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○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○ CONSERVATION PROJECT

FINAL REPORT BY THE WIDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

K. Ullas Karanth, Ph.D. Wildlife Conservation Society- Program / Centre for Wildlife Studies INDIA

Praveen Bhargav CENTRE FOR WILDLIFE STUDIES BANGALORE INDIA

INSIDE N. Samba Kumar CENTRE FOR WILDLIFE STUDIES BANGALORE COVER INDIA BLANK

Citation:

Karanth, K. U, Bhargav, P. and Kumar, S. (2001) Karnataka Project. Final Report to Save The Tiger Fund - National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, ExxonMobil Corporation and other donors. Wildlife Conservation Society, International Programs, Bronx, NY-10460-1099.

Copyright © Wildlife Conservation Society, 2001

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project ○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○ EXECUTIVE SUMMARY under multiple uses such as forestry and agriculture. The precarious of the tiger ( tigris) has aroused worldwide concern KTCP was driven by the WCS conservation in recent . are under threat from philosophy of seeking innovative and practical several factors: depletion of their prey base, direct solutions for wildlife conservation problems within

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ killing and, the shrinkage, fragmentation and ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ the framework of sound science rather than mere degradation of their habitat. These pressures result passion for tigers. Initially, based on past research, from a diversity of proximate causes that are field surveys, and, consultations with the staff of ultimately driven by demographic and economic the State Forest Department as well as with local growth, as well as by changing cultures and social conservation partners, the project identified the attitudes. following critical tiger conservation needs:

Pic: K.U. Karanth Pic: K.U. Karanth Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has initiated 1. Lack of necessary baseline data on tigers, their several projects in the tiger range countries. These prey and habitats as well as on impacts projects aim at obtaining a clear understanding of on tigers, to establish reliable benchmarks and tiger ecology in specific contexts, identifying the evaluate tiger conservation efforts. major threats to tigers, and then, attempt to address these threats. Karnataka Tiger Conservation 2. Inadequate protective capacity in the Forest Project (KTCP), supported by Save the Tiger Fund Department, particularly in terms of lack of A tigress Scent marking. Tiger habitat’s also harbour rich bio-diversity. of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and patrol vehicles, communication equipment and Exxon Corporation, the 21st Century Tiger Fund essential field-gear for protective staff. and several other WCS donors, was implemented from January1998 to June 2001. It was executed 3. Improving the morale of the frontline staff by in the State of Karnataka, India, in association providing them with insurance cover, rewards with the local government and local conservation for meritorious performance and improving partners. their capacity for law enforcement and monitoring activities through specifically KTCP evolved on a foundation of WCS-supported tailored training programs. Pic: K.U. Karanth Pic: K.U. Karanth tiger research and conservation work in India since 1988 in collaboration with a network of local 4. Increasing public support for the effective conservation partners led by Centre for Wildlife enforcement of wildlife protection laws, and Studies, and Wildlife First. The project sites enhancing the awareness of tiger conservation comprised four large blocks of tiger habitat, values in the local communities around the located in the (recognized as one project sites through conservation education among the world’s 18 biodiversity hotspots). programs. A Tusker. A pack of . Administratively, these sites covered an area of 2600 km2 in the State of Karnataka and formed a 5. Building a cadre of local community leaders part of the Level-1 Tiger Conservation Unit (TCU- who support tiger conservation for scientific 55) identified earlier under the WCS-WWF (USA) and cultural reasons. Building capacity among priority setting exercise. These four sites covered such local conservationists to scientifically the designated reserves of Nagarahole, monitor tiger conservation and address threats Bandipur, Bhadra and Kudremukh that harbor to tigers arising from human impacts. some of the best breeding habitats for tigers. These sites provided opportunities for conserving viable 6. Consolidating tiger habitats in the long-term

tiger populations, within a larger landscape matrix by reducing fragmentation and mitigating

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project 01 human-tiger conflicts by actively promoting ○○○○○○○○○○○○ staff members, 280 persons who were not covered protection are hard to quantify in the short run, ○○○○○○○○○○○○ move out, are testimonies to the effectiveness of voluntary resettlement of human populations by official insurance schemes were provided with we believe that, overall, tiger protection improved these initiatives. currently occupying critical tiger habitats within insurance cover of 150,000 rupees each against by deterring potential offenders. the project reserves. accidental death or disablement. In addition, six Although the project was successful overall, we state level Tiger Conservation awards and 30 local Conservation education activities under this noted some shortcomings in its design and The total investment in the project was awards were given out to staff members who project included 152 slide-talks, 43 field nature implementation. We believe these arose from the

17, 000, 000 rupees (US $ 375,000). Out of this, ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ performed meritorious tiger protection activities. camps and 86 public contact campaigns in and ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ following factors: deficiencies in the government’s a total of 90,50,000 rupees (US $ 210,000) was Some rewards were also provided to members of around the four sites. We estimate that a total of administrative structure and its internal dynamics; provided by the project in the form of equipment the public who assisted tiger conservation efforts. about 150,000 local people living in proximity to weaknesses among WCS conservation partners and other support and services directly to the wild tigers, mainly youth, students and teachers because of the non-professional, voluntary nature Karnataka State Forest Department, which is the Six training camps were conducted by project were targeted under these educational activities. of their participation, and, the collateral effects government agency in charge of managing the four personnel for the frontline field staff to improve A language version of a 45-minute of the simultaneous implementation of a large project sites. The balance amount was invested in their skills in carrying out anti- patrols, ‘Discovery’ documentary on Nagarahole as well internationally aided, poorly designed research, training, conservation monitoring, apprehending poachers, effective handling of fire as a 12-minute video titled “Wildlife Crisis” were conservation project at one of the project sites. conservation education and community interfacing arms and other forms of field craft and produced and exhibited. A Kannada newsletter WCS conservation partners are now continuing activities taken up by WCS conservation partners. enforcement. In addition, three workshops were titled “Nisarga” was also produced as an the long-term tiger conservation process evolved conducted for senior and junior reserve personnel educational activity. The impact of such under this project at three sites: Nagarahole, Under the research and monitoring component of to improve their skills in applying the forest and educational activities is of a long-term nature and Bhadra and Kudremukh. the project, accurate baseline maps depicting wildlife protection laws during prosecution of difficult to evaluate immediately. However, the essential ecological and management-related wildlife crimes. widespread, enthusiastic local participation and features were prepared from field surveys using the scale of project activities suggest that the Global Positioning Systems and Geographic Five training workshops were conducted for 10 educational work resulted in increased public Information Systems for all the four sites. forest department personnel and 85 local naturalist support for tiger conservation in and around the Baseline estimates of densities of prey were volunteers, to teach them rigorous sampling-based reserves. These, a total of 266 news stories were generated using line transect sampling at three of methods for monitoring tiger and prey populations. generated in the print media on conservation issues the four sites (Nagarahole, Bhadra and Bandipur). Training was imparted in line transect and dung at the project sites and 38 news stories that covered Densities of tigers were also estimated using count survey methods for estimating absolute and the project itself, are also measures of the outreach camera traps within the rigorous framework of relative abundances of ungulate prey species and achieved under this project. capture recapture sampling. The densities of tigers camera trap sample surveys of tigers. In addition recorded at these three sites ranged: 3.4 tigers/ simple quantitative techniques for carrying out WCS conservation partners worked in close 100 km2 in Bhadra Reserve, 12.0 tigers/100 km2 encounter rate surveys of signs to estimate cooperation with people living inside the reserves in Bandipur and 11.5 - 15.2 tigers/100 km2 at spatial distribution and population trend indices in both Nagarahole and Bhadra, and played a Nagarahole. At the fourth site, Kudremukh, due were also taught in these workshops. crucial catalytic role in initiating the voluntary to sampling and logistical challenges, these resettlement projects funded by the Indian advanced techniques could not be readily used, The project squarely addressed the much-neglected government’s Project Tiger at these two sites. The and only simple encounter rate based indices were issue of enhancing field protection for tigers by thrust of these activities was to redefine developed. actively assisting in improving law enforcement. ‘community-based conservation’. This was The patrol vehicles provided under the project achieved by resolving human-tiger conflicts in a Fifteen 4-wheel drive patrol vehicles, 2 high-speed logged about 60,000 to 85,000 kilometers each manner that benefited tigers by enhancing the long- patrol boats, 15 wireless stations, 8 vehicle based during the project period. The forest department term viability of their habitats while also benefiting wireless sets and 35 hand-held sets were donated staff managed to detect 746 cases of law breaking the people volunteering to resettle, by improving to the Karnataka Forest Department to improve (including some cases of poaching of prey species) their lives. The fact that over 200 families have the protective infrastructure at the four reserves. in Nagarahole, 588 cases in Bhadra, 179 cases in already moved out of Nagarahole and 435 families 1746 field kits, each consisting of a set of Bandipur and 34 cases in Kudremukh. No case have accepted the resettlement package in Bhadra, uniforms, field boots, and raingear were provided of tiger poaching was detected in any of the as well as the fact that most of the remaining

to frontline staff in the four reserves. Among these reserves. Although the results of improved field people in these two reserves are now willing to

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ 02 Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project 03 ○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Secretary (Forests); Secretary Forests-I; Principal Rural Development Project, Karnataka: Advice installations; Karnataka Boats, Bangalore: Speed Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife); Principal and support for Community Interface work. boats and Life jackets; Esmario Enterprises, Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project was made Chief Conservator of Forests; The Conservators Kollam: Outboard motors; Oriental Insurance possible with the funding and/or other forms of of Forests - Wildlife North & South Circles; The We are particularly grateful to the following Company, Bangalore and : Insurance support provided by the following agencies and Field Director- Project Tiger, Bandipur; The individuals associated with the above policies; Horizon Systems, Bangalore: Solar individuals: Deputy Wildlife Wardens of Hunsur, Kudremukh, organizations who volunteered substantial time panels; Foresee Multimedia, Bangalore: Video

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Bandipur and Bhadra Wildlife Divisions; All the and energy to support project activities: ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ production; Anil Abbi Consultants, Bangalore: Save the Tiger Fund of the National Fish and Assistant Wildlife Wardens, Range Wildlife Agricultural Planning. Wildlife Foundation and ExxonMobil Wardens, Foresters, Forest Guards and Watchers K. M. Chinnappa, D. V. Girish, Thamoo Corporation, USA at the four project sites. Poovaiah, M. K. Appachu, Ranjan Poovaiah, Finally, we thank Joshua Ginsberg, Susan Niren Jain, T. S. Gopal, Sanjay Gubbi, V. Krishna Stenquist, M.D. Madhusudan, Abi Tamim, 21st Century Tiger fund of the Global Tiger Patrol We acknowledge the active co-operation of the Prasad, Javaji Amarnath, G. R. Sanath Kumar, M. B. Krishna and R.S. Suresh for their invaluable and Zoological Society of London, UK. following non-governmental partner organizations Shekar Dattatri, G. N. Ashokavardhana, Surya assistance in the preparation, design and in implementing different facets of the project: Addoor, Krishna Mohan Prabhu, Devu Hanehalli, production of this report. US Fish and Wildlife Service (Division of G. Satish, Rohit Rao, B. S. Narsimha Murthy, International Conservation), USA. Centre for Wildlife Studies, Bangalore: Scientific K. R. Arvind, Arun Patel, V. T. Ravindra, B. K. research, Project planning and Biological Sharath, P.M. Muthanna, T. Panduranga Swamy, L.X. Bosack & B.M. Kruger Foundation monitoring K.V. Phaniraj, J.Victor James, T.N. Ramachandra and P.Mohan. The Chase Wildlife Foundation Wildlife First, Bangalore: Training, Conservation

