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A young male Persian leopard passing in front of a camera trap with a beautiful view of the Bafq Protected Area in central Iran. Although leopards live a variety of habitat types, they are well adapted to their environment
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The cheetahs live in savannah of Africa, but Iran is the only place in the world where the cheetahs can be seen among snow covered deserts in winters. It is unbelievable that in hyper-arid areas where summer temperature exceed 50 centigrade, these cheetahs can tolerate even less than 15 centigrade. A wide range to live in deserts!
New Delhi: Amid a dispute over Tiger count in Sundarbans, a fresh survey has found that the largest habitat of the Royal Bengal Tiger has a population between 64 and 90.
The 2004 census had claimed that the tiger population in Indian Sundarban was around 274 and the figure dropped to an estimated 70 in the 2010 census, prompting experts to cast doubts on its accuracy as they claimed that scientific methods were not used for the head count.
The figure was put at 90-odd by certain agencies involved in the census in the world’s largest mangrove forest six months ago but the new survey puts the tiger population between 64-90.
“Population estimation of the Sundarbans tigers was done with a combination of camera trapping and satellite telemetry. The total population for the Indian Sundarbans was estimated to be between 64 to 90 tigers,” says the latest Environment Ministry document.
According to the new document, a tiger density of 4.3 tigers per 100 sqkm has been estimated at the Sundarbans Tiger Reserve and its surrounding areas.
The All India Tiger Estimation Exercise for 2010 had revealed that the tiger population in the country has risen to 1706 compared to 1411 in 2006.
The total area of the Sunderbans is 9630 sqkm out of which 4264 sqkm bears mangrove forest. The area of the Reserve is 2585 sqkm covering land area of 1600 sqkm and water body over 985 sqkm.
PTI
~Ronesh Parbhoo Wildlife Photography~
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“When real people fall down in life, they get right back up and keep on walking.”…I took this shot of Cheetah crossing the road as he glanced at me. They usually walk for miles searching for prey and patrolling their territory.
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Iran’s 12th International Environment Exhibition was held between 19 and 22 December 2012 in Tehran which was attended by various Iranian NGOs, including Iranian Cheetah Society (ICS). Welcomed by visitors, the ICS experts presented information about latest status of the Asiatic cheetahs in Iran and provided various educational materials. “How many cheetahs live in Iran” was the single most dominant question being asked by the people, due to recent debate in the Iranian media on the species population status, raised based on ongoing camera trapping efforts ICS is running in multiple cheetah reserves in the country. The exhibition was visited by many high-raking Iranian authorities, including a number of ministers and DoE’s head. The Iranian Cheetah Society (ICS) is grateful to many volunteers and staffs who were actively involved in the event, particularly Yasaman Hasanbeygi, Mahmoud Maleki, Morteza Pourmirzaei, Kaveh Hobeali, Ehsan Bahrami, Fatemeh Hemmati, Marzieh Dehghan, Sara Asgarnia, Hasti Akbarzadeh, Amirali Bakhtiari and Ehsan Bahrami.
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According to the latest population surveys in Iran, “cheetah population does not exceed 70 individuals”. There has been recent controversial in the Iranian community about cheetah population size in the country which has been extensively discussed in the media. On the basis of recent camera trapping efforts ongoing since last winter by the Iranian Cheetah Society (ICS) in collaboration with Iranian Department of Environment (DoE), Conservation of Asiatic Cheetah Project (CACP) and Panthera, the most robust conclusion for declaration is “less than 70”. Formerly, it was believed that 70 to 100 cheetahs exist in the country. Meanwhile, a big question remains open for further discussion that if the population has decreased or if it has been a small population which was suspected to be larger. Presently, there is no indication of population growth in the country and infrequent occurrence of cheetah families has created serious concerns among Iranian biologists.
Recently, some environmental activists in the country criticized Iranian Department of Environment on efficiency of its protection measures and mentioned in the media that we should consider the cheetah as an extinct species, like Asiatic lion and Caspian tiger, because camera traps have shown that the cheetahs are few. However, biologists are confident that there are still ways to save the cheetahs and more collaboration with communities should be established to safeguard the last remains of Asiatic cheetahs in Iran.
