Elephants enter Bhavanisagar town

STAFF REPORTER | ERODE, April 9, 2013
As most of the waterholes and ponds in the Sathyamangalam wildlife sanctuary have gone dry in summer, elephants are coming out of the forests in large numbers, looking for water and food.

On Sunday morning, a herd of elephants strayed out from the reserve forests and entered Bhavanisagar town after raiding crops and quenching their thirst at Lower Bhavani Project canal. The herd comprising five elephants entered the Bhavanisagar Dam park before roaming around various parts of the town. Residents alerted forest personnel, who rushed to the spot and initiated steps to drive the elephants back into the forests. It took more than three hours for the personnel and people in the area to send the jumbos back into the jungle.

The district has been witnessing similar incidents for the past few months as most of the water sources in the forests have gone dry following the monsoon failure. It has become very common to spot elephants raiding the crops in Bhavanisagar, Punjai Puliyampatti, TN Palayam and Anthiyur blocks. An adult elephant requires at least 200 to 250 kg of food and 100 to 150 litres of water a day. Once the elephants come out of their habitat and get used to the food crops, it becomes a habit to them.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/elephants-enter-bhavanisagar-town/article4597161.ece

Over 12 jumbos die in Mudumalai

DC | B. Ravichandran | 06th Apr 2013
Ooty: While more than a dozen wild jumbos were said to have died due to dehydration and shortage of fodder in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) in recent times, the greens here accuse the MTR administration of poor water management and lack of care for animal health, for the jumbos’ death.

These are not happy times for MTR as the dry weather has been prolonging since December. But, it appears that the MTR administration and chief wildlife warden (CWW) in the state failed to take up the challenge posed by the testing weather to protect the jumbos.

While the official sources in MTR put the jumbo toll around 12, in recent times, S. Jaya­chandran, joint secretary of Tamil Nadu Green Movement (TNGM) said more than 20 jumbos, including the two that died on Friday at the buffer zone, have died over the past three months. “Nobody denies that MTR has been experiencing drought. But, wildlife management can be enhanced. Though the state government and the chief minister show keen interest in wildlife conservation, it is the bureaucrats who lack commitment and mess up things and there is no transparency on animal deaths.”

Though officials in MTR attributed natural causes for the jumbos’ death, it is a fact that they died due to dehydration, lack of fodder and infections caused by contaminated water in slushy pools.

It is learnt that the administration does not have sufficient facilities to provide tanker water in all the vulnerable areas. The TNGM would seek the intervention of the judiciary if the forest officials in Chennai failed to act to set right things in MTR for healthy animal life.

Jayachandran said MTR should learn lessons from the adjacent Bandi­pur tiger reserve in Kar­na­taka where water management is good and the animals are taken care of.

As officials in MTR declined to talk to the media, citing instructions from the CWW, sources said the infighting and factions among the top officials and lack of planning were the reasons for the present situation.

A highly-placed forest department official told DC that the CWW would be instructed to look into the issue.

Source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com/130406/news-current-affairs/article/over-12-jumbos-die-mudumalai

Jumbos get new home at Usilampatti?

Express News Service - MADURAI 01st April 2013
The reserve forests of Usilampatti now have a new entrant to its habitat, wild elephants, according a recent census by wildlife activists and environmentalists. The elephants, which till recently were never spotted in the Usilampatti region, have now migrated from their usual habitat in Sattur along the western ghats, said B Ramesh of the Netaji Snake Trust, which was a part of the census. He attributed the migration to the abundant resources, especially natural vegetation, in the region.

“The last survey, done in 2010, only included the endemic species like the spotted deer, the great Indian Sambhar and the common langur. However, this year, the 30-member group, including volunteers from the Nature Conservation Club, conducted an in-depth survey last week and found footprints and dung of elephants,” he added.

Ramesh and his team again then camped in the forest to confirm the movement of wild elephants -- said to be a first in the region. A herd of four elephants would have migrated here searching for water and other resources, Ramesh speculated.  Interestingly, the team also found pug marks of leopards - another species not common to the Usilampatti reserves.

“Though drought is prevailing in the entire district, the Usilampatti reserves have become dense and coarse, thus attracting a number of species. The entire vast expanse is ideal for the elephants,” Ramesh added. However, it was unclear whether the jumbos have made the Usilampatti forests their home.

“The elephants that were spotted might belong to a single herd as elephants are constantly on the move. So, those found in the Usilampatti reserve would have just migrated and could even leave after spending a week or more,” said elephant expert and veterinarian Dr Kalaivanan. The elephants could have migrated from Theni or from other parts along the western ghats, he added.

