Monday, May 19, 2008

Peter Renzo run out of Lemmon Valley and Washoe County

Cat owner moves felines before deadline

RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL 4/3/2002 09:38 pm-
Mary Thompson


Peter Renzo has moved his four Siberian tigers and black leopard from Lemmon Valley, but he's already planning to bring the cats back to Patrician Drive as soon as possible, his lawyer said Wednesday.

Renzo transported the cats in a U-Haul trailer to an undisclosed location in Lyon County on Tuesday afternoon, just beating a 5 p.m. deadline set by a Reno judge. Renzo risked going to jail if he had failed to remove the felines from the county limits.

Renzo set up a nonprofit organization last month to raise funds to buy the Lemmon Valley property after county commissioners voted to issue an exotic animal permit on the condition he build a proper facility for the cats.

Already, Renzo's SABRE Foundation has collected significant donations, but it is a long way from meeting the goal, said Renzo's lawyer Kevin Karp.

"He still has thousands and thousands of dollars to raise but once the money is there he could be back within three months," Karp said. "He's not happy with where he went in Lyon County, but he's hopeful things will move along quickly."

Renzo brought the cats to Lemmon Valley in December after animal control officers ordered him to remove the animals from a Sparks warehouse because he didn't have an exotic animal permit. Renzo faced the same fate in Washoe County.

Deputy District Attorney Chris Wilson argued in court that the cats were inherently dangerous and presented a significant liability to the county should they escape from their pen.

"That was a dangerous situation he put the community in," Wilson said after the cats were moved. He said several Lemmon Valley neighbors expressed concern about the cats' living in a residential area.

Renzo has lived with tigers and leopards in South Lake Tahoe and Grass Valley, Calif., before coming to Washoe County

Karp said Renzo is interested in returning to Washoe County to present the tigers, four of the estimated 350 left in the world, for educational purposes in local school programs. He said many Lemmon Valley residents have shown support by signing a petition to have the cats stay in the area.

Karp said Renzo, who feeds the cats by hands, is the only person who can care for the animals, which would likely die if they were separated from the handler.

Copyright © 2002 The Reno Gazette-Journal

Renzo Tigers
04/04/02 - Peter Renzo moves his big cats out of Lemmon Valley

You may remember our stories about Peter Renzo. He's the man who has four Siberian tigers and a black leopard and has been trying to find a place to keep them in Washoe County.

Well, he's moved again.

Renzo had to move his big cats out of Lemmon Valley earlier this week, or face jail time, because he couldn't meet the requirements given to him by the county for keeping the cats.

He barely beat the 5:00 PM deadline on Tuesday, but he managed to move the big cats out of Washoe County and into an undisclosed location in Lyon County.

Renzo says he hopes the new location is only temporary and he wants to bring the cats back to the property in Lemmon Valley as soon as possible.

Posted by BigCatRescue at 4:02 PM

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Tiger prowling send shock waves in Kodagu

Tiger prowling send shock waves in Kodagu
 
Madikeri, May : Plight of Coffee Planters and Agriculturists in South Kodagu continued despite one tiger was caught by the forest department and sent to Mysore Zoo and another was shot dead by poachers recently.
 
Another attack by a tiger has sent a shock wave and it tells of the presence of many more tigers prowling in Kodagu. A tied cow was killed by a tiger during day time at Beeruga Naayikallu near Srimangala.
 
Owner of the cow Mr Kallangada Ratan in his complaint to forest department said that the cow was killed by a tiger on May 15. The cow was half eaten and was dragged to a distance by the tiger.
 
ACFO Nagarajachar and staff visited the spot and assured compensation.
 
http://www.newkerala.com/one.php?action=fullnews&id=61367
http://www.bigcatrescue.org


Posted by BigCatRescue at 8:20 PM

Animal farm a death trap - Valmiki tigers easy prey

Animal farm a death trap
- Valmiki tigers easy prey
 
SANTOSH SINGH
Issue Date: Sunday , May 18 , 2008
 
A dead tiger at the sanctuary Telegraph picture 
Valmiki Tiger Reserve (West Champaran), May 17: Big cats are dying a slow death in the 18th national park created to protect the animal, the Valmiki Tiger Reserve.
 
In 1997 the reserve had 53 tigers. Now it is left with 32.
 
Even after lakhs of rupees being pumped into it, the park remains the same 880sqkm of unsafe haven due to poachers. A visit by The Telegraph revealed instances of neglect and apathy, man-animal conflicts and violations of Wildlife Protection Act — right under the noses of the forest officers.
 
Sample this: On May 10, 2008, a 9ft adult Royal Bengal Tiger died near Naurangia village, 340 km from Patna, after its right front limb was enmeshed in a steel trap, set by poachers, for seven hours.
 