Mr. and Mrs. J. Michael Cline Monitoring, Community Interfacing Pic: S. Gubbi Cline Foundation Fund The following research fellows from the Centre Nagarahole Wildlife Conservation Education Mr. Michael M. Dunwoody for Wildlife Studies participated in the field Project (NAWICOED): Conservation Education Mr. and Mrs. Gary C. Fink research: Niren Jain, Siva Sundaresan, V. Srinivas, Mr. Charles A. Fritz IV Green Watchers, : Project Coordination Dilip Venugopal, Praveen Shankar, Farshid Dr. Irene Cannon-Geary and Dr. Nori Geary and Official Liaison Ahrestani, Devcharan Jathanna and Umesh N. James D. Nichols of USGS-Patuxent Wildlife Mr. J. Paul Getty Kudremukh Wildlife Foundation, and Reaserach Centre Colloborated in the analysis f Ms. Monica M. Krick Arohana, : Conservation Monitoring, reserach data. Ms. Jan M. Montgomery Conservation Education and Community Mr. Jonathan P. Vannini Interfacing at Kudremukh Mr. Alexander H. Watson The following eminent public figures and The Robert W. Wilson Foundation, Inc. Nature Conservation Guild and Wild -C, conservationists supported the project from Chikmagalur: Conservation Monitoring, outside: D. Veerendra Heggade of Dharmasala, We are grateful to all the above donors. Conservation Education and Community Ramakrishna Hegde, M. Veerappa Moily, Interfacing at Bhadra Rajendra Singh, Geoffrey Ward, Valmik Thapar, The Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project NGO Team. We thank the Karnataka State Forest Department K.C. Cariappa, Mahendra Vyas, P.K. Manohar, Living Inspiration for Tribals (LIFT), Hunsur: Standing from left: Javaji Amarnath, Jeevan Rao, for providing the necessary co-operation in Satish Tamta and T.I. Abdulla. Community Interfacing at Nagarahole Praveen Bhargav, P. K. Dinesh, T. S. Gopal, implementation of the project. We also thank the Coorg Wildlife Society, Madikeri: Community M. K. Appachu, Ullas Karanth, Thamoo Poovaiah, Ministry of Environment & Forests and its We acknowledge the following companies that sold interfacing at Nagarahole K. M. Chinnappa, V. T. Ravindra & V. Krishna Prasad Directorates of Wildlife Preservation and Project the equipment and supplies required by the project Sitting from left: V. Srinivas, G. R. Sanath Kumar, Tiger for their encouragement. or provided the related consultancy services: Legal Action for Wildlife and Environment-LAW- N. Samba Kumar, K. A. Vasudeva, Sanjay Gubbi, E, New Delhi: Legal Workshops and training Arun Patel, Niren Jain, D. V. Girish & Surya Adoor We would like to particularly acknowledge the Solus Communication Resources, Bangalore: following functionaries of the Government of Trust for Environment Education, Chennai: Project Management; India Garage, Bangalore: Karnataka State, India, who contributed Educational films/video production Jeeps; Simoco, Calcutta: Wireless equipment; Geetha Cloth Emporium, Bangalore: Field kits; substantially to the implementation of the project: Tarun Bharat Sangh, and

The Honorable Minister for Forests; The Principal RF Communications, Bangalore: Wireless

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ 04 Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project 05 ○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○ INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS in the form of equipment and other support and INTRODUCTION face of bounty , agricultural expansions, services provided directly to the forest department. decimation of prey species, and intensifying human AND PERSONNEL The balance investment covered the research, Over the last century, the habitat of wild tigers biomass demands on its habitat. WCS biologist training, conservation monitoring, conservation has seen dramatic declines the world over. George Schaller initiated the first scientific study Institutions education and community interfacing activities Burgeoning human populations have exerted an of tigers at Kanha National Park during the early taken up by WCS conservation partners working 1960’s. His study drew the world’s attention to The State Forest Department, Government of ever-increasing pressure on the tiger, its prey, and

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ in collaboration with the government. The duration ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ the critical endangerment of wild tiger populations Karnataka, is the statutory agency responsible for their habitat. Indeed, the decline of the tiger over of the project was from January 1998 to while providing pioneering insights into the the administration and management of all Wildlife the last century has been so dramatic that the June 2001. species’ biology. reserves in Karnataka. Therefore, this department species presently occupies a distributional range was the major implementing partner for this that is believed to be less than 5% of its historical In the 1970’s the Indian Government, recognizing project. The Forest Department was the recipient extent. Even today, several factors continue to the imminent threats to the tiger, joined hands with of most of the equipment donated under the project. work in collusion, precipitating a further decline of the tiger. , commercial international donors in an effort to pull the tiger back from the brink. The launch of Project Tiger The Directorate of Project Tiger, Government of , road building, dams, and other in 1972 was a clear demonstration of India’s India and the Directorate of Wildlife Preservation developmental projects have severely reduced and political will to save tigers and their habitat. in the Ministry of Environment and Forests, New fragmented the tiger’s habitat. What remains is Project Tiger focused on setting up special Delhi also facilitated the implementation of this swiftly being degraded by pervasive influences reserves, initiating anti-poaching measures, project. such as intense , man-made forest fires, and an over-harvest of timber, fuel wood, stopping timber exploitation and placing restrictions on activities such as livestock grazing Centre for Wildlife Studies, a Bangalore based and collection of non-timber forest products. From not-for-profit trust was responsible for the overall the start, this project was seen as a way of

coordination of the project. Pic: S. Gubbi protecting a wide range of habitats and wildlife by keeping the tiger as a . Project Project Personnel Tiger was hailed as an international success story with increasing tiger numbers being reported from K. Ullas Karanth, Country Director-WCS India periodic government censuses. The problems of Program and Director, Centre for Wildlife Studies poaching and hunting were believed to have designed and initiated the project. K.M. virtually stopped due to new legislation, better Chinnappa, President, Wildlife First was the Chief Over-exploitation of forests. enforcement, and a decrease in the demand for Project Advisor. Praveen Bhargav coordinated the and non-timber forest products (NTFP). The tiger skins. Reserves were set up with core areas conservation activities and N. Samba Kumar tiger’s prey species are extensively hunted by and buffer zones and field protection formed an coordinated the research activities. The field people, leaving the remaining habitats devoid of important component in this effort, which included coordinators at the four project sites were: food for the predator. Further, tigers themselves anti-poaching patrols, encroachment prevention, Pic: K.U. Karanth are directly persecuted, either in retaliation against control of livestock Nagarahole: M. K. Appachu and T. S.Gopal livestock depredation, or to cater to demands from entry and fire Bhadra: D. V Girish high-value markets for their bones, skin, and other prevention within the Kudremukh: Niren Jain and Surya Addoor body parts. Over the last decade, these impacts designated reserves. Bandipur: V. Krishna Prasad, G.R. Sanath Kumar have accelerated, generating serious concern over In some cases, to and Javaji Amarnath the continued existence of the tiger. reduce human impact on wildlife as well as Project Investments India has always been a traditional stronghold of minimize damage to the tiger, and is still believed to hold over half the human life and The total investment in the project was Rupees world’s wild tigers. Starting from the colonial property from 17, 000, 000 (US $ 375,000). Out of this amount, times through the post-independence years, the wildlife, villages were a total of Rupees 90,50,000 (US $ 210,000) was

tiger population in India dwindled rapidly in the relocated out of Overgrazing by livestock.

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ 06 Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project 07 reserves. However, the few signs of sporadic initial ○○○○○○○○○○○○ serious dimensions due to human overexploitation Kudremukh and moist forests of Bhadra and ○○○○○○○○○○○○ sound science in the conception, implementation, success of Project Tiger seemed to have hidden of wildlife habitat. Effective community education Nagarahole, to the open deciduous forests of and evaluation of the project. Here too, Karnataka from its administrators a number of serious on the benefits of tiger conservation and on-the- Bandipur. Furthermore, Karnataka State has an seemed ideally suited for the stated purpose. Since problems that were building up. ground mitigation of such conflicts were also established wildlife protection tradition and 1986, WCS Conservation Scientist, Ullas largely lacking. infrastructure. A system of nineteen Karanth, had executed an effective research Identifying the Current Issues: wildlife sanctuaries and five national parks program on tiger ecology through the Centre for 2

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Wildlife Studies and in collaboration with the Why KTCP? Therefore, WCS visualized the implementation of covering an area of more than 6,600 km , and Karnataka State Forest Department. Because a comprehensive tiger conservation project that protecting approximately 3.5% of the state’s land In the early 1990s, even as demographic and social Nagarahole Reserve, one of the sites of KTCP, addressed these multifarious needs as essential to wild tigers occurred in 14 of the state’s 24 wildlife pressures mounted on Indian tiger reserves and had been the focus of these long-term scientific consolidate the future of the tiger. The Karnataka reserves. the international trade in studies on tigers and their prey species, the Tiger Conservation Project was a product of this knowledge and methods generated from the products boomed, the wildlife protection The Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project vision. research there provided reliable to assess mechanisms went into serious neglect and decline. (KTCP) was envisioned as an innovative model tiger habitats like Bhadra, Bandipur and This posed a major challenge to the conservation of tiger conservation that attempted to conserve KTCP: Its Philosophical and Kudremukh Reserves. of the tiger and the ecosystems where it occurred. four critical breeding populations of tigers in an Practical Basis A survey carried out by a Government Panel into important and progressive state in India. The project was conceived as a model to test some Furthermore, in Karnataka – as elsewhere in India the conservation capabilities of India’s wildlife The project first chose the primary landscapes to potentially useful approaches to address problems — lack of sufficient financial support had reserves indicated that the protection system was work on, based on both tiger ecology and practical of conserving tigers in India. The approach significantly reduced the protection capacities of in sore need of revitalization in the form of better conservation considerations. adopted by KTCP was to forge a constructive its reserves. Most reserves needed their vehicles equipment, training, manpower, and improvement collaboration between Indian non-governmental and communication facilities upgraded, and the of declining staff morale. Freeze on new staff Four large forest blocks of tiger habitat, located organizations and the State Forest Department, staff needed to be equipped with field gear that recruitment and other economy measures were in the Western Ghat region of southern India backed by international donor support. The would allow them to function better and with recognized as one of the world’s 18 biodiversity primary objective was to use supportive greater efficiency in remote areas. In addition, the hotspots, were selected as project sites. interventions to strengthen official conservation biomass resources of the State’s wildlife reserves Administratively, the four forest blocks identified efforts through the active involvement of local were under continuous pressure from people for project activities lay within the State of volunteer partners who truly cared for the long- residing in and around them, as well as from Pic: K.U. Karanth Karnataka, and were a part of the high-priority term persistence of India’s wild tigers. distant market forces. Thus, the KTCP was designed and conceived in consultation with Level-1 Tiger Conservation Unit (TCU-55) Karnataka State Forest Department and WCS identified by the joint WCS-World Wildlife Fund The presence of several local conservation partners conservation partners to address site-specific tiger (USA) priority setting exercise executed in 1997. of WCS with proven track records, around the conservation needs. These four sites included prime breeding habitats project sites facilitated the testing of this for tigers that provide a potential opportunity to conservation model in Karnataka. These partners In this report, we first outline the original save the tiger populations on a long-term basis by also possessed social contacts and the skills needed objectives with which the KTCP was begun. We Wildlife Staff on Patrol. meeting site-specific conservation needs. to mobilize action on-the-ground through interactions with local officials and communities. then briefly describe each of the four sites where crippling the implementation of tiger conservation the project was implemented. The next section Within Karnataka, the base conditions were Their long-term interest and involvement in the efforts. The protective capacity also needed to be chronicles the activities undertaken by the KTCP favorable to KTCP’s implementation.It was chosen localities provided original insights into strengthened through training in legal and the site-specific problems and conservation issues. at the various project sites. The final section possible to draw on the extensive empirical enforcement skills to deal effectively with wildlife presents and discusses the specific achievements experience of various institutional partners to offenders. Moreover, there was an urgent need to However, WCS recognized the importance of of the project. The report concludes with a brief identify landscape units within which a program augment the scientific capability of protected area seeking innovative and practical solutions for these analysis and discussion of how an effort of this could be implemented to conserve breeding kind can be improved and sustained in order to staff and local conservationists to monitor tiger problems under the rubric of sound science. Thus, populations of tigers. It was also possible to choose meet the long-term goals of tiger conservation in and prey populations using reliable methods. another important objective of the KTCP was to a reasonable range of representative habitats India. Conflict between and tigers was assuming inculcate among all the partners, the need for using

wherein tigers occurred: from the rainforests of

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ 08 Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project 09 ○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○ KARNATAKA TIGER 7. Assist in the leveraging of funds from other CONSERVATION PROJECT sources, including national and regional governments to facilitate voluntary The Objectives resettlement projects at the project sites to solve the problem of human-tiger conflict and The KTCP aimed to achieve the following specific

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ reduce fragmentation of tiger habitats on a ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ objectives: long-term basis.

