Panna Tiger Death Investigations Point to Laxity
The government’s investigation into tiger deaths in Panna point to general laxity. Though the forest department has handed over the details of over a dozen cases to the home department asking for a CBI probe, only three have been considered worthy of an investigation. One of the cases has a trail that leads to the relatives of a BJP MLA. A jeep with armed passengers trying to enter Panna had been intercepted by the forest department in 2007. The jeep … Read More
Sariska Poacher Finally Convicted, Gets Maximum Imprisonment
Alwar, June 20, 2011: In a landmark judgement, the Court of the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate – II, Alwar, Rajasthan convicted noted wildlife poacher Juhru and his associates, Tayyeb, Ramzan, Noora and Jiwan Das, sentencing them to a maximum imprisonment of seven years and a fine of Rs 50,000, in a case related to tiger hunting in the Sariska Tiger Reserve in 2005.
According BS Nathawat, ACF Sariska Tiger Reserve, the hunting took place in Routkhola beat of Akbarpur range, … Read More
Leopards Poached More Aggressively than Tigers
Six leopards are poached for every tiger that is killed. Leopard skins are in great demand in China. Their bones are also often passed off as tiger cub bones. Leopards are also involved in a lot of man-animal conflicts and are often killed with brutality for straying into human habitations.
In 2010, 180 leopards were killed through poaching whereas the total number killed stands at 328. In the first six months of 2011, there have already been 79 poaching related … Read More
Rhino Poached for Horn in Pobitora, Assam. Teacher arrested.
The tiny Pobitora wildlife sanctuary ( 38.81 sq km) in central Assam known for its rhino density, lost a rhino to poachers who used a .303 rifle to kill the beast. The armed gang of four illegal hunters fired at the guards continuously and got away in the cover of darkness.
Subsequently, on the 16th of June, a school teacher was arrested in connection with the poaching. Read the Times of India article. … Read More
Hundreds of Flamingos Electrocuted in Bhavnagar, Gujarat
Hundreds of flamingos are dying of electrocution daily as they fly into high-voltage electricity cables on the outskirts of Bhavnagar city. The situation is made worse by stray dogs which attack these birds, causing the flock to take off in panic and hit the high-tension lines.
After Times of India reported the incident, officials visited the 300-hectare marsh on the outskirts of Bhavnagar on Sunday. Officials of Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation Limited (GETCO) claim that there could be reasons … Read More
Tortoise Poachers Arrested in Uttar Pradesh
Three poachers were arrested here with around 30 tortoises meant for smuggling, police said on Monday. Trade of tortoises is banned in India under the 1972 Wildlife Protection Act. … Read More
RTI Response from Environment Ministry Indicates Nearly 200 Tigers Poached in the Last 12 Years
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
Radio-collared Tiger Poisoned in Nepal
Kathmandu, Nepal — A Bengal tiger fitted with a GPS tracking collar and translocated from Nepal’s Chitwan National Park to Bardia National Park has been killed, according to Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation officials. Authorities believe the tiger died after eating the flesh of a cow deliberately laced with poison. Three men suspected of involvement in the death have been arrested.… 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
Leopard Crossing, Mysore — Mananthavadi Highway, Nagarahole
A leopard tentatively crosses the Mysore – Mananthavadi highway in Nagarahole national park and tiger reserve in Karnataka. Based on the fact that this road passes through an extremely crucial habitat for elephants and tigers and number of tragic roadkills, conservationists filed an application to the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) of the Supreme Court to close the road to nighttime traffic.
The CEC on 05-05-2008 concluded that no vehicular traffic be permitted between 6pm and 6am apart from other mitigation … Read More
Electrocuted Sambar on the banks of the Yamuna
A CI contributor observed a shocking number of wild animals (chital, sambar and jackal) electrocuted along the banks of the Yamuna. As visible in the image, the farmers (who largely grow mustard) have drawn electricity in crude wire-fences causing the electrocution. The farmers grow crops right down to the edge of the river (Yamuna and Chambal) causing dangerous pesticide and fertilizer runoffs into the fragile river ecosystems.… Read More
Infamous Poacher Narayan Chand Gets Five Years Imprisonment
Narayan Chand, younger brother of notorious poacher Sansar Chand, has been sentenced to five years imprisonment in a leopard poaching case dating back to 2005. Narayan Chand is infamous as the poacher who was responsible for the poaching which eradicated the tigers in Sariska Tiger Reserve. Following his arrest in 2009, Narayan Chand confessed to having been involved in the purchase of pelts and body parts of 10 tigers from the Ramnagar area of Corbett Reserve. He also confessed to … Read More
CI is a non-profit, non-commercial portal that aims to facilitate wildlife and nature conservation by providing reliable information and the tools needed to campaign effectively.