Cow herders from Naurangia who found the wild cat struggling to free its leg said the hapless animal unleashed its pain and fury on a Sahul tree, biting deep into its bark. Forest officers arrived after a while, but without medicine, tranquillisers or any form of medical support. The animal slowly died a painful death before the officials' eyes. When an expert from Patna arrived late in the evening, he saw only the smouldering ashes of the cat at a cremation spot.
 
This is not an isolated case. Villagers come up with several stories of how poachers from West Champaran, Uttar Pradesh, and adjoining Nepal claim lives with out any official intervention.
 
Usually poachers prefer steel traps that have sharp nails. The trap is tied to a small but strong steel chain, which, in turn, is tied to an iron rod dug deep into the ground. After trapping an animal, a poacher usually poisons it — to sell its skin, teeth, nails and bones at a high price in the international market.
 
S.P. Yadav, a tailor at Naurangia village, said: "We hardly see any forest patrolling parties. Everything is left at the mercy of god. It is villagers who inform forest officers when things go out of hand."
 
Official records in the Valmiki Nagar divisional forest office show no cases of unnatural death in the past two years. But, in the absence of his seniors, a forest guard gave figures. It seems that there were 18 deaths between April 2007 and March 2008 of deer, rhinoceros and peacocks.
 
Chief forest conservator B.N. Jha said: "Tell us how can we guard a 880sqkm reserve with 65 permanent staffers? Rest of the staffers come on an ad hoc basis and are generally removed after some time.
 
"I would be happy to use the media to draw the system-in-charge's attention towards the sorry state of affairs at the park. Bihar authorities have one tranquilliser gun that has to be kept at the Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park in Patna."
 
A significant recovery of rhino horns was made in November 2007 by the Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB), which guards the Indo-Nepal border at Valmiki Nagar. But even SSB officers concede it is difficult to check every person crossing the soft border. "We frisk suspicious people but entries are made only of those entering in two, three or four-wheelers," said an SSB officer posted at Gandak Barrage at the border.
 
Forest employees, too, stress that their hands are tied. "What can we do with dandas (sticks)?" is the common refrain. The reserve has over 300 employees, including the recent deployment of 25 unarmed jawans of Special Auxiliary Police.
 
Protecting even the core area of 335sqkm is no mean feat. G.K. Pandey, a wildlife expert, said: "It was almost impossible to even venture into the forest till 1994. Counting of tigers by camera is a recent addition. A forester hardly knows where the tigers are minus any tracking system."
 
The reserve is also witnessing an increasing man-animal conflict. Though the core area has three villages, 25 villages surround the national park. There are a total of 121 villages with over 1.5 lakh population in and around the park. While villagers are not ready to leave their home, Wildlife Protection Act terms them as trespassers living in "prohibited" areas.
 
Sameer Kumar Sinha, a senior field officer working with Wildlife Trust of India at the reserve, said: "Villagers are a problem. They are not ready to accept the rehabilitation plan offered by the National Tiger Conservation Authority, earlier known as Project Tiger."
 
"Our job is to provide data on ecological distribution of wild animals. Tigers move in and around core the area and very often come into conflict with the humans. The reserve has been declared a prohibited area, but officers can't stop people from entering the forests," he added.
 
It's not that the reserve lacks funds to spruce up its act. It receives a cumulative central and state government annual budget of Rs 213 lakh. In 2007-08, the Union forest and environment ministry sanctioned Rs 106.663 lakh, besides Rs 81.228 lakh on a pattern of 50:50 sharing with the Bihar government, for the park.
 
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080518/jsp/frontpage/story_9286236.jsp#
http://www.bigcatrescue.org


Posted by BigCatRescue at 8:20 PM

Visit Ranthambore for a 'wild' holiday

Visit Ranthambore for a 'wild' holiday
 
Harsha Kumari
Friday, May 16, 2008 (Ranthambore)
 
Ranthambore is known for it's tiger sightings and for the ones who are looking for an audience with the king of the jungle, the Ranthambore National Park is a great weekend getaway, about 140 km from Jaipur.
 
Ranthambore is well connected both by rail and road and for those wanting a jungle holiday, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, Ranthambore is the place to be.
 
The Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan is probably one of the only sanctuaries in the country where one can sight a tiger up close.
 
''Yes I saw a tiger. First we saw it walking along the road and then by a tree watching the deer as they were coming close,'' said one of the visitor to Ranthambore.
 
''I gather about 35 tigers here and we were just lucky, it was so close to the lorry that I am glad it had it's breakfast,'' said another visitor.
 
Safaris at the break of dawn, and a drive through the jungle at dusk are among few exciting Ranthanbore offers.
 
Between an open gypsy and canters, people vacationing in a large group can pick up their mode of travel.
 
Most of the routes for tourists run alongside the tigers favourite water holing, making it a great place to sight the big cats.
 
