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RE: Bigcats News - Sanju - 04-02-2019

@Rishi @Lycaon 

Safety Cover of Asiatic Lions to Expand Outside Gir Sanctuary With Setting up of New Wildlife Division

In the last two years, 204 lions died in the Gir forest region. Of these, 27 died because of unnatural causes such as falling into a well or being run over by a train.

The Asiatic lions will finally get a bigger safety cover outside the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, the last abode of this endangered species in the world. The Gujarat government has initiated a process to establish the new Shetrunji Wildlife Division and approved 104 posts for it, including a deputy conservator, two assistant conservators, seven range forest officers and members of the administrative staff.

Currently, there are two wildlife divisions in Gir Wildlife Sanctuary — Gir East and Gir West division — which work under the Junagadh Wildlife Circle.

The new Shetrunji Wildlife Division will also fall under the Junagadh Wildlife Circle which is headed by the chief conservator of forests.


According to a 2015 census, Gir was home to 523 lions. Out of the total 523 Lions, 200 were found outside the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary. Lions are found 'mainly' in over 400 villages of the Amreli and Bhavnagar districts.

In recent years, the lions roaming outside the protected areas have been facing harassment by people and illegal ‘lion shows’ have become a headache for the forest department.

Since there was no dedicated wildlife division for these areas in Amreli and Bhavnagar districts, the protection and rescue operations are being looked after by respective social forestry and territorial divisions in addition to their routine work.

Quote:“With a new wildlife division equipped with required manpower and infrastructure, forest department will be able to protect and conserve lions effectively outside the wildlife Sanctuary. The new division will be headquartered at Palitana town of Bhavnagar district. Seven new wildlife ranges will be established in the new division, including Rajula, Jafarabad, Liliya, Mahuva, Jesar, Palitana and Talaja wildlife ranges. Thirty animal trackers will also be recruited for (on contractual) basis in this new division.


In order to strengthen the wildlife rescue operations, seven rescue Centres will be set up in Amreli, Gir-Somnath, Junagadh and Jamnagar district, and will help in attending rescue calls immediately. It will also reduce the human-wildlife conflicts and provide timely treatment of lions. Each rescue centre will be equipped to accommodate 30 to 40 wild animals. The forest department will also form 10 new rescue teams to handle the rescue operations. Neutral 

Apart from the new wildlife division, Maliya-Hatina wildlife range will also be created and will be under the Gir-West division. The government has approved 23 new posts for it, including range forest officer for the new range.

In the last two years, as many as 204 lions died in the Gir forest region. Of these 204 deaths, 27 lions died because of unnatural causes such as falling into a well or being run over by a train, the Gujarat government told legislative Assembly in February.

In order to provide ecological and legal safety cover, the government has proposed to declare 109 square km area in Bhavnagar and Amreli district as Conservation Reserve. According to sources, the process has been underway at different stages at the government level.


RE: Bigcats News - sanjay - 04-02-2019

Pictures were taken on Saturday 30.03.2019 by Suresh Wankhede in Tadoba. This is Shivanzari Female.

Very sad to see a tigress from core zone of Tadoba kolsa zone getting injured by snare fire trap of poachers.
Looks like snares trap mark (may be gaur horn), whatever, it is injured, no doubt, heavily injured...
This shows how our tigers are not safe even after so much monitoring.
Forest Department of Maharashtra? What actions are you taking???

Courtesy to Aadhira Deshmukh

Tigress injured in tadoba by snare
*This image is copyright of its original author


Tadoba tigress Shivanzari got injured by poachers
*This image is copyright of its original author



RE: Bigcats News - Sanju - 04-07-2019

After seeing lions resting near railway track in Gir Sanctuary, driver halts train
(VIDEO ^^)

An engine driver halted train after seeing lions resting near track in Gir Sanctuary. The driver waited for these big cats to move from the spot. The train was passing through Veraval-Dhari railway track when the driver witnessed these asiatic lions resting near the track. The driver immediately stopped the train and waited for felines to move. The entire incident was recorded on a mobile phone. The Gir Sanctuary is known for Asiatic lions and it is situated in Gujarat.

