Increase in tiger numbers; increase in man-animal conflict

As we head into the new year, we have to brace ourselves for more man-animal conflicts in the periphery of all tiger reserves in Karnataka. We are bound to have more tiger trouble.

The recent man-eating incident near the Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary is just the beginning of what is to come. We could attribute this grim situation to an increase in tiger population in our reserves, fragmented corridors (which facilitate the movement of transient animals into adjoining habitats), prey depletion through poaching and lack of political will to address critical wildlife management issues.

It is worrisome that in a span of 18 months the Karnataka forest department has captured ten tigers from Nagarhole and Bandipur.  At the last enumeration in our tiger reserves, there were 100 to 110 tigers in Bandipur, 60 to 80 in Nagarhole, 50 to 55 in BRT, 30 to 35 in Bhadra, 30-35 in Dandeli and Anshi.

There is a viable population in MM Hills. Also tigers have been frequently spotted in Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary. There are a few in our reserve forests as well.  It might interest you that a transient female had briefly forayed into the Bannerghatta national park, barely 22 km from Bengaluru, in 2012.

All put together there are over 400 tigers in Karnataka, making it the number one tiger state in the country. But with the increase in numbers we have had an increase in man-animal conflicts as well, reflected in frequent capture of tigers in Bandipur and Nagarhole. There have been stray man-eating incidents in BRT and Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary in recent times.

The situation can get worse. A demoralized forest force, pre-historic ammunition, foisting of false cases against staff who confront poachers, lack of cooperation and support from local populace and the political establishment makes a heady cocktail of wildlife trouble.

In hindsight, decisions taken by the forest department has also been baffling. Instead of winning the confidence of people who live in the vicinity of the forests, we are infuriating them to revolt against our dwindling wildlife population. The decision to relocate the tiger that was captured from Chikmagaluru was imprudent.

The very fact that the tiger had killed a woman in a coffee estate should have been a deterrent against its release. It should have wisely been kept in captivity at a zoo. But the urge to save it and allow it to propagate in its natural habitat seemed more appealing at the time of decision-making. It was taken in the interest of the tiger.

Now that the same tiger has killed and devoured a pregnant woman should caution the authorities from releasing captured animals into the wild again. As history reflects, either they are killed by resident tigers or they prey on vulnerable men and women.

So what is the solution then? Considering that more injured, hungry and weary tigers are expected to be captured in the future and that there is no space for them in zoos, the department has to identify an area where these wild-caught tigers can be rehabilitated. But then…

Special Tiger Protection Force(STPF) staff demoralised

A couple of weeks ago we were cock-a-hoop about tiger numbers increasing in the country. Now, we are a worried lot as we are losing tigers regularly to poisoning and poaching. Natural deaths do occur due to territorial fights. But death through poisoning is threatening the very existence of our flagship species .It has become a regular occurrence over the last five years.

Unlike in the past, people don’t need guns to kill the world’s most majestic animal. They just need DDT, which is available across the counter in most village hamlets adjoining our tiger habitats. The moment a tiger or leopard kills their cattle or goats, people spray DDT on the half-eaten carcass. The tiger succumbs when it eats the poison-laden meat.

As records manifest, we lost a robust four-year-old tigress at the kundhakere range in Bandipur to poisoning recently.

The news of losing two eight-month old cubs in Nagarhole tiger reserve to starvation is disturbing. It was fortunate that another emancipated cub was rescued and taken to the Mysore zoo. Had the mother of the cubs been alive, this would not have happened. Intriguingly, there is no trace of the mother. Its carcass has not been found as yet. Was it poisoned? Was it poached? The Karnataka Forest Department has no clue.

It was with the intent to suppress poaching that the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) created the Special Tiger Protection Force. But the state of the STPF in Karnataka is as precarious as that of the tiger. While the tiger is being persecuted by poachers and enraged farmers, the STPF personnel are being harassed by their bosses.

You may ask why so? If you read what follows you will understand their predicament.

It is shocking that the STPF staff were made to sign a bond which implies that that they are not entitled for transfer until they turn 40. The average age of the STPF range forest officers, deputy range forest officers, forest guards and watchers is 23. That means they can’t seek a transfer for 15 to 17 years.

These are woes that the NTCA and KFD need to address before a whole lot of some of them quit their jobs in frustration. As it is, as a demoralized lot they have not been able to perform their duty to the best of their ability.

1.     They are unhappy that they have been made to sign a draconian bond, which compels them to work in the STPF until they are 40 years old, while their batch mates who are part of the regular wildlife force sign a bond only for five years.

          2.  They are depressed that their batch mates ,culled from the 218 personnel that were absorbed by the KFD in 2010, get transfers when they ask for one.

3. They are hurt that they have to work under the orders of their batch mates who comprise the regular wildlife force. They feel ridiculed that a batch mate, who trained alongside them, commands them, though both are of the same rank.

4.  More significantly they are perturbed that prospective brides are not willing to marry them as they have signed the draconian bond which binds them to the “no transfer clause until they are 40”.

5.  Lack of proper ammunition when they are  up against poachers and better work environment are other issues that rankle the STPF.

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When the STPF plight is thus, how can we expect the force to save our wildlife and forests?

Over to the KFD.

Prakash Javadekar's largesse; NGOs squabble

Tiger numbers may have increased over 25 per cent, from 1740 to 2286, in the Indian forest landscape. But let us not get excited. There are too many loopholes that dog our conservation policies, detrimental to the future of our flagship species

 The problem is at three levels. It begins with our ‘learned’ environment minister Prakash Javadekar, percolates to the unholy goings-on in forest department and the fight between fund-hungry, headlines seeking NGOs.

Without understanding the dynamics of forest and wildlife conservation, an excited Mr Javadekar went to the extent of saying “India is even willing to donate tiger cubs to the international community and play a key role in global tiger conservation efforts". Wonder if he knows that India was home to one lakh tigers when the British ruled us.

He should be given the ‘Padmashree’ for this blah-blah. He would do well to increase the area of tiger habitats, instead of giving over-the-counter clearances for mining, hydro and infrastructure projects in forests. Economic empowerment through development is welcome, but not at the cost of our forest landscape, which is our only lung-space.

 Mr Javadekar should understand that every citizen is a stake holder. He can't destroy God's Gift to mankind: Forests and wildlife. If he means what he says (gifting tiger cubs), let him increase the size of our natural forests, instead of shrinking and fragmenting it to please mining, oil, hydro and infrastructure tycoons.

Let’s talk about our NGOs. Some are a bane to our wildlife. Take the instance of the on-going rift between noted wildlife biologists Ullas Karanth and Sanjay Gubbi. Karanth had no issues with Gubbi as long as he worked in his Centre for Wildlife Studies (CWS) Empire. Both were on the same page when it came to wildlife conservation issues.

