BI-MONTHLY OUTREACH JOURNAL OF NATIONAL TIGER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY CONSERVATION TIGER NATIONAL OF JOURNAL OUTREACH BI-MONTHLY Volume 5 Issue 1 Issue Volume 5

LANDMARKS

STRATEGIES OENETO OF GOVERNMENT

EVALUATION

ACHIEVEMENTS

PERSPECTIVES Nov-Dec 2013 Nov-Dec

INITIATIVES DETAILS OF TIGER MORTALITY, AS REPORTED BY STATES, DURING THE YEAR 2013 (AS ON 31.12.2013) INSIDE TIGER RESERVE OUTSIDE TIGER RESERVE GRAND STATE Cases Poaching Natural TOTAL Cases Poaching Natural TOTAL TOTAL under Including & Other under Including & Other scrutiny seizure causes scrutiny seizure causes

Assam 5 1 0 6 2 0 0 2 8

Karnataka 10 1 0 11 2 2 0 4 15

Kerala 0 0 0 0 4 1 1 6 6

MP 6 1 2 9 0 1 0 1 10

Maharashtra 0 3 0 3 4 1 3 8 11

Odisha 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1

Tamil Nadu 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 2

Uttarakhand 1 0 0 1 7 1 0 8 9

UP 1 2 0 3 0 1 0 1 4

West Bengal 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1

Rajasthan 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1

TOTAL 25 8 3 36 20 7 5 32 68

Note: 18kg tiger bones were seized in Delhi (07.09.2013) by a team of Forest Department officials of , Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and Delhi Police Photo: S P Yadav Volume 5 Profile EDITOR Issue 1 Dr Rajesh Gopal Nov-Dec Panna Tiger 2013 Reserve EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Pg 4 S P YADAV

CONTENT COORDINATOR Inder MS Kathuria

Resource Appraisal Best FEEDBACK mobilization Valmiki Practices Annexe No 5 Tadoba Tiger A unique Bikaner House Shahjahan Road Andhari Reserve way of Reserve New Delhi P 10 learning [email protected] Pg 8 P 9 Cover photo N S Dungariyal

BI-MONTHLY OUTREACH JOURNAL OF NATIONAL TIGER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

n o t e f r o m t h e e d i t o r

PANNA is an important tiger source area Forest resource dependency in the southern portion in the North Central Indian region of of the reserve also requires an ongoing co-occurrence . After facing local agenda to elicit local public support. An independent extinction of tiger due to targeted/non- appraisal of this reserve by the NTCA has been targeted killings, the reserve has success- presented. fully fostered the reintroduced tigers. Tiger conservation requires the active support of The protection has been stepped up with 24X7 local people as they co-occur with the tiger. This calls monitoring. Several important initiatives, including for an ‘inclusiveness’ in management. Under Project voluntary relocation of villages within the core have Tiger, the States are supported to innovatively evolve been rewarding. The peripheral areas of buffer urgently a co-occurrence model to benefit tiger and people. require active management to address resource Highlights of such initiatives in the Tadoba Tiger dependency, while actively monitoring dispersing tigers Reserve of Maharashtra are encouraging. to ensure their protection. This calls for close There are several best practices ongoing in tiger coordination with linking forest divisions within the reserves. The e-learning institutionalized for tribal State and in the adjoining State of . children in the residential school at the Anamalai A profile of this reserve highlights its attributes. Tiger Reserve is praiseworthy, which needs to be Valmiki is the only tiger reserve in which also emulated by other reserves. makes border with the neighbouring tiger range country of Nepal. There are inherent corridor linkages with protected areas of Nepal and Uttar Pradesh. Dr Rajesh Gopal These require ongoing monitoring and protection. Member-Secretary, NTCA PROFILE Panna Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh R Sreenivasa Murthy, Field Director, Panna Vikram Parihar anna Tiger Reserve is locat- ed in the Vindhya ranges Pthat extend from south west to north east in the civil districts of Panna, Chhattarpur and Damoh. Landscape of the PTR is char- acterized with 'Table Top' topog- raphy. Two plateaus run parallel to each other from south-west to north-easterly direction. The Ken river enters the TR from the southern end and passes through for 55km and exits the reserve at village Madla. Ken is the lifeline of the tiger reserve. This river is part of Ganga-Yamuna basin. Panna Tiger Reserve is the 22nd Tiger Reserve to be declared in 1994. Nestled in the northern most areas of Vindhya range of Central India, this is the only Tiger Reserve in the entire Bundhelkhand region. The total area of Panna Tiger Reserve is 576 (Core)+1002.42 (Buffer) sq.kms = 1578.56 sqkm. The with its north-central location in forests on the slopes offer a vari- tiger reserve is under the admin- Madhya Pradesh forms part of ety of habitats which enhance the istrative control of the field the Indo-Malayan Realm floristi- habitat value of the park, besides director with his headquarters at cally. Zoo-geographically, it is a offering one of the best land- Panna. The tiger reserve consists member of the Oriental region scapes of dry deciduous tiger of the three conservation entities, and lies in Zone 6 E-‘Deccan habitat of the country. namely, , Peninsula — Central Highlands’. Gangau WLS and Buffer. Plateau topography with underly- FLORAL ATTRIBUTES ing slopes, cliffs with talus and The following forest types are CLIMATE sehas offer excellent juxtaposi- met with in the National Park : The climate in Panna is charac- tion of outstanding habitats for Southern Tropical Dry terised by severe winters and the faunal components. Dhundua Deciduous Dry Teak Forest very hot summers with mean Seha offers one such glimpse and Northern Tropical Dry annual rainfall of 1100mm, with is known as ‘Tiger and Vulture Deciduous Mixed Forest 5-6 drought cycles in a decade. Heaven’ by wildlife lovers. Dry Deciduous Scrub Forest The Ken river and savannah Boswellia Forest HABITAT ATTRIBUTES: The park forests, along with mixed dense Dry Bamboo Brakes

