGOs cannot work on a large-scale single-handedly without government support. The forest department is not putting enough resources for intelligence gathering. Also, if they execute the poaching raids well, they are hardly able to convert them into correct court cases. They mostly lose the court cases and the same poachers become more immune and trained towards the system loopholes. The success rate of conviction is just 3 per cent in India, and if we removed Sariska poaching cases from them; the conviction is less than 0.3 per cent of total wildlife crime cases. Hence, the same people always come back into the poaching business.

The other killing is because of meat or revenge killing and this can be control only with the help of local community’s support. Only the local resident of adjoining villages can provide information for this and they can be employed for the same, this way they would be involved and part of the monitoring team. In Ranthambhore, almost 20 villagers have been employed by the partnership of forest department and an NGO for this work. It is working well in the region in managing anti-poaching, but also managing the stray tigers when they move outside the protected areas into villages or farms. They are also working as a buffer link between the forest department and local village community whenever big cats kill their livestock. They help the department to estimate the cost of the animal and inform whether compensation was provided in time, among other things. Such projects can bridge the critical gap in conservation and the villagers can become partners in conserving our last wilderness.

(The writer is a conservation biologist at Tiger Watch, Ranthambore)

Source: http://www.mydigitalfc.com/leisure-writing/how-can-we-help-bridge-critical-gap-tiger-conservation-526&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

Major forest fire on Lower Palani hills

Hundreds of different types of trees destroyed
A forest fire that raged on Tuesday night destroyed hundreds of different types of trees, mostly rare and endangered species and medicinal plants, in the reserve forests on the Lower Palani Hills, damaging bio-diversity and wiping out the livelihood of many tribal communities.

The fire destroyed trees at the ninth hairpin bend on the Palani-Kodaikanal ghat road near Saverikadu. It quickly spread to other parts of the forests reducing trees, plants and herbs spread over many acres to ash. Smoke and flames filled the hill tracks. Wildlife perished, according to Santhanam Krishnan, a farmer, who brought vegetables to Palani market from Vada Kavunji in Kodaikanal in a van. Many other heavy vehicle drivers and tourist cab operators from Kodaikanal also struggled to cross this stretch. They returned to Saverikadu as dense smoke affected visibility.

Forest officials drew the ire of tribal people and corporation bus drivers waiting at the affected site. When one of the drivers informed Palani forest officials about the fire, they reportedly said that the area under fire was not under their control and asked him to contact the Kodaikanal forest office. In turn, Kodaikanal officials advised him to convey the message to the Udumalpet forest office, who said that the area was under the control of a sanctuary. No forest officials came to the spot, said Kannan of Kombaikadu, a nearby village.

The blaze reportedly subsided on its own.

30 kg of pangolin scales seized, three arrested

A file picture of pangolin. Photo: Lingaraj Panda  - The Hindu

Rajaji National Park officials arrested three persons from the Kansrao forest area and recovered about 30 kg of pangolin scales. The officials described it as one of the biggest catch of pangolin scales in the country.

Pangolins are a highly endangered species and use of its scales for medical or other purposes is banned internationally.

They are, however, said to be used illegally to treat arthritis and stomach ailments in countries like China and Thailand.

The officials said they launched a combing operation after recovering several SIM cards and mobile phones from the Kansrao forests. This paid off with the arrest of three locals with gunny bags containing the pangolin scales.

The three revealed that a goldsmith of Doiwala area, near here, offered to buy any amount of pangolin scales they could get.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/30-kg-of-pangolin-scales-seized-three-arrested/article4443776.ece

The birds really rule the roost here

M.T. SHIVA KUMAR

Spot-billed Pelicans, Painted Storks and other species have started arriving at Kokkare Bellur

• Around Rs. 1.2lakh is given annually as relief to persons on whose property the birds nest
• ‘Kokkare Bellur may be given ‘Community Bird Sanctuary’ status to develop it’

Here again: More than 1,500 birds of several species
descend on Kokkare Bellur village in
Mandya district every year to nest.

Much to the delight of bird-watchers, several species of birds have started arriving at Kokkare Bellur, on the banks of the Shimsha, near Maddur, in the district.

Kokkare Bellur is among the 465 bird sites identified in the country by the Indian Bird Conservation Network (IBCN).

Around 300 Spot-billed Pelicans, nearly 1,100 Painted Storks as well as other species of birds have landed at Kokkare Bellur in the last few weeks, occupying around 140 trees.

‘Increase in numbers’

“There is a considerable increase in the number of migratory birds compared with last year,” G. Mahesh, Deputy Range Forest Officer (Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary), told The Hindu here on Tuesday.

The increase in the number of winged visitors had left bird-watchers elated, Mr. Mahesh said.

More than 1,500 birds of several species descend on the village every year to nest. Last year, around 800 Painted Storks visited the village. Kokkare Bellur is considered one of the safe places for pelicans in India with local people passionately safeguarding the birds.

According to local people, the birds have been coming to Kokkare Bellur to nest for several decades and depart with the onset of monsoon. The Forest Department has been requesting local residents not to harm the birds and not to cut or trim the branches of trees.

It distributes around Rs. 1.2 lakh annually as compensation to persons on whose property the birds nest.

For rescued chicks

The department has also hired a local person, P. Lokesh Kumar, to keep an eye on the movements of the birds and to protect chicks from stray dogs. An enclosure with a mesh has been established at the village where chicks that have fallen from their nests are taken care of.

Recently, he and some others rescued three chicks recently which are being looked after at the enclosure.

The village also attracts tourists from different parts of the country, Mr. Lokesh told The Hindu .

Meanwhile, according to Mr. Mahesh, the Forest Department is contemplating giving Kokkare Bellur ‘Community Bird Sanctuary’ status to develop it.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/the-birds-really-rule-the-roost-here/article4457339.ece

SC: Why not ban vehicles in forests for animal safety?

Dhananjay Mahapatra, TNN | Jan 19, 2013
NEW DELHI: Concerned by high animal mortality in traffic accidents on roads passing through thick forests, the Supreme Court on Friday issued notices to the Centre and 10 states asking why mitigating measures, including a dusk-to-dawn ban on vehicles on forest roads, be not taken immediately.

Amicus curiae Harish Salve moved the application before the court's green bench comprising Justices Aftab Alam, K S Radhakrishnan and Ranjan Gogoi. He pointed to the disturbing number of deaths because of "upgradation, widening or indiscriminate construction of new roads through areas which have thick forest and which are rich in wildlife without first putting in place mitigative measures".

Salve mentioned the high incidence of death of animals, which collide with vehicles on the 54-km stretch of NH 37 passing through Kaziranga (a world heritage site recognized by Unesco) to escape flood waters of Brahmaputra in their attempt to flee towards higher grounds of Karbi Anglong forests.

A study by the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) eight years ago suggested construction of seven underpasses and 100-150 metre long ecoduct (tunnel) through raised grounds for safe passage of animals without their coming to the road. "The MoEF and the Assam government have not yet taken any steps to implement the recommendation," Salve complained.