But they have turned bitter rivals. Why: Gubbi moved to the more reputed Nature Conservation Society (NCF). Conservation has suffered in their battle for wildlife turf. Karanth many believe has turned nasty. Two incidents bring his angst against Gubbi to light.

First: When a radio-collared leopard was found dead in the vicinity of Mysore, a picture of the feline hanging from a tree was mysteriously released to a select group of journalists. It was alleged that the leopard had died due to asphyxiation caused by the radio collar.

When post mortem reports revealed that the leopard had died of poisoning (zinc phosphide), the forest department issued a statement that someone with malicious intentions was creating trouble. Intriguingly, 30 RTIs had been filed to pin down Gubbi, who had been given the go-ahead for radio-collaring leopards that come into conflict with humans.

Second: When a radio-collared tiger, which had killed a woman in Chikamagalur coffee estate, was released in Bhimgad wildlife sanctuary near Khanapur (Belgaum), Karanth again accused Gubbi. He went on to suggest that Gubbi was ill-experienced in radio-collaring. He even went to the extent of asking for a government enquiry. Yes, Gubbi failed in his endeavour.  The tiger killed another woman before it was shot dead.

Karanth should also take responsibility for killing some of our tigers and leopards when he was learning the nuances of radio-telemetry. His utterances, in his quest to tarnish Gubbi’s image, has impacted wildlife conservation. Vinay Luthra, chief wildlife warden, says it was the tiger (wildlife) that suffered in the battle between two wildlife biologists.

Let’s hope Karanth and Gubbi bury their differences for wildlife sake. Unless all of us work in tandem, no conservation program will be successful, more so when Javadekar is hell bent on clearing mining and infrastructure projects. Unlike conservationists, Javadekar’s interest is dollars, not tigers.

Javadekar's largesse; NGOs squabble

Tiger numbers may have increased over 25 per cent, from 1740 to 2286, in the Indian forest landscape. But let us not get excited. There are too many loopholes that dog our conservation policies, detrimental to the future of our flagship species

 The problem is at three levels. It begins with our ‘learned’ environment minister Prakash Javadekar, percolates to the unholy goings-on in forest department and the fight between fund-hungry, headlines seeking NGOs.

Without understanding the dynamics of forest and wildlife conservation, an excited Mr Javadekar went to the extent of saying “India is even willing to donate tiger cubs to the international community and play a key role in global tiger conservation efforts". Wonder if he knows that India was home to one lakh tigers when the British ruled us.

He should be given the ‘Padmashree’ for this blah-blah. He would do well to increase the area of tiger habitats, instead of giving over-the-counter clearances for mining, hydro and infrastructure projects in forests. Economic empowerment through development is welcome, but not at the cost of our forest landscape, which is our only lung-space.

 Mr Javadekar should understand that every citizen is a stake holder. He can't destroy God's Gift to mankind: Forests and wildlife. If he means what he says (gifting tiger cubs), let him increase the size of our natural forests, instead of shrinking and fragmenting it to please mining, oil, hydro and infrastructure tycoons.

Let’s talk about our NGOs. Some are a bane to our wildlife. Take the instance of the on-going rift between noted wildlife biologists Ullas Karanth and Sanjay Gubbi. Karanth had no issues with Gubbi as long as he worked in his Centre for Wildlife Studies (CWS) Empire. Both were on the same page when it came to wildlife conservation issues.

But they have turned bitter rivals. Why: Gubbi moved to the more reputed Nature Conservation Society (NCF). Conservation has suffered in their battle for wildlife turf. Karanth many believe has turned nasty. Two incidents bring his angst against Gubbi to light.

First: When a radio-collared leopard was found dead in the vicinity of Mysore, a picture of the feline hanging from a tree was mysteriously released to a select group of journalists. It was alleged that the leopard had died due to asphyxiation caused by the radio collar.

When post mortem reports revealed that the leopard had died of poisoning (zinc phosphide), the forest department issued a statement that someone with malicious intentions was creating trouble. Intriguingly, 30 RTIs had been filed to pin down Gubbi, who had been given the go-ahead for radio-collaring leopards that come into conflict with humans.

Second: When a radio-collared tiger, which had killed a woman in Chikamagalur coffee estate, was released in Bhimgad wildlife sanctuary near Khanapur (Belgaum), Karanth again accused Gubbi. He went on to suggest that Gubbi was ill-experienced in radio-collaring. He even went to the extent of asking for a government enquiry. Yes, Gubbi failed in his endeavour.  The tiger killed another woman before it was shot dead.

Karanth should also take responsibility for killing some of our tigers and leopards when he was learning the nuances of radio-telemetry. His utterances, in his quest to tarnish Gubbi’s image, has impacted wildlife conservation. Vinay Luthra, chief wildlife warden, says it was the tiger (wildlife) that suffered in the battle between two wildlife biologists.

Let’s hope Karanth and Gubbi bury their differences for wildlife sake. Unless all of us work in tandem, no conservation program will be successful, more so when Javadekar is hell bent on clearing mining and infrastructure projects. Unlike conservationists, Javadekar’s interest is dollars, not tigers.

ends

Tiger Expert Ullas Karanth in Pajero trouble

If you ever wondered why the Indian government has been skeptical about non-governmental organizations, you don’t have to beyond this story to clear your doubt. The facts are in black and white.

This is not an effort to paint all NGOs black. Some have done and continue to do remarkable work in their area of proficiency, be it health, education, conservation. But there is one particular NGO that has constantly been in the news for the good and wrong reasons.

You must have certainly read or heard about Centre for Wildlife Studies (CWS), the brainchild of Dr Ullas Karanth, a wildlife biologist. Ullas Karanth is a tiger specialist who has done laudable work. He was the first to radio collar tigers in India, specifically Karnataka.

It is a different story that the Karnataka government banned him from radio collaring tigers, after eight felines died in the process of understanding the nuance of radio-telemetry. Despite his uncanny ability to lobby with the political establishment, Ullas Karanth has had regular run-ins with the Karnataka Forest Department (KFD). They stare daggers at each other!

KFD had raised a clamor when it stumbled upon documents relating to CWS’ funding. The expose irrevocably damaged Ullas Karanth’s reputation. There has always been a niggling doubt about his genuine intent, a reason why many conservationists don’t see eye to eye with him.

The files that have appended with this story augment this suspicion. As you read through, you will understand that CWS was given complete customs exemption when Wildlife Conservation Society (New York) gifted a Mitsubishi Pajero to the Bangalore-based NGO.

 The adhoc exemption, made under special provision by the ministry of finance, was valid until 31^st  January 1999. The conditions laid out clearly specify that the vehicle “shall be used only for the purpose for which it was imported.”

It also implies that “the vehicle cannot be sold, disposed of, gifted, loaned or parted away except as stated above without prior permission of the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, New Delhi.