More railway lines are cutting through gir forest with the help of corrupt govt to mow away lions... Asiatic Lions on the edge of extinction.


RE: Bigcats News - sanjay - 04-08-2019

South Africa: Poacher killed by elephant then eaten by lions

Read at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-47843999


RE: Bigcats News - Sanju - 04-08-2019

Asiatic cheetah, Persian leopards observed in north central Iran


*This image is copyright of its original author

An Asiatic cheetah and two Persian leopards have been spotted in Shahrood county in north central Semnan province, Amir Abdous, the provincial department of environment (DOE) chief has announced.

Referring to ten camera traps installed in the area to determine the exact distribution of the species, Abdous noted that the cameras have recently captured photos of an Asiatic cheetah and two Persian leopards.

Last year, some 8 Asiatic cheetahs have been spotted in Khar Turan national park in the province, he added, Mehr reported on Thursday.
He further called on the passengers to be cautious and take safety measures while driving through Abbasabad-Mayami road, linking north-central Semnan province to Mashhad.

Abbasabad-Mayami road is one of the deadliest roads for Asiatic cheetahs as 8 of them have been killed in road crashes over the past 10 years, he lamented.
Locals also must be cautious and contact the DOE in case they see any animal carcasses or illegal hunting activities, he highlighted.

Listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Asiatic cheetah is among the rarest cats in the world at subspecies level, with fewer than 50 believed to remain in Iran.

Roads fragmenting cheetahs’ habitats are the main threats for the species, while guard dogs and stray dogs, drought spells, decreasing population of the prey species to support the cheetahs, and habitat loss are also other factors endangering the sparse population of the cheetahs in the country.

The Persian leopard is also listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List; the population is estimated at fewer than 871–1,290 mature individuals and considered declining.
In Iran, primary threats are habitat disturbances followed by illegal hunting and excess of livestock in the leopard habitats. The leopards’ chances for survival outside protected areas appear very slim.



RE: Bigcats News - Kingtheropod - 04-10-2019

(04-08-2019, 10:15 AM)sanjay Wrote: South Africa: Poacher killed by elephant then eaten by lions

Read at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-47843999

He got what was coming!


RE: Bigcats News - Lycaon - 04-16-2019

Maharashtra forester says cut tiger count, kicks up storm

NAGPUR: When 13 tiger-bearing countries are wanting to double the big cat population in the wild by 2022, an assistant conservator of forests (ACF) with Brahmapuri division of Maharashtra has called for a reduction in numbers, thereby kicking up a storm. She proposed this as a solution to increasing man-animal conflict in the area under her charge.

A forest department documentary promo shows ACF Rameshwari Bongale saying, “We have to undertake a massive operation to reduce 
tiger
 population.” The video, which went viral, has kicked up a storm. 
“I don’t deny saying it, but it should be taken positively. I was specific about Brahmapuri division where tiger numbers have gone up compared to the forest area. Tiger numbers should be sustainable,” Bongale said.

Amod Gaurkar, founder of Tarun Paryavaran Mandal, Shankarpur, said: “It is an irresponsible statement on the part of the ACF. Brahmapuri forest is 1,100sqkm and 41 tigers can easily live in it provided officials remove encroachments and stop grazing and illicit felling of trees”. “It is wrong to say that the tiger numbers have gone up. Actually, increasing human population is limiting space for tiger movement, causing mananimal conflict. Space management is necessary to control conflict,” said conservationist Prafulla Bhamburkar. 
Brahmapuri division is one of those rare places where large carnivores are thriving in humandominated landscape. It has always been one of the prime case studies for management of tigers outside protected areas. This division has seen many conflict cases but has managed to maintain a balance between tiger conservation and perception of local communities towards 
wildlife
.

However, there has been a change in the attitude of villagers towards wildlife and the forest staff since 2017 and there has been an increase in incidents of locals attacking forest officers and field staff.

Bongale denied allegations about negligence, saying: “Peace meetings with people are held regularly.”

