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Bigcats News
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Indian Forest Service officers are now using an Army drone to track an aggressive tiger on the loose in Assam.
The tiger allegedly killed a woman on November 28 and has also injured several people at different places near Dolabari. Instead of following it using time-consuming traditional methods, the forest officials are using an army drone to track its movements. The drone, which was sent from Misamari Army base, has captured some images and videos tracking the possible location of the tiger. http://www.thebetterindia.com/77055/assam-forest-dpt-using-army-drone-to-track-aggressive-tiger/?utm_content=buffercaa62&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer 
very interesting, using drone to track down an alleged man eater.
Nicholas Mcphee shared Informándote's post.
It has begun !! If the Chinese invasion and trafficking of Jaguar Teeth and skulls isnt stopped we could be looking at the next animal facing extinction. Bolivians wake up and stop selling your natural wonders for petty cash to the Chinese !!!  *This image is copyright of its original author ?*This image is copyright of its original author ?*This image is copyright of its original author ?*This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author Pofoma and biodiversity Confiscated 25 skulls of felines in Santa Ana del yacuma Authorities of biodiversity dependendiente of governance of beni supported by pofoma, seized 24 skulls of Jaguar and 1 "Bobcat" in operation carried out in the city of Santa Ana del yacuma. " we received a complaint through our free online, where they told us that in a home in Santa Ana was being marketed teeth and skulls of jaguar besides fangs (...) we move and with support from the operational pofoma we (... ) all the skulls don't even have a tooth, no fangs, because they are marketed. This is punishable by law ", said Marcos Greminger control program in charge of monitoring and protection of wildlife. The operation took place on Friday, where it was found the wrongful act, thanks to the complaint made. " we like the interior we have been working since last year, socializing what are the rules, that is why they can't say (citizens) who don't know, that's why through the media we come by reiterating that the marketing and trafficking of wildlife Sylvester, it's illegal ", remarked Celia Perez Director of biodiversity. The place where wild marketed by-products, is a jewelry store and it is known that every pair of fangs was sold at $ 200 The legal action against those involved will continue its course. Report: informing you Photos: Informánfote Trinidad 05 / Dec / 2016 
From Persian Leopard Project:
"Russia and Iran to resume negotiations exchanging Persian leopards and Siberian tigers. Russia established a reintroduction programme near Sochi using Persian leopards from Iran, Turkmenistan and European zoos and has recently released three offsprings into the wild. Iran's plans to bring back the extinct Caspian tiger using Siberian subspecies failed with the death of one of the two exchanged animals." http://www.iew.ir/1395/09/08/51941   *This image is copyright of its original author NHAI wants to build a four-lane expressway that would splice open a vital tiger corridor connecting two famous wildlife parks, Kanha and Pench, in Madhya Pradesh. Photo: Tarique Sani The country’s premier wildlife body, known for its scientific rigour in the field of conservation biology, has been entrusted with the task of suggesting a mitigation plan to reduce the impact of a high-speed highway that will cut through an important tiger habitat in central India. The issue that has seen many a legal battle with long winding twists and turns made some headway when because of pressure from conservation groups, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) agreed to put mitigation measures in place that would help wild animals to cross, thereby reducing chances of road kills. However, even those measures now are in danger of not serving their purpose because of glaring mistakes on behalf of the chief scientific body, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII). The Kanha Pench Corridor is one of the best tiger corridors in the country and vital for the long-term viability of tiger populations in the central Indian landscape. Yet the NHAI, as part of its ambitious golden quadrilateral project linking Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai, wants to build a four-lane expressway that would splice open a vital tiger corridor connecting two famous wildlife parks, Kanha and Pench, in Madhya Pradesh. A study by the Wildlife Institute of India had asked for mitigation measures, such as flyovers and underpasses, in 2012 to ensure wild animals were not harmed and it was on the basis of this condition that NHAI had been given the go-ahead for the project by the courts. But now scientists and environment groups, who fought for the mitigation structures, have discovered that there are major deviations in the location of the structures from what was proposed by the Wildlife Institute of India. The mistakes are so glaring they could lead to death of several animals if not built at the right spot. Of the nine structures that were to be built, it has now been discovered that there are errors in at least five GPS (global positioning system) locations, between what was proposed and what is being constructed. While