4 | Nov-Dec 2013 | STRIPES Anogeissus pendula Forest forest peripheries closer to 18 adult/sub-adult/cubs). The human habitations. There are Panna Tiger Reintroduction proj- The plateaus are characterised over 150 species in PTR, ect, a collaborative venture of with savannah forests with very and the important breeding birds MPFD and WII, has just complet- thin vegetation and continuous include Marshall's Iora (Aegithina ed its Phase I and entered its II grass cover where dry deciduous nigrolutea), White-bellied Minivet phase and is credited as one of scrub forests are seen. The (Pericrocotus erythropygius) and the best 'Adaptive Active slopes are filled with dense Striated Grassbird (Megalurus Management Practice Model' and forests of various types as palustris), besides a variety of has received an ‘Award of described above. Bamboo associ- Galliformes including Peafowl Excellence’ in the Active ations are seen only on the (Pavo cristatus), Painted Spurfowl Management Category for the slopes. Anogeissus pendula forest (Galloperdix lunulata) and year 2012 from NTCA. is an edaphic sub-type (on specif- Painted Francolin (Francolinus During the formative years of ic rock type i.e. conglomerate) pictus). The area is known for its PTR, tiger density was less than 3 which occurs mainly in a long good vulture population which tigers/100 sqkm and appeared to strip of small width( 0.5-1.0 km) otherwise wiped out from most have increased to 7 tigers/100 in the foothills from Pipartola to parts of the country. The rock sqkm during early 2000. Tiger Gangau dam on both banks of cliffs with ledges provide good population in PTR was initially the Ken river. Sterculia urens habitat for the rock nesting vul- estimated based on pugmark (Kullu) is in abundance in PTR tures.The park represents 7 out technique which was followed by with good regeneration which of 7 vultures of the region. camera trapping method includ- otherwise is getting extinct from Egyptian vulture, Long billed vul- ed by the NTCA-WII All Indian most parts of the State. ture, White backed vulture and Tiger Monitoring Project in 2006. Red headed vultures are resident Based on the pattern, the tiger FAUNAL ATTRIBUTES vultures of the park and all four population in PTR showed a dras- PTR is among the important breed here. Eurasian and tic decline. The results from Protected Area in the Central Himalayan griffon vultures and these estimates indicated a mean Indian Highlands complex, for its Cinereous vultures are the migra- population size of 25 tiger in PTR structural diversity and wide tory vultures of the tiger reserve. during 2006. Due to various rea- array of fauna, including 'the key The area also supports over 10 sons including poaching, the species' Tiger. It is listed among species of Reptiles, and over 50 tiger population dwindled to the Regional Priority Tiger species of fishes including two almost none in 2009. In order to Conservation Landscape, which is globally threatened Masheer restore the prior status, tiger defined as a low tiger density species (Tortor, Tor putitora), population was reinforced initial- habitat with moderate-high levels popularly known as 'King of ly with two female tigers from of threats. PTR supports a size- Freshwater Fishes of India'. Bandhavgarh and Kanha Tiger able population of Reserves during March 2009. (Melursus ursinus), Leopard TIGER STATUS However, once it became clear (Panthera pardus) and Striped PTR is known for its eventful that there was no resident male Hyena (Hyaena hyaena). Other conservation history over the last in PTR and the population was prominent carnivores are Jackal two decades. Panna has a contro- functionally extinct, a full- (Canis aureus), Wolf (Canis versial conservation history as it fledged reintroduction program lupus), Wild Dog (Cuon alpinus), lost all its tigers in 2009 but was conceived and is being Jungle Cat (Felis chaus) and Rusty immediately regained its status implemented with credible suc- Spotted Cat (Prionailurus rubigi- in 2012 when tigers were suc- cess (MPFD and WII 2009). The nosa). The major ungulates that cessfully translocated and rein- tiger reintroduction programme form prey for these carnivores troduced along with two started in November 2009 but by are Sambar (Cervus unicolor), orphaned cubs which were re- April 2012 the reintroduced/re- (Axis axis), wilded. Panna Tiger wilded tigers met with an out- (Boselaphus tragocamelus), Reintroduction Program has facil- standing breeding success by Chinkara (Gazella bennetti), Four- itated recovery of tigers and the producing 22 cubs in their five Horned Antelope (Tetraceros glory of the reserve. The breed- litters. By the end of 2013 the quadricornis) and Wild Pig (Sus ing of re-introduced tigers in the Tiger Reserve was filled with 11 scrofa). The Common Langur shortest possible time in Panna is adults (including 5 founder (Presbytis entellus) is widespread, an unparalleled success. At pres- tigers) and 18 cubs to sub-adult while Rhesus Macaque (Macaca ent the total tiger number at tigers, totalling 23 tigers in a mullata) is found only along the Panna is 23 (5 founder tigers and short span of four years.

STRIPES | Nov-Dec 2013 | 5 Murthy TIGER RESERVE LANDSCAPE Damoh Forest Divisions) was connections with Bandhavgarh DETAILS declared as Buffer in 2012 with TR, Nauradehi WLS besides some Core: The critical Tiger the area being transferred to the meta populations of tigers at Habitat/Core of the Panna Tiger Tiger Reserve unit recently. As Chitrakoot forests of Satna dis- Reserve, encompassing the whole on date working plan prescrip- trict on the north-eastern end area of Panna National Park and tions are getting implemented in and Sagar district. Radio-collared part of Gangau WLS, was these areas. TCP is under prepa- tigers of Panna are moving in all declared in 2007. This is part of ration. Once it is finalized and directions and are establishing the larger Vindhyan landscape gets the required approvals, then the corridor value of the entire which is more than 5000 sqkm the buffer will be managed as per landscape. and comprises the forest dis- the prescriptions of TCP. There At present, there is a gap of tricts of Satna, Panna, are 49 villages in the buffer around 30km between the Panna Chhattarpur, Damoh and Sagar. which require special package and Bandhavgarh TRs which As on date Tiger Reserve part of under the Eco-development pro- needs to be filled in by afforesta- Panna district is totally devoid of gramme to bring in the co-exis- tion on the banks of the water any human habitation and only tence concept into action. courses (rivers Ken and three villages are left in the Midhassan). This will restore the Chhattarpur district. In all 13 out Corridor: The location of Panna corridor links of these two of 16 villages have been relocat- TR in the entire Vindhyan land- important and closest source ed out of the CTH of Panna TR scape is critical. It is the only populations for the long-term offering more inviolate space to tiger source population that can survival of both source popula- tigers. connect the tiger population of tions and ensure gene flow. the Aravallis and Vindhyan Buffer: An adjoining area of Ranges. A known tiger of MANAGERIAL ISSUES 1002 sqkm surrounding the core Ranthambore was camera Stabilizing the present gains from three districts (Panna, trapped in Datia forests in April of Panna Tiger Reintroduction Chhattarpur and Damoh) and 2012 proving this point beyond Programme by establishing a four Forest Divisions (North and doubt. Within Madhya Pradesh, viable source population in South Panna, Chhattarpur and Panna TR reserve has corridor Panna landscape by 2019.

