PROTECTED AREA UPDATE

News and Information from protected areas in India and South Asia


 

Vol. XIII No. 5                                                                                                                         October 2007 (No. 69)


 

 

LIST OF CONTENTS

EDITORIAL                                                               2

A crisis of governance?

NEWS FROM INDIAN STATES

Andhra Pradesh                                                        3

Fall in GIB numbers in Rollapadu WLS

Assam                                                                          3

Train kills two elephants near Deepor Beel WLS

Flood waters drown Pobitora WLS

Bodo council looking at alternative livelihood methods for conservation

Two flyovers in Manas to protect wildlife

World Heritage Committee’s monitoring mission not satisfied with Manas NP

The India Rhino Vision 2020 relocation program to take off soon

Project to showcase Karbi culture bordering Kaziranga NP

Metal detectors for Kaziranga by year end

Kaziranga TR boundaries notified

Hollock Gibbon Conservation Training

Gujarat                                                                        7

Vehicles kill two big cats in Gir

Further steps to protect Gir

Carcasses of four Cubs found in Gir WLS

Project to cover open wells in, around Gir

Himachal Pradesh                                                     8

FD looking for person with expertise in Himalayan Fresh water fishes

Six sanctuaries to be handed over from territorial to wildlife wing

HP to have new state animal, bird and flower

Jammu & Kashmir                                                   9

Kashmir wildlife benefiting s from insurgency, hunting ban

SC allows Mughal road, lays conditions

Karnataka                                                                   9

Police enquiry into elephant deaths in Nagarhole

 

 

Wildlife research institute for Karnataka

Elephant carcasses in Bandipur being left for other wild animals

Kerala                                                                          10

Kerala tourism to promote forests, PAs

Madhya Pradesh                                        11

SC allows for completion of canal work in Karera Wildlife Sanctuary

Cash incentive for florican conservation in Sailana and Sardarpur WLS not working

2005 Rajiv Gandhi Award for Deputy Director, Kanha TR

SC nod for development work in forest villages in PAs

Maharashtra                                                            12

State for denotification of Jayakwadi WLS

Officials with wildlife training posted in non-wildlife posts

Mizoram                                                                      13

New species records for Mizoram PAs

Orissa                                                                         13

State sitting on proposal for Satkosia Tiger Reserve

Tamil Nadu                                                                 13

New interpretation centre at Guindy NP

Forest Commission set up in Tamil Nadu

Confiscated star tortoises to be released in Point Calimere WLS

Uttarakhand                                                                14

Flyovers as elephant corridors in Rajaji NP

Elephant tramples two to death near Rajaji

West Bengal                                                            15

Tiger rescue centre in Sunderbans

Eco-Development initiative bordering Senchal WLS

NATIONAL NEWS FROM INDIA       16

New popular science publication on conservation

Photo IDs for wild elephants

Three PAs likely as UNESCO World heritage sites in 2009

CMS Vatavaran 2007 held

MigrantWatch launched

Policy for relocation of wild animals soon

Assessment of trade in peacock feathers.

Details of Wildlife Crime Control Bureau

Toll-free number to protect wildlife

Tracking the Social and Ecological Impacts of Forest Rights Act

CEC to continue

Paul Getty Award to Dr. K.Ullas Karanth

First meet of Butterfly Northeast held

 

SOUTH ASIA                                                          21

NEPAL

WWF Nepal’s conservation Awards

 

UPCOMING                                                             21

Transboundary Mountain PAs Workshop

1st International Wildlife Reintroduction Conference

28th Annual Sea Turtle Symposium
 
OPPORTUNITIES                                                 21
Coordinator, Wildlife Conservation for project near Kuno WLS

Volunteers needed for Biodiversity Documentation in Eaglenest WLS

CISED is looking for Core Faculty, Visiting Fellows and Postdoctoral Research Associates

 

READERS WRITE                                                  23

 

Protected Area Update

Vol. XIII, No. 5, October 2007 (No. 69)

Editor: Pankaj Sekhsaria

Illustrations: Madhuvanti Anantharajan

Produced by: Kalpavriksh

Ideas, comments, news and information may please be sent to the editorial address:

KALPAVRIKSH, Apartment 5, Shri Dutta Krupa, 908 Deccan Gymkhana, Pune 411004, Maharashtra, India. Tel/Fax: 020 – 25654239.

