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Bigcats News - Printable Version

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RE: Bigcats News - sanjay - 05-29-2014

Great News... Knowing the past of big cats is always thrilling


RE: Bigcats News - GuateGojira - 05-29-2014

In fact, this are not "new" news. Here is the topic when this document was present:
http://animalsversesanimals.yuku.com/topic/4510/The-common-ancestor-of-big-cats-found-in-Tibet?page=1#.U4bDLihhs6I

Enjoy the reading. Sadly, however, the document is no longer free available in the link that I posted there. [img]images/smilies/sad.gif[/img]
 


RE: Bigcats News - Apollo - 05-30-2014

(05-29-2014, 10:41 AM)'GuateGojira' Wrote: In fact, this are not "new" news. Here is the topic when this document was present:
http://animalsversesanimals.yuku.com/topic/4510/The-common-ancestor-of-big-cats-found-in-Tibet?page=1#.U4bDLihhs6I

Enjoy the reading. Sadly, however, the document is no longer free available in the link that I posted there. [img]images/smilies/sad.gif[/img]
 

 


Thanks for the link Guate.

 


RE: Bigcats News - sanjay - 05-30-2014

I found 2 more links related to this news

http://www.sci-news.com/paleontology/science-panthera-blytheae-fossil-tibet-01544.html

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/11/131113182604.htm


RE: Bigcats News - Apollo - 05-30-2014

Another tiger poisoned to death in Tamil Nadu


Another tiger has been poisoned to death in the State, taking the number of deaths to eight in the first five months of this year.

An eight-year-old tigress was found dead in Thengumarahada village in Kallapalayam Beat in the Nilgiris Eastern Slopes Range falling under the Nilgiris North Forest Division, said wildlife officials.

The incident came to light last Thursday. The officials immediately conducted a post-mortem.


Samples collected

Wildlife authorities suspected that the death could be due to poisoning. However, to confirm the cause, they collected samples from the body parts and sent them to the toxicology laboratory of the forensics department in Coimbatore. Officials claimed that the body parts of the tiger were in tact.


This is the third such instance of poisoning the tiger to death.


Honest analysis

Wildlife filmmaker Shekar Dattatri said: “While several tigers are dying in the State within a few months is a matter of concern, what is important is to honestly analyse the cause of each death and see what mitigation measures can be taken.

It is natural for some tigers to die every year due to old age or fights with other tigers. Cases of poaching or retaliatory poisoning should be taken very seriously.

“Retaliatory killing of tigers through poisoning by local people who have lost livestock to the big cats can only be minimised if there is a prompt, fair, credible and well publicised compensation scheme.

If there is too much red tape or corruption in the compensation process, people will take matters into their own hands and more tigers will die,” Shekar warned.


http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/another-tiger-poisoned-to-death-in-tamil-nadu/article6060463.ece
 

 


RE: Bigcats News - Apollo - 05-30-2014

Two more cubs spotted in Ranthambore


With two more cubs being spotted at Ranthambore National Park, the official count of tigers here is said to have touched 61. However, wildlife enthusiasts rue that the actual count may be much less owing to little effort on part of the forest department to keep track of the missing tigers.

"It was being suspected for some time that tigress T-39 has given birth but we were not sure as no one had spotted the cubs. On Wednesday morning, the big cat was seen with two cubs. With this, the total count of tigers including cubs at the reserve has touched 61," said the forest officials.

While the regular birth of cubs has increased the count of tigers, wildlife enthusiasts allege that forest department was doing little to track down the numerous tigers missing from the reserve. In fact, the total number of tigers may not be more than 40, they say.

Among the missing tigers is T-17 which is suspected to have been poached by those involved in mining in the reserve, two sub-adult cubs of T-13, the Khandar tigress, two more sub-adults from Darrah and Akrampur, T-11, T-8, T-37, T-35, T-37, T-38 and T-26 to name a few.