6 | Nov-Dec 2013 | STRIPES Habitat restoration measures Learning and Capacity Building Release, 24x7 radio telemetry in the core to increase the prey Centre. monitoring etc. base to support the increasing Reducing man-animal conflict. Best combination of number of tigers. Continuous consultation 'Management and Science' at Creation of more inviolate process with locals to gain their work. spaces by relocating the rest of good will. Intelligence and Legal Cell the three villages in CTH and Continuation of Panna Nature Panna Nature Camps and PPP other willing villages in Camps needs to bridge the gap Annual Vulture Estimation Sanctuary and adjoining few vil- with the locals. Phase IV lages. Creation of ownership sense Assess the adjoining buffer in the locals about the Tiger APPROACH & ACCESS areas for suitable tiger habitats Reserve by offering them a spe- Approach wise Panna Tiger and restore them. cial package with proper Eco- Reserve is one of the best posi- Restoring and establishing development interventions to tioned protected areas of the the connections between Panna realize the co-existence country. The nearest rail head and Bandhavgarh TRs on priority approach. and airport are located at basis. Khajuraho which is just 25 kms Attending to the security GOOD PRACTICES from the nearest park entry point aspects of Panna on continuous Successful Tiger (Madla gate) a mere half-hour basis. Institutionalization of Reintroduction/Re-wilding model drive. Thus, this is a rare combi- Security Cell concept to realize in the shortest possible time. nation of a cultural tourist place the Preventive Strategy on perpe- Best response of crisis man- of prominence (UNESCO recog- tuity. agement after local extinction of nized world heritage site) along Integration of technological Tigers. with a wilderness area being solutions to help security and Role model of almost together offering tourists management of PA. Adaptive/Active Management of a treat of both the worlds. Opportunity to standardize tiger conservation. Another positive aspect in this the photo capture-recapture Standardization of Tiger Re- regard is Bandhavgarh Tiger method tiger estimation with introduction/Re-wilding prac- Reserve is just a three-a-half- known number of tigers at Panna. tices/protocols, including hour drive from Panna. Developing Panna TR as Tiger Tranquillization, Transportation, Ashwin Rai

STRIPES | Nov-Dec 2013 | 7 PEOPLE AGENDA Resource mobilization by Tadoba Andhari tiger reserve

N S Dungariyal he Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra has Tbeen successful in support- ing people in the fringe areas for eliciting their valuable reciprocal commitment for tiger conserva- tion. A few initiatives taken by the Reserve management are as below:

Tiger Conservation Foundation (TCF): As per NTCA’s new rules, every tiger reserve has a TCF and gate money from tourism is deposited in it. Donations to save tigers are also accepted. The Tadoba TCF was set up on November 25, 2008, but after rules were notified it was activated in 2010.

Buffer Zone: Notifying buffer zones around tiger reserves is mandatory under the tiger con- committees that look after com- to EDCs in the last three years servation plan (TCP) after amend- munity development since the TCF got activated ments in Wildlife (Protection) Act, Villages getting money: Apart 1972 in 2006. The Tadoba buffer EDC & its members: EDC is from TCF funds, other sources zone was notified in 2010. It aims run by villagers with a forester as include CAMPA, 13th Finance at protection of tigers and provid- its secretary. Every EDC has a Commission, SC/ST and tribal ing site specific habitat inputs for micro plan and grants are development heads. From TCF, a viable population of tigers, co- released according to plan and priority is given to EDC villages. predators and prey animals priorities In 2011-12, Rs 26.52 lakh, Rs 26 lakh in 2012-13 and over Rs 1 Villages in buffer: There are Money generated: The money crore in 2013-14 were distributed 79 villages in Tadoba buffer zone from gate fee earlier used to be from the TCF. spread over 1100 sq km area in deposited with treasury but now Chandrapur and Brahmapuri goes to TCF. Tadoba Foundation TCF money in A/C: Funds are generates over a crore every year not distributed in cash but Villages with Eco-Development deposited in joint bank accounts Committees(EDCs): Of the 79 vil- Money distributed: More than of EDCs to ensure transparency lages, 66 have eco-development Rs1.5 crore has been distributed and prevent misuse.

8 | Nov-Dec 2013 | STRIPES BEST PRACTICES A unique way of learning Tribal Residential School at Topslip, , TN

he Tribal Residential School Understanding and analysing Gomathi N, 50 yrs | at Topslip under the con- the strength of each child and Kalpakkam | Science Ttrol of Anamalai Tiger providing necessary counselling Kavitha A, 30 yrs, B-Tech | Reserve administration is func- and direction for their career Sydney | Maths tioning since 1959 to cater to the development. Keerthana, 24 yrs, B-Tech | needs of children of tribals. The Get motivated to attend class- Palani (TN) | Science school was approved as a pri- es regularly. Indu, 24 yrs, B-Tech | mary school in 1963. The school Portland (USA) | Science has upgraded to the level of mid- The necessity for spearheading Krithika, 24 yrs, B-Tech | dle school in 2005. The school this education initiative in other Bangalore | Maths has a strength of 89 (42 boys + possible tribal areas? Meena Hari, 27 yrs | 47 girls) from Class I to VIII. To increase the quality of this Bangalore | Maths Anamalai Tiger reserve has basic need and building confi- Kumaran V, 24 yrs, B-Tech | taken a new initiative to intro- dence among the parents to sup- Hyderabad | Maths duce e-learning in one of its trib- port conservation efforts by pro- al schools at Topslip, Pollachi, tected area managers. No. of children benefited with the help of an NGO (Wild To arrest the dropout ratio so far | 42 Wing Trust) and eVidyaloka. which is very high after 8th In this collaborative pro- Standard which makes them Abstract of some feedback gramme, a digital class room facil- return to their settlement and received from students, teachers ity has been set up in Topslip makes them dependent on and partners are — Tribal School with Skype connec- Forests for survival. tivity and video conferencing facil- Higher secondary and college From Children ity. The children are being tutored dropout kids get involved and Aspirational: “Want to become in English, mathematics and sci- act as mediators in many illegal collector, police, teacher...” ence subjects. This had been initi- activities inside protected areas Participative: “Able to retain ated for a continued quality edu- as they have the exposure to what is taught” cation for the Tribal Children of external world and knowledge of Enthusiastic: “Would like to have Anamalai Tiger Reserve. the natural resource available more classes” The methodology through inside protected areas. which maximum benefits are Challenge for the administra- From Teachers derived by tribal students from tion to retain qualified teachers “Exciting”, “Challenging to cover this programme are: in the schools on a long term basis”, “Will teach a class Increase in the quality of edu- because of commutation issues. beneath Eiffel Tower”, “Deserving cation by engaging highly quali- children, “Great model” fied teachers who are trained to Teachers involved in imparting handle children. e-learning From eVidyaloka Exposure to the external “Fantastic partnership” world through various means of Hari Narayanan, 25 yrs, PhD | “Great teacher participation”, activity-based classes and aware- Stockholm | Maths “Need to customize ness sessions. Renganayaki N, 55 yrs, | curriculum to be tribal children Focused attention towards Neyveli| Science specific”. each child with a very healthy Raamanujan S, 24 yrs, PhD | teacher-children ratio. Brussels | Maths