The amicus said the apex court had in 2009 banned heavy and commercial vehicle movement on a state highway passing through Sariska tiger reserve and a ban on all vehicular movement during the night. This order is yet to be implemented, he said.

Salve said the apex court had in November 2008 closed traffic at night on the Mysore-Mananthawadi road passing through Nagarhole national park and ordered putting speed regulating measures like rumble strips.

He said roads were being indiscriminately constructed or upgraded even in ecologically sensitive areas like national parks and sanctuaries without seeking permission from competent authorities under the Wildlife Protection Act.

"These roads, besides jeopardizing wildlife, are also exposing pristine areas having high rainfall in the evergreen forests of the Western Ghats and the Himalayas which are prone to soil and water erosion and are subjected to other adverse impacts on the flora and fauna," he said.

The application listed important roads passing through sanctuaries and national parks or areas with heavy concentration and movement of wildlife requiring putting in place site-specific mitigation measures to prevent and reduce wild animal deaths from vehicular accidents.

On the benefit of mitigation measures, Salve gave the example of Zanzibar (East Africa), where installation of just four speed-breakers helped reduce mortality of the threatened red colobus monkeys by 85% in the first nine months.

Closure of roads from dusk to dawn, or from 9 pm till 7 am, has become necessary, Salve said. "This has been done between Mysore and Ooty, which passes through two protected areas with very high concentration of wildlife - the Bandipur national park in Karnataka and Mudumalai wildlife sanctuary across the border in Tamil Nadu," he added.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/SC-Why-not-ban-vehicles-in-forests-for-animal-safety/articleshow/18081130.cms

Another rhino killed in Kaziranga

Park officials said the spot where the rhino was
shot dead was just about 700 metre from the
Erasuti anti-poaching camp situated on the
northern bank of the Brahmaputra.

JORHAT: Poachers killed another rhinoceros in Kaziranga National Park on Monday. Forest staff found the carcass of the rhino at the park's Agoratoli range with the horn was missing.

Park officials said the spot where the rhino was shot dead was just about 700 metre from the Erasuti anti-poaching camp situated on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra. However, no gunshots were heard during the past 24 hours. "Our staff found the carcass of the animal close to the anti-poaching camp while they were patrolling this afternoon. They also recovered some bullets of a .303 rifle from near the body. We believe the rhino was killed by a .303 rifle with a silencer as the forest guards did not hear any gunshots,'' said chief conservator of forest (Kaziranga) N K Vasu.

After the carcass was found, forest staff launched an operation in and around the northern side of the park, Vasu said, adding, "Forest guards have been put on high alert in all the forest ranges of the park and both forest guards and the newly-appointed Assam Forest Protection Force personnel have been engaged in the operation."

He said that with this incident, the total number of rhino deaths due to poaching in Kaziranga and it's adjacent forest divisions areas has mounted to nine this year so far. The first poaching incident occurred near Sorali anti-poaching camp in Burapahar forest range on January 29 followed by three rhino killings on January 30, February 2 and 4 respectively.

To curb the unabated rhino poaching in the World Heritage Site park, the state forest department recently formed the Assam Forest Protection Force (AFPF) and recruited 300 personnel for Kaziranga. This force is equipped with SLR and .303 rifles. According to the park authorities, about 100 such AFPF personnel have already joined their duties at the park and are working in different forest camps along with other forest guards.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Another-rhino-killed-in-Kaziranga/articleshow/18682496.cms

Two elephants found dead

Two elephants were found dead in the Sathyamangalam forests here in the last two days. The carcass of a female elephant was found in a private farm land on Saturday.

Another female elephant was found dead in Bhavanisagar forest range. Samples have been sent to laboratory to know whether it has died of anthrax, said A. Venkatesh, Conservator of Forests.

Leopard found shot dead on Malankara coffee estate

Leopard found shot dead

The carcass of a leopard was found in a private coffee estate at Malankara near Sulthan Bathery in the district on Thursday morning.

The estate workers found the carcass of the male leopard, aged about six years, and informed the forest officials. The animal appeared to have been shot dead.

Forest cover depletes in Krishna district

G.V.R. SUBBA RAO

115.8 hectare of forest land has been cleared and encroached upon in the last two years

• The initiative to raise plantations in forest land also accounts for negative growth
• Attempts to encroach upon forest land traced in Sunkollu and Kantreipadu of Nuzvid range

Not for long:A view of the fast depleting Kondapalli
forest near Vijayawada.— Photo: Ch. Vijaya Bhaskar

The forest cover in Krishna district is depleting and a negative growth is being recorded, if the satellite images are to be believed. The negative growth has been recorded in two consecutive years of 2010 and 2011.

As much as 115.8 hectares of forest land has been cleared and encroached upon. The initiative to raise plantations in forest land has also accounted for negative growth in the district.

Satellite images point out that there is a decrease of 41.96 Ha of open forest and 4.30 Ha of scrub between 2009 (October-December) and 2010 (October-December).

The State government, in the forest report 2012, noted that a negative change (including scrub) of 27.66 Ha is on account of clearance of jungle growth for raising plantations. Encroachments accounted for 18.6 Ha.

The negative growth was recorded in previous year as well. Comparison of forest cover (satellite data of October 2009) with that assessment year (satellite imagery of October 2008-February 2009), shows a negative change of 150.28 Ha.

There is a decrease of 20 Ha of moderately dense forest, 126 Ha of open forest. Of the total negative change, raising plantations accounts for 53.08 Ha, and encroachments in 97.2 Ha.

A negative growth was recorded in Nuzvid range of Vijayawada division in the district, as 27.66 Ha was cleared for plantation. The Andhra Pradesh Forest Development Corporation is supposed to take up plantation there. Fresh attempts to encroach on forest land were traced in Sunkollu and Kantreipadu of Nuzvid range.

When contacted, Divisional Forest Officer P.J. Banerjee said that the vegetation growth depends on various factors including rainfall and sub-soil moisture.

The clearance of vegetation for raising plantations was a forest management intervention. So, it cannot be considered as loss of forest cover. There were few old encroachments, and fresh attempts were made. Cases were slapped against the encroachers, he said.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-in-school/forest-cover-depletes-in-krishna-district/article4444521.ece

Forest guards attacked, check post vandalised

Case registered against timber merchants, lorry owners and drivers

The Forest Department check-post on
Salem – Yercaud Ghat Road that was vandalised
in Salem on Friday. PHOTO: P. GOUTHAM

Two forest guards were assaulted and the check post they were manning vandalised by a few timber merchants at the Salem — Yercaud Ghat Road, here on Friday morning.

 According to the police, around 6 a.m. on Friday, eight lorries carrying silver oak logs from Yercaud was stopped at the check post and the forest guards, Jayakumar (34) and Sri Ganesh (32), asked the drivers to produce the documents. The drivers, who did not have valid documents, left their vehicles behind to inform their owners.

Later, around 9.30 a.m., more than 30 persons, including lorry owners, drivers and timber merchants, reached the check post and entered into an altercation with the guards. They allegedly assaulted the guards and damaged the properties at the check post. Later they broke the check post’s gate and drove away the lorries.