Following several reports of caracal poaching in eastern country by local people, a rapid assessment of human-caracal interaction was implemented by the Iranian Cheetah Society (ICS) in Ark & Korang Protected Area, South Khorasan province which borders Afghanistan. Systematic inquiries with local shepherds indicated significantly higher depredation by wolves in the area; however, the caracal has been reported to be in charge in some cases within three main villages. Presently, obtained data are analyzed to present to the South Khorasan Department of Environment to indicate intensity of conflict and measures to reduce it. Meanwhile, local volunteers have been trained to find evidence of the caracal and to deploy camera traps.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) issued a guideline on Monday, proposing to assign a unique identification (UID) number to each tiger captured through camera traps. The NTCA wants to create a national repository of camera-trap photographs of tigers, and the UIDs will help cut out duplication and give the big cats an exact headcount. Tigers in the Sunderbans, for instance, will have the prefix ‘Su’ before a number while those in the northeast hills will have ‘NE’. Tigers are identified on the basis of stripe patterns obtained through the camera trap images.
The Ranthambore tigers are likely to be the first to get UIDs, officials said.
NTCA deputy inspector general S P Yadav said the aim was to identify all tigers across India. “Each tiger will have its own UID number. Once the tiger dies, the UID will be closed. Even if the tiger crosses over to another state or country through a contiguous border, like what the Indian Sunderbans shares with Bangladesh, the tiger can be recognized through the UID,” Yadav said.
Tiger reserves will prepare detailed camera trap records. “The entire exercise will take place under the leadership of the chief wildlife wardens. Apart from photographs of tigers, the data will have details lik, trap location, date, time, beats and ranges where the tiger was photo captured, the camera ID and memory ID,” the NTCA guidelines say.
“Each state will then send the details to the NTCA, which will select and scrutinize the photos before entering camera trap data and associated images into the main database along with other details. A software programme, ExtractCompare, will be used to match the camera-trap data with the visuals to assign unique IDs to the tigers,” said an NTCA official.
Yadav said the unique IDs will be linked to the areas where the tigers originally belong. “In India, there are six landscapes where tigers are found – Central India, Eastern Ghats, northeast hills and Brahmaputra flood plains, Shivalik hills and Gangetic plains, Sunderbans, and Western Ghats. The UID for a Sunderbans tiger will always start with a code, SU. These IDs will be assigned to landscapes and not to states since tigers often move across state boundaries,” said Yadav. The trap location will give the code of the site where a tiger originally belongs.
Conservationist Belinda Wright hailed the decision, but cautioned that “the information should be managed very carefully”.
This apart, areas where traps worked successfully last year, will also be included. Devised by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), the traps are believed to be an important tool in assessing the number of tigers in Sunderbans which has remained a mystery.
It will be the biggest technological exercise undertaken at the mangrove forest so far. The areas where the traps worked successfully last year will be included as well. Devised by Wildlife Institute of India (WII), the traps are believed to be an important tool in helping to arrive at the number of tigers in Sunderbans which has remained a mystery.
“The traps worked very well last time. They not only filmed the tigers, but also detected at least two species, including leopard cats, which were not known to exist in the Sunderbans. This time, the WII has been working on an improved version of camera traps that will be even sharper and more effective. We don’t yet know how much better these cameras are going to be. But we expect them to be even more effective than the ones used last time,” said SS Bist, principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF).
Initially, 230 cameras will be placed at the Basirhat, Sajnekhali and East ranges of the forest which were not covered last year. As many 230 cameras will be installed across the Basirhat, Sajnekhali and East ranges of the forest. These were not covered last year.
“Subsequently, we shall have more cameras installed in the South 24-Parganas division that was covered last time. It will give us a fair idea about the number of tigers in these areas,” said SB Mondol, principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife).
An effort to produce radio-collars for tigers has also been revived by the WII. The new ones are being devised following more research on the Sunderbans terrain. Four years ago, several collars had been mounted on tigers but they stopped functioning after a short period. “Unlike the dry forests, Sunderbans is not suitable for collaring tigers. It’s muddy and has rivers which make the collars malfunction.
The WII has worked on an improved version that will survive the Sunderbans terrain. We hope to have them soon. Along with the camera traps, it will aid the tiger counting process,” said Bist.
With the help of the WII, the forest department has been able to devise methods of was still working on finetuning the method of identifying tigers through photographs. With the help of the WII, it has been able to devise methods.
“When you use cameras, there’s always the possibility of the same tiger being clicked more than once. We need to identify tigers from photographs which we have been able to do. It could be improved further.
But camera traps have been invaluable. They have given us access to the remotest areas of the forest where monitoring was impossible otherwise. There could be no better way of tracking tigers in Sunderbans and will give us valuable inputs on the behaviour of big cats in the forest,” added Bist.
