Indian wildlife park loses 32 rare Asiatic lions
11 hours ago
NEW DELHI (AFP) — A total of 32 rare lions have died at a national park this year, the Wildlife Protection Society of India said Friday.
The society said five lions had recently been electrocuted, adding to a long list of deaths this year at Gir National Park in western Gujarat state.
"The Asiatic lion is one of the most critically endangered species on this planet and this added twist of so many lions being killed by electrocution... is a catastrophe", said Belinda Wright, the society's executive director.
"Preliminary information suggests that the three lionesses and two cubs were electrocuted by a crop protection fence put up by a farmer near Dhari, Amreli district, in an area adjoining Gir National Park," she said in a statement.
"This new tragedy brings the number of Gir lions that have died this year to a staggering total of 32 lions."
The society listed eight lions killed by poaching, six electrocuted, five fallen into wells, one hit by a vehicle and 12 others found dead.
The Wildlife Protection Society of India is already working closely with the enforcement authorities to curb the killing of lions by professional poachers, the society said.
The number of Asiatic lions plummeted from around 1,000 a century ago to just 20 in 1913 but the creation of the Gir sanctuary after India's independence from British colonial rule in 1947 helped revive the population.
The 1,400-square-kilometre (560-square-mile) sanctuary -- the world's only natural habitat for the lions -- was home to more than 350 lions when the latest census was carried out in 2005.
Poachers hunt in Gir for pelt, claws and body parts, which have ready markets outside India.
Source:http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5i2cqmZwt77xWEH4MjAYEe4ICmSXg
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Five Gir lions electrocuted with Photo.
Photo Source: http://www.divyabhaskar.co.in/2007/10/19/0710192330_dhari.html
20 Oct 2007, 0009 hrs IST,TNN
AHMEDABAD/RAJKOT: In yet another shocking instance of man-animal conflict, a factor that has been the bane of India’s most prized wildlife assets, five Asiatic lions were electrocuted by a villager in Amreli district within the Gir forest range while trying to protect his farm and cattle from the big cats.
District authorities said the killings took place around three days back when the lions strayed into an electrically charged barbed wire fence put up by Durlabhji Vadharia, a cotton farmer in Prempara village. He than buried their carcasses inside a deep pit to evade detection.
Vadharia, who said he had put up the electric fence to protect his farm from stray animals, was arrested on Friday. The incident came to light after villagers noticed five lions missing from a pride of nine that had strayed into areas around their fields. The surviving four are cubs aged less than a year.
Conservator of forests Bharat Pathak said, ‘‘I remember only one incident of a jackal and leopard getting electrocuted together; I have never heard or seen lions dying such a death.’’
Pathak said all parts of the lions — along with their claws — were intact which ruled out poaching. Forensic experts found electrocution marks on the torsos of the three lions.
If convicted, Vadharia could get up to seven years imprisonment.
While forest officials said the lions may have been killed three days back, Vadharia claimed the deaths took place a week ago. He said he dumped the big cats — three lionesses and two cubs — in a three feet-deep pit and covered it with fertiliser so that passers-by would not get suspicious and the carcasses would decompose quickly.
Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Five_Gir_lions_electrocuted/articleshow/2475479.cms
Open wells, live wires threat to lions!
20 Oct 2007, 0109 hrs IST,TNN
AHMEDABAD: Open wells and live electric wires in fields are old problems. However, officials said the Friday incident was one of the biggest so far in the history of Gir sanctuary, and the second in this year. Earlier, in January, a lion died because of electrocution in Jafrabad taluka.
Every year, a larger number of animals die after falling in open wells or due to electrocution. There are over 8,000 open wells and officials have not taken any step to have parapets constructed along them. When it comes to electrocution, forest officials pass the buck on to GEB saying the board is supposed to check the fields.
As one drives around Gir, especially towards Dhari, one can find barbed wire fencing with thorny bushes around. Farmers on the periphery of Gir National Park frequently use illegal electric fences and connect high voltage overhead power lines directly to these fences. This has on several occasions led to the electrocution of Asiatic lions and other wildlife.
A farmer near Dhari said, "A group of animals can completely destroy the standing crop creating huge losses. To protect the crop we have to pass electric current." Former principal chief conservator of forest Sanat Chauhan says, "This problem existed earlier but of late it has been increasing." He, however, said regular checking by GEB and forest department did help bring things under control. He said, "Lion conservation societies which existed in past do not exist any more. Hence there is no regular monitoring or feedback from people."
himanshu.kaushik@timesgroup.com
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Ahmedabad/Open_wells_live_wires_threat_to_lions/articleshow/2475588.cms
AHMEDABAD: Open wells and live electric wires in fields are old problems. However, officials said the Friday incident was one of the biggest so far in the history of Gir sanctuary, and the second in this year. Earlier, in January, a lion died because of electrocution in Jafrabad taluka.