The census report has been submitted to the Forest Department in Madurai, which now has to  confirm the findings. The census team also requested the Forest Department to place camera traps with heat sensing technology in the reserve forests to further track such data. When contacted, district forest officer A S Marimuthu said that the authorities would soon visit the Usilampatti reserve to confirm the findings.

Source: http://newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/article1525047.ece

Power project stuck as TN fails to constitute wildlife board

K A Shaji, TNN Apr 1, 2013
COIMBATORE: Tamil Nadu's failure to constitute a State Board for Wildlife (SBWL) is posing problems for at least three major projects mooted by the AIADMK government, including the much anticipated 2X500MW Coal-based Thermal Power Plant at Tuticorin.

According to top sources in the Union ministry of environment and forests, three proposals that came up for clearance were turned down at a recent meeting of the standing committee for National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), which said these were submitted directly by the state without getting the mandatory approval of the state board. The committee then found that Tamil Nadu was the only one state in the country that had not constituted the SBWL. Like NBWL, which frames wildlife protection policies at the national level, SBWL is expected to undertake the task at the state level. Any project that could have an impact on a protected wildlife area has to get the clearance of both SBWL and NBWL.

The refusal of NBWL to discuss the Tuticorin power plant mooted jointly by Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited and the state department of power happens at a time when Tamil Nadu is facing an extraordinary energy crisis. According to NBWL standing committee member and senior wildlife scientist A J T Johnsingh, there is no option left before the state government other than to constitute SBWL at the earliest. The NBWL clearance is mandatory for the Tuticorin project as it comes within the 10 km periphery of Mullakadu range of forests.

Proposals for a bridge on Chennai-Pulicat Road and a fish landing centre at Periyamongagodu near Thiruvallur are similarly stuck as NBWL standing committee has refused clearance. While 1.11 hectare of forest land from Pulicat Bird Sanctuary will have to be transferred for constructing the bridge on Pasiyavaram Road, the fish landing centre needs 0.65 hectare of forest land from the same sanctuary. NBWL will look at the proposals only after these are cleared by its state counterpart. "According to Section-6 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 (amended in 2006), each state government is bound to constitute a state board for wildlife under the chairmanship of the chief minister or administrator in the case of a Union territory. It is a curious case that Tamil Nadu is lacking such a board. It is high time the state government constituted the board as interests of wildlife must be protected while undertaking bigger development projects,'' said K Mohan Raj of Tamil Nadu Green Movement.

According to Johnsingh, Uttarakhand was giving Tamil Nadu company till last year. "But that state constituted the board in 2012 leaving Tamil Nadu as the only one without the board. Setting up the SBWL will help boost conservation and ensure protection of forest wealth. The Supreme Court has stressed the importance of review of projects by such a board on a number of occasions. The nation board can decide on projects only on the basis of the findings of the state board,'' he said.

Sources in the ministry said NBWL members, Kishore Rithe, Prerna Singh Bindra, M K Ranjit Singh and N Madhusudan, expressed concern that Tamil Nadu has approached the national body without even constituting its local board.

Source: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-04-01/coimbatore/38188792_1_nbwl-sbwl-state-board

Blackbuck count doubles in Vallanadu sanctuary

J Arockiaraj
TUTICORIN: The recent wildlife census conducted in Vallanadu Blackbuck Sanctuary has some good news for wildlife lovers as the number of blackbucks here has almost doubled. While the 2010 wildlife census put the number of blackbucks at 39, it has gone up to 79 during the census organised by the forest department on Wednesday.

Spread over 1,645 hectares in Srivaikundam taluk, the sanctuary is a safe home for blackbuck - an antelope species native to the Indian subcontinent. The graceful animal, which roamed the Indian sub-continent until the 19th and early 20th centuries, is now confined to a few states and sanctuaries due to intense poaching and loss of habitat.

During Wednesday's census 30 volunteers from the Pearl City Nature Society (PCNS) in Tuticorin and 20 forest officials spotted 79 blackbucks. They also found two spotted deer and a barking deer.

Forest officials from Tuticorin forest division said that the census was carried out on the instructions of conservator of forest Rakesh Kumar Dogra and district forest officer (DFO) S Shenbagamurthy.

The officials said that protective measures they took in the sanctuary have yielded good results. "After the 2010 census, the department recruited six anti-poaching watchers and the surveillance was increased. Besides, awareness programmes were held for the villagers near the sanctuary," said U Isakkimuthu, Srivaikundam range officer. As grazing the cattle in the sanctuary exposes the blackbucks to diseases from domestic animals, the department even conducted veterinary camps in the villages for the cattle. "It helped in preventing the spread of contagious diseases to antelopes," Isakkimuthu said.

