There is a world somewhere between reality and fiction. Although ignored by many, it is very real and so are those living in it. This forum is about the natural world. Here, wild animals will be heard and respected. The forum offers a glimpse into an unknown world as well as a room with a view on the present and the future. Anyone able to speak on behalf of those living in the emerald forest and the deep blue sea is invited to join.
Big cat from Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve shifted to Van Vihar Bhopal
A tiger, which was kept at Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve's Baherha enclosure, has been moved to Van Vihar National Park in Bhopal. The decision was taken after researchers were done analysing changes in the animal's behaviour. In the research, it was revealed that the tiger has developed a level of comfort with humans and releasing it in the open jungle could pose a threat to its life. Another tiger, also kept in an enclosure will be let out in the open jungle soon.
07-23-2016, 12:48 PM( This post was last modified: 07-23-2016, 01:10 PM by sanjay )
(07-23-2016, 12:14 AM)Apollo Wrote: Big cat from Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve shifted to Van Vihar Bhopal
Kindly note, these Sub-adult Males (sons of Mukunda Male) had killed & eaten 4 villagers in the past. Here are pics of the siblings. While the Male in the 2nd photo has been sent to Van Vihar (Zoo) Bhopal, the Male in the 1st photo is slated perhaps to be released into Sanjay Dubari Tiger Reserve soon. Excuse the picture quality, these have not been shot by me either.
A tiger from Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) in Chandrapur district traversed over 140km to reach Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve (NNTR) in Bhandara and Gondia districts in Maharashtra.
This is perhaps the second longest migration of a tiger in the last seven years from one protected area to another in Central India.
In 2008, a radio-collared tigress from Kanha in Madhya Pradesh had traversed 250km in four months to reach Pench (Maharashtra).
Maharashtra's principal chief conservator of forests for wildlife Shree Bhagwan said, “I have been told by scientists of Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, that a tiger cub from Kolsa was photo captured for the first time along with two other siblings in April 2014.In a 2015 camera trap exercise, the animal's presence was not recorded in TATR. Then on January 17, 2016, the same tiger was recorded in New Nagzira.“
“The tiger dispersal simply explains why corridors are vital and highlights the need for protection. Such data will allow identification of new habitats and help in upgrading protection status of these areas. Such information is important for mana gement and conservation, and strengthen the argument for protecting remaining potential tiger habi tats,“ Bhagwan told TOI.
CCF and field director of TATR GP Garad, too, confirmed that the newly recorded tiger in New Nagzira is from Kolsa. “The cub was captured with the tigress and its other siblings from both Mo harli and Kolsa ranges. The tigress and these cubs were active in the area till 2015,“ said Garad.
The tiger was recorded in New Nagzira on January 17, 2016. NNTR comprising Koka, Navegaon, Nagzira and New Nagzira has presence of eight tigers, but the one recorded in camera traps in New Nagzira was not among them.“It is a new entrant. We cross-checked with adjoining Bhandara division and later Pench and Kanha reserves, but officials said it was not from their area,“ said NNTR officials.
Finally, the picture was forwarded to Tadoba field director, who got it scientifically verified from WII.
08-16-2016, 10:53 PM( This post was last modified: 08-16-2016, 10:55 PM by Apollo )
Why the deaths of T4 and T5 signify the end of an era
In the searing summer of May 2005, in the heart of the central Indian forest of Kanha Tiger Reserve, two female cubs all of 30 days, were orphaned when their mother was killed by a male tiger. The cubs were picked up and hand-reared by the forest department. At 18 months, they were released into a bigger enclosure.
Around the time that these cubs were exploring their limited freedom, about 350 km away, Panna Tiger Reserve’s tiger population was being decimated. By 2009, all but one male tiger were declared dead. Recognising the dire condition, Panna Tiger Reserve’s reintroduction programme was finally implemented. Two female tigers named T1 and T2, from Bandhavgarh and Kanha respectively, were released in Panna in March 2009. However, soon the last remaining male tiger in Panna also disappeared. To correct this a male tiger, christened T3 from Pench was released in Panna in November 2009.
The reintroduction programme faced major challenges. Almost immediately on release, T3 started moving out of the reserve and travelled 442 km over a period of about 41 days in the direction of Pench. He had to be recaptured and re-released. An ingenious technique of spraying tigress urine in his release area to tempt him to stay put met with success. Finally, it all worked out — by October 2010, both T1 and T2 had successfully paired and littered. With this, Panna had achieved a major milestone — the 100 per cent success of breeding among reintroduced tigers in the world.
Afterwards, a project to re-wild the two orphaned female siblings, that were enjoying limited freedom in a large enclosure inside Kanha, was also taken up. In March 2011, one of the two siblings nearing six years of age, christened T4, was released into the wild world of Panna. Using the earlier successful technique, female T4’s urine was used to attract the male T3. This worked, and almost immediately, T4 paired with T3. T4 picked up skills to make wild kills and was soon hunting on her own. She delivered her first litter of two cubs in November 2011, a first in the world, wherein an orphaned tigress, brought up in captivity not only re-wilded but also delivered in the wild. T4 went on to deliver a second litter which she abandoned, and then a third litter in July 2013, giving birth to three cubs.