STRIPES | Nov-Dec 2013 | 9 An Appraisal: Valmiki Tiger Reserve N S Dungariyal he Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) forms the eastern Tmost limit of Shivalik- Gangetic flood plains in India, and also a part of the -Arc landscape. The Reserve was con- stituted as the 18th Tiger Reserve in India by , Government of India in 1994. The Reserve was earlier man- aged by the Bihar State Forest Developmental Corporation which was dissolved later on. The Reserve is in contiguity with and Parsa Wildlife Reserve in Nepal on the northern boundary. This land- scape is part of the Valmiki- Chitwan-Parsa Tiger Conservation Unit (TCU), which has been clas- sified as a Level-1 TCU. These trans-boundary forests covering more than 3500 sqkm of wilder- ness track have viability and potential for the long-term sur- vival of tigers. The Reserve is Facts 2012 and followed different located in the north-west corner Total area of Tiger Reserve | methods to understand the of the state of Bihar in the dis- 840 sqkm; 505 sqkm as buffer ground situation and accomplish trict of West Champaran. This is area (also known as Valmiki the objectives. the only tiger reserve in Bihar. Wildlife Sanctuary) and 335.64 a. Interactions with Reserve man- Valmiki Tiger reserve is under sqkm as core area (also known as agement great impact for its resources of ) b. Field visit firewood from human popula- Vegetation: Moist-mixed c. Questionnaires tions living in two locations. One deciduous forest,sub-mountain- d. Scanning previous monitoring is an enclave and another one all ous semi-evergreen forest, dry reports and review reports of along the southern boundary of sal forest, khair-sissoo forest, Government of India the tiger reserve. A majority of cane brakes, alluvial grasslands, Thus, the Committee has the population, which exerts wetlands and swamps. brought out a report based on pressure in the form of cattle Fauna: Mammals - 53 species, observations made through the grazing, firewood and timber Birds - 145 species, Reptiles - 26 above methods. removal, come from SC/ST and species, Amphibia - 13 species OBC category. Most of them live (ZSI Report, 1998) OBSERVATIONS below the poverty line and inci- The Committee has observed dents of conflict between the APPRAISAL METHODS that under the leadership of Field management and sections of the An NTCA team visited Valmiki director the Reserve is doing population occur occasionally Tiger Reserve from 17th well. The Field Director is moti- while protecting the resources. December to 22nd December vated and has done extremely

10 | Nov-Dec 2013 | STRIPES well during his short tenure so is a healthy tiger and herbivore the only Tiger reserve in Bihar, far. However, it will take time for population in the Reserve. receives greater attention from the Reserve to regain its glory if Breeding of tigers has been the highest level of the govern- whole or part of the anthro- reported recently by the field ment. pogenic pressure is eliminated. management and in one instance; The has However, certain steps need to one of the tiger cubs was killed issued one single government be initiated soon in the villages and said to have been eaten by order for funds received in two to go along with the administra- the mother for some unknown installments from the Govt. of tion for effective management of reason. India with a rider that the funds the Reserve. Protection and moni- There was report of wildlife meant for second installment toring are well placed and a mortalities in the last five years. could be spent after the receipt proper mechanism exists to eval- Two tigers (one male and one of the second installment funds uate and monitor the manage- female) were reportedly poached from Government of India. This ment system. during 2006-2009. The commit- pioneer step will overcome the tee suspects that opportunistic delay of 3 to 4 months for pro- Committee is satisfied with Murthy cessing the second installment at all initiatives taken by the the state government level to authority and believes the release the funds. This procedure Reserve is in the process of could be followed in other states revival. The constructions of var- also. ious buildings, amount and sanc- Funds are well placed before tion orders are well inscribed the field officers in time and dur- with GPS readings such as wire- ing our visit, the authority less stations, anti-poaching received the second installment camps, watch towers, buildings of the last APO sanctioned by the etc. The committee also felt the NTCA. Such timely receipt of need for a park entry gate with fund is lacking in certain other proper ticketing system which Reserves. does not exist at present. Coordination of the reserve At present, the camera trap- management with line depart- ping process is under way by the ments does exist. WWF India. The management will The Eco Development install 114 camera traps in the Committee has been formed but entire reserve to come out with not functioning for want of the population status. required funds and other We observed that there is approved micro plans etc. which good coordination and dynamism is being discussed separately. between top forest officials and hunting does occur at certain The committee was informed field level officers of the Tiger localities although there exists a by the field director that "a web- Reserve. proper monitoring protocol. site for Valmiki Tiger Reserve has The construction of boundary Advisories of NTCA / Project been launched recently for pub- pillars along the boundary of the tiger issued for protection meas- licity purposes and government notified area needs appreciation. ures are followed up to a satis- initiatives taken by the forest Patrolling work by the protec- factory level. department. tion forces for the purpose of Sasashtra Seema Bal (SSB) The management of Valmiki Wildlife monitoring in Gautela forces are deployed in the inter- tiger reserve has taken an initia- range needs worth mentioning. national border area. We noticed tive for promoting ecotourism Information gathered during a well maintained register of after taking over infra structures patrolling is recorded in a well- wildlife sighting by the SSB from tourism department. illustrated register. Furthermore, jawans, which is necessary to Very few research activities the data on the register is con- know the movement of wild ani- are being taken up in the tiger veyed to the Division level. mals. reserves due to lack of awareness At present, the population of  The field inspections fol- among research institutions in tiger and prey species could not lowed for monitoring and techni- the universities in Bihar. At pres- be mentioned because of unavail- cal guidance by senior officers ent research studies are being ability of information. However, are well placed. undertaken by Wildlife Institute the team is convinced that there Valmiki Tiger reserve, being of India, Dehradun and Indian

