Palamu Tiger Reserve tigers go traceless as prey population dwindles

READ MORE National Tiger Conservation Authority|Wildlife Institute of India|WII|Dehradun

Alok K N Mishra, TNN | May 19, 2013, 12.02 AM IST

RANCHI: The Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR) is witnessing a fast decline in the population of tigers because the reserve lacks animals tigers can prey on. In the last 10 years, 36 tigers have gone traceless from the reserve and forest guards posted there attribute this to the lack of rarely found spotted deer, blue-bulls, deer and other animals, tigers like to feast upon.

A high-level delegation of National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), which was in Ranchi on Saturday expressed concern over the decreasing number of deers in the reserve. The team which visited the reserve on Friday said it will write to the Wildlife Institute of India ( WII), Dehradun to conduct a prey population survey at the PTR at the earliest. The findings of the survey would help authorities plan an effective mechanism to naturally breed small herbivores and allow them into the jungles to help the big cats prey.

“The NTCA is ready to finance it all. The PTR officials have been asked to come to Delhi and make a presentation of their plans to increase the prey population,” said a source in the NTCA.

As many as 36 tigers have gone missing from the PTR between 2003 and 2009. According to a 2003 tiger census, there were 42 tigers in the PTR. The number witnessed a sharp decline and in 2009 only six tigers were found.

“The NTCA team has said the survey of the prey population will help us in conserving the big cats. In recent times, the number of small herbivores has gone down a little,” said S E H Kazmi, director of the PTR.

Sources in the PTR said dwindling prey population has forced the tigers, leopards and other carnivore animals to sneak into the 199 villages situated inside the reserve area and kill domestic animals. “The reports of carnivores killing domestic animals are frequent now,” said the official.

The NTCA team reviewed all such aspects during their daylong visit to the reserve in Daltonganj district on Friday.

The team which called upon forest secretary and other senior officers here on Saturday has given their feedback to the officials. The team included member secretary NTCA Dr Rajesh Gopal, inspector general NTCA H S Negi and deputy inspector general S P Yadav.

Principal chief conservator of forest (PCCF) A K Malhotra said, “NTCA has recommended the survey of prey population to help us manage the prey population in a scientific manner. The only purpose is to make sure that the tigers do not leave the reserve owing to lack of food.”

 

NGO opposes move to shift tigers from MP to Sariska Reserve

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/environment/flora-fauna/ngo-opposes-move-to-shift-tigers-from-mp-to-sariska-reserve/articleshow/19509050.cms

PTIApr 12, 2013, 12.28PM IST

Tags:

• Sariska Tiger Reserve|
• National Tiger Conservation Authority|
• Jayanti Natrajan

BHOPAL: Protesting the proposed move of National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to shift few tigers from Madhya Pradesh to Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan to arrest their dwindling population in the desert state, an NGO working for the conservation of big cats, has requested the Centre to intervene in the matter.

In a letter to Union environment and forest minister Jayanti Natrajan, NGO ‘Prayatna’ highlighted documents sourced through RTI stating that NTCA under some political pressure has instructed the Madhya Pradesh government to shift tigers from the state to Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan, terming the move as “very disturbing”.

“We strongly object to the step taken by NTCA and have requested the Union minister for immediate intervention in the matter as Madhya Pradesh not only lost the coveted tiger state status in the last census to Karnataka, but also it was unable to protect its big cats in the wild which resulted in poaching/natural death of 16 tigers including three tigress and two cubs in 2012,” Prayatna secretary, Ajay Dube told PTI.

Dube further informed on the basis of RTI, that acting on the NTCA letter dated March 8, referring to its Technical Committee meeting, dated February 27, principal chief conservator of forest (PCCF) Wildlife, Dr P K Shukla has requested the NTCA to take an opinion of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) Dehradoon on the issue of shifting tigers from Madhya Pradesh to Sariska.

However, Dube said that in the light of state losing 16 tigers in just 2012, the forest authorities should have protested the move.

Instead, they have just requested NTCA to take WII’s opinion on the matter, he said.

 

Tiger not at fault, victim was killed inside the park

Jan 3, 2013, 02.22AM IST TNN
m.timesofindia.com

 

NAGPUR: The situation in villages around the Navegaon National Park became tense on Wednesday after a woman – Vandana Meshram of Chikli – was killed by a tiger on Tuesday evening.

Villagers are up in arms and want forest officials to either kill or trap the animal. This is the fourth death in the last 17 days.

“However, it is yet to be established whether it is the same animal that killed three women since December 15,” said SWH Naqvi, principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) for wildlife, Maharashtra.

Naqvi said he issued orders to shoot the problem leopard that mauled three women in Dighori, Salebardi and Gudri. “I was told that it was a leopard that killed these women,” he said.

However, on Tuesday the fourth victim was killed by a tiger inside the national park where she had gone to collect fire wood. After learning about it, villagers shifted the body outside the park apprehending the family won’t get compensation.

“The tiger was so irritated that it charged at an official vehicle later. It may be a young carnivore, possibly moving in the transit route. We cannot say anything for now whether it is the same animal or different one. There is a gap of 18 days between the first and last attack. The distance is also 40km,” Naqvi said.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that no fresh orders will be given to shoot the tiger. Forest officials have been asked to drive away the tiger into the forests.

 

More camera traps to spot Sunderbans stripes

READ MORE Wildlife Institute of India|Sunderbans|Sajnekhali|Basirhat

By Prithvijit Mitra, TNN | Nov 24, 2012, 05.55 AM IST

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/More-camera-traps-to-spot-Sunderbans-stripes/articleshow/17344576.cms

KOLKATA: Having tasted success the last time, filming of tigers through ‘camera traps‘ deep inside the Sunderbans, will be renewed later this month. However, compared to 90 cameras that were set up in January, more than 200 cameras will be installed this time across three forest range areas that have not been covered so far.

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.