1. Identify critical needs and opportunities related to the following aspects of tiger Project Sites conservation: Improving tiger protection; The project sites comprised four large blocks of Enhancing the ungulate prey-base; tiger habitat, located in the Western Ghats Consolidation of tiger habitats; Establishing (recognized as one among the world’s 18 research, training and educational programs biodiversity hotspots). Administratively, these sites at the project sites and in the surrounding covered an area of 2600 km2 in the State of communities. Karnataka and formed a part of the Level-1 Tiger Conservation Unit (TCU-55) identified earlier 2. Strengthen the wildlife protection capability under the WCS-WWF (USA) global priority of the Karnataka Forest Department by setting exercise. These four sites covered the providing anti-poaching vehicles, field gear, designated nature reserves of Nagarahole, communication equipment and other material Bandipur, Bhadra and Kudremukh described support. below. The following four sites provide excellent opportunities for conserving viable tiger 3. Upgrade the professional capacities of populations within a larger landscape matrix under protected area staff through programs to multiple uses such as forestry and agriculture. provide law enforcement training and incentives to improve job performance, skills and morale.

4. Establish and execute a rigorous, scientific, sampling-based monitoring program for both tiger and prey populations in the four focal protected areas as a means of measuring the impact of conservation programs.

5. Establish and train a cadre of local conservationists and build capacity among them for monitoring tiger conservation activities at the project sites.

6. Establish conservation education and community-interface activities around project sites to improve local support for park protection and extend public awareness about

tiger conservation.

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ 10 Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project 11 ○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○ Nagarahole Reserve reserve that receive higher rainfall support moist deciduous forests of the Tectona-Dillenia- Nagarahole was originally established in 1955 as Lagerstroemia series. The dry deciduous forests a Game Reserve of 288 km2. In 1974, it was of the Terminalia-Anogeissus-Tectona series expanded to become the Nagarahole National Park occur in the southeastern areas with less than 1000 (Area: 644 km2), now officially renamed “Rajiv mm of rainfall. A unique feature of this site is the

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Gandhi National Park, Nagarahole” but ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ presence of open grassy swamps in moist areas commonly referred to as Nagarahole. The reserve locally called hadlus, where the soil is clayey, is located in Kodagu and districts (76° perennially moist and supports the luxuriant 00' -76° 15' E - 11° 15'-12° 15' N) at altitudes of growth of sedges and grasses round. 700-960 m. Nagarahole is contiguous with Bandipur Reserve to the southeast and the Nagarahole supports an impressive assemblage Wayanad reserve to the southwest (Map 1). The of herbivorous prey species: , gaur, reserve receives an average annual rainfall sambar, chital, muntjac, chousingha, wild , between 1000 – 1500 mm. The terrain is gently hanuman langur and bonnet macaque. The tiger, undulating and drained by several perennial , Asiatic wild , or dhole, and sloth streams and three large rivers: Kabini, Taraka and are the large carnivores. Apart from the impressive Lakshmanateertha. An irrigation dam built in 1974 mammalian fauna (Appendix 1), Nagarahole is a forms the Kabini reservoir that flanks the southern rich in avifauna, with more than 270 species of boundary of the reserve. birds. The herpetofauna includes a variety of snakes, lizards, turtles and frogs. Among the larger Two types of tropical, mixed deciduous forests reptiles, the marsh crocodile, monitor lizard and clothe the region. The northwestern areas of the the rock python occur in Nagarahole. Pic: K.U. Karanth Pic:

Forest Canopy in Nagarahole.

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ 12 Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project 13 ○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○ Bandipur Reserve by the Moyar River to the south and Kabini Reservoir to the northwest. The of Mysore originally established Bandipur as a hunting reserve in 1931. It was Bandipur Reserve receives an annual rainfall of expanded after 1974 to become the Bandipur 625-1250 mm. The forests are mostly of the mixed National Park and Tiger Reserve (Area: 874 km2). dry deciduous forest series of Terminalia-

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ It is one among the nine tiger reserves created ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Anogeissus-Tectona type. In the northwestern under Project Tiger. Bandipur is located in Mysore parts where the rainfall is higher, moist deciduous and Chamarajanagar Districts (76° 12' -76° 46' E forests of the Tectona-Dillenia-Lagerstroemia - 11° 37'-11° 57' N) at an altitude of 680-1454 m. series occur. The wildlife of Bandipur is similar It is the oldest protected area in Karnataka. to that of Nagarahole, however, three additional Bandipur is contiguous with Nagarahole on the large species, blackbuck antelope, striped northwest, Wayanad reserve to the southwest and , and the Indian , occur occasionally Mudumalai reserve to the south (Map 1). The on its eastern fringes (Appendix 1). The bird life terrain is undulating, and the reserve is bounded and herpetofauna are similar to Nagarahole. Pic: P. Bhargav P. Pic:

Forest Canopy in Bandipur.

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ 14 Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project 15 ○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○ Bhadra Reserve reservoir whose backwaters extend into the reserve. (Map 1). The vegetation in Bhadra A part of the present Bhadra Reserve was Reserve is primarily moist deciduous forest of the originally established as Jagara Valley game Tectona-Dillenia-Lagerstroemia series with sanctuary in 1955, and expanded into the present patches of dry deciduous Anogeissus-Tectona- wildlife sanctuary covering an area of 492 km2 in Terminalia type forests occurring on the

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ 1974. In 1998, it was designated as the 25th tiger ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ northern fringes. At the higher altitudes in reserve within the Project Tiger network. Bhadra Bababudangiri, a third type of forest known Reserve is located in Chikmagalur and Shimoga as the tropical wet evergreen forests of the districts (75° 29' -75° 47' E - 13° 22'-13° 47' N) Schefflera-Gordonia-Melliosma type occur. A with the altitude ranging from 670 m to 1870 m key ecological feature of Bhadra is the presence at higher elevations. Though the terrain in the of five species of bamboos, three of which reserve is gently rolling, there is an imposing dominate the forest. Like Nagarahole, Bhadra outspur of the Western Ghats, called the too has extensive hadlus. However, most of these Bababudangiri range, that rises abruptly from the are currently under paddy cultivation as parts of surrounding plateau to form a crescent-shaped village settlements. The assemblage of large crater, a part of which is included in the reserve. in Bhadra is similar to that in Nagarahole (Appendix 1). However, the bird life Bhadra receives an annual rainfall of 2000-2540 is richer. The herpetofauna is also similar to mm. Its drainage joins the Bhadra River, which Nagarahole, but with the addition of the rare king is dammed at Lakkavalli, forming a vast irrigation cobra snake. Pic: K.U. Karanth

Bamboo forest in Bhadra.

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ 16 Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project 17 ○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○ Kudremukh Reserve forest of the Schefflera-Gordonia-Meliosma series occur. At lower elevations, tall dipterocarp Kudremukh National Park was initially notified dominant evergreen forests characterized by the in 1987, based on recommendations from field -Poeciloneuron-Hopea and the surveys by Ullas Karanth in 1983-84. These Poeciloneuron-Dipterocarpus-Kingidendron- surveys recorded the presence of the highly Humboldtia series are predominant.

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ endangered Malabar and Liontailed macaque ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ in the area. Kudremukh Reserve (area: 600 km2) The large mammal fauna of Kudremukh is spread over Chikmagalur, Udupi and Dakshina (Appendix 1) is conspicuous by the absence of Kannada districts (75° 00' -75° 25' E - 13° 01'- some of the species typical of the plains, such as 13° 29' N) at an altitudinal range of 100-1840 m. the Chital and Chowsingha. However, it has This is the largest reserve of a tropical wet several other unique species that are not found in evergreen forest type in Karnataka. Kudremukh the other three reserves: the -tailed macaque, is contiguous with Someshwara Wildlife Malabar civet, Small flying squirrel and possibly Sanctuary in the north and other reserve forests the Nilgiri . The avifauna includes more to the south. It receives an annual rainfall of than 180 species of birds, of which eight species approximately 3000-7000mm, with a recorded are endemic to the Western Ghats. About 54 maximum rainfall of 10,000 mm in 1994. The species of reptiles and 34 species of amphibians topography is mountainous with a central ridge are known to occur in this reserve, including highly running north to south. Three major rivers— endangered species like the flying lizard, flying Tunga, Bhadra and Netravathi—originate in the snake, king cobra, shield tail snakes, Travancore watersheds within this reserve. tortoise, forest cane turtle and several endemic frogs. The aquatic insect species richness in this Several wet evergreen forest types occur in reserve is the highest recorded in the Western Kudremukh Reserve. At elevations above Ghats. 1400 m, montane grasslands and short-stature Pic: K.U. Karanth

Tropical evergreen forest at Kudremukh.