Every year, a larger number of animals die after falling in open wells or due to electrocution. There are over 8,000 open wells and officials have not taken any step to have parapets constructed along them. When it comes to electrocution, forest officials pass the buck on to GEB saying the board is supposed to check the fields.
As one drives around Gir, especially towards Dhari, one can find barbed wire fencing with thorny bushes around. Farmers on the periphery of Gir National Park frequently use illegal electric fences and connect high voltage overhead power lines directly to these fences. This has on several occasions led to the electrocution of Asiatic lions and other wildlife.
A farmer near Dhari said, "A group of animals can completely destroy the standing crop creating huge losses. To protect the crop we have to pass electric current." Former principal chief conservator of forest Sanat Chauhan says, "This problem existed earlier but of late it has been increasing." He, however, said regular checking by GEB and forest department did help bring things under control. He said, "Lion conservation societies which existed in past do not exist any more. Hence there is no regular monitoring or feedback from people."
himanshu.kaushik@timesgroup.com
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Ahmedabad/Open_wells_live_wires_threat_to_lions/articleshow/2475588.cms
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Wildlife Week: Zoo-keepers honoured.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Oct 9, 2007
Tuesday October 9 2007 09:15 IST
Express News Service
Thulaseedharan, Rajendran and Saji.
T’PURAM: They have seen terror staring at their face. They have had many a close shave with death. Living with the wild 365 days a year is no easy job for the animal-keepers at the city zoo. Precisely the reason why five of them were honoured on Monday at the concluding ceremony of the Wildlife Week at the zoo.
Thulaseedharan, Saji, Rajendran, Vimalan and Sukumaran Nadar are the five zoo-keepers who received the awards from Minister for Culture M.A. Baby.
Rajendran and Sukumaran Nadar were honoured for rearing the leopard cub Sheena, Saji and Vimalan for taking care of the lion-tailed macacques and Thulaseedharan for taking care of the tiger cubs.
Thulaseedharan stands out among the five, for he holds the record for handling the notorious rhinoceros ‘Ramu’ for a maximum of four-and-a-half years. ‘‘Ramu is the name in the records. But I call him ‘Kashi’ and he responds to the name wherever he is,’’ says Thulaseedharan, who has been serving the city zoo for the last fifteen years.
Ramu had been in the news for all the wrong reasons — for goring his keeper Vijayakumar and his mate Rita to death. ‘‘I don’t know what triggered such reactions, but we used to be good friends,’’ says Thulaseedharan.
On his daily work, Thulaseedharan says: ‘‘Maybe this is the only zoo in the country where the rhinos are oiled to prevent the cracking up of skin.’’ He even used to give Cadbury’s chocolate and five-star bars to the rhino. ‘‘Kashi loved to lick all the sweets and toffees,’’ Thulaseedharan adds.
Each keeper is given the charge of handling one animal for one year. Right now, Thulaseedharan handles the tigers, giving them food and medicines and sometimes even changing cages. He is a favourite with one-year-old tigers Manikantan, Manu and Ganga, while their mother Karishma is quite naturally jealous.
If the tiger-mother has a problem, the lion-tailed monkey- mothers are all happy with their keeper Saji, who helped them deliver their young ones. ‘‘A unique feat as lion-tailed macacques do not usually breed in captivity. Saji was given the award for this and rearing the young macacques,’’ says Abu, zoo superintendent.
Saji shares the award with Vimalan as the two of them were responsible for the rearing of the little monkeys.
Source: http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEO20071008225427&Page=O&Headline=Wildlife+Week%3A+Zoo-keepers+honoured&Title=Thiruvananthapuram&Topic=0
Tuesday October 9 2007 09:15 IST
Express News Service
Thulaseedharan, Rajendran and Saji.
T’PURAM: They have seen terror staring at their face. They have had many a close shave with death. Living with the wild 365 days a year is no easy job for the animal-keepers at the city zoo. Precisely the reason why five of them were honoured on Monday at the concluding ceremony of the Wildlife Week at the zoo.
Thulaseedharan, Saji, Rajendran, Vimalan and Sukumaran Nadar are the five zoo-keepers who received the awards from Minister for Culture M.A. Baby.