"Many of these tigers were either cited as dead due to infighting whereas the vicera report later pointed to their being poisoned by pesticide. Some of these have migrated to distant parts long back but there has been no recent effort by the department in finding out whether they exist or not while many other tigers haven't been sighted for a long time. The tigers should either be traced or if they are gone for good then their names should be struck off the list. It is only then that one would come to know the real number of tigers in the park," enthusiasts say.

They also point out the department's callousness in monitoring and tracking those tigers that remain off the tourism zone.

Officials, meanwhile, refuted claims of so many tigers missing and instead reiterated that the tigers were bring properly monitored. Asked about the count of tigers, officials said that the trap camera census was on at the park and the exact picture would come through once the results are compiled.

Jaipur: Even more may not be enough for the Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve (RTR). For as the good news of two more cubs being born at the RTR filtered in sending the official count of tigers at the reserve to 61, wild life enthusiasts feared that with little effort of the forest department in keeping track of the missing tigers the count in reality may be still hovering around the 40 mark.

According to officials of the forest department, It was being suspected for some time now that the tigress T-39 has given birth but we were not sure as no one had spotted the cubs but on Wednesday morning the big cat was seen with two cubs. With this the total count of tigers including cubs at the reserve has touched the 61 mark."

While the regular birth of cubs in the national park has managed to take the count of tigers of manifolds but wild life enthusiasts alleged that with the state forest department doing little to either track down the numerous missing tigers from the reserve to helping in tracking them down the count in reality may be much lower.

Amongst the missing tigers are T-17 suspected to have been poached by those involved in mining in the reserve, two sub-adult cubs of T-13, the Khandar tigress, two more sub-adults from Darrah and Akrampur, T-11, T-8, T-37, T-35, T-37, T-38 and T-26 to name a few.

Many of these tigers were either cited as dead due to infighting by the forest department whereas the vicera report later pointed to their being poisoned by pesticide. Some of these have migrated to distant parts long back but there has been no recent effort by the department in tracing them as to whether they exist or not while for yet others there has been no sighting for long time. The

tigers should either be traced or if they are gone for good then their names should be struck off the list. It is only then that one would come to know the real number of tigers at the park," enthusiasts say.

Enthusiasts also point out to the lack of effort of the department in monitoring and tracking tigers that remain off the tourism zone.

Officials when contacted refuted claims of so many tigers missing and instead reiterated that the tigers were bring properly monitored but on the count officials said that the trap camera census was on at the park and the exact picture would come through once the results are compiled.



http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Jaipur/Two-more-cubs-spotted-in-Ranthambore/articleshow/35694718.cms


RE: Bigcats News - Apollo - 05-31-2014

Tiger reserve officials ban motorised boats in Sagar reservoir




*This image is copyright of its original author



Fears over the boats being used for poaching of animals and smuggling of rare herbal plants. The NSTR has an area of 5,937 sq.km., and it includes the Gundla Brahmeshwaram Wildlife Sanctuary in the Nallamalla forest consisting of 3,568 sq.km. core area spread across Nalgonda, Guntur, Mahabubnagar, Kurnool and Prakasam districts.

Officials of the Nagarjunsagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR) have banned the operation of motorised boats in Nagarjunsagar Reservoir by fishermen to curb the poaching of animals and also smuggling of valuable herbal plants grown in the tiger reserve.

Speaking to The Hindu, Divisional Forest Officer Wild Life Division of Nagarjunasagar in NSTR, M.Babitha, said dozens of motorised boats are being operated by some local fishermen for fishing in Nagarjunasagar reservoir since years, but they had got directions from higher-ups to ban the operation of these boats as they suspect that this could provide a chance for poaching tigers, other rare animals and plants grown in NSTR. However, she said that they were allowing the fishermen to use traditionally made teppas for fishing in the reservoir to help them eke out a livelihood.



Faster mode of travel

In the past four years, DFO of the Nagarjunasagar Wild Life Division said that no poaching of tigers nor any other animal was reported in the NSTR, but the higher officials had information that the smugglers could use the motorised boats to reach the NSTR because the boats could travel much faster.