The guards, who sustained injuries, were admitted to Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College Hospital. Yercaud Tahsildar Chandrasekaran, Additional Superintendent of Police Saroj Kumar Tagore and senior forest officials inspected the spot.

 N. Thangaraju, District Forest Officer, Salem Division, told The Hindu that this was the second attack on the personnel at the check post and protection has been sought from the police.

Forest officials said that under the Tamil Nadu Hill Areas (Preservation of Trees) Act, 1955, the order for tree cutting has to be obtained from the District Committee, headed by the District Collector. “Only if trees are felled legally, it can be transported. Only the committee is empowered to take action against the violators”, the officials said.

 Based on a complaint lodged by forest guard Sri Ganesh, Yercaud police have registered a case against 20 persons, including lorry owners, drivers and timber merchants under Sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting with deadly weapon), 294 (b) (uttering obscene words in public place), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharging duty), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty) and 506 (i) (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code. Search is on for the accused.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-miscellaneous/forest-guards-attacked-check-post-vandalised/article4445258.ece

India praised for its vulture conservation efforts

Saswati Mukherjee, TNN | Feb 21, 2013, 02.11 PM IST

The paper published in the journal "Science"
by Dr Andrew Balmford of Cambridge University
gives a perspective on the progress of
vulture conservation in South Asia.

BANGALORE: The vultures in South Asia have been under threat for over a decade now. But the silver lining is that India has acted quickly to conserve this species, as compared to many western countries in the past in the case of other environmental pollutants. A new research paper in 'Science' has observed that the central and state governments in India were quick enough to bring the vultures back from the brink, with help of research institutions such as BNHS, under the SAVE (Saving Asia's Vultures from Extinction) consortium. The paper further states that many western countries have been much slower in acting upon the environmental impacts of pesticides that were felt over decades.

Timely action

The paper published in the journal "Science" by Dr Andrew Balmford of Cambridge University gives a perspective on the progress of vulture conservation in South Asia. It attributes the progress so far to the quick response of the governments in the region to the vulture crises by banning veterinary diclofenac. The pesticide effect in the West continues to cause grave damage to non-target organisms. But in South Asia, the fact that vulture declines have significantly slowed and possibly even reversed has been directly attributed to the prompt action over the past decade.

Expressing satisfaction on the action taken by authorities in India so far, BNHS Director, Asad Rahmani said, "The timely ban on veterinary diclofenac in South Asia, along with the research and conservation efforts of BNHS and the SAVE partners, based on scientific facts has proved to be a successful step in the right direction". Commenting on the issue author Dr Balmford said, "The vulture collapse is an immense problem - in its sheer extent as well as in its significance for people. So news that the declines are beginning to slow and even reverse is extremely welcome and a testament both to the tremendous hard work of all the NGOs in the SAVE consortium and to the responsiveness of governments in the region."

The way ahead

However, it has to be noted that the job of saving the vultures is far from complete. Before the captive bred vultures can be safely released back into the wild across South Asia, it needs to be ensured that the countryside does not have diclofenac lingering in the food chain. Vulture Safe Zones (VSZs) need to be identified in various regions. The recent SAVE meeting held in Kathmandu in November 2012 stressed the need for preventing human diclofenac being used for veterinary purpose. This can be achieved by packaging human diclofenac in smaller vials not larger than 3ml, which would be much less convenient for using on cattle. Talking on the issue, Chris Bowden, Programme Manager, SAVE said, "Establishing a safety-testing system for alternative veterinary drugs is essential since some of them are probably as dangerous as diclofenac. Government action so far has been quite good and with the help of IVRI (Indian Veterinary Research Institute), we hope that these last essential steps can also be taken".

Populations of the three Asian vulture species, viz. Oriental White-backed Vulture, Long-billed Vulture and Slender-billed Vulture, declined by more than 99% in South Asia since the early 1990s. Veterinary diclofenachad lethal effects on vultures that fed on cattle carcasses, which had been treated with the drug shortly before death. Thegovernments in South Asia subsequently banned the veterinary use of the painkiller in 2006. Meanwhile, scientists from BNHS and RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, UK), along with forest departments in various states of India have been successfully working on vulture breeding, advocacy and field research such as carcass sampling. The SAVE consortium for efforts across borders was set up in 2011 and subsequently a new Regional Steering Committee has been set up by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Indian Government. At present over 250 vultures are being nurtured in the three BNHS conservation breeding centres in India. In 2012, 26 new vultures were raised. In the wild, the latest trends suggest that the vulture decline has slowed since 2007 and White-backed Vulture numbers have even increased in some localised areas.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/India-praised-for-its-vulture-conservation-efforts/articleshow/18608037.cms

Officials target poaching by forest staff kin

MUMBAI: The forest officials at Sanjay Gandhi National Park are set to kick off a sensitization programme that will help stop poaching by staffers' kin. This initative comes on the back of the involvement of two forest guards' sons in a leopard poaching case that came to light on Monday., has left the forest officials at Sanjay Gandhi National Park with the need to sensitize their staffers' kin as well toward poaching.

Families of several forest officials live on the premises and have the best access to the forest, which makes the crime easier to commit. The need is to make their kin more sensitive to avoid such instances, officials say.

A senior forest official said that increasing surveillance is only one half of the partly the solution to the problem of poaching. It is also the families of as well as staffers who need to be made aware not just of the need to preserve wildlife but also of the seriousness of the crime and the punishment that which follows it.

"This case should serve as an example. Most staffers of those who work in the forest are usually well-aware of their responsibilities,and role but their families should also be involved or made aware of in the effort to preserve wildlife," he said. Officials said there are many staffers who live with their families in quarters within the park. Another official said that even though this was a rare case, "the effort of speaking to families should start now It can be more of an awareness measure to avoid involvement of kin in wildlife crimes". Officials also said families should be made aware of the penalties that come along with poaching to further discourage them.

Krishna Tiwari from City Forest Initiative said the idea to speak to families is a novel one and may make a difference when it is finally implemented.

The need to sensitize has arisen after the crime branch have arrested four persons in connection to leopard poaching. They include Alok Khaire (27), Prashant Patel (25), Tushar Bagwe (29) and Abhishek Rane (26). They were arrested on Monday while trying to sell a leopard skin for Rs 4 lakh.

The police said they had formed several teams and were still looking for the gang leader, Pankaj, Patel's elder brother.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Officials-target-poaching-by-forest-staff-kin/articleshow/18602261.cms

Man arrested trying to sell leopard skin

A 48-year-old man was arrested in Kurla (West) Tuesday night for allegedly attempting to sell a leopard skin. He was carrying the skin worth Rs 1.5 lakh in a haversack, police said.

The accused, booked under Wildlife (Protection) Act, has allegedly confessed to acquiring the skin from a relative in Pune. Forest officials suspect the leopard to be from the forest in Sahyadri Hills.

Police said Bhagwan Sanas was seen loitering suspiciously around GSK Lodge on LBS Marg at 9 pm Tuesday. When he did not answer questions regarding his presence confidently, patrolling police demanded to check his haversack and found the skin.

