Last weekend was spent at Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve. The park has opened with renewed vigour and tourist activity. Hundreds of tourists are visiting the park every day. In fact there is so much of rush that getting hotel accommodation may be a problem. It would be prudent to first book hotel and safari before embarking upon this journey.
We were singularly unlucky in not sighting a tiger over two days. A few people saw a tigress and the collared male at Jhalra and Manduk area. Sighting of other wildlife and birding was superb.
Good monsoon means greater availability of water in the park which results in dispersal of animals including tigers from big lakes to interiors. Poaching has not been reported except death of the Lakardah tigress.
Forest officials were also busy in preparing for trans-location of another tigress from the park to Sariska. The operation may be carried out any day now.
For pictures of the trip visit www.flickr.com/photos/somesh-goyal
Monday, November 3, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Wildlife Poachers Punished
Lion Poachers of Gujarat Punished
The much publicised Lion Poaching case of Junagadh ( March 2007 ) ends in conviction of all the accused , ( 20 ) twenty in number for 3yrs each and Rs 10,000/- fine each . This is the biggest conviction in the country in terms of number of people accused in any wildlife crime case .
10 Asiatic Lions were poached by Baheliya community from MP . The highlight of the case are:
The much publicised Lion Poaching case of Junagadh ( March 2007 ) ends in conviction of all the accused , ( 20 ) twenty in number for 3yrs each and Rs 10,000/- fine each . This is the biggest conviction in the country in terms of number of people accused in any wildlife crime case .
10 Asiatic Lions were poached by Baheliya community from MP . The highlight of the case are:
- Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi visited the scene of Crime and spent about 6 hours .
- Strong and heavy Forensic Interface in collection of eveidence .
- Polygraph and Narco-analysis was done for the first time in a wildlife crime case .
- Appointment of Spl Public Prosecutors from Supreme Court to the Trial Court
Kudos to Gujarat Police and the Chief Minister for all support to the Police.
Will post a case study soon on the blog.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
International Tiger Day
Hi Folks!
I am sure you are aware that today 28th September is the International Tiger Day.
I have not seen any activity by the National Tiger Conservation authority or from the government's side. Is it a holiday so the babus will not move?
Newspapers that cry hoarse about tiger poaching remained silent on the issue.
Sariska is responding well to tigers but the royal meeting, er, mating seems to be far away.
Hope with various groups active, and support from enthusiasts like Bittu Sahgal, things will improve on the tiger front.
Cheers!
The Flame of Forest shall not allowed to be snuffed out!
I am sure you are aware that today 28th September is the International Tiger Day.
I have not seen any activity by the National Tiger Conservation authority or from the government's side. Is it a holiday so the babus will not move?
Newspapers that cry hoarse about tiger poaching remained silent on the issue.
Sariska is responding well to tigers but the royal meeting, er, mating seems to be far away.
Hope with various groups active, and support from enthusiasts like Bittu Sahgal, things will improve on the tiger front.
Cheers!
The Flame of Forest shall not allowed to be snuffed out!
Monday, July 28, 2008
Nokia Joins Hands with WWF-India to Save the Tiger
New Delhi, July 27 2008: Nokia India in partnership with WWF-India unveiled the ‘Tiger Wall of Hope’ in New Delhi as part of their support initiative for the Tiger Conservation programme of WWF India. As part of the association, Nokia and WWF-India will work towards providing education to the villagers for sustainable development, increasing awareness on tiger conservation, and identifying alternative livelihood programmes for the villagers around National Parks, specifically the Ranthambore National Park. The other activities will include
• Strengthening the existing community institutions and development of further institutions of the community to facilitate community empowerment
• Strengthening sustainable and alternative livelihood programmes, to link them with existing schemes of other line departments of the Government of Rajasthan.
Very good beginning by corporate world! Hope tiger conservation gets a boost.
• Strengthening the existing community institutions and development of further institutions of the community to facilitate community empowerment
• Strengthening sustainable and alternative livelihood programmes, to link them with existing schemes of other line departments of the Government of Rajasthan.
