INDIA NEWSLETTER JULY - SEPTEMBER 2012

NEWSLETTER IND PANDA 2012 IND SG & CEO’S FOREWORD

Dear friends, On a weekend like any other in June, I received this message that pleasantly conveyed, more than adequately, the understated excitement of its bearer - “Traced to Aligarh - nearly 400 km downstream from Hastinapur!” The message had been sent by Sanjeev Yadav, Senior Project Officer with WWF-, who had been attempting to capture a female gharial that had swum a distance of nearly 400 km through the Ganga canal system, from Hastinapur to an area in Aligarh district. The gharial had finally been located, but after much clamour. A regular racket had been created, and yet this was a happy noise that had been raised - one that we would hope to be caused for other threatened species as well. People did not merely cooperate; they went out of their way to assist the team from WWF-India. The township of Sikandarpur extended heartwarming hospitality and both the media and the Department proved accommodating and supportive. The greatest feat however, was undertaken by the Irrigation Department that so generously offered to lower the level of water in the canal to facilitate the search. Battling the monsoon and other impediments to their pursuit, the team was able to successfully recapture and release the gharial back in Hastinapur. The cause of this transformative effect, more than the confluence of various sections of people that facilitated it, was their desire for such transformation. Nature gives us this incredible capacity - to take our weaknesses and turn them into verve, if only we so desire. This is what has allowed us to evolve from one thing to the next. It is simply amazing then to imagine what could be if only we were to channelize this desire towards conservation. The articles in this publication seek to do precisely that - to inspire a desire for conserving the gharial, a species that evolved into existence more than 120 million years ago, and others like the lesser known giant . The feature “Through a Green Lens” will also take you through the literal transformation of the Tsomgo Lake in Sikkim as vivid testimony to the possibilities that exist, if only we yearn to see them. As you explore this issue of the Panda, you will see that it too has experienced a transformation. From newsletter to popular journal, the Panda has matured and grown to support articles from scholars, photographers, students and more. We hope you enjoy this collaboration in conservation and continue to contribute articles and photos towards making the cause of conservation an integral element of our evolution as humans.

Ravi Singh FROM THE DESK OF THE EDITOR

Dear reader, One hundred teeth that sit atop the food chain - yet these jaws have never had a Hollywood blockbuster made about them. They should have though, I would have thought - gharial are fascinating enough. Unlike the more celebrated (but rather maligned) great white shark, in truth, the gharial has plenty to be proud of - as an indicator species, it testifies to the health of the river ecosystem it occupies, it is the only surviving descendant of the Gavialidae family of crocodilians, and finally, as a piscivore, it is harmless to humans. Why then, you may ask, does the gharial figure prominently on the IUCN Red List as a Critically Endangered (CE) species? The IUCN website lists three detailed criterion, but this only serves to illustrate that these exist because knowledge about the gharial itself and the threats it faces, do not. Maya Angelou’s oft-repeated, “When we know better, we do better”, holds as true in this scenario, as in any other. And this issue of the Panda is a step precisely in this direction - to remedy the lack of awareness and by extension, concern, about the status of such species, from the “Critically Endangered” gharial to a species of “Least Concern” (LC) like the giant squirrel (IUCN). In this attempt to make accessible (and fascinating) to all, these lesser –known conservation challenges, arresting photographs, educational info-graphics and first-person narratives from scholars and readers collide to make the publication more than reportage. For inspiration you may look to the “Through a Green Lens” section that describes graphically the transformation of an entire lake area, or for a detailed answer to a reader’s query on the species in focus, flip to our “Don’t just Google It!” section. You could also pin-up the informative insert on the gharial, as well as our calendar of “Green Days”, so your own enthusiasm transfers to those around you and that they too receive the opportunity to “do better” because they “know better”. This has been our attempt and we hope you enjoy this issue as a conversation-starter for conservation. Please do continue to send in your contributions and photographs to [email protected]. Happy reading!

