Jaguar’s death by hunters alarms Costa Ricans

 

http://www.ticotimes.net/More-news/News-Briefs/Jaguar-s-death-by-hunters-alarms-Costa-Ricans_Friday-June-14-2013#.UbxCZBmE9K8.twitter

Posted: Friday, June 14, 2013 – By L. Arias

 

Online photos of a jaguar killed by hunters near the Santa Rosa National Park in Guanacaste went viral on Friday.

The Liberia Association of Animal Protection posted the photos on their Facebook page. Courtesy of ALPA

Photographs of two men posing with a dead jaguar circulated widely on social networks in Costa Rica on Friday.

Now, animal rights groups are speaking out against the kill. The Liberia Association of Animal Protection (ALPA), in the northwestern province of Guanacaste, posted the photos, which appear to have been taken near the Santa Rosa National Park.

ALPA said they had information that the two hunters are residents of a farm located next to the park. The group said it had received complaints that the same men killed other jaguars in the area recently because the wildcats attacked their cattle, according to a Facebook post.

Jaguars are considered endangered species in Costa Rica.

“To prove this felony will be almost impossible due to our country’s weak laws, but the pictures are proof of how people continue killing our animals. We would really appreciate if all of you share this message and help spread the news,” the post added.

Last January, President Laura Chinchilla signed a new law that prohibits hunting for sport in Costa Rica. The law sets fines for sport hunters of up to ₡1.5 million ($3,000) and allows hunting only for personal consumption in limited circumstances, scientific research or wildlife population control.

 

Ban mining in national parks, tiger reserve areas: Panel

Press Trust of India : New Delhi, Sat Jan 26 2013, 03:09 hrs

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/ban-mining-in-national-parks-tiger-reserve-areas-panel/1065101/

A complete ban on mining activities in areas of national parks, tiger reserves and wildflife sancturies could be on the anvil if the government agrees to the recommendations of a high-level environment ministry panel.

The panel, chaired by then environment ministry secretary T Chatterjee, has recommended that thick forests in such areas should be classified as ”inviolate”.

”Mining blocks shall be considered inviolate if majority of grids falling within a block have been labelled as inviolate,” according to the report of the committee to Formulate Objective Parameters for Identification of Inviolate Forest Areas.

The forest grids have to be determined based on their biological richness, thickness, landscape integrity and hydrological and wildlife values, said the report placed in public domain by the ministry on Friday.

The panel submitted the report in July last, the ministry chose to make it public at a time when there is lot of discussion in the country on the issue of diversion of forest areas for mining and infrastructure projects.

 

Assam villagers behead leopard, cut its legs & tail

TNN | Jan 19, 2013, 12.17 AM IST

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/Assam-villagers-behead-leopard-cut-its-legs-tail/articleshow/18081152.cms

READ MORE Forest range officer|Assam|Leopard|Assam villagers

JORHAT: A leopard was killed by villagers at OuguriShyam village in Borhat forest range of Sivasagar district on Friday. Forest staff lodged a complaint at Sonari PS and investigation is on.

The incident took place at 1 pm when the big cat was resting on a tree at Ouguri Pathar near the village. On seeing the animal, people came out in large numbers and started attacking it with sharp weapons. They first cut the tail and legs of the animal and severed its head before forest staff arrived at the spot.

“After getting the information, we immediately rushed to the spot but the animal succumbed to its injuries before we reached there. We found that the tail and legs of the beheaded animal have been cut by the villagers,” said forest range officer (Borhat) Prasanta Gogoi. He also added a police complaint has been filed against those involved in the crime.

“We have asked police to collect the video footage of the incident to identify the culprits involved in this inhuman act. We suspect the involvement of more than 15 persons in the offence,” he said.

Video recording was done by cameramen of some local TV channels. Forest staff have requested them to furnish the footage to help in the investigation.

A witness said the big cat had neither attacked humans nor animals. But more than 1000 people of the entire area gathered there within half an hour to kill the innocent animal. “The leopard did not attack anyone so far here. But how can people commit such an act?” he questioned.

