Wild elephant electrocuted

A 20-year-old tusker was found dead near Madakkadu on the Isha – Narasipuram Road in Booluvampatti range near Coimbatore in the small hours of Monday (February 12, 2013).

Clinical examination indicated that the death could have been caused by electric shock from a live wire used in an electric fence in a farm. The farm owner had used direct power supply to the fence instead of alternative supply.

On instructions from Conservator of Forests, Coimbatore Circle, V.T. Kandasamy and District Forest Officer V. Thirunavukkarasu, a team led by Forest Range Officer M.S. Parthiban conducted investigations. Forest Veterinarian N.S. Manoharan conducted a post-mortem and the carcass of the pachyderm was consigned to flames.

Forest Officials registered a case against the owner Balasubramanian (70) and his son Babu (40) for using direct power supply causing the death of wild elephant invoking the provisions of Section 9/1 of Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. An offence under this section is likely to attract seven years rigorous imprisonment.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/wild-elephant-electrocuted/article4406036.ece

Elephant found dead

A 20-year-old male elephant was found gored to death in Sundapatti Reserve forests near Nellithurai in Mettupalayam area on Sunday (February 11, 2013).

Forest veterinarian N.S. Manoharan conducted the post-mortem examination.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/elephant-found-dead/article4402051.ece

1,000 snakes released into Palar

Chennai: Panic gripped the villagers of Ayambakkam, near mad­ura­nthakam in Kanche­epuram district on Satu­rday as the morning walkers and farmers were greeted by hundreds of snakes that were released by some unknown people in the area the previous night.

The villagers claimed that there were more than 100 snakes released into Palar river basin and suspect that the miscreant had come in a Pondicherry-registered bolero car. “What we saw was a large number of snakes near the river bank, an unusual sight and a twenty year old was bitten”, said T.S. Bhaskar, Ayambakkam villaghe panchayat president, who rus­hed to the place after the villagers ran helter skelter. The scared villagers on seeing the reptiles started killing them and at least half a dozen reptiles were found dead. Cobra, rat snake and kraits were there and we alerted the forest department, added the local body president.

When contacted Tiru­porur forest ranger Siva­ram confirmed the incident. Based on the information forest guards were deployed to the scene and Irulas were also brought to catch the snakes. More than twenty snakes were caught.  Preliminary investigations have confirmed that the snakes were released on purpose and a few villagers noticed a bolero car with Pondic­herry registration station­ed near the river bank the previous night. The rescued reptiles have been sent to for herpetology at the Madras Crocodile bank at ECR. The issue has been taken to the higher officials who will co ordinate with the Pondicherry forest depa­rt­ment, he said.

Source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com/130210/news-current-affairs/article/1000-snakes-released-palar

Forest officials concerned over bridge

S. HARPAL SINGH

Say the new bridge over Godavari river aiding teak smugglers in Adilabad district

A new high-level bridge across the Godavari river near Kalamadugu in Jannaram mandal has become a cause of alarm for forest officials of the Kawal Tiger Reserve (KTR). The bridge reduces considerably the distance to a few towns like Jagityal in neighbouring Karimnagar district which is likely to become an attractive proposition for timber smugglers operating in Adilabad district.

“The bridge can actually bring our efforts at controlling teak smuggling to a nought. We are in the process of establishing a check-post at the new entry point to Karimnagar district”, says Jannaram Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) G. Rama Krishna Rao revealing the apprehension of his department.

While illegal felling of teak is under check within the confines of the KTR, smugglers are having a field day elsewhere in the district.

A whopping Rs. 13 to Rs. 14 crore worth teak seized in continuing operations, was auctioned at the Ichoda and Khanapur timber depots since April last year. “About 3,000 cubic metres of illegally felled teak was seized from the forests of Ichoda, Nirmal and Khanapur.

The situation is more than alarming considering the fact that this seizure is taken to be just 10 per cent of all teak felled in smuggling activity in this area”, reveals a top forest official as he tries to throw light on intensity of smuggling activity.

Teak transport

Teak from the interior parts of Ichoda and Khanapur is transported to Nizamabad and Karimnagar through several routes mainly over different bridges on Godavari. The Forest Department already has check-posts at Soan in Nirmal, Badankurti in Khanapur and Gudem in Dandepalli mandal.

“Smugglers even from distant Ichoda can cross over into Karimnagar through the Kalamadugu bridge. They can transport teak to this place through interior parts of Ichoda mandal via Pembi”, the forest official points out the inherent attraction for timber smugglers.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/forest-officials-concerned-over-bridge/article4405749.ece

Monkey fever detected in black faced langur in Mudumalai

S M Arun

Common Langur or Tufted gray langur

COIMBATORE: For the first time since the discovery of Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) or Monkey fever in March 1957, the disease which is endemic in the state of Karnataka has entered Tamil Nadu. A black faced langur found dead in Mudumalai in the Nilgiris could have been infected with the disease, say forest officials. The body of black-faced langur was found a week ago in Mudumalai and the autopsy report revealed that the death was due to the KFD virus. Since it is the first time the presence of the disease is confirmed in Tamil Nadu, health officials in both Nilgiris and Coimbatore districts were put on high alert.