Rajendran and Sukumaran Nadar were honoured for rearing the leopard cub Sheena, Saji and Vimalan for taking care of the lion-tailed macacques and Thulaseedharan for taking care of the tiger cubs.
Thulaseedharan stands out among the five, for he holds the record for handling the notorious rhinoceros ‘Ramu’ for a maximum of four-and-a-half years. ‘‘Ramu is the name in the records. But I call him ‘Kashi’ and he responds to the name wherever he is,’’ says Thulaseedharan, who has been serving the city zoo for the last fifteen years.
Ramu had been in the news for all the wrong reasons — for goring his keeper Vijayakumar and his mate Rita to death. ‘‘I don’t know what triggered such reactions, but we used to be good friends,’’ says Thulaseedharan.
On his daily work, Thulaseedharan says: ‘‘Maybe this is the only zoo in the country where the rhinos are oiled to prevent the cracking up of skin.’’ He even used to give Cadbury’s chocolate and five-star bars to the rhino. ‘‘Kashi loved to lick all the sweets and toffees,’’ Thulaseedharan adds.
Each keeper is given the charge of handling one animal for one year. Right now, Thulaseedharan handles the tigers, giving them food and medicines and sometimes even changing cages. He is a favourite with one-year-old tigers Manikantan, Manu and Ganga, while their mother Karishma is quite naturally jealous.
If the tiger-mother has a problem, the lion-tailed monkey- mothers are all happy with their keeper Saji, who helped them deliver their young ones. ‘‘A unique feat as lion-tailed macacques do not usually breed in captivity. Saji was given the award for this and rearing the young macacques,’’ says Abu, zoo superintendent.
Saji shares the award with Vimalan as the two of them were responsible for the rearing of the little monkeys.
Source: http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEO20071008225427&Page=O&Headline=Wildlife+Week%3A+Zoo-keepers+honoured&Title=Thiruvananthapuram&Topic=0
Monday, October 8, 2007
Good Work by Jammu Kashmir Wild life Department.
Members of Jammu Kashmir Wild life Department burn garments made of animal skins in Srinagar, India, Sunday Oct. 7, 2007. These garments were given up by fur traders after the government banned the trade 10 years back as part of protecting the wild life. (AP Photo)
Source: http://www.gujaratsamachar.com/#
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Vacation of Gir Asiatic Lions, over!
INDIA celebrating National Wildlife Week.
----------
Gir Wild Life Sanctuary and Devaliya National Park will be open up from 16th October 2007 for visitors, says Mr. S. M. Raja (DCF-Wild Life-Sasan). It was closed on 16th June 2007, normally due to monsoon as well as mating season for Asiatic Lions, every year nearly for four months, both the parks closed by the Forest Department.
Due to Winter many migrating birds will visit Kamleshwar, Raval, Machchhundari and Shingoda Dam in side Gir Forest, Forest area is aprox 1412 K.M.
LET'S ENJOY OUR GREEN GREEN G I R ....!
----------
Gir Wild Life Sanctuary and Devaliya National Park will be open up from 16th October 2007 for visitors, says Mr. S. M. Raja (DCF-Wild Life-Sasan). It was closed on 16th June 2007, normally due to monsoon as well as mating season for Asiatic Lions, every year nearly for four months, both the parks closed by the Forest Department.
Due to Winter many migrating birds will visit Kamleshwar, Raval, Machchhundari and Shingoda Dam in side Gir Forest, Forest area is aprox 1412 K.M.
LET'S ENJOY OUR GREEN GREEN G I R ....!
Thursday, October 4, 2007
India creates network of wildlife sanctuaries
3 Oct, 2007, 2230 hrs IST, IANS
NEW DELHI: India has set up a network of 606 wildlife sanctuaries and national parks for efficient management of wildlife, Minister of State for Environment and Forests S. Regupathy said Wednesday.
Addressing a function to celebrate Wildlife Week, Regupathy said: "For better management and protection of wildlife, a large network of 606 protected areas comprising 96 national parks and 510 wildlife sanctuaries has been created."
"This covers an area of 15.59 million hectare," he said.
The minister said that Project Tiger has been restructured and transformed into National Tiger Conservation Authority with wider mandate and powers.
He said his ministry was emphasising on expeditious settlement of rights of forest dwellers, improved habitat management and strengthening of enforcement infrastructure.
"Recently, the focus has been on eco-development and improvement of rural livelihood programmes that take care of the entire landscape," he said, adding that people's participation was crucial for implementation of policies and programmes.