“It would be very difficult, time consuming and risky to reach NSTR by ferrying across the reservoir using the traditional teppas,” she observed.



Rich repository of animals

The NSTR has an area of 5,937 sq.km., and it includes the Gundla Brahmeshwaram Wildlife Sanctuary in the Nallamalla forest consisting of 3,568 sq.km. core area spread across Nalgonda, Guntur, Mahabubnagar, Kurnool and Prakasam districts.

The 2010 Tiger Census conducted by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the WII, had pegged the number of tigers at NSTR between 53 and 66. Besides Bengal Tiger, the NSTR also houses the Indian leopard, sloth bear, Dhol, Indian pangolin, cheetal, sambar deer, chevrotain, blackbuck, chinkara and chowsingha. There are also mugger crocodile, Indian python and many other species of reptiles. In addition, rare plants were also grown in the NSTR.



http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/tiger-reserve-officials-ban-motorised-boats-in-sagar-reservoir/article6057622.ece


RE: Bigcats News - sanjay - 05-31-2014

A wild Siberian tiger is videotaped by a Chinese solider during patrolling the Chinese-Russian border

Analysis of the tigers footprints confirmed that it was full-grown, female Siberian tiger (also known as the Northeast China tiger), and was moving south. The Siberian tiger is endangered, with estimating there are only 400 to 500 living in the wild today.

For video and full detail see the below link

http://www.slate.com/blogs/wild_things/2014/05/30/wild_siberian_tiger_endangered_big_cat_recorded_via_cell_phone_video_by.html


RE: Bigcats News - Apollo - 06-01-2014

(05-31-2014, 10:33 PM)'sanjay' Wrote: A wild Siberian tiger is videotaped by a Chinese solider during patrolling the Chinese-Russian border

Analysis of the tigers footprints confirmed that it was full-grown, female Siberian tiger (also known as the Northeast China tiger), and was moving south. The Siberian tiger is endangered, with estimating there are only 400 to 500 living in the wild today.

For video and full detail see the below link

http://www.slate.com/blogs/wild_things/2014/05/30/wild_siberian_tiger_endangered_big_cat_recorded_via_cell_phone_video_by.html

 



Nice find Sanjay

TFS

 


RE: Bigcats News - Apollo - 06-01-2014

Mutilated body of tiger cub found on Baihar-Balaghat road

Mutilated body of a tiger cub was found lying on the Baihar-Balaghat road near Loghar village in Balaghat district, forest officials said here today. 

The female cub was suspected to have been crushed by a speeding vehicle as serious injury marks were found on the her head, they said, adding that the spot was about 65 km away from the Kanha Tiger Reserve. 

The cub was around eight months old and earlier spotted with her mother in the forest area. 

The body was found around 70 feet away from the road in the bushes, officials said, adding it appeared that after the cub was hit by the vehicle, some wild animals had dragged it to that place to eat it. 

An autopsy was yet to be performed, they said.



http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/mutilated-body-of-tiger-cub-found-on-baihar-balaghat-road-114052901955_1.html


RE: Bigcats News - Apollo - 06-01-2014

Forest chief wants leopards in Asola



If Delhi's new forest department chief has his way, leopards and hyenas could return to Asola Bhatti, the capital's lone wildlife sanctuary which was part of the terrain where these predators roamed in the not-too-distant past.

Tarun Coomar, who recently took charge as Delhi's additional principal conservator of forests, plans to make Asola Bhatti more bio-diverse — with a better mix of native plant species — and strengthen the corridors that link the sanctuary with other forests in the Aravalis which still have big predators. 

"These corridors still exist. Under directions from the Centre, we have to declare an eco-sensitive zone for Asola which is likely to restore a wildlife corridor," Coomar said, adding that strengthening these wild passages linking Asola with forests in Haryana and Rajasthan could see the return of wildlife such as leopards and hyenas. But any work on the corridors, he cautioned, would require a lot of coordination with the neighbouring states and success would depend on how much priority they give to such a plan. 