STRIPES | Nov-Dec 2013 | 11 Institute of Science, Bangalore. agement to construct boundary formation etc. Therefore this pillars all along the boundary of could not be verified by the com- MONITORING OF PLAN SCHEMES the tiger reserve with funds mittee. The Valmiki Tiger Reserve On perusal of the schemes released from NTCA. Some of the also receives funds from other sanctioned for five years, most pillars erected on the boundary schemes operated by state forest of the components for which was inspected and found to be department for which specific funds were released were for good. permission was not obtained. labour-oriented activities for The demonstration of grass However, the proposals are which verification would be diffi- development plot was launched processed through Chief Wildlife cult now. However, works sanc- on an experimental basis at two Warden. tioned in 2010-2011 and 2011- places after removing the tall ele- The qualities of work whatso- 2012 which includes construc- phantine and Typha grass. This ever inspected by the committee tion of buildings and develop- experiment has to be watched for were really good. The tiger ment of infrastructure such as few more months to know the reserve employs 98 plot watchers anti-poaching camps, check results. including ex-service men drawn posts, deep freezer were inspect- The management has engaged from downtrodden communities ed by the committee during our huge labour force for patrolling, and most backward communities visits. anti-poaching and tracking of for patrolling tiger reserve dur- animals. ing day time and 90 trackers Water holes created in three Fire line work has also been employed during dawn and dusk places were inspected by the every day for tracking the animal committee. Some of the water movement especially Tiger and holes created in Division I are The tiger reserve other animals. not well designed as shown employs 98 plot below. These are steep and nar- watchers, including STATUS OF TIGER, CO-PREDA- row and acting as a death trap TOR AND PREY for herbivores against predators ex-servicemen drawn Tiger and leopards were earlier to escape and young ones (Fawn, from downtrodden monitored and population esti- piglets, calf) which may slip communities and mation done using indirect signs down in water holes with no such as pugmarks, scats calls, etc chance to come out. Therefore, it most backward by the protection force. Since the has been advised not to open communities, for earlier methods are unrealistic such water holes in future and patrolling during and unscientific, scientific meth- the present ones have to be ods of capture and recapture improved by widening the water- daytime and 90 methods using Camera traps and holes all around for easy accessi- trackers during dawn DNA finger printing analysis of bility. and dusk every day scat sample are being attempted The Committee monitored by the management. Newly pro- work of removal of invasive for tracking animal cured camera traps — 114 in all weeds such as Phoenix sp., movement, especially — will be installed to assess tiger Michania sp. mikania, that of the tiger density and its spatial distribu- Eupatorium & Ipomea sp. under- tion along with prey species. To taken at different places in both accomplish the task of popula- divisions. The qualities of the maintained by undertaking fire tion estimation through camera work executed are satisfactory to tracing work during the pre-sum- trapping, a scientist from WII, good. mer season to prevent fire. Dehradun arrived during our Construction of anti-poaching The wireless networks main- visit. It has been suggested to shed, check post, barrack and tained under these funds are put FD, to go for scat analysis col- wireless rooms have been carried in to use effectively. lected from different grid lines. out at several places with funds The authority will have a clear drawn from NTCA. The qualities The officials claim that apart picture about population status of the work executed are very from the above works, the funds after completing the present good. Many of them are put in to sanctioned in the earlier years assignment. use. before 2007-08 to 2009-10 were In order to consolidate the generally for protection works Sources of information on tiger boundary of the tiger reserve such as engaging labour force for In 2010, NTCA reported 8 action is being taken by the man- patrolling, anti-poaching, fire line tigers in the Reserve, however,

12 | Nov-Dec 2013 | STRIPES authority mentioned that during which are supposed to harbor Causes for low prey base density that period no camera traps were abundance of prey species are The Valmiki Tiger Reserve was installed in Madanpur range, and not performing the same for the managed by the Forest hence, the possibility of getting a reason that this area is infested Developmental Corporation till true estimate of tiger numbers with impenetrable thickets of 1992. The following year, the was limited. The management unpalatable, coarse tall grasses Reserve was handed over to the team along with the field staff over 6 to 8 feet height. Typha state forest department. suggested that the tiger reserve elephantine and Saccharum Grassland patches were planted may support about 15 adult munja are in abundance which with Teak (Tectona grandis) in tigers at present. Proper popula- hinders the growth of other many areas in order to generate tion estimation alone will throw grasses. revenue for the corporation with- light about the actual status. Consequently, the movement out understanding the ecology of of herbivore population is the grassland. In the process of Field monitoring of tiger using restricted in such an area. In conversion of grasslands, vacant device: The staff of protection addition infestation of invasive sites were invaded by alien and and patrolling party monitors the species both exotic and native is native invasive species, thus movement of Tiger on daily basis a major threat that this tiger reducing the space for native using latest gadgets namely wire- reserve will face in the long run. fodder species to grow. Realizing less network and cell phone serv- Among the invasive weeds, the potential value of the grass- ices .And whenever animals are Phoenix sp has invaded large area land, remedial measures have sighted or indirect evidences followed by other species namely been undertaken recently by noticed, message sent to Range Mikanea micarantha, Eupatorium removing the weeds in certain head office and Divisional office sp and Lantana camara, have places. However, the manage- immediately. A monitoring spread in the descending order ment has to go a long way to Register has been maintained at over an area of 15000 ha of realize the goal of restoring all every Range Office with detailed forests due to their aggressive- such grasslands to its pristine information on tiger sightings ness and spread by seed disper- status. /evidences tiger presence and sal through various agencies. their locations. However geo-ref- These species have occupied for- PROTECTION OF THE RESERVE erenced data has not been est areas where there is high The protection of the reserve is entered in the register due to potential for increasing the prey handled mainly by frontline staff inadequate GPS sets and lack of base. The area of distribution of namely forest guard and forester. training for application of this invasive species in the tiger However, due to a large number technology. A total of 114 new reserve needs to be earmarked in of vacancies in the total number camera traps have been procured a map and an action plan drawn of sanctioned strength they were by the reserve management so to remove the two most destruc- unable to deliver. It is obvious far. A team of WWF-India headed tive invasive species, namely that due to many vacancies, the by Dr. Jimmy Borah has already Phoenix sp and Mikanea sp in a jurisdiction of the forest guard for reached Bettiah to implement the phased manner over 10 years. manning more than one beat will camera-trapping protocol. At present the Field manage- be larger than 2000 hectares of Continuous monitoring would be ment lacks any system of moni- forest. It is very difficult to move required to determine the popu- toring prey abundance of the and to protect natural resources lation, their territory, density of Reserve. This committee strongly within a time frame given the fact herbivores and their distribu- recommended to carry out peri- that the mean age of the protec- tions and spatial occupancy in odic herbivore population esti- tion staff is over 50 years. the Tiger Reserve. mation using line transect On enquiry for filling up of method following distance sam- vacant posts, it was reported that Abundance of prey species pling. The NTCA could provide action is being taken at govern- The abundance of prey base the required technical support to mental level to form a selection generally depends upon the implement the field methods for committee to select forest per- availability of fodder and grass such an exercise which costs sonnel. Deficiency in protection species in the tiger reserve. The very little. from the field staff is compensat- density of herbivore population The committee members how- ed by engaging 14 patrolling par- per 100 sq km depends on the ever sighted few individuals of ties consisting of home guard, abundance of availability of fod- following species of animals ex-service men and local youth der especially nutritious C4 grass namely — Sambar ,Chital, Nilgai, drawn from the weaker section of plants. The grass land patches Hog deer and Rhesus macaque the society, to patrol the area to