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ 18 Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project 19 ○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○ ACTIVITIES UNDER with details such as interior forest roads and trails, Three of the four project sites - Nagarahole, Such traditions were virtually absent at sites like water sources, illegal encroachments, checking Bhadra, and Bandipur – are bordered by large Bhadra and Kudremukh. This needed correction. KARNATAKA TIGER gates, anti-poaching camps, patrol routes, etc. The reservoirs which are used by timber smugglers, CONSERVATION PROJECT project was to address this critical need by carrying poachers and fishermen to gain easy access into In addition, we also found an urgent need to out intensive field surveys using Global the interiors of these reserves. Also, during improve reserve staff morale and capacity by Identifying conservation Positioning Systems (GPS), establishing a GIS monsoon (June-September), some forest roads get providing them with proper field gear, training,

priorities at the project sites ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ database for spatial and other data, and then flooded and render many areas inaccessible to ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ incentives, and provisioning insurance to cover generating detailed maps. patrol vehicles. Therefore, patrol boats were injuries or death suffered in the course of their The first step of the project formulation identified identified as an urgent need at these sites. hazardous duties. Further, surveys at all the project the critical tiger conservation needs in each area Enhancement of enforcement sites suggested that training the staff in simple where the project was to be implemented. WCS capability Wireless communication sets were inadequate to but robust methods of monitoring animal partners then prioritised tiger conservation needs meet the requirements of the reserve staff. populations was also a desirable goal. for each site by consolidating existing ecological Although India has fairly strong wildlife protection Particularly in areas like Kudremukh and Bhadra, data and prior knowledge about the sites using a laws, there is an urgent need to improve their where the terrain is hilly, the provision of repeater Table 2: Numbers of Protective Staff combination of methods, including questionnaire implementation. We observed a lack of critical stations and handsets were a priority need, whereas Deployed surveys, consultations with senior officials of the protection infrastructure at the project sites, in areas like Bandipur and Nagarahole, more base Forest Department, and detailed discussions with especially in terms of equipment like patrol jeeps, stations were needed. Category NH BD BP KM field protection staff and reserve wardens. This boats and wireless communication. This factor Range Officers 6 4 8 4 interactive, iterative planning process identified was seriously compromising the effectiveness of Table 1: Protection Infrastructure Initially Foresters 25 11 20 6 the following major conservation needs. reserve staff in anti-poaching and fire control Available activities. Forest Guards 59 22 59 14 Equipment NH BD BP KM Establishing Ecological Baselines Watchers 159 64 58 26 and Monitoring Potential poachers and smugglers vastly Jeeps 4 3 4 1 outnumber protection staff, and additionally have Wireless Sets 36 18 20 10 Judging the success of any tiger conservation the element of surprise as a major advantage. It is Enlarging the Constituency for activity is nearly impossible in the absence of crucial to neutralize these advantages by providing Boats 2 1 1 - Wildlife Conservation reliable information on the size and dynamics of the protection staff with rapid response capability NH - Nagarahole, BD - Bhadra the populations of both tigers and their principal A lack of understanding of the value of the tiger in the form of speedy transportation and wireless BP - Bandipur, KM - Kudremukh prey. Therefore, scientific investigations directed communication capabilities that the illegal reserves among most local people and their at collecting such baseline ecological and intruders do not possess. consequent hostility Pic: T.S. Gopal demographic data were identified as a critical Motivation and Capacity towards reserve need. However, the project sites differed Within the existing administrative structure for Building Programs for Reserve protection and law considerably in terms of their research history. wildlife protection (Appendix-2), the Forest Staff enforcement were While Nagarahole had the benefit of fifteen years Range, headed by a Range Forest Officer, is the identified as major In the final reckoning, it is the protection staff of sustained WCS-supported research on large most crucial component of the system. The problems to be deployed at the project sites (Table 2) who serve carnivores and their prey, even the most protective infrastructure that was available at the addressed at all the as “trench warriors” battling the various pressures elementary baseline of ecological information did beginning of the project at all four sites is shown project sites. Arson on wildlife and their habitats. Sites like Bandipur not exist for Kudremukh. Thus, while it was in Table-1. In several forest ranges, the number by local people was a and Nagarahole had a long tradition of game necessary to build on existing programs of of patrol vehicles available was inadequate to frequent form of protection and management, having been scientific monitoring in a site like Nagarahole, a combat illegal activities and pressures. Therefore backlash against law established rather early in history as game reserves different approach was required in the other the provision of vehicles was identified as a enforcement by park under the control of the erstwhile Maharaja of Niren Jain addressing a nature camp. reserves, where monitoring activities had to be priority need for all sites with the exception of staff in all the Mysore. Subsequently, under energetic officers built from the ground up. Bhadra Reserve that had received a donation of reserves. Such hostility made law enforcement and focused programs such as Project Tiger, they three vehicles under an earlier grant from Wildlife difficult and often rendered the reserve staff had benefited from a tradition of establishment of We also found that the reserve managers were First/Global Tiger Patrol in 1996. ineffective. Therefore, at each of the project sites,

handicapped in the absence of good reliable maps anti-poaching camps and patrolling schedules. educating local people through outreach activities

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ 20 Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project 21 was identified as a key strategic component of the ○○○○○○○○○○○○ the goals of community development and training and capacity building of forest staff. ○○○○○○○○○○○○ thematically important conservation data lacking. project. Such conservation education efforts, consolidation of tiger habitats. In order for the Secondly, activities that were actually carried out For instance, the existing maps did not accurately modeled on the successful efforts previously resettlement project to be funded by Project Tiger by the government agencies such as enforcing represent many of the interior forest roads, check undertaken by the WCS-supported Nagarahole to move forward, the lack of trust between the protection laws, managing habitats and gates, wireless stations, anti-poaching camps, Wildlife and Conservation Education Project government and the people living inside implementing the voluntary resettlement project. water sources, trails, etc. To meet this critical (NAWICOED), were needed at all project sites. Nagarahole needed to be changed by the active The activities of WCS conservation partners need, detailed field mapping of all the reserves

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ intervention of our conservation partners. included playing a catalytic role in these intensive ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ was carried out using Global Positioning Systems Long-term Needs: Consolidation interactions, and generally monitoring the (GPS). The GPS position fixes of all the roads, At Bhadra, the presence of legal agricultural effectiveness of the interventions. Therefore, a trails, water sources, anti-poaching camps, of Tiger Habitats and Reducing settlements as well as illegal encroachments posed crucial component of the project was the choice wireless stations, human settlements and other Human-Tiger Conflicts long-term threats. There was a need to revive a of conservation partners. features obtained from field surveys were overlaid The most serious threat to tiger habitats (and other voluntary resettlement plan that had been stalled on 1:50,000 scale topographic map using the biodiversity) is the fragmentation of reserves for over a decade. The plan could facilitate the WCS conservation partners and designated field Geographical Information System software TM caused by human settlements, roads and other relocation of over 700 families. Partial financial coordinators visited all the four reserves regularly package MAPINFO (MapInfo Corporation, development projects. Although the deleterious commitment and alternate lands were earmarked and actively monitored the protection efforts. They Troy, New York, USA). consequences of on tigers, for the effort by the government, but the requisite periodically furnished written and verbal reports, prey and other wildlife are well documented, political will to catalyze implementation had been based on which this report was compiled. The Animal Population Monitoring conservation models that actually address these lacking. following tiger conservation activities were threats have been scarce. Furthermore, implemented during the project period from One of the first questions that managers need to fragmentation caused by the interspersion of In Kudremukh, extensive tracts of tiger habitat January 1998 to June 2001. address is whether the size of the populations of incompatible human activities in critical tiger needed to be protected from further exploitation tigers and prey species being protected in a given habitats is also a leading cause of human-tiger by an iron ore company whose mining lease was Research and Monitoring area is declining, stable or increasing. In addition, conflicts. coming up for renewal. This would involve Activities managers need to assess the distribution of the intensive educational efforts directed at local populations. This project tried to answer these Because wild tigers and their prey must be people about the consequence of such mining on The primary goals of the Karnataka Tiger questions by carrying out intensive field studies conserved wherever they occur, human settlements biodiversity and ecological values of the region. Conservation Project were to undertake activities using population sampling methods. and the infrastructures that cause fragmentation that would contribute to the maintenance or in the interiors of critical tiger habitats need to be In Bandipur reserve, unlike at the other three sites, increase of tiger and prey populations at the project To derive absolute densities of tiger populations, relocated to evolve lasting solutions to these there were no human settlements inside. Therefore, sites. However, apart from Nagarahole, where we deployed cameras triggered by infrared motion problems. At the project outset, we recognized no resettlement project was necessary. However, WCS supported research on the tiger has been detectors to obtain photographic records of the that relocating human settlements and related the long and narrow spatial configuration of the going on for several years, even the most basic tigers. We adopted the capture-recapture sampling infrastructure out of critical tiger habitats within reserve rendered it vulnerable to intensive biomass information in the form of habitat maps, ecological procedure to estimate tiger densities. the reserves would be a major issue. Therefore, exploitation from the 180 or so villages that lined data on habitat parameters, and distribution and developing models of voluntary resettlement its northern boundary. density of tigers or prey species was lacking at schemes that reduce fragmentation and human the other three project sites. Therefore, priority pressures, while at the same time improving the Addressing the Threats to Tigers was given to establishing a reliable baseline of

living conditions of the people involved, was Through On-ground Action data at all sites on habitats, prey species and tigers Pic: K.U. Karanth identified as a critical long term tiger conservation using rigorous and current techniques of need. After the specific conservation needs of each population and habitat assessments. project site were identified, the project’s focus The local communities residing within Nagarahole shifted to mobilizing appropriate action in each Preparation of Maps did not posses land-ownership rights. Therefore of the field sites. These project activities were of their development prospects within the park were two kinds. Firstly, activities directly implemented Preparation of detailed maps of the four reserves rather bleak. By facilitating their relocation and by WCS conservation partners, such as was recognized as urgent for effective management Ullas Karanth and Samba Kumar setting a Camera Trap. development, in lands available on the periphery conservation education, interfacing with local and the establishment of other biological baselines.

of the reserve, the government hoped to achieve communities, research and monitoring, and Most of the available maps were outdated and

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ 22 Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project 23 In addition, systematic line transect sampling was ○○○○○○○○○○○○ provided the following assistance to the Karnataka ○○○○○○○○○○○○ at the boundary of Bandipur and Nagarahole carried out to obtain estimates of prey density. State Forest Department through their existing reserves.

While collecting these data, we trained local administrative structure (Appendix 2). Pic: S. Gubbi wildlife staff and volunteer naturalists from Wireless Communication Equipment partner organizations in the application of line Patrol Vehicles transect survey methods. Swift and coordinated communication is essential

Pic: K.U. Karanth ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Fifteen off-road vehicles (4´4 Mahindra Jeeps ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ for effective patrolling and forest fire control, and equipped with 2.5 liter, 55 HP direct injection immediate response is the key to successful diesel engines) were donated to the Forest countering of poachers and forest fires. A detailed Department. The Forest Department agreed to analysis of the existing wireless network in the project areas was undertaken. It was found that deploy these vehicles strictly for wildlife protection Inaugural function of KTCP. duties. The patrol jeeps were assigned to 15 due to the rugged terrain, the reach of the existing vulnerable Forest Ranges that had been initially The vehicles were provided in three phases. In wireless network was insufficient. Automatic identified during the interactive planning process, January 1998, nine jeeps were donated to wireless repeater stations were also installed at and that were typically of about 100-150 km2 in Nagarahole, Bhadra and Kudremukh Reserves. strategic locations to improve the range of hand- area. (Table 3). At an inaugural function held at the state held sets (walkie-talkies). headquarters of the Forest Department at Bangalore. The Hon. Forest Minister of Karnataka The existing wireless infrastructure was enhanced received the jeeps on behalf of the Government. with the donation of new equipment, as well as Senior officials of the Forest Department, by providing improvements to the network design Pic: S. Gubbi conservationists and the media were present at this through technical support and maintenance. Solar function. During the second phase in February panels for charging the batteries and spare Ullas Karanth and Samba Kumar on a Transect. 1999, five jeeps were donated – four to Bandipur batteries were also provided to keep the system Reserve and one to Nagarahole Reserve in a active at all times. This system enables protection This project generally followed the field protocols similar function held at the State Forest staff and wildlife reserve wardens to be in developed in earlier research by Ullas Karanth at Headquarters in Bangalore. In September 2000, continuous contact with each other. Because Nagarahole. The tiger photo-capture data were one more jeep was handed over to the Chief Nagarahole reserve had received substantial funding under a separate World Bank-GEF project analyzed using the program CAPTURE, and the Jeeps donated under KTCP. Wildlife Warden in Bandipur Reserve. line transect data on prey species using the to upgrade its wireless equipment, this project concentrated on improving the communication program DISTANCE. High-speed Patrol Boats Table 3: Deployment of New Jeeps During February 1999 two high- Improving Protection Ranges where Jeeps were speed patrol boats (equipped with Infrastructure Reserve deployed (One vehicle per petrol/ kerosene 25 HP Mariner Pic: S. Gubbi range) The project reinforced the basic protection outboard motors) with capacity Nagarahole Kallahalla Anechowkur mechanisms employed by the State Forest for seating eight fully armed Metikuppe DB Kuppe Department in these reserves. These protection patrol staff were provided. These Hunsur Wildlife Sub-division methods comprised of foot patrols during the day, boats had specially reinforced vehicular night patrols, patrolling on boats along Bhadra Lakkavalli Tanigebyle hulls designed to negotiate rivers, and establishing a network of strategically Bandipur Maddur AM-Gudi reservoirs with hidden tree- located anti-poaching camps to ambush poachers. Moliyur N-Begur stumps. To ensure the safety of The project comprehensively reinforced each of Moyar staff using these boats, 15 life these core protection mechanisms through Kudremukh Karkala jackets were also donated. The boats were deployed at improving mobility, communication systems and the physical effectiveness and morale of ground Lakkavalli Range in Bhadra

level protection staff. To meet this goal, the KTCP reserve and Nisana Begur Range Ullas Karanth with Hon. Minister & Senior forest department functionaries.