Coomar said he would consult ecologist C R Babu on how plantations in the sanctuary and other parts of Delhi ridge can have the right variety of native species that will be attract wildlife. 

The forest chief is also reassessing the demolition drive to remove encroachments from Asola Bhatti, started recently by his department, as there are "differences" in the forest department's survey of forest land and that of documents submitted by people who own land in the area. 

"We have a precise survey done by the special task force (STF), revenue department and Geospatial Delhi Limited (GSDL). But we have to figure out if we are doing the right thing as people also have documents to show that they rightfully own land," he said. But Sanjay Colony, an unauthorized slum cluster of over 25,000 people inside the sanctuary will have to go, he said. 

Coomar, who headed Delhi's forest department 20 years ago before serving in Andaman and Nicobar in various capacities, told that the colony has to be relocated. "The residents are agitating against us but they have no business living inside a wildlife sanctuary," he said. 

The relocation work will soon be carried out with help from Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board. Some may be moved to Savda Ghevra and other colonies near Narela but they have not decided on when the relocation work will be done. 

Coomar said his Andamans stint was not very different from his work in Delhi. "There we would have social fencing as a means to protect forests; here a brick wall separates the sanctuary from human habitation. There it was tropical, evergreen forest and here it's scrub forest. In both, protection is vital," he said. 

"You can call my style of protecting Delhi's forests, neo-forestry, as our goal is to improve forests and biodiversity scientifically," he added. 

On trees within the city, Coomar agreed that agencies seem obsessed with concretizing. "There are some acute urban development problems. I have to woo them to understand the requirements of trees and make them fall in love with them," he said.




http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Forest-chief-wants-leopards-in-Asola/articleshow/35750742.cms


RE: Bigcats News - Apollo - 06-03-2014

Three arrested in Bandhavgarh tigress poaching case, radio collar recovered



Madhya Pradesh forest officials on Monday arrested three poachers and recovered the radio collar that was ripped off a tigress after electrocuting it to death outside Bandhavgarh National Park (BNP) in Umeria district on May 26.

Those arrested were identified as Kishori Baiga, Indrapal Yadav and Vijay Yadav — trio residents of Umeria district, said sources. 

"Radio collar was axed to pieces and buried 1km from the spot where tigress was killed. It has been recovered," BNP field director Murli Krishnan told. They are being interrogated for more details. 
Carcass of the tigress - BT2 was found by a patrolling squad near Khitoli range at around 8am on May 27. Its tooth was missing and the radio collar around its neck ripped off. The four-year-old tigress was an orphaned tiger and had been raised in a semi-wild condition in an enclosure in the national park. It had been released into the wild about five months ago.



http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Three-arrested-in-Bandhavgarh-tigress-poaching-case-radio-collar-recovered/articleshow/35962275.cms


RE: Bigcats News - Apollo - 06-03-2014

Asiatic lion's abode set for Unesco leap


The proposal for the World Heritage Site status for Gir and Girnar could make it the county's first to be on both cultural and nature site lists. The site houses the Asiatic Lion and also has several places like Girnar, Uparkot, Junagadh Caves and Ashok-era edicts. 

The area has large number of ancient monuments including the Adi-Kadi Vav and Navghan Kuwo, Buddhist Caves and Ashok edicts and is the only place to have Asiatic lions. Girnar hills also have a sun temple. 

The proposal for Gir and Girnar is ready and the final touches are being given before it's forwarded. This would probably be the first proposal from the country in the mixed category. Girnar hills are both nature and pilgrimage sites that have several cultural heritage along with several natural wonders such as vulture breeding grounds. The adjoining Gir forest is a national park and wildlife sanctuary. 

The forest department is all set to submit the proposals for inclusion of the Great and Little Rann of Kutch (GRK and LRK) and Gir and Girnar in Unesco's World Heritage Sites list. 

