8 new Tiger reserves

WWF-India Selects Youth Tiger Ambassadors Ahead of International Tiger forum Addition of 8 New Tiger Reserves- Jairam Ramesh



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19:56 IST

There will be an addition of new eight Tiger Reserves to existing 39 Tiger Reserves in the country within next 6 to 8 months. They will be one each at Satyamangala in Tamilnadu , Ratapani in Madhya Pradesh, Sonapeda in Orissa, the Biliriranga Hills near Mysore in Karnataka and two new Tiger Reserves each in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. They will be Nave Goan Nagzira and Bor and Pilibhit and Suhelwa respectively. Introducing Two Young Tiger Ambassadors of India here today, Shri Jairam Ramesh, Minister of State for Environment and Forests (I/C) said others talk of saving tigers, we actually save the tigers. “WWF is taking thise youngsters to Tiger Summit and I hope that many will join in their efforts to save tigers when they come back. The Ministry will mobilize help for their gigantic effort to save 1400 tigers that remain wild in India,” he added.



The Minister stressed India’s commitment towards conserving the big cats. He said, “ India harbors a large proportion of the world’s tiger population, we are committed to make all efforts to conserve wild tigers and their habitats.’’ He further added that’’ Our commitment to put the tiger on an assured course of recovery goes back 37 years when India launched the worlds most extensive and intensive tiger conservation programme since 1973-Project Tiger. We hope that this Tiger Summit will foster the political will and commitment at all levels, for tiger conservation efforts in all range states. Involving the youth will send the message that by saving tigers, we indeed save much more.



Giving details about recent loss of 3 tigers, 2 in Kaziranga where one tiger lost in a fight with buffalo and the third tiger died in Pilibhit in-fighting.At the same time he gave good news of 5 tigers cubs born in Pench. The tiger census will be released in about two week’s time, he added.Talking about very promising areas for tigers he said Kaziranga is one of them. It is known as a Rhinoceros habitat, but today it has highest tiger density in India. Kaziranga has 35 tigers per 100 sq. km. Some tigers in south also show good tiger density.



Disclosing Ministry ‘s efforts to improve tiger’s situation, Shri Ramesh said few important steps have been taken which include increase in allowance of ground staff in Tiger Reserves, more funds from Finance Ministry for voluntary relocation of families from core area of Tiger Reserves, decentralization of National Tiger Conservation Authority(NTCA) and partnership of local tribal’s and non-tribal people in tiger conservation.



The incentive of increased project allowance to 10,000 people at ground level staff will include forest guards, forest rangers, forest officers. It will be doubled.



The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) will be decentralized. There will be 3 new offices, each one in Nagpur, to cover central Tiger habitats, Bangalore to cover South Indian Tiger habitat and one in Guwahati which will cover eastern and north eastern tiger habitat. The NTCA at Delhi will look after northen habitat and coordination work.



Additional allocation of Rs 800 Crore in 2010-11 and Rs 1000 Crore during 2011-12 has been requested to Finance Ministry for relocation of families from the Core areas of Tiger Reserves.The Minister told, “50,000 families have to be relocated, out of which 3000 families have been relocated so far . This process will go on for next five years. Per family Rs. 10 lakh is given and it is done in a very democratic manner.”



As part of ‘Partners in Tiger conservation’, initiative giving recruitment as tiger guards and tiger watchers started in Corbett Park where local van-gujjars. In Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve, of Andhra Pradesh, over 400 local tribal youth from the Chenchus have been recruited. This model is being followed in many tiger reserves. The local community must develop a stake in the conservation effort the Minister said.



Referring to tourism, the Minister appealed for sustainable tourism.He said, “ The Money earned by tourism is be used for local communities.” Giving example of Corbett Park he informed the earnings of Corbett park is about Rs 2 crore and Kanha national park earns about Rs. 3Crore a year. This amount will be retained by Tiger Reserve for eco-development, restoration and participatory activities. This will make a very substantial difference between relationship of man and tiger. Shri Ramesh said this transformation is visible in Sunderbans today.