T4’s sightings with her cubs were quite common. I got to see T4 more than once, lolling away in glory with her then nine-month old babies as she rested in the shade of vegetation by a stream. The cubs couldn’t restrain their curiosity and would peek out from behind their mother. In September 2014, while her cubs were merely 14 months old, the magnificent T4 passed away. The reason was ascribed to natural causes, possibly an illness. A trailblazing life had come to an end. While the fate of her cubs worried conservationists and wildlife enthusiasts, one female cub, P433 (P: Panna born, 4: progeny of T4, 3: 3rd litter of T4, 3: third cub in the litter) was tranquilised and collared and then, left to fend for herself along with her two male siblings. The cubs showed as much enterprise as their mother, and as of today, all three inhabit a territory in and around Panna.
T4 with her cubs
*This image is copyright of its original author
While T4 was the high achiever, her sibling, rechristened T5, was charting her own course. T5 was released in Panna in November 2011 at the age of over six-and-half years. Despite her long years in what was merely a large enclosure, she was quite an agile and powerful animal. Her first kill was a wild pig, which, even for a well-established wild tiger, can be difficult. However, she had to confront territorial pressures from other resident tigers and it would be some time before she could establish herself in Panna. Unlike her sister T4, she did not pair successfully for quite some time. News of her first litter of two cubs came in April 2014, but she almost immediately abandoned them. She gave birth to her second litter of one cub in May 2015.
Though rarely sighted, T5 had a functional collar around her neck which allowed the tiger reserve authorities to monitor the tigress. On June 11, 2016 a brief one line update on a facebook page shocked the small, dedicated community of Panna lovers — T5 was no more. Initial reports from the forest department suggest that she was badly injured in a territorial fight and retired to her cave, where she succumbed to her injuries. Though it is too early to say whether the cub will survive, news is that her 13-month old is holding out well for now.
In her lifetime, T5 remained discreet and elusive. In my conversations with local guides, few ever saw her and nobody seems to have ever captured her on camera. She remained an enigma, a bit of an under-performer and shy, but every bit as free a spirit as her sister.
Both, T4 and T5 died before their time, but they led rare lives — starting from being orphaned at the age of 30 days, to living a life of captivity for over six years before being part of the most daring re-wilding experiment that many believed was bound to fail, to actually leading a fully wild life; breeding, littering and even successfully raising their young to adulthood. This was unheard of in the annals of tiger conservation and credit has to go to the Panna team.
T4 and T5 demonstrated the fantastic potential of forests like the Panna Tiger Reserve, that recovered from zero tigers in 2009 to over 30 tigers as of today. They offered us the chance to correct our past mistakes and to atone for our sins. Most of all, they indicated the importance of taking care of our wildlife and protected zones. The Panna Tiger Reserve provides important ecosystem services, including water to the perennial Ken river, but is threatened by the proposed Ken-Betwa river-link project which will cause direct and indirect damage to about 200 sq km of the reserve. Equally worrying is the proposed 1,000 hectare Rio Tinto diamond mine.
Today, the progeny of T4 and T5 continue to put up a spirited resistance to this unequal fight. It’s almost as if the wild spirit of their mothers lingers on in the deep gorges, vertical rock faces, gentle streams and dark gullies, watching over us and chiding us to never let Panna slip away again. Peeyush Sekhsaria is an independent Delhi-based consultant and researcher. He is the co-author of Our Tigers Return – Children’s Story Book – The Story of Panna Tiger Reserve (2009-2015)
(08-18-2016, 10:12 AM)zain.azam Wrote: Reports in India now that Machli has passed away after being in critical condition for the past 4 days
Yes you are right.
Machali, the Grand Matriarch of Ranthambhore is no more. She passed away this morning but has left behind a huge legacy. While you shall be sorely missed dear Queen, your memories shall last us a lifetime. Rest in peace Machali.
This is a very bad year for tigers and the death of Machali made it worst.
RIP to possibly the greatest ambassador of her species, she will forever be remembered by those in the community. She should've gone a long time ago imo, but it doesn't take away from her legacy. She also probably has the most famous picture of any tiger ever...
We're very interested in good information about Wild Russia. Maybe you can help out with a few things, as not one of us, as far as I know, is a Russian national. If you have anything on Amur tigers, Amur brown bears, wolves and Himalayan black bears, please inform us.
(09-14-2016, 04:38 PM)peter Wrote: Welcome to WildFact, Diamir!
We're very interested in good information about Wild Russia. Maybe you can help out with a few things, as not one of us, as far as I know, is a Russian national. If you have anything on Amur tigers, Amur brown bears, wolves and Himalayan black bears, please inform us.