The disease is transmitted by bite of KFD infected ticks and has a mortality rate of 4 % to 15 % in human being; say Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) studies. Hunters, forest workers, farmers, campers and trekkers are those who are highly susceptible to the disease as infected ticks could transmit it to humans when they enter forests. They might carry the ticks with them to their homes and it could become epidemic. Coimbatore deputy director of health services Dr R Damodharan said after KFD was reported in Mudumalai, forest department staff in the Nilgiris have been vaccinated against the disease.

"Health officials have been put on alert. So far no KFD incidents have been reported in Coimbatore. We have also intensified the monitoring and surveillance," he said. He said 11 human KFD cases were reported in Gundlupet area recently and one of them succumbed to the disease. The symptoms include fever with bleeding disorders and a reduction in platelet counts, RBC and WBC. "Hospital on wheels and Medical Outreach (MO) Services in tribal areas have been put on alert in Coimbatore-Nilgiri border areas," he added.

Though vaccinations are available against KFD, there is no specific treatment. But, timely supportive therapy reduces mortality in humans. Besides tick bites, humans can get infected by the disease following contact with an infected animal. The disease was named after the forest area where it was discovered. Diagnosis of KFD is normally through enzyme-linked immunosorbent serologic assay (ELISA), the same test which is used to diagnose dengue.

With more and more people taking to trekking and camping in forests and also visiting tourist spots like Mudumalai in the Nilgiris, the risk factor is higher and the transportation of infected ticks from forests to cities will be disastrous especially at this juncture when the KFD infection has been confirmed in Mudumalai.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/Monkey-fever-detected-in-black-faced-langur-in-Mudumalai/articleshow/18438275.cms

Tortoise smuggling bid thwarted, 2 held

A fresh water tortoise that was rescued by forest officials, in the city
on Saturday | Martin Louis

Chennai: Two persons, suspected to be couriers, were caught at the International Airport here when they attempted to smuggle 27 fresh water tortoises to Bangkok on Friday night. The two couriers, who had been transporting textile clothing for more than 10 years, claimed they received the baggage with the tortoises at Central Railway Station but were not aware of what was inside it.

Forest officials said that the passengers, H Shamsudeen (67), a native of Kamuthi in Ramanathapuram district currently living in Washermenpet in Chennai, and M Mohamad Yoonus (47), of Ilayangudi in Sivagangai district and presently living in Seven Wells here, were caught before they could board a flight to Bangkok. Customs officials fell suspicious of the stroller suitcase they were carrying and intercepted them. When the officials checked their baggage, they found 27 fresh water adult tortoises neatly packaged and kept inside.

Customs officials questioned the duo and found that they did not possess any valid document to carry the species, protected under the Schedule IV of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

The passengers were detained and were later handed over to the forest department.

Forest officials said the duo was booked under Section 39 (3) (A) (B) and 48 A of the Wildlife Protection Act. “They claimed they received the baggage from an unidentified man at Central Railway Station around 5 pm on Friday before heading for the airport. The maximum punishment for such an offense is seven years imprisonment,” said S Davidraj, forest ranger, Velachery range office.

Mohamed Yoonus, one of the passengers, told Express that he had been operating as a carrier for the past 20 years transporting textile clothing from merchants in North Chennai to Malaysia and Bangkok. “I have been doing this for the past 10 years. Once we get acquainted with a person, we don’t check or inquire what they have in the baggage. We were told we would get `3,000 and were instructed to hand over the box to a man waiting at Bangkok airport wearing a black shirt,” Shamsudeen, the other passenger, told forest officials. But passengers could not give a convincing reply when asked by forest officials why they did not check the content of the baggage when they received it from a stranger.

The rescued tortoises were given carrots and cabbage and the officials said they would be sent to the Arignar Anna Zoological Park in Vandalur. Last time around a similar arrest was made at the Airport in 2010, officials said adding that smuggling of wildlife through Chennai had come down considerably due to intensive checking and strict punishments.

Source: http://newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/article1457314.ece

A lifeline under siege

N. SHIVA KUMAR

Though they play a vital role in sustaining the eco-system, the country’s natural wetlands are falling prey to rising pollution and urbanisation.

