Panther dies after hit by vehicle in Sariska

Rajendra Sharma, TNN May 20, 2013
ALWAR: A two-year-old male panther died in Sariska reserve after being hit by a speeding vehicle on Sunday morning. The incident took place between Kushalgarh and Bharthari areas.

The animal suffered traumatic shock, cervical fracture and a head injury, says the autopsy report.

Though the state government had come up with a panther conservation committee recently, it still remains on paper, said sources.

Panthers are endangered animals listed under Schedule 1 of Wildlife Protection Act which gives them absolute protection. A separate area was to be developed for them so that they could roam safely. According to the census conducted in 2010, the number of panthers in the reserve was put at 45 but on an average one panther is killed in road accident, poached or attacked after straying into human habitats every two days, says a study.

Concerned over the rise in panther deaths, the state was to constitute a committee for panther conservation and develop a separate territory for them in Sariska Tiger Reserve. Wildlife experts and officials of forest department were to chalk out a plan for their safety in the reserve, but hardly anything has been done so far.

According to honorary wildlife warden Anil Jain, "It is difficult for Sariska to stabilize given the fact that the Ranthambore lobby plays a very predominant role in Rajasthan. They want tourists to be diverted from Sariska and the forest department just does what they want. It has been on record that the every three to six months a divisional forest officer has been transferred from Sariska and similar is the case with the assistant conservator of forests."

Besides since the reserve is big, there is a dire need of more rangers and forest guards. "At the moment there are only six rangers which ideally should be double the number. The number of forest guards is just 110 while it should ideally be nearly 300," said Jain.

Source: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-05-20/jaipur/39392193_1_sariska-tiger-reserve-forest-guards-panther

Road mishap kills bear near Navegaon

Vijay Pinjarkar, TNN | May 9, 2013
NAGPUR: With National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) reluctant to take wildlife protection measures while widening NH-6, a speeding vehicle knocked dead an adult sloth bear close to Shashikiran hills near Dongargaon early Wednesday morning.

"The spot where the bear was crushed falls in Sadak Arjuni range and borders Navegaon wildlife sanctuary. It is single road and a corridor patch. I suspect the animal must be moving towards Navegaon when it was hit," said S V Ramarao, deputy conservator of forests (DyCF), Gondia. Wild animals dying in road hits has become common on NH6, which has been widened from two lanes to four lanes. However, there is not a single patch where NHAI has taken mitigation measures.

On patches between Sakoli and Deori, Wildlife Institute of India ( WII), Dehradun, has suggested mitigation measures like constructing underpasses but this is not acceptable to NHAI, leading to accidents. On January 28, a honey badger (chandi aswal), a rare animal, was knocked dead at the same spot. The Supreme Court has already taken serious view of high mortality of wildlife on roads passing around protected areas (PAs) due to lack of mitigation measures. NHAI is yet to wake up.

Ramarao said the mishap occurred in the wee hours. There is a blind turn at the spot and the speeding vehicle must have hit the bear when it suddenly came out of the bushes to cross the road. The carcass was shifted the Dongargaon forest depot where a post-mortem was performed. Sawan Bahekar, honorary district wildlife warden of Gondia, demanded signboards at vulnerable spots and speed restrictions. "How many more wild animals will keep dying like this," he asked.

Initially officials felt it might be case of poaching but Ramarao said the bear died due to severe internal injuries. The head of the animal was crushed completely and it died on the spot.

Death Dance On NH6

January 7, 2011: A leopard died after being hit by a vehicle near Talegaon ghat under Wardha forest division

May 15, 2011: A full grown leopard knocked dead near Baghnadi between Deori and Rajnandgaon by an unidentified speeding vehicle

Sept 18, 2011: A sambar knocked dead in Duggipar beat under Sadak Arjuni range in Kohmara in Navegaon-Nagzira corridor

On Nov 23, 2011: A full grown leopard knocked dead in the evening near Bazargaon paper mill near Nagpur in Kalmeshwar forest range

Dec 22, 2011: An adult leopard died in road hit near Dongargaon

Jan 6, 2013: A jungle cat found dead near Hardoli, 35km from Nagpur on Amravati Road. The carnivore was hit on its head and died due to excessive bleeding

Jan 28, 2013: A honey badger knocked dead near Dongargaon of Sadak Arjuni forest range in Gondia

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Nagpur/Road-mishap-kills-bear-near-Navegaon/articleshow/19959473.cms

Deer run over by suburban train at Saidapet

Pratiksha Ramkumar, TNN May 3, 2013
CHENNAI: A deer was run over by a train near the Saidapet suburban railway station late Thursday night.