Fionna Braganza CONTENTS

IN FOCUS 04 Gharial: Turning the scales Tracing the success of the Gharial Reintroduction Programme PHOTOWALK 09 Return to the river - by Anil Cherukupalli Trailing the gharial back home FROM THE FIELD 14 Is the giant squirrel really of least concern? - by Dr. Prachi Mehta Sizing up a species THROUGH A GREEN LENS 17 Landscaping Tsomgo Lake GREENHEARTS 18 In the of the Night Filling the shoes of a forest guard SHUTTERFLY 19 OFF THE PRESS 20 Threatened of India: Their Conservation Requirements YOUNG CONSERVERS CORNER 22 Ten Good Practices with Birds The White Tiger – by Tanushri Majumdar Did you know? GREEN DAYS 26 FROM THE NATURE GALLERY IN FOCUS ndi a

The villagers stood watching in awe, while the Nawab / WWF -I local politician insisted, “Let me do it”. “It’s too ONE HUNDRED SHARP, dangerous”, said Dr. Gautam. “There’s method to © As ghar it - I wouldn’t want you to get hurt”. A sharp intake of breath, a gasp went up from the crowd - INTERDIGITATED the gharial had bitten Dr. Gautam. The politician hastily backed away, muttering something to the TEETH GLINTED IN effect of, “You know best…”, as the blood poured from Dr. Gautam’s hand. With bittersweet relief, Dr. Parikshit Gautam smiled at the gharial he THE MOONLIGHT. was holding. ndia adav / WWF -I © S anjeev Y

WWF - INDIA NEWSLETTER JULY - SEPTEMBER 2012 PAGE 04 GHARIAL: TURNING THE SCALES her /WWF -Cano n un t Michel G

It was the year 2009 and the cold of winter had set in. The name gharial comes from the Indian word, ghara, Hundreds of villagers, the entire police department, the referring to the bulbous knob at the end of the male’s forest department and anyone with a smidgen of snout, resembling a pot. The “ghara”, present in males curiosity had gathered on the banks of the Ganges at that have achieved sexual maturity, is used to “modify Hastinapur, Uttar Pradesh to witness what was to be one and amplify hisses snorted through the underlying of the key stages of the Gharial Reintroduction nostrils. The resultant sound can be heard for nearly a Programme – the release of captive-bred gharial into the kilometer on a still day. The ghara also renders Gharial Ganges. the only visibly sexually dimorphic crocodilian” (Whitaker).* Crocodilians are survivors from the great reptilian age and are recognized as keystone species in their With their strongly attenuated snouts, rows of uniform, environment due to the role they play in maintaining the sharp teeth, and relatively long, well-muscled necks, ecosystem by their activities. Gharial are “extra special”, these crocodilians may easily be mistaken as predacious. however - they are the only survivors of the Gavialidae But this exclusive fish-eating species is harmless to family, the other families being those of the Alligatoridae humans and these traits only make it a most efficient and the Crocodylidae, having eight and fourteen fish catcher. members respectively. ndi a Nawab / WWF -I © As ghar

* Whitaker Romulus, ‘The Gharial: Going Extinct Again’ Iguana, Volume 14, Number 1, March 2007.

WWF - INDIA NEWSLETTER JULY - SEPTEMBER 2012 PAGE 05 Their eggs are the largest of any The insignia of Kamadeva, god of love, the gharial flies high on the deity’s flag crocodilian in mythological representations, but is soon disappearing from reality. species, Historically found in wide distribution, gharial now survive only in the rivers weighing an of India and . average of 160 gm.

Historical Distribution Current Status of Gharial of Gharial

This map is solely a representation of real-world conditions and is made available to the Recipient for information purposes only.

1940 1999 2006 5,000 - 10,000 around 400 around 200

The gharial, endemic to the Indian subcontinent was numbers plummeted to around 200, indicating a once abundant and common, with an estimated reduction of 58% over the last 10 years. The total population of 5,000 to 10,000 in the 1940s. Since 1999, breeding population of gharial in the world is now a sharp decline in gharial population has been recorded estimated to be less than 200 individuals making it a throughout its entire range. In 1997, around 400 “Critically Endangered" species (IUCN 2007). The breeding adult gharial were recorded, by 2006 their species is listed as Schedule I under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

