Rajya Sabha told about efforts to save tiger

Rajya Sabha told about efforts to save tiger

Jumana Shah / DNATuesday, November 24, 2009 8:49 IST

Ahmedabad: While the striking deaths of tiger has shocked the country, the precise details of the death figures and government’s conservation initiatives were released in the Rajya Sabha on Monday in an answer to details sought by Jharkhand MP Parimal Nathwani.

Answer was also sought by group president of Gujarat’s Reliance Industries to the pendency of appeals in the Income Tax Appellate Tribubal (ITAT) and the effect of sanctioning 10 additional benches in 2004.

Tiger deaths have shot up from 22 in 2006 to 30 in 2007 and shocking 59 in the 11 months of 2009. The government had released Rs6,270.54 lakh in 2007-08; Rs10,240 lakh in 2008-09 and Rs15,459 lakh in 2009-10. However, these grants have not succeeded in controlling the spiraling deaths of the endangered big cats in the country.

In the conservation activities, the response by ministry of environment and forests has highlighted the reintroduction of tigers by rebuilding Sariska and Panna reserves. “The proposal for 13 tiger reserves has been approved. Rs93 lakh each have been released to Corbett, Ranthambore and Dudhwa tiger reserve.

As for ITAT, 10 additional benches have been set up in 2004 with two benches each at Mumbai and Delhi and one each in Pune, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Bilaspur, Jaipur and Ranchi. “This has reduced pendency by 229758 cases.”

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_rajya-sabha-told-about-efforts-to-save-tiger_1315714

Wildlife Protection Act to be amended to curb tiger poaching

Wildlife Protection Act to be amended to curb tiger poaching

Staff Reporter
Monday, Nov 23, 2009

“We will ensure strict punishment to tiger poachers”
Draft amendments circulated to States

Coimbatore: To prevent incidents of poaching and poisoning and to save the remaining population of tigers, the Ministry of Environment and Forests proposes to bring in amendments to the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.

This was stated by Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh here on Sunday.

Talking to journalists at the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON) here, he said that of the 37 tiger reserves, nine were in good condition, 12 satisfactory and 16 in a precarious condition. As on date, the country had 1,200 to 1,400 tigers. Mr. Ramesh said tigers and leopards were smuggled to China via Myanmar and Nepal because of the medicinal value of their parts. “China is celebrating year 2010 as year of tigers and this could be a threat to tigers in India.”

To control poaching, a Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, with field offices, had been set up. The amendments to the Wildlife Protection Act were proposed to make the penal provisions stringent with punishments measuring to the level of those awarded for violation of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). The draft amendments were circulated to the States for their views.

On shifting of tribals from the tiger reserve areas, Mr. Ramesh said that of the 1 lakh families, 3,000 had been shifted. The Ministry would shift them only through persuasion and monetary incentives. Every family was being given an incentive of Rs. 10 lakh. On protection of elephants, Mr. Ramesh said the Ministry had discussed the issue with Assam, West Bengal, Orissa, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and they had sought financial help for acquisition of lands to restore the elephant corridors.

The Minister said the focus was on the quality of forest cover and not just quantity.

http://www.thehindu.com/2009/11/23/stories/2009112359591400.htm

59 tiger deaths this year; MP tops chart with 13

59 tiger deaths this year; MP tops chart with 13

STAFF WRITER 16:7 HRS IST

New Delhi, Nov 23 (PTI) The number of tiger deaths have doubled to 59 so far this year against last year’s 28 cases, as Madhya Pradesh topped the list with 13 big cats dying during the period, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.

Giving details of the deaths till mid-November in the tiger-range states, Environment Minister Jairarm Ramesh said Assam reported 10 deaths followed by Karnataka (9), Uttarakhand (7) Maharashtra(4) and Rajasthan (3).

One big cat each died in Kerala, Orissa, Goa and Tamil Nadu during the year.

“The deaths include seizures of two skins each in Andhra Pradesh and Delhi and one each in Maharashtra and Uttarakhand,” he said.