He conferred the Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife Conservation Awards to Mike Pandey for 2004 and to Himmat Singh Negi for 2005.
The government instituted the award to encourage people and institutions to contribute towards wildlife conservation.
India celebrates Wildlife Week in the first week of October.
Upholding the stellar role of people in conserving biodiversity, Meena Gupta, ministry of environment and forests secretary, said conservation movements like Chipko Movement in Uttarakhand and the Bishnoi's wildlife conservation in Rajasthan were bright examples of it.
Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/ET_Cetera/India_creates_network_of_wildlife_sanctuaries/articleshow/2426486.cms
NEW DELHI: India has set up a network of 606 wildlife sanctuaries and national parks for efficient management of wildlife, Minister of State for Environment and Forests S. Regupathy said Wednesday.
Addressing a function to celebrate Wildlife Week, Regupathy said: "For better management and protection of wildlife, a large network of 606 protected areas comprising 96 national parks and 510 wildlife sanctuaries has been created."
"This covers an area of 15.59 million hectare," he said.
The minister said that Project Tiger has been restructured and transformed into National Tiger Conservation Authority with wider mandate and powers.
He said his ministry was emphasising on expeditious settlement of rights of forest dwellers, improved habitat management and strengthening of enforcement infrastructure.
"Recently, the focus has been on eco-development and improvement of rural livelihood programmes that take care of the entire landscape," he said, adding that people's participation was crucial for implementation of policies and programmes.
He conferred the Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife Conservation Awards to Mike Pandey for 2004 and to Himmat Singh Negi for 2005.
The government instituted the award to encourage people and institutions to contribute towards wildlife conservation.
India celebrates Wildlife Week in the first week of October.
Upholding the stellar role of people in conserving biodiversity, Meena Gupta, ministry of environment and forests secretary, said conservation movements like Chipko Movement in Uttarakhand and the Bishnoi's wildlife conservation in Rajasthan were bright examples of it.
Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/ET_Cetera/India_creates_network_of_wildlife_sanctuaries/articleshow/2426486.cms
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Drive to save tiger!
A STAFF REPORTER
Dancers in tiger masks at the launch. Picture by Bishwarup Dutta
“Royal Bengal Tiger Bachao” — a campaign organised by Sanctuary Asia magazine and Bengal Tiger Line (a shipping company) — was launched at Town Hall, on Monday.
The drive was supported by Sunderbans Tiger Reserve and Sunderbans Biosphere Reserve.
“This is a conservation drive aimed at combating climate change and protecting the Sunderbans and the Bengal tiger,” said Bittu Sahgal, the editor of Sanctuary Asia.
Forest department officials were also awarded at the event for their contribution to protecting the forests.
Actor Rahul Bose, painter Suvaprasanna, singer Srikanta Acharya and actor Arindam Sil were present on the occasion and urged people to support the campaign. However, a major part of the audience comprised of schoolchildren.
“We plan to spread awareness about the Sunderbans chiefly among schoolchildren,” said Joydeep Kundu, the campaign’s city coordinator.
“Our next programme will be held on October 3 under Bally–II gram panchayat in the Sunderbans,” stated Colonel S.R. Banerjee, the honorary director of Wildlife Protection Society of India.
Source: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1071002/asp/calcutta/story_8384555.asp
Dancers in tiger masks at the launch. Picture by Bishwarup Dutta
“Royal Bengal Tiger Bachao” — a campaign organised by Sanctuary Asia magazine and Bengal Tiger Line (a shipping company) — was launched at Town Hall, on Monday.
The drive was supported by Sunderbans Tiger Reserve and Sunderbans Biosphere Reserve.
“This is a conservation drive aimed at combating climate change and protecting the Sunderbans and the Bengal tiger,” said Bittu Sahgal, the editor of Sanctuary Asia.
Forest department officials were also awarded at the event for their contribution to protecting the forests.
Actor Rahul Bose, painter Suvaprasanna, singer Srikanta Acharya and actor Arindam Sil were present on the occasion and urged people to support the campaign. However, a major part of the audience comprised of schoolchildren.
“We plan to spread awareness about the Sunderbans chiefly among schoolchildren,” said Joydeep Kundu, the campaign’s city coordinator.
“Our next programme will be held on October 3 under Bally–II gram panchayat in the Sunderbans,” stated Colonel S.R. Banerjee, the honorary director of Wildlife Protection Society of India.
Source: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1071002/asp/calcutta/story_8384555.asp
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)