Deer numbers drop, foresters worried

(Representative image)

Himanshu Kaushik | TNN | Updated: Oct 10, 2016, 05.40 AM IST
AHMEDABAD: For the first time in the past decade, the ungulate (hoofed mammal) population in Gir Sanctuary has registered a decline of around 15%. This was revealed when data collected during the summer census in May was collated by forest department in an internal exercise. Worried at the decline, the forest department has decided to re-conduct the census of sambhar and other ungulates in Gir forest.

A senior forest department official said that summer census figures show that the population of ungulates in Gir had dropped from 75,000 to 65,000 - the sharpest decline in a decade.

"The department has not been able to find an explanation for the nearly 15% decline in ungulate population," said an officer who assisted in the census and enumeration of data. Another officer, however, said, "The decline in reported numbers is due to the method of enumeration used."

Chief conservator of forest, Junagadh, R L Meena said, "This is an internal count of the department. The official census is held every five years, and the same was conducted in 2015."

Meena said, "However, we are again conducting the census for a couple of species in the forest including sambhar, as there has been a sharp decline in their numbers."

A senior forest department officer in Gir said the May census figures had not been collated until now and the report was yet to be sent to the department. Usually, the department takes two counts of ungulates - one in May and the other during winter. The report is usually sent to higher officers within a fortnight.

Principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife), J A Khan, said, "We are yet to receive the report as the final count has not been calculated, and hence it would be too early to comment on the decline."

However, experts feel that a decline in ungulate numbers would result in more lions moving out of the sanctuary to seek prey. The census 2015 has revealed that there were over 160-odd lions outside the protected sanctuary area. At present that number has crossed 250.

Forest officials said that around 40-odd lions had moved from Gir sanctuary due to monsoon and lack of prey.

HS Singh, a lion expert said, "I feel that the livestock population within the sanctuary is competing with the ungulate population. An increase in livestock may be related with the decline in ungulates."

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Deer-numbers-drop-foresters-worried/articleshow/54771979.cms

Posted at: Oct 7, 2016, 1:42 AM; last updated: Oct 7, 2016, 1:42 AM (IST) Work nearing completion at Mattewara Nature Reserve

Posted at: Oct 7, 2016, 1:42 AM; last updated: Oct 7, 2016, 1:42 AM (IST)n Butterfly, botanical gardens, lion safari, elephant camp and interpretation centre to be added attractions

Butterflies have started visiting the butterfly garden.

Gurvinder Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 6

The Forest Department is developing the Mattewara forest area into a nature reserve on around 2,000 acre forest land. Mattewara forest and the adjoining Jaspal Khadam area forest have been walled and this would be named as Mattewara Nature Reserve where a butterfly garden, a botanical garden, a lion safari as well as an elephant camp and ride in addition to an ‘interpretation’ area will be developed. While the work at butterfly garden is almost complete and botanical garden is expected to be completed in a month DFO Vishal Chauhan said they have sought permission from the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) to get animals from Gujarat. “We have already submitted a detailed project report to CZA, which had raised some objection, which have been resolved from our end. We are expecting an approval soon. Once it is done, we’ll start construction of the wall around the area where the lion safari will be developed,” he said. Meanwhile, three ponds have been created in the forest to provide water to animals and birds in the forest. “Earlier, animals used to go to the river for drinking water, but since the wall has been created for the forest reserve, ponds had to be created within the complex to provide water to animals within the reserve,” an official said. According to the officials, the work on the widening of the road leading to Nawanshehar from the district is on, which would see a rise in traffic from the road, where Mattewara Nature Reserve is coming up. “It will be near for Ludhiana residents and a ‘’showpiece of forests of Punjab’’ for people of Central Punjab to get close to nature and know more about it,” Chauhan said. Botanical garden to have 300 species of rare trees, plants  A botanical garden, adjoining the butterfly garden, is also being developed, where around 300 species of trees and plants, which are not common in the region, will be planted. These plants would also be brought from other areas, including Dehradun. "Landscaping is already being done in which three mounds have been created along with a small ''lake'' in the middle. A small ''island'' is also being made here. Apart from these, there will be areas in which different  species of plants including medicinal plants, palms, etc. would be planted," Nageen Kumar, forest guard at the reserve said. Plant varieties growing in water would be planted in the gardens. 20 varieties of shrubs, flowers to attract butterflies at the Butterfly garden  A butterfly garden is being developed, where around 20 varieties of shrubs and flowers, which attract butterflies, have been planted. These plants include both host varieties of plants on which butterflies lay eggs and nectar varieties of plants and shrubs from which butterflies draw nectar. These were planted around a month ago and butterflies have started coming to the garden already! "A small shed will also be created to provide shelter to butterflies in case it rains. The shrubs and plants have been brought from Dehradun," Pritpal Singh, block officer at the forest said. "As butterflies like natural environment, least amount of cement and unnatural objects will be used," he said. 7-8 lions to be brought from gir forest As a major attraction for tourists, a lion safari will also be planned on around 50 hectare land. Around 7-8 lions will be brought to the reserve from Gir Forest National Park and a wildlife sanctuary in Gujarat.  In addition to fencing of the area, sheds will be created for lions. There will be arrangement for visitors to see the area in a caged vehicle. 