In the past two years, there has been a baby boom in Ranthambore. They have had 13 new cubs and a visit to this place can get a glimpse of the king of the jungle.
 
And to take back memories of these majestic animals, Ranthambore also offers a variety of tiger mementos.
 
The Ranthambore tiger sketches, mostly done in charcoal, are quite famous. T-shirts and souvenirs all add to make an interesting collection of tigeria.
 
There are hotels to suit everyone's budget in Ranthambore, from luxury five star hotels to those which are light on the pocket but heritage properties can also add a touch of history and romance to the jungle adventure.
 
The best time to visit Ranthambore is during winter but it is open for guests now too, except between July and September, the three months when it's shut during the monsoons.
 
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080050080&ch=5/17/2008%207:35:00%20AM
http://www.bigcatrescue.org

Posted by BigCatRescue at 8:19 PM

Madhya Pradesh lawmaker alleges corruption in tiger conservation project

Madhya Pradesh lawmaker alleges corruption in tiger conservation project
 
May 17th, 2008 - 8:51 pm ICT by admin
 
Bhopal, May 17 (IANS) Madhya Pradesh lawmaker and member of a state tiger conservation body Darbu Singh Uike has alleged that corrupt officials have siphoned off millions meant for the conservation of tigers in the state's Kanha National Park. Uike, who is patron of Gondwana Mukti Sena and represents the Paraswada assembly seat, Saturday told reporters here that repeated appeals to the state government by him on the irregularities and corruption in the park have fallen on deaf ears.
 
"If the state government does not pay attention towards the demands of proper security and conservation of wildlife in Kanha National Park, my party will stage a dharna (protest) in front of the park's main gate and demand resignation of the state forest minister," he said.
 
"At least one tiger and four sambhars (deer) have died in the buffer zone of the park due to scarcity of water. Similarly, five tigers had died in the Gandhar area of the national park in December," he alleged.
 
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/enviornment/madhya-pradesh-lawmaker-alleges-corruption-in-tiger-conservation-project_10049812.html
http://www.bigcatrescue.org

Posted by BigCatRescue at 8:19 PM

Estate owner held for killing tiger

Estate owner held for killing tiger
 
17 May 2008, 0537 hrs IST,TNN
 
BANGALORE: Kodagu district police has arrested one Sujala Kariappa of Kuruchi village for owning a single-barrel breach loading gun that was used to shoot a tiger in the first week of May.
 
The tiger was found dead with 19 pellet injuries in the coffee estate of Ajimada Kariappa and was first noticed by forest watcher D Laksha.
 
Acting on a complaint, Srimangala police registered a criminal case and arrested Sujala.
 
Forest officials also recovered claws and other body parts from the carcass. Kodagu police are searching for Sujala's associates Chinna and Mani.
 
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bangalore/Estate_owner_held_for_killing_tiger/articleshow/3048054.cms
http://www.bigcatrescue.org

Posted by BigCatRescue at 8:18 PM

UP to get new tiger reserve in Pilibhit

UP to get new tiger reserve in Pilibhit
 
17 May, 2008 02:46:16
 
Lucknow, May 17: The UP government plans to set up a new tiger reserve in Pilibhit.
 
The new reserve would be spread over an area of approximately 1,000 sq km. It is expected to ease the pressure on the Dudhwa forest reserve that has witnessed a massive depletion of forest cover in recent years, adding to the man-animal conflict in the region.
 
The new tiger reserve would run through Pilibhit, Kishenpur sanctuary and Khutar range of Shahjahanpur. The Dudhwa forest reserve includes Katarniaghat and Kakraha range of Bahraich division.
 
Pilibhit, Khutar and Kakraha are reserved forest areas that will be converted into protected areas for the reserves with a slight alteration in the boundaries. The outline for the reserve, as identified by the Critical Tiger Habitat Committee, was sent to the Central government in January this year.
 
The reserve was sanctioned in this year's budget and forest department has already completed the exercise of delineating its stretch and extent.
 
http://howrah.org/india_news/12549.html
http://www.bigcatrescue.org


Posted by BigCatRescue at 8:17 PM

Tiger found dead in Kheri forest

Tiger found dead in Kheri forest
 
18 May 2008, 0301 hrs IST,Neha Shukla,TNN
 
LUCKNOW: Conservation efforts have failed to check accidental deaths of tigers in Uttar Pradesh. On Saturday morning, body of an adult male tiger was found floating in Sharda canal in Mailani range of South Kheri forest division. This latest casualty paints a grimmer picture for the surviving 109 tigers in the state.
 
In this case, the forest department has ruled out natural death. "The animal was healthy so we cannot say it died a natural death," said RC Jha, DFO, South Kheri.
 
The body has no external injury marks. It's only the belly of the animal that is swollen, added Jha. The body has been sent to the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Bareilly for autopsy.
 