Water lily: Disappearing fast along with vanishing wetlands. Photos: N. Shiva Kumar

The World Wetlands Day (WWD) was observed sporadically across India on February 2 and yet many of us are not aware about the richness and necessity of wetlands in our lives. While wetlands are nature’s water storage and water purification zones, they are also a paradise for wildlife, fishing, angling and bird-watching, water sports, relaxation and rejuvenation. Scientists believe that wetlands are the kidneys of nature. Unfortunately, wetlands today have become mere dumping grounds for garbage, rapidly throttling the water bodies.

Over the centuries, India had a number of sustainable natural wetlands and these were the lifeline of local communities who depended on these water bodies for staple food, livestock grazing, fodder, fuel-wood transport and irrigation. In addition to the natural wetlands were a number of man-made traditional reservoirs constructed virtually in every town and village — supplying water for everyday needs. However, with booming population and burgeoning urbanisation, these self-sustaining water bodies have become increasingly filthy and unfit for human utilisation. Even the beautiful lotus and water lilies, which were part and parcel of wetlands, have disappeared in many regions.

The country’s rivers have turned into giant gutters carrying waste released by thousands of towns and cities. Although considerable money has been spent to cleanse these waterways, the government’s indifference and citizens’ ignorance have resulted in the continuation of debris being dumped into the rivers. It is estimated that three billion litres of sewage flows into the Ganga alone daily with industries also contributing their effluents.

Over the years, wetlands have been neglected and have not gained importance as other areas of nature and wildlife conservation. It is imperative that wetlands occupy the heart of conservation efforts as water management is at the core of sustainable uses of wetlands. Water scarcity today is becoming an urgent problem for mankind that needs effective remediation.

For the WWD this year, the theme set by UNESCO’s Hydrological Programme was ‘Wetlands Take Care of Water’. It reflected the interdependence between water and wetlands. “Making the link between wetlands and water is essential because without water there will be no wetlands — and without wetlands there will be no water! Wetlands such as mangroves, bogs, freshwater swamps are home to a wealth of biodiversity. Wetlands fulfil vital roles in carbon storage, pollution control and protection from natural hazards such as floods and storms. Millions of people around the world relay on wetlands as it provide ecosystem services such as food, fresh water and fuel,” says Mark Smith, director of IUCN’s Global Water Programme.

By the virtue of its geographical location, varied terrain and climatic zones, India supports a rich diversity of inland and coastal wetlands; but they are in distress currently. The Wular Lake in Kashmir or Kolleru Lake in Andhra Pradesh, two of the largest lakes in the country, are depleting as they are losing their vitality to regenerate. The story is similar for other lakes and rivers across the subcontinent.

The National Wetland Atlas, prepared by Space Applications Centre (SAC) of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), has classified 67,429 wetlands in India occupying 60 million hectares, including paddy cultivation. The majority of these inland wetlands are dependent on major rivers like the Ganga, Brahmaputra, Narmada, Godavari, Krishna and Cauvery. However, with rising water pollution, drought and water battles between various States, conservation of wetlands needs to be taken up on a war footing.

Fortunately, some of the wetlands are receiving their due importance for their contribution to the natural wealth. For instance, the Chilika Lake in Odisha is about to become the first lake from Asia to adopt the “Ecosystem Health Report Card” — an effective means of tracking and reporting the health of a wetland. The Chilika will join the elite club of iconic wetlands like Chesapeake Bay (U.S.A) and the Great Barrier Reef (Australia).

“Increased human population around wetlands adds to ecological degradation due to unsustainable practices like agriculture expansion and over-exploitation. Due to this both wildlife and people suffer, particularly water birds like the cormorants. The condition of the existing wetlands needs to be conserved as our natural assets. With judicious use of numerous useful aquatic bacteria, plants and animals associated with wetlands, harmful impurities can be removed and water can be purified,” says Emeritus Professor C.R. Babuin, in-charge of Centre for Environmental Management of Degraded Ecosystems, University of Delhi.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/a-lifeline-under-siege/article4397277.ece

Forest guards with WW II rifles losing fight against poachers with submachine guns

Manimugdha S Sharma

Forest guards in Kaziranga

What are the odds of survival of a forest guard armed with a bolt-action rifle of WWII vintage while facing a poacher armed with an HK MP5 submachine gun? By the time he cocks his rifle and takes aim, his opponent would have shot him 100 times. This probably explains why the rhino and its defenders are unsafe in Assam. In less than two months, eight rhinos have been killed in the state, four of them in a just a week. Last year, the count was 21.

Often pulled up for their ineptitude, the foresters face insurmountable odds. A senior officer in Assam says they have been battling poachers with.315 bore and 12 bore guns and 7.62mm 2A1 bolt-action rifles (erroneously referred to as .303). These weapons are good to scare off wild animals, but are useless against poachers with AK rifles.