Link : https://m.timesofindia.com/city/nagpur/maha-forester-wants-tiger-numbers-down/amp_articleshow/68879836.cms?__twitter_impression=true


RE: Bigcats News - Rishi - 04-16-2019

(04-16-2019, 01:11 PM)Lycaon Wrote: A forest department documentary promo shows ACF Rameshwari Bongale saying, “We have to undertake a massive operation to reduce tiger population.” The video, which went viral, has kicked up a storm. 
“I don’t deny saying it, but it should be taken positively. I was specific about Brahmapuri division where tiger numbers have gone up compared to the forest area. Tiger numbers should be sustainable,” Bongale said.

Amod Gaurkar, founder of Tarun Paryavaran Mandal, Shankarpur, said: “It is an irresponsible statement on the part of the ACF. Brahmapuri forest is 1,100sqkm and 41 tigers can easily live in it provided officials remove encroachments and stop grazing and illicit felling of trees”. “It is wrong to say that the tiger numbers have gone up. Actually, increasing human population is limiting space for tiger movement, causing mananimal conflict. Space management is necessary to control conflict,” said conservationist Prafulla Bhamburkar. 

Technically both parties are right... I'm sure she didn't mean culling by the "massive operation to reduce tiger numbers" but creating corridors & relocating surplus animals. 

But also it can support that population provided they maintain it like atleast the buffers. Unlike Terai or Nilgiri, conflict & human interference are both really high in that area. The insensitivity of the urban social "wildlifers" towards safety of forest-folk during cases like the recent Avni debacle, have made them even more adverse.
It's time NTCA & FD considered developing a separate wing to specialise in man-animal conflict mitigation & bring in those areas into planned management.


RE: Bigcats News - BorneanTiger - 04-17-2019

@Lycaon Forward from (https://wildfact.com/forum/topic-animal-news-except-bigcats?pid=80365#pid80365), in case the Arabian leopard does reappear in the UAE, the place to watch out for is the eastern region on the border with Oman and the Gulf of Oman on the Arabian Sea, where Jebel Hafeet (near Al Ain City) and the Hajar Mountains are. The first known sighting of the leopard in what is now the UAE was at Hafeet Mountain in 1949 by the British explorer Sir Wilfried Thesieger, and then Hellyer (1993) reported that another was shot and wounded there in 1976, and then there were subsequent sightings, at least as reported, up to 2001 in other areas, within the Hajar region, including Ras Al Khaimah in the north: http://www.catsg.org/fileadmin/filesharing/5.Cat_News/5.3._Special_Issues/5.3.1._SI_1/Edmonds_et_al_2006_Status_of_the_Arabian_leopard_in_United_Arab_Emirates.pdfhttp://www.yemenileopard.org/files/cms/reports/Cat_News_Special_Issue_1_-_Arabian_leopard.pdf

Map of the UAE, with the rugged area in the east being the Hajar Mountains: http://ontheworldmap.com/uae/uae-road-map.html 

*This image is copyright of its original author


Jabal Hafeet (Hafeet Mountain) near Al Ain City in Abu Dhabi Emirate, not the UAE's highest mountain, but the only mountain in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi (this news article talks about unique species being discovered there): https://gulfnews.com/uae/environment/unique-insects-discovered-in-jebel-hafeet-wadis-1.1202677

*This image is copyright of its original author


Hajar Mountains near Ras Al Khaimah, including the UAE's highest mountain, Jabal Jais, which has the World's longest zipline, in the Musandam Peninsula (where the leopard had been recorded, at least up to the 2000s: http://www.catsg.org/fileadmin/filesharing/5.Cat_News/5.3._Special_Issues/5.3.1._SI_1/Edmonds_et_al_2006_Status_of_the_Arabian_leopard_in_United_Arab_Emirates.pdf, http://www.yemenileopard.org/files/cms/reports/Cat_News_Special_Issue_1_-_Arabian_leopard.pdf): https://gulfbusiness.com/maintenance-underway-jebel-jais-zipline-closed-helicopter-accident/

