West Bengal Has The Best And Worst Tiger Reserves

West Bengal, a culturally rich state of India, is famed around the globe for the endangered Royal Bengal Tigers. These magnificent carnivore animals are the second largest species of Tigers, after the Siberian Tigers.

West Bengal has two Tiger reserves that represents completely opposite scenario to each other. One Tiger reserve is renowned as the best abode for Bengal Tigers and another is known as the worst Tiger reserve of the state.

In a recent conference held at Sariska, under the name All India Meet For Tiger Reserve Directors, this surprising fact was revealed. After the evaluation of Project Tiger in Sunderban and Buxa Tiger Reserve, this amazing fact about the population of Tigers was unveiled.

National Tiger Conservation Authority has listed Sunderban as one of the best Tiger Reserve of India having a high Tiger density. On the other hand, Buxa Tiger Reserve of West Bengal, is considered among one of the seven reserves where Tigers has a very less population.

According to 2007 census figures, in the 2,585 sq. km. of the Sunderban Tiger Reserve, there are 174 tigers available, while in the 759 sq. km. of forested area of Buxa there are probably no more than 12. Mr Y.V Jhala, a faculty at the Wildlife Institute of India has informed that they haven't sighted a single Tiger through the camera traps device that are fixed in various parts of Buxa Tiger Reserve. Although he mentioned that they found some pug marks and faecal matter in the reserve during 2006 -07 survey.

Atanu Raha, the State's Principal Chief Conservator of Forests said that the main reason behind the drastic difference in the Tiger population of these two aforementioned reserves is the geographical terrain. Sunderban has an edge over the Buxa Tiger Reserve as former one is located in remote area whereas the later one is surrounded by human population and constantly disturbed by human movement.

Since the British Raj, Buxa Tiger Reserve have been inhabited by thirty-seven tribal villages within the reserve's demarcated area and people residing here are continuously exploiting the forest resource for commercial reasons.

Even Buxa has less number of prey due to inadequate grassland. The main reason behind this problem of shortage of grassland is soil erosion.

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Mining Project Threatens Maharashtra Tiger Reserves

For the nature lovers and conservationists of India, the news came as a real blow!

Maharashtra State Government has decided to change the wild abode of Tigers into an opencast coal mine. The State government has planned to build a coal mining project at one of the best natural habitats of Tigers in western part of the country.

Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve of Maharashtra is famed as a rich Tiger corridor that joins north and south Chandrapur Forest Divisions of the state. According to 2007 census, there are more than 80 Tigers in the protected and reserve forests of Chandarpur districts which contributes 8-9 percent of existing Tiger population of the country. This region is also blessed with 300 species of trees and 70 species of wild animals.

But this decision of the State government has made the residents of the region very angry. Maharashtra government is supporting the Adani Power Ltd, which is going to build the biggest opencast coal mine at this forested area of the state. It is a 140 million tonne coal mining project. The proposed land for this coal mine is in the buffore zone of Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve.

Already there are 10 existing coal mines in the Chandarpur district which has created havoc in this area. People living around Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve are constantly worrying that this new coal mine would worsen the situation more. It would replace at least 3, 500 hectares of prime forestland.
Dust from this mine would further damage the agricultural fields of the region, rendering 10,000 villagers jobless.

But, a little ray of hope is still there for both people and Tigers of the area. Ministry of Environment and Forest has not yet showed its green signal to this project. Sri Jayram Ramesh, Union Minister of Environment and Forest, has strongly opposed this plan of Maharashtra government, as he said that this decision of State government would surely hamper the Tiger reserve.

So, now the decision is in the hands of Environment Ministry of India. Its completely depends on them whether they want to save the fate of Tigers or cover the clear sky with a layer of dust.

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Government Reconstitutes Tiger Conservation Body

With the formation of new government at the Centre, National Tiger Conservation Authority(NTCA)welcomes new faces into the organization.

Recently, UPA government has reconstituted the entire National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), after it was first set up three years ago. Jairam Ramesh, the Minister of State for Environment and Forest is the chairperson of this organization. Prominent Wildlife activist and BJP leader Mrs. Maneka Gandhi is also included in the group of its members.

Other than these two renowned Indian politicians, eight more wildlife experts having experience of wildlife conservation and the welfare of people including the indigenous tribes are also part of the core group. Brijendra Singh, Valmik Thapar, P K Sen, Prakash Mulidhar Amte, Urmila Pingle, K Ullas Karanth, Samar Singh and Aparjita Dutta are the famous wildlife experts of NTCA.

Beside them two Members of Parliament namely Rajya Sabha MP Santosh Bagrodia and Gandhi are also included in NTCA. On the basis of the recommendations made by Tiger Task Force and initiations taken by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, NTCA was constituted under the Wildlife Protection Act of 2006.