The wildlife lovers expressed their excitement over the findings, however, they expressed the need to develop pasture lands and water facilities in the sanctuary. "It is indeed good news that the blackbuck nunbers are increasing," said Thomas Mathibalan, census coordinator from PCNS. "During the census, we spotted many blackbucks on the boundaries and private lands adjacent to the sanctuary than in the heart of the sanctuary. They are looking out for pasture lands and water in the private lands," said Naveen Joseph, a census volunteer.

"With the rise in numbers, the sanctuary should be developed with better pasture lands and spraying millets during the monsoons will improve fodder inside the sanctuary. The fences are also broken at many places. Besides, we found feral dogs and cattle inside which is a serious menace for blackbucks," stated K Vijayavel, a PCNS member.

DFO Shenbagamurthy said that the sanctuary has been allotted funds and the works for improving the pasture lands and water facilities will commence in a short period.

Source: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-03-30/flora-fauna/38144678_1_wildlife-census-blackbucks-pasture-lands

Mudumalai Tiger Reserve reels under drought

D. RADHAKRISHNAN
Unprecedented drought is keeping Forest Department officials on their toes in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) near here.

Threatened by drought: A sambar in the extremely dry
Moyar part of the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve
near Udhagamandalam. -Photo: Special Arrangement

Enquiries made by The Hindu revealed that hitherto, only certain pockets would be affected during the dry months, but this year, practically the entire Reserve extending to over 321 square kilometres wears a parched look.

The situation has become a cause for concern to the Forest Department and environmentalists as the conditions could trigger an outbreak of bushfires. Migration of animals in search of water and fresh vegetation has begun.

Conservationist P.J.Vasanthan said that he was seeing the MTR in such a state for the first time.

Some of the animals he saw were conspicuously emaciated. Many from the Moyar part of the Reserve are coming to the Channel to quench their thirst which flows from Maravakandy to the Moyar Dam. Pointing out that sighting of wild animals in the area has become frequent, he regretted that unscrupulous tour operators were exploiting the situation. In the process, they are disturbing the animals. The prevailing weather conditions have made the surroundings extremely dry and leafless.

Since the situation in the Sigur and Gudalur forests adjoining the MTR was also equally bad, the human-wild animal conflict has escalated and instances of elephants damaging houses are being frequently reported.

Stating that earlier, only about five per cent of the total area were badly affected during the dry season, the Deputy Director, MTR

A.Ameer Haja lamented that this year, even perennial water sources have dried up.

In view of the prevailing situation, a plan of action to deal with any exigency has been put in place.

Officials, including 100 fire watchers, have been instructed to be in a state of alert round the clock. Since the fringe areas along the road which cuts through the reserve are highly vulnerable to bushfires, highway patrol has been intensified.

Five vehicles have been permanently stationed in the Theppakadu, Kargudi, Masinagudy, Mudumalai and Nellakotai ranges of the Reserve to enable the officials to respond quickly to emergencies.

Water tankers have also been stationed at convenient places. In addition to the fire fighting equipment in the MTR, special tools to control fires have been procured from Kerala. Fire lines have been extended. In February, four bushfires had broken out but all of them had been put out before they could cause much damage.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/mudumalai-tiger-reserve-reels-under-drought/article4520805.ece

Elephants enter residential area

Banana, mango trees damaged; watcher injured

V. Ramanathan of Kovaipudur area showing the
banana trees that the elephants destroyed at his residence
on Sunday.— PHOTO: S. SIVA SARAVANAN

Elephants entered Press Enclave, a residential area near Kovaipudur, on Sunday.

They returned to the nearby forest only after the Forest Department staff rushed to the spot and chased the animals using firecrackers.

The operation also saw Shanmugam, an Anti-Poaching Watcher, injure his right thumb while bursting firecrackers.

The Department sources said they received a call from the residents saying a herd and a lone elephant had entered the area.

While the herd of three moved towards Arivoli Nagar, the lone, male elephant moved into Press Enclave, damaged banana and mango trees there.

V. Ramanathan, one of the residents, said the lone tusker entered his house around 3 a.m. by breaking one of the three gates.

It feasted on the banana trees for over 20 minutes. The elephant also pulled down a branch of the mango tree.

It moved into his house after entering two of his neighbours’ houses.

A little after the animal entered his house, the Forest Department staff came there to chase the pachyderm.

The staff sounded a siren and then fired firecrackers, which saw the elephant running towards the nearby forest.

It was the first time, in the recent past, that the locality had witnessed the elephants’ entry, Mr. Ramanathan added.