Email: psekhsaria@gmail.com

Website: www.kalpavriksh.org

Production of PA Update 69 has been supported by Foundation for Ecological Security (FES), Anand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The PA Update needs your support

For details see Page 24

 

 

 

 

EDITORIAL

 

 

A crisis of governance?

 

Will wildlife protection and protected area management be possible in the absence of properly trained, sufficiently staffed and adequately funded Forest Departments? It might sound like a question that is ridiculous. The answer too would be a straight forward one - An obvious no!

            The issue, however, is precisely this. The shortage of well trained personnel and financial resources is a real problem on the ground– though it might be the most obvious thing to do, the fact of the matter is that PA managements in some cases and entire State Forest Departments in others, are short on basic staff and money to manage, protect and conserve our forests and protected areas in particular.

            A few months ago (PA Update Vol XIII, No. 2 June 2007), it had been reported that the West Bengal Forest Department is facing a serious shortage of staff. Anywhere between 20 to 50% of posts were vacant in various categories including forest guards and rangers. A report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India indicated, for instance, that patrolling staff in the Buxa Tiger Reserve was short by over 60%. Additionally, a large number of staff in premier parks like the Buxa and Sunderbans Tiger Reserves were found to be over-age as per the guidelines of the Wildlife Institute of India.

In Gir, in Gujarat, it took the huge crisis of lion poaching (see edit of the last issue of the PA Update) to galvanise the department into filling up the number of vacant posts and also getting staff that is young and fit.

            News from Maharashtra in this issue highlights another equally important matter– officers of the State Forest Department with wildlife training are actually not being posted in wildlife management posts. The state has only 78 officers who have some training in wildlife as against the state’s requirement of 141. Quite inexplicably, only 10 of the 78 are actually posted in wildlife areas – the other 68 are in places that have nothing to do with wildlife. None of the three tiger reserves in the state have, at the helm, an officer who has wildlife related training. Why is money from the public exchequer being spent for the training when the expertise is not used where relevant?

The other related issue is of finance, rather its non-availability. Excellent examples are the high profile tiger reserves of the country as was reported recently in the national media. In spite of the huge hue and cry about poaching and the need to augment facilities including those of protection, most of the reserves are not getting the money that is due to them. It is not that money is not available – it appears to be the lack of the correct systems and an accountability that will ensure the needful is done. Either the National Tiger Conservation Authority has not released funds to states, or where it has been, it is stuck in state bureaucracies. Whatever be the reason, the net result on the ground is the same- no money to pay staff, to hire vehicles or to reimburse costs.

When, even the most high profile reserves like those in Melghat, Ranthambore, Buxa and Dudhwa have not received the money, the fate of lesser known sanctuaries and national parks can only be imagined. Is it realistic to expect that management and protection work can be carried out effectively in such a situation?

The crisis here is, clearly, one of governance. If the fundamentals of the foundation will be neglected in such a manner, the edifice, if it can be constructed at all, can only be a shaky one.

 

 

NEWS FROM INDIAN STATES

 

 

ANDHRA PRADESH

 

Fall in GIB nos in Rollapadu WLS

 

Latest reports indicate that the population of the Great Indian Bustard has come down drastically in the Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary. The number now is said to be only eighteen which is less than half the 40 birds seen here five years ago.

There are various factors being held responsible for this decline. This includes the blasting of rocks during excavation works for widening of the Alagnur Balancing Reservoir, located few kilometres from the sanctuary. This had forced the birds to move.