An undertaking to this effect was given by the importer before the commissioner of customs concerned at the time of clearance of goods. “In the event of any default detected subsequent to the import, full duty will be leviable and penal action taken as per law.”

Contrary to the clauses drafted by the Ministry of Finance, Revenue Department (30^th July 1998), Karanth has succeeded in transferring the vehicle to his personal name from Centre for Wildlife Studies.

Interestingly, Ullas Karanth, as managing trustee of CWS, has himself transferred the vehicle into his name. Intriguingly, the address provided by the CWS managing trustee and the beneficiary (Ullas Karanth) is the same. Perhaps, the RTO did the transfers without going through the documents of the imported vehicle.

Did the government give Ullas Karanth permission to transfer the customs duty-wavered imported vehicle in his name?

If Karanth has been given special exemption by the government to import and then transfer the vehicle in his name, then it has to give the same benefit to trustees of all other NGOs. If the government has not ceded clearance for such a transfer, then it has to take action.

Coffee Estates in the midst of tiger habitat

Time’s up for Birla, TVS group

It is different strokes for different people. The poor and hapless are harassed and hounded out of their dwelling. But the rich and powerful are allowed to build posh bungalows. This is no exaggeration.

This story unfurls in the very heart of the Billigiriranga Swamy Temple (BRT) tiger reserve in Karnataka, India. The 542 sq km reserve is home to the critically endangered tiger. Leopards, wild dogs, bears, gaurs (Indian bison), elephants, spotted and barking deer thrive in this pristine habitat. It is also home to as many as 270 species of birds.

The flora is made up of mixed vegetation. The sound of rivulets, fed by shola forests, cascading down the valley is mesmerizing. If not for four coffee estates in the core area, BRT makes out to be a fairytale wildlife habitat. It is alluring at its best.

 Disturbingly, these estates are right in the midst of the elephant corridor, obstructing the movement of pachyderms into the adjacent forests of Tamil Nadu. Lack of palatable, nutritious vegetation has driven elephants into farm lands, leading to frequent man-animal conflict in the periphery of the reserve.

Worse, the estates store and use the water from the rivulets that flow through coffee plantations and release polluted water into the streams which are used by wildlife.

Tiger numbers have been increasing every year. The last count puts the figure at 56. That tigers have successfully bred in this fragmented habitat indicates that the numbers could increase if the undulating habitat is undisturbed.

To create an unflustered environment, the estates, which have trespassed 277 acres of leased forest land, should wind up forthwith. Despite defaulting on lease rent, they are not willing to cede ground. Instead, they are engaged in a legal battle with the Karnataka Forest Department (KFD).

Considering that the matter is in court, the KFD had in a last-ditch effort appealed to the estate owners to surrender the land in the interest of wildlife conservation. Though the letter (dated Sept 4, 2014), requesting them to join hands to conserve the pristine eco-system by keeping the habitat free of human interference, was sent to them during the first week of September 2014, the ‘land lords’ have failed to respond to this clarion call.

They are shy of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), though the land in question belongs to the government.

These estates are owned by some very big and successful industrialists who have contributed significantly to the country’s economy through their successful business enterprise.

Billigiri Rangan Coffee Estates (Bedaguli) and Nilgiri Plantation Ltd (Honnametti) are owned by the Kolkata-based Birla group. The Birla’s have given a Power of Attorney (PA) to B H Lakhani, who has been hauled up by the court for illegally felling trees and constructing a tank in the tiger reserve.

Emerald Haven Estates Limited (Beagle) belongs to the TVS group. Sangameshwara Coffee Estate (Attikan), which is located in revenue land abetting the tiger reserve, is owned by an industrialist from Mysore.

While at one extreme we plead with the powerful to save our eco-system, we are luring, also coercing, forest settlers (soligas) to relocate from the very mooring where their great, great grandfathers lived in harmony with the denizens of the forests.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has classified tiger reserves as critical wildlife habitats. Being inviolate areas there ought to be no human habitation. It is for this reason, over 1200 families have been displaced from the Bhadra and Bandipur tiger reserves.

But the Birla and TVS groups have scant regard for the NTCA guidelines. Going by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) diktat, all tiger states have declared eco-sensitive zones, which encompass the buffer zone.

Settlements have been razed in the fringe of the forest to implement the MoEF order. Resorts are being denied licenses to build permanent structures. Encroached forest land is being ruthlessly recovered in Karnataka and elsewhere.

But the Birla and TVS groups have scant regard for NTCA and MoEF regulations.

In gross violation, Emerald Haven Estates Ltd (TVS group) has built two expansive bungalows (pictures and video attached) in the very heart of the tiger country. It is in the process of completing another project. We found elephant foot prints barely five feet from this yet-to-be inaugurated
property.

Considering their wealth and status in society, they should voluntarily relinquish their estates for the goodness of wildlife conservation. Perhaps, someone should educate them that our eco-system will not be the same if the tiger goes extinct. Aren’t we already reeling under the impact of global warming?

As forest and wildlife buffs, let us beseech these business tycoons to surrender their leased land to the government. If they are responsible citizens, they will. Else, they will be consigned to Veerappan’s league.

Joseph Hoover
Senior Journalist/ Member, Karnataka State Wildlife Board

 Observations of the Karnataka Forest department:

1. The total extent of forest lease land is 277 Acres 31 Guntas and 450 yards. It falls within the core area of the Tiger Reserve.

2. Coffee estates are located in the evergreen shola forests, where major streams and nullahs originate. Many streams and nullahs pass through these coffee estates, where the water is stored and used for coffee pulping and processing. Further the contaminated water is released to the natural streams, which are used by the wild animals. This issue has been raised in Hon’ble Lok Adalath.

3. Breach of trust through their inequitable acts and deeds and misrepresentation of facts. As per the agreement if any disputes or differences arises on this account the decision of the Chief Conservator of Forests (General), now PCCF (HOFF) in Karnataka will be final. C:\Documents and Settings\System-1\Desktop\Estate Eng Ltr 25-6-14.doc- S2 Instead he has prejudiciously dragged the issue to the court by twisting the facts thereby he totally violated the agreement condition.

4. Disobedience of court order: There is standing order from the court in OS No. 21/95 to pay the outstanding due. The lessee M/s. Nilgiri Plantations, Honnametti, more particularly their authorized person and the power of attorney holder, Sri. B. H. Lakhani has not bothered to comply with the court orders till today, thereby he has deliberately caused contempt of the said court orders, which needs to be dealt in accordance of law.

5. Present lease holders are not paying the lease rent to the government as per the existing government orders, but are sending the lease rent as per the old agreement. The notice had been send from this office to lease holders questioning their legality of existence and to produce the original documents of Government orders and lease agreement. Till now they have not complied.

6. Niligiri Plantation Limited, though belonging to one of the big companies, namely Birla Groups, is playing a vacillating and indecisive role in making the payment of lease rent to government, thereby becoming a defaulter.