Sanas was immediately arrested and taken to Kurla police station. An examination at Sanjay Gandhi National Park confirmed the 89-centimetre-long skin belonged to a leopard.

Sanas is a contract labourer with Larsen and Toubro and lives in Kurla. He told police he acquired the skin a few days ago at his native Karanji village in Pune district.

"It appears the leopard was skinned after it was killed. I do not think it was killed in Sanjay Gandhi National Park. Sanas said the leopard is from the Sahyadri Hills near his village. We have charged him with killing an endangered species," said DCP (zone V) Dhananjay Kulkarni.

Sanas has been booked under sections 9 (prohibition of hunting), 39 (confiscation) and 51 (penalties imposed by the forest department) of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and remanded in police custody till February 23.

"We arrested him after a tip-off. He has not yet disclosed who he was trying to sell the skin to," Kulkarni said.

The arrest comes two days after four youth were held by the crime branch trying to sell a leopard skin worth Rs 4 lakh. Two of the youths are sons of forest officials and stay in quarters inside Sanjay Gandhi National Park.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/man-arrested-trying-to-sell-leopard-skin/1077288/0

3 smugglers held, 5 tiger skins recovered

LUCKNOW: The network of wildlife poachers seems to have penetrated into the city and is trying to reach the international market via Nepal. The special operations group and district police caught a murder accused and two more smugglers in possession of five tiger hides from Chinhat area on Wednesday. The police also recovered a porcupine from the smugglers.

The trio had got hold of the hides from a Maharashtra-based poacher and was in the middle of finding a prospective buyer, when the police intercepted them. The three smugglers have been identified as Vishal alias Sahil-the murder accused and Rajmal and Rajan, both residents of Barabanki. A resident of Dewa Road, Vishal had been accused of a murder that took place at Matiyari in 2007.

"The trio was in possession of five tiger hides and porcupine (an endangered species), when they were held by the police. We are trying to find out who was interested in dealing with the trio and suspect that the hides were to be smuggled to international market via Nepal," said J Ravinder Goud, senior superintendent of police, Lucknow.

According the police, the trio had bought the tiger hides from a man identified as Vijay. The trio had been in the business of wildlife smuggling and trafficking for past several years and had developed contacts across several states in the country. From preliminary investigations, it was found that the recovered hides have been smuggled from Maharashtra's Aurangabad district to the city. "The cost price of a single hide is Rs 50,000, while the selling price ranges between Rs 4 and 5 lakh," told Brijlal Verma, the sub-inspector of the team that nabbed the trio from a shanty located off Faizabad Road.

The police have pressed various charges under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 against the trio and have sent them to jail. "We had information of some groups, which were active in smuggling of endangered animals, skins, hides, bones, body parts etc in the city. Following continuous surveillance and help of informers, a notorious group had been held," said a police official.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/3-smugglers-held-5-tiger-skins-recovered/articleshow/18602036.cms

Elephants go on rampage, one killed, 7 houses damaged

PTI
DIPHU (Assam): A man was trampled to death and seven houses were damaged by two wild elephants in Assam's Karbi Anglong district.

Two wild elephants went on a rampage in Borbilgaon under Howraghat police station of the district and killed a man besides damaging seven houses and uprooting several trees, officials said today.

Panic prevails in the area as the elephants were still roaming around.

Forest department personnel went to the village and efforts were on to send back the pachyderms to the nearby forest.

The dead man has been identified as Kheru Das.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/Elephants-go-on-rampage-one-killed-7-houses-damaged/articleshow/18611705.cms

Crowded nesting stands prove dear for winged visitors

RAJULAPUDI SRINIVAS

A juvenile pelican died as it got stuck in the iron stand arranged for nesting in
Kolleru Lake at Atapaka Bird Sanctuary in Krishna district. Photo: Ch. Vijaya Bhaskar

A few pelican chicks died and eggs were damaged when they fell from iron stands arranged in Kolleru Lake at Atapaka Bird Sanctuary due to overcrowding of the winged visitors.

About 1,500 chicks, aged between 30 and 60 days, were found on the stands recently.

“The water level in the lake is good. This year the number of birds visiting the sanctuary is high when compared to previous years. A few chicks died and eggs were damaged when they fell from the overcrowded stands,” said the Forest Department officials.

Speaking to The Hindu, Kaikalur Forest Range Officer (FRO) V. Ratna Kumar said the Kolleru Wildlife Management officials arranged iron stands for facilitating the birds for nesting.

Atapaka Bird Sanctuary Deputy FRO V. Satyanandam said as there was no protection on the edges of the stands a few chicks and eggs slipped from the stands.

“We also observed a few chicks dying when they got stuck in the mesh arranged on the stands,” he said.

In addition to 60 iron stands, they erected 40 more stands at different places for the birds to rest.

Metal rods were arranged on the borders of the new stands to protect the chicks and the eggs, he said.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Vijayawada/crowded-nesting-stands-prove-dear-for-winged-visitors/article4431436.ece

MoEF extends deadline for states to declare eco-sensitive zones around wildlife parks and sanctuaries

Kumar Sambhav S

It is the last opportunity for states, warns ministry official

The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has extended the deadline for the states to declare eco-sensitive zones  around national parks and wildlife sanctuaries by three more months. The previous deadline expired on February 15.

Eco-sensitive zones are the ecologically important areas designated to be protected from industrial pollution and unregulated development under the Environment Protection Act of 1986. In 2002, MoEF had decided to declare an area of 10 km from the boundaries of protected areas as eco-sensitive zones to create a buffer around them. But many states opposed it, fearing it would hamper development. The decision was challenged in the Supreme Court. In 2005, MoEF, on the recommendation of the National Board of Wildlife (NBWL), decided that states will declare eco-sensitive zones on site-specific, case-to-case basis, and that industrial activity in such zones would be regulated instead of being prohibited. Till the time these zones are not notified, all projects that require environmental clearance and fall within 10 km of the boundary of a protected area were to be placed before NBWL’s standing committee for approval.

The ministry has sent several reminders to states to propose eco-sensitive zones. It formulated guidelines to declare area-specific eco-sensitive zones in February 2011, but not many states forwarded proposals. India has 102 national parks and 515 wildlife sanctuaries, but till January this year, only seven eco-sensitive zones were notified around protected areas. In the meanwhile, the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) that advises the Supreme Court on forest matters suggested that such zones should be limited to up to two kilometres from the boundary of the national parks. It said this would expedite the process of declaring the eco-sensitive zones. The ministry, however, did not buy this argument and advocated the existing mechanism of declaring site-specific safety zones around each protected area or restricting industrial activity within 10 km from its boundary in case such zones are not identified (see ‘Smaller eco zone irks ministry’).

Later, the ministry issued directions to the states on December 31, 2012, giving them the deadline of February 15 to send proposals for site-specific eco-sensitive zones around the protected areas. It said if the proposals were not sent for particular protected area by the deadline, the restrictions on industrial development will be imposed in an area of 10 km around that protected area. As the states panicked and started preparing the proposals, communities living around several protected areas in the country started protesting against the declaration of these zones. Reports from Maharashtra, Goa and Madhya Pradesh suggest people feared that notification of such zones would hamper their development.