WWF - INDIA NEWSLETTER JULY - SEPTEMBER 2012 PAGE 06 predation to natural nest predators such as jackals and STICKS AND STONES monitor lizards. Fishing: Gill nets used for both commercial and In 1975, under the patronage of the Government of India, subsistence fishing affect all existing gharial. The gharial, the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP) and Food with its long, toothy rostrum is especially vulnerable to and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Project Crocodile entanglement in nets, where it gets trapped and drowns. was set up. The project involved an active captive Indirectly too, fishing reduces gharial prey base. breeding and rearing programme at the Kukrail breeding centre, with the intention of restocking habitable areas. Riverbank disturbance: River bed cultivation, sand The situation, as it stood, was miserable enough to mining and other riverbank activity like agriculture, warrant the flying in of a male gharial from the Frankfurt grazing, ferries, fords, woodcutting, bathing and washing zoo in Germany as one of the founding of the alienates the gharial from its habitat and destroys programme! basking and nesting sites, leading to desertion and In 1991 however, Project Crocodile was ironically migration. discovered to be “over-successful”, in that gharial Pollution: Agricultural pollutants like insecticides, population had increased so tremendously that aid was fertilizers and herbicides are known to reduce no longer found to be required. The Union Ministry of reproductive success and cause developmental Environment and Forests felt that the project had served anomalies. Pollution also reduces productivity and fish its purpose and withdrew funding for the stocks, reducing food resources for the gharial. captive-breeding programme. Egg harvesting: Egg harvesting for subsistence Not surprisingly, by 2006, the gharial had dwindled directly increases egg mortality and also opens up down to less than 200 individuals. ndi a ehera / WWF -I Dr . S andeep B ©

A field base camp was set up at Etawah and a coordinator THE NATIONAL CHAMBAL and research personnel were deputed to regularly monitor and update records. A team of international CRISIS veterinarians were stationed to conduct on-site post-mortems on dead or sluggish gharial. A series of December 2008 brought with it the sudden inexplicable field surveys were also carried out to garner the opinion death of over 100 wild gharial in the Chambal National of the villagers as to what might have occurred. The Sanctuary, mostly in the last 40 km segment of lower survey concluded that there was no conflict between Chambal River. Post-mortems conducted supported the humans and the gharial. The villagers were also aware of fact that the affected gharial had died of kidney failure the decreasing level of flow in the river system, but not and that the probable cause could be a certain toxicant, of the increasing levels of pollution. but the nature and composition of toxicants and the source of their entry into the river system and the An extensive industrial survey was also undertaken, affected gharial remained a mystery. which showed that 9 of the 36 pharmaceutical firms surveyed were actually producing effluents that were A Gharial Crisis Management Group was swiftly being discharged into the Yamuna. The results of the constituted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests toxicology report suggested that the primary cause of the (MoEF), with representatives from the forest departments gharial deaths was the accumulation of heavy metals in of U.P, M.P and and chaired by WWF-India to their organs – Cadmium, Aluminium, Manganese, address the prevailing situation and chalk out strategies Copper and Chromium. to combat the crisis.

WWF - INDIA NEWSLETTER JULY - SEPTEMBER 2012 PAGE 07 THE GHARIAL REINTRODUCTION PROGRAMME Between 26th and 28th December 2008, a total of 173 km Ecological monitoring continues through bio-logging, a of river stretch was surveyed within the Hastinapur process that records diving behaviour, ambient Wildlife Sanctuary. Viable habitats for gharial temperature and head movements that may relate to prey re-introduction were critically examined, and four capture, through a device deployed on the gharial’s head. habitats were selected based on a set of parameters as “Since the first reintroduction, 494 gharial have been outlined by the IUCN. released, with a 45% sighting success recorded”, says an enthusiastic Sanjeev Yadav, Senior Project Officer with The stage had been set. This was the first time that an WWF-India. NGO, in close collaboration with the Forest Department, had taken active role in the re-introduction of a species – Six years on, real success will come for the team when it and a Schedule I, critically endangered species, at that. It discovers eggs of the reintroduced gharial. This should was imperative, however, to first acquire the confidence happen not much later from now, feels Dr. Gautam. With of the local villagers, who were, after all, to become the the reintroduced males developing “gharas” and adapting custodians of the gharial in the area. The WWF-India agreeably, they will probably be ready to breed earlier team worked to educate the villagers on the difference than in captivity. between the gharial and the more vicious mugger This will be the day when the scales will finally turn in crocodiles, and to win their sympathy for the by favour of the gharial. Until then, the team at WWF-India drawing on its religious significance. Two months of such and the U.P. Forest Department will be watching. ground-laying later, 131 juvenile captive-reared gharial (37 male, 94 female) were transported in special containers from the Kukrail breeding facility in Lucknow to the Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary. Here, they were weighed; their scales cut for identification purposes. And then, observed by all, the containers were opened, and with a gentle nudge, the gharial returned to the river. This was not to be the end of the road for the release team, however. Monitoring and constant tracking continued for days and nights after the release. Three days post-release, Dr. Gautam remembers witnessing one of the released gharial catching a fish so large that after struggling with it for a while, the animal left it on the bank in frustration. The location was rapidly proving to be a habitat so optimum, its residents couldn’t keep up! As part of the monitoring exercise, some of the released animals were also soon tracked and weighed – a gharial that had weighed 5.5 kg at time of release, now weighed in at 35 kg! A few reintroduced gharial also wandered far downstream, being rescued by the WWF-India team on several occasions– as far as Kanpur! The programme has had more than the desired effect at the Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary. The presence of the WWF-India team and the U.P. Forest department officials ensure further protection of the gharial from activities like illegal fishing. The team also educates the villagers on the river’s requirements as well as the government schemes they are entitled to. The sun beats down on them; the river becomes a reflective sheet, casting rays of burning sun into their eyes, yet the team perseveres on their boats.