Ramesh said that reports were being received from various sources on the illegal wildlife trade linkages in various countries and action was being taken in respect of any connected crimes on Indian soil.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/389939_59-tiger-deaths-this-year–MP-tops-chart-with-13

DNA sampling for tiger census in Sunderbans

DNA sampling for tiger census in Sunderbans

STAFF WRITER 12:9 HRS IST

Kolkata, Nov 23 (PTI) The West Bengal government for the first time will conduct tiger census through DNA sampling of the animal’s scat in Sunderbans in January next year.

Till now, pug marks were used to count the tigers, but there was always controversy regarding the veracity.

During the 2006 census, the state government had rejected the Indian Statistical Institute’s claim that there were not more than 70 tigers in Sunderbans, the world’s largest delta.

“Sunderbans is not like Buxa or any other tiger reserve.

The terrain here is very difficult and requires a special method. So we will go for DNA sampling which will be used for the first time to estimate the number of tigers,” Sunderbans Biosphere Reserve (SBR) director Pradeep Vyas told PTI.

The census would be held in January and February next year.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/389501_DNA-sampling-for-tiger-census-in-Sunderbans

KING 5 viewers help relocate tiger

KING 5 viewers help relocate tiger

by By DREW MIKKELSEN / KING 5 News
Posted on November 23, 2009 at 12:41 PM
Updated today at 12:41 PM

OLYMPIA, Wash. – A Siberian tiger who faced possible euthenasia earlier this month, has been saved, thanks in part to KING 5 viewers.

A Sedro-Woolley couple who got divorced, was no longer able to care for their two pet tigers, and could not afford to relocate them to licensed sanctuaries out of state.

Their owner feared the animals might have to be put down.

After KING 5 aired the story, viewers donated thousands of dollars to the charity trying to relocate the tigers.

The tiger named Choi Hu was relocated to Safe Haven Zoo Rescue in Nevada. The one named Timber will be relocated to a different sanctuary soon, said a spokesperson for the Wild Felid Advocacy Center.

For more information on the tigers, or if you’d like to help, go to the nonprofit’s Web site: http://www.wildfelids.org/tiger_update

http://www.king5.com/news/local/KING-5-viewers-help-relocate-tiger-71800622.html

`Goa tiger among 59 killed this year’

`Goa tiger among 59 killed this year’

TNN 24 November 2009, 06:05am IST
 
PANAJI: Goa’s much-talked about tiger poaching case has been numbered as one of 59 tigers killed in the country this year. This though a preliminary report of forensic tests into samples of bones found at Keri carried out by Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehra Dun indicated they did not belong to a big cat.

The figures were released by Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh in the Rajya Sabha on Monday. Madhya Pradesh accounted for a maximum of 13 tiger deaths this year.

While 22 tiger deaths were reported in 2006, the number rose to 30 in 2007 and fell marginally to 28 in 2008. The number, however, rose sharply this year with 59 big cats killed up to November 13, 2009.

The bones, teeth, fur and blood-stained leaves recovered on May 30 and on subsequent days by forest department officials from the site where the tiger was allegedly killed in Keri in February this year had been sent in June to WII for forensic tests.

Forest officials and guards were confident that finding the tiger carcass almost three months later was a breakthrough, but three months later, the WII report came as an anti-climax to animal lovers and others who had assisted in the process of recovery of the tiger bones.

However, Goa’s chief conservator of forests Shashi Kumar, while saying that the configuration of teeth sent to WII does not match that of the tiger, had pointed out that the report was only primary in nature.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Goa-tiger-among-59-killed-this-year/articleshow/5263010.cms

Rare white tiger: King in Belgrade Zoo

Rare white tiger: King in Belgrade Zoo

www.chinaview.cn  2009-11-23 08:32:08

For Information About White Tigers Visit:
http://www.bigcatrescue.org/cats/wild/white_tigers.htm

A three-year-old male white tiger named Khane eats chicken in its enclosure at the Belgrade Zoo November 22, 2009. According to conservation group WWF, there are about 4,000 tigers left in the world and they are considered an endangered species. White tigers are even rarer because they suffer from a genetic condition that strips their fur of the orange pigment, leaving the animal with snow white fur, black stripes and blue eyes.