NTCA has the authority to consider on several issues relating to 38 tiger reserves spread across 17 states covering anti-poaching, infrastructure, man-animal conflict and co-existence in buffer and core areas.

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Wildlife Laws Needs Protection

Of late, the wildlife laws of our country are no more sufficient in providing security to various endangered species. It seems that wildlife acts of yesteryears has lag behind to protect the rare and innocent animals from the claws of wildlife traders and smugglers.

Every region in India is facing the problem of poaching and Chandigarh is the latest one in it. In Chandigarh, one can easily witness the trading of wild animals which are already enlisted in protected groups.

Chandigarh serves as the transit point for poachers and smugglers. Recently, 15 turtles belonging to three protected species namely Indian Star Tortoise, Tent Turtle and Roofed Tiurtle are seized from Sector 37 in Chandigrah. This business was going on for last two years.

Police and activists for People For Animals (PFA) has conducted the raid. Incidents that took place a few years back has also reported seizure of large number of leopard skins and near about 2000 brushes made up of mongoose tails.

Beside Chandigarh, Ambala, Ropar, Panchkula and Kharar are also said to be the centres of this illegal trading.

So, its high time that our government must take some concrete steps to strengthen the wildlife laws.

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London Zoo Celeberates the Birth of Asiatic Lions

London Zoo, these days, are thronged by number of visitors to see the first Asiatic Lion Cubs born there in a decade. These cubs were blessed to parents Lucifer (6) and Abi (10) and were born on August 8, 2009. These cubs are categorized as the critically endangered species and are relatively fewer in number. There are 300 Asiatic lions in the Gir Forest of Gujurat and 90 left in captivity around the world.

The cubs are doing well and cozy with their mother, Abi, the last Asiatic Lion to be born in the Zoo. She's been tremendous in terms of how she's introduced them to the public but protected them. She's been a wonderful mother,' said Malcolm Fitzpatrick, curator of mammals at the Zoological Society of London. 'Fortunately, their numbers are growing in the forest thanks to the excellent work of the Indian wildlife authorities. But it's the breeding in zoos that provides that real safety net, that real insurance population for the future.'

Father Lucifer has yet not been allowed to meet the cubs though they have been introduced to each other through a mesh. 'He wants to be in there with his offspring, but we wanted to make sure the youngsters were vaccinated and had a chance to explore the enclosure before we introduced him,' said Fitzpatrick.

The two cubs are part of an intensely managed European breeding and conservation programme.

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Indian Turtles Are At Risk For Restaurant Trade

Of late, Indian soft shell turtles are under constant threat of extinction due to poaching and illegal trade.
Despite being listed under the highest level of protection law under Indian Wildlife Protection act, Indian Pond Terrapins and Indian Flap-Shelled Turtles are constantly poached for meat.

This pathetic conditions of Indian turtles are highlighted in a recently published article in the journal Tropical Conservation Science.

According to a survey conducted by K. Krishnakumar, Rajeev Raghavan and Benno Pereira in Punnamada, Kerala, it is revealed that Indian pond terrapins and Indian flap-shelled turtles are regularly trafficked for the restaurant trade. They are poached from the Punnamada wetland and Vembanad lake to meet the demand for meat in local restaurants and toddy shops.

People believed that consumption of turtle meat would effective in controlling arthritis and curing other diseases. Authors of the article has mentioned that despite having a strong a Indian Wildlife Protection Act, very little law has been enforced till date. Turtles are very easily exploited and traded in this region.

So, to safeguard the population of turtles, its become really important to launch an awareness programs to educate local fishers, turtle collectors and restaurants owners about relevant wildlife laws as well as on the biological and socio-economic impacts of turtle exploitation and trade.

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India Raises Poaching Alarm

Year 2010 have been declared as the " Year of The Tiger" in Chinese Calendar that falls in every 12 years. With increase in demand of Tiger and Leopard parts, Indian Wildlife Official would visit China in November to discuss and suggest Tigers and Leopard poaching.

This meeting was finalized amongst the officials of National Tiger Conservation Authority and Wildilfe Crime Control Bureau. The meeting was finalized during the visit of Minister of Environment Jairam Ramesh to China in the end of August month in the year 2000.

During Ramesh's trip to China, Tiger poaching was one of the major issues on agenda been discussed. In a written statement to Chinese Officials, his ministry submitted that one of India's main concerns was that demand for tiger and leopard skins and bones would go up in 2010. India requested China to enforce a Tiger skin registration scheme and crack down on tiger trade through Nepal.

"The dialogue and enforcement on tiger conservation needs to be taken forward. This is why a team from Project Tiger and wildlife enforcement officers will be visiting China as a lot more needs to be done especially in this year of the tiger," Ramesh told The Indian Express.

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