Another serious problem is the accumulation of water in the vicinity of the sanctuary that is causing serious ecological changes in the habitat. The groundwater levels are increasing in the sanctuary leading to change in vegetation, which in turn is resulting in a change in the insect life and on food sources of the birds.

 

Source: ‘Concern over dwindling number of Great Indian Bustard’, The Hindu, 23/090/07.

Contact: DFO (Wildlife Management), Rollapadu WLS, Atmakur, Kurnool. Andhra Pradesh. Tel: 08516-283337

 

ASSAM

 

Train kills two elephants near Deepor Beel WLS

 

Two elephants were killed after a goods train knocked them down near the Deepor Beel Wildlife Sanctuary in August. The calf and a nine year old adult were part of a herd that was crossing the track at night when the accident occurred.

            Forest officials have pointed out that the train was moving at a speed of 40 kmph. The driver of the train is reported to have said that the accident occurred about three kms away from the earmarked speed restriction zone where the speed limit is 25kmph. Additionally, the engine headlight could not illuminate the herd as the train was negotiating a curve and it was too late by the time the driver applied the brakes.

            The Forest authorities are seeking permission to arrest the railway driver while the Railways officials have said that this was not a solution as the driver was only discharging his responsibility of running the train. They have, instead, insisted that the FD should keep them posted regularly on elephant movement so that timely action could be taken to lower the speed and avoid such accidents.

            Three elephants had similarly been knocked down by a goods train in the same stretch in 2004.

Source: Sushanta Talukdar. ‘Freight train kills two elephants’, The Hindu 11/08/07

Contact: Divisional Forest Officer, Assam State Zoo Division, I/c Deepor Beel WLS R.G. Baruah Road, Guwahati - 781 024, Assam. Tel: 0361-261363(O), 263331(R)

                               

Flood waters drown Pobitora WLS

 

As much as 95 per cent of the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary was reported to be under floodwaters in the middle of September. A large number of wild animals - mainly rhinos, buffalos and wild boars were found taking shelter on the raised roads running inside and along the sanctuary.

            The wild animals, particularly the herbivores, were also said to be suffering from a serious food shortage and forest personnel were forced to ensure that food was made available to them. Forest Department elephants also had to be shifted to higher ground outside the sanctuary. This hampered the movement of the forest personnel but the elephants had to be moved as they were also facing a food shortage.

            The rising waters had also forced the abandonment of many of the forest camps. Of the 22 camps in the sanctuary three camps were completely damaged and nine others had to be abandoned. Deaths of two wild boar was also reported. A complete list of the casualties would be available only once the waters subsided.

The sanctuary authorities have submitted a proposal for the construction of highlands in the sanctuary to deal with such situations in the future.

 

Source: ‘All of Pobitora is virtually under water’, http://www.wildlifewatch.in/news/area/assam/2007/09/61

Contact: Divisional Forest Officer, Pobitora WLS, Nagaon Wildlife Division, P.O. & Dist. Nagaon – 782001, Assam. Tel: 03672-223104(O), 222310(R )

 

Bodo council looking at alternative livelihood methods for conservation

 

A seminar on ‘Alternate Livelihood Support for Conservation of Forests and Wildlife in Bodoland’, was jointly organised by the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), the Forest Department and the Green Heart Nature Club in Kokrajhar recently.

            The BTC Deputy Chief said the success of the tourism initiatives in the Manas National Park (also see PA Updates 65, 63, 60, 56, 54, & 45) had encouraged the to focus itself on alternative methods of livelihood support as part of its forest and wildlife conservation programme and that tourism was one of the areas being stressed on.

Residents of 169 forest villages participated in the seminar.

 

Source: ‘Bodo council looking at alternative livelihood methods for conservation’, www.wildlifewatch.in, 14/09/07.