Very good beginning by corporate world! Hope tiger conservation gets a boost.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Visit to Rajasthan Desert
I visited rajasthan desert(Thar) for three days last week. I was lucky to spot Wild asses (Equus hemionus), blue bulls (Boselaphus tragocamelus) and black bucks (Antilope cervicapra) in good numbers. I have posted some of the pictures on www.flickr.com/photos/somesh-goyal
Sighting of wild asses in Rajasthan was surprising because hitherto no one had provided any record of wild asses in Thar desert in Rajasthan. If there is any info regarding this animal, please share. Blue bulls were seen in good numbers too. Neelgai is the largest Antelope of Asia though most Indians consider it sacred for being a gai or a cow. In the Aurangzeb's rule neelgai was called neelghor or the blue horse!
Please enjoy!
Sighting of wild asses in Rajasthan was surprising because hitherto no one had provided any record of wild asses in Thar desert in Rajasthan. If there is any info regarding this animal, please share. Blue bulls were seen in good numbers too. Neelgai is the largest Antelope of Asia though most Indians consider it sacred for being a gai or a cow. In the Aurangzeb's rule neelgai was called neelghor or the blue horse!
Please enjoy!
Man-eaters of Sunderbans
In a bizarre incident on the southern tip of the Indian Sunderbans, a royal bengal tiger dragged a fisherman from his boat on Friday morning. His friends came to his rescue and literally beat the beast away! However, due to low tide the fisherman identified as Purna Das could be evacuated to Kolkata in the evening where he has undergone an operation and is battling for his life.
UN help in detecting poaching
A standing committee of the UN's Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species(CITES) has decided that the Australian customs will impart intelligence training to Indian customs officials in tracking down criminal networks trading illegalyy in big cat skins and body parts.
Environmental Investigation Agency(EIA) has been underlining the role of thorough investigation to pin down the kingpins of illegal wildlife trade. A recent investigation in China indicates that trade in tiger skin and body parts is still on with fresh arrivals from India, Pakistan, afghanistan, russia and Vietnam. A fresh tiger skin was recovered in China which is claimed to have come from India. After Dalai Lama made a call to Tibetans to give up tiger skins, there has been some fall in the demand but the Chinese demand continues which poses serious threat to tiger conservatio initiatives in India. Poachers are active in India and the national capital accounts for most wildlife cases registered in the country which goes to prove that illicit trade in wildlife is controlled from Delhi.
One important issue that CITES needs to bear in mind before starting training is that under the Indian conditions, primary responsibility to investigate rests with the local police and now with the creation of Wildlife Crime Records Bureau, the responsibility will be shared by the apex body. EIA will do well to co-ordinate the efforts in such a way that cutting edge investigators benefit from this decision.
Environmental Investigation Agency(EIA) has been underlining the role of thorough investigation to pin down the kingpins of illegal wildlife trade. A recent investigation in China indicates that trade in tiger skin and body parts is still on with fresh arrivals from India, Pakistan, afghanistan, russia and Vietnam. A fresh tiger skin was recovered in China which is claimed to have come from India. After Dalai Lama made a call to Tibetans to give up tiger skins, there has been some fall in the demand but the Chinese demand continues which poses serious threat to tiger conservatio initiatives in India. Poachers are active in India and the national capital accounts for most wildlife cases registered in the country which goes to prove that illicit trade in wildlife is controlled from Delhi.
One important issue that CITES needs to bear in mind before starting training is that under the Indian conditions, primary responsibility to investigate rests with the local police and now with the creation of Wildlife Crime Records Bureau, the responsibility will be shared by the apex body. EIA will do well to co-ordinate the efforts in such a way that cutting edge investigators benefit from this decision.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Vital Stats of Tiger
Scientific name: Panthera tigris
Sub-species : The following 5 sub-species are found in certain parts of the world: Bengal (P.t. tigris), Siberian (P.t. altaica), South China (P.t. amoyensis), Sumatran (P.t. Sumatrae), Indo-Chinese (P.t. corbetti).
Another 3 sub-species that roamed in the wild but have become extinct are: Caspian (P.t. virgata), Javan (P.t. Sondaica), Bali (P.t. Balica).
Weight : 65-306 Kb (140-675lbs), depending on subspecies and sex.