7. Involvement in forest offence case: The power of attorney holder of Biligiri Rangan Coffee Estate Sri. B. H. Lakhani was involved in forest offence case FOC No. 3/2006-07 dtd. 08-08-2006 and FOC No. 05/2006-07 dtd. 27-09-2006 for tress pass and illegal felling of large number of trees in the leased area without the permission of forest department. Further, he was involved in illegal construction of tank in the leased area, diversion of natural water sources, mixing of chemicals into free flowing drinking water in the streams and rivers and causing damage to animal and bird life. Sri. B. H. Lakhani has been prosecuted in JMFC, Kollegal vide CC No. 171 of 2007 dtd. 04-04-2007.

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Sub-adult tiger dies in territorial fight in Bandipur

After a long (welcome) lull, we hear of another tiger death in the Bandipur tiger reserve, taking the tiger toll to nine in eight months in this park.

According to Deputy Conservator of Forests, Hanumanthappa, the carcass of sub-adult tiger was found near the Maddur range of the sprawling (912 sq km) national park.

"There is an indication of a fight between two tigers. There are deep claw marks on the ground. Some bushes have also been ripped out of their moorings. It is indicative of a territorial fight in which this four year old male has succumbed to injuries about four or five days ago," says Hanumanthappa.

The carcass was discovered on the fringe of the forest on Thursday morning by forest guards.

"We don't suspect any foul play as all the body parts were intact. The post mortem will reveal the cause of death," says Hanumanthappa.

ends

Tigers bred in Karnataka zoos in peril

The cow slaughter bill passed by the Karnataka legislative assembly will not hurt the sentiments of the minorities and the poor, but is also expected to increase the expenditure of the Karnataka Zoo Authority (KZA)by a whopping Rs 8 crore each year.
If the Governor gives his consent to the controversial bill, the KZA would have bear the extra expenditure borne out of purchase of mutton and chicken to feed over 400 tigers, leopards and other carnivores kept in captivity.
According to sources, the KZA needs 1700 kg of meat to feed the carnivores in eight zoos in the state. “We used to buy beef at Rs 60 (in Mysore) and Rs 80 (Bangalore). If the bill is passed, then we would have to buy either mutton (Rs 200-250per kg) or chicken (Rs 70 to 100 per kg) to feed the animals. We will incur extra expenditure of Rs 120 to 130 per kg,” said the source.
If the KZA was spending Rs 1.2 lakh on purchase of beef each day, it would have pay Rs 3.7 lakh for buying the same quantity of mutton.
Apart from extra expenditure, health of the animals is another concern for the zoo authorities.
“The fat content in beef is as low as two per cent, but mutton has a fat content of 10 to 11 per cent. If you have to give the same quantity of mutton instead of beef, the fat content could cause health problems among the animals. Subsequently, the health maintenance bills of the zoos will also go up.”
The rescue centres, which house confiscated circus animals, also face a similar predicament.
Saving the cow and buffalo from the guillotine is fine, but why should the poor carnivores animals suffer for no mistake of theirs. Tigers and leopards have no religion, no caste, no boundaries, no language, no political affiliations.
The Karnataka government would have to invest in deer, sambar and gaur breeding centres near zoos to feed the hungry carnivores. But then, killing deer and sambar could raise the hackles of conservation-oriented and cash-hungry NGOs.
Hopefully, there will be a solution for the carnivores’ sake.

Karnataka mining mafia set to exploit Khanapur forest, Western Ghats

Even as the ruling BJP and opposition parties in Karnataka are involved in a heated debate in the legislative assembly over rampant exploitation and thievery of natural and forest wealth, there is indication that mining activity could soon move base from Bellary to ore-rich Khanapur in Belgaum district.
According to sources in the revenue department, some politicians and miners have been buying up huge tracts of land in Khanapur, which abuts the Dandeli-Anshi Tiger Reserve (DATR). “All I can is that people from the powerful mining industry have been buying land here,” said the source, requesting anonymity.
While chief minister B S Yeddyurrappa envisages to impress upon on the government of India to stop export of ore, the mining community, according to the source, is confident that it would be granted permission to exploit the verdant, undulating forest tracts in the Khanapur region, which is home to the endangered tiger, among several other flora and fauna that are typically endemic to the Western Ghats.
The region is home to the Wroughtens free tail bat, which isn’t found anywhere else in the world. Considering the special status of the species, the forest department is in the final stages of declaring its small habitat as a protected area.
To ensure that the protection of this endangered species of bats wouldn’t put a spoke in the wheel of mining activity, the mining lobby planted a story in a newspaper, highlighting that the bat species was found in large numbers in the Dandeli-Anshi Tiger Reserve (DATR).
However, a survey conducted by the forest department has shown that the Wroughtens free tail bat does not co-habit with ten other species of bats found in the sprawling tiger reserve.
Wildlife conservationists and NGOs could use this survey as a tool to deter the state government from granting mining licenses in the region.
Conservationists are hopeful that former India captain Anil Kumble, who is vice-chairman of the Karnataka state wildlife advisory board would include this subject in the list of agenda for the next wildlife board meeting.
According to researchers Jones, Purvis and Gittleman (2003), “Approximately 25% of all species within Chiroptera (nearly 240 species) are considered threatened by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). At least twelve species have gone extinct in recent times.
Megachiropterans tend to be more at risk than microchiropterans (34% and 22% of species, respectively), but both groups are facing substantial threats from habitat loss and fragmentation. Destruction of, or disturbances to, roost sites is particularly problematic for bats. Species with relatively small geographic ranges and/or that are ecologically specialized tend to be at greatest risk.”
The western ghats which is one among the eight global bio-diversity hot spots has already been ravaged by the mining mafia. Mining dumps within the DATR make for an ugly sight in the otherwise pristine environment.
Like parthenium eating into huge tracts of forest land in Nagarhole and Bandipur tiger reserves, curry leaf plants (Karri Bevu), which are unpalatable to the already depleted herbivore population, dominate the plant species around these dumps which the forest department hopes to rejuvenate and green through acacia plantations.
Conservationists and NGOs fear that Khanapur would go the Kudremukh way (it was devastated before the Supreme Court stepped in) if the Karnataka government gives the go ahead for mining activity.
However, the state government has to obtain clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), before it can entertain the exploitation plans of the ruthless mining mafia.
Hopefully, the MoEF doesn’t get swayed by the cash-rich miners.

Interview: Tiger Crusader, Dr Rajesh Gopal Is Confident

Though the tiger population has fallen drastically in the wild over the last ten years, National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) member-secretary Dr Rajesh Gopal is confident that the majestic beast could make a dramatic comeback if tiger reserves are managed scientifically.