Both the proposals would have to be first cleared by the state's wildlife warden because they are protected areas under India's forest laws and then sent to the Union ministry of forest and environment, which will be then forward them to Unesco, the body that recognizes the site as such. 

For the GRK and LRK the proposal will be sent in the natural heritage category of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites. The GRK and LRK were already made it to the tentative list in 2010, however, last year the UNESCO body had sought some clarification from the Gujarat government and had asked to send the proposal afresh. The work was handed over to Gujarat Ecological Education and Research Foundation. 

The department has formed a working group of six Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers, headed by the state wildlife warden. The IFS officials were asked to prepare the new proposal, bringing in Dholavira and the wild ass found in these area. 

The Rann, considered the world's largest seasonal salty lagoon, is to be clubbed with the Little Rann of Kutch under the "natural heritage" criteria. 

Meanwhile, the Historic city of Ahmedabad, Dholavira in Kutch, Patan's Rani ki Vav stepwell and the wild ass sanctuary in the Little Rann of Kutch are on the list of tentative heritage sites. The Vav is all set to be declared as the World Heritage site in June.



 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Asiatic-lions-abode-set-for-Unesco-leap/articleshow/35691795.cms


RE: Bigcats News - Apollo - 06-04-2014

(05-24-2014, 08:20 PM)'sanjay' Wrote: Three Siberian tigers orphans, both male and female, have just been released in the Russian Far East. This is the largest operation of release of Siberian tigers in history


*This image is copyright of its original author

 


 



Here is the video of the release





 


RE: Bigcats News - Apollo - 06-05-2014

Two villagers arrested for possessing leopard skin

Three years imprisonment for leopard skin traders

Chief Judicial Magistrate of Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand had found guilty on two persons whom were arrested by police with a leopard skin on January 2011 and sentenced them to three years rigorous imprisonment and Rs. 20,000 fine each.

Two persons have been arrested from Sangla valley of Kinnaur di
strict in Himachal Pradesh on Sunday evening for possessing a leopard skin. The arrests followed Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, Delhi alerting forces and wildlife department in Kinnaur about a bid to sell the leopard skin, whose value in international market is pegged at around Rs 8-9 lakh.

While leopard skins had been seized from different parts of Himachal Pradesh in the past, this is for the first time that such a seizure has been made from Kinnaur district, located close to China border. Sources said that 90% demand for leopard skin comes from China.

Kinnaur divisional forest officer (DFO) Angel Chauhan said that WCCB Delhi had informed that some people from Chansu village of Sangla valley were in possession of leopard skin and were trying to sell it. Earlier, the villagers had struck a deal with a main dealer in Noida, but he was intercepted by the WCCB. "On receiving the information, a trap was laid to arrest people involved in the illegal trade," he said.

Chauhan said that a fake buyer contacted the accused over phone and they agreed to show the leopard skin at a location near Sangla. "Two villagers came with the skin and they bargained for selling the skin at around Rs 2 lakh, when they were arrested under section 51 of Wildlife Protection Act," he added.

Though the accused claimed innocence, only their interrogation would reveal whether they had poached the animal or had bought it from someone else. Chauhan said leopard is a protected animal and falls under Schedule I category of Indian Wildlife Protection Act. "Possession of its skin or its hunting both are banned and is an offence," he added. Maximum punishment for possessing the leopard skin is three years, while poaching will get maximum punishment is of seven years, officials said.



Past instances:

September 2013: Police seized a leopard skin and arrested a person from Mandi district.

February 2012: Two persons were arrested and two leopard skins seized during a naka at Sukki Bain area of Mandi district.

January 2012: Three persons arrested in Chaopal area of Shimla district for possessing wildlife goods including a leopard skin, two leopard skulls, about 11 kg leopard bones, 13 leopard claws and seven canines.

January 2010: A 55-year-old man arrested in the state for possessing two leopard skins.

February 2009: Four persons arrested in Shimla district and eight leopard skins seized from them.




http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Two-villagers-arrested-for-possessing-leopard-skin/articleshow/35966820.cms