In February, the camera traps captured a mysterious cat which was later discovered as a leopard cat. that led to speculation about a new species being discovered at the Sunderbans. Later, analysis of the photographs revealed that. The animal was a leopard cat that had not been sighted in the Sunderbans prior to that. It was identified from its tail.
“More importantly, it will give us inputs on tiger behaviour. In areas where straying is frequent, we can have an idea if tiger density is the reason. We could then release straying tigers in other areas where density is low. It will help to bring about a balance.
Traps could also be used to monitor prey animals,, an exercise which will begin soon said Bist.
The concentration of prey animals in a particular zone is the best indicator of the number of tigers in an area, he said. “We have never been able to arrive at the number of prey animals since it’s difficult.
So far, we have depended on guesswork based on sightings which is not a scientific method. But it’s important to know the number to have the right tiger count.
The WWI is drawing up a methodology which could be used by us. It would involve the use of technology, similar to the ones being used to count tigers. We shall have a better idea within a month,” said Bist.
The prey base at Sunderbans includes deer, wild boars, gazelles and even fish and crabs. Since each big cat consumes around 50 animals a year, a base of 6000 animals is believed to be ideal at the forest which has an estimated 100-120 tigers.
Jeremy Hance
mongabay.com
November 12, 2012
new.mongabay.com
Camera trap catches intruders in Lazovsky Nature Reserve. Photo courtesy of the Zoological Society of London (ZSL).
Remote camera traps, which take photos or video when a sensor is triggered, have been increasingly used to document rare and shy wildlife, but now conservationists are taking the technology one step further: detecting poachers. Already, camera traps set up for wildlife have captured images of park trespassers and poachers worldwide, but for the first time conservationists are setting camera traps with the specific goal of tracking illegal activity.
Dubbed the “Forest Eyes” project, scientists with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) have installed and camouflaged 30 camera traps in two Russian far east protected areas: Lazovsky Nature Reserve and Zov Tigra National Park. The group hopes the camera traps will help to shed new light on trespassers in the parks, home to at most twenty Amur tigers (Panthera tigris altaica).
“The images from camera traps set up for humans will better inform us of any illegal activity in protected areas, so inspectors can be notified and patrols changed accordingly.” explains ZSL tiger conservationist Linda Kerley in a press release. “We will be able to monitor the area more effectively and ensure we are doing all we can to try and change people’s attitudes and behaviors towards poaching.”
Amur tigers, also known as Siberian tigers, are down to around 360 animals and listed as Endangered by the IUCN Red List. While the subspecies is imperiled by habitat loss, prey decline, low genetic diversity, and human-tiger conflict, poaching for traditional Chinese medicine remains the most pressing concern.
The small tiger population in the two parks have already suffered from past poaching. Scientists believe poachers may have killed as many as seven tigers five years ago, while in the last twelve months authorities have confiscated tiger parts in three different operations.
“We hope the awareness of extra camera traps targeting people who encroach on protected areas will deter poachers from trying to kill tigers and their prey animals,” said another ZSL conservationist, Sarah Christie.
In 2010 Russia hosted a tiger summit with all 13 tiger range countries. The meeting ended with an ambitious pledged to double the number of wild tigers in the world by 2022. Amur tigers represent around 10 percent of the total wild population. Already three tiger subspecies have vanished forever.
WARNING: Graphic images below.
Setting up a camera trap in Lazovsky Nature Reserve. Photo courtesy of: ZSL.
Poached Amur tiger in the region. Photo courtesy of: ZSL.
Poached Amur tiger in the region. Photo courtesy of: ZSL.
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Southeastern Iran has been always supposed to hold the Asiatic cheetahs; however, no proper survey has ever been conducted in this part of the country to assess the species status. Accordingly, as part of the cheetah monitoring program initiated since late 2011 in Iran to evaluate the Asiatic cheetahs, the Iranian Cheetah Society (ICS) has launched a new survey in Darband Ravar Wildlife Refuge, Kerman province in partnership with Kerman Department of Environment by means of camera traps shared by Conservation of Asiatic Cheetah Project and Panthera. The area which is the southeastern-most reserve where the cheetahs have been confirmed in the country has been recently enhanced to Wildlife Refuge due to cheetah reports
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This beautiful Amur tiger caught on camera using our camera traps in the Russian Far East. Help fund this vital work by donating here: http://www.davidshepherd.org/help-us/tiger-time/donate/
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Similar processes were repeated in 2010-11 and the tiger population has shown a positive trend with a range of 53-66 with mid value of 60 excluding cubs.