Length : 1.9-3.3m (6.2-10.8 feet), from the nose to tail.
Life span : 15-18 years.
Gestation period : 98-108 days.
Litter size : 1-4 cubs in the wild.
Habitat : Forests, dense vegetation and swamps from the mangroves of Sunderbans to Russia.
Sub-species : The following 5 sub-species are found in certain parts of the world: Bengal (P.t. tigris), Siberian (P.t. altaica), South China (P.t. amoyensis), Sumatran (P.t. Sumatrae), Indo-Chinese (P.t. corbetti).
Another 3 sub-species that roamed in the wild but have become extinct are: Caspian (P.t. virgata), Javan (P.t. Sondaica), Bali (P.t. Balica).
Weight : 65-306 Kb (140-675lbs), depending on subspecies and sex.
Length : 1.9-3.3m (6.2-10.8 feet), from the nose to tail.
Life span : 15-18 years.
Gestation period : 98-108 days.
Litter size : 1-4 cubs in the wild.
Habitat : Forests, dense vegetation and swamps from the mangroves of Sunderbans to Russia.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Tigers in chains in Thailand
I visited Thailand recently. When I went to see Nongnooch village near Pattaya, I was shocked to see a chained tiger. The tiger was indifferent to human presence and appeared drugged. The only time the tiger showed some alertness was when a milk bottle was brought near him which he suckled like a hungry baby. The attendant charged 50 Bahts for stroking the tiger and getting oneself photographed alongside the tiger. I find this commercialisation of the tiger which should be in the wild is outrageous. Wonder if there are any Wildlife NGOs in Thailand that protest such treatment meted out to the majestic cats.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Is monsoon the worst period for tigers?
Monsoons are proving to be tough times for tigers and perhaps the rest of the wildlife. Most of the parks are closed during this period with human movement restricted including that of the forest staff. Closure of the park and lowering of guard provides much awaited opportunity for poachers to attack the parks. Maximum numbers of tigers, young and adults, go "missing" a euphimism for poaching, during the rainy season.
The recent tiger bones recovered from Bhima Bawaria are suspected to be of a sub adult from Jim Corbett. Bhima Bawaria operates in Amangarh area abutting the boundary of the Corbett Reserve.
A 24 hr vigil needs to be mounted and system of patrolling the park needs to be strengthened. Areas which are not affected by rains should be opened to visitors because greater frequency of bonafide persons will reduce chances for the poachers.
The recent tiger bones recovered from Bhima Bawaria are suspected to be of a sub adult from Jim Corbett. Bhima Bawaria operates in Amangarh area abutting the boundary of the Corbett Reserve.
A 24 hr vigil needs to be mounted and system of patrolling the park needs to be strengthened. Areas which are not affected by rains should be opened to visitors because greater frequency of bonafide persons will reduce chances for the poachers.
Somesh Goyal's Article in Sactuary Asia
Following is the unedited text of the article on protecting tigers that appeared in the June issue of Sanctuary Asia published from Mumbai.
Somesh Goyal, IPS, a wildlife protector and photographer, who was awarded the annual West Bengal Conservation Award in 2006 for his efforts in the state, writes that protecting and securing tiger habitats is no longer a negotiable option.
The bitter truth about the tiger is out. But who is accountable? Is it the Project Tiger authorities? Is it the Ministry of Environment and Forests? The Central Government? Or is it the Indian people themselves, who refuse to take their leaders to task?
The Wildlife Institute of India blames poaching, increasing human-animal conflict, declining prey base and loss of tiger territory on the demands of urbanisation as major reasons for the tiger's precarious situation. But the big cat is not the only casualty. Between 2003-2005, around 728 sq. km. of forests were wiped out, besides the degradation of another 630 sq. km. of productive forest.
The late Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi launched Project Tiger in 1973, which brought this charismatic species on the revival path. Those who allowed Project Tiger to flounder in the 1990s were the first in a long chain of people who allowed the tiger to become a soft target. With the periodic downgrading of Protected Areas and laws and a failure to create well-thought, landscape-specific strategies to secure and protect tiger habitats, the inevitability of the current crisis was just a matter of time.