Elephant ride

Another attraction at the park is an elephant camp. Elephant sheds have already been made in the area. Around three to four elephants will be brought to the reserve. There will also be an arrangement for having a ride atop an elephant.  Get all info at interpretation Centre For welcoming visitors to the complex, an interpretation centre will also be set up which will have information about the reserve and the forest in general. It will house a museum and a library regarding forests and wildlife. The centre will be made by the Public Works Department.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/ludhiana/community/work-nearing-completion-at-mattewara-nature-reserve/306009.html

Gir lions to add volume to Neyyar pride

Lions at Gir wildlife sanctuary

By Express News Service  |   Published: 05th October 2016 10:16 PM  |  

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The lion safari park at Neyyar wildlife sanctuary in the district is set to reverberate with the roar of more lions. The Forest and Wildlife Department launched an all-out effort to get two more lions from Gujarat, the home of the Asiatic lion. The government has kicked off a process to get a pair of lions from Sakkarbaug Zoological Garden (also, Junagadh Zoo), Forest Minister K Raju told the Assembly in reply to a question. This will take the number of lions at the park to five. The Sakkarbaug zoo supplies pure breed lions for captive breeding programmes to conserve the endangered species. Forest and Wildlife officials said that the plan was to get a male and a female lion from Gujarat to boost the tiny lion population in Neyyar park. At present, the park has three lions, one male and two females. “The plan to get the lions had been hanging fire for some time. But now it has been revived,” an official said.

In the red list
The ones found in zoos aside, Asiatic lion, a sub-species (Panthera leo persica) is now confined to Gujarat. The IUCN red list names the sub-species, which is smaller in size than the thick-maned African lion, as ‘endangered.’ The 14th Asiatic Lion Census conducted last year revealed the presence of 523 individuals, including 201 females.
With an eye on increasing tourist foot-fall, the state government is planning to renovate and develop basic infrastructure at the the lion safari park, deer park and crocodile farm in Neyyar, the Forest Minister said. It is as part of this programme that the canteen in the park has been renovated, he said. The Neyyar Wild Life Sanctuary covers 128 sq km and has considerable ecological significance. The sanctuary is situated close to Kallakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu.

http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/2016/oct/05/gir-lions-to-add-volume-to-neyyar-pride-1525409.html?pm=180

Lioness death: HC seeks report

TOI
Ahmedabad
Tue,04 Oct 2016

Summary: After the death of the lioness, two other lions had gone missing. AHMEDABAD: Gujarat high court on Monday asked the state government to submit a report on the investigation conducted into the death of a pregnant lioness caused by electrocution.The HC questioned the authorities after a PIL was filed in the matter demanding investigation by CID (crime) into the death. He has demanded formulation of a Standard Operating Procedure in case of unnatural deaths of lions. The court has also sought explanation about vacancies in the forest department, because the petitioner has demanded immediate filling up of the posts.The HC has kept further hearing in the matter on October 13. The Wild Life Crime Cell constituted in the past also remains dormant in such cases.

AHMEDABAD: Gujarat high court on Monday asked the state government to submit a report on the investigation conducted into the death of a pregnant lioness caused by electrocution.The HC questioned the authorities after a PIL was filed in the matter demanding investigation by CID (crime) into the death. The incident took place on September 1, and the carcass was found two days later in Hiran river in Talala range of Gir sanctuary - the last abode of the Asiatic lions Animal rights activist, Biren Pandya , has sought a police probe in this case on the ground that forest officials failed to conduct any inquiry in this case. After the death of the lioness, two other lions had gone missing.

Postmortem has revealed that the death was due to electrocution.Pandya has raised the issue that farmers around Gir sanctuary have put up electric fences around fields, and there are nearly 168 out of 523 lions that live outside the protected area. Their lives are at risk because of hostile behaviour by local residents.Pandya argued that inaction on part of forest officials, their apathy towards proper investigation, and their failure to crack the case would boost the morale of those who commit crimes against wildlife.Asiatic Lions have been facing the threat of extinction for more than a century and the task force that was to be set up to protect lions and probe their deaths has not been formed.The petitioner has cited the 2007 case of lion poaching and then crackdown on poachers by cops. He has demanded formulation of a Standard Operating Procedure in case of unnatural deaths of lions.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Lioness-death-HC-seeks-report/articleshow/54668653.cms