Tiger Ambassador Anusha Shankar, a student of M.Sc Ecology and Environmental Science at Pondicherry University, said, “The natural world has always fascinated me. I decided, long ago, to pursue this passion professionally. The Youth Tiger Summit is a great opportunity for me to contribute to tiger conservation initiatives; I believe that the onus is on the youth to build a better tomorrow. It is our responsibility to develop a future that is better than the past, and I intend to use innovative and creative ways to spread awareness about this.”



Tiger Ambassador Devanshu Sood, who has been a core member of his schools’ Junior Tiger Task Force since the last 8 years feels that being a part of the tiger conservation programme has been a life-changing experience for him. He said “I feel that the youth are the future of the tiger, and I will continue to spread awareness about tiger conservation to the best of my capacity.”



Earlier in his opening remarks, Mr Ravi Singh, CEO, WWF-India said, “Holding a youth summit alongside the High level summit will be critical in conveying the voice of the youth at the International Tiger Forum thereby drawing the worlds’ attention to the fate of these big cats .The Youth Tiger Summit presents a wonderful opportunity to the young generation to learn from others, share experiences and contribute towards tiger conservation efforts in their countries. We hope that the interaction with other youth delegates from different tiger range countries at the Summit will enable our Tiger Ambassadors to develop a vision for the youth movement in India.”



Before the WWF Youth Ambassadors embark on their journey to Russia, both the delegates today signed a pledge of support to the cause of tiger conservation in the presence of ­Hon’ble Minister for Environment and Forests, Shri Jairam Ramesh.



World Wildlife Fund (WWF) selected these two Youth Tiger Ambassadors from in the age group of 18-22 years after a three step process of scanning application. Over 150 applications were received. 5 individuals were short listed on criteria’s of passion for wildlife, educational background, ability to learn about conservation, and the age limit. In final selection, two were selected. They will be a part of the delegation comprising representatives from all tiger range countries. They will visit Siberian tiger trails and get a first hand account of the state of wild tiger populations in Russia and measures being taken for their conservation.



They will represent India at the Youth Summit from 19-24 November 2010 in Vladivostok, home to the Amur tiger, at the same time as the high level International Youth Summit will take place.


Navneet Maheshwari
http://www.kanha.in/

Snake with legs?

Snake with frog catch at Kanha National Park

Rehabilitation of Gaur (Baysen) in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve sanctioned

Bhopal Posted On Friday, October 08, 2010


By Our Staff Reporter

Bhopal, Oct 8:

The Union Environment and Forest Ministry has sanctioned the project of rehabilitation of Gaur (Baysen) from Kanha Tiger Reserve to Bandhavgarh.

The Gaur species were extinct from Bandhavgarh National Park in the 1990s. The Madhya Pradesh Forest Department, in coordination with the Indian Wildlife Institute and Conservation Corporation of Africa (CC of Africa) had prepared a project in the year 2007 to rehabilitate this species at Bandhavgarh National Park. Under this project in the primary stage, 20 Gaurs are to be brought from Kanha National Park and leave them at Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. The Union Environment and Forest Ministry supported this project in September 2007.

Three officers of Indian Forest Service of Madhya Pradesh Forest Department, a veterinary doctor, and a veterinary doctor of Indian Wildlife Institute were given training in South Africa to catch these animals and transport them at the expenses of CC of Africa. At the same time special area were developed in Bandhavgarh National Park for their rehabilitation. The CC of Africa got two vehicles prepared especially as per the technique popular in South Africa to transport these animals and donated them to the forest department free of cost. The forest department has already imported necessary equipments and medicines needed while implementing this project.

Taking all these preparations into consideration the Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan had discussed the matter with the Union Environment and Forest Minister when the latter had visited Bhopal recently. The Madhya Pradesh Forest Department has informed in detail about all above preparations and again appealed the Union Ministry to permit to transfer 20 Gaurs from Kanha to Bandhavgarh. Now all arrangements will be made to bring Gaurs from Kanha and rehabilitate them at Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve.