In the wake of the Sariska debacle, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh initiated several new steps including the creation of National Tiger Conservation Authority, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and emphasis on centre-state partnership. The new Five Year Plan has allocated Rs. 600 crores for tiger conservation. While all the initiatives are praiseworthy, they over-emphasise on conservation methodologies and protection and security aspects still lie on the backburner. While the preservation and restoration of the natural environment is vital, it is the impact of poaching that has primarily left our tiger reserves in tatters.
The difference between conservation and protection or security is subtle. Conservation by its very nature connotes affirmative action whereas protection and security in contrast imply creation of checks to prevent any harm to the protected area. The Oxford English Dictionary defines protection as the "act of keeping safe from harm or injury" and 'security' means "protecting against attack or other criminal activities". Protection has several components. Perimeter security, access control, regulation of movement within the parks, development of preventive and actionable intelligence, surveillance over communities living within the reserve or park and investigation of crimes to bring the criminals to book comprise the main ingredients of a protection system for wildlife parks. Factoring 'protection' or 'security' in the planning for 28 tiger reserves and the newly-declared eight reserves is vital to the future of Panthera tigris in India.
In the past two decades circumstances have revealed how, despite global concerns for the tiger and considerable efforts within India, we have still not been able to create a truly safe environment for tigers. I believe it is little point accusing the forest staff responsible for tiger conservation for their ‘failure’ because the necessary skills and training have not been imparted to enable them to foresee, plan and execute protection and security.
Of course there is also the issue of park management. Barring a few notable parks, most Field Directors are located hours away from the scene of action -- the forest. On the spot decisions must therefore be taken by Forest Rangers, or at best, officials in the lowest hierarchy of gazetted officers who may not have the insight, or clout needed to implement vital initiatives. This situation has to change if field protection is to improve. There is just no option but to have Field Directors living on-site, supported perhaps by officers with administrative duties posted at the state headquarters.
All eyes are now on the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), which somehow has to insist that states make it mandatory for the head of the park to live in the park, or at best just outside, so that daily monitoring is the order of the day. Not guaranteeing this is tantamount to the Armed Forces defending the nation with local commanders operating from the comfort zone of cities.
The system must also wake to the fact that poaching and the illegal trade in wildlife products and derivatives are organised crimes and, time and again, criminals have exhibited sophisticated modus operandi and complete knowledge of the weaknesses of India’s prevailing system. Our response, therefore, has to match or better that possessed by the perpetrators. One department or agency cannot hope to cover the whole range of functions involved in conservation and protection. There is a definite need to adopt a multi-disciplinary and multi-pronged approach to protect all the tiger reserves. This of course needs central coordination and tremendous will on the part of the states to protect their own heritage.
The Union Government has plans to set up a National Tiger Protection Force (NTPF). But in my view, the government would be ill-advised to create a separate federal force for the protection of tiger reserves. Experiences in the case of the Central Para Military Forces have shown that most of the states tend to abdicate responsibility in case of a law and order situation, demanding central forces at the drop of a hat. If NTPF is raised, every tiger poaching episode will be followed by frantic demands from the concerned state for the force and in case of delay or refusal, it is very possible that failure to react to threats could degenerate into political mud-slinging matches.
This of course would do the tiger no good at all.
What we need is effective ground action. For this we need to build and reinforce local capabilities. Instead or raising a federal Tiger Protection Force, a much more cost effective, efficient and pragmatic response might be to bring specially selected, trained and motivated local police personnel into the grid. This way the forest guard will not be expected to change the nature of his work, which involves conservation of flora and fauna, clearing fire lines, monitoring wildlife and keeping communities and wildlife in a state of working harmony.
Hard protection requires a mental attitude that is by definition negative and suspicious; not exactly the kind of thing that would promote people-park relationships. On the other hand the police system, for all its foibles, is a well tried out, time-tested system that takes into account all jurisdictional issues including intelligence and investigation. Such vital functions, in the main, would concern cases of wildlife poaching, smuggling and crimes committed outside the borders of tiger reserves. To provide one example, without a shadow of doubt investigations may need to go beyond villages, cities, states and even international borders. For this the police appear to be a more suitable option because they are equipped and armed to undertake such protection, though I feel it should be a separate team within the police force that handles wildlife crime. On its part, the Central Government should meet the expenditure of such a team, which may well need to raise additional manpower after a proper risk analysis and protection audit of every reserve or park.