While many states have formed committees of forest department and environmentalists to identify eco-sensitive zoones, it seems not many of them could comply with the deadline of February 15. “The states have requested for more time. Preparation of proposals has progressed well in several states but it is pending approval at the state governments' level. We have given them a last opportunity by extending the deadline for three more months,” said an official in the MoEF.

Source: http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/moef-extends-deadline-states-declare-eco-sensitive-zones-around-wildlife-parks-and-sanctuari

Gunshots return to gag lion roar in Amreli

Vijaysinh Parmar, TNN | Feb 19, 2013

Wildlife experts say that there should not be any activity
in the 10-km periphery of a wildlife sanctuary and
government must declare it as a silent and
eco-sensitive zone.

RAJKOT: For most part of the year, it's only the roar of Asiatic lions that breaks the tranquility of Mityala Wildlife Sanctuary in Amreli district. But for the next two months, gunshots will rent the air, forcing the lions to run for cover.

Amreli district police started their annual firing practice near Khambha town, barely half a kilometre from the sanctuary. Till March 31, 950 cops will be firing not less than 30,000 rounds in this hilly area, which wildlife activists say is the natural corridor for as many as 15 Asiatic lions.

About 70 policemen of various ranks have to undergo the annual practice daily by firing 32 rounds each. This translates into nearly 2,100 rounds being fired close to the sanctuary.

"We have written to the concerned government departments to find an alternate firing range as this one is very close to the wildlife sanctuary, " said Vimalsinh Rathod, a wildlife activist in Khambha. In fact, one lions had preyed on a goat in a private farm which is a stone's throw away from the range.

"Wildlife experts say that there should not be any activity in the 10-km periphery of a wildlife sanctuary and government must declare it as a silent and eco-sensitive zone.

Deputy conservator of forests, Anshuman Sharma said that he will look into this matter.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Gunshots-return-to-gag-lion-roar-in-Amreli/articleshow/18567658.cms

Alligator deaths triggers alert

P Naveen, TNN | Feb 19, 2013
BHOPAL: National Chambal Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh, home to ghariyals (Indian alligator), has been besieged with cases related to the deaths of the reptiles primarily due to parasitic infection of liver, kidneys and gastrointestinal tract. Eleven ghariyals were found dead in the last four months in the sanctuary- five in Bhind region of MP and six in Agra and Etawah districts in Uttar Pradesh (UP).

Autopsy reports on the ghariyals revealed irregularities in their gastrointestinal tract.

About 115 gharyials had died with the same problem in the sanctuary from December 8 to 22, 2007. Not to take any chances the authorities are in touch with experts across the country to take preventive steps to save the reptiles.

District forest officer (DFO), Morena, Vincent Rahim told TOI that there is no reason to panic as there is a difference in age, class and size of the reptiles and their causes of death. "Autopsy indicates different reasons. We are in touch with the best wildlife experts. The best veterinarians and experts have been put on alert," said the DFO adding that situation is not alarming yet.

The officials have also contacted Madras crocodile bank trust and Wildlife SOS (animal rescue organization) for further assistance to tackle the situation. As a fresh initiative, sanctuary officials have invited tender for procuring a mortuary freezer to preserve the tissues and other remains of the animals for detailed investigations.

The state officials are also in constant touch with their UP counterparts. Liver dysfunction, cardiac arrest and respiratory tract infection were the reasons behind deaths of three gharials, he said adding other two carcasses were found in a highly decomposed condition so autopsy was impossible.

Viscera of dead animals were sent for a more precise toxicological and pathological examination at Veterinary College in Jabalpur and High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL) in Bhopal and IVRI ( Indian Veterinary Research Institute) Bareilly, to find out the actual cause of death.

Officials informed that no sign of external injuries were found on the bodies of the ghariyals, which ruled out the possibility of accidental deaths in fish nets. Established in 1978, the sanctuary is spread in a 435 km stretch of Chambal river spread across Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Total of 905 gharilas were reported in the MP part of the sanctuary in the last census in 2012.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Alligator-deaths-triggers-alert/articleshow/18565567.cms

Poachers kills another rhino in Kaziranga, chop off horn

Naresh Mitra, TNN | Feb 18, 2013
GUWAHATI: There has been no let up in rhino poaching in Assam yet. On Saturday, poachers killed another rhino at Kaziranga National Park and chopped off its horn. With the latest killing, the rhino poaching toll this year has risen to seven in Kaziranga.

The killing took place in the Kawoimari area under Bagori forest range of the park. The carcass was found on Sunday.

Park director N K Vasu said the rhino was poached in the interior parts of the park and forest officials had to fire in the air to scare a herd of elephants so that they could reach the spot.

Vasu said three rhinos were killed inside the park, while another four were poached after the animals strayed out of Kaziranga.

"We did have intelligence inputs about the activity of poachers. But unfortunately, the rhino could not be saved. On the northern bank of the Brahmaputra, poachers have stepped up their activities. There are many sand islands from where poachers operate. We are doing our best to deal with them," Vasu said.

Soon after the news of poaching spread in the fringes of Kaziranga, locals surrounded the director's and divisional forest officer's office at Bokakhat, accusing the forest department for its failure to stop killing of rhinos. Many of the protestors also planned to stage a demonstration on Monday.

In a separate event, Assamese film stars, including Nishita Goswami, joined a public campaign to save rhinos, which is also the state animal.

Kaziranga lost at least 18 rhinos to poachers last year. This is, in addition, to the 28 rhinos killed during floods between June and September last year.

Assam boasts that it houses two-third of the world's Indian one-horned rhinos. Kaziranga alone has over 2,000 rhinos. While floods are a part of Kaziranga's ecosystem, leading to the death of nearly 700 different wildlife species, including rhinos last year. However, wildlife crime experts said the spurt in poaching in recent times did not augur well for the long-term conservation of rhinos if foolproof mechanism is not put in place right now.

Wildlife crime experts said the rise in the demand for rhino horns in China and Vietnam has escalated the killings of the one-horned pachyderm in Kaziranga. Generally horns are smuggled out to Myanmar through the porous international border in Manipur.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Poachers-kills-another-rhino-in-Kaziranga-chop-off-horn/articleshow/18551335.cms

Foresters, cops hand in glove in killing fields

A haul of hunted black sniped hare and a jungle cat (endangered scheduled animal). —DC

Chennai: In 2010, a group of friends with police connections entered Kalakad Munda­nthurai tiger Reserve in Tirunelveli with telescopic rifles, guns and snares. The group, after a few rounds of liquor, hunted endangered mouse deer, wild cat, (endangered animals scheduled under the wildlife protection Act), black sniped hare and a few protected birds. After skinning, the meat was cooked and the feast served.

When they were caught red-handed by the local police, the group bribed them and petty cases were registered under the Cr.P.C. and Wildlife Protection Act, burying the issue. The clueless forest department has been maintaining silence till date for reasons best known to them. Pictures and videograph evidence available with this newspaper reveal the sorry state of affairs and unchecked poaching in the southern part of Tamil Nadu.