Dr Gopal, who has given his life for tiger conservation and virtually run from pillar to post to get the powers-that-be to wake up to the grim situation, spoke about issues related to conservation of the endangered species.

This interview was done quite some time ago. But the situation hasn’t changed much, reflecting the apathy of the forest ministers in tiger states.

All of us -- government, senior forest officials, publicity-seeking NGOs, media (print and electronic), common man… -- need to take responsibility for driving the majestic tiger to this predicament.

Excerpts of the interview:

What is the present status of the tiger?
It is not a happy situation. However, it has shown where we must prioritize to protect the species. Certain things could have been done earlier. But we cannot blame the government alone. Professionals and experts in the field are also to be equally blamed. 25 years ago we should have been as serious as we are now. We could have identified the weaknesses. Sadly, we got lost in the battle of numbers.


Is the conflict between the department and researchers cause for the tiger crisis?
The conflict between the department and experts has unfortunately created animosity. The NTCA has decided to end this cold war. We need to rope in expertise from outside the system. We will get good practices in place soon.

Has resettlement of forest dwellers hampered the process?
We can't close our eyes to reality. If we allow disturbances in our forests, the tiger will be in great danger of extinction. The status of the tiger, co-predators and prey species is very important. The situation is very serious in nine reserves. We have set out advisors to these reserves to put an effective management system in place.

How much space does the tiger require to do well?
An area of 800 to 1000 sqkm is a must for a viable population. There should be a minimum of 20-22 tigresses in the core area. In such a scenario the population could lead to 65 over a period of time. If the buffer zone could be expanded, we could have anywhere between 80 to 100 tigers in an area of 800 to 3000 sqkm.

But to achieve those figures, we have to ensure all the 17 tiger reserves are made inviolate. So far 14 reserves have already been notified as inviolate areas and forest settlers are leady being relocated.

The government has set aside Rs 600 crore for the tiger, but temporary staff are being paid their salary once in six months. Why?
I admit this is a very serious issue. It is the common in several states. But some are pro-active and reflect this expense in their budget. They adjust the amount when we release the funds. The delay for some states is not from the government of India. Some states do not send their APO (Annual Plan of Operation) in time.
To address this issue, we amended the Wildlife Protection Act (1972) in 2006 to allow tiger reserves to create a Tiger Conservation Foundation (TCF). The TCF could provide for these expenditure and be paid when the funds come in. We have issued detailed guidelines. Unfortunately, there is dichotomy in some forest departments.


Are you happy with the system that is being followed?
We need to improve the delivery system. We need to have a sub-cadre to manage wildlife. We need to have scientific inputs to save wildlife. Without an effective delivery system no amount of guidelines will work.

Can the tiger survive extinction?
The blue print is ready. The relocation package has been increased. We still have scope to save the tiger. I am confident that we will succeed if the habitats and corridors are kept intact. I am glad that civil society institutions have woken up and the general public is aware of the crisis faced by the tiger.

Another Tiger Bites The Dust

It is increasingly frightening, even depressing, that we are recovering tiger pelts virtually every second month in and around the Bandipur and Mudumalai tiger reserves, where there is a viable, sustainable population of our flagship species.

On Tuesday (April 14, 2010), the Tamil Nadu Forest Department (TNFD) recovered a tiger skin and arrested five poachers and two of their accomplices in the Sigur range, near Anaikatty, indicating that all is not well in Karnataka’s neighborhood as well.

That there has been uncontrolled fire in this region (Sigur and surrounds), intriguingly since the TN government served notices to illegally established wildlife resorts in the elephant corridor near Masina Guddi, is a matter of grave concern.

Wildlife conservationists allege that irked resort owners could have possibly set the bush fire which raged for three and a half days. They are intrigued that the forest staff did precious little to stop the fire which engulfed almost 30 acres of forest cover in Thengu Marada.

It is surprising that this incident (fire) occurred, despite having a proactive district forest officer (DFO, north) in K Soundarapandian, who has done remarkable work since taking charge of the tiger reserve.

Obviously, some wildlife resort owners in Masina Guddi are up to mischief. We learn through "on ground" sources that the resorts, which have been asked to close shop to recover elephant corridor, have backed the Gudalur "rasta roko" bundh called by local tribal leaders on April 19. They are protesting against the night traffic ban which has imposed by the Chamrajnagar Deputy Commissioner and upheld by the Karnataka high court.

That one of the poachers arrested in Sigur allegedly belonged to the Paniya tribe, has infuriated the locals to take up the cudgels against the Tamnil Nadu forest department.

The latest tiger pelt recovery indicates that poachers are active in Sigur and Upkara ranges in Mudumalai and Gundre, Maddur and Mulehole ranges in Bandipur. For the record, as many as 14 tigers have died, some to territorial fights, in as many months in these “supposedly” inviolate, critical tiger habitats.

Wildlife activists allege that range forest officers (RFOs) have been squabbling over gate collection at the Kalhatti gate (which leads to the Ooty) and in their greed for quick bucks are allowing poachers to have field day in Mudumalai.

There have been reports that deer, sambar and gaur (Indian bison) meat are being sold in the markets at Masina Guddi and Gudalur, which has become the epicenter of wildlife trade in the southern India. It is believed that some hotels in the vicinity offer “wild meat” to their regular customers.

While it is obvious that poaching is rampant, there is also a lingering fear that tigers and leopards are being poisoned in this region. A fortnight ago, the decayed remains of a six-month-old (presumably) tiger cub was discovered in the Maddur Range of the Bandipur national park, near the carcass of a cow. Though there are reasons to believe that it could have been poisoned by irate villagers, the postmortem report suggests it had died of natural cause.

Instead of getting to the root of the cause of death, it is becoming fashionable for senior forest officers to lay the blame on territorial fights. If someone is murdered in Bangalore or Chennai , Delhi or Mumbai, every effort is made to get to the bottom of the cause of death. But when it comes to wildlife, everything is swept under the carpet to ensure that the officers involved in protection don’t waste their time filing forest offence cases (FOC) and attend court.

Now that five poachers, including two forest dwellers, have been arrested, the wildlife crime bureau would do well to cast its intelligence net far and wide and break the poacher-buyer nexus.

That as many as four tiger pelts and other body parts have been recovered in the last eight months in Bandipur and Mudumalai is indeed startling. Hopefully, our slumbering forest officers will awaken to this rude “Alarm Call.”

Else, more tigers, which have become increasingly vulnerable to poaching in our reserves, could be on their way to the flourishing body-parts markets in Nepal and the Far-East.