the deviations in four structures could be ignored as a result of the GPS errors, there are larger errors for the bigger structures. For instance, the difference in structure number 7 is more than 1,136 metres (more than a kilometre) while in structure number 6, it is as high as 14,165 metres (that’s more than 14 km). The author of the Wildlife Institute of India report, Bilal Habib, when contacted by this writer, admitted that there are some errors. But he stated that “on the ground a few hundred metres here and there should not change anything for the wild animals.” Local environmental groups are contesting this claim—they argue that this has been a 15-year-long battle and there is a science behind the location of the structures; they are based on thousands of hours of scientific observation of the species that use these locations and at what spot. A hundred metres is a big difference when it comes to science, especially when the spots were chosen on the basis of hours of scientific observations along the corridor. If these are deviated from, not only would the errors prolong the legal battle, it could undo all the hard work put in to ensure there are fewer deaths of wild animals on this highway. Already on the existing road, more than 1,035 wild animals, from snakes to leopards, have been killed because of high-speed traffic, according to a study conducted by WWF-India titled ‘Status and Conservation of Kanha Pench Corridor in 2014’. If the exact locations for constructing the underpasses and mitigation structures are not followed, imagine how much higher these fatalities would be. That is the concern raised by environmental groups. It may be true that there was no mala fide intent on the part of the scientists at Wildlife Institute who admit that errors were made. But it’s the complacency with which the report has been prepared and the concomitant errors that could mean the difference between life and death for the wild animals that use this corridor. At the time of writing this piece, the National Tiger Conservation Authority has summoned the scientists from Wildlife Institute to resolve the matter. The institute must pull up its socks; there are so many who look up to this premier institution when it comes to wildlife biology. http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/a2y6HtXj...lives.html 
@Roflcopters Thanks roflcopters. It seems tiger's habitat is soon fading. Such an important corridor cannot be put to risk for the construction of National Highway. Do not know how many such projects are going on neglecting the protection of forests and maintaining 33% forest area in the country.
New Threats Emphasize Need for Proactive Amazon Jaguar Conservation Planning
Posted by Wildlife Conservation Society in Cat Watch on November 23, 2016 By Rob Wallace This month organizations working on jaguar conservation in the Amazon basin published a roadmap for future collaboration. The Jaguar Conservation Planning in the Amazon meeting in Ecuador provided a unique opportunity for jaguar experts from the Guianas, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru to summarize regional conservation efforts and outline priorities to maintain jaguars in the Amazon in perpetuity. Integrated landscape conservation is especially urgent at a time when an old threat to jaguar conservation across its range has re-emerged. The jaguar occupies a special place in the history, culture, and traditions of Latin America. Credit: Guido Ayala & Maria Viscarra/WCS.  *This image is copyright of its original author Between the 1950’s and 1980’s, jaguar populations plummeted due to hunting for their attractive skins. International trade initiatives like the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) criminalized the trade in spotted cat skins. With the international market eliminated, demand dropped, and hunting levels fell. As a result, jaguar populations bounced back over the past 30 years. Recently, however, jaguars have become threatened by trade in their teeth – presumably for the production of jewelry and for use in traditional Asian medicinal and other practices. This was a topic tailor made for discussion at the Ecuador meeting. The vast Amazon basin is the single most important region for jaguar conservation. Credit: Rob Wallace/WCS.  *This image is copyright of its original author Participating institutions included: Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá, Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt, Fundación Omacha, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Ministerio del Ambiente de Ecuador, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, E.tech, TRAFFIC, WWF, Panthera, and the Wildlife Conservation Society, or WCS (the organization I work for). As an icebreaker, organizers asked participants to summarize their feelings and perception of this magnificent cat in one word. The answers underlined the status of the jaguar as the very symbol of the Amazon: Spiritual, Commitment, Hope, Magical, Power, Strength, Culture, Respect, Fascination, Perfection, Inspiration. Jaguar populations in Amazonian protected areas and wilderness have bounced back after being dramatically reduced during the skin trade between the 1940´s and 1980´s. Credit: Guido Ayala & Maria Viscarra/WCS.  *This image is copyright of its original author Jaguars last hit the news just before the Olympic Games when an incident during a pre-games torch-bearing ceremony in the Amazonian city of Manaus resulted in a jaguar being euthanized. The plight of individual animals is important and always affecting. However, for those of us who have dedicated our lives to conserving threatened species, we are often left wondering how the plight of an individual animal can get more attention than that of an entire species. Our jaguar meeting underscored the importance of working at large landscape scales to conserve viable self-sustaining populations of jaguars over the long term. Individual jaguars require between 50 to 300 square kilometers of tropical humid forest to find enough food. Successful conservation requires an integrated threats-based approach involving long-term partnerships between protected areas, indigenous territories, municipal governments, and others. As development in the Amazon intensifies, we must proactively protect predator and prey species, the habitat that connects them, and the ecosystem services that support life in the Amazon and beyond. Credit: Guido Ayala & Maria Viscarra/WCS.  *This image is copyright of its original author But the problem has become much larger. Expanding infrastructure and agricultural industries in Latin America have led to a growing fragmentation of the core of the jaguar’s range — the once endless Amazonian forest. As development in the Amazon intensifies, we must proactively protect predator and prey species, the habitat that connects them, and the ecosystem services that support life in the Amazon and beyond. Securing conservation stronghold populations for jaguars and the fantastic Amazonian biodiversity in that context will require pragmatic collaborations between many actors – especially if we are to confront the burgeoning trade in jaguar parts. A new threat has emerged in recent years with trade in jaguar teeth recently uncovered in Bolivia. Credit: A.M. Nuñez.  *This image is copyright of its original author To date it is unclear exactly what is driving this trade – largely to markets in Asia. But we know that tigers have been eradicated from more than 90 percent of their pre-20th century range, with the global population estimated at fewer than 4,000 animals. The concern exists that other big felids such as jaguars might now be targeted by poachers as an alternative to tiger parts to cover the demand. In 2014 in Bolivia, a WCS team found itself deep in the forests of Madidi monitoring jaguars with camera traps (cameras equipped with infrared triggers that capture images, providing critical data about wildlife and their habitats) and footprint-based surveys. With their citizen’s band radio, they picked up an evening advertisement offering money for jaguar teeth. When they shared this information with our office via satellite phone, we were able to alert Bolivian authorities to the problem, leading eventually to some notable seizures and arrests. Experts agree that conservation efforts at a landscape scale is crucial to ensure the future of the symbol of the Amazon. Credit: Mileniusz Spanowicz/WCS.  *This image is copyright of its original author Longer term monitoring data will be crucial to evaluate how the new hunting threat is impacting jaguar populations. But even as conservation organizations in the Amazon work together to secure Latin America’s big cats and their habitat, the illegal international trade in jaguar teeth highlights the need to learn from colleagues in Asia with experience in reducing public demand for wildlife parts and – just as important — in prosecuting criminal traffickers. The jaguar occupies a special place in the history, culture, and traditions of Latin America. Revered for centuries by indigenous peoples for its strength and agility, the jaguar may well depend for its continued existence upon the care and cooperation of those who continue to live with this extraordinary animal. In that respect, our planning meeting reminded us yet again that where nature is concerned the needs of all species remain interdependent as ever.
Wildlife for sale: Jaguars are the new trafficking victims in Bolivia
20 December 2016 / Miriam Telma Jemio Translated by Romina Castagnino Jaguar fangs have become one of the sought-after goods in the Chinese wildlife market, posing a severe threat to Bolivian jaguars. Birds, monkeys and turtles are also frequent victims of the trade.
When a Tiger dies, there’s need for rational response and a bold new vision
By K Ullas Karanth Last Updated: 29th December 2016 05:19 AM Every time there is a report of a tiger death, or release of mortality statistics, I get anxious queries about the fate of big cats. A recent one was fairly typical: “The year 2016 has seen 17 tiger mortalities in Karnataka, and, overall the death rates of big cats have increased all over the country. Should we not be worried?”  *This image is copyright of its original author The answer, as is common to most conservation questions, is complex.Biologically, tigers are a fecund, productive species. In a secure habitat with plenty of prey, a tigress will establish her territory when she is around 3-4 years of age. Thereafter, she will breed with a resident male. After a short gestation of 105 days, a litter of 3-4 cubs is born. If the cubs die, or are killed by a new male entering her territory, within a month she will breed again. Consequently, a resident tigress will produce a new litter once every 3 years. Cubs of her previous litter disperse away from her territory after 2 years. A resident tigress produces 9-12 cubs in her short breeding lifespan, rapidly repopulating the forest. Because available forest habitat is not expanding, high tiger mortality rates from natural causes such as injuries followed by starvation from fights with other tigers, or from failed attempts to attack large dangerous prey - are common. Many tigers die naturally every year and this is inevitable. When there are more tigers, there will be more such deaths. For example, a secure high density population of tigers such as the one in Nagarahole, which I have studied for decades using camera-trap surveys, shows a high rate of annual loss of 20% or so. But tiger numbers remain high despite these losses, because of rapid replenishment through births. Assuming, not unreasonably, that there are about 750-1,000 resident breeding tigresses in India’s protected areas, at least the same number of cubs will be produced every year. Even if only half the cubs survive their first year, still 375-500 young tigers are being added every year to India’s tiger population: roughly the same number may be lost. However, because animal carcasses decay rapidly in nature, only a small fraction of these dead tigers are found. The 100 or so dead tigers officially reported in India this year possibly comprise just 10-15% of all tigers that are expected to have died. On the face of it, there does not seem to be a need to panic every time a tiger dies from natural causes. Tigers being killed by the super-predator, man, is another matter. Even in this case, losses of young dispersers or old-evicted resident tigers, in conflicts with humans on the edges of secure populations, may not dent tiger numbers because of high birth rates. On the other hand, if breeding females are being shot, poisoned or snared systematically, even apparently thriving tiger populations can quickly nosedive into extinction, as witnessed in Sariska and Panna reserves a decade ago. It was strict patrolling and law enforcement by two generations of India’s stalwart foresters- between 1970’s and 1990’s- that brought the tiger from the brink. Strong conservation laws enacted by Indira Gandhi, who responded to desperate pleas of tiger conservationists, enabled them to act. We need to ponder why, in spite of massive investments of money and manpower and the huge political support, the needle of tiger numbers has not moved much in the 21st century. Clearly recent investments have not been cost-effective. The present generation of wildlife managers and conservationists should stop being smug about India’s ‘increasing tiger numbers’. Nor should they cringe in pity over every dead tiger. They should possess a bold new vision. One of a modern India, harbouring 10,000 wild tigers, which its remaining forests can support. Time has come to seriously and scientifically audit India’s tiger conservation, to explore the path to such a visionary outcome. http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/k...98--1.html I like this guy simple, straight and have some commonsense unlike scaremongering idiot Valmik thapar always whine in-front of media for attention.Anyway,India can easily harbor 10,000 Wild tigers. 
Do not kill man-eating tigers, leopards: HC
Three months after a tigress was declared a ‘man-eater’ and killed in Uttarakhand’s Ramnagar area, the Uttarakhand High Court on Monday ordered that no wild animals in the State, including tigers, leopards, and panthers, should be killed or declared ‘man-eater’. “No wild animals including tigers, leopards and panthers shall be declared man-eater or rogue and killed in entire State of Uttarakhand,” the Division Bench comprising Justice Alok Singh and Justice Rajiv Sharma stated. The Court further ordered that the wild animals who posed a threat to human life must be “captured alive by using a tranquilliser gun in the presence of a veterinary doctor. The captured animal shall be thereafter released in the nearby forest or kept in a zoo temporarily and thereafter released in its own habitat”. Since most of the killings of man-eating leopards and tigers are done by the State forest department, which hires professional hunters for the task, the High Court stated that no private hunters could now be hired by the State government. Also, after several instances where elephants have been killed due to electrocution, the HC directed the Railway Ministry to “dig up trenches around the electric poles along the railway track in Rajaji National Park, and also to insulate the electric poles by raising a fence to avoid electrocution.” http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/Do-not-kill-man-eating-tigers-leopards-HC/article16907662.ece
Interesting. Note that the article stated that they were going to release the "man-eaters" back into the forest after subduing them, but I do see a problem with this approach (on the human side).
These same "man-eaters" will possibly be re-subdued and re-released into the surrounding nature, yet continue on to hunt humans again and again, until the cycle stops. I am not saying to kill them, but this is just as similar as leaving the "man-eaters" at bay. A complicated conundrum. Note that most of these "man-eaters" are old or aggressive tigers who have either lost their strength/weaponry to kill good-sized prey or have a hatred for man (which is acceptable considering what man has done). Habits don't change, especially when in old age and man-eating is no exception. Thanks for presenting this article, @Apollo. Perhaps @peter can help us possibly form solutions to this paradoxical issue. 