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ 24 Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project 25 facilities only in the other three reserves as ○○○○○○○○○○○○ law enforcement and animal population from D.V. Girish. During October 2000, Sageer ○○○○○○○○○○○○ accidental death and temporary or permanent described below (Table 4). monitoring. Ahmed, Honorable Minister, Government of disablement (Table 6). This coverage was Karnataka, Deputy Commissioner, and the Deputy provided from November 1998 and renewed in Table 4: Provision of Wireless Equipment Provision of Field Kits Wildlife Warden participated in the function to 1999 and 2000, and is valid until November 2001. distribute field kits in the presence of K. M. BD BP KM To improve motivation and enforcement capability Chinnappa. The function was organized by Table 6: The Numbers of Field Staff Covered

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ among staff, a total of 1746 field kits were conservation partners Nature Conservation Guild ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Base by Insurance provided. Each field kit comprised of a set of and -C, and was attended by several Stations 08 04 - uniforms, a pair of jungle boots, rain-gear and a conservationists and local leaders. Vehicle flashlight. Field kits were provided to all frontline Year NH BD BP KM based staff at all the four project areas, twice during the Kudremukh: Field kits were presented on two 1998 163 58 36 32 Sets 04 - 04 three-year project (Table 5). occasions. In April 1998, the Assistant Wildlife 1999 155 57 36 32 Warden received the donation from K. M. Repeater Chinnappa. Again in November 2000, field kits 2000 166 57 36 32 Stations 01 01 01 Table 5: Numbers of Field Kits Donated to Protection Staff were handed over by Wildlife First to State Hand-held Legislator Gopala Bhandary. The Wildlife NH - Nagarahole, BD - Bhadra Sets 10 15 10 Year NH BD BP KM Warden, Deputy Wildlife Warden, local BP - Bandipur, KM - Kudremukh conservationists and leaders were present. BD - Bhadra, BP - Bandipur, KM - Kudremukh 1998 381 105 - 85 Kudremukh Wildlife Foundation, in association Awards and Incentives for Protection Staff 1999 20 - 255 - with Arohana, organized the event. The project implemented another innovative Despite protecting tigers and other valuable public 2000 375 155 305 65 system to improve communication among remote Bandipur: In February 1999, the protection staff resources at great personal risk, the achievements anti-poaching camps. The camps were provided of the Bandipur Reserve were provided field kits. acts of protection staff go almost unnoticed by with a ground plane antenna and a co-axial cable These field kits were distributed to individual staff The Deputy Wildlife Warden and other officers the public at large. Therefore, we realized that linked to a multi-connect box. Such use of walkie- members by the project field coordinators. The of the Reserve were present during the event, along giving awards for meritorious service would talkies with a ground plane antenna greatly kits were handed over at functions organized with the president and members of Wildlife First. provide encouragement and generate enthusiasm improved their range. specially for this purpose. Reserve wardens and Again, in September 2000, KTCP Coordinator, among field staff, thereby increase their other senior officials of the government, and Praveen Bhargav, presented one patrol jeep, commitment. Therefore, under this project, several Caring for the Protectors important political leaders including State wireless equipment and field gear to the Chief awards were instituted to recognize outstanding Ministers, participated in these functions. Some Wildlife Warden. More than 30 senior forest contribution of individual staff members to field The on-ground protection staff (foresters, guards details of these formal functions are provided officials from Karnataka and the neighboring protection. and watchers: Appendix 2) is the frontline defense below: states of and participated in against poachers and other threats to tigers. Theirs the event along with members of Wildlife First. These Tiger Protection awards were widely is often a thankless job, entailing great risk, meager Nagarahole: During May 1998, field kits were announced at the beginning of the project. The pay and not even the security of tenure in the case presented to the Deputy Wildlife Warden by Provision of Insurance Coverage process of identifying meritorious staff was based of watchers. We recognized early on in the Joshua Ginsberg of the Wildlife Conservation on joint evaluations by reserve wardens and the planning process that enhancing the protection Society who was visiting the project. Again in The frontline protection staff members often project field coordinators. Local level awards were staff’s physical capabilities, recognizing good December 2000, kits were donated in the presence encounter danger from poachers, smugglers, presented for individual acts of courage or good performance and providing good leadership to of the Principal Secretary of Forests, Government accidents and wild while carrying out their work in a particular situation. A few State level these field staff can improve law enforcement work of Karnataka, to the Deputy Wildlife Warden. duties. Many of the contractual staff like the awards were given for sustained long-term dramatically. To improve the morale and motivate Several local conservationists and leaders were watchers are not covered by insurance against such performance and an exemplary track record in staff at the project sites, several incentives and present at the event. dangers under the existing government insurance protection even prior to the project. rewards were instituted under the project. These schemes for permanent staff. Therefore, under this schemes included provision of field gear, insurance Bhadra: Two major functions were organized project, around 280 uninsured personnel in four Six “Huli Samrakshaka” (‘Protector of the Tiger’) coverage, recognition of meritorious performance during the project period. In April 1998, field project areas were identified and provided with State level awards were presented to staff in

while on duty, advanced professional training in kits were received by the Deputy Wildlife Warden an annual coverage of 150,000 Rupees against February 1999. The then Honorable Minister of

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ 26 Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project 27 ○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○ Forests, D. Manjunath, presented these awards workshops helped in both improving the staff’s Training in Legal Procedures Training in Monitoring Tiger and Prey at a function organized at the Bangalore skills and increasing external appreciation of their Populations headquarters of the Karnataka Forest Department. problems. The importance of their jobs was re- Although the wardens who manage the reserves The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Chief emphasized to the protection staff. The goal was and ranges are trained in law enforcement, our The project personnel conducted three field- Wildlife Warden and other senior officials to make them feel that they were not alone in their planning process identified a need for improving training workshops in Nagarahole and one participated in this function. The following staff difficult task of protecting tigers. Their views and their understanding of legal procedures. The main workshop each in Bhadra and Bandipur for Forest

members were recognized through these six ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ opinions on crucial protection issues were sought focus of the legal training workshops was to enable ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Department personnel, volunteer conservationists awards: in interactive sessions to develop site-specific forest officers to interact with some of India’s and young Pic: K.U. Karanth solutions to law enforcement problems. leading lawyers specializing in laws related to wildlife A. T. Poovaiah, wildlife crimes. The purpose was to refresh the biologists in the Range Wildlife Warden, Nagarahole Training in Anti-Poaching Measures knowledge of the staff about the complex Indian application of A. T. Venkate Gowda, laws such as the Wildlife Protection Act, Indian sampling-based Range Wildlife Warden, Bandipur Six training camps, each of one-day duration, were Forest Act, the Code of Criminal Procedure, and techniques for held for Foresters, Forest Guards and Watchers. the Arms Act. Three workshops were conducted monitoring Narayana Sherigar, Forester, Kudremukh Two camps were held in Bandipur, Kudremukh by conservation partner Wildlife First in large mammal Syed Nizamuddin, Forester, Bhadra and Bhadra. The content included basic training association with the Delhi-based NGO partner, populations. P. S. Nanjunda, Forester, Nagarahole to improve field craft and tracking skills; anti- Legal Action for Wildlife and Environment (LAW- These C. H. Shankar, Forest Guard, Bhadra poaching techniques demonstrated by mock drills; E). Specialist lawyers Mahendra Vyas and Satish workshops Tamta were resource persons in these workshops covered both Each award included a reward of ten thousand coordinated by Praveen Bhargav. theoretical and Ullas Karanth training Volunteer naturalists. rupees, a citation and a commemorative plaque. practical

Pic: S. Gubbi Forty-five forest officers including the Deputy aspects of line transect surveys of ungulates and In addition to the above State level awards, 30 Wildlife Wardens, Assistant Wildlife Wardens and primates, dung surveys of ungulates and camera local level awards were presented in consultation Range Officers from Kudremukh, Bhadra, trap surveys of tigers. They also covered simple with the reserve officials, to frontline staff who Bandipur, participated in the two workshops but robust sign encounter surveys for monitoring effectively worked in specific cases. Funds were organized at Chikmagalur and Bandipur during tiger and prey population trends. Ten officers from also provided to members of the public for June 1999. The topics covered in the workshop the Forest Department and 85 non-governmental intelligence gathering leading to detection of some included detailed discussion on the effective volunteers were trained during these workshops. poaching cases. These disbursements were done processing of cases using the Code of Criminal Ullas Karanth and N. Samba Kumar conducted in consultation with the wildlife wardens of the Procedures, under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, these training programs Fire arms training by Praveen Bhargav. range concerned. 1972, the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 and handling and effective use of firearms, including the National Forest Policy of 1988. Various Community Education Training and Capacity Building maintenance and safety measures; wireless interim orders and decisions by the higher courts equipment handling and communication skills; and in India, as well as field problems encountered in We recognized early on that short-term protection Training of wildlife reserve staff was recognized simple guidelines on legal procedures for proper the implementation of these orders, were discussed. measures described above need to be backed up as a key component for improving their follow up and prosecution of wildlife cases. A total by appreciation and support for such protection effectiveness. Under this project, we conducted of 200 Foresters, Forest Guards and Forest In the interactive sessions at the workshops, the among people living in and around the four several training programs covering identified Watchers were trained in these camps. Team resource persons from LAW-E answered questions reserves. By virtue of the fact that these needs: anti-poaching action; follow up on legal volunteers from conservation partners Wildlife on specific cases raised by the participants. A user- communities resided in close proximity to tiger procedures and enforcement, and, monitoring of First, Nature Conservation Guild, Green Watchers friendly enforcement handbook and compilations habitat, they were as much a part of the tiger tigers and prey populations on ground. and Kudremukh Wildlife Foundation, conducted of various Supreme Court orders, both produced conservation process as any government agency. the training programs under the direction of by LAW-E, were distributed to the staff and other Only when there is local support for wildlife Ideally, anti-poaching work and law enforcement K. M. Chinnappa, who is a specialist in this arena. participants. protection can we meet the long-term goals of tiger comprise a bulk of the day-to-day duties of the conservation. staff. The interaction between the conservation

partners and the reserve staff at the training In this task of changing local attitudes,

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ 28 Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project 29 ○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○ conservation education is a powerful . people in support of tiger conservation. A 12- Voluntary Resettlement Programs: affected people, and at the same time, reducing Therefore a community conservation education minute film “Wildlife Crisis” was made in Redefining Community Based habitat fragmentation and the perennial human- campaign, modeled after the successful Kannada and English languages in partnership Conservation tiger conflicts in crucial tiger reserves. We believe Nagarahole Wildlife Conservation Education with renowned wildlife filmmaker, Shekar this strategy holds promise for a positive resolution Project (NAWICOED) initiated in 1993 with Dattatri, and his Trust for Environmental support from WCS, was initiated at the other three Education. Recognising the paucity of readable

project sites. These outreach efforts emphasized ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ and factually correct information on wildlife in ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ sensitizing the local communities to the ecological, the regional language Kannada, KTCP facilitated Pic: P. Bhargav Pic: P. Pic: P. Bhargav Pic: P. the production of a newsletter on wildlife and conservation, titled “Nisarga” (Nature). This newsletter was edited by T. S. Gopal, and distributed widely, and during contact programs Pic: K.U. Karanth involving students and the public.