An Ode To My Dying Bamboo Friends

Goodbye My Lofty Swaying Friends

Whither My Lofty Swaying Bamboo Friends
For Thine Time Hath Come
To Render Our Forests Bare and Brown

In Thine Demise And Barren Throes
Let Wisdom Sow From Thine Fallen Seeds
Let Not Our Forest Managers Repeat Blunders They Have Done To Thee

Let Thine Seeds Spring Forth Perspective Scientific Management Plans
Let Thine Seeds Enrich Our Natural Forests
Making It Luscious Habitats For Our Endangered Friends

We Pray Elephants That Browsed On Thine Succulent Nutritious Leaves
In Thine Time Of Opulence And Tender Green
Don’t Fall Prey To Electrocution And Gun

As They Trudge Yonder In Search Of Fodder
Trample And Devour Sugarcane, Banana and Maize
And Meet The Ugly Wrath Of Enraged Farmers

Awake Dear Slumbering Forest Managers
For Thine Time Hath Come To Introspect, Plan And Perform
Before Famine Bares Its tentacles Again On Our Abused Land.

Goodbye My Lofty Swaying Bamboo Friends
Until Thine Seeds Germinate To Thrive Again
In Thine Demise Let Wisdom Reign

----
Note: Bambo which constitutes 13 per cent of the forest mass in Karnataka has dried up completely in Nagarhole and Bandipur national parks. Elephants which browse on the swaying fronds and tender leaves have started to move into village environs in search of food. Unfortunately, the Karnataka forest department, despite having experienced this natural phenomenon of bamboo flowering and drying in the Bhadra wildlife sanctuary, has no scientific forest management in place to tide over this situation.

Coffee estates, resorts thrive in tiger habitats, but wildlife researchers get the boot

Now that the Karnataka Chief Wildlife Warden, B K Singh, has cited the National Tiger Conservation Authority order (N. PS—MS (NTCA)/2009 Misces, dated April 22, 2009) to stop research work and field interventions in core/critical tiger habitats, we could expect him to apply the same document to stop illegal poaching, timber felling, mining and tourism activities in Karnataka’s shrinking wildlife habitats.

While we should appreciate Mr B K Singh for being a honest, upright and principled Indian Forest Service officer, we also have to critique his knee-jerk action in stopping wildlife biologists/ researchers from pursuing their work for bettering wildlife management in our reserves.

The Minsitry of Environment and Forests (MOEF) and union minister for environment and forest, Mr Jairam Ramesh, have categorically encouraged the non-intrusive camera-trap method to enumerate tiger numbers in our reserves. They understand that molecular biology has been a handy tool as well.

Wildlife biologists and conservationists have been fighting against odds to put the future of the critically endangered tiger in perspective employing these methods. But suddenly, the CWW has woken up from his slumber, retrieved an old NTCA document from the KFD cupboard, and stopped all field research workers in their tracks. Wonder what he envisages to do or achieve.

If he truly has the interest of the tiger and all our wildlife species at heart, he would do well to address these issues:

1.There is rampant felling of trees and poaching in Bandipur Tiger Reserve. And as many as three tigers have been poached since he has taken charge. Yet, he has been unable to do anything about it. Also, the paws and claws of two dead tigers were removed. But no recovery has been made yet.

2.We find cattle grazing deep inside the forests, posing threat to wildlife populations. In the past foot and mouth disease had consumed several heads of gaur. Recently, a tiger cub was found dead in the Bandipur Tiger Reserve near a cattle kill. While there is suspicion that the six-month old cub could have been poisoned by enraged villagers, B K Singh deemed that the cub had been killed by its mother. When there was scarcely anything left of the cow and the tiger to conduct a post mortem, how could he/ vets conclude on the actual cause of death. We need a proper / true explanation, don’t we?

3.The NTCA tiger management plan clearly states that there should be no interventions in inviolate, critical tiger habitats. But there are five estates in the very womb of the BRT wildlife sanctuary, where the tiger population has increased manifold (33 now). If the same yardstick is being applied to evict tribal settlements, why shouldn’t estates be demolished and critical elephant corridors be restored?

4.The NTCA guidelines imply that tiger states should expand on the buffer zone in tiger reserves, but the CWW, who for some quaint reason believes that there are tigers and elephants in California, has done very little about. Should we ask, how much area of buffer zone has been added to Karnataka tiger reserves since he took charge?

5.As a matter of fact, though there is a restriction on the carrying capacity (tourism) in Bandipur Tiger Reserve, more and more resorts have been given permission to entertain their quests/ clients. He would do our harassed wildlife a favor, if he could also retract the tourism permits issued to resort operators, as he has done with the permission to wildlife researchers.

6.Again, if the CWW sincerely has the future of our flagship species at heart, he would do well to rid our wildlife parks of lackadaisical, incompetent and corrupt officers from eight of the 12 ranges in the Bandipur national park. Could he possibly relocate such range forest officers?

7.Since he has precious little background in wildlife and has a Field Director (Project Tiger) who is equally ignorant, he should talk the B S Yeddyurrappa government (if it cares) into relocating him in a position where he would be comfortable. He would do this if he has interest in saving the tiger from extinction in Karnataka’s forests.

8.More importantly, he has to motivate the field staff who are utterly demoralized. When range forest officers themselves don’t get the CWW’s backing when they take on poachers and timber smugglers living in the vicinity of the reserves, you can well imagine how the guards, watchers, trackers, who are effectively the nose, eye and ear of the forests, feel. With frugal salaries and emotional support, most of the staff are already looking for greener pastures.

9.BK Singh has stated that the Karnataka Forest Department would look after all issues related to protection of the tiger and its habitats. But the fact remains that the staff are just about learning the nuances of using scientific tools in assessing the tiger numbers in our reserves. He should understand that wildlife conservationists, researchers and NGOs have been active stakeholders in protecting Karnataka’s precious wildlife and its habitat. Without them, a lot more tigers would have made it to the lucrative markets of Nepal and the Far-East.

10.There are more questions that can be posed to this honest, upright senior IFS officer. But he would do well to address at least three of these issues, before hamstringing wildlife biologists and researches from doing what they are doing in the larger interests of our dwindling wildlife.

11.Is the CWW worried that wildlife researches would expose the nefarious happenings/ goings on in our tiger reserves?

Dr Rajesh Gopal, Member-secretary, National Tiger Conservation Authority, should be kicking himself to have such officers in crucial decision-making positions, especially when the tiger is under serious threat of going extinct.

God save our wildlife.

Spare Tuskers; Relocate Spineless Forest Officials

There is a move to tranquilize, capture and relocate elephants in the fragmented forest reserves of Karnataka. This was on the agenda of the discussions during an inter-action between the Project Elephant authorities, elephant task force, NGos and stake holders.

Eephant 'expertes"e met in Bangalore on Good Friday morning, discussing ways and means of stopping hungry, foraging elephants in their tracks. From what we gather, the agenda was on how to contain the growing man-animal conflict (crop raids, trampling and electrocution)in Hassan and Kodagu districts, more so in the periphery of Bandipur, Nagarhole and BRT.

While some suggested that the elephants be either be relocated or culled, others felt there was an urgent need to relocate jumbos from 'over-populated' parks, or those that have settled in small, isolated pockets of forests in Kodagu and Hassan.