World Animal Day: 10 endangered Indian animals we need to save

Celebrating their existence, we have brought you 10 most endangered animal in India, who need our instant attention.
4 October  12:24 2016

New Delhi, October 4: Since 1929, October 4 is celebrated as World Animal Day every year with a purpose to benefit animals and the people who strive to improve their welfare. The day coincides with the feast day of Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals.
According to the official website of Worlds Animal Day, their mission is to improve the lives of animals, to end animal cruelty and to advance animal welfare standards around the world.
The occasion celebrated for the welfare of animals is led and sponsored by UK-based animal welfare charity, Naturewatch Foundation since 2003.
Celebrating their existence, we have brought you 10 most endangered animals in India, who need our instant attention.
1. Bengal Tiger

The Bengal tiger also called the royal Bengal tiger, is the most numerous tiger subspecies. It is the national animal of both India and Bangladesh. We have 2,500 tigers left as per a 2011 report with a decreasing trend. None of the Tiger Conservation Landscapes within the Bengal tiger's range is considered large enough to support an effective population size of 250 adult individuals.
2. Asiatic Lion

The Asiatic lion, also known as the Indian lion or Persian lion, is a lion subspecies that exists as a single population in India's Gujarat state. Some Asiatic lions also live in zoos. It is listed as Endangered by IUCN due to its small population size.
3. Snow Leopard

The snow leopard or ounce is a large cat native to the mountain ranges of Central and South Asia. It is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species because, as of 2003, the size of the global population was estimated at 4,080–6,590 adults, of which fewer than 2,500 individuals may reproduce in the wild.
4. Blackbuck

The blackbuck is an antelope found in India. The blackbuck is the sole extant member of the genus Antilope. Bollywood actor Salman Khan had been under the scanner for a long time for its killing.

5. Red Panda

The red panda, also called the lesser panda, the red bearcat, and is a mammal native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China. The red panda has been classified as Endangered by the IUCN because its wild population is estimated at less than 10,000 mature individuals and continues to decline due to habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching, and inbreeding depression, although red pandas are protected by national laws in their range countries.
6. Indian rhinoceros

The great Indian rhinoceros, also called the greater one-horned rhinoceros, is a rhinoceros native to the Indian subcontinent. It is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, as populations are fragmented and restricted to less than 20,000 km square.
7. The Nilgiri Tahr
The Nilgiri Tahr is an ungulate, endemic to the Nilgiri Hills. Nilgiri tahrs are stocky goats with short, coarse fur and a bristly mane.
8. Kashmir Red Stag (Hangul)

The Kashmir stag also known as Hangul is a critically endangered species. This deer has a light rump patch and don't have a tail. Each of its antlers consists of 5 tines.
9. Lion Tailed Macaque

The lion-tailed macaque, or the wanderoo, is an Old World monkey endemic to the Western Ghats of South India. Its outstanding characteristic is the silver-white mane which surrounds the head from the cheeks down to its chin, which gives this monkey its German name Bartaffe - "beard ape". From 1993 to 1996, 14 troops were observed in Silent Valley National Park, Kerala, one of the most undisturbed viable habitats left for them.
10. Indian Bison (Gaur)

Indian Bison is the largest extant bovine, native to South Asia and South-East Asia. The bisons are highly threatened by poaching for trade to supply international markets.

http://www.indiasamvad.co.in/environment/world-animal-day-endangered-animal-16770

Eco-tourism to conserve forests, wildlife

Binay Singh | TNN | Updated: Oct 5, 2016, 08.19 AM IST
Varanasi: The department of tourism has joined hands with the forest department to promote eco-tourism to help in conservation of forests and wildlife in Uttar Pradesh. The department of tourism will provide civic and tourist amenities in national parks and wildlife sanctuaries jointly with forest department to attract visitors.

The state government has created nine ecotourism circuits to connect 34 ecotourism destinations in UP. One of the circuits Vindhya Mountain Circuit in eastern UP covers forest areas and wildlife sanctuaries of Kaimoor Wildlife Sanctuary (Mirzapur), Chandraprabha Wildlife Sanctuary (Chandauli), Hathinala (Sonbhadra), Vijaygarh (Sonbhadra) and Chunar/Vindham (Mirzapur).

"We have invested Rs 1.5 crore to improve amenities for tourists at Rajdari and Deodari waterfalls in Chandraprabha Wildlife sanctuary in Chandauli district. Besides, a fund of Rs 2.7 crore was invested for the conservation of Salkhan Fossil Park and tourist amenities in Sonbhadra district," regional tourism officer Ravindra Kumar Mishra said. According to ecotourism policy, the ecotourism plan for forest areas and nearby tourist destinations will be conservation centric. UP, with its 16,620 sq km forest area, is home to some exquisitely beautiful landscapes, forest vistas, meandering rivers and beautiful waterfalls and a large number of endangered birds and animals. There is one national park, 11 wildlife sanctuaries and 24 bird sanctuaries to provide protection to endangered biodiversity.

