Lessons from Voluntary Resettlement in the Western Ghats

-  Articles, -  Featured Article Leave a Comment

K.Ullas Karanth and Krithi Karanth on the lessons learned from resettlement projects in three important protected areas in the Western Ghats — Nagarahole, Bhadra and Kudremukh.

Forests in the Western Ghats occur as fragmented strips within a larger landscape matrix of crops and tree plantations. Reserves in the Ghats cover only twelve per cent of total area and the average reserve size is 243 sq km; the fourteen legally protected areas in the Ghats cover a total of only 6400 … Read More

Interview with Elephant Task Force head, Mahesh Rangarajan

-  News Leave a Comment

Mahesh Rangarajan, environment historian and head of the Elephant Task Force talks to The Hindu about the Elephant, the task force report and conservation issues. He talks about the effects of declaring the Elephant as a National Heritage Animal and about the problems foreseen in implementing the task force report. His conclusion is that it is crucial that science, culture and the citizen come together to minimize conflict and keep elephant habitats secure.… Read More

Hand reared Tigress released into Panna Wildlife Reserve as part of experiment Mar 29, 2011

-  News Leave a Comment

A six year old hand-reared tigress has been released into the Panna Wildlife Reserve in Madhya Pradesh by HS Pabla, the head of the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department. Experts however contend that this amounts of suicide for the tigers as they cannot match wild tigers in terms of survival skills. However, HS Pabla contends that the tigress has been trained for the last six years and been bereft of human company. The tigress (along with another) were in an enclosure … Read More

Review of the Tiger Task Force report, 2005 — Joining the Dots but Losing the Cats?

-  Articles, -  Featured Article Leave a Comment

After the Sariska catastrophe, and the resultant public outcry, the Prime Minister appointed a Tiger Task Force (TTF) to review the status of the species. The TTF submitted a 206-page report titled Joining the Dots in August 2005. Dr Ullas Karanth reviews the TTF report.

Maintaining ‘inviolate’ areas for wild tiger populations

The TTF recognizes that viable breeding populations of wild tigers need sufficient habitats free of incompatible human uses. It projects an area of 37,000 sq km, within boundaries … Read More

Tribute — Billy Arjan Singh (1917 – 2010)

-  Miscellaneous, -  Resources Leave a Comment

Prerna Bindra looks back on the life of a committed conservationist whose legacy in wildlife preservation continues to inspire.

‘HONORARY TIGER’ Padma Bhushan Billy Arjan Singh breathed his last on the first day of the Year of the Tiger’ – January 1, 2010. He will be remembered as a pioneer conservationist, and for his long and courageous battle for India’s wildlife. My abiding memory of Billy dates back to five winters ago. I was at Tiger Haven, his home at … Read More

Around 40 White-rumped Vultures sighted in Panidihing Sanctuary in Assam

-  News Leave a Comment

A flock of about 40 white-rumped vultures have been spotted in the Panidihing bird sanctuary in the Sivasagar district of Assam. This is the first sighting in three years of such large numbers. The most common of the nine vulture species, the white rumped Vulture has seen a population decline of over 99% since the early 1990s. The main cause has been cited to be the use of diclofenac, used to treat livestock. Diclofenac causes renal failure in the vultures … Read More

Habitual wildlife offender from Bawaria community sentenced to five years imprisonment for trade in Tiger Parts

-  News Leave a Comment

Dilipo, a member of the Bawaria community was sentenced to five years and three months of rigorous imprisonment and Rs. 50,000 fine for illegal trade in tiger parts. She had been arrested in 2007 following a seizure of tiger parts. This conviction is her third. Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) advocates Rakesh Kumar Srivatasava and Sanjay Kumar Rai assisted the prosecution. The Bawarias are a nomadic community and traditional bushmeat hunters. There have been many incidents of wildlife goods found … Read More

Panther caught in snare freed in Anamalai Tiger Reserve

-  News Leave a Comment

A panther caught in a snare made out of brake and clutch cables near Sholayar Dam in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve, was freed by forest officials. The panther was found hanging with one of its legs caught in the snare which was tied to an immovable object. The animal was tranquilised and freed from the snare. In its attempts to free itself, the panther had suffered leg injuries. The injuries were treated and the panther released into the forest on … Read More

National Geographic Newswatch: Dr. Ullas Karanth shares his views on India’s latest Tiger Census

-  News Leave a Comment

Dr. Stuart Pimm, a Conservation Biologist from Duke University, North Carolina shares details about his time spent with Dr. Ullas Karanth in Nagarhole National Park, India. The article provides insights into Dr. Ullas Karanth’s crtical views on India’s latest Tiger Census results. Dr. Karanth summarizes that it is high time that the four year national estimation be changed to an annual exercise based on DNA analysis and camera trapping. He also calls for an end to the Government’s monopoly over … Read More

Protests against mini hydel projects in Bisle forests in Karnataka

-  News Leave a Comment

A protest was held by various environmental groups against two proposed mini hydel projects across the Addahole and Girihole streams. The Karnataka Renewable Energy Ltd. has cleared the projects each with a capacity of 24 MW. The protesters alleged that the projects would divert the streams which provided water to wild animals. The Bisle forests are home to endangered species such as the Lion-tailed Macaque.… Read More

A Reprieve for the Wolves of Maidenahalli

-  Case Studies Leave a Comment

The Indian wolf (Canis lupus pallipes), a subspecies of the Eurasian wolf (Canis lupus), found in the Himalayan ranges, is a lanky animal with short fur, about the size of a German Shepherd Dog. An estimated 2000-3000 of these animals now survive in India, mainly in the states of Orissa, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. They are wide ranging, pack hunting predators requiring large home ranges. As agriculture expanded … Read More

Signs of Gharial revival in Hooghly; Breeding group identified at Purbasthali

-  News Leave a Comment

In good news for the seriously threatened Gharial, better than thought before numbers of the reptiles have been counted in the Hooghly. The Gharial population has now been estimated to be around 250 in a 500 km stretch of the Hooghly from Farakka to Tribeni. The population is also apparently breeding, as new born members have also been spotted. The species was considered extinct in that region for about 60 years. The study was done by iRebel, an NGO that … Read More