A couple of NGOs are believed to have suggested that the government first address the man created problems (crop pattern, encroachment)before taking up the cudgel against forgaing elephnats.

We are losing elephants frequently to electrocution, poaching and infantile deaths. Our forests are shrinking. There is pressure from quarrying and mining. Poachers are shooting down tuskers for their ivory. There is mayhem in our forests. But the government does not seem to care about losing 200-300 elephants each year.

The recent Project Elephant exercise, to take the views all stake holders, seems to suggest our elephants are breeding like rabbits! We have taken have their habitats and destroyed elephant corridors (Raman Sukumar can throw light on how the Cicada Resorts came about in Bandipur). Yet, we blame the elephants for stumbling into our territory.

Is Project Elephant gathering consensus for culling. Wonder what Raman Sukumar, our elephant guru, has on his mind. Is he trying to please the government, which has been under pressure from MLAs from Kodagu and Hassan to rid their coffee estates of roving pachyderms? Somebody should ask him.

Sukumar and company could have done well to tell the Karnataka Forest Department (KFD) to get its act together, than relocate and cull jumbos. The KFD has comprehensively failed in its management plan. If it had bene prudent/ proactive, it would have planted bamboo saplings in its reserves, keeping in mind that the existing bamboo would flower sooner than later. Today, the entire bamboo crop, has flowered in Bandipur and Nagarhole. They are dry.

Though B G Hosmath, Field Director Project Tiger, had been approached by former conservator of forests, Mr A C Lakshman to plant bamboo saplings in Bandipur and Nagarhole, he had failed to respond the latter's call. We are told that he didn't bother to retunr the CCF's call.

According to Mr A C Lakshman, bamboo accounts for 13 per cent of Karnataka's forest cover. That means less food for our lovable elephants. Now that the bamboo has dried up, there will be pressure on villages adjacent of the forests, leading to a rise in man-animal conflicts and eventual death of more elephants.

The expert committee meeting could have probably been called keeping this in mind. Our forest officials seems to have knack at finding a way around the problems than finding long-lasting solutions. This knee-jerk capture-relocate, cull strategy will not help in the long run.

The experts and KFD should keep in mind the effect of the silastic hormone on elephants in Kruger national park in South Africa. The hormone had an adverse effect on elephants phsyology / cycle.

As early as 1994, the then Chief Wildlife Warden, M K Appayya, who had on-field experience unlike most other wildlife wardens, had talked about the need of culling elephants. At that point in time though, man-animal conflicts were not as intense as it is now.

Even if there is a boom in the elephant population in our parks, is this way out? There has to be a far-sighted solution to the elephant menace, accentuated by man's greed. Rather than taking (implementing) the recommendations of the elephant expert committee, the government should take the opinion of the masses before deciding on the fate of our jumbos.

As someone suggested, our spineless forest officials, who don't stand up for their on-field staff who are in the line of fire, should be relocated/ castrated. Not our Tuskers.

Tiger cub found dead in Bandipur

The carcass of an eight-month tiger cub was found in the Maddur range of the Bandipur national park on Wednesday, taking the death toll to six in this tiger reserve since August 2009.

“Evidently, the tiger might have died eight days ago. Though the carcass was found deep in the forest near a cattle kill, the post mortem did not indicate that the cub may have been poisoned.” said B K Singh, Chief Wildlife Warden.

Shockingly, Mr Singh suggested that the cub could have been killed by its mother. We have heard tales of a male killing cubs, more of other tigers' off-spring. But a mother killing its own cub is bewildering indeed.

Obviously, the CWW has no wildlife background. In such a scenario, he should make no comment at all. He has embarassed the IFS cadre in Karnataka and Dr Rajesh Gopal, member-secreatry, National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).

According to Sanjay Gubbi, India program officer of Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), there was nothing left of the cattle kill and the cub. “The cattle kill was dry and there was very left of the cub to do a post-mortem.”

There is concern that the mother might have perished after sharing the kill with its cub. “Normally a mother does not abandon a cub so young. There was concern that the tigress may also have died. But there were no such indication,” said Gubbi.

Though as many as six tigers have died in the Bandipur reserve in six months and the paws of a dead tiger are yet to be recovered, Karnataka’s chief wildlife warden was unperturbed. “I should worry if there are any unnatural deaths. But most have died naturally,” said B K Singh, who had asked conservationists if there were tiger sand elephants in California when he assumed office as the CWW.

God save our wildlife.

Save Tigers: Admonish Errant Forest Ministers

There is another earnest effort by the Indian government to save our endangered tigers. We have to appreciate Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for taking the initiative to personally talk to concerned ministers in Tiger States (states which have tiger reserves), cajoling them to save our flagship species, which has been under constant threat from poachers and cash-greedy, vote-hungry politicians.

Concerned with the recent death of 15 tigers, the Prime Minister has asked the tiger states to do more to save the tiger population, which is faced with a do-or-die situation in our reserves and protected areas.

If the states fail to respond to the prime minister's call forthwith, the situation could worsen as poachers are on the prowl. Like most of our pea-brained politicians, they wouldn't mind if another 200 tigers are killed for their pelt and 'invigorating' body parts. They are ruthless and know little about the natural prey-predator cycle in habitats and the role of the umbrella species in our eco-system.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has been in place since 2007. the National Board for Wildlife meets frequently to assess the ground situation and briefs the PM. The PM in turn ensures all the requirements, including funds, for protection are met. All is hunky-dory until an advisory is issued to tiger states. As history manifests, nothing really happens thereafter. The advisory files merely cruise to and fro from the forest department to the forest secretary's office. Eventually, the files gather dust.


In Karnataka the situation is going from bad to worse. Though some officers are keen to follow and implement the Centre's orders, they are constrained from executing their tasks. Frequent transfers of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF)and Chief Wildlife Wardens (CWW) reflect the attitude of the Yeddyurrappa government which seems to have its own agenda.

The scenario is such that no officer is willing to question the authority or intentions of the forest minister for fear of being reprimanded with a transfer. The present Director General of Forests (now ensconced in New Delhi), Mr Dileep Kumar was a victim himself, as he dared the forest minister. He was transferred overnight.

Not many senior officers have the conviction to speak their mind. They merely, to some extent reluctantly, sign files that are sent to them from the forest minister's office. A rubber stamp could replace them, isn't it?

You can well imagine what lower-ranked officers would do when their seniors/ mentors themselves buckle under pressure. How we wish another Parameshwarappa is born to tame arrogant ministers and bureaucrats. As PCCF, Mr Parameshwarappa would ask the ministers themselves to sign the files if any favour was sought by the timber and mining lobby. He was tough as nails.