The report is expected by Sunday evening. The part of the canal where tiger's body was found floating has swift currents. Tigers can swim through but according to the official version so far, the animal would have lost its balance in the canal due to swift currents and drowned to death. Tiger deaths could be either natural, accidental or a foul-play where animals are even poisoned. "This death is accidental," the DFO claimed.
 
Poisoning of big cats is usually a possibility when man-eating incidents have been reported from the area of accident or places close to it. It is noteworthy that Mailani range has already been put on the alert by forest department after two man-eating incidents have been reported from there and one from its adjacent range Mohammadi since March. The latest man-eating incident from Mailani was reported on Monday.
 
In the aforementioned casualty, since poisoning has been ruled out, it is Sharda canal which emerges as the killer. The canal, otherwise the lifeline of Tarai belt, has claimed lives of several tigers in the past.
 
It has been existing since early 1900s. The velocity of the current has been usually high in this canal. In 1986-87, three tigers had died at the same spot in the canal due to drowning. The deaths were reported within a short span of almost one and a half years. "The deaths were similar in nature to the one that has happened today," said GC Mishra, former field director, Dudhwa.
 
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Lucknow/Tiger_found_dead_in_Kheri_forest/articleshow/3049958.cms
http://www.bigcatrescue.org


Posted by BigCatRescue at 8:16 PM

Three arrested with tiger skin

Three arrested with tiger skin
18 May 2008, 0428 hrs IST,Mazhar Ali,TNN
 
CHANDRAPUR: In a major breakthrough against illegal trade of tiger skin, sleuths of the local crime branch (LCB) nabbed three persons from a premises near the bus stand during the wee hours on Saturday.
 
This was the third successful raid by the LCB in the last four days during. So far, they have arrested nine smugglers and have recovered four skins including one of a tiger and three of leopards.
 
Subhash Panse, PI and in-charge of LCB, informed scribes that they had got a tip-off from reliable sources that three persons will be reaching the Chandrapur bus stand with tiger skin in the wee hours on Saturday and accordingly, a trap was laid.
 
Around 3 am, three persons arrived at bus stop to catch the first bus, but fell to the LCB trap.
 
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Nagpur/Three_arrested_with_tiger_skin/articleshow/3050095.cms
http://ww.bigcatrescue.org


Posted by BigCatRescue at 8:15 PM

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Tigress in Pench reserve forest gives birth to four cubs

Tigress in Pench reserve forest gives birth to four cubs

Bhopal (PTI): Here is a good news from the forests of Pench Tiger Reserve as a tigress on Thursday gave birth to four cubs raising the total number of tiger cubs in the reserve forest area to 16.

At present there are 33 adult tigers in the Pench Tiger Reserve according to the joint wildlife study conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India in association with the Forest Department in the state, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) Dr P B Gangopadhyaya has said in a press release.

The Pench Tiger Reserve already has 12 tiger cubs and with the newborn four cubs the total number of cubs in the Pench Tiger Reserve has increased to 16.

The state Forest Minister Vijay Shah has directed the forest officials to ensure the care of newborn cubs and also asked them to share the good news with the visiting tourists.


The Hindu
News Update Service
Thursday, May 15, 2008 : 2115 Hrs

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200805152172.htm
 


Posted by BigCatRescue at 12:00 AM

Mudumalai ride routes to change

Mudumalai ride routes to change

D. Radhakrishnan

Udhagamandalam: A new approach to strengthening conservation efforts at the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve is being evolved, according to Field Director of the Reserve Rajeev Kumar Srivastava.

Mr. Srivastava told The Hindu that the emphasis would be on making local communities supplement the conservation efforts of wildlife officials. Appropriate changes would be made to the routes for elephant and van rides within the reserve.

Tiger conservation would get the highest priority, but equal importance would be given to the protection of other animals and flora.

Pointing out that Mudumalai's stature as a wildlife preserve has gone up following its notification as a tiger reserve, he said that in terms of the rise in tiger numbers it was the topper in the country.

A major source of concern, particularly during the dry months, is forest fires. Enhancing awareness among the local people and visitors about the potential consequences of bush fires would be given priority.

The proliferation of lantena bushes would be checked. Rules governing tiger reserves are stringent; efforts would be made to relocate people living in the core area as early as possible.

The anti-poaching machinery put in place a few years ago would be strengthened. In course of time, better weapons would be provided.

Steps were being taken to set up a well-equipped interpretation centre near the reception area of the reserve. A superior veterinary facility was on the anvil.

A welcome arch featuring thought-provoking slogans would be erected near the Mudumalai-Bandipur border, Mr. Srivastava said.


Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 16, 2008

http://www.hindu.com/2008/05/16/stories/2008051657220100.htm
 


Posted by BigCatRescue at 12:00 AM

Friday, May 16, 2008

The education way to tiger protection

The education way to tiger protection

2008/05/17
By : Sharifah Mahsinah Abdullah

TUMPAT: There are fewer than 500 Malayan tigers left in the jungles of the peninsula. And the biggest threat of extinction comes from man.