As of now tiger reserves are located in 17 states and the bulk of the on-ground work would involve perhaps twice this number of districts. The Superintendents of Police of these chosen districts should be motivated and involved in the task of protecting wildlife. Their experience, expertise and vision can help bring down poaching. To further the objective along, a reward mechanism on the lines of the Narcotics Control Bureau Enforcement Directorate would go a long way if it were built into the tiger or wildlife protection system.
The creation of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau is a welcome and timely initiative. It will facilitate co-ordination, collaboration and data collection at a central point and will additionally address issues concerning intelligence and enforcement. As anyone involved with fighting wildlife crime will confirm, today information on wildlife crimes is itself woefully short. The Wildlife Institute of India and Project Tiger websites refer only to poaching and crimes but none of the sites provides up-to-date, pass-worded, crime data so vital to wildlife protection, investigation and strategy. To my dismay, I actually found the data on such sites referring to information gathered in 2003! The Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) Crime Database on the other hand records over 15,300 wildlife crimes involving over 400 species. Collection and analysis of data is very important because it can show up crime ‘patterns’ and can help establish the identity of organised crime syndicates. Interpol suggests that the sale and distribution of illegal wildlife contraband constitutes the third largest illegal trade in the world after drugs and arms. India, unfortunately, is under the maximum threat because we are perceived to be a ‘soft source’ market. This worry was confirmed by a report of Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) in 2004, which identified India as the chief target for the traders of wildlife skins.
In the last century, tiger numbers have fallen from around 40,000 to under 1,500. If we want our forests to continue supporting these magnificent cats, a little modification in our strategy by including a multi-disciplinary approach and building in protection as a main component of conservation plans is the way to go. If we do this, we may be able to save the tiger from extinction and prevent a repetition of the Sariska debacle elsewhere in the country!
Somesh Goyal, IPS, a wildlife protector and photographer, who was awarded the annual West Bengal Conservation Award in 2006 for his efforts in the state, writes that protecting and securing tiger habitats is no longer a negotiable option.
The bitter truth about the tiger is out. But who is accountable? Is it the Project Tiger authorities? Is it the Ministry of Environment and Forests? The Central Government? Or is it the Indian people themselves, who refuse to take their leaders to task?
The Wildlife Institute of India blames poaching, increasing human-animal conflict, declining prey base and loss of tiger territory on the demands of urbanisation as major reasons for the tiger's precarious situation. But the big cat is not the only casualty. Between 2003-2005, around 728 sq. km. of forests were wiped out, besides the degradation of another 630 sq. km. of productive forest.
The late Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi launched Project Tiger in 1973, which brought this charismatic species on the revival path. Those who allowed Project Tiger to flounder in the 1990s were the first in a long chain of people who allowed the tiger to become a soft target. With the periodic downgrading of Protected Areas and laws and a failure to create well-thought, landscape-specific strategies to secure and protect tiger habitats, the inevitability of the current crisis was just a matter of time.
In the wake of the Sariska debacle, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh initiated several new steps including the creation of National Tiger Conservation Authority, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and emphasis on centre-state partnership. The new Five Year Plan has allocated Rs. 600 crores for tiger conservation. While all the initiatives are praiseworthy, they over-emphasise on conservation methodologies and protection and security aspects still lie on the backburner. While the preservation and restoration of the natural environment is vital, it is the impact of poaching that has primarily left our tiger reserves in tatters.
The difference between conservation and protection or security is subtle. Conservation by its very nature connotes affirmative action whereas protection and security in contrast imply creation of checks to prevent any harm to the protected area. The Oxford English Dictionary defines protection as the "act of keeping safe from harm or injury" and 'security' means "protecting against attack or other criminal activities". Protection has several components. Perimeter security, access control, regulation of movement within the parks, development of preventive and actionable intelligence, surveillance over communities living within the reserve or park and investigation of crimes to bring the criminals to book comprise the main ingredients of a protection system for wildlife parks. Factoring 'protection' or 'security' in the planning for 28 tiger reserves and the newly-declared eight reserves is vital to the future of Panthera tigris in India.
