Anthrax fear grips tiger sanctuaries****************

READ MORE Anthrax|Wildlife|BRT tiger reserves|Bandipur National Park

 By HM Aravind, TNN | Jan 28, 2013, 10.21 PM IST

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MYSORE: Anthrax scare has come back to haunt again this summer.

Though wildlife in the pristine forest of Nagarahole, Bandipur and BRT tiger reserves are unaffected this season, death of cattle on the forest fringes due to anthrax has the forest officials jittery given that anthrax had claimed four elephants in Nagarahole and Bandipur tiger reserves nine years back.

Notwithstanding the assertion of the animal husbandry and veterinary sciences that the damage has been contained — it is 10 days since cattle have been felled by anthrax at a village bordering Bandipur — fear stalks the swathes of tiger reserves.

Death of cattle due to anthrax is worrisome. Luckily, there are no animal deaths under mysterious circumstances inside the forested area. It is too early to say that the damage in contained and that it will not strike back, a senior official attached to Bandipur National Park conceded. Pointing at the death of elephants at Nagarahole in 2004, he stated: It is impossible to guess since the disease has claimed wildlife in this part in the past.

The fear started to lurk following death of a 10-year-old tusker due to anthrax in Thalavadi range in Sathyamangalam forest bordering BRT tiger reserve in early November. What is perplexing is that the disease has killed cattle at Bheemana Bidu on Mysore-Sultan Bathery road.

While wildlife in BRT faced the danger, it is now the turn of Bandipur. Bheemana Bidu is located eight kilometers from Bandipur forest. After it was established that anthrax is the reason for the death of cattle, we’ve vaccinated over 700 cattle and 450 sheep in the affected region.

The disease is now contained and there are no reports of death of livestock due to anthrax, Dr Sundar Raju, deputy director, animal husbandry and veterinary sciences, Chamarajnagar, told TOI. According to him, there are no deaths of cattle or sheep from other parts that border tiger reserves of Bandipur and BRT.

“We’ll continue vaccination at the affected area for next two years since the bacterium ‘Bacillus anthracis‘ could survive dormant for two years.” He said they have advised the villagers not to consume cattle or sheep meat and are keeping a watch over the developments.

The deputy director said there are no reports of human contamination as of now but didn’t rule it out pointing out that the bacterium could lie dormant for some time before it become active.

Mysore district has not reported death due to anthrax, Dr B M Prasad Murthy, deputy director, animal husbandry and veterinary sciences, Mysore, said. “There are no cases either in Nagarahole region,” he said but said they are keeping a close watch.

There are no deaths in three tiger reserves owing to anthrax. We’ve sounded alert and the field staff have been directed to lookout for suspicious death of wild animals. Since livestock is vaccinated, it should not spread, B J Hosmath, APCCF and field director (Project Tiger), stated.

 

Proposal to discuss new railway line slashing Bandipur Tiger Reserve

By Saswati Mukherjee, TNN | Jan 2, 2013, 08.10 PM IST

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READ MORE tiger reserve|Railway line|chief minister of Kerala|Bandipur Tiger

Reserve|Jharkhand

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BANGALORE: Despite the tragic death of a herd of five elephants being mowed down by a railway train in Orissa just two days ago, the chief minister of Kerala is scheduled to meet his Karnataka counterpart on January 3 at 4pm at the latter’s residence ‘Krishna’ to discuss the proposal of new railway line slashing Bandipur Tiger Reserve, one of India’s finest protected areas. The environmentally and economically unfeasible railway line is proposed to connect Nanjangud in Karnataka with Nilambur in Kerala at a humungous cost of Rs 3384 crores with about 22 kms of the line passing through the famed tiger reserve.

Taking a strong stand on the matter, Wildlife Matters, an organisation working towards the conservation of wildlife said that while the aftereffects of fragmenting wildlife habitats are glaringly obvious in the number of wildlife deaths due to railway lines in Assam, West Bengal and Jharkhand, the proposed railway line forebodes a similar fate for wildlife in Bandipur. According to the Elephant Task Force report drawn up by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, India has lost 150 elephants as a result of train hits since 1987. Innumerous smaller wildlife is unaccounted for. It is difficult to understand how such projects that have deleterious effects on wildlife can be proposed and supported by the head of the state especially when a reconnaissance cum traffic survey report submitted to the Railway Board had proposed an alternative alignment that avoids entering into the tiger reserve.

The re-opening of vehicular traffic along NH 212 and NH 67, passing through the core of Bandipur Tiger Reserve is also on the agenda of the Kerala CM’s visit to Karnataka. The Kerala government has been relentlessly pursuing the removal of the effective night existing ban from 9 pm to 6 am even though the matter is currently sub judice. Their first attempt was rejected by the former Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa in favour of wildlife conservation. A second attempt was moved with former CM, DV Sadananda Gowda on opening up the night traffic ban on December 18, 2011.

A proposal to have a convoy system allowing vehicular traffic at night was also discussed between the governments and experts and duly rejected.

