Camera-trapping helps big cat census, conservation

The Forest department is all set to implement the camera-trapping method of keeping a track of tigers in the Yelandur range of the Biligiri Ranganathaswamy Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserve. The method is already in place, with 30 cameras keeping an eye on the movement of tigers, other animals and poachers in the Kollegal range of the tiger reserve. There are a total of six ranges in the BRT tiger reserve. The camera-trapping method is seen as a fool-proof mechanism in the tiger census.

Tiger Reserve status accorded for the 1.40 lakh hectares of Sathyamangalam with 90,000 hectares as core zone is a shot in the arm for conservation of rare flora and fauna besides combating the pressures of poaching as the Sathyamangalam valley is on the State border.

Welcoming the decision of the Union Government, president of Osai (an NGO involved in conservation) K. Kalidasan said that the status will go a long way in getting the required funds and undivided attention.

Big Cats Come Out Of Hiding More Often To Quench Thirst

Bangalore: As summer peaks, the state forest department has something important to contend with — vulnerability of big cats in Project Tiger areas.With soaring temperature, they come out of hiding often to quench their thirst at water holes, rendering them visible.

Forty years of tiger conservation efforts in the country seem to have borne fruit with the number of big cats rising more than five times from 268 in 1973.

"When project tiger was launched from Corbett's Dhikala range in 1973, tiger population in the country stood at 268. It has now risen to 1,468," Corbett Tiger Reserve Director Ranjan Mishra said today quoting an official estimate.

Two public interest litigation petitions have been filed in the Madras High Court Bench here — one challenging a notification issued by the Centre on October 15, laying down guidelines for tourism

Ahmedabad: The average age of guards in Palamau Tiger sanctuary is 53 and at Simlipal Tiger Sanctuary it is 49 years, but for guards in Gujarat it is 39 years.

Officials said that of 388 staffers, 149 are 20 to 30 years old. The study carried out by deputy conservator of forests Sandeep Kumar revealed that the average age of guards is 39 years, while that of foresters is 42.5 years. The guards and foresters are those actually in the field, responsible for conservation.

Rehabilitation programmes stalled owing to severe financial crunch

Left high and dry by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), the State Forest department has been forced to approach the State government in the hopes of getting funds for rehabilitation projects under Project Tiger in Karnataka. The department, the nodal agency responsible for Project Tiger, claims it is in the throes of a financial crisis as it has suffered a poor flow of funds for rehabilitation projects aimed at reducing human presence in tiger habitats.

KOHORA, Oct 10 – Union Environment and Forest Minister Jayanthi Natarajan today made an on-the-spot assessment of the impact of floods on the Kaziranga National Park cum Tiger Reserve and announced