“When Bollywood star Salman Khan killed an endangered (black buck) deer in Rajasthan, the local wildlife officials framed charges against him and produced him in court but in Tamil Nadu, the situation is different. You can kill scheduled animals and if you are caught, you can still walk out of forest reserves using your clout,” fumes A. Rangarajan, general secretary, Tamil Nadu Green Movement.

If this is the state of a “well-protected”’ sanctuary, one shudders to think as the state of affairs in other low-profile parks and sanctuaries. We request the chief minister to initiate legal action as per the wildlife protection Act 1972 and Arms Act into these happenings and check the legality of weapons so that such incidents don’t happen again, he added.

The forest department has to initiate a quick recruitment drive with young and able field staff to effectively patrol the forests and guard them effectively. Streamlining recruitment and increasing field presence is the need of the hour and the situation of wetland birds is even worse, said wildlife activist S. Jayachandran.

“The videos and photographs are shocking and expose the poor anti-poaching system in Tirunelveli. It’s time to scale up patrolling and independent biologists and wildlife activists should be encouraged to visit the forests,” opines N. Balaji a naturalist who frequents KMTR.

A highly-placed official in the state forest headquarters told DC that the particular incident was unheard-of. “We will look into the issue and take action,” the top official assured.

A forest department official who viewed the pictures and videos available with DC said most of the animals gunned down belong to schedule 2 and 3 of the wildlife Act. As per the Act, poaching of schedule 2 (highly endangered animals) can lead to imprisonment up to three years with a fine not less than `10,000.

Mouse deer hunting will invite serious punishment and can lead up to seven years’ imprisonment as the animal enjoys the schedule 1 status enjoyed by lion, tigers and whales, the official added.

KMTR becomes a haven for poachers

Tirunelveli: The dense tropical forests of the Kalakkad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) in the south of the Western Ghats in Tirunelveli district has become a safe hunting ground for poachers despite the region being a biodiversity hot spot.

Even the authorities here have been indulging in poaching, say environmental activists, who add that though a team led by a police DSP had been nabbed by Forest department officials on December 24, 2012 in the Kalakkad forest of KMTR, they were let off on the intervention of a Congress MLA.

The Innova car (KL-01 AW 8181) reported to have been used by the illegal intruders, according to the environmentalist, belonged to the MLA’s brother. The Ervadi police who intercepted the intruders had also seized two double barrel guns, one of which was of English make.

Another complaint of 200 teak trees being felled in the Karayar range in KMTR three months ago was also swept under the carpet as the accused was one of the rangers. Deputy Director of KMTR, Gurusamy, however, said that the complaint was a false one. He, however, agreed that five men with two guns had been arrested in the Kalakkad range at KMTR, which did not fall under his jurisdiction.

The issue of smuggling of trees from the Kattalai Malai above Karayar was also brushed aside by the KMTR deputy director, who told this newspaper that the trees were being felled on a private patta land at Kattalai Malai.

He added that the Manjolai Tea Estate, run by the Bombay-Burma Trad­ing Company, had been accused of serious violations of the Forest Act and said that the government had filed a case against the estate administration in the Madurai High Court Bench seeking cancellation of the lease accorded to the company by a private party before independence. The company has allegedly encroached into forest land beyond the 8000 acres that it had leased for 99 years.

Speaking to this newspaper, an anti-poaching watcher said that poaching of wet land birds, mouse deer, wild cats and hares was rampant in the KMTR forest.

Source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com/130218/news-current-affairs/article/foresters-cops-hand-glove-killing-fields

Wild elephant dies at Hallimoyar

It suffered from some internal debilitating ailment

The female wild elephant which died at Hallimoyar
near Thengumorahaada, the Nilgiris, on Sunday.

A female wild elephant died at Hallimoyar, a village near Thengumorahaada in a far flung part of the Nilgiris bordering Erode, on Sunday.

According to sources, four nights ago people staying in the Hallimoyar temple had heard the loud trumpeting of an elephant and informed a local forest guard. Next morning, forest officials including anti-poaching watchers had found the elephant lying on the side of the Moyar River. The elephant was in agony and unable to eat.

Forest veterinarian N.S.Manoharan, who had examined the pachyderm aged about 20 years, found it to be extremely weak and suffering from some internal debilitating ailment. He declared that the chances of the animal surviving were very slim.

According to Range Officer, North Eastern Slopes, Vidhyadharan, efforts were made to revive it by offering glucose and tender coconut water. But the animal died on Sunday.

He said that a post-mortem examination would be conducted on Monday.

Wildlife enthusiast P.J.Vasanthan said that it was a lactating mother and part of a herd. It had been spotted feeding a calf a few days ago. Though it was young, its skin wrinkled due to illness.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/wild-elephant-dies-at-hallimoyar/article4426786.ece

Snares to trap wild animals found in forest area

Death trap: Members of the
Environment Conservation Group displaying the
snares removed by them from near a waterhole
in the forest area at Kovaipudur in Coimbatore
on Sunday.— PHOTO: S. SIVA SARAVANAN

A group of bird watchers from Environment Conservation Group (ECG), who were on a birding trip in Kovaipudur on Sunday, found snares laid close to a waterhole to trap wild animals near the reserve forest area there.

R. Mohammed Saleem of ECG said that he accidentally fell near a waterhole and found a snare, meant to trap small animals and birds that came there to quench thirst.

The group detected two more big snares. The three snares combined could easily trap several animals, he said.

On information, District Forest Officer, Coimbatore, V. Tirunavukarasu, rushed a team led by a Range Officer. The snares were then pulled out and handed over to the Forest Department by ECG members Mohan and Lakshminarayanan, Mr.Saleem added.

Poachers took advantage of water scarcity in the forest area and laid such snares to trap the animals that came closer to human habitations in search of water. People should know that selling, buying and even setting up snares was an offence under Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972. People who came across such activities should inform the Forest Department officials. Hunting, trapping or capture of any wild animal was punishable, with a fine of Rs. 25,000 and up to five years imprisonment, he added.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/snares-to-trap-wild-animals-found-in-forest-area/article4426703.ece

Leopard rescued from Sinhasa village near Indore, forest department doubt poaching attempt

Bagish K Jha

A leopard resting in a cage after being rescued
near Sinhasa village in Indore.

INDORE: After two days of rescue operation, eight injuries including six forest guards forest department managed to catch leopard at Sinhasa village near airport. Forest department believes that leopard might have strayed near village after a failed poaching attempt in which his right hand was injured. Leopard was sent to Indore zoo for treatment.

Chief Conservator of Forest (CCF) P C Dubey said it was very risky, dangerous and adventurous rescue operation. "It would have been taken very long time to catch the leopard. We managed to complete the rescue operation in such a short time mainly because we took quick decision, dared to take risk and were ready to take responsibility," Dubey said adding that entire operation was completed with help of around 150 forest officials, four rescue teams-one from Bhopal and villagers.

He further said entire operation was very risky but they took calculated risk. "Any mistake, lapse in coordination and any frightened move would have proved to be very dangerous and deadly. But we took a risk and to ensure coordination and success rehearsal of rescue operation was carried before actual operation," Dubey said adding that all the people involved in operation were briefed and trained about his particular role.