STRIPES | Nov-Dec 2013 | 13 protect the tiger reserve. Except Tiger Reserve has made special of check dams and waterholes, two patrolling camps, other efforts on his own in securing a providing salt lick for herbivores, patrolling parties stay at night in sum of Rs 20 lakhs towards pro- management of grasslands and remote forest areas. One of the tection of wildlife from conserva- removal of invasive species. The remote anti-poaching sites was tion trust run by Kothari monitoring committee visited visited by the committee and Foundation in Mumbai. However, some of the fire lines maintained enquired upon about the work of cattle grazing menace and fuel and grassland developed and anti-poaching staff. While the wood removal in the tiger reserve removal of invasive species. The patrolling party performs the on the southern side of the forest committee members were really duty during day time, the track- bordering 152 villages (buffer disturbed to see the vast areas of ers are engaged to track the zone) is a serious protection forest being invaded by both movement of tiger and other ani- problem. alien and native invasive species mals during dawn and dusk and The field director and two in the tiger reserve. According to report the animals/sighting to DFO's are acting as one team gal- the management, around 15,000 the management daily. Special vanizing their whole energy hectares of forest is under the patrolling is also done in mon- towards conservation of the tiger occupation of invasive weeds soon season and festival season; reserve. Occasional incidence of causing serious degradation to additional vehicles are deployed conflict between the officials and the existing tiger reserve. Such for this purpose on hire during the villages resulting in manhan- invasive species will eventually emergency period. Occasionally dling of the officer has also been eliminate the occurrence of elephant patrolling has also been witnessed while enforcing protec- native species in this area. Series done with the help of two depart- tion. Overall the security provid- of small water holes created in mental elephants maintained ed to the core zone of the tiger Division no.1 requires modifica- inside the reserve. reserve seems to be good as per tion immediately so as to focus The patrolling register is main- the observations of the commit- on proper management of water tained by RO office and records tee during their brief visit. holes which would not in any the sighting of animal movement, However, the security threat in way hamper the consumption of indirect signs and anti-poaching the buffer zone forest fringe vil- water by animals. activities. The register produced lages still remains a major con- had information except the GPS cern to the management and to ADMINISTRATIVE/ECOLOGICAL reading for a place of sighting. the Government. This calls for PROBLEM AND MANAGERIAL The GPS reading could have different approach all together to ISSUES given in case of sightings of ani- secure the forest. This requires Current administrative set up: mals and movement pattern of personal attention from the Field The Valmiki Tiger Reserve is patrolling parties. The recordings Director and Chief Wildlife headed by a Field Director in the made in the register and Warden, Bihar. rank of Conservator of Forests. patrolling work is said to have However, the prosecution sta- The two Divisional Forest been reviewed by District offi- tus of pending forest and wildlife Officers are managing two divi- cers monthly. The protection cases was unsatisfactory. At pres- sions known as division 1 and staff, including the patrolling ent, no successful prosecution division 2 comprising eight for- party who are not exposed to has been made. It is not known est ranges. The Field Director handle the electronic gadgets like whether the wildlife and forest headquarter is located at Bettiah GPS, range finders and communi- cases have been taken on file for along with the Division 1 head- cation equipment, need to be trial by the concerned judicial quarter. However, the Division 2 given training to handle the same courts. Periodic monthly review headquarter is located at after the procurement of such by Field director and Chief Valmikinagar and Bettiah as well. equipment and supply to the Wildlife Warden may help in The forest range offices are field staff. framing charge sheets and con- located close to the reserve The wireless and walky talky ducting trials successfully. boundary. sets deployed for monitoring are At present, 33 Forest guard put into best use. These were HABITAT IMPROVEMENT and 7 positions of forester are witnessed by the committee dur- The Valmiki tiger reserve man- lying vacant, which needs to be ing the visit. The cell phones pro- agement has been undertaking filled urgently. Apart from this, vided up to the level of forester habitat improvement such as fire there are 100 trackers (daily provides an additional strength protection, cutting of fire lines, wagers) and 110 patrolling party to protect the tiger reserves. transect lines, improvement to members (including ex-service The Field Director, Valmiki existing waterholes, construction men/Home guard) support the