In a meeting held on the 30th June 2010 under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary, Sri SV Ranganath, along with the representatives from Kerala, all pertinent points were discussed and agreed upon regarding the night traffic closure. But the Kerala government is still persistent on its efforts to have the ban lifted.

Despite the fact that the central government itself has already submitted an affidavit in the Supreme Court supporting the night traffic ban, Kerala is still hoping to get it cleared at the centre which has a Congress lead government, if the BJP government of Karnataka supports it, notes experts of Wildlife Matters.

An alternate road passing via Hunsur-Gonikoppa-Kutta-Kartikulam was proposed to be repaired and developed by the Karnataka government in accordance with the Karnataka High Court order in the case of WP 17498/2009 and 919/2010. The Government of Karnataka has already released budget to repair the alternate road and work has already been taken up.

It is important to remember that while developmental projects are fundamental to a country’s growth, it is a matter of great concern when these projects are taken up at the cost of our ecological heritage. It is sincerely hoped that the Karnataka and Kerala governments give utmost importance to wildlife conservation issues in the forthcoming meeting.

 

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A recent Times of India article describes how Bandipur Tiger Reserve has become the first tiger reserve in India to establish its eco-sensitive zone – a protected area where human developments are limited for the conservation of wildlife. Read how Panthera‘s Tiger Program Coordinator, Sanjay Gubbi, helped implement this victory for tigers & other wildlife @ http://bit.ly/QRnlOx

 

Bandipur Tiger Reserve becomes first tiger reserve to notify its ESZ

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Bandipur-Tiger-Reserve-becomes-first-tiger-reserve-to-notify-its-ESZ/articleshow/16787030.cms

Read more:State Board for Wildlife|Environment (Protection) Act|Bandipur Tiger Reserve

Saswati Mukherjee, TNN | Oct 12, 2012, 09.42PM IST

 

BANGALORE: Bandipur Tiger Reserve became the first tiger reserve in the country to notify its Eco-sensitive Zone (ESZ) a week ago, on October 4. These eco-sensitive zones can be treated as ‘breathing spaces’ for wildlife and are demarcated based on their ecological importance which reigns in developmental activities inimical to wildlife and their habitats.

While these zones are completely compatible to livelihoods of local communities living around Protected Areas, they bring with them the order on the mushrooming of tourist resorts, mining activities, industries and other footloose developmental activities disrupting wildlife corridors outside reserve boundaries.

This assumes importance since Bandipur is in a very crucial part of the tiger conservation landscape connecting other wildlife habitats such as the Nagarahole and Mudumalai Tiger Reserves and Waynaad Wildlife Sanctuary. These continuous areas host the highest density of tigers, their prey species and Asian elephants in the world.

The delineation of the ESZ was mandated under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and a Supreme Court order in WP No. 460/2004. Accordingly, an initial draft ESZ plan was drawn through thorough analysis of wildlife corridors, ecologically important areas and needs of people. Further extensive public consultations were held with MLAs, MLCs of the area, village communities, and local body members before drawing up the final ESZ plan. No restrictions are imposed on existing agriculture, livestock rearing and the other activities of local communities.

The Bandipur ESZ was a result of efforts put in by H S Mahadeva Prasad – MLA of Gundlupet, Additional Chief Secretary Kaushik Mukherjee, B J Hosmath – Field Director, Bandipur Tiger Reserve, Sanjay Gubbi – Member of State Board for Wildlife and B. K. Singh, the then Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife).

This success story is a good example of how synergistic efforts between elected representatives, government officials and cvil society members can result in a win-win situation for both people and wildlife. Local communities can use the ESZ to protect their lands from being acquired for industries, mining and other similar activities that are also incompatible with wildlife conservation.

“The ESZ is a critical tool to wildlife conservation and Karnataka has set an example by declaring it around Bandipur Tiger Reserve. It is fervently hoped that other Protected Areas follow suit which would result in strengthening our efforts in protecting our wildlife and wild lands,” said Sanjay Gubbi.

 

Foresters to issue notice to NHAI on speed breakers in Bandipur tiger reserve

 

HM Aravind, TNN | Sep 20, 2012, 08.43PM IST

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Read more:speed breakers|National Highways Authority of India|Bandipur Tiger Reserve

MYSORE: Early on Wednesday morning when the foresters in Bandipur tiger reserve were going about their rounds, they noticed that a deer was run over down by a speeding truck and alerted the staff at the check post. They could not stop the lorry nor could they locate it. Worried, they have now decided to cut down the speed of the vehicles.

In a rare move, the forest department is issuing a notice to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) seeking it to put up speed breakers along the NH 212 that cuts across the tiger reserve or face action. The director of Bandipur, Kumar Pushkar has ordered the issuance of the notice to the NHAI.

The crime scene of the latest accident site in Maddur range indicated the criminal lack of road regulation inside the national park: The spotted deer’s body was scattered all over the place indicating over speeding.

