An RTI application filed with the Ministry of Environment and Forests reveals that 197 tigers were killed through poaching between 1999 and 2011. The ministry also attributed the local extinction of tigers in Sariska and Panna to poaching. The worst years were 2001 and 2002, where 36 tigers were poached in each year. Two tigers have been poached already this year between January and March 17th. The ministry has not provided details of the action taken report for each case, … Read More
Seeking Alliance with People, Government Launches Campaign for Elephants
New Delhi, May 24, 2011: Reaching out to the people, to improve conservation and welfare prospects of the elephant – India’s National Heritage Animal, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) in partnership with the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) has launched the nationwide “Haathi Mere Saathi” campaign.
“Elephants are so ingrained in Indian culture and traditions, that sometimes, we tend to take the elephant for granted. This public initiative is aimed at increasing awareness among people and developing not … Read More
Shared Concerns for Elephants Bring Together African and Asian countries at the E-8 Meet
New Delhi, May 24, 2011: An unprecedented initiative to mobilise global cooperation in elephant conservation and welfare began today with the Elephant – 8 Ministerial Meet (E-8) in New Delhi.
The E-8, hosted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, in collaboration with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), brings together for the first time African and Asian nations to discuss conservation and welfare … Read More
Elephants Face Severe Threats in Orissa
The Elephant population in Orissa’s forests are facing multiple and severe threats. Rampant poaching in Similipal National Park has caused more than 20 elephant deaths in two years. Maoist fears have kept conservation activities to a minimum.
A severely skewed sex ratio, under staffed protection camps, large number of electrocution deaths, fragmented habitats and retaliatory killings against depredations add to the list of threats that elephants face. The State Government has put in place a Rs. 50 crore management plan … Read More
Rhino poached in Kaziranga for Horn
Poachers killed a rhino at Assam’s Kaziranga National Park in the Gopaljaroni area of Sonitpur east forest division on Saturday night. Just a week ago police police foiled a similar bid in the same area. This is the fourth rhino killed in the only World Heritage Site of the state this year and last year, five rhinos were killed inside the park. … Read More
Adult Female Rhino Killed in Valmiki Tiger Reserve
In a first of its kind incident, an adult female Rhino was found lying dead in the Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) with its horn missing and two bullet injury marks. The animal appeared to have been killed 15 days ago. While the reserve is not home to the Rhino, the adjoining Chitwan National Park in Nepal has around 500 Rhinos which sometimes stray into Valmiki Tiger Reserve. Belinda Wright, executive director of the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) says … Read More
Armed Poachers Arrested While Attempting to Enter Kaziranga
Police arrested three armed poachers in the Bihali area of Sonitpur district in Assam, while trying to sneak into Kaziranga National Park. The three were found during a combing operation, hiding in the house of a local. The local escaped. A .303 rifle, ammunition, some food and camp materials were found on them. It is believed their plan was to spend a week inside Kaziranga and poach Rhinos. … Read More
A ‘Real’ Great Hornbill Mount, Nagaland
This image taken at the annual 2010 Hornbill Festival in Nagaland shows real (top) and fake hornbill mounts being sold. According to the photographer, there were at least half a dozen real heads on display in addition to hornbill tail feathers. The govt. of Nagaland has been attempting to move various tribes from using real hornbill body parts (head, casque and feathers) as part of their costumes and handicrafts — with mixed results.… Read More
Six arrested near Rajapalayam for hunting Spotted Deer
Six persons who were carrying deer horn and venison were arrested near Rajapalayam by Forest Department Officials. The officials were on patrolling duty near Asaymani forests when they saw some suspicious persons with a jute bag. The bag contained knives and sickles in addition to the deer body parts. … Read More
Habitual wildlife offender from Bawaria community sentenced to five years imprisonment for trade in Tiger Parts
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
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
Leopard skin, skulls and other animal parts seized at military checkpost in Chandel, Manipur
Personnel of the Assam Rifles intercepted a taxi trying to dodge a military checkpost at Chandel in Manipur and found 301 kg of Pangolin Shells, a skin and skulls of leopards and 19 kg of bones of other rare animals. The driver of the vehicle was a resident of Moreh, a border town in Chandel, which is infamous for being a corridor for animal organ smuggling to South East Asia. The Assam Rifles also found 2,32,000 pills that were being … Read More
Human – Tiger conflict: Cause, Consequence and Mitigation
Dr. K Ullas Karanth, Senior Scientist, Wildlife Conservation Society, and Dr. Rajesh Gopal, Member Secretary of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) explain how conflict between humans and tigers can be reduced.
Wherever wild tiger populations survive and come into contact with landscapes dominated by humans, they pose a threat by preying on livestock, and, less commonly, on people. In most parts of India, people are remarkably tolerant of wildlife damage compared with elsewhere in the world, but sometimes, in … Read More
Arrest of six wildlife poachers operating in Corbett and Rajaji National Parks
Six poachers operating out of Uttarakhand and active in Corbett and Rajaji National Parks have been arrested by a joint operation between Police and the Uttarakhand Forest department. Leopard pelts, big cat bones, ivory and firearms have been seized. The arrests include habitual offenders and one among them admitted to supplying a tiger skin and bones of three tigers to a man in Dharchula last year. Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) points out that a poaching nexus of Gujjars … Read More
Nine arrested near Coimbatore for possession of skins of a Tiger and five Leopards
An undercover officer from the Forest Department was shown the skins of a Tiger and five leopards (including a black panther) in Pollachi, by a man named Jailani who demanded five crores. The officer was from a team of plainclothes Forest department officials, who were acting on a tip off. After the skin traders ultimately agreed to sell all the skins for a sum of one crore, the officer told them he had to consult with his friends, after which … Read More
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