 

Two flyovers in Manas to protect wildlife

Two flyovers will be built on a stretch of National Highway 152, flanked by the wilds of Manas National Park, to divert speeding vehicles away from wild animals crossing the road. A 12-km stretch of the busy highway, which connects Pathsala in Barpeta district to Nganglam in Bhutan, cuts through the park.

The project for the flyovers was sanctioned recently by the Union ministry of Surface Transport. The budget and the specifications of the proposed flyovers have not been finalised yet, but each of the structures would be between 1km and 2km long.

The highway is also to be realigned to facilitate construction of the flyovers, resulting in a portion of it moving further east. The project includes two more bridges on the Pota, which flows along the Indo-Bhutan border.The Manas flyover project is the result of a suggestion made by the Deputy Commissioner of Baksa District, Anwaruddin Choudhury, to the Public Works Department (PWD) in September 2005.

A meeting was convened on December 3 that very year to discuss the issue with engineers of the PWD’s highway division following which they gave their ascent.

 

Source: Pullock Dutta. ‘Fly over forest, spare animals’, The Telegraph, 21/09/07.

Contact: Director, Manas NP, PO Barpeta Rd. Dist. Barpeta – 781315, Assam. Tel: 03666 – 261413. Fax: 232253 / 260253

 

World Heritage Committee’s monitoring mission not satisfied with Manas NP

 

Manas National Park continues to be on UNESCOs’ List of World Heritage in Danger because many recommendations of the World Heritage Committee’s (WHC) Monitoring Mission of 2005 have not been implemented.

            Some of recommendations that were made include the need to work with the Bhutan government regarding release of water from the upstream dam as it causes widespread floods in Lower Assam; setting up of a co-ordination mechanism between park staff and the Bodo people on planning and conservation activities; identifying sources of funds and timely release of money for the park’s management in compliance with the Supreme Court ruling; mechanisms for transferring funds directly to the park through agencies such as the Wildlife Areas Development and Welfare Trust; a management plan for invasive species and defining roles and expectations of all relevant stakeholders in relation to future community development activities.

            The Govt. of Assam had submitted its report in response at a recent meeting in Christchurch in New Zealand and the WHC found many inconsistencies. It was pointed out, for instance, that there was a discrepancy in the elephant population reports for 2006 and 2007. The 2006 report noted an increase from 567 to 658, whereas the 2007 report indicated a decline from 567 to 247. The report did not include new information on communication facilities within the park, particularly re-building of bridges and culverts. On vacancies too, it was found that there was a shortfall of 140 positions out of 445 sanctioned posts. The committee also made a note of the fact that the information on bird population and habitat was very limited.

The WHC has asked the Central Government to provide an updated report on the park by February 1, 2008 for examination by the committee at its 32nd session next year.

 

Source: ‘Why is Manas still in danger’, The Telegraph, 02/08/07

Contact: Director, Manas NP, see above

 

The India Rhino Vision 2020 relocation program to take off soon

 

The India Rhino Vision 2020 programme, which aims to attain a population of 3,000 rhinos in the wild in Assam, is likely to begin by end of 2007. Under this programme, the rhino population will be distributed over seven protected areas by 2020.

The programme would involve translocating rhinos from two source populations (Kaziranga and Pobitora) into at least three target protected areas (Manas, Laokhowa-Buracharpori-Kochumora, Dibru Saikhowa and possibly Orang).

 The infrastructure at Manas National Park is expected to be ready by October, following which at least 20 rhinos will be moved here from Kaziranga. A total of 13 new camps will be set up and 50 volunteers would be brought in for the programme to help provide a safe and secure site for the rhinos in Manas.

The Indian Rhino Vision 2020 project is being implemented by the Department of Environment and Forests of the Assam government and is being supported by a number of other organizations including WWF India and the International Rhino Foundation (IRF). (also see PA Update Vol XIII, No. 2, April 2007)

 

Source: ‘Succour for rhinos, at last’, The Telegraph, 10/08/07.