The number of tigers are dwindling as habitats are lost to human development and poachers hunt for trophies, exotic dishes and traditional medicine.

More than 100 people living in the border areas were briefed on these and other facts during two seminars organised by the Malaysian Conservation Alliance for Tigers (Mycat) and the Wildlife Department.

The seminars, attended mostly by Thai nationals, were held in a local temple at Kampung Kuala Jambu on Thursday night, followed by Kampung Mentua yesterday.

During the 90-minute programme, facilitator Rosli Hamat showed slides of protected animals and led a discussion on poaching, smuggling and other wildlife crimes.

Mycat co-ordinator Loretta Ann Soosayraj said Kelantan was the second state to organise the programme since it was introduced.

The first was in Johor last year.

The rural outreach programme is aimed at creating awareness on the effects of poaching and smuggling protected animals.

It is also designed to encourage people to report to the authorities if protected animals are being hunted in their area.

"We chose Kampung Kuala Jambu and Kampung Mentua as they are located near the border.

"The authorities have discovered that animals are being smuggled into Thailand through Kelantan, before being shipped to China," she said after the programme at Kampung Kuala Jambu.

Soosayraj also said the response to the Tiger SMS Hotline launched last December was overwhelming.

The 24-hour hotline number is 019-3564194.

Kampung Kuala Jambu village headman Eh Sin Eh Sik said the programme taught the villagers which animals to hunt.

"It's an important issue. Some of us are confused about whether or not it is legal to hunt certain animals.

"We don't know which ones are protected and which are not."

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Saturday/National/2242475/Article/index_html
 


Posted by BigCatRescue at 11:59 PM

Dwindling tiger population of Valmiki Forest Reserve

Dwindling tiger population of Valmiki Forest Reserve

Amitabh Srivastava
May 16, 2008

It was an ill-fated night when a Royal Bengal tiger was ensnared in an iron mesh by suspected poachers from neighbouring Nepal at the Valmiki Tiger Reserve located in West Champaran district in Bihar.

When the trap's jagged metal teeth sunk into its paw, the tiger howled hard-an alarm that was enough to arouse the otherwise sleepy rangers. The tiger's screams kept the poachers at bay, who obviously thought that the rangers would come sooner than they actually did.

For some strange reasons though, the rangers preferred to wait till the crack of dawn. It was too late for the tiger.

Ironically, the tiger's apparent cause of death-besides the injury-was the severe stress that it had to grapple with during the entire night. It vainly struggled to free itself.

By the time, the forest officials could rush help the tiger had reached the point from where it could not have returned.

Forest officials claim that the tiger apparently died out of shock, as a huge crowd had assembled to see the tiger in trap. Obviously, the local rangers failed to clear the space.

But what was worse was the unavailability of guns loaded with tranquilisers that prevented the tiger reserve officials from helping the struggling animal timely, who was obviously not allowing anyone to approach him even in distress.

A big cat had to be tranquilised before one could approach it. Unfortunately, the death occurred before a team carrying the tranquiliser gun reached the place of occurrence.

Bihar Chief Conservator of Forest, MK Sharma said they have picked preliminary inputs, which suggests that an international poacher gang was involved in the killing of the tiger.

"We have constituted a probe committee. I am personally going to visit the Valmiki Tiger Reserve to investigate the incident," he said, adding that it was not prudent on his part to issue statements before completion of the probe.

Bihar's newly appointed Forest and Environment Minister Ramji Rishidev, who earlier promised to bring out the entire details, is tight-lipped over the issue. He refused to comment on the issue.

Sharma's inputs on international gang of poachers may be correct, but that does not really absolve the Tiger reserve officials of their responsibility.

It should not come as a surprise if the reserve officials had an inkling of the incident as they loud cries of the big cat echoed in the reserve. If the poachers had reached the spot timely, there are chances that the officials may have remained oblivious of the tragic death of a tiger.

Bihar has always been dogged by the problem of poaching. This crisis may further worsen due to the booming tiger skin market in China. Eyeing the larger war booties to encash upon from this lucrative business, poachers are trying to quench their new level of greed.

China has always been a huge market of tiger skins, along with ground tiger bones, whiskers and sex organs for use in traditional Chinese medicine. A large, flawless tiger pelt can fetch over Rs four lakhs, while powdered tiger bones also sell for thousands per kilogram. Similarly, Tibet too has become a virtual shopping mall for tigers. Incidentally, Bihar borders Nepal, which is often used as a transit point by smugglers en route to China

Bihar Forest Department sources claim that the poachers, who deal in organs and skins of the wildlife species, often succeed in their ventures because they have tacit support of few locals who have settled on encroached land of the tiger reserve areas under Valmiki forest.