The animal, suspected to be around four-years-old, was trying to cross the railway track at around midnight, when one of the last EMU trains crushed it to death. Police suspect that the deer could have strayed away from Raj Bhavan. The Raj Bhavan sits inside a sprawling green campus and has a sizeable deer population.

The animal was found on the South side of the station by the railway police force (RPF), who gave up trying to rescue it, as it seemed to have died on the spot. "It did not seem to breathe, it was like a carcass," said sub inspector Maharajan of the RPF. Police authorities, took the body back to the Saidapet station and handed it over to forest department officials on Friday morning.

The forest department did not confirm the possibility of a post mortem being done on the animal.

Source: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-05-03/chennai/39008024_1_railway-track-rpf-forest-department

Environment Ministry rejects proposal to expand Bhopal-Nagpur highway

PTI | 7 Apr, 2013
NEW DELHI: The Environment Ministry has rejected a National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) proposal seeking expansion of a road connecting Bhopal and Nagpur that cuts through a proposed tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh.

The Standing Committee of National Board for Wildlife, chaired by Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan, has accepted an expert panel report which said that four-laning of NH-69 within the Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary "cannot be permitted currently" as tigers and other wild animals will be "more vulnerable" to be killed on the road, MoEF sources said.

The decision came amid tussle between the two sides over highway projects through forest areas.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) had earlier endorsed the report prepared by NBWL Standing Committee Member Prerna Singh Bindra and NTCA official Rajeev Sharma.

The NHAI had sought denotification of 58.5 hectares of forest land in Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary to upgrade the two-lane NH-69 to four lanes to facilitate "higher, faster and night time" traffic between the cities of Bhopal and Nagpur.

Rejecting the proposal, the report had said the impact of roads went beyond wild animals ending up as road kill.

"Forests on the sides of the roads become heavily degraded and over time, their usage by wild animals diminishes. Besides, they allow access into wilderness areas, bringing with them ancillary development. Further expansion of the road will only accelerate these," it had said.

National Highway-69 goes through 44.6 km of forest area including 12.44 km through Ratapani sanctuary which is very close to Bhopal.

Admitting that the condition of the road is "very bad", the report has said the best alternative was to repair the road and strengthen it.

The sanctuary has been proposed as a tiger reserve and accorded in-principle approval by the NTCA. The last census indicates presence of 16 tigers in the sanctuary.

The team headed by Bindra has recommended that notifying of Ratapani Tiger Reserve be expedited for more focused wildlife management and conservation of wild cat.

Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/infrastructure/environment-ministry-rejects-proposal-to-expand-bhopal-nagpur-highway/articleshow/19425279.cms

Leopard cat found dead

KANNUR: A leopard cat (Felis bengalensis) was found dead near Iritty here on Monday. The body of the animal was found near the State Highway at Madathil here in the morning. Though the animal was initially suspected to have been hit by a vehicle, the Forest and Wildlife Department officials here said that the leopard cat died of injuries from attack by some other animal. It was less than one year old and weighed 1 kg.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/leopard-cat-found-dead/article4477606.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

Elephant run over, calf injured by train near Haridwar

An elephant was killed when the Delhi bound Jan Shatabdi Express ran over it in Motichur forest near Haridwar on Saturday night. Forest officials claimed that an elephant calf was also injured in the accident.

The accident occurred when the train dashed against a herd crossing the railway track in the forest zone. Officials said some elephants may have been injured in the accident. “We are trying to locate them,” a source in the forest department said.

Train driver Surinder Kumar and assistant driver Meghram have been apprehended. According to forest officials, they would be booked under section 9 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. Additional Secretary (forest) Manoj Chadra said that it was clear weather and there was no visibility problem in the area.