14 | Nov-Dec 2013 | STRIPES department to carry out the pro- NTCA/State Government. acute for these people forcing tection mechanism. The mean them to enter into illegal activi- age of the protected staff is over Water scarcity: Although water ties as there is no alternative 50 years as in the case of most is not the limiting factor in available to them at a cheaper states in the country. The respect of IInd Division of the cost. Principal Chief Conservator of Tiger Reserve, the scarcity of Forests has informed during water is being felt in summer Epidemic: Due to large number discussions at Patna that action days in some pockets of Division of livestock grazing in the Tiger is being taken to recruit them I of the Tiger Reserve. reserve there is every possibility shortly. of wild animals contracting dis- Forest fire: Forest fires are eases due to human -herbivore- INFRASTRUCTURE occurring off and on in the cattle interaction in the forest. At present, vehicles are avail- reserve during summer season. To overcome this, and prevent able at forester level. The wire- Fire lines are being maintained spread of epidemic disease it is less network is also working very by the management every year to suggested to undertake ring-vac- well. The network numbering 01 prevent spreading of fire by cination for all cattle maintained is operated at head quarter undertaking fire tracking work on upto 5 kms from the boundary of Bettiah, 08 at range office and at the boundaries of the forest. the Tiger Reserve. It is also sug- strategic beat levels. Apart from During the last 5 years forest gested to sterilize the water body this, the vehicle of officers are fires occurred in 1319 sites cov- located on the fringes of the also equipped with wireless sets. ering an extent 6945 hectare. The boundary used by wild animals, At present, the management has extent of fire occurrence in the humans and cattle to prevent ordered 40 GPS units, 10 range last 2 years is less compared to water-borne diseases and para- finders, 2 binoculars and 3 night the previous years. But more sitic infections. vision devices. The overall intensive monitoring from the infrastructure available to man- management is called for to ECO-DEVELOPMENTAL ACTIVITIES age the tiger reserve is adequate reduce the fire incidence and the Communication between and could be effectively used for extent of area. However, there is Reserve management and efficient delivery. no fire control action plan in tribals: There is hardly any place to prevent the occurrence meaningful communication ECOLOGICAL CONCERNS of fire ie to identify the source of between reserve management Grassland management: No fire, anti-social elements and tribals and local non-tribal grassland management was done involved, to procure firefighting people living outside the tiger in the Valmiki Tiger Reserve until equipment, to get information reserve. Tiger reserve authority recently. The ecosystem of the from the villages, to get support carry out a pure policing role grassland was not understood by from the villages to extinguish with little or no participation of officials who were managing the the fire, to reduce the reaction locls in management. grasslands for the purpose of time by mobilizing the resources While the Tiger Reserve, raising timber plantation by in command to reach the spot to endowed with rich biodiversity Corporation. An extent of 44 minimize the damage and finally has no tribal or forest dwellers sq.km of grasslands interspersed taken action against the culprit. inside, the reserve faces serious with the forest area is highly This type of plan is absolutely threat from a large human popu- degraded and occupied by either essential to prevent extensive lation of 2,35,000 from 152 vil- invasive species or covered by damage from fire. lages abutting the forests and impenetrable thickets of tall, grazing by over 60,000 heads of coarse and unpalatable elephan- Biotic pressure: As mentioned cattle. Influence of cattle grazing tine and typha grasses. The man- earlier, the forest in the southern followed by removal of firewood, agement has taken serious effort boundary of the tiger reserve fodder and Kendu depletes the to remove the weeds from such abutting 152 villages with more resources meant for sustenance grasslands and also the removal than 2 lakh people and over of wildlife. Mere policing work in of coarse grasses on experimen- 60000 cattle population bringing such an area may not improve tal basis. The well being of herbi- great pressure to the forest by the situation. Populations drawn vores and its population revolves way of felling of trees, collection from the weaker sections of soci- around the effective management of firewood, kendu leaves and ety still live below the poverty of grasslands in Tiger reserve for cattle grazing causing degrada- line in that area. There are which there shall not be a dearth tion of forests. The demand on reports of conflict resulting in of flow of funds from timber, firewood, fodder is so manhandling of officials by vil-

STRIPES | Nov-Dec 2013 | 15 Shomi lagers while discharging their opment committees till date. amount approved by the official duty. Such incidences The management can promote Government is very low which shall continue till a sustainable alternate sources of fuel like does not meet the actual loss livelihood is secured. gobar gas and establish plants at sustained by the farmer who The management hence, the community/family/group does not have any other means requires an entirely different level and provide milch cattle of livelihood. For this, the com- approach with dedicated staff whose waste can be used to feed pensation policy needs revision deployed with funds made avail- these plants. on par with the policy of other able to implement eco develop- state governments. ment plan prepared in a holistic Human-Wildlife conflict: This is manner, with strong focus regular happening in the tiger Habitat Improvement towards conservation of flora reserve with wild animals stray- The Valmiki Tiger Reserve and fauna. ing into private fields and damag- Management needs to concen- While ecodevelopment commit- ing property and crops. The poli- trate on improvement of habitat tees have been formed, they are cy of the Government is to com- on two aspects not functioning due to lack of pensate the loss sustained by the Priority should be given to proper micro-planning and con- victims outside forest area. At the remove invasive species namely sequent non-availability of funds. same time, owners who lose their Phoenix humilis, Mikania The Director has assumed that cattle due to lifting by tiger and micarantha, Eupatorium, Lantana micro-plans shall be prepared for other co-predators while grazing camara and Ipomea which have each village which will help in inside the tiger reserve are not spread over 15000 hectares in a identifying the resources avail- compensated. Although the stand phased manner over 10 years uti- able, constraints and recommen- of the government is correct in lizing the funds derived from the dations for providing alternate the interest of conservation of sale of teak timber stacked in livelihood options for the people tigers and co-predators legally, it timber depots at Madanpur and besides implementing communi- is necessary to compensate the from other areas. ty development work. loss of cattle liberally so as to Large water holes and water There is no effort made to prevent poisoning of predators turfs should be created in such a ensure convergence of all by people. way that animals have easy schemes implemented by differ- In addition the committee access to water from wider water ent departments to the eco-devel- found that the compensation holes and it should not become a