Unfortunately, we don't have officers of such ilk now. Of course, there are a good number of young and dynamic Deputy Conservator of Forests who are genuinely interested in saving our rapidly-decimated forests and wildlife. But they are not allowed to function.

Coming back to the PM's endeavor, Mr Singh would do well to have a central team of Chief Conservator of Forests to man our 38 tiger reserves. They should report to the Member Secretary, National Tiger Conservation Authority. They should be empowered to control/ enhance the protection mechanism/ execute guidelines laid down by the NTCA.

It is obviously highly difficult to have such an ideal scenario in a democractic system, where different political parties rule different states. But at least, the PM could get all the chief ministers of the states to agree on this principle in the interest of our dwindling wildlife, more so the future of our own children, grand children, great grand children, great great grand children (if our politicians don't plunder our forest wealth by then).

When the Centre provides funds to tiger states it obviously should have some control over the happenings in the reserves. It should get the errant states (Karnataka for one), to agree to certain conditions, like the appointment of an officer who has served in wildlife parks for the post of Field Director Project Tiger (FDPT) and in posting efficient, credible men as CCFs of DCFs in Tiger reserves. The sooner this is done, the better.

If any forest minister or bureaucrat infringes the Wildlife Protection Act (1972), Forest Act, undermines the guidelines of the NTCA and disrespects the CEC, he should hauled up in court and publicly questioned and admonished on all the national television networks. Else, it will be darn difficult to tame them.

Hopefully, our forest ministers accede to our prime minister's latest clarion call to save our endangered tigers.

God Save Bandipur's vulnerable tigers

It is heartening that the Indian government has willed itself to set up a new department for wildlife conservation under the Ministry for Environment and Forests to ensure regular flow of funds for wildlife protection.

The proposed department is to have its have a secretary and a separate budget. This has been done to relocate forest settlers from the core areas of tiger reserves. Great news!!

If the decision of the National Board for Wildlife, chaired by prime minister Manmohan Singh is to be translated into action, the government ought to do more than just dole out funds to states which have a viable/ vulnerable tiger populations. It has to act tough, even wrap the non-performing tiger states on its knuckles to get the results.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) was created at the behest of the prime minister to save the critically endangered tiger from possible extinction in India's tiger reserves. But NTCA, despite drawing a techinal document to form guidelines for preparation of a tiger conservation plan, has been a mute, rather toothless, spectator to all the gory, heinous happenings in the 38 reserves that have been earmarked for the protection of India's flagship species.

If Dr Rajesh Gopal, member secretary, NTCA is vexed, there is reason. Not more than twelve tiger reserves have been following NTCA's guidelines. There has been utter disregard for the authority, with each tiger state having its own set of rules, problems relating to acute shortage of funds and field staff, rising man-animal conflicts, shrinking habitats...

Let's have a look at NTCAs "Approach to Tiger Conservation Planning'. It lists out seven points in consolidating and strengthening fo source populations of tiger in tiger reserves and protected areas:

1. Protection, anti-poaching activities and networking
2. Strengthening of infrastructure within tiger reserves
3. Habitat improvement, including water development
4. Rehabilitation package for traditional hunting tribes living around tiger reserves
5. Staff development and capacity building
6. Delineating inviolate spaces for wildlife and relocation of villagers from crucial habitats in tiger reserves within a time frame (five years) and settlement of rights
7. Safeguarding tiger habitats from ecologically unsustainable development.

Wow! That is promising, right? But in reality, though the guidelines were issued in 2007, tiger states are far from achieving at least three of these crucial tasks.

Let's take the porous, open-to-poachers Bandipur National Park for a case study. The 992 sqkm park, according to Wildlife Institute of India's (WII)figures, is home to approximately 80 tigers. Already, 15 tigers have succumbed to territorial fights and poaching over the last 12 months. If the present situation (lack of protection) is to be prudently assessed, it won't be long before Bandipur goes the Sariska and Panna way. Both these reserves lost all its tigers to poaching for obvious reasons. cing.

The ground reality in Bandipur national park: There is an acute 54 per cent shortage of front line staff. Of the 46 per cent on roles, 16 per cent fall in the "petty cash payment" temporary staff category. Most of those engaged in protection work are emancipated, bone weary and disillusioned.

It is fortunate that the temporary staff are now getting their pay in time (unlike when they would get their pay once in four or five months after much goading and remonstration). But without an off day to rest and share their life with their families, they are not even performing at 35 per cent of their ability.

So, what is the NTCA talking about "staff development and capacity building" and "protection, anti-poaching activities and networking." Apparently, these guidelines are Greek and Latin to the Karnataka government, which has done precious little to protect its endangered tigers, established to be 290 at the last count. The Karnataka forest minister we are told has no clue about what the "Save the tiger" clamour is all about. His inaction reflects that he doesn't care.

Forget the forest minister. Let's ask what the IFS-heavy Karnataka Forest Department is doing to protect wildlife and motivate its foot soldiers, who are the eyes, ears and nose of the forest. Without the watchers, trackers and guards our wildlife denizens would disappear, even before you utter "Swami Nityananda Namaha". Very few officers feel for the underpaid, overworked, stressed staff. Very few have a likening for wildlife. Some seem to have stumbled into the department for want of a decorated, cushy 10 to five job. So it seems.

Taken the argument further, it could be said that only a couple of range forest officers are doing or like doing what they have assigned to do. Bandipur, which borders the forests of Kerala (Waynaad wildlife sanctuary) and Tamil Nadu Mudumalai Tiger Resrve), is divided into 12 vast ranges.

We should glad even if three rangers are functioning. It is alleged that they had paid politicians to get themselves posted in places of their choice. Obviously, they have to recover their investment! Obviously, they have chores other than patrolling and protection to do!

Forget the lackadaisical attitude of the Karnataka government, the ineptitude of the decision-making IFS cadre and the slumbering rangers, the critical post of the Field Director Project Tiger (FDPT) can itself be questioned when it is not given to the right personnel. How can we expect a Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) who has no wildlife back ground to perform, protect tigers. It has been the fancy of the Karnataka government to appoint any Tom, Dick and Harry as FDPT, without a care in the world about the future of the vulnerable tiger.

We are told that the relocation of villages from critical tiger habitats have suffered a setback because of the frequent transfer of officers in Bandipur and Nagarhole national parks. The centre had set a five-year time frame to delineate inviolate spaces for wildlife and relocation of villages. But it could take an eternity before this can be achieved. Where are we heading?

To cut the long story short, the Centre, which frets over tiger death, and the NTCA, which is powerless as it is toothless, could do well to reprimand the tiger states if they don't follow the Tiger Conservation Plan. Unless, this is done, there is no point having high-level meetings and setting up new departments for wildlife protection.

Wish our Union Minister for Environment and Forests, Jairam Ramesh does something about the hapless situation in Bandipur before it goes the Sariska and Panna way.

Should we say, God save out dwindling tigers.