Four months ago, a female leopard with two cubs had attacked two villagers at Balijan grant, a nearby village. The duo sustained serious injuries. Prasanta said people panicked on seeing the big cat on Friday and killed it.

Two lions — at least — shot during opening day of season aiming for 100

December 27, 2012 6:00 am  •  Kevin Woster Journal staff

rapidcityjournal.com

It began with a couple of bangs — at least — as hunters in Lawrence and Pennington counties bagged mountain lions Wednesday during the opening day of the lion season.

By late afternoon, the state Game, Fish & Parks Department website listed two lions on the 2012-2013 season kill list. A 78-pound, 2-year-old female lion was shot in Lawrence County and a 111-pound, 2-year-old male lion was shot in Pennington County.

But there could have been others taken and not reported since hunters have 24 hours to present a lion taken during the season to GF&P officials.

Meanwhile, the hunt continues today in a season that will stretch through March, unless a quota of 100 lions or a sub quota of 70 female lions is reached prior to that.

Steve Bulle, a lion hunter from the community of Hayward south of Rapid City, has no doubt that plenty more cats will come in soon. Bulle expects the 100-lion limit, the highest kill quota set by the GF&P Commission since the season began in 2005, will be reached.

“Based on my recent observations running my trap line, I have no doubt that the quota of 100 will be reached prior to the end of the season,” Bulle said by email Wednesday. “I found a four-by-four whitetail buck yesterday that had been killed by a lion, and I have seen more sets of lion tracks prior to the season than I did last year.”

The 2012 lion season, which opened Jan. 1, commenced with multiple bangs, too. Hunters killed four lions on the first day and went on to reach and exceed the overall lion quota of 70 by the end of February, a month before the scheduled conclusion. The actual number killed ended up at 73 when hunters in the woods took additional cats before learning the quota had been reached.

More lion deaths have been reported since the 2012 season closed. They included a few taken by hunters outside the Black Hills Fire Protection District. The lion season outside the district is open year-round, although fewer cats are found there.

In addition, some cats considered threats or problems have been killed this year by GF&P officers and other officials. Other deaths included vehicle strikes and fights between lions. The overall lion mortality from all causes was 108 going into this season.

Bulle was unsuccessful in his lion hunt Wednesday, even though a new snow made for good tracking conditions.

“Snow conditions today were excellent, but I don’t think the lions will really start moving much until after the snow we are supposed to get tomorrow,” Bulle said Wednesday. “My prediction is that on Friday and Saturday the harvest rate will increase dramatically.”

The status of the lion quota can be checked online at: http://gfp.sd.gov/hunting/big-game/mountain-lion-season-harvest-status.aspx

 

Wounded tiger from Nagarahole brought to Mysore zoo

Mysore, oct 20, 2012, DHNS :

http://www.deccanharold.com

A wounded tiger, aged about 14 years, was brought to the Mysore zoo from the Anechowkur Range of the Nagarahole forest division early Saturday morning.

The tiger is said to have sustained severe injuries during a territorial fight with another tiger. It had killed five cattle in the recent past.

The carcass of a cow it had killed on Friday was kept as a bait inside the cage to capture the tiger, near the Anechowkur range.

It fell into the trap on Friday night, according to a press release from B P Ravi, zoo executive director.

The zoo doctors have reported that there is a big maggot-infested wound just above the nose. The prognosis is guarded, said the press release.

It may be recalled that a few weeks earlier, a wild male tiger from H D Kote area was brought to the zoo for treatment. The said tiger has responded to the treatment, is recuperating well and also gained weight, said the press release.

Rescue centre

It is said both tigers were driven out of their territories due to old age and were venturing into the fringe areas looking for prey.

Due to the vigilant forest staff, these tigers were captured at the earliest possible time and brought to the Mysore zoo for treatment.

The Mysore zoo has proposed a rescue and rehabilitation centre (RRC) at Kurgalli near Mysore as part of a master plan.

The recent incidents necessitate the setting up of the RRC at the earliest, said Ravi.