There is urgent need to regulate the speed of the vehicles, especially trucks passing through the tiger reserve. As per the provisions contained in the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, we are issuing the notice, Pushkar told The Times of India. “After back-to-back accidents in May, we requested the NHAI to put up speed breakers. They did start the work but have left it incomplete. We’ve to ensure that the whole stretch is made safe for the wild animals,” he explained. The NHAI has built road humps for some 8 kms in Moolehole range.

Range Forest Officer (Maddur) Ratna Prabha said she went to issue the notice to the NHAI office in Gundulpet. But the official concerned was outside, she stated adding it’ll be issued on Friday.

The forest officials said the NH 212 has been newly laid and is in good condition leading the truckers to speed away. As per an estimate, 1,000 trucks ply on the stretch. The NH 67 stretch connecting Mysore to Ooty cutting across the tiger reserve has seen lesser accident since it has speed breakers.

When contacted, the NHAI Mysore division AEE J G Jadav said: “We’ve built speed breakers at the locations specified by the forest staff. In the remaining stretch, the officials have not marked the spots and we’ll do it once it is done. As per the NHAI norm, we cannot put up the speed breakers, but we complied since it a national park.”

The latest accident is fourth since May that has left four wild animals dead. For the record, in last four years, there are over 90 cases that has killed wild animals, including tiger and elephant. The 19 kms stretch between Maddur and Moolehole collecting Sultan Bathery in Kerala has transformed as the killer road since the number of casualties are on the rise in this stretch. The forest officials said the stretch has been newly laid and is in good condition leading the truckers to speed away. As per an estimate, 1,000 trucks ply on the stretch daily since it is the main supplying point to Kerala connecting Mysore to Kozhikode. Apart from NH 212, a stretch of NH 67 connecting Mysore to Ooty cuts across the tiger reserve. Since this stretch has speed breakers, the number of road accidents have drastically reduced here, they stated.

 

A leopard trapped in a wire snare inside Bandipur tiger reserve died on Friday.

 

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A leopard trapped in a wire snare inside Bandipur tiger reserve died on Friday. This comes two months after a gang of poachers was arrested for placing jaw traps inside the Biligiri Ranga Tiger (BRT) wildlife sanctuary.
Authorities suspect that the trap was laid by locals to catch a boar or a hare. The leopard, around 8 years, was found dead in a snare in N Begur forest range near Katwalu village.

The feline died because of the injuries sustained while trying to claw out of the snare, said forest officials. A Special Tiger Protection Force team has been asked to probe the crime along with jurisdiction forest officers, said Kumar Pushkar, director, Bandipur Tiger Reserve.
Authorities have intensified checks inside the forest and said that they have not discovered any other snares in the reserved area
Pushkar ruled out the role of any organized gang laying the trap. “Going by the way the trap was laid we are sure that it was done by the locals,” he added.

 

Leopard caught in wire snare dies

 

Read more:Vijaya Mohan Raj|Veterinarian|Special Tiger Protection Force|Kumar Pushkar|Director|Bandipur Tiger Reserve|Bandipur Tiger

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysore/Leopard-caught-in-wire-snare-dies/articleshow/16404842.cms

TNN | Sep 15, 2012, 05.32AM IST

MYSORE: A leopard trapped in a wire snare inside Bandipur tiger reserve died on Friday. This comes two months after a gang of poachers was arrested for placing jaw traps inside the Biligiri Ranga Tiger (BRT) wildlife sanctuary.

Authorities suspect that the trap was laid by locals to catch a boar or a hare. The leopard, around 8 years, was found dead in a snare in N Begur forest range near Katwalu village. The feline died because of the injuries sustained while trying to claw out of the snare, said forest officials. A Special Tiger Protection Force team has been asked to probe the crime along with jurisdiction forest officers, said Kumar Pushkar, director, Bandipur Tiger Reserve.

Authorities have intensified checks inside the forest and said that they have not discovered any other snares in the reserved area

Pushkar ruled out the role of any organized gang laying the trap. “Going by the way the trap was laid we are sure that it was done by the locals,” he added.

In July BRT reserve authorities had arrested a six-member gang from Haryana for laying jaw traps for tigers inside the reserve area. The jaw traps would be activated in the night. In the morning they would be dismantled and stowed away.

Following their arrest, patrolling was intensified and checks were conducted to discover traps.

Former Kumki Kavita unwell

Kavita, an elephant from the K Gudi elephant camp, a regular at the Dasara celebrations since years is battling for survival.

The 75-year-old kumki (accompanying) elephant has poor vision in one eye because of which it has been a victim of minor accidents in the forest. Recently it stumbled in the forest injuring herself badly.

The elephant is weak and unwell from the past 15 days. No veterinarian from the department has visited K Gudi camp to treat the elephant. “It is aged and there is no point in treating it,” allegedly said a doctor when he was told of the elephant’s suffering.

However, Biligiri Ranga Tiger (BRT) wildlife sanctuary director Vijaya Mohan Raj denied that elephants in the camps are being neglected . He denied allegations that Kavita was not being treated. “In fact, we have started giving special food to the elephant so that she gains energy. She is responding to treatment.” he said.