Time to strengthen its prey base

The recent wildlife census conducted at Kalakkad – Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) shows a significant increase in the predator population and signals the need to strengthen its prey base or herbivore population. When the survey team crossed Rettaikaradu area in Thirukkurunkudi range, the members saw a panther, a ‘shy animal’, taking rest under a shade and another team, which was trekking near Maanjolai above Manimuthar dam, saw a panther standing on a rock at a distance.

Owing to mixing up of animal, human and industrial waste

Even as the first phase of encroachment eviction drive on the banks of the Tamirabharani has been completed and cleaning of the thorny bushes on the sloping land besides the water body has been going on for the past few Saturdays, a lot of things needs to be done to really save the river, as the pathological quality of this river has reached an alarming status.

Thanks to forest personnel who have successfully checked poaching

Here is really a heartening news for nature lovers as the Indian gaur population at Kalakkad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) has increased significantly during the past few years as the forest personnel have successfully checked poaching by hunters from Kerala through continuous vigil from their permanent camps in the highly inaccessible evergreen forests.

The weaknesses include inadequate trained and competent staff in the tiger reserves, disturbance due to human settlements inside the reserves and fringes, exotic plantations, invasive species, increasing human – wildlife conflict in certain pockets and some corridors still falling outside the tiger reserves.

For protection of elephant population

Report submitted to Union Ministry for Environment

Seeks proper maintenance of elephant corridors

KOCHI: The Elephant Task Force has recommended the acquisition of defunct estates in the heart of the elephant habitat in the Periyar-Kalakkad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) for the conservation and protection of the elephant population.

The task fo

2010 0 010 tiger census in the Kalakkad-Mundanthurai The first phase of the 20 k Tiger Reserve has begun and volunteers are streaming in, notes Shobha Menon Involving students in the tiger census has proved a remarkable awareness exercise to reach out to the community and encourage their participation in conservation

V Gangadharan | ENS

Expect a 15 per cent jump in tiger populationFOREST officials hope for a substantial increase in the tiger population in Tamil Nadu during the synchronised wildlife census exercise that is scheduled to begin towards the end of this month.

TIRUNELVELI: Naturalists here want the Department of Forest and Tamil Nadu Electricity Board to join hands to avoid electrocution of wild animals by power cables passing through the Kalakkad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve.

The tiger reserve is known to be one of the best protected reserve for plants and animals and a hotspot for endemic flora and fauna within the Agasthyamalai range.