The camera trap monitoring has helped not only the monitoring of tigers but also indicated the presence of rare and endangered animals in different parts of habitat such as honey badger and mouse deer, known to be nocturnal and shy.
Tribal Chenchu tiger trackers are trained in handling of these trap cameras for fixing and using them in the field.
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Scientists have outfitted two snow leopardsin a wild corner of Afghanistan with satellite-tracking collars, a first for the country and a boon for researchers trying to better understand the
The snow leopards, both male, were captured in Afghanistan’s northeastern Wakhan Corridor, a narrow strip of desolate, windswept mountains sandwiched between Pakistan and Tajikistan, and a spot where camera traps first snapped the elusive cats in 2011.
The first snow leopard was captured and released on May 27, the second on June 8.
Researchers weighed and measured the animals, took DNA samples and fitted them with satellite collars before sending them on their way.
In the intervening weeks, the first cat has traveled more than 78 miles (125 kilometers) and the second cat has traveled more than 95 miles (153 km), according to a statement from the Wildlife Conservation Society, one of the main participants in the field work.
Snow leopards make their homes in the harsh, rugged mountain regions of 12 Asian nations, yet despite their wide range and impressive survival skills, the spotted cats’ numbers are dwindling. The species has declined by as much as 20 percent in the last 16 years, and only 3,000 to 7,500 individuals remain in the wild, according to population estimates.
Officials with the WCS lauded the recent capture and tracking of the Afghan snow leopards as a milestone in the fight to save the big cats.
Rajendra Sharma, TNN | Oct 1, 2012, 01.38AM IST
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
ALWAR: There is a new addition to her majesty’s secret brood at Sariska tiger reserve and he’s tiger number 007. Tigress ST-2, which was found with a cub on August 7, was spotted with yet another cub at Kalikhoh area of the reserve during the wee hours. The tiger relocation process at Sariska reserve, which began in 2008, continues to reap rewards and the new cub seems to be the latest result of the experiment.
In fact, on August 7, the authorities had anticipated that the number of cubs could be more than one. The total number of tigers in the reserve is now seven, including five adult tigers, out of which three are females.
“Tigress ST-2 and her two cubs were spotted in a camera trap installed in the forests at 3.56am on Sunday,” said a wildlife official.
Spotting of the two cubs together has doubled the celebrations of wildlife week starting from Monday. In the morning, forest guards and officials distributed sweets after their speculation on the number of cubs turned out to be fact.
“These cubs appear to be of six to seven months old. By the age of 1, they will learn hunting from their mother,” said an official. Spotting of the first cub of ST-2 on August 7 was the most celebrated moment of the reserve ever since airlifting of the big cats from Ranthambore to Sariska began in 2008.
ST-2 is the second big cat, and the first tigress, shifted to Sariska on July 4, 2008, from Ranthambore National Park. The first relocated tiger, ST-1, was poisoned to death in November 2010. The villagers, whose cattle graze in reserve, reportedly killed ST-1 after it attacked animals. She was flown by an IAF helicopter from Ranthambore to Sariska. Thereafter, two more tigresses were introduced — in February 2009 and July 2010. There are two males in the reserve now.
Press Trust of India: Fri Sep 14 2012, 01:43 hrs
In an encouraging development, the tiger population in and around Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) seems to be going steady with 65 big cats being reported in this wildlife belt, forest officials have claimed.
This figure excludes the 20 odd cubs sighted in the area, which is encouraging, TATR chief conservator of forests and field director Veerendra Tiwari said.
The figure has been reached after the tiger monitoring exercise held in the reserve between April 1 and May 31, 2012, during which the movements of the felines in various parts under TATR were monitored by as many as 94 camera traps, Tiwari said.
“There are a minimum of 43 tigers in TATR and at least 20 carnivores are present in buffer area.”
“Besides, two animals were reported in the adjoining FDCM (Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra) area,” he said.
Spread over 625 sq km, TATR is known for the high density of tiger population.
On the accuracy of the census, Tiwari said even the figures on population census at the national level might not be accurate point-to-point, despite the fact that people have a specific address, locality and other details.
“A tiger is free to roam in any area of its choice and its territory ranges from 35 to 50 sq km and hence, it is difficult to say whether it is the same tiger captured by the cameras installed for the purpose until the animal sticks to its usual trail or track,” Tiwari added.