A three-year-old male white tiger named Khane is pictured through the bars as he looks out of its enclosure at the Belgrade Zoo November 22, 2009

A three-year old male white tiger named Khane looks out of its enclosure at the Belgrade Zoo November 22, 2009

Children look at a tiger in its enclosure at the Belgrade Zoo November 22, 2009.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-11/23/content_12522776.htm

Population of tiger, leopard rises at reserves

Population of tiger, leopard rises at reserves

TNN 22 November 2009, 09:32pm IST
 
BAHRAICH: At least 15 tiger and leopard cubs have been sighted at various spots of the Dudhwa National park (DNP), 14 in Katarniaghat wild life sanctuary area and 6 in Sohelwa Tiger Reserve area Shailesh Prasad, field director Dudhwa Reserve told TOI.

He said a tigress with three cubs was sighted in Madraicha while tigresses with two cubs were seen in Chhota Palia, Chaltua, Puraina and Jhadi Tal areas of the national park and Kakraha, Katarnia and Sadar beat of Katarniaghat wildlife sanctuary (KWS).

He also said, “A tigress with one cub was reported to be straying in Trans-Gerua area of Katarniaghat wild life sanctuary (KWS). Three Leopard cubs have been sighted in Sohelwa Tiger Reserve area adjoining hilly area of Nepal.” The survival rate of cubs has also increased, he added.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/allahabad/Population-of-tiger-leopard-rises-at-reserves/articleshow/5258109.cms

Some 100 cubs expected in world’s largest Siberian tiger breeding base in 2010

Some 100 cubs expected in world’s largest Siberian tiger breeding base in 2010 
 
www.chinaview.cn  2009-11-22 21:56:10   

Information About Tiger Farming and Tiger Trade:
http://www.endtigertrade.org/
http://www.savethetigerfund.org/Content/NavigationMenu2/TakeAction/SupportaCampaign/PreviousCampaigns/CampaignAgainstTigerTrafficking/FactsandFallacies/default.htm
http://www.bigcatrescue.org/video/b42008/chinatigerfarm.htm
http://www.bigcatrescue.org/InternationalTigerCoalition.htm
 
HARBIN, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) — Some 100 cubs were expected to be born in the world’s largest Siberian tiger artificial breeding center in northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province in 2010, or the year of tiger in China.

The first heavy snow on Nov. 13 in the provincial capital Harbin City made more than 400 Siberian tigers in the park excited, especially those in the oestrous period, said Liu Dan, chief engineer of the Heilongjiang Siberian Tiger Park, on Sunday.

The Siberian tiger has a three-month pregnancy period and always gives birth at the end of spring and the beginning of summer.

The park will give more nutrition to the tigers in the oestrous period, Liu said.

The park is the largest breeding base for Siberian tigers in the world. It was established in 1986 together with the Hengdaohezi Feline Breeding Center in the suburb of Harbin. The population of the tigers has grown from eight to about 800.

Siberian tigers, also known as Amur or Manchurian tigers, are among the world’s 10 most endangered species and mostly live in northeast China and the Far East area of Russia. They are estimated to number approximately 400 in the wild, of which 20 or so live in northeast China.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-11/22/content_12521722.htm

Tiger performances at Wuqiao Int’l Circus Festival

Tiger performances at Wuqiao Int’l Circus Festival

I just came across these pictures online. I absolutely detest circuses and the abuse, punishment and neglect theses animals suffer in them.

More about circuses at: http://www.hsus.org/wildlife/issues_facing_wildlife/circuses/

e-mail to the website with these pictures: english@xinhuanet.com

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-11/02/content_12371848.htm