Last night two cages with prey were installed at field but it failed to catch leopard. In the morning hours four separate rescue teams were formed each team armed with tranquiliser, gun and other necessary equipments. Every rescue teams had three backup teams-front, middle and rear. After briefing and training all four rescue teams went ahead together and soon spotted leopard near a cage. In twenty minute long operation leopard injured five forest guards, but they managed to put nets over leopard but that was not enough then dozen of forest officials overpower wildcat to tranquilise. Later it sent to Indore zoo for treatment and injured forest guards were sent to Syush Hospital for treatment, all of them are said to be safe.

After the operation forest officials noticed injury in right hand of leopard, which was possibly because of poaching attempt. Following teams were sent in different directions in range of 15 to 20 km to find out any traces of poaching. Three people of Kalbelia tribe of Pardhi community were detained from bank of Gambhir River. Forest officials are interrogating detainees.

Dubey said that it is possible that leopard might have forced to stray out of forest area by poachers but their poaching attempt failed and wildcat came close to village. Injury on leopard right hand might be because of trap.

CCF said injured leopard will be under treatment at Indore zoo for a week or two after which they will release him in Satpura National Park.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Leopard-rescued-from-Sinhasa-village-near-Indore-forest-department-doubt-poaching-attempt/articleshow/18527681.cms

Wildlife species skeletons seized from lab

Bengaluru: The sleuths of the forest mobile squad, headed by a Range Forest Officer (RFO), raided a laboratory on Hosur Main Road and recovered skeletons of wildlife species which were kept for research.

The team, led by RFO Thimmarayappa and including RFO K. Rangaswamy, DRFOs Ramanjaneyalu, M. Raghu and H.V. Manjunath along with a few wildlife wardens, raided the premises of Laboratory Traders near Chariot Hotel on Friday last and recovered skeletons of a sea horse and dry coral which are protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and frogs which come under Schedule 4-A of the Act. The sleuths who enquired with the owner, also found three boxes of beetles, said an officer on the team. The lab owner, however, co-operated with the squad to search the entire laboratory and later recorded his statement.

The laboratory owner, Gill Roysoman (29), a resident of Kaveri Layout on Tavarekere Main Road, confessed to getting dead and alive wildlife species from Royal Biological Products, a supplier of biological materials, slides and species, located at Saidapet in Chennai. The lab owner, however, did not have any relevant documents or licence to store the wildlife species.

The lab owner was booked under Section 55 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The imprisonment may extend up to three years, a fine of `25,000 or both, the officer said.

It is yet to be ascertained for how long the laboratory has been functioning in the area and why the skeletons  were stored. The owner pleaded ignorance about the need for a licence to keep wildlife species. The Chennai supplier will also be questioned to ascertain if they possess any licence or related documents to supply wildlife species to laboratories, he said.

Source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com/121130/news-current-affairs/article/wildlife-species-skeletons-seized-lab

Chase on for a tiger in Rajnandgaon

SUVOJIT BAGCHI

• We have instructed the villagers to stay put at home: DFO
• Government is more worried about tigers than tribals: Villagers

A tiger is giving sleepless nights to villagers in Rajnandgaon district of Chhattisgarh. Several teams of forest officials and the district administration have been chasing the adult animal around the central part of the district, adjacent to NH-6, for the last two days but to no avail.

In September 2011, a tiger was beaten to death by villagers in the Bakhru Tola area of Rajnandgaon.

To avoid a recurrence of the incident, the police, paramilitary and forest officials rushed to the chase “as fast as they could” this time, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Abhay Kumar Shrivastav told The Hindu.

The tiger — presumably around eight feet from head to tail — entered Dumurdih village in Dongargarh block, adjacent to the Maharashtra border, a couple of days ago. “Pugmarks were first noticed on February 5 in Chabuknala village, about 11 km east of Dumurdih. Over the week it slowly moved to the more populated Dumurdih area and was sighted in adjoining villages… I have a feeling it has come from Salhewara forest in the north,” Mr. Shrivastav said.

While a massive hunt was launched by villagers, with some of them reportedly carrying arms, the feline entered a reservoir and spent the night there.

In the morning, it could not be located and, according to officials, it has entered the Tinkapar forest even closer to the Maharashtra border.

“We have instructed the villagers to stay put at home and not to disturb the tiger even if it is sighted. Unruly mobs create more trouble,” said Mr. Shrivastav.

Villagers, however, are not happy with the directive. “What are we supposed to do if it attacks our feeble mud houses? These days the government is more worried about tigers than tribals,” said 73-year-old Sukru Ram over the phone.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/chase-on-for-a-tiger-in-rajnandgaon/article4420748.ece

Many residents leave Valparai hill

Labourer Subramaniam from Thonimudi Estate whose son was eaten by a leopard.

Coimbatore: Over the last one week alone, four families of tea estate workers living and working in the tea estates that abound in the rolling, lush green hills of Valparai, in Coimbatore district, vacated their homes to settle down in the plains. Two more families from Mudis Estates, a few kms from Valparai town, are packing their belongings to relocate out of the scenic hill station known for its cool climate and breathtaking vistas.

Locked homes and fleeing families of Valparai are indicative of a disturbing trend. According to the census of 2011, the population of Valparai municipality, which includes 21 wards, was 70,771. The population during the 2001 census was 95,107, signifying an alarming dip. “If the trend continues, we will hardly have 50,000-odd residents in Valparai by the next census and our municipality might lose its status and be reverted back to a village panchayat,” says a municipality official on condition of anonymity.

Locals point out that this reversal in population began only a few years ago and attribute two factors to the dwindling numbers. “Wild animal population has significantly increased and the public fear that this land might be converted into a forest area following the declaration of the Anamalai Tiger Reserve a few years ago. Besides, the wages of casual labourers is approximately Rs 150, which is lesser than the wages earned by even a construction worker in the plains below,” says Mr Subramaniam (57), a resident of Thonimudi estate.

Mr Subramaniam, one of those few persons who has first-hand experience of the perils of Valparai. On January 10, 2010, he was playing with his grandson Mukesh (4) in the portico of his home at Third Division, Thonimudi estate, when a leopard snatched the child away from him. “When the leopard attacked, it was 5.30 pm and I was right there. The leopard grabbed my grandson by his neck and dragged him around 200 metres into the plantations where he is body was recovered,” Mr Subra­maniam recalls.

He still gets shivers when he thinks of the incident. “All  residents here are afraid to let their children play outside.” Over the past few years, at least six children have been killed in leopard attacks while an adult was killed by a wild bear recently. “Elephant and leopard attacks are common and quite frequent here,” says a forest official in Valparai.

According to forest range officer Mohammed Ali, there are at least 5-6 tigers in the Valparai region that approximately spans 22,000 acres. “As for leopards, there are plenty and have been breeding like wild cats out here,” says Mr Ali.

However, he points out that the number of animals has not increased of late. “It is just that more and more people have started coming out at night as many own two- and four-wheelers now and there is electricity everywhere. Hence, the attacks and animal sightings have increased,” he explains.