WWF - INDIA NEWSLETTER JULY - SEPTEMBER 2012 PAGE 08 PHOTOWALK IAL REINTRODUCTION It was a cheerless month for the gharial. Between This was the National Chambal Gharial crisis. December 8 and December 22, 2007, approximately Gruesome as this narrative was, depicted in this 111 of the 1300 gharial in India were found dead in the photo-essay is the propitious outcome of this crisis - National Chambal Sanctuary. No signs of external the Gharial Reintroduction Programme. Launched in injuries ruled out the possibility of accidental entrapment Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary in 2008 by WWF-India, in in fishing nets, and reports from veterinary doctors collaboration with the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department, revealed irregularities in the gastro-intestinal tract. the programme has seen the successful release of around A high concentration of lead was found in the organs 494 captive-reared gharial into the Ganges. during post-mortem and tissues from liver and kidneys This photo-essay tells the tale of the gharial’s showed extensive degenerative changes consistent with reintroduction into the Ganga during one such… presence of various stages of a protozoan parasite. RETURN TO THE RIVER A photo-essay by Anil Cherukupalli ndi a WWF -I Cherukupalli / © A nil

WWF - INDIA NEWSLETTER JULY - SEPTEMBER 2012 PAGE 09 Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary. The Ganga and the gharial are synonymous with each other, says this board, asking for visitors’ cooperation in this initiative to “Save Ganga. Save Gharial”.

The gharial are transported in The first surge to freedom: the containers The scent of home: the custom-built padded containers are loaded onto a boat and transported in containers are arranged facing from the Kukrail Rehabilitation batches to a ‘high-rise’ sand island in the river so that the gharial’s Centre in Lucknow to Hastinapur Mukhdumpur village snouts point homeward

That’s the way we do it: Sun on their backs: The proper release procedures Tentative steps: As the container cold-blooded gharial bask in being explained by the is opened, a gharial slowly noses the sunshine before entering WWF-India team its way out. the water

WWF - INDIA NEWSLETTER JULY - SEPTEMBER 2012 PAGE 10 Close on each other’s heels (or tails!) the gharial move to the edge of the bank

No looking back: With their bodies warmed up, the gharial now move instinctively towards the water.

WWF - INDIA NEWSLETTER JULY - SEPTEMBER 2012 PAGE 11 Until, lined up at the bank like a chorus line, the gharial are ready to return to the river.

In or Out: These gharial seem undecided even as their comrades slide off the bank

Head and snout above the water, this gharial starts exploring the river.

WWF - INDIA NEWSLETTER JULY - SEPTEMBER 2012 PAGE 12 Into the blue: Even as this gharial swims away home, WWF-India is undertaking intensive field monitoring and ecological studies to understand how the gharial are adapting to their new natural environment.

WWF - INDIA NEWSLETTER JULY - SEPTEMBER 2012 PAGE 13 FROM THE FIELD The giant squirrel is as elusive as it is ingenious. Follow Dr. Prachi Mehta as she chases after this streak of lightning and asks an all-important question- IS THE GIANT SQUIRREL