*This image is copyright of its original author


Wadi Wurayah, Emirate of Fujairah, where the leopard is still rumoured to be (https://www.thenational.ae/uae/environment/preserving-the-wonders-of-uae-s-wadi-wurayah-1.650338, https://gulfnews.com/uae/environment/unesco-declares-wadi-wurayah-as-biosphere-reserve-1.2257589), but otherwise, it is possible that a leopard track was photographed here on the 15th of September 2007 (http://www.yemenileopard.org/arabian-leopard.html). Image supplied to Gulf News: https://gulfnews.com/uae/environment/unesco-declares-wadi-wurayah-as-biosphere-reserve-1.2257589

*This image is copyright of its original author


As for Oman, which also shares the Hafeet and Hajar Mountains and the Musandam Peninsula (in the northeast of the map above), so far, the only leopards there are known to be in the southern Dhofari region, next to Yemen, where leopards were also reported (http://www.yemenileopard.org/files/cms/reports/Cat_News_Special_Issue_1_-_Arabian_leopard.pdf), but signs of the leopard in the Musandam Peninsula were reported in January and February 2007: http://www.yemenileopard.org/arabian-leopard.html


RE: Bigcats News - Rishi - 04-17-2019

2018 tiger census report delayed; officials blame new methods, inclusion of more states

New Delhi, Apr 17 
The much awaited 2018-19 tiger census report is likely to be delayed and will be released only after the formation of a new government at the Centre, an official said citing "huge data" which is to be analysed.

The 4-yearly report, which gives out the number of big cats living in India, was to be released this month, but officials say it is not expected before June; due to addition of states in the survey, intense methods and delay by states in submitting the data.
However, an official had said in February the report would be released in March as the tiger count was almost completed and only data analysis was pending.

According to Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII), an autonomous institution of the Ministry of Environment, the process of estimating tigers commenced late and it has been an elaborate exercise with minute details being taken care of so the report was likely to come out in May end.

"We are analysing the huge data. It will take time. It's definitely not coming out before a new government gets elected. The process of estimation began six months late this time. So the report is likely to come out by May end," Y V Jhala, a senior scientist in WII, said.

A wildlife official from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), the statutory body of the environment ministry, said the delay was on the part of state governments in submitting their data to the Centre and due to the increase in the number of states from where the data is being collected.

"Number of states have increased this time. Nagaland, Manipur and Gujarat have been included this time besides the 18 tiger reign states. We started the process of tiger estimation from our side but submission of data from different state forest departments took time," DIG of NTCA Nishant Verma said.

This is the fourth this type of scientific tiger census. The first was conducted in 2006, second in 2010 and third in 2014. A team of over 44,000 officials is working on the census this time with 55 biologists across the country, the WII scientist said.

NTCA's Verma said an intensive exercise is going on in Arunachal Pradesh which is also a reason why it is taking time.

"Intensive procedure going on in Arunachal Pradesh this time with polygon search method which involves tracking of paw signs of tigers in areas divided into 25 square km units. It takes time. There are local administrative issues as well. Now the submission of data is complete but now WII is working on analysis of the data," he said.

In the polygon research method, the faeces of tigers is collected with a technique which involves making polygons -- squares in this case -- of 25 sq km each in an area of 400 sq km in the northeastern region, and then physically going there and collecting faeces for genetic sampling. The method of collecting faeces is called 'scats'.

"We are expecting the report by June or latest by July. It will be released by the new government. We are focusing on areas other than tiger reserves also," Verma said.

As per the officials, the data has been collected and is now being analysed by the WII, which is NTCA's national partner.

'Scats' are being conducted for the first time in uneven terrains like those in northeastern states, and naxal-affected areas, where installing cameras to capture the movement of tigers is tough.
Tiger faeces is being used for genetic sampling and estimating the big cats population for the 2018 Tiger Census.

The report will cover 18 tiger reign states with 50 tiger reserves along with areas beyond these reserves where tigers can be found.

Over 24,000 camera trap stations have been installed across the country to capture tigers.

This survey is a massive exercise that includes other species as well, including copredators like leopards and dholes, but the focus largely remains on tigers.

The softwares being used for tiger estimation are - Spatially Explicit Capture Recapture (SECR), mobile technology M-STrIPES (Monitoring System For Tigers-Intensive Protection and Ecological Status) and Extract Compare which helps differentiate between the stripes of tigers as each has a different pattern.