Navneet Maheshwari
http://www.kanha.in/

Tiger found dead at Kanha National Park

One male tiger of around 10 - 12 years was found dead near Khapa gate of Kanha Tiger Reserve. The forest department has atributed the tiger death to territorial fight as usual. As per information villager saw this tiger lying and informed the forest dpartment of same. On reaching the site the officials found that the tiger had died a couple of days back. Initial reports suggest that the death may be due to infighting as the tiger has been found dead with a deep wound around the neck said the forest officials.

But as per the rumours floating within the villagers this tiger had killed a local villagers cow and in retalliation this tiger was poisoned but it could not be skinned as the forest department got information of dead tiger and patrolling party reached the spot.

We will come to know of exact reasoning for tiger death only after PM report is published. As on now the tiger has been burnt as per tradition of the department.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Tiger-found-dead-in-MPs-Kanha-reserve/articleshow/6705390.cms

Navneet Maheshwari, http://www.kanha.in/

Barasingha - The twelve tined deer

The Barasingha or Swamp Deer (cervus duvaucelii) is one of the most vulnerable species of deer, native to India and Nepal. The name is derived from its antlers and means 12 tined or horned deer in Hindi which is its most striking feature although mature stag has anywhere between 10-14 tines, though some have been known to have up to 20. Barasingha are also known as swamp deer, they love to live in dry grasslands, wet swampy grasslands and reed beds bordering the major rivers. Their main diet is grass which is available from vast grassland of central and northern India and they also feed from the bed of wet swamps.

 

Barasingha has been divided into three races namely duvauceli (swamp-dwelling and found in the Terai of Uttar Pradesh and Assam), branderi (is found in Central India) and ranjitsinhi which is seen at Assam. The central Indian race is known as Hard ground Barasingha as they have adapted to central Indian plains and live in the vicinity of forests. Today it is found only within the limits of Kanha National Park and is rightly called as 'The Jewel Of Kanha'.

Swamp deer is a medium sized deer, which grows to a height of 130 cm and weighs around 170 – 180 kg. It has thick brown coat, which becomes darker in color as the mating season approaches. In monsoon season the females start showing white spots as in Spotted deer but they are not very prominent. Male deer has antlers, which can grow to length of 75 cm with girth of 13cm at mid beam. Barasingha can be seen grazing both in the daytime as well as at night. Female Barasingha mature at an age of 2 years or more.

 

They usually move around in herds, consisting of ten to twenty members. However, the size of a herd keeps on changing, as the breeding or mating season comes, the number of members in a herd goes as high as sixty. The dominance over a herd of female deer is established by a fight amongst the male Barasingha. The breeding season of the swamp deer is during the winter months of November and December when males long rutting calls can be heard. They have a long gestation period of 6 months. Mother Barasingha gives birth to single young one and for protection from predators they conceal them in tall grass. It has an acute sense of smell and depends on this capacity to sense any danger.

At one point of time, Barasingha used to inhabit most of the areas of northern as well as central India. However, habitat destruction and poaching has restricted them to the protected forests of Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Madhya Pradesh. At a time the central Indian population (Hard ground Barasingha) had decreased to less than 70 and were on the brink of extinction when the forest department took in hand the precarious task of their conservation and due to hard work and dedication it has risen to a level of around 450. Their population worldwide is estimated at around 5000. The drastic decline of the Barasingha population is due to distruction or modification of its habitat, Poaching and shooting and Diseases introduced by cattle.

One can find the Barasingha (Swamp deer) in the following national parks of India:

• Dudhwa National Park (Uttar Pradesh)

• Kanha National Park (Madhya Pradesh)

• Kaziranga National Park (Assam)

• Manas National Park (Assam)

To see Barasingha the best place to visit will be Kanha National Park and Tiger reserve since it has a well developed tourism infrastructure and also easy to reach. Meeting Dr. Shukla, research officer and an integral part of Barasingha conservation here can also make it a very motivating and educational tour.

Barasingha durin rutting  season (Kanha National park)

Barasingha at Kanha National Park

Hard ground Barasingha at Kanha National Park