The carcass of the elephant remained stuck below the engine for several hours. The passengers were brought back to Dehradun while engine remained halted at the spot. The accident affected train movements between Dehradun and Haridwar.

However, Senior DCM (Moradabad) Manoj Sharma said that as per his preliminary report the train driver was not at fault. “On this particular track, trains run with extreme caution,” he said, adding there are guidelines for the driver.

Meanwhile, strong resentment prevailed among railway employees at Dehradun following the decision of the forest department to apprehend the train’s driver and assistant driver. “The first right on the track is that of the railways. If a herd of elephant appears all of a sudden on the railway track, the driver is supposed to give first priority to the lives of passengers travelling in the train,” said a railway employee.

CM Vijay Bahuguna directed the Commissioner of Garhwal Division to probe the incident. According to a press release issued by the state government, the elephant killed was about 15 years old. The release added that as per the driver’s statement, the train was running at 45-47 km per hour and the accident occurred around 6.30 am.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/elephant-run-over-calf-injured-by-train-near-haridwar/1059037/0

Now, a bison mowed down by train

SHIV SAHAY SINGH

• State and Railways have given conflicting versions of elephant deaths
• Incident occurred at spot where there are no speed restrictions on trains: Minister

Train was running 15 km/hour over speed limit, inquiry launched into incident

Hours after three elephants were mowed down by an express train in the Buxa Tiger Reserve of West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district, a bison died after being hit by another train in the same district late on Saturday.

Sumita Ghatak, Divisional Forest Officer, Jalpaiguri, told The Hindu over telephone on Sunday: “The incident occurred in the Odlajhora forest when the Howrah-bound Kanchan Kanya Express hit the animal [when it] was crossing the tracks.”

Meanwhile, the State government and the Railways have given conflicting versions about the death of three elephants.

While the State’s Forest Minister, Hiten Burman, said the train was running at a speed of 70-75 km/hour — as against the permissible limit of 50 km per hour — Minister of State for Railways Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said the incident occurred at a place where there are no speed restrictions on trains.

“We have ordered an inquiry into the incident. The report will be placed before Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who will take the matter up with the Railway authorities,” Mr. Burman said.

A meeting of the officials of the Forest and Railway departments will be held on Monday in Alipurduar in the district to discuss the situation and prevent any recurrence, he said.

Mr. Chowdhury said he had directed the officials of the Railway Board to find out whether there were any lapses on the part of Railways officials.

“Ideally, there should be no trains plying through these areas because of the elephant corridor, but if we [adhere to] that then we will loose our connectivity with large areas in north Bengal and the northeastern States,” he said.

Such incidents in north Bengal have shot up since the railway line passing through the region was converted from meter-gauge to broad-gauge in 2004. Since then, more than 30 elephants have been killed while crossing the tracks in the area. Seven elephants were killed in September 2011 after being hit by goods trains in the Banarhat area of the district.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/now-a-bison-mowed-down-by-train/article4281310.ece

3 elephants fatally hit on the track, calf critical

Three elephants were killed and two, including a calf, were critically injured when the Jhajhar Express hit them in West Bengal’s Alipurduar area on Saturday evening.

Field Director of the Buxa Tiger Reserve R.P. Saini said the accident occurred near Rajabhatkhaoa at 6.45 p.m.

Speed violation?

Chief Wildlife Warden S.B. Mandal said thick fog had reduced visibility, but the train, running between Guwahati and Ranchi, violated the stipulated speed limit of 50 kmph set for the elephant corridor.

Minister of State for Railways Adhir Roy Chowdhury said if that charge was proved, action would be taken against the railway personnel.

Mr. Mandal said a team of veterinary doctors treated the injured elephants.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/3-elephants-fatally-hit-on-the-track-calf-critical/article4278429.ece

Leopard hit by vehicle dies

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
A wild leopard that was hit by a vehicle while it was crossing the road died of its injuries late on Friday.

The leopard, which was in the prime of its youth, was knocked down on the road between Konanakere and Talabetta road, is Kollegal forest division and M.M. Hills territorial range.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/leopard-hit-by-vehicle-dies/article4278757.ece

Wildlife getting killed in the road inside forest continues..
- Mac Mohan