 

Project to showcase Karbi culture bordering Kaziranga NP

 

As part of a project funded by the Central Government and implemented by the Karbi Anglong District Administration efforts are being made to set up a Karbi village to enable visitors to Kaziranga to sample a way of life of this local community here. The village will be named after the Karbi mythological heroine Kajir Ranghangpi.

            A sum of Rs. Two crores has already been released for the first phase of the project. The project involves the setting up of more than a dozen hamtuns (Karbi homes), an amphitheatre where the traditional culture of the community would be displayed, a restaurant where the emphasis would be on traditional cuisine, a centre where an outsider would be shown how the community uses herbs for treatment as well as fashion shows. A team of trained youths will also guide tourists in tracking and exploring the adjoining hills.

 

Source: Sarat Sarma. ‘Glimpses of Kajir’s realm’, The Telegraph, 25/09/07.

 

Metal detectors for Kaziranga by year end

 

The Guwahati based NGO Aaranyaak has decided to gift metal detectors to the Kaziranga National Park to help deal with the poaching problem. It is hoped that metal detectors will help forest guards locate guns and rifles hidden in the park by poachers. 17 rhinos have already been poached this year, 10 of which were shot inside the park.

            The NGO is looking for different models of metal detectors in various countries and the one best suited for the situation in Kaziranga will then be procured. This is being tried as a pilot project and if successful similar detectors will be made available in other PAs as well.

 

Source: Pullock Dutta. ‘Hunt for rhino calf after poachers kill mother’, The Telegraph, 17/09/07.

Roopak Goswami. ‘Metal detectors to outwit poachers’, The Telegraph, 25/09/07.

Contact: Bibhab Talukdar, Aaranyaak, Samanwoy Path (Survey), PO Beltola, Guwahati - 781 028, Assam. Email: bibhab1@sancharnet.in

               

 

 

 

Kaziranga TR boundaries notified

 

The demarcation of the boundaries of the Kaziranga Tiger Reserve was announced in a notification issued in the first week of August. It will cover an area of 1,030 square km of which 482 square km will be the core area.

            The core area comprises Kaziranga National Park and the first, second, third and fifth addition areas while the buffer zone comprises the fourth and sixth addition areas, the Kukurakata Reserve Forest, the Panbari Reserve Forest, the Bagser Reserve Forest, and the Laokhowa and Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuaries.

 

Source: ‘Tiger Reserve status for Kaziranga NP’, The Telegraph, 13/08/07.

Contact: Contact: Director, Kaziranga NP, PO Bokakhat, Dist. Golaghat – 785612, Assam. Tel: 03776-268095(O), 268086®

 

Hollock Gibbon Conservation Training

 

The Fourth Hollock Gibbon Conservation Training session was held from September 8, 2007 at the Gibbon Conservation Centre at the Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary in Jorhat district. 62 participants from different Forest Divisions of Assam have participated in the training during the preceeding three sessions.

The workshop was inaugurated by MC Malakar, PCCF, Govt. of Assam.

The Gibbon Conservation Center was established in 2004 with a mission of carrying out research, training and conservation activities in Northeast India with the Hoolock Gibbon as the flagship species. So far the center has organized a series of five training programs for foresters from gibbon habitats in Assam. The workshops have been organized in collaboration with the Primate Research Center, School of Desert Science, Aaranyak, and Assam Forest Department and with financial support from the US Fish and Wildlife Services (Great Ape Conservation Fund).

 

Contact: Dr. Dilip Chetry, Gibbon Conservation Centre, Meleng, Mariani, Jorhat – 785634. Tel: 09435043982 / 03771-244378. Email: chetryd@rediffmail.com

 

            Chief Wildlife WardenAssam, Rehabari, Guwahati – 781008, Assam. Tel: 0361-2566064. Fax 2547386 

 

GUJARAT

 

Vehicles kill two big cats in Gir

 

One leopard cub and one lioness were killed in road accidents in the first week of August in the Gir East Forest Division. The lioness was killed on the state highway No. 90 between Chaturi and Khadadhar villages in Khambha taluka. The post mortem revealed that the animal had suffered multiple fractures in its right limb and the right side of the head and had subsequently succumbed to the injuries.