With this tragic death, even by official estimates, Bihar is now left with only 32 tigers-down from 56 tigers that it had in 2002, according to CAG report of 2005-2006.

The report had suggested that as many as 23 tigers had disappeared in between 2002 and 2006.

Sharma, however, refused to comment on the exact number of tigers at the Valmiki Reserve. "Theirs is a floating population. It's difficult to tell the exact number of tigers present in the park at one given time," he said.

Similarly, while the actual poaching figures are not available, sources admit that tiger population has dwindled in Bihar. In 1989, the forest reportedly had 80 tigers. It dipped to 56 in 2002 and 33 in 2005.

The Valmiki Reserve in West Champaran is the 18th forest reserve in the country and is spread over 880.78sqkm in north Bihar. Located close to the Chitwan National Park of Nepal, the Valmiki Forest Reserve was declared a national park in 1989.

Security at the Valmiki Reserve which is home to leopards, deer, black bucks and sloth bears, has never been considered up to the mark.

It is indeed difficult to patrol the rugged terrain, which is also home to dacoits and Naxalites. The Tiger reserve is also severely understaffed, and one forest guard is required to cover 15-20 kms, which is humanly impossible.

The Bagaha-Chitauni broad gauge which is running through the Valmiki Tiger Reserve, a stretches of 6 km, has caused death of many wild animals.

Around 50 trains, passenger and goods trains, pass through this track daily. According to official figures, as many as 17 incidents of animals getting run over have been reported in the last two years.

The forest officials have approached the railways, asking them to stipulate a speed of 20km/h in daytime and 10 km/h during night for the train while they pass through the reserve. But, the railway officials have turned down the request, claiming that the decreased speed would amount to reducing the number of trains on this track almost by half.

But, apart from the killing tracks, it is the poachers that pose the biggest threat to the big cats in Bihar. Observers believe that if this continues, in another five years this feline population will plunge into extinction in Bihar.

Several days have passed since the tragic death of the big cat but the investigation still has not yielded any significant lead so far.

Bihar forest reserve officials have to do a lot of answering as the death of leopard is signalling the unimaginable reach of poachers in the reserve. Hurried and sincere efforts are needed to upkeep the tiger population and the reserve from not being tagged as 'it was once an abode of tigers'.

http://indiatoday.digitaltoday.in/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8375&issueid=53&Itemid=1
 


Posted by BigCatRescue at 11:58 PM

Family of teenager killed by tiger files negligence claim against S.F.

Family of teenager killed by tiger files negligence claim against S.F.

By Leslie Griffy
Mercury News
Article Launched: 05/16/2008 01:33:47 AM PDT

The family of a teenager killed by a tiger at the San Francisco Zoo on Christmas filed claims against the city alleging negligence was responsible for the attack on the 17-year-old.

Carlos Sousa Jr.'s family is seeking an undisclosed amount of money as compensation for the teen's death. Filing a claim is a required step before the family can file a lawsuit seeking damages.

Sousa, a San Jose resident, was visiting the zoo with two friends on Christmas Day when a Siberian tiger named Tatiana escaped her enclosure and attacked the group. Sousa was killed. His friends, Amritpal "Paul" and Kulbir Dhaliwal, also of San Jose, were mauled. Police shot and killed the tiger.

In their claim filed Thursday with the city and county of San Francisco, Sousa's parents allege that the city did not properly house the tiger.

At the time of the attack, the retaining wall in the tiger grotto was about four feet shorter than industry standards. Since then the zoo has spent $1.7 million on safety renovations, including increasing the height of the wall. A national group that accredits zoos concluded in a report that poor training and short staffing added to the tragedy.

One of the claims filed Thursday requests more improvements to the enclosures.

"We want to encourage the city to clean up the zoo so this doesn't happen again," said Michael Cardoza, the attorney for the Sousa family.

The city has 45 days to respond to the claims before the family can file a civil law suit.

A spokesman for the city attorney's office said he had yet to see the claim.

Last week, the city denied claims filed by the two brothers injured in the attack. In that case, the city referred the family to the zoo and its insurance company.

http://www.mercurynews.com/valley/ci_9279576
 


Posted by BigCatRescue at 11:58 PM

SCA hears NSPCA tiger training appeal

SCA hears NSPCA tiger training appeal

The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) on Friday reserved judgment in an appeal by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) against the former manager of a South China tiger project in South Africa.

The NSPCA appealed against a Free State High Court order refusing it an interdict to prevent Peter Openshaw from presenting live prey animals to a predator at the Laohu Valley Reserve near Philippolis.

The Laohu Valley reserve is a project aimed at saving South China tiger's, an endangered subspecies of tiger, from extinction.

Captive born South China tigers, from zoos in China, are taught to survive in the bush at Laohu Valley.

