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