16 | Nov-Dec 2013 | STRIPES death trap for herbivores and of developmental projects is cru- over the years. their young ones. cial to gain the confidence of vil- The Tiger reserve management lagers. To facilitate interaction should establish cattle stall feed- Estimation of tiger and co-pred- with communities, committees ing for production of milk for the ator and their prey may be constituted at Forest villagers who depend on the forest It is critical for the management Range and Division levels involv- to generate income. In this of the tiger reserve to assess the ing people's representatives, intel- process, the cow dung generated status of tiger and its density, lectuals and NGOs. Public at large could be put to better use for co-predators and their prey living in that area is generally gobar gas production as an alter- species in the reserve. As of unaware of the critical issues of native energy to firewood collect- today the status of the tiger, co- the tiger reserve, so that finer ed from the forest illegally. This predators and the prey base is aspects of Wildlife conservation would help in elimination of biotic not known. Therefore, population and co-existence percolate down pressure of cattle grazing and col- estimation through reliable meth- to every strata of society. lection of firewood at one stroke. ods of camera trap-photographic The committee strongly recom- -capture-recapture method and Eco-developmental activities: mends conveyance of schemes genetic capture-recapture method Under the present scenario of from other departments by pur- through DNA finger printing biotic pressure, protection of suing with district authorities to from scat analysis systematically tiger and its habitat cannot be ensure flow of funds on a regular by laying out gridlines through- ensured without actual participa- basis. out the tiger reserve need to be tion and co-operation of the trib- done simultaneously, with als and local villagers. The situa- Establishment of Tiger involvement of some reputed tion would improve with partici- Conservation Foundation: Institutions and individual pation of villagers under Eco Although orders have been expertise from the field. developmental activities such as issued officially for the forma- monitoring of Wildlife, introduc- tion of a tiger conservation foun- The population estimation for tion of community development dation, it’s not functioning as per prey species especially ungulates work and by creation of alternate the guidelines of Government of and primates should be done livelihood activities, alternate India. The formation of Trust through distance sampling using energy development, income gen- under the Tiger Conservation line transect to provide density eration activities such as intro- Foundation to receive funds from for whole tiger reserve. duction of stall feeding etc. all sources including generation These measures would wean of income from the Tiger At the same time an exercise them away from forest-based Reserves such as gate collection, to know the number of cattle dependency and elicit coopera- tourism money, fines, forefeiture grazing inside the tiger reserve tion for protection and conserva- etc. is yet to take off for want of for each beat / range should be tion of tiger and its habitat. specific orders from Bihar gov- done to create a data base for The management should have ernment. The formation and effi- managerial intervention through proactive policies in identifying cient functioning of the Tiger communities subsequently. unemployed educated youth, Conservation Foundation is Development of alternative liveli- especially girls, and provide vari- essential for managing the hoods and alternative energy ous capacity building training on tiger reserve by ploughing back sources can then be achieved as vocational courses depending on funds received towards data can be utilized to calculate the qualifications and attitude of conservation. biomass consumed by cattle and the individual, so that they can the potential waste generated. get gainful employment either at Strengthening protection home or outside. The manage- All the front line staff vacan- Eliciting support of local people ment can even identify indus- cies should be filled up with Establishing communication tries, institutions for training and young motivated youth from trib- with tribal and local people: It gainful employment of deserving al and local villages by a special is desired that proper communica- candidates from the unemployed recruitment drive in order to tion at all levels of staff including educated youths. replace the old guards. the managers is established with Adequate funds of at least Rs 5 Wildlife monitoring system local communities who are exert- lakh for each EDC of this tiger by patrolling with front line staff ing enormous biotic pressure on reserve need to be released to and local people using GPS the tiger reserve. Maintaining provide basic amenities and should be followed throughout transparency in implementation alternative livelihood options the reserve and reviewed on

STRIPES | Nov-Dec 2013 | 17 Rupak De weekly/fortnightly/monthly basis staff suitably. to brain washing by vested inter- by Range Forest Officers/ Mitigation measures for ests due to unemployment and Divisional Forest Officers / Field human-wildlife conflict: The com- underemployment. Director respectively for efficient pensation amount paid at present To achieve long-term conserva- management. for human depredation, crop tion goals, it is important to Wildlife and forest offences depredation and property depre- undertake awareness programmes detected by the front line staff dation is comparatively low, for on wildlife conservation, preser- needs special attention at the which the compensation policy vation of biodiversity, importance level of Forester, Range forest for wildlife damage should be of preservation of tiger and its officer (RFO) and Divisional offi- comprehensively reviewed by the habitats and activities of the cer for launching successful State Government. reserve along with rules and regu- prosecution. Higher percentage Compensation amount should lations applicable to tiger of conviction against the accused be made realistic based on reserves. would deter others from commit- assessment of experts and village A separate office could be set ting wildlife and forest crime. panchayats. The compensation up to implement such awareness This requires periodical review amount also needs to be paid programmes or the exercise and follow up action on the pen- immediately for cattle lifting or can be dovetailed with dency of cases at the judicial crop damage through the Tiger eco-development activities by court level. Conservation Foundation without eco-development officers and Intelligence network to gather waiting for sanction of funds their subordinate staff. A well- information on all poaching and from the state government or designed education and aware- wildlife crimes needs to be devel- Government of India. ness programme could be devel- oped with involvement of vil- oped by a reputed institution and lagers/tribal community/front- Awareness amongst the people implemented by the management line staff/NGO etc. especially children and younger with the help of eco-development This should be followed by generation: The children and committees and Forest rewarding the informant and young generation often fall victim Department.

18 | Nov-Dec 2013 | STRIPES MONTH-WISE TIGER MORTALITY FOR THE YEAR 2013 (AS REPORTED BY STATES, AS ON 31.12.2013)

STATE Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total

Assam 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 8

Karnataka 2 4 4 1 2 2 15

Kerala 1 1 1 1 1 1 6

MP 2 1 3 1 1 2 10

Maharashtra 3 1 3 2 1 1 11

Odisha 1 1

Rajasthan 1 1

Tamil Nadu 1 1 2

UP 1 1 2 4

Uttarakhand 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 9

West Bengal 1 1

TOTAL 8 11 11 6 8 4 3 1 2 4 4 6 68

Note: 18kg tiger bones were seized in Delhi (07.09.2013) by a team of Forest Department officials of Maharashtra, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and Delhi Police Rupak De DELENG/2009/30636 STRIPES | BI-MONTHLY OUTREACH JOURNAL OF NATIONAL TIGER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY, A STATUTORY BODY UNDER MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA VOLUME FIVE FOR FREE DISTRIBUTION ISSUE ONE

Shubranjan Sen

Published and printed by Inder Mohan Singh Kathuria on behalf of National Tiger Conservation Authority. Published at Annexe No 5, Bikaner House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi - 110011 and printed at Astha Packaging, 122 DSISC Sheds, Okhla Phase I, New Delhi - 110020