            The Forest Department officials have said that they have identified three roads which have frequent movement of wild animals. Letters have been written to the government departments concerned to put up speed breakers on these roads.

A number of wild animals have also been killed in road accidents in the past in Gir (Also see PA Update Vol XIII, No. 1, and PA Update No. 50)

 

Source: Sibte Husain Bukhari. ‘Two big cats come under wheels within 24 hrs’, The Indian Express, 04/08/07

 

Further steps to protect Gir

 

The Gujarat Government has announced further steps to augment protection of the forests of Gir. 18 new check posts are being set up in the park. Five of these which will be located at Jasadhar, Tulsishyam, Dalkhaniya, Jamwada and Bamansa ranges. These will be equipped with close circuit televisions and night vision cameras to capture any suspicious movement in the jungle.

The Forest Department is also reported to have completed the process of recruiting new staff. Accordingly, 81 guards have been inducted in Gir west and 37 have been inducted in Gir east.

(Also see PA Update Vol XIII, Nos. 4 & 3)

 

Source: Himanshu Kaushik. ‘Hi –tech security for Gir lions’, The Times of India, 19/08/07.

 

Carcasses of four Cubs found in Gir WLS

Carcasses of four lion cubs were found in the month of September in the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary. Forest guards found the dead bodies of two cubs and body parts of two others in the Bhuribhekh area of the Hadada range while they were searching for an ill lion.

            Twelve claws were also reported to be missing though the cause of the deaths has not been confirmed.

Samples have been sent to Forensic Science Lab in Junagadh and the Veterinary College at Anand to ascertain the cause of death. The Gujarat State Forest Department has claimed these deaths as natural and due to diseases.

 

Source: ‘Carcasses of four cubs found in Gir WLS’, Gujarat Samachar, 22/09/07

 

Project to cover open wells in, around Gir

 

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Rajkot based Wild Life Conservation Trust (WLCT) and the Gujarat Forest Department to construct parapet walls around open wells in and around the forests of Gir. There are nearly 9000 such wells in 158 villages in this landscape where nearly 50 lions are reported to have fallen into them in the last six years. At least 24 of these big cats eventually died. (Also see PA Updates Vol. XIII, No. 2, and Vol XII, No. 6)

            Already 700 of these wells have been covered by the Forest Department and work for parapet walls around the rest is to be completed in the next three years. The most dangerous wells for wildlife are the ones that are located in Kotda, Paniya, Chanchai and Dalkhania villages and it is here that the construction of parapets on wells will be taken up on a priority basis. The expenditure per well is Rs. 10,000

            The WLCT, along with the Reliance Rural Development Trust (RRDT) and Ambuja Cement would also construct parapets on 2,000 wells. Other corporates who are interested in supporting this project include the Tatas and Shell.

            The Forest Department has prepared two plans for the implementation of the project. The first is where the government would monitor the process of parapet construction and would give a total of Rs 4,000 per well and the remaining would have to be financed by the NGOs and corporates. In the second model, the NGO would give the money to Lion Conservation Society formed by the state government and the government would take up the construction on behalf of these NGOs or the corporates.

 

Source: ‘NGOs, corporates give lions wall cover’, The Times of India, 28/09/07

Contact: Bharat Pathak, CF (Wildlife) Junagadh, Sardar Bag, Junagadh, Gujarat. Tel: 0285 - 631678/ 630051. Fax: 631211. Email: cfwildlife_ad1@sancharnet.in

Kishore Kotecha,WLCT Asiatic Lion Protection Society, 128, Star Plaza, Phulchhab Chowk, Rajkot, 360001, Gujarat. Tel: 0281 2444 074 Mobile: +91 98240 62062. Email: info@asiaticlion.org. URL: www.asiaticlion.org

 

CWLW - Gujarat, Block 14, Dr. Jivraj Mehta Bhavan, Old Sachivalaya, Gandhinagar-382010, Gujarat. Tel: 02712-230007. Fax: 221097.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

 

FD looking for person with expertise in Himalayan Fresh water fishes

 

The HP Forest Department is looking for a person with expertise in Himalayan Freshwater Fishes for conducting research including inventorying and breeding status in wetlands and freshwater streams in the state. 
 