Legal counsel for the NSPCA, Les Morison, submitted that "part of the training" of the tigers was against the Animals Protection Act, No 71 of 1962.

"There is a phase where buck are being restricted to be released in the immediate proximity (of the tigers)," submitted Morison.

The NSPCA filed for an interdict after a SABC conservation programme, 50/50, showed a captured bles buck, caught in a net.

The bles buck was apparently caught to be presented "live" to two tigers.

The NSPCA's case was that Openshaw had and would (in future) present prey in such a manner or place as to expose it to "immediate attack or danger of attack" by the tigers.

The act provides that any person who "liberates any animal is such manner or place or by wild animals, or baits or provokes any animal or incites any animal to attack another animal" shall be guilty of an offence".

Morison submitted that the action where the live bles buck was in a situation such as "presenting a meal" in "close proximity" was wrong.

Openshaw denied that bles buck had been released in "close proximity" of the tigers as it would be "counter productive".

Legal counsel for Openshaw, Matthew Chaskalson, also submitted there was no prima facie case against Openshaw.

The Free State High Court held that on the facts before it, "the exposure of the antelope to immediate attack or danger" was not within the meaning of the act.

The SCA reserved judgment on the appeal.

The Bloemfontein court also reserved judgment in an application that the appeal was doubtful because Openshaw had in the meantime resigned at Laohu Valley and had taken a position in Abu Dhabi.

The NSPCA sought an interdict against Openshaw in person.

Chaskalson submitted that a judgment by the SCA could now have no practical effect or result.

The NSPCA argued the matter was still of public importance as the aim of the project was to get more tigers to be trained and thus there would be ongoing "human intervention" in the programme.

However, Chaskalson submitted that the NSPCA's attempt to get a court decision against the Chinese Tigers South African Trust, which oversees the re-wilding project, would be unfair.

"The party was not part of the litigation," said Chaskalson. - Sapa


http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=14&art_id=nw20080516164504921C483116
 


Posted by BigCatRescue at 11:57 PM

Mom rejects rare tiger cub born on Mom's Day

Mom rejects rare tiger cub born on Mom's Day

Does the mother sense something wrong with the seemingly healthy cub?
MSNBC News Services updated 11:38 a.m. ET, Fri., May. 16, 2008

PITTSBURGH - A rare Amur tiger is rejecting her Mother's Day present, a seemingly healthy cub born on the day.

The mother who appears indifferent to her cub is now being given a drug to spur milk production in hopes she will begin to care for the little one, the head of the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium said Wednesday.

Examinations on Wednesday turned up no immediate evidence of any illness in the mother named Toma or in the cub, which was born Sunday, said Dr. Barbara Baker, a veterinarian who is the zoo's president and chief executive officer.

Zoo officials are concerned Toma has stopped nursing the cub, but Baker said the mother's below-normal milk production might be causing her indifference toward the newborn.

The cub, which hasn't been named and is called Baby Tiger by the zoo, is being bottle-fed. If the drug doesn't improve Toma's milk production and spur her maternal instincts, it will stay on the bottle. Tiger cubs have been successfully raised that way, though the zoo prefers its animals to raise their own young, Baker said.

Tiger cubs have also been adopted by unlikely surrogate mothers. A pig at a Chinese zoo cared for three cubs, who played nice with their step brother and sister piglets. Another rejected tiger cub trio, also at a Chinese zoo, were nursed by a dog.

Amur, or Siberian tigers, are endangered. There are only about 400 in the wild and 200 at accredited zoos, Baker said.

Is something wrong with the cub?
Baker cautioned that Toma's instincts might be a sign that the cub has an unseen defect.

"She might sense or know something we don't know," Baker said. "There might be something the cub was born with and she was able to sense that this cub is not going to survive, so she's not going to take care of it."

Tiger cubs are typically weaned after about six to eight weeks, Baker said.

Toma's behavior is more puzzling because she exhibited proper maternal instincts when she gave birth two years ago to a litter of three, Baker said.

One of those cubs died five weeks later of birth defects. The other two cubs matured normally and are on display at the zoo.

There's no sign that Toma's newest cub has any birth defects, but the one that died two years ago did not immediately show signs of a problem either, Baker said.

Zoo officials would hope to see a difference in Toma's maternal instincts within a day or two.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24624782/
 


Posted by BigCatRescue at 11:56 PM

Tiger tales retold

Tiger tales retold

Neha Bhatt / New Delhi May 10, 2008

Neha Bhatt checks out a group show of a bunch of artists who are are using art to do their bit for the tiger.

Shy, almost smiling, Charumati Nirwan's charcoal drawings of tigers are gently comforting, a far cry from the fierce creatures in the wild. "I always look for handsome tigers to draw," chuckles the artist. "I wouldn't have them snarling or looking menacing. I suppose it's a reflection of myself."

