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Rs 2.14 Cr for Similipal Reserve

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The State Government on Thursday approved a Rs.2.14 crore management action plan (MAP) for Similipal Biosphere Reserve. The proposal will be submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) for funding support. 

The Biosphere Reserve Management Council, headed by Chief Secretary JK Mohapatra, met here and gave its nod to the proposal which includes preparation of a five-year Comprehensive Master Plan by an independent agency. The Regional Plant Resource Centre (RPRC) has been declared as a lead institute for carrying out the work which would require about Rs.10 lakh.

Interestingly, the State has not received any financial assistance from the Centre for the Similipal Biosphere Reserve management in the last two financial years. However, funds have been pooled from District Collector, Project Tiger, which is a Centrally Sponsored Plan, and other sources of both the Centre and State for development of the biosphere reserve.

During the meeting, the Chief Secretary recommended that Similipal Management must take up documentation of its biodiversity.

Since Similipal is a huge repository of plant and animal species, such documentation  - just like Chilika Development Authority has done - should be taken up.

Mohapatra also suggested that travel writers of eminence must be roped in so that they can spread the word about Similipal across the globe.

The meeting also discussed the annual tiger monitoring carried out by the tiger reserve authorities with support from national agencies such as National Tiger Conservation Authority and Wildlife Institute of India. In the last two years, the prey base has improved significantly. Currently, the prey density is pegged at about 30 per sq km.

The management plan which will be submitted to the MoEF includes proposals for strengthening livelihood support, extensive water body development, pond creation and maintenance, solar energy promotion, health and veterinary camps in peripheral villages as well as research work.

Secretary, Forest and Environment RK Sharma, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests JD Sharma, Chief Wildlife Warden SS Srivastava and Regional CCF, Baripada Anup Nayak were also present in the meeting.

 http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/Rs-2.14-Cr-for-Similipal-Reserve/2014/03/21/article2121553.ece

 

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More cubs at Ranthambore

The stork comes calling again at the Ranthambhore tiger reserve. This time it is tigress T-19 that has given birth to three more cubs in the reserve, taking the count of big cats there to around 55.

According to sources, the cubs were spotted and clicked by trap cameras. "T-19 is a daughter of the famous tigress Machli or T-16. There were two other tigresses T-17 and T-18 born from Machli but while T-17 died, T-18 was relocated to the Sariska tiger reserve. This litter is the second one by T-19 and in all probabilities she will go the Machli way, populating the reserve," an official said.

While it has been a spate of good luck for Ranthambhore as over the past couple of years it saw many births there were disappointments too with deaths of a few big cats and some confusion after some of the tigers could not be spotted for sometime. But intensive search later the claimed that 'missing' tigers were traced.

"Deaths are natural processes even for tigers and therefore one must come to terms that certain number of tigers will die. Of course, the revenge killings in Ranthambhore are areas where the forest department must work with proper plans. But the growth in population is encouraging although newer areas must be developed now to accommodate these many tigers," a conservationist said.


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/...573369.cms

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