Contact: Vinay Tandon, Chief Wildlife Warden, Himachal Pradesh, Talland, Shimla – 171001. Tel: 0177-2624193. Email: Vtandy@gmail.com

 

Six sanctuaries to be handed over from territorial to wildlife wing

 

Six wildlife sanctuaries in the state: Tundah WLS, Kugti WLS, Saichu Tuan WLS, Shimla Water Catchment WLS, Gobindsagar WLS and the Dhauladhar that have been under the control of the territorial wing of the Forest Department are to be handed over to the Wildlife Wing. This decision was taken during the 3rd meeting of the State Wildlife Board held in Shimla recently.

            Earlier (see PA Update Vol XII, No. 3, June 2006), the Central Government had denied resources to the tune of Rs. 1 crore to the State Forest Department because these sanctuaries had not been transferred to the wildlife wing.

It was also decided during this meeting that the State Wild Life Wing would be the nodal agency for the five wetland and wildlife sanctuaries which included Renuka, Khanniar and Chandertal wetlands and Gobind Sagar and Pongdam lake Wildlife Sanctuaries.

 

Source: ‘Himachal to have new State Animal, Bird and Flower’, http://himachal.us/2007/08/10/himachal-to-have-new-animal-bird-and-flower/2636/news/himachal-news

 

HP to have new state animal, bird and flower

 

As per a decision taken during the 3rd meeting of the State Wildlife Board held recently in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh will have a new state animal, state bird and state flower. These will now be the Snow Leopard, the Western Tragopan and the Pink Rhododendron Rhododendron campanulatum respectively. They replace the Musk Deer, the Monal and the Rhododendron arboretum.

 

Source: ‘Himachal to have new State Animal, Bird and Flower’, http://himachal.us/2007/08/10/himachal-to-have-new-animal-bird-and-flower/2636/news/himachal-news

 

JAMMU & KASHMIR

 

Kashmir wildlife benefiting s from insurgency, hunting ban

 

Wildlife officials in Jammu & Kashmir say that a ten year old hunting ban and the ongoing insurgency have benefited wildlife in Kashmir. They have said that the crack down on gun ownership at the start of the rebellion and the risk of being caught in the cross-fire between militants and troops have largely kept poachers out of the forests in the region.

As a result there are increases in number of many wild animals including leopards, black bears, musk deer and a number of bird species.

It has also been pointed, however, that increase in predators like the leopard has increased the threat for certain animals like the hangul whose numbers have dropped in recent years There has also been an increase in attacks on humans by the predators.

            It is also important to consider that earlier reports have indicated that increase in insurgency and the presence of troops has actually negatively affected wildlife in Kashmir (see PA Update Vol XIII, No. 1, Feb 2007)

 

Source: ‘Kashmir wildlife benefits from insurgency, hunting ban’, AFP, ???

 

SC allows Mughal road, lays conditions

 

Following the recommendations of its Central Empowered Committee the Supreme Court has allowed the construction of the 83.90 km long and 10 m wide Mughal Road from Bafliaz (Poonch)to Shopian (Phulwama).

            The CEC also laid down a series of conditions which were also accepted by the court.