In the past two decades circumstances have revealed how, despite global concerns for the tiger and considerable efforts within India, we have still not been able to create a truly safe environment for tigers. I believe it is little point accusing the forest staff responsible for tiger conservation for their ‘failure’ because the necessary skills and training have not been imparted to enable them to foresee, plan and execute protection and security.
Of course there is also the issue of park management. Barring a few notable parks, most Field Directors are located hours away from the scene of action -- the forest. On the spot decisions must therefore be taken by Forest Rangers, or at best, officials in the lowest hierarchy of gazetted officers who may not have the insight, or clout needed to implement vital initiatives. This situation has to change if field protection is to improve. There is just no option but to have Field Directors living on-site, supported perhaps by officers with administrative duties posted at the state headquarters.
All eyes are now on the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), which somehow has to insist that states make it mandatory for the head of the park to live in the park, or at best just outside, so that daily monitoring is the order of the day. Not guaranteeing this is tantamount to the Armed Forces defending the nation with local commanders operating from the comfort zone of cities.
The system must also wake to the fact that poaching and the illegal trade in wildlife products and derivatives are organised crimes and, time and again, criminals have exhibited sophisticated modus operandi and complete knowledge of the weaknesses of India’s prevailing system. Our response, therefore, has to match or better that possessed by the perpetrators. One department or agency cannot hope to cover the whole range of functions involved in conservation and protection. There is a definite need to adopt a multi-disciplinary and multi-pronged approach to protect all the tiger reserves. This of course needs central coordination and tremendous will on the part of the states to protect their own heritage.
The Union Government has plans to set up a National Tiger Protection Force (NTPF). But in my view, the government would be ill-advised to create a separate federal force for the protection of tiger reserves. Experiences in the case of the Central Para Military Forces have shown that most of the states tend to abdicate responsibility in case of a law and order situation, demanding central forces at the drop of a hat. If NTPF is raised, every tiger poaching episode will be followed by frantic demands from the concerned state for the force and in case of delay or refusal, it is very possible that failure to react to threats could degenerate into political mud-slinging matches.
This of course would do the tiger no good at all.
What we need is effective ground action. For this we need to build and reinforce local capabilities. Instead or raising a federal Tiger Protection Force, a much more cost effective, efficient and pragmatic response might be to bring specially selected, trained and motivated local police personnel into the grid. This way the forest guard will not be expected to change the nature of his work, which involves conservation of flora and fauna, clearing fire lines, monitoring wildlife and keeping communities and wildlife in a state of working harmony.
Hard protection requires a mental attitude that is by definition negative and suspicious; not exactly the kind of thing that would promote people-park relationships. On the other hand the police system, for all its foibles, is a well tried out, time-tested system that takes into account all jurisdictional issues including intelligence and investigation. Such vital functions, in the main, would concern cases of wildlife poaching, smuggling and crimes committed outside the borders of tiger reserves. To provide one example, without a shadow of doubt investigations may need to go beyond villages, cities, states and even international borders. For this the police appear to be a more suitable option because they are equipped and armed to undertake such protection, though I feel it should be a separate team within the police force that handles wildlife crime. On its part, the Central Government should meet the expenditure of such a team, which may well need to raise additional manpower after a proper risk analysis and protection audit of every reserve or park.
As of now tiger reserves are located in 17 states and the bulk of the on-ground work would involve perhaps twice this number of districts. The Superintendents of Police of these chosen districts should be motivated and involved in the task of protecting wildlife. Their experience, expertise and vision can help bring down poaching. To further the objective along, a reward mechanism on the lines of the Narcotics Control Bureau Enforcement Directorate would go a long way if it were built into the tiger or wildlife protection system.
