Cabinet approves decentralization and strengthening of National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)

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The Union Cabinet today approved the creation of four posts in the rank of Inspector General of Forests for the three Regional Offices and Headquarters of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). This decision, in conjunction with the recent decision to set up 3 regional offices of the NTCA in Nagpur, Guwahati and Bengaluru is expected to give a major boost to India’s tiger conservation efforts.

Welcoming the decision, the Minister of State (I/C), Shri Jairam Ramesh said: “This is … Read More

Report: Tiger Link — December 2009

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The Ranthambhore Foundation publishes TigerLink, a newsletter that serves as a valuable resource library and is a strong pressure lobby to counter misguided development policies of the government. It is distributed widely, especially among policy makers, decision makers, experts and NGO’s concern with tiger conservation across the globe. It also serves as an information base for media professionals and those seeking concise information on tiger conservation issues.… Read More

Mansingh-Deo declared a Wildlife Sanctuary

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Mansingh-Deo has been notified as a Wildlife Sanctuary by the Maharashtra Government. This brings protection to about 183 sq. km of critical habitat that provides connectivity between the forests of Central India and also provides a crucial buffer to Pench National Park. The notification was first proposed in 1980 and it has taken more than two decades of lobbying. The latest move was the result of Dr. Ranjithsinh’s (Chairman of WTI) letter to Union Minister Jairam Ramesh, appraising him of … Read More

Tiger Tourism or Trauma?

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I recently refused to write a travelogue on Corbett for a renowned travel magazine. With some reluctance, given that I am always scouting for an excuse, and an opportunity, to visit the reserve. But as author of a report that established that tourism is a major threat to Corbett, I could hardly cross the fence and promote the ‘evil empire’.

Wait a minute here: Isn’t tourism the best means to win supporters for the cause? Doesn’t it benefit the local … Read More

The International Tiger Conservation Forum aims to double numbers

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Governments of the 13 countries where tigers still live aim to agree moves that could double numbers of the endangered big cats within 12 years.

The International Tiger Conservation Forum in St Petersburg will discuss proposals on protecting habitat, tackling poaching, and finance.

About 3,000 tigers live in the wild – a 40% decline in a decade. There are warnings that without major advances, some populations will disappear within the next 20 years.

Five prime ministers are due to attend … Read More

Translocated tiger found dead in Sariska

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A five-year-old male tiger, translocated from Ranthambore to Sariska in June 2008, on Monday was found dead within the Sariska Tiger Sanctuary by a team of Rajasthan forest officials on the trail of another four-year-old tiger “missing” since Friday.

The ambitious project to revive Sariska’s tiger population, which lost all its tigers by 2005, began in June 2008 when a tiger was translocated from Ranthambore National Park (RNP) to Sariska in a helicopter. Since then, five tigers have been translocated … Read More

Centre team aghast at Palamau Tiger Reserve neglect

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Ranchi, Oct. 22: A national team visiting the Palamau Tiger Reserve has castigated Jharkhand for not being serious about its upkeep, citing stark mismanagement and a severe staff crunch as among the many testimonials to the indifference of successive state governments.

While senior officials of the reserve, including director Paritosh Upadhyay, cited delays in sanctioning funds as the primary reason for all problems, the team, constituted by the National Tiger Conservation Authority of India (NTCA), wasn’t impressed.

“Despite the problems … Read More

40 new mining leases granted near Sariska

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JAIPUR: The beauty of the Aravalli-flanked Sariska Reserve may soon be a thing of past with Rajasthan government granting 40 new mining leases in the eco-sensitive zone, something that’ll leave the area pock-marked with quarries and pose a threat to an ambitious tiger rehab project.

The government sanctioned the leases on Tuesday on a plea that Aravalli range, where stone mining had been sanctioned, had contours less than 100 feet, which is not considered as a hill as per state … Read More

The male tiger that intruded into the Keoladeo National Park no hurry to leave

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The male tiger that intruded into the Keoladeo National Park bird sanctuary near Bharatpur in Rajasthan this past Sunday is seemingly enjoying his stay and is in no hurry to leave. The animal, now confirmed as T-7 of Ranthambhore National Park, which announced his arrival in Keoladeo with the killing of a blue bull, has over the past two days hunted a wild boar and a calf of feral cattle and fed on the former ignoring the calf. Though the … Read More

Leonardo DiCaprio to help save India’s tigers

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NEW DELHI — Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio will put his fame to work to raise global awareness about India’s dwindling number of tigers, an official said Saturday.

DiCaprio and India’s Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh met at a reception Friday in New York organised by the Coalition of Rainforest Nations, an inter-governmental organisation.

“The actor met the minister and has expressed his interest to play a crucial role in sensitising the global community to the cause of the Indian tiger,” a … Read More

Lost tiger population discovered in Bhutan

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A “lost” population of tigers has been caught on camera living in the mountains of Bhutan, a discovery that could be crucial for the big cats’ survival. Their discovery has stunned experts, as the tigers are living at a higher altitude (~4000m) than any others known and appear to be successfully breeding. Their presence in the Bhutan highlands has been confirmed by footage taken by a BBC natural history camera crew.

Creating a nature reserve around the tigers could connect … Read More

Tiger Crossing, Tadoba

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This image was taken in Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) in March 2010. The road is used equally by wildlife, villagers (on foot, bicycles and motorbikes), tourist safari jeeps, forest department vehicles and state transport buses.

The ongoing voluntary resettlement of villagers from various villages inside the reserve would over time lessen traffic on these roads and reduce pressure on tigers and their habitat. … Read More

Panna tigress spotted with 3 cubs

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In cheering news for wildlife enthusiasts, a tigress brought to Madhya Pradesh’s Panna National Park last year has given birth to three cubs, officials said on Sunday. The good news comes exactly a year after the reserve was declared without any tigers.

One tigress each from Kanha and Bandhavgarh had been translocated to the park in March last year while a male tiger from Pench was moved there in November.… Read More

Amitabh Bachchan to promote ‘Save our Tigers’ initiative

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Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan announced that he will lend his face and voice to save the majestic tiger from becoming extinct.

As ambassador of “Save our Tigers” campaign initiated by NDTV and Aircel, Mr. Bachchan will use his charisma and popularity to drive home the message to save the tiger.

Mr. Bachchan said the tiger is symbolic of our country’s wildlife wealth and is in danger because of rampant poaching and ineffectiveness of our systems to stop its killing. “Collective … Read More