RE: Bigcats News - Sanju - 04-18-2019

State okays felling of 1,760 trees in tiger path for grenade unit

*This image is copyright of its original author


Despite stiff opposition from wildlife conservationists and greens, the state government on Monday diverted 87.97 hectare (equivalent to 88 football fields) of rich forest land that falls in the wildlife corridor of Bor-Pench-Melghat Tiger Reserves.

There are 5-6 resident tigers in and around the diverted forest area. As per a forest department inspection, more than 1,760 trees will have to be razed in the actual project area of 4.73 hectares.

A 60.31 hectare of the total diverted land falls in Chakdoh village in Katol range and 27.66 hectare in Bazargaon range, both in Nagpur forest division.

Quote:The land cleared is for Solar Industries India Limited (SIIL) which already has its unit at the spot and has expansion plans to manufacture ammunition for the Army starting with hand grenades.

The diverted area is part of Wildlife Institute of India’s ‘Corridor Atlas of Eastern Vidarbha Landscape’ which was released on August 3, 2016 by the state forest department. Maps based on scientific study prepared by National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) & WII show that the area is a regular route taken by tigers and other wildlife.

Quote:Earlier in January 2018, the state government had cleared 467 hectare forest land to Reliance Industries in the tiger corridor of Yavatmal’s Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary and Chandrapur’s Tadoba and Andhari Tiger Reserve.

The SIIL had first demanded the land on June 20, 2011 for manufacturing of HMX explosives needed for the country’s security. However, a formal proposal under Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 was "moved on" November 27, 2014 when Devendra Fadnavis government Angry came to power in Maharashtra. The BJP-Shiv Sena government fast-tracked the proposal and sent it to Centre on December 16, 2016. The environment ministry gave its approval on December 17, 2018. Dislike

However, the issue was pending for certain compliances. On April 6, a ministry official had visited the project site at Chakdoh to verify additional conditions stipulated by the state government. Finally, on April 15, the state issued order to clear land.

“As the forest area falls in tiger corridors, diversion of said land cannot be done without the clearance of National Board for Wildlife (NBWL). The NTCA and wildlife wing seem to be silent on the issue.

Bor Tiger Reserve has already been isolated by NH6 widening


Quote:Bor’s dominant tiger "Bajirao" had died on December 30, 2017 in road hit near Bazargaon, indicating why the diverted forest was important,” says honorary wildlife warden Kundan Hate, adding that the forest department ignored two scientific reports of tiger and rich wildlife presence in the diverted area.


The SIIL has been manufacturing explosives on private land in Chakdoh since 1995. The additional land, the company says, is needed for safety distance zone.

“Though the said land is 15km away from Bor reserve and 36km from Pench, it is an established tiger corridor. The expansion of explosives company will lead to felling of several 17,000.”

While the diversion will cause ecological damage near Nagpur, the compulsory afforestation will be taken up by SIIL in 90 hectares of land in Hirapur village in Chandrapur which is state forest minister Sudhir Mungantiwar’s hometown. The company has also handed over 88.34 hectare of non-forest land to the forest department in Chiplun, in Ratnagiri district, in lieu of the diverted forest land.

BJP atrocities, MODI. chowkidar chor hai mc

*This image is copyright of its original author



RE: Bigcats News - BorneanTiger - 04-18-2019

(04-18-2019, 12:37 PM)Sanju Wrote: State okays felling of 1,760 trees in tiger path for grenade unit

*This image is copyright of its original author


Despite stiff opposition from wildlife conservationists and greens, the state government on Monday diverted 87.97 hectare (equivalent to 88 football fields) of rich forest land that falls in the wildlife corridor of Bor-Pench-Melghat Tiger Reserves.

There are 5-6 resident tigers in and around the diverted forest area. As per a forest department inspection, more than 1,760 trees will have to be razed in the actual project area of 4.73 hectares.

A 60.31 hectare of the total diverted land falls in Chakdoh village in Katol range and 27.66 hectare in Bazargaon range, both in Nagpur forest division.