Wage differential drives TEA labourers Down to plains

While the increase in animal attacks and the threat of the region surrounding Valparai being declared as a forest reserve is apparent, municipality officials point out that one of the main causes for the migration was the wage limit of the casual labourers.

“Valparai is full of tea estates and a vast majority of our residents are estate workers or their progeny. Even now, an estate worker earns anywhere between Rs 145 and Rs 160 for a full day’s work while their contemporaries in the plains earn anywhere between Rs 300 and Rs 500 even doing construction work,” says V. Sathyavani Muthu, chairman of the Valparai municipality.

This wage difference between estate labour and other work is the main driving force behind the migrations, she says. “Also, most youngsters here are now educated and do no prefer estate labour. Instead, they find jobs and settle down in the plains causing the decline in population at Valparai,” she said.

The municipality officials lament that there is not much they could do to arrest the declining population. “Apart from the town centre that stretches approximately 1.5km, all the remaining lands here have either been leased out to the tea estate owners or belong to the forest department. We are unable to take up any developmental activity or bring about new industry,” said a senior municipality official.

He pointed out that the Government Arts Coll­ege that had recently come up had played a big role in retaining the youngsters from moving out for higher studies. “Employment needs to be generated for locals to revive the population here,” says the official.

But wilderness lovers and nature buffs feel happy that while there as been a general worry of overcrowding across the globe, at least isolated spots like Valparai are returning to the wild.

Source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com/130217/news-current-affairs/article/many-residents-leave-valparai-hill

Wild elephant attacks woman

C. Saraswathi (30) of Ekkalnatham village near Krishnagiri was injured in an elephant attack on Thursday. A. Babu, Ranger, Krishnagiri Forest Range said the incident happened at Nallamansanthai village when the woman was returning home through some agricultural fields.

Three elephants, which were separated from a herd, were raiding the fields. One of the elephants lifted the Saraswathi and threw her away. On hearing her screams, villagers took her to the Government Headquarters Hospital in Krishnagiri. Meanwhile, the employees and officials of the forest department chased the elephant into the Reserve Forest, Mr. Babu said.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/wild-elephant-attacks-woman/article4423914.ece

Tiger dies in Similipal reserve

Authorities of Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) detected a carcass of an ageing Royal Bengal Tigress on Saturday.

Since body of the tigress was not disfigured, ST authorities were ruling out poaching angle to the death. However, the body was seized and sent for post mortem.

According to STR, forest rangers found the carcass in a forest of Jodapal beat under Nawana South Range of STR. The length of the large cat from head to tail was measured at about eight feet and two inches and its height was three and a half feet.

Forest officials said the tigress was probably crossed 15 years of age living its full life. Last week, three cubs, one melanistic included, were sighted in Upper Barahkamuda Range's Patbil forest beat.

During past few years, Similipal tiger reserve hogged headline for all the wrong reasons. Carcasses of elephants were found in many parts of this protected area. More than 30 deaths have been recorded in Similipal National Park area since 2009.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-otherstates/tiger-dies-in-similipal-reserve/article4424284.ece

Dry canals drive leopards to villages

Residents of Hulikere and nearby areas report 20 sightings in a month

•  ‘Pugmarks recorded near water tanks in villages’
• Cages at Hulikere, Hulikere Koppalu to trap the animals

The plummeting water-level at Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) has prompted the Irrigation Department to stop releasing water into the reservoir-dependent canals. With the dried canals has come another consequence: leopards have been entering villages in search of drinking water.

The Forest Department has observed the big cats entering Hulikere, Hulikere Koppalu and surrounding villages in the taluk, looking for water and food — sheep. Area residents have spotted leopards on around 20 occasions in the past month.

“We have recorded pugmarks near water tanks in villages,” Mohammed Jaffer, Range Forest Officer (Mandya), told The Hindu .

Following the repeated sightings, the Forest Department has placed two cages at Hulikere and Hulikere Koppalu to trap the animals.

Attacks

At the two villages, incidents of leopards entering cattle-sheds and killing sheep, goats, chicken and dogs have been reported. Residents are confining themselves to their houses after dusk.

Raghu, a farmer at Hulikere, claimed five leopards were roaming in the vicinity of Hulikere, Hulikere Koppalu, Mallenahalli and Thibbanahalli. He himself had seen an adult and two cubs near his fields, he said.

According to him, peacocks and foxes, which were common in the region until a few weeks ago, are barely to be seen now because of the leopards. Some dogs too have gone missing from the village, he said.

‘Three leopards’

Mr. Jaffer, however, believes there are three leopards in the area.

Recently, forest officials visited Hulikere and interacted with the residents. Mr. Jaffer and his team also studied the movements of leopards based on the pugmarks.

“Three leopards, including two cubs, might have been wandering in the region,” he said.

The department has also deployed additional staff at the villages to monitor the movements of the animals. They would be shifted to forest once they were trapped, he added.

Source:

Predator population up in tiger reserve

P. SUDHAKAR

Time to strengthen its prey base

Herbivore: A small herd of Nilgiri thar found at
Uppur Kothayar in Western Ghats in Tirunelveli district.

The recent wildlife census conducted at Kalakkad – Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) shows a significant increase in the predator population and signals the need to strengthen its prey base or herbivore population.

When the survey team crossed Rettaikaradu area in Thirukkurunkudi range, the members saw a panther, a ‘shy animal’, taking rest under a shade and another team, which was trekking near Maanjolai above Manimuthar dam, saw a panther standing on a rock at a distance.

The enumeration team that was moving around Kadayam range was the most fortunate as it happened to see a tiger.

“This time the volunteers involved in the census were able to see a number of panthers, which shows that the predator’s population has increased significantly. We firmly believe that the tiger population should also have gone up as we’ve got interesting and highly encouraging findings in certain areas of KMTR,” said K. Sekar, Deputy Director, Kalakkad – Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve’s Kalakkad Division.

Though KMTR has a sizable population of Indian Gaur, sambar and spotted deer, the most preferred prey for tiger and panther, ecologists here feel that the existing prey base should be strengthened further.

When the panther population increased in the Tirupathi hills, forest officials said that steps were taken for strengthening the herbivore base, mainly the deer population.

They argued that similar steps could be taken here too by shifting hundreds of spotted deer, now struggling to find adequate food and shelter at Gangaikondan, to Mundanthurai area of KMTR.

“Since these animals (at Gangaikondan) often face a serious threat from speeding vehicles and stray dogs, and rarely from poachers, they can be shifted to the KMTR where they can easily find adequate food and shelter,” said a zoologist here.

Forest officials say that the spotted deer of Gangaikondan could be transported to KMTR in camouflaged vehicles after tranquilizing them to strengthen the predators’ prey base.

“We have an adequate number of officials, who are well-trained in tranquilizing and transporting the sedated animals in disguised vehicles to Western Ghats during the night. If the government approves this proposal, we can expect an improved ecosystem in KMTR in future,” said a senior forest official.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/predator-population-up-in-tiger-reserve/article4413646.ece