Larger-than-life, faintly menacing paintings of tigers and stuffed animals have long adorned the walls of palaces and mansions. But these majestic animals have now taken on a delicate and vulnerable aspect on the canvases of Nirwan and a few other artists and students of the Ranthambhore School of Art and Wildlife Conservation Society. The artists are doing their bit to promote wildlife conservation; most recently though an art exhibition in the capital.

For these artists, it has been a journey to find nuances of the animal that run parallel to the alarming decrease in their number. Komala Varadan, a Bharatnatyam exponent, choreographer, photographer, author and artist, has taken time out to capture animals on camera.

"In the name of development, the richness of our surroundings has been sacrificed," she says. Her photographs of tigers and other animals taken 25 years ago in Ranthambhore and Kaziranga afford a glimpse of a more populous forest.

"We were able to spot tigers easily at that time," Varadan says. Seen in juxtaposition with other, more recent works at the exhibition which show a much bleaker landscape, they tell the story of the dwindling numbers of wildlife in India.

It's a great loss to these artists that one is not allowed to explore the forest on foot anymore. Most of them have had to, therefore, use photographs as a guiding tool. And Ranthambhore, dotted with ruins and little lakes, with tigers sometimes resting in chattris, has provided an interesting background.

"Every year, we teach almost 400 people of the area how to make a living out of arts and crafts related to wildlife and the tiger, and sell them to tourists," says

M D Parashar, founder of the Ranthambhore School of Art and Wildlife Conservation Society. "The module has been working very well," he says confidently, and the villages around the sanctuary have been successful in attaining self-sufficiency through art.

The artist and photographer has developed a style to suit the natives of the area, for the cause goes beyond using sophisticated art materials. Parashar's own work has travelled across the country and round the globe. Their contribution to Save The Tiger campaign has not gone unnoticed too.

"Valmik Thapar advised me to help in ways other than contributing money. After one of my earlier exhibitions, I used a part of my earnings to make postcards to be given out. I'm currently working on a calendar," says Charumati, who showed her work in the capital a few months ago.

She is one of many who has adopted shades of grey to depict the wild. Parashar's work, also in black and white, is not a photograph as one might be fooled into believing; the whiskers of the tiger that stand out are not strokes, but perfectly and delicately placed blank spaces.

A few artists also make use of abstraction, cleverly playing on the stripes motif so that now you see three tigers and now you see one (Ram Sahay Meena's "Three Eyes"). As art critic Suneet Chopra writes in the catalogue, "The artists have succeeded in evoking the spiritual qualities of the animal without relying on either traditional symbolism or divine attributes." With a certain contemporaniety, he says, they have entered into the world of art as investment.

It's definitely not a shot in the dark.

http://www.business-standard.com/common/news_article.php?leftnm=5&subLeft=2&chklogin=N&autono=322506&tab=r
 


Posted by BigCatRescue at 11:56 PM

Rajasthan's tiger relocation move may fail

Rajasthan's tiger relocation move may fail


Harsha Kumari Singh
Tuesday, May 13, 2008 (Jaipur)


The Rajasthan government's ambitious plans to reintroduce the tiger in Sariska could have run into rough weather.

The Ranthambore National Park, which has had a baby boom in the past two years, has now reached it's optimum capacity for tigers and the big cats, especially the new males require more space, thereby pushing the government to go ahead with the plan.

But so far, tigers have never been successfully relocated anywhere in the world though attempts have been made in the past. And with odds in Sariska being against tiger safety, the Rajasthan government's ambitious plan has now come under a cloud.

The government wants to implement the plan because in Sariska, the poachers wiped out the tiger population three years back.

''We will make an enclosure in about one hectare area. Then we will keep expanding that enclosure. Once the tigers settle, we will let them roam free in Sariska,'' Rajasthan's Minister for Environment and Forests Pratap Singh Singhvi said.

The 400 sq kilometre Ranthambore National Park has about 35 tigers and experts believe that the park has now reached it's maximum capacity. But relocating tigers in Sariska has it's own problems as there are still 11 villages located in the middle of the sanctuary and a state highway that cuts across the park is a threat to the animals.

''Ranthambore's success story begins after 16 villages inside the park were moved out and the same thing has to be done in Sariska otherwise there is no point moving tigers there,'' tiger expert Fateh Singh Rathore says.

Under the guidance of scientists from the wildlife institute in Dehradun, there are plans to airlift the tigers in a helicopter from Ranthambore to Sariska. But unless the park is made safe for tigers, the threat of poaching that wiped out the tigers here will continue to haunt Sariska.


ALSO READ:
Tiger population rising in Ranthambore
Raje govt wants chopper for tiger cubs bound for Sariska

http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080049697&ch=5/13/2...
 


Posted by BigCatRescue at 11:55 PM </