In Gujarat's Gir forest, guards have been fighting poachers with 12 bore double barrel shotguns and .32 revolvers. "We have been purchasing only these revolvers lately. But wherever the threat of poaching is high, units are given other guns. We have no semi-automatic or automatic rifles," says Sandeep Kumar, the deputy conservator of forests, Gir.

It is not difficult to imagine why the fight against poaching is increasingly becoming a losing one, especially in the northeast. Poorly armed and led, the forest guards cannot win the battle that became one-sided with the entry of insurgent groups and surrendered militants into the profitable rhino horn trade. With flourishing markets in China, Vietnam and other places in South-East Asia, these groups have met international demands by allegedly procuring sophisticated arms from Chinese firms.

"These weapons are either originals or knockoffs of Russian AK series rifles, American M16s, and German HK MP5s and HK 33s. The superior rate of fire of these weapons gives the user a huge advantage. Poachers have been using Kalashnikovs extensively, and the HKs in a few cases," says a senior Assam Police officer involved in counter-insurgency operations. He adds that foresters need to be trained in jungle warfare and there should be a separate intelligence network for the forests.

Sending poorly armed forest guards to battle such dangerous poachers is very unfair. But Amrit Bhuyan, the commandant of 2nd Assam Forest Protection Force, believes jungle warfare is a different ball game altogether. "My 251 men are inside Kaziranga right now. They have been given police training for the first time. I don't think they need to be taught jungle warfare tactics akin to the Army. But yes, they need to know how to function in a jungle environment; how to distinguish between a poacher and a rhino when it is pitch dark," he says, adding that his battalion does not have any night vision equipment.

In September last year, the two battalions of Assam Forest Protection Force were given the 7.62mm 1A1 SLR—a weapon discarded by both the Indian Army as well as the paramilitary forces in the mid-90s due to reliability issues.

N K Vasu, the director of Kaziranga National Park, sees it differently. "Our needs are different from the Army's. The SLRs, we believe, will help us stay in the fight; but we are also trying for more advanced weapons like the AK-47," he says.

It has been learnt that a proposal to procure AK-47s for forest guards hasn't elicited any reaction from the government in the last 10 months. In such a scenario, it is advantage poachers.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Forest-guards-with-WW-II-rifles-losing-fight-against-poachers-with-submachine-guns/articleshow/18393375.cms

Elephants destroy crops

A herd of five elephants destroyed banana crops and arecanut trees on farms on the Mettuppalayam – Vanabadrakaliamman temple road in the last two days.

The herd had entered the same area about 20 days ago, people said.

Though four of them went back to forest, one got separated. The single elephant had killed an aged woman last month in the same area. After re-uniting, the herd crossed river Bhavani and strayed into various farms in the area. The herd in the last two-days destroyed crops ripe for yield in a few banana farms and even uprooted areca nut trees.

The Forest Department is on the job of deploying anti-depredation watchers to monitoring its movement and drive it deep into the forests, Farmers have demanded that a permanent solution be found to end the menace.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/elephants-destroy-crops/article4396131.ece

How to handle forest fires

R. Krishna Kumar

These are testing times for the Forest Department which is grappling with an increase in the frequency of
wild animals straying into the human landscape and the breaking out of forest fires.— Photos: M.A. Sriram

The authorities in Nagarhole wildlife sanctuary have burnt vegetation along the safari routes which is the traditional method of containing forest fires from spreading in case of a conflagration.

This is reckoned to be a practical way of containing forest fires as controlled burning of vegetation done in winter ensures that in case of a fire, there is no scope for flames to spread beyond the bald patch of land cleared of vegetation, termed as “fire line”. In Nagarhole alone about 1,700 hectares of vegetation has been cleared and burnt as part of fire-fighting measures. Wildlife activists have pleaded for roping in the local community and to appoint unemployed youth to the posts of fire spotters and watchers and thus gain their confidence. Funding is not an issue to save the forests from fires and there is adequate corpus to be drawn from the State Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority.

Meanwhile, Wildlife First, an NGO advocating conservation issues, has called for a ban on civic-related work so that the resources, both monetary and human, could be channelised towards fire protection work.

Also on the anvil are slots on radio and television appealing for the local community’s cooperation. For, the key to containing forest fires is to prevent them in the first place.

Though Bandipur and Nagarhole are prone to forest fires, the frequency of their occurrence can spell ruin to this rich habitat that is home to tigers, elephants, leopards, dholes, sambhars, spotted deer and scores of other exotic animals and birds. These two landscapes have also been recognised by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) as India’s best tiger and elephant landscape and hence merit all efforts to balance wildlife conservation with the local community’s economic and survival imperatives.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-districtplus/how-to-handle-forest-fires/article4394926.ece