Quote:The land cleared is for Solar Industries India Limited (SIIL) which already has its unit at the spot and has expansion plans to manufacture ammunition for the Army starting with hand grenades.

The diverted area is part of Wildlife Institute of India’s ‘Corridor Atlas of Eastern Vidarbha Landscape’ which was released on August 3, 2016 by the state forest department. Maps based on scientific study prepared by National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) & WII show that the area is a regular route taken by tigers and other wildlife.

Quote:Earlier in January 2018, the state government had cleared 467 hectare forest land to Reliance Industries in the tiger corridor of Yavatmal’s Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary and Chandrapur’s Tadoba and Andhari Tiger Reserve.

The SIIL had first demanded the land on June 20, 2011 for manufacturing of HMX explosives needed for the country’s security. However, a formal proposal under Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 was "moved on" November 27, 2014 when Devendra Fadnavis government Angry came to power in Maharashtra. The BJP-Shiv Sena government fast-tracked the proposal and sent it to Centre on December 16, 2016. The environment ministry gave its approval on December 17, 2018. Dislike

However, the issue was pending for certain compliances. On April 6, a ministry official had visited the project site at Chakdoh to verify additional conditions stipulated by the state government. Finally, on April 15, the state issued order to clear land.

“As the forest area falls in tiger corridors, diversion of said land cannot be done without the clearance of National Board for Wildlife (NBWL). The NTCA and wildlife wing seem to be silent on the issue.

Bor Tiger Reserve has already been isolated by NH6 widening


Quote:Bor’s dominant tiger "Bajirao" had died on December 30, 2017 in road hit near Bazargaon, indicating why the diverted forest was important,” says honorary wildlife warden Kundan Hate, adding that the forest department ignored two scientific reports of tiger and rich wildlife presence in the diverted area.


The SIIL has been manufacturing explosives on private land in Chakdoh since 1995. The additional land, the company says, is needed for safety distance zone.

“Though the said land is 15km away from Bor reserve and 36km from Pench, it is an established tiger corridor. The expansion of explosives company will lead to felling of several 17,000.”

While the diversion will cause ecological damage near Nagpur, the compulsory afforestation will be taken up by SIIL in 90 hectares of land in Hirapur village in Chandrapur which is state forest minister Sudhir Mungantiwar’s hometown. The company has also handed over 88.34 hectare of non-forest land to the forest department in Chiplun, in Ratnagiri district, in lieu of the diverted forest land.

BJP atrocities, MODI. chowkidar chor hai mc

*This image is copyright of its original author

Despite the successes of conservation in India, particularly for the Asiatic lion and Bengal tiger, this should come as no surprise, considering what they were doing to crocodiles in Gujarat back in January, in order to make way for tourists coming to the World's tallest statue, which was inaugurated on the banks of the Narmada River back in October (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-47010656), meaning that even in India, money talks first, the environment comes later.

The big question is: What will happen in the elections? Will people like the disgruntled Gujarati farmers who were negatively affected by the construction of the huge "Statue of Unity" (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-45978120) vote for a new government or not?

The World's tallest statue, the Statue of Unity, built on the banks of the Narmada River for tourism, at the cost of local farmers and wildlife: https://archpaper.com/2018/11/michael-graves-architecture-completes-worlds-tallest-statue/

*This image is copyright of its original author



RE: Bigcats News - Sanju - 04-20-2019

Anybody know why Karnataka is No.1 in nature Conservation of the country (in fact one of the best in whole world)?

*This image is copyright of its original author

Needs little bit of thinking. I know the general reasons. Questions encourages logical thinking.

Edit : As nobody is responding, the answer is: It is the state ruled by Congress govt in coalition with JD Party. Hence, it's a paradise for wildlife.


RE: Bigcats News - Sanju - 04-26-2019

In Rajasthan, tourist, guide fined Rs 51,000 for throwing stones at tiger

The cruelty was captured in "thermal-imaging" cameras used to monitor big cats in the park. Fantastic That's why Ranthambore is a tremendous success story n one of the last tiger paradise left in Asia.


RE: Bigcats News - Lycaon - 04-26-2019

@Sanju 

If only this strict enforcement happened in gir. Great news either way  Like