Table 7: Conservation Education A tribal house inside Nagarahole. A new house for resettlers outside Nagarahole. activities conducted Our basic approach to long-term problem of to human-wildlife conflicts in many other places NH BD BP KM conserving tigers and their habitats was rooted in in southern . Slide Shows/ the idea that overall, the landscapes in and around School Children with Chinnappa. Voluntary resettlement was identified as an Talks 107 23 - 22 tiger reserves have to be sustained. This utilitarian and aesthetic value of tigers and the necessarily meant that incompatible human immediate need in two of the project areas: Nature Camps/ forests that sheltered them. The education efforts activities that aggravated human-tiger conflicts Nagarahole and Bhadra. KTCP addressed this Workshops 29 5 4 5 emphasized the fact that ‘tiger forests’ provide and increase habitat fragmentation needed to be issue with utmost care and sensitivity, emphasizing long-term ecological security to local Public Contact eliminated in the long run. the voluntary, incentive-driven nature of the communities, and their unbridled exploitation for Campaigns 73 9 - 4 resettlement process. Intensive, long term meeting short-term benefits is unwise. We noted with concern that although interactions of our conservation partners, Wildlife NH - Nagarahole, BD - Bhadra conservationists are often very vocal about the ill First, Living Inspiration for Tribals (LIFT), and Site-specific education programs (Table 7) BP - Bandipur, KM - Kudremukh effects of reserve fragmentation, they have offered Nature Conservation Guild, with each of the designed by conservation partners formed the core few solutions to this problem. The WCS Tiger individual families volunteering to resettle, were of this outreach program. A unique feature of these Under the umbrella of the conservation education Conservation Policy of 1995 on the other hand, critical to the process. These interactions, begun programs was to target local political leaders, effort described above, an estimated total of over clearly identified that voluntary, incentive-driven in 1995, revealed that many of the forest dwellers officials, opinion makers, journalists, teachers and 150,000 local people living adjacent to the four resettlement of people was an appropriate policy aspired to have access to the benefits of the modern Pic: P. Bhargav students through nature camps, workshops, slide reserves were targeted during the project period relevant for critical tiger habitats harboring world, such as Pic: P. Bhargav shows and of three years. breeding populations of tigers. Therefore, in this improved public contact project, voluntary resettlement was actively agricultural programs. In The following individual conservation partners pursued as a permanent solution to resolve human- facilities, access to addition, KTCP assisted in carrying out the field activities: wildlife conflicts and to reduce habitat employment, also used the fragmentation. schools, hospitals, increasingly K. M. Chinnappa, T. S. Gopal, Sanjay Gubbi, transportation and powerful Thamoo Poovaiah, M. K. Appachu, C.G. Our tiger conservation model envisages that other livelihood electronic Kushalappa, G. Satish, Surya Addoor, Niren Jain, human settlements and tiger habitats should be opportunities. This media in order Devu Hanehalli, Krishna Mohan Prabhu, spatially separated - to the extent possible - by basic reality made it to interest and G.N.Ashokavardhana, D. V.Girish, Girija providing a better quality of life for the people easier for our M.K. Appachu (Right) consulting a tribal beneficiary. motivate a Shankar, G. R. Sanath Kumar and V. T. Ravindra. who voluntarily decide to move out of critical tiger conservation larger habitats. This tiger conservation strategy targets partners to convince the people involved about D.V. Girish conducting a field nature camp.

constituency of the twin goals of delivering social justice to the the benefits of relocation.

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ 30 Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project 31 ○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○ In the process of facilitating this resettlement effective reserve warden, worked together as a RESULTS AND EVALUATION scale, even if it is somewhat slow in producing process, Wildlife First and LIFT effectively team to swiftly push through an even larger the desired changes in quantitative, measurable countered the negative campaigns by a few other proposal for voluntary resettlement. This proposal The ideal measure of the true effectiveness for a units. NGOs, contributing substantially to the success had been pending with the Government for over a project like this would undoubtedly be in terms of this effort. These conservation partners, who decade. Because of this delay, a great deal of of significant consolidation of tiger habitat at the Thus organization of the following section reflects are continuously monitoring the progress of the resentment had built up among the villagers project sites, and an appreciation (or at least the nature of the changes that resulted from the

project, have also ensured that the new homes, ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ against the Reserve. This resentment manifested stabilization) of population trends for tigers and ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ implementation of the KTCP: the first subsection land-right allotment certificates and other social itself in the form of retaliatory poaching of large their prey species. However, demonstrating these documents proximate but clearly quantifiable security measures that are meant to support the mammals and incidents of deliberate arson in the ecological changes requires that scientific accomplishments, followed by a subsection that beneficiaries actually reach them. Towards this forest. monitoring must be initiated from a reliable deals with results that were essentially long-term end, Wildlife First and LIFT provided critical baseline and must be sustained over the long term and qualitative in their nature. The third and final linkages between various government departments About 750 landless and landed families reside to detect changes against that base line. sub-section addresses some of the shortcomings and the resettled families. Members of LIFT also within Bhadra’s larger forested landscape in of the project, and discusses ways in which these provided critical liaison between the volunteering sixteen agricultural hamlets, cultivating some 350 Firstly, it must be borne in mind that prior to the can be addressed in the future. tribal people in Nagarahole and the agencies hectares of agricultural land. The resettlement commencement of the KTCP, the four sites varied involved in the relocation program, and facilitated project provides compensation for the lands considerably in terms of the baseline ecological Accomplishments of the KTCP greater participation by local people in the process acquired as well as alternate land outside the data against which change could be examined. of relocation. Out of the 1500 landless families reserve. A total of 130 million rupees have been For instance, Nagarahole had a strong prior Mapping of Project Sites living inside or on the peripheries of Nagarahole, budgeted by the Government for acquiring lands, scientific presence, and hence, reliable baseline about 50% located in the deep interiors were and another 80 million rupees earmarked for the of ecological data on tigers and prey on which Maps represent a basic template on which changes identified as potential candidates for voluntary resettlement and rehabilitation of the volunteering KTCP could build. At the other extreme, in in habitat and animal abundance can be resettlement. families. In this case too, conservation partners Kudremukh the monitoring effort had to be documented clearly. In the course of KTCP, maps of WCS facilitated the liaison between the local initiated from scratch, starting with the of all project sites were prepared and updated to In Bhadra, WCS conservation partners, Wildlife villagers and the government departments involved preparation of elementary maps for the site as a include data on broad habitat features, and First and Nature Conservation Guild, and a highly in the program. major part of establishing the necessary baseline. important logistical features like roads and anti- Therefore, although we believe that significant poaching camps. These maps have been made gains were made in terms of tiger conservation at available to all KTCP partners for use in their each of the sites, the progress was by no means work. These maps also include details of line uniformly measured. transect placement and camera trap locations for the four reserves and have been prepared at a scale Pic: P. Bhargav Pic: P. Secondly, as an effort to improve the conservation of 1: 50,000. Representations of these maps, at outlook for the tiger, KTCP has been a unique reduced scale are provided in this report (Figures project due to the fact that it recognized – and 2, 3, 4 and 5). attempted to remedy – several qualitative problems that have beset tiger conservation at the Establishing Ecological Benchmarks: Long project sites. The flagging morale of wildlife Term Monitoring of Tiger Ecology and protection staff, the animosity of local villagers Human Impacts to conservation efforts, and the epidemic lack of public awareness about wildlife conservation, are This project established baseline, benchmark all problems that have severe consequences for estimates of tiger and prey densities, and potential tiger conservation. However, the remedies to these carrying capacities for tigers and prey at problems are clearly qualitative, and their very Nagarahole, Bandipur and Bhadra Reserves. In nature precludes a rigorous quantification of the an ecological scenario where protected habitats harboring breeding tiger populations are islands A tube well in the resettlement colony. successes achieved. But from the experience of WCS and its partners, we do know that their within human-dominated landscape matrices,

effectiveness is lasting and operates on a larger these data clearly show the importance of

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ 32 Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project 33 ○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○ protecting such critical core tiger populations by were part of a long-term study for monitoring tiger Table 9: Estimated Prey Densities in Bhadra: Camera trap field surveys were buffering them against human impacts from and prey populations conducted by the Centre for Nagarahole conducted from April-May 1997 and again from outside and within. However, to objectively Wildlife Studies, with support from WCS and February-April 1998. However, the camera trap evaluate the ecological effectiveness of other agencies since 1986. We carried out camera Species Density (animals/km2) surveys in 1998 had to be abandoned for logistical conservation interventions it is absolutely essential trapping and line-transect surveys for three 1998 1999 2000 reasons. The results of these surveys are given in to put in place rigorous, long term monitoring of consecutive years during this project: December Table 10. NE indicates that densities were not

tigers, prey and their habitats in all the protected ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ 1997-May 1998; December 1998-May 1999; and Chital 36.1 28.0 42.8 ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ estimated. areas where major conservation investments are April-May 2000. The results of the camera-trap (3.46) (3.07) (4.05) being made. Thus, this project constitutes the move capture recapture surveys are provided in Table 8 Sambar 4.1 5.5 5.3 Table 10: Estimated Density of Tigers in to initiate long-term ecological monitoring of tigers while the results from line transect surveys are (0.59) (0.65) (0.69) Bhadra at these reserves. It has made available powerful available in Table 9. methodological tools for the management of other Muntjac 5.2 2.6 3.2 (0.55) (0.38) (0.45) tiger reserves in the future. Table 8: Estimated Densities of Tigers in Nagarahole Gaur 11.3 9.6 4.2 The population sampling and estimation methods (2.06) (1.51) (0.77) and protocols were based on the earlier work 1998 1999 2000 Wild Pig 2.8 3.6 4.5 carried out in Nagarahole and other reserves in (0.52) (0.62) (1.03) India by Ullas Karanth and James D. Nichols with Trap Points 58 58 60 support from US Fish and Widlife Service Sample Efforts Langur 32.1 39.8 33.4 (Division of International Conservation). (trap nights) 695 868 928 (2.49) (3.01) (1.79) Bonnet 4.3 6.0 4.5 Sample Following is a summary of the preliminary results Monkey (0.89) (1.15) (0.68) obtained from the population monitoring efforts Area (km2) 243.4 243.4 243.4 at the various project sites. The mean values and All Prey 95.9 95.1 97.9 Number of standard errors (within parentheses) of the density Identified Tigers 16 24 26 estimates are reported. However, we emphasize that the following estimates will be improved Number of further based on more refined analyses currently Tigers in 19 32 37 Identified tiger BDT - 103, Bhadra. under way. They will be eventually published in Sample Area (3.4) (4.7) (5.7) Pic: K.U. Karanth peer-reviewed scientific journals: Year 1997 1998 Density of Tigers/ 7.8 13.2 15.2 100 km2 (1.48) (2.09) (2.53) Trap Points 77 78 Nagarahole: The field surveys in Nagarahole Sample Efforts (trap nights) 587 152 A herd of Gaur. Estimated Sample Area (km2) 263 NE Number of Identified Tigers 7 7

Pic: K.U. Karanth Number of Tigers in the 9 NE Sample Area (1.93) Density of Tigers/ 100 km2 3.4 NE

Identified tiger NHT - 130, Nagarahole. Chital Stag and does.