The Department sources also said Mr. Shanmugam underwent a surgery at a private hospital earlier in the day and was doing fine.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/elephants-enter-residential-area/article4520789.ece

Tiger found dead in private tea garden at Udhagamandalam

Forest officials examine the tiger carcass at Nanjanad, near Udhagamandalam on Tuesday.
Photo: Special Arrangement

A tiger was found dead in a private tea garden at Nanjanad, about a km away from the Ithalar reserve forest, according to the District Forest Officer, The Nilgiris South, B. Sugirtharaj Kovilpillai.

Late in the evening on Monday the department was informed by the villagers that the carcass was lying among the tea bushes.

Stating that it was that of a male aged about ten years, Mr. Kovilpillai told The Hindu that a post-mortem examination was conducted on Tuesday by forest veterinarian Vijayaraghavan in the presence of conservationists from The Nilgiris Wildlife and Environment Association (NWLEA).

It revealed that its last meal was a wild boar and it had suffered a crack on its nasal bone. There were no other injuries.

It indicated that it had died in a fight with a wild boar or another tiger.

Since the carcass was partly decomposed it was presumed that it had died four or five days ago.

After adhering to all the formalities the carcass was set ablaze near the spot it was found.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/tiger-found-dead-in-private-tea-garden-at-udhagamandalam/article4501782.ece

More turtles visit Chennai beach for nesting

CHENNAI: After a drop in the number of nests in 2012, Olive Ridley turtles seem to have made an impressive comeback this year.

This year, volunteers of Students Sea Turtle Conservation Network (SSTCN) found 213 nests along the Neelankarai-Napier Bridge stretch between January and March. Between Neelankarai and Urur Kuppam near Elliot's Beach, 110 nests were found and 103 between Srinivasapuram and Napier Bridge.

"This is the highest since 1991 when we found around 206 nests. It looks like the 1991 mark will be crossed as we have two more weeks left for the nesting season to end," said V Arun, coordinator for SSTCN.

In 2012, volunteers found only 120 nests, and 183 nests in 2011. However, it is not all good news. While the number of nests has gone up, volunteers said the number of turtles washed ashore dead was high compared to previous years. "Many of the dead turtles that had washed ashore were females that had come to nest," said Arun.

Scientists say despite threats from fishing trawlers and urbanisation along the coast, turtles seem to be surviving. "There isn't strong evidence to show that there has been a significant decline in turtle population in the the past decade," said Kartik Shanker, assistant professor at Centre for Ecological Sciences at Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. "The mass nesting (arribada) season at Rushikulya in Odisha was good this year, but conservation issues still need to be addressed," said Shanker.

Volunteers on patrol said they have had an eventful season. "On Saturday night, we found seven nests between Srinivasapuram and Napier Bridge. But what was difficult was that an adult turtle had walked to a platform in Pattinapakkam. It was walking towards the mast light. We had to carry it back to release into the sea," said R Nishanth, a student who volunteers for SSCTN. "By the end of January, we found 38 nests on Marina," he said.

The Tamil Nadu forest department too has stepped up efforts to save these endangered species. The department recently floated a tender calling for NGOs to take care of conservation activities along the coast of Tamil Nadu. Olive Ridleys are classified under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Act. They nest along the Indian coast between January and March. Fishing trawlers pose a big threat as turtles get trapped in nets. The street lights along the coast often misguide hatchlings towards land as they are instinctively drawn to the brighter lights.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/More-turtles-visit-Chennai-beach-for-nesting/articleshow/18900024.cms

Kovai Coutrallam to remain closed from today

The Forest Department has announced that Kovai Coutrallam waterfalls will remain out of bounds for tourists for a week or 10 days from March 6, in view of the road-laying works.

According to the forest department sources, the Engineering Wing of the Forest Department is laying road from the tribal hamlet after the check post till the parking lot, a little ahead of the waterfalls. In order to facilitate easy and smooth completion of the works, tourists will not be permitted for a week or 10 days.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/kovai-coutrallam-to-remain-closed-from-today/article4480562.ece

Ranger posts to be filled with retired officers

P. OPPILI
In a move that has baffled activists, the Environment and Forest department has given its nod for filling up vacant posts of Rangers in the State by appointing retired range officers instead of direct recruitment of young talent.

According to a government order, the retired rangers could be appointed in Extension, Social Forestry, Plantation, Research, Working Plan wings and for other special duties. The order further said that their work would be assigned by the District Forest Officers / Conservator of Forests concerned. A GO dated December 27, 2012 has cleared such a proposal of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests sent to the government last September.

There are more than 100 vacancies in the department and applications from most of the districts have been received by the Committee members. The Committee is yet to receive application from few more districts. Surprised by the announcement, the Tamil Nadu Green Movement Coordinator K. Mohan Raj said it was shocking that the Tamil Nadu Forest department was offering employment opportunities to retired officers.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/ranger-posts-to-be-filled-with-retired-officers/article4470938.ece