For the promotion of ecotourism, nine circuits have been created that include Western Wildlife Circuit, Lion Safari and Riverine Circuit, Terai Tiger Circuit, Bundelkhand Adventure Circuit, Vindhya Mountain Circuit, Western Bird/wetland Circuit, Central Bird/Wetland Circuit, Ganga Basin Circuit and Eastern Wildlife Circuit.

The Vindhya Mountain Circuit spreads in Chandauli, Mirzapur and Sonbhadra districts of eastern UP. It has Chandraprabha Wildlife Sanctuary and Kaimoor Wildlife Sanctuary. The Chandra Prabha Wildlife Sanctuary is the part of Kashi Wildlife Division situated in Chandauli district. It is endowed with beautiful picnic spots, dense forests and scenic waterfalls like Rajdari and Devdari. Once it was also the home of Asiatic lions brought here from the Gir forest of Gujarat.

Kaimoor Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Kaimur hills range in Mirzapur and Sonbhadra districts. It is the largest sanctuary in the state and occupies an area of about 1342 sq km. This sanctuary has ancient cave paintings and a fossil park. According to records, the animals making part of the habitat of the sanctuary are tigers, leopards, wild boars, sambar deer, chitals, four-horned antelope and nilgai. It is home to more than 70 species of resident birds, which stay here all around the year. The number increases in the migratory season during the winters, when there is an influx of birds from the Central Asia.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/varanasi/Eco-tourism-to-conserve-forests-wildlife/articleshow/54688353.cms

SAVE THE LION - `Fencing pvt farms around Gir a threat to lions, humans'

(Representative image)

Vijaysinh Parmar | TNN | Oct 5, 2016, 06.47 AM IST
RAJKOT: Forest department officials and experts on Tuesday voiced serious concern over iron fencing around private farms and houses that are coming up in large numbers on the periphery of the Gir sanctuary .
Experts said that the fencing had blocked the natural corridor of lions movement, forcing these wild cats to stray into areas of human habitation and even on the main roads.

The issue was discussed in detail on the concluding day of the two-day national workshop on `Conservation of Asiatic lions in Gujarat and initiatives for future management' held at Sasan Gir.

"Large number of farm houses are being constructed and most of them have an average eight feet high fencing around Gir forest and in greater Gir where lions are moving. Lions have been using these space as their natural corridors to move from one area to another. Many farms are spread in hundreds of acres land and are fenced. This is a serious issue in lion conservation," said Rohit Vyas, member Gujarat State Wildlife Advisory Board.

AK Sharma, former IFS officer, endorsed the idea and said that the fencing should be for demarcation purpose only . The fencing can be built as a stone wall too. "Ironically , forest depart ment provides subsidy to far mers to protect their crops from wild animals," Sharma said.

Giving an ex ample of one such big fencing area, a senior forest officer told TOI that a senior political lea der of Saurashtra has acquired 1,200 bigha land near Jesar in Bhavnagar, which is a major lion corridor towards Ranigala area. The entire area is fenced. "Naturally , lions will have to choose other routes which could be through human habitat or roads," he said.

The Ambardi interpretation zone is an example where 400 reserved forest land is fenced.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/SAVE-THE-LION-Fencing-pvt-farms-around-Gir-a-threat-to-lions-humans/articleshow/54687539.cms

Lion conservation in Gir forest: Experts stress on landscape development, cattle policy

Forest Department of Gujarat has proposed to initiate drone surveillance in the forest areas of the state including in the Gir National Park, the only habitat of Asiatic Lion in the world.Retired IFS officer A K Sharma advised forest officers not to consider lions their assets, but their kings and “serve” them as their subordinates and servants.
By: Express News Service | Rajkot | Published:October 5, 2016 1:54 am

EXPERTS AND forest officers discussed on challenges facing the lion conservation efforts over the next 50 years and identified a few important areas which will require special focus at the end of a two-day national workshop at Sasan in Junagadh on Tuesday. “At the end of the workshop, the broader consensus was that for efficient conservation of lions over the next 50 years, lion movement areas should be brought under legal regime to the extent possible, staffing should be augmented, there should be a policy on cattle and dogs entering the forest, community participation should be increased and landscape development approach should be adopted,” chief conservator of forests of Junagadh wildlife circle, Aniruddh Pratap Singh, said.
The two-day workshop started on Monday at Sasan, the headquarters of Gir National Park and Sanctuary (GNPS) and concluded on Tuesday as part of the culmination of year-long golden jubilee celebration of Gir sanctuary. Senior forest officers, retired Indian Forest Service Officers and researchers shared their views on the success story of lions conservation in the state over the past 50 years and suggested plans for the next 50 years to strengthen and sustain the conservation regime.