TO EDUCATE OR NOT
The question is if behavior of wild animals towards humans can be changed without a rifle or a cage. Although the answer would depend on a number of factors, my take is it could be done in some cases. ELEPHANTS Some years ago, young bull elephants in a part South Africa (could have been a private reserve) behaved in a very atypical way in that they often attacked and killed other large herbivores. Researchers concluded their behavior could have been a result of a lack of adult males and no rules of interaction. As it was too difficult to move a few males into the reserve, it was decided to 'educate' the young bulls in another way. Every time the bulls decided to have a bit of fun, a ranger appeared and told them to quit it in no uncertain way. I thought he used a mike. I never read anything about the effect, but I remember a documentary in which it was stated that the bulls didn't need a lot of time to change their behavior. TIGERS Elephants are social animals, which means their behavior can be affected to a degree. Most wild big cats, however, are not. Adults are indivuduals all the way. Individuals have distinct characters and habits. It's impossible to change a character, but habits might be affected to a degree. Let's talk tiger. Captive tigers first. Most trainers told me that about one in 6-12 tigers is dangerous. In many cases, it is about dislike. It usually shows right from the start. Over time, the dislike develops. A dangerous individual can be taught to change his behavior to a degree, but it isn't easy. Trainers who gave it a try very often paid. If they didn't, others did. The most effective way to prevent problems is to accept that some individuals can't work with humans. Ever. This means they have to be isolated. Not all dangerous animals are sold to zoos or facilities. The reason is the owner wants to prevent a premature end. For the tiger. The bond between trainers and big cats, even those considered very dangerous, often is very strong. Based on what I read, my take is it wouldn't be very different in wild tigers. The great majority could co-exist with humans. Behavior very often depends on the situation. If they're not molested and live in a well-stocked reserve, tigers won't be interested in humans. In regions where tigers are hunted, quite many individuals can develop into dangerous animals. MAN-EATERS As to tigers who attacked and hunted humans. There are different reasons. Mating tigers can be dangerous. Same for tigers who lost a territorial fight. Some females with young cubs can turn to humans for food. At times, humans present themselves as potential food. There are transients without a farm. A tiger who has attacked and killed a human before will often repeat the act. In spite of that, confirmed man-eaters are few and far between. Most man-eaters seem to be seasonal workers and even the most notorious of them mix humans with wild or captive animals. All in all, one could say proximity is important. Most attacks happen in regions where humans and tigers live in close proximity. As proximity and opportunity are good friends, many problems can be solved by distance. As simple as that. As to regions in which tigers and humans live in close proximity. The best way to prevent problems is to seperate humans and tigers and be as strict as possible. If a tiger develops into a dangerous individual in spite of that, there are three options. The most easy of these is to take the tiger out. Another option is permanent relocation. The third is to capture the offender and release him or her after a few months. Tigers are intelligent animals, meaning they would get the message quite soon. If not, one could consider other measures. It seems that at least one Indian State agrees with this solution, as they decided for a different approach regarding dangerous tigers. The decision no doubt is a result of the situation tigers face in quite many parts of India, which is densely populated. The very limited number of wild tigers no doubt also affected the decision. KENNETH ANDERSON Kenneth Anderson had very different ideas about man-eaters, but that was in the days India still had many thousands of tigers. One of the man-eaters he tried to take out had an impressive record. After a lot of hard work, Anderson was able to contact him. When the tiger returned to the young woman he had killed close to a railway, Anderson was waiting for him in a hollow tree. He managed to shoot the tiger, but didn't kill him. The male who survived the unslaught, however, decided to change a few things regarding humans and food. Anderson didn't find new reports about missing villagers for a long time. But a tiger never loses his stripes and education has its limitations. After a long break, a villager disappeared without a trace in the forest. Same region. Similar beat. Others followed. Not a lot, but enough to get Anderson interested. Want to know more? My advice is to buy the Anderson omnibus. There are two parts. Not saying you can get it for free, but it's quite close these days. Anyone even remotely interested in tigers and humans in southern India should give it a thought. This man hunted man-eaters for a long time and he knew a bit about writing as well. He'll take right into the heart of what used to be tiger country. All this for a few dollars. 
Peter, I remember reading about the elephants that you are probably referring to. These elephants were removed from a herd and relocated as sub-adults ( teenagers ) and had not yet learned basic elephant etiquette. They were killing rhinos.
(01-05-2017, 09:41 PM)brotherbear Wrote: Peter, I remember reading about the elephants that you are probably referring to. These elephants were removed from a herd and relocated as sub-adults ( teenagers ) and had not yet learned basic elephant etiquette. They were killing rhinos. Correct, the sub adults were there with no adults in charge because the big bulls had been poached, these sub adults began to take out their "teenage angst" on Rhino and began killing them, the park brought in Adult Bulls that quickly put the youngsters in their place and the killings stopped. |
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