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ 34 Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project 35 ○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○ The line transect surveys conducted in 1998 Table 12: Estimated Density of Tigers in Table 13: Estimated Prey Densities in along trails and roads, only eight scats of tigers provided the first-ever scientific estimates of Bandipur Bandipur were encountered and only 50 prey animals were densities of prey species in Bhadra. A total sighted. However, the field survey confirmed the sampling effort of 728 km was made, using six Year 1999 Species Density(1999) existence of a breeding tiger population based on representative transect lines to yield density observation of sign indicating the presence of cubs. Trap Points 63 Chital 20.1 (6.75) estimates for principal prey species (Table 11). To estimate the absolute densities of tigers and

Transect surveys were again carried out in ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Sample Efforts (trap nights) 946 Sambar 5.6 (1.35) ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ their prey, more intensive sampling is required in November 2000. Estimated Sample Area (km2) 284 Muntjac 0.7 (0.27) the future.

Number of identified Tigers 16 Gaur 7.0 (2.96) The above results indicate that potentially all the Table 11: Estimated Prey Densities in four KTCP sites are prime tiger habitats capable Bhadra Number of Tigers in 34 Wild Pig 0.7 (0.32) Sample Area (9.9) of supporting high densities of tigers and prey. Chowsingha 1.1(0.79) 2 However, at present only some parts of Species Density (animals/km ) Density of tigers/100 km2 12.0 Langur 16.4 (3.00) Nagarahole and Bandipur have actually received 1998 2000 (3.7) Bonnet monkey NE adequate protection to enable them to support Chital 2.3 (0.78) 4.5 (1.40) tigers and prey densities close to their potential All prey 51.6 carrying capacities. It is therefore necessary to Sambar 5.8 (1.08) 0.9 (0.36) carry out population monitoring activities on a Muntjac 5.4 (0.52) 3.0 (0.76) regular basis in the future to monitor the Gaur 0.7 (0.32) 1.5 (0.82) effectiveness of the various conservation initiatives currently underway in all four areas.

Wild Pig 2.6 (0.95) NE K.U. Karanth Pic: Langur 30.2 (2.16) 21.4(2.44) Improvement in Reserve Protection Bonnet Monkey 3.6 (0.75) 5.0(1.48) Unfortunately, the role of active protection and All prey 50.6 36.3 enforcement in tiger conservation has been greatly underplayed in recent years by most conservation Identified tiger BPT - 113, Bandipur. agencies. However, given the explosion of high Sambar stag and hind. value trade in tigers and other wildlife, and the Line transect surveys in Bandipur involved a pervasive activities of illegal biomass removal sampling effort of 475 km using five permanent Kudremukh: Because of low animal densities, from wildlife reserves, it has been our experience

Pic: K.U. Karanth Pic: transects. The estimated densities of different rugged terrain and the potential for theft of camera that these enforcement measures are necessary and species of prey are reported in Table 13. These traps, the field sample surveys employing the must now be the most important component of are also the first-ever estimates of tiger and prey approaches used in the other three sites and any tiger conservation effort. densities derived for Bandipur using rigorous described above were not feasible in Kudremukh. sampling based approaches. Therefore, only preliminary reconnaissance Although achievements of improved protection surveys of animal distribution were carried out to were hard to quantify, this was an important aspect Grassland recovery following village relocation. develop field protocols appropriate for future that the project addressed. Despite challenges monitoring efforts in Kudremukh for tigers and encountered during implementation, we believe their prey. Field surveys were carried out along Bandipur: We carried out line transect surveys K.U. Karanth Pic: substantial gains were made for tiger conservation in May-June 1999 and camera trap field surveys animal trails as well as paths and forest roads to at all the four sites. in October-December 1999. We used theft-proof record encounters with animal sign such as tiger metal shells, for the first time in the camera trap scats, prey dung and evidence of human The project’s effort in bolstering the protection operations. The results of the camera trap surveys disturbances. The results of these surveys showed capability of the Forest Department contributed are in Table 12. that tiger occurred at very low density at this time significantly to their efforts in apprehending cases

Wild pigs. in Kudremukh. From a 622 km sampling effort of illicit activity within the project sites (Table 14).

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ 36 Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project 37 ○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○ Table 14: Number of Cases of Forest championing of arrested poachers, unlike in the initiation of the voluntary resettlement project, Offenses Registered The positive impacts of improved protection past. However, it should be noted that this is a more than 200 tribal families among these have efforts on populations of tigers and their prey are cumulative effect of education activities conducted so far volunteered to resettle on the reserve Years NH BD BP KM unlikely to emerge within the short span of time since 1993. boundary in Nagapura. The Directorate of Project wherein monitoring of wildlife abundances was Tiger, Government of India, provided a total 1998 208 244 18 carried out. The availability of better transport The education efforts around Kudremukh and funding of 20 million rupees (450,000 US $) for

1999 227 173 179 12 ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ and communication facilities also aided in better Bandipur are relatively new, and visible gains will ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ the resettlement project under its Beneficiary 2000 311 171 4 control and management of problems such as man- accumulate as these efforts are sustained over the Oriented Tribal Development (BOTD) scheme. made fires during the dry-season. Bhadra was an future. The Karnataka State Government provided 700 excellent example of how project assistance in the hectares of land and other infrastructure support form of communication, transport, and training The conservation education products of the project such as tube wells, agricultural and agro-forestry was utilized effectively by a motivated and have an impact extending well beyond the mandate support. Sustained efforts of WCS partners, energetic staff. With the close involvement of WCS of the KTCP. For instance films, books, Living Inspiration for Tribals (LIFT) and Wildlife Pic: P. Bhargav Pic: P. partners, Bhadra staff effectively prevented newsletters, and manuals produced by First, played a critical catalytic role in motivating extensive forest fires, which had earlier been a NAWICOED and other KTCP partners have made the tribal people inside the park to accept the regular feature in this area. highly relevant information written lucidly in the resettlement package offered by the Government. local language available to local people. The These two organizations acted as effective links Local Community Involvement and impact of such products will serve important tiger between the beneficiaries, the government and Conservation Education conservation needs beyond the 3-year time frame local social leadership of the area. of the project. A poacher arrested in Bhadra. The impact of the conservation education The voluntary village relocation project at Bhadra campaigns has helped to reduce the incidence of Similarly, mobilizing greater news and features also progressed significantly, with necessary man-made fires in and around Bhadra reserve, coverage of tiger and wildlife conservation issues political commitments and approvals of the State Importantly, although difficult to document particularly when the forests were vulnerable at the four project sites as a result of project and Federal Governments materializing during the quantitatively, it was our experience that better- during the copious flowering of bamboos. activities has arguably made wildlife conservation project period. The release of necessary funds from equipped and better-trained staff served as more more of a topical issue than it has been in the past these governments for the first phase land effective deterrents against poaching and other After the incidence of large-scale forest fires and (Table 16). acquisition and resettlement of three villages also illegal activity within the project sites. The fact timber smuggling in Nagarahole during 1999, materialized. that the vehicles provided under KTCP gave vigorous efforts Table 16: Media Coverage of Project Sites patrolling staff greater mobility and were used of WCS and Activities The above progress in Nagarahole and Bhadra intensively is supported by the substantial mileage conservation has set the stage for significant reductions in the

logged while on protection duties (Table 15). partners to Pic: S. Gubbi News Reports Reports on fragmentation of prime tiger habitats in both these address these on Wildlife KTCP reserves. In addition to improving habitat quality, Table 15: Average Distances Logged by problems Conservation these projects are significantly improving the Patrol Vehicles contributed quality of life of the people who were hitherto 1998 21 19 substantially marooned inside wildlife reserves without access NH BH BP KM to their 1999 101 16 to livelihood opportunities. remediation in Average 2000 144 03 Distance the subsequent While government departments implemented the (kms) 80,000 85,000 75,000 60,000 years. At process of relocation, WCS conservation partners logged Nagarahole, the Long-Term Consolidation of Tiger provided leadership and moral support to the per education Habitats volunteering people. They liased with government vehicle program has departments and made the process of resettlement significantly In Nagarahole, around 600 tribal families lived more participatory. Considerable political will and Forest fire. NH - Nagarahole, BD - Bhadra reduced social within the interior part of the reserve without legal monetary investments were essential to set the

BP - Bandipur, KM - Kudremukh support to poaching, with no incidences of local land holding or rights. With the successful process in motion. Conservation partners provided

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ 38 Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project 39 a vital catalytic influence at times when the process ○○○○○○○○○○○○ by sharing information about conservation and this assistance was used, varied widely between ○○○○○○○○○○○○ inadequate. This failure in recording critical lost momentum. law-enforcement needs. Thus they continually reserves and over the project duration. The activities and interventions was subsequently monitored the protection efforts. The fact that more primary factor that mattered in the effective reflected in inadequate reporting from the field. Overall the successful initiation of the voluntary than 900 formal and informal interactions were utilization of the equipment and other assistance As a result, the authors of this report have found resettlement efforts at Nagarahole and Bhadra held with the Forest Department at various levels provided by the project appeared to be the it extremely difficult to collate, synthesize and synergised by this project are contributing greatly – from the Chief Wildlife Warden to the local forest quality of the individual range and reserve adequately present the achievements of the

to generating positive political will to promote ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ guards – is a clear testimony to the intensity and wardens in place at the time. The administrative ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ project here. Unfortunately, this lacuna makes voluntary resettlement as a conservation strategy uniqueness of monitoring under this project. Such structure and dynamics of the Forest it difficult to evaluate and present this project by the State and Federal Governments. deep involvement of WCS conservation partners Department (Annexure-2) is based on an annual clearly to an outside audience. also meant that protection staff positioned even in turnover of personnel – with the usual tenure One of the major goals of the project was to the most remote corners of the reserves realized of an individual official being about 3 years. We believe that in future conservation projects leverage the assistance provided under the project. that their work was indeed valued by the outside Furthermore, as in all administrative structures, of this nature it is necessary to build in a Activities of KTCP conservation partners community. the caliber and motivation levels of the component of professional project staff capable succeeded in catalyzing investments of around individuals varied greatly. In some cases, this of recording and reporting field activities in a Rupees 230 million (5 million US $) from WCS conservation partners, mostly volunteers factor led to poor or ineffective use of the detailed and analytical manner. However, Government of India and Government of who freely invested time and energy in this project, assistance provided under KTCP. bringing in such professionals will necessarily Karnataka, thus showing significant amount of brought to bear their considerable social and increase the non-productive costs of such tiger leveraging of investments made under this project. managerial skills, as well as political and official We note that most conservation agencies that conservation projects significantly. contacts to help strengthen the project activities. try to work with the government simply ‘go with We also note that Rajendra Singh - one of India’s More than anything else, it is the spirit of this the flow’ and ride out such situations without 3. During the first two years, ironically, the respected leaders in the arena of human rights and voluntarism that made it possible for the project trying to remedy them. In the case of KTCP support provided under this project appeared to achieve what it did. The role of WCS in the however, many of our conservation partners, to be relatively less effective in Nagarahole, project was largely intellectual in providing being dedicated and strong-willed where WCS had the strongest prior scientific knowledge and overall direction, while conservationists, tried to remedy such situations involvement, compared to the other three sites.

