Pench, Panna and Sariska Vocalising

Hi Folks!

Could not be better news for tiger lovers. 8 cubs are reported from Pench. Two tigresses have given birth to 5 and 3 cubs respectively. The area is rightly closed to tourism for some time.

Sariska which had gone barren is echoing with the vocalising noises of the new tigress raring to meet her saiyyan!

Panna which had gone Sariska way is all set to receive two tigresses from Kanha tomorrow, i.e., 6th Dec. 2010

Tigers are now found in only 13 countries around the world - Bangladesh, India, Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Laos, Bhutan, Nepal and Russia. These countries are called 'Tiger Range Countries (TRC)' and have started to work together to save tigers.

Currently, India boasts having the largest number of tigers with 1,500 of the large cats surviving at 56 different places in the country. However, Bangladesh boasts the highest number of the cats in one forest with 450 tigers living in the Sundarbans.

So sounds good for the endangered species.

T-24 Mauls another person

Hi Folks!

The stories of man - animal conflict refuse to die. T-24, the male tiger in Ranthambhore Natiional Park killed a person Ghamandi Lal Saini, 23 yrs near Dausa Corner or near Jhoomar Baori on the road leading to the park on August 3, 2010.

A gardener by profession Saini was an employee of a hot balloon safari company. The forest officials blame that Saini had unauthorisedly entered the forest area to cut wood. It is a second incident in Ranthambhore when human life has been claimed by the king of the jungle. On their part, the villagers have also poisoned two cubs after they attacked their goats in March this year.

Delay in monsoon is forcing tigers to move out to inhabited areas in search of water. Swimming pools and man made water bodies in several resorts to show their guests wildlife in the night are also blamed by a section of vested interest for straying of the great predator.

Sufficient water holes need to be maintained in the park and above all, the park authorities need to ensure that the number of tigers in the park does not exceed 25 as it is one of the smallest park and cannot sustain a larger population of tigers.

TIGER RESERVE # 38

Hi Folks!

Jairam Ramesh inaugurated the 38th tiger reserve of the country last Friday, i.e., Feb 19, 2010.

Parambikulam Tiger Reserve in Kerala in Kerala. The park has 390 sq km of core area and another 252 sq km as buffer zone.

The tiger density is estimated at 15. Recently 5 sub adult tigers have been sighted in the park which has raised hope of the forest department in developing tourism in the area.

However, the minister sounded grim about the chances of tiger in India. He feared that 18 tiger reserves in the country "may die out any time". He felt only 9 tiger reserves were actually functioning tiger reserves in the country.

He further confirmed that tiger population in Sariska and Panna had become extinct due to poaching, mining and operation by real estate mafia.

If you know these two places well, you would know that the Field Directors of these tiger reserves live away from the park and visit the park only with dignitaries and VIPs. The parks have long been left to lowly ranked officers. The forest officers will have to be pulled up and located near the parks if the minister wants to save the tigers.

Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve

Hi Folks!

Had a whirlwind tour of the Park. Started out of Delhi on 24th Jan by the Intercity Express and reached Sawai Madhopur just after crack of dawn on the 25th Jan. After refreshing myself, drove straight into the Park.

Wildlife enthusiasts were in good numbers. All set to see the striped flame of this Park. Firends and guards had told about reasonably good sightings. What was sad to learn was that Machchli, nee Jugni, was no longer visible around Raj Talaab. It would be interesting to wait and watch for her return. Keeping my fingers crossed!

Two trips and frantic search for the King yielded no result. It had rained the previous night and the Maharaja was in no mood to oblige. Saw herds of the herbivores grazing nonchalantly without fear of the supreme predator. Crocodiles lazed on the Talaab banks and rose ringed parakeets flitted around making usual din. The stream of the temple goers remained unabated. Women and children in colorful costumes sang religious songs while climbing to the temple in the Ranthambhore fort.

Overall it was not a very disappointing visit. (Any visit to a tiger reserve is disappointing if you miss the big cat.) However, what hurt the most was the poor state of roads and tracks leading to and in the Park. It was the first time that I saw such poor maintenance. Winter is the peak tourist season and roads and tracks should be maintained after the monsoon for the benefit of visitors.

I hope the situation will improve soon.

!

Another Tiger Dies in Corbett

Another tiger dies in Corbett National Park taking the toll to 4 in one month! In 2009, as many as 120 tigers were either found dead(poached) or missing. This must be the most dubious record of sorts in free India for the Wildlife department and the tiger conservation authority.
I think it is high time a few people in such key agencies are shown the door.
Hope Jairam Ramesh wakes up

2009 - A Bad Year for Tiger

Hi Folks!

The year gone by has been bad for our national animal, the tiger.

A report suggests that we lost as many as 120 tigers in 2009. National Tiger Conservation Authority has made much ado about projects to revive the tiger population. Some exemplary work was done by translocation of tigers in the "dry" Tiger Reserves like Sariska and Panna. Only time will testify to the success of the project.

What is worrying is that poachers are able to have free access to the parks and can target the big cat either in connivance with the forest officials or by their absence from the Parks! In most of the surveys and analysis, which are conducted by the Forest Deptt officials themselves, the findings blame everybody. There is no introspection at the level of forest staff.

It would be shocking for some to learn that most of the parks are left to a Range Officer with senior officers including the Park Field Director living away from the Reserve! There is talk of relocating the communities that have lived in the forest for centuries. I believe it will be much better if the minister Mr. Jairam Ramesh opts for a simpler and cost effective option of shifting all concerned officials in or near the Park. At a fraction of the cost of relocating the communities, Field Directo and his city based staff can be shifted where they are needed the most. It will automatically result in better supervision and monitoring.

Hope Mr. Jairam Ramesh is listening.