The creation of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau is a welcome and timely initiative. It will facilitate co-ordination, collaboration and data collection at a central point and will additionally address issues concerning intelligence and enforcement. As anyone involved with fighting wildlife crime will confirm, today information on wildlife crimes is itself woefully short. The Wildlife Institute of India and Project Tiger websites refer only to poaching and crimes but none of the sites provides up-to-date, pass-worded, crime data so vital to wildlife protection, investigation and strategy. To my dismay, I actually found the data on such sites referring to information gathered in 2003! The Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) Crime Database on the other hand records over 15,300 wildlife crimes involving over 400 species. Collection and analysis of data is very important because it can show up crime ‘patterns’ and can help establish the identity of organised crime syndicates. Interpol suggests that the sale and distribution of illegal wildlife contraband constitutes the third largest illegal trade in the world after drugs and arms. India, unfortunately, is under the maximum threat because we are perceived to be a ‘soft source’ market. This worry was confirmed by a report of Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) in 2004, which identified India as the chief target for the traders of wildlife skins.
In the last century, tiger numbers have fallen from around 40,000 to under 1,500. If we want our forests to continue supporting these magnificent cats, a little modification in our strategy by including a multi-disciplinary approach and building in protection as a main component of conservation plans is the way to go. If we do this, we may be able to save the tiger from extinction and prevent a repetition of the Sariska debacle elsewhere in the country!
Tigers doing fine
Spoke to Mr. Gupta, Divisional Forest Officer, Sariska to find out about the progress being made by the two tigers, T10-the male and Bacchi-the female. After a while Bacchi has also moved out of her enclosure. Both are surveying territories in the range of 5-7 km and falling back close to the enclosures. Sufficient prey is available and the tigers are not going hungry.
The relocation may aggravate man-animal conflict in the park as there are over two dozen small villages in the park. Only one village, Bagani, has been rehabilitated so far. A public road passes through the park which also poses threat to the safety of the animals. Presence of a temple inside the park is another issue which defies solution.
As i have said before in a post, this is the best opportunity before the state government and the residents of Sariska to learn from Ranthambhore model and benefit from the win-win situation.
The relocation may aggravate man-animal conflict in the park as there are over two dozen small villages in the park. Only one village, Bagani, has been rehabilitated so far. A public road passes through the park which also poses threat to the safety of the animals. Presence of a temple inside the park is another issue which defies solution.
As i have said before in a post, this is the best opportunity before the state government and the residents of Sariska to learn from Ranthambhore model and benefit from the win-win situation.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Is Indian wildlife safe?
On 7th July a police party recovered bones of an adult tiger from Bhima a known wildlife criminal residing in Gurgaon very close to Delhi the HQ of National Tiger Conservation Authority. Some traps were also recovered from his premises.
In another sordid development forest officials in Maharashtra recovered a half burnt caracass of a Chinkara deer from the farm house of the state's Transport Minister!
The above two developments belie the governmental claims that poaching is on the wane. These two episodes present a bleak picture of conservation in the country. What about your views on it?
In another sordid development forest officials in Maharashtra recovered a half burnt caracass of a Chinkara deer from the farm house of the state's Transport Minister!
The above two developments belie the governmental claims that poaching is on the wane. These two episodes present a bleak picture of conservation in the country. What about your views on it?
Captive breeding to save endangered hangul
Species at the brink of extinction are drawing special attention from Indian government, be it Hangul, Tiger or Swamp deer. Read the success story about revival of Hangul in Jammu & Kashmir.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Earth/Captive_breeding_for_hangul/articleshow/3204264.cms
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Earth/Captive_breeding_for_hangul/articleshow/3204264.cms
Monday, July 7, 2008
Tigress arrives in Sariska
A new tigress arrived at Sariska tiger reserve on Friday. The three-year-old, 170-kg animal was airlifted from Ranthambore tiger reserve on Saturday for relocation at Sariska. A male tiger has already made Sariska his home. Read full story: http://www.indianexpress.com/story/331534.html
Tigers Released in Sariska from Ranthambhore
It is a great news that two tigers, a male and a female, have been released in Sariska. I had written an article about these cats in Indian Express. Please click on the following link to read the text:
http://www.indianexpress.com/story/329552.html
EssGee
http://www.indianexpress.com/story/329552.html
EssGee
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