Pic: P. Bhargav Pic: P. Save the Tiger Fund and other WCS donors by intervening strictly according to Indian laws. This was because the staff in Nagarahole, provided the material means of making this vision Such interventions led to negative interactions particularly the Range wardens, Assistant a reality. All of these roles were critical to making in a few cases. However, in a majority of the wardens and the Reserve warden, appeared to the project work, but in the end, it was the situations, the officials welcomed and be continually distracted by multifarious non- interventions of the dedicated local effectively used the assistance provided under protective duties that they had to undertake on conservationists who were committed to long-term KTCP, working closely with WCS conservation account of the concurrent implementation of on ground action that mattered the most. partners. the 10 million dollar World Bank-GEF India Eco Development Project (IED). The planning, Rajendra Singh with KTCP team and resettlement beneficiaries. KTCP: A Critique of Some Short 2. Most WCS conservation partners worked on consultations, meetings and rural development rural development visited Nagarahole and Bhadra, Comings this project on a voluntary basis without activities taken up under IED appeared to the interacted with the people, and publicly endorsed remuneration, with the project assistance take staff’s attention away from hardcore the resettlement efforts. We consider his testimony Although the project achieved success overall, covering only the reimbursement of expenses protective duties. The concerns related to the to be a measure of the sincerity with which WCS there were a few shortcomings in the project design incurred. This spirit of voluntarism permeating same project also appeared to significantly conservation partners have pursued the difficult and implementation that need to be recorded. We through the project kept the costs low, achieving retard the progress of the Project Tiger goal of reconciling the conflicting interests of local provide the following critique so that future more conservation gains for every dollar spent. sponsored voluntary resettlement project titled people with the survival needs of wild tigers. projects of this kind make an effort to address However, while such volunteer conservation Beneficiary Oriented Scheme for Tribal them: partners were extremely effective in dealing Development (BOTD), that WCS conservation Nurturing Community Leadership for with the complex tiger conservation challenges partners were actively involved in assisting. Tiger Conservation 1. Although about 60% of the investments made on ground, their ability to systematically under the project were outright grants of maintain either written or photographic records KTCP field coordinators and other conservation equipment and services provided to Karnataka of their activities, and to present the information

partners actively helped the reserve protection staff Forest Department, the effectiveness with which coherently in a non-verbal format, was

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ 40 Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project 41 ○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○ CONCLUSIONS assistance from Sanjay Gubbi, that aims at BIBLIOGRAPHY University Press (Pages 339-355), New York. synthesizing the experience gained by all these Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project was one field projects and sharing it with a wider popular Dinerstein,E., Wikramanayake,E., Robinson,J., Meher-Homji V.M. (1990). Vegetation types of of the earliest projects in India that recognized audience. Karanth,K.U., Rabinowitz,A., Olson,D., India in relation to environmental conditions. the critical need to actively strengthen the Mathew,T., Hedao,P., Connor,M., Hemley,G. and Pages 95-110 in Conservation in developing protection and law enforcement efforts in tiger Overall, the Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project Bolze,D.(1997). A Framework for Identifying countries: problems and prospects. (Eds: J.C.

reserves. It was also one of the few projects that ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ attempted to implement a comprehensive High Priority Areas and Actions for the ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Daniel and J.S. Serrao). Proceedings of the actually tried to integrate rigorous research and conservation strategy using an innovative Conservation of Tigers in the Wild. Washington centenary seminar of the Bombay Natural History science as an integral part of project combination of sustained tiger protection efforts DC, World Wildlife Fund –USA and Wildlife Society, Oxford University Press, Bombay, India. implementation. It is very satisfying to note that coupled with scientific monitoring, community Conservation Society. many other tiger conservation projects are trying education, conflict reduction and habitat Pascal , J.P.(1988). Wet evergreen forests of the to follow this model now. consolidation through voluntary resettlements. The Karanth.K.U. (2001). The Tiger’s way: Natural Western Ghats of India: ecology, structure, project tried to build a model for active history and conservation of the endangered big floristic composition and succession. Institut KTCP was a discrete 3-year long ‘project.’ collaboration between non-governmental cat. Voyageur Press, USA. Francais de Pondicherry. Sri. Aurobindo Ashram However, as far as tiger conservation in Karnataka organizations and government departments in Press, Pondicherry. is concerned, it is a process that must continue in charge of tiger protection. The project has Karanth K. U. and Nichols J. D. (1998). order to be truly successful in the long run. KTCP demonstrated that forging such critical Estimating tiger densities in India from camera Schaller, G. B. (1967). The and the tiger. was built on 14 years of prior research work and partnerships between the government, local trap data using photographic captures and University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Illinois, conservation networking by WCS partners. Most conservation partners and international donors can recaptures. Ecology 79 (8): 2852-2862. USA. of the conservation activities developed under work effectively to change the situation on ground KTCP (except for the one-time infrastructure in favor of wild tigers. Karanth.K.U. and Nichols J.D. (2000). Ecological Seidensticker . J., Christie.S and Jackson.P (1999) inputs provided to the government) continued by Status and Conservation of Tigers in India. Final Introducing the tiger. Pages 1-3 in Riding the tiger: WCS conservation partners under a new project Developing and mentoring individual community Technical Report to the Division of International Tiger conservation in human-dominated titled are being ‘Community Leadership for Tiger leaders who truly care for tigers so that they can Conservation, US Fish and Wildlife Service, landscapes (Editors: J. Seidensticker, S. Christie Conservation’ (CLTC). effectively translate their concern into ground– Washington DC and Wildlife Conservation and P. Jackson). Cambridge University Press, level action that is based on sound science rather Society, New York. Centre for Wildlife Studies, Cambridge, UK. This project was subsequently funded by 21st than emotion and rhetoric, has been a major long- Bangalore, India. Century Tiger and Save the Tiger Fund. Building term gain from this project. WCS believes that Sunquist M. E., Karanth K. U. and Sunquist F. local community support to tiger conservation, this model of site-based tiger conservation Karanth K.U. and Nichols J.D. Monitoring Tigers (1999). Ecology, behaviour and resilience of the promoting long-term consolidation of tiger habitats practiced in a landscape context holds considerable and their prey - A manual for wildlife managers, tiger and its conservation needs. Pages 5-18 in through voluntary resettlements/land acquisition promise for replication at many other sites across researchers and conservationists in tropical Asia. Riding the tiger: Tiger conservation in human- and continued monitoring of tiger conservation at the tiger’s range in tropical Asia. WCS also plans In preparation. dominated landscapes (Editors: J. Seidensticker, three of the four KTCP sites – Nagarahole, Bhadra to critically evaluate KTCP and other tiger S. Christie and P. Jackson). Cambridge University and Kudremukh – form the core of the new project. conservation models in peer-reviewed scientific Karanth K. U., Sunquist M. E. and Chinnappa, Press, Cambridge, UK. publications in the future. This report is seen as K. M. (1999) Long-term monitoring of tigers: KTCP has helped to establish and strengthen an initial step in that direction. Lessons from Nagarahole. Pages 114-122 in WCS (1995). Saving the Tiger: A Conservation several local conservation organizations\projects Riding the tiger: Tiger conservation in human- Strategy. Policy report number 3. New York, built around strong and effective individuals who dominated landscapes (Editors: J. Seidensticker, Wildlife Conservation Society. are deeply rooted in the social context around these S. Christie and P. Jackson). Cambridge University three reserves. K. M. Chinnappa, T. S. Gopal Press, Cambridge, UK. and M. K. Appachu continue the work around Pic: K.U. Karanth Nagarahole. D. V. Girish leads conservation Madhusudan M. D. and Karanth K. U. 2000. activities at Bhadra, and Niren Jain does the same Hunting for an answer: Local hunters and large at Kudremukh. Another new WCS supported mammal . In J. G. Robinson initiative has been the Wildlife First Outreach - a and E. L. Bennett (editors), Hunting for A tiger in Nagarahole.

new project being led by Praveen Bhargav with sustainability in tropical forests. Columbia

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ 42 Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project 43 ○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○ APPENDIX – 1: SPECIES OF LARGE MAMMALS OCCURING 29 Ratufa indica PP P P AT THE PROJECT SITES 30 Indian Porcupine Hystrix indica PP P P 31 Blacknaped Hare Lepus nigricollis PP P P P = Species Present ND = Possibly Present, No Data A=Species Absent 32 Asian Elephant maximus PP P P S.No Common Name Scientific Name NH BD BP KM 33 Gaur Bos gaurus PP P P ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ 1 Bonnet Macaque Macaca radiata PP P P 34 Chowsingha Tetracerus quadricornis PAP A 2 Lion Tailed Macaque Macaca silenus AA A P 35 Blackbuck Antelope Antilope cervicapra AA P A 3 Hanuman Langur Presbytis entellus PP P P 36 Sambar Cervus unicolor PP P P 4 Tiger Panthera tigris PP P P 37 Chital Axis axis PP PA 5 Leopard Panthera pardus PP P P 38 Muntjac Muntiacus muntjak PP P P 6 bengalensis PP P P 39 Indian chevrotain Tragulus meminna PP P P 7 Rusty Spotted Cat Felis rubiginosa PNDP ND 40 Wild Pig Sus scrofa PP P P 8 Felis chaus PP P P 41 Indian Pangolin Manis crassicaudata PP P P

9 Malabar Civet megaspila ND ND A P NH - Nagarahole, BD - Bhadra, BP - Bandipur, KM - Kudremukh 10 Viverricula indica PP P P 11 Common Palm Civet hermaphroditus PP P P 12 Paradoxurus jerdoni ND ND A P 13 Common edwardsi PP P P 14 Herpestes smithi PP P P 15 Stripe-necked Mongoose Herpestes vitticollis PP P P 16 Brown Mongoose Herpestes fuscus ND ND A P 17 hyaena AP P A 18 Jackal aureus PP P P 19 Wolf Canis lupus AA P A 20 Dhole Cuon alpinus PP P P 21 Melursus ursinus PP P P 22 Common lutra PP P P 23 Clawless Otter cinerea AANDP 24 Smooth Indian Otter Lutra perspicillata PNDP P 25 Ratel Mellivora capensis AANDA 26 Martes gwatkinsi AA AND 27 Large Flying Squirrel Petaurista petaurista PP P P

28 Small Flying Squirrel Petinomys fuscocapillus ND ND A P

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ 44 Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○Karnataka Tiger Conservation Project 45 ○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○ APPENDIX – 2: ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE OF KARNATAKA FOREST DEPARTMENT (WILDLIFE WING) ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

CHIEF WILDLIFE WARDEN (PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS)

WILDLIFE WARDENS (CONSERVATORS OF FORESTS)

DEPUTY WILDLIFE WARDENS (DEPUTY CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS) INSIDE

ASSISTANT WILDLIFE WARDENS (ASSISTANT CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS) COVER

RANGE WILDLIFE WARDENS (RANGE FOREST OFFFICER) BLANK

FORESTERS

FOREST GUARDS

FOREST WATCHERS

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