These include:

a)       Complete ban on the movement through the sanctuaries and conservation areas by graziers and their livestock.

b)      Sanctuary/conservation areas which are in the neighbourhood areas of human settlements to be fenced to prevent poaching and other illegal activities.

c)      The areas of the 3 continuous PAs: (Lachipora WLS, Limbar WLS and the Naganari Conservation Area falling in the Kaj-i- Range to be upgraded as a National Park and the management of the entire area should be transferred from the Forest Department to the Wildlife Protection Department.

d)      An additional area of 149 sq.km. located on the eastern side of the Hirporal WLS and under the possession of the Peer Panjal Forest Division to be included within the boundary of the sanctuary.

e)       Requisite Environment clearance for the project to be obtained as per the prevalent rules/guidelines.

f)       5% of the project cost to be deposited in CAMPA.

g)      Monitoring Committee to be set up under the Chairmanship of the Chief Secretary with PCCF and Chief Wildlife Warden as members. The Committee is to be responsible for strict compliance of the stipulated conditions.

 

Source: Forest Case Update, Issue 37, August 37.

Contact: Wildlife Warden North, Incharge – Lachipora and Limber WLSs, C/o CWLW, Government of Jammu & Kashmir, Tourist Reception Centre (TRC), Srinagar – 190001. Tel: 0191-544575, 0194-452469

 

KARNATAKA

 

Police enquiry into elephant deaths in Nagarhole NP

 

The CID Forest Cell of the Karnataka State Police has begun investigations into the deaths of elephants that had occurred in the Metikuppe Range of the Nagarhole NP between June 2006 and May 2007. Eight elephants had died here in this period in mysterious circumstances.

The police inquiry has been instituted as the carcasses were found without tusks and autopsy reports were unable to establish the cause of death. In some cases discrepancies were also observed in the spot inspection reports related to the deaths and the autopsy’s that were subsequently conducted.

The order of the Chief Wildlife Warden of the State that the DCF should visit the site and also take photos in the case of death of a Schedule I animal were not followed.

            Assistance for the investigations is being be sought from the Bangalore based Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals. (Also see PA Update Vol XIII, No 1 and PA Update 54)

 

Source: KV Subramanya. ‘Police begin inquiry into elephant deaths’, The Hindu, 11/08/07...

Contact: Dy. Conservator of Forests, Nagarhole NP, Wildlife Division, Hunsur, Dist. Mysore, Karnataka. Tel: 08222-252041(O), 252070(R)

 

Wildlife research institute for Karnataka

 

The Central Government has sanctioned Rs Two crores for an animal husbandry and wildlife research institute to be set up in Kodagu in Karnataka. The institution will be the first of its kind in the country. It will come up on 74 acres of land in Chikkaaluvaara village of Somwarpet taluk in about a year’s time.

It will be governed and monitored by the Karnataka Animal Husbandry and Fisheries University, Bidar.

 

Source: ‘Wildlife research institute to be set up in Karnataka’, http://www.wildlifewatch.in/news/area/karnataka/2007/09/6, 10/09/07.

 

Elephant carcasses in Bandipur being left for other wild animals

 

The Forest Cell of the State Police has found that carcasses of elephants in the Bandipur National Park were being left in the wild without being burnt or cremated. Park officials were reported to be are leaving carcasses as food for other animals. As many as eight elephants were found dead at the park between June 2006 and June 2007 (see PA Updates Vol XIII, Nos 4 &1). They said that the earlier practice was to burn the carcasses but this was changed following instructions from higher ups.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) of the State, Mr IB Srivastava has denied that any such instructions were issued. He said the department has laid down guidelines for disposal of bodies of wild animals in accordance with Supreme Court rulings. Guidelines prescribe that in case of the death of a tiger or a leopard, the carcass should be burnt. In case of elephants, it is left to the discretion of the local officer to either bury or burn it, but in any case the dead body should not be left in the open.

Officials of the Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biological Sciences have expressed concern that leaving bodies in this manner could lead to the spread of diseases, including anthrax and the foot-and-mouth disease.

There have been, in the recent past, several instances of wild animals being infected by anthrax. In Marc