Text and photographs REALLY OF by Dr. Prachi Mehta ‘LEAST CONCERN’? It was a hot afternoon in the month of May. While wildlife, giant are now also facing the threat of passing through the teak forests of Central India, my population decline because of anthropogenic factors. Gypsy slowed down near a nala and I suddenly caught a Giant squirrels, as the name suggests, are big squirrels; in flash of a red-brown patch on the dull grey trunk of a fact, the biggest arboreal squirrels in the world. There are Terminalia tomentosa tree. And what I saw startled me. four species of giant squirrel in the world, three of which On one side of the tree was a giant squirrel clutching the are found within India. The , Ratufa trunk, on the other, was a , also clutching at the bicolour, is found in the North Eastern States, West trunk and staring intently at the squirrel. Both were glued Bengal and South-East Asian countries; the grizzled giant to their own side of the tree, the squirrel, albeit with fear, squirrel, Ratufa macroura, is localised to southern India and the leopard, I presume, with delight at having and Sri Lanka, while the , Ratufa encountered a prized catch. The squirrel appeared to be indica, is an endemic species, found exclusively in India. resigned to its fate, as it remained motionless even with R.indica has five sub-species, four of which are the leopard uncomfortably close to it. Just as the leopard distributed within the (known here as the was going to take the final leap, it noticed our vehicle and Malabar giant squirrel), with the fifth one in Central turned its head towards the road. The squirrel, seizing India. Interestingly, R.indica shows remarkable variation this moment, darted away at lightning speed, leaving of pelage with climatic gradient. For example, the behind a trail of alarmed calls and a disappointed darkest R.i maxima is found towards , in areas of leopard. That was a great escape for the squirrel, a great maximum rainfall; the paler R.i. bengalensisis is found loss for the leopard and a great memory for me. in West-central . Slightly paler to this is the But giant squirrels are not always as lucky. There are red-brown R.i.indica of , Goa and north several observations of them being preyed upon by Karnataka, and the palest is the cream coloured R.i. eagles, snake, lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri marten and dealbata of Dangs. The fifth one, R.i.centralis, of occasionally, . Yet all this is in good ecological intermediate but dark pelage, is distributed along the faith, so there are no regrets for the loss of the giant moister forests of Central India. During the early 1990s, squirrel to its natural predator. However, like other surveys conducted by Dr. Sejal Worah, Dr. M.Muni and

WWF - INDIA NEWSLETTER JULY - SEPTEMBER 2012 PAGE 14 WHERE IS THE GIANT SQUIRREL FOUND?

Gujarat Dangs S THE GIANT SQUIRREL Maharashtra

Goa

North Karnataka

Gujarat Dangs

Kerala This map is solely a representation of real-world conditions and is made available to the Recipient for information purposes only

Dr. Renee Borges in Gujarat Dangs reported no trace of giant squirrel and types of anthropogenic pressures in the R.i. dealbata. The species has become locally extinct due area, in a grid-wise manner. Several researchers to excessive hunting pressure, coupled with habitat loss. participated in the survey, but those who successfully A survey of arboreal in Karnataka by Dr. Mewa brought it to completion was the hard working team of Singh and Dr. Sanjay Molur in 2004 reported R. Ranjit Sahoo, Evangeline Arulmalar and Tushar Pawar. i.bengalensis to be surviving in narrow strips of wet The team had a jeep to accompany it, but the surveys forests in Western Karnataka. Hunting and were done entirely on foot. About 2000 grids of 2.3 km x fragmentation have resulted in population decline of the 2.4 km were surveyed in six districts of the Western sub-species, leading to total absence of the species from Ghats, including six protected areas and intervening the plains of Karnataka. reserved forests. This amounted to a total survey effort of 725 km on foot. Those who are familiar with the rugged Although one of the endemic sub-species of the country terrain of the Western Ghats of Maharashtra will agree has become extinct and the other sub-species is showing that trekking 8 to 10 km daily in this landscape calls for signs of range contraction, the Indian giant squirrel has high levels of determination and spirit! been categorised under the “least concern” category of the International Union for Conservation of Nature During the survey, all potential forest areas within a (IUCN). The species is probably perceived to be common range were visited to detect the presence of the giant owing to its wide distribution and easy visibility. squirrel. If early enough and lucky, one could spot the However, personal observations indicated that giant red-brown squirrel hanging by its tail and feeding squirrels were not as common in areas they used to be voraciously on the fruits in the sub-canopy. Dr. Renee earlier. Next to Gujarat, Western Maharashtra represents Borges, whose work on giant squirrel ecology remains the northern-most range of the giant squirrel. The forest unsurpassed, is associated with the project as an advisor. cover in this region has declined considerably in the last Her earlier research had indicated that giant squirrels two decades, owing to urbanisation, development feed on fruits, seeds, leaves and barks of trees and 66 % projects and commercial plantations. of their diet consists of fruit seeds. During her study now, Dr. Borges also recorded many squirrels storing seeds Based on this concern, my research team planned a and fruits of certain species in their nests, for use during survey to assess the current status of the species in the lean periods. forests of the Western Ghats. Generating support for this survey proved to be difficult, since giant squirrels, being Giant squirrels are more often heard than seen. They in the “least concern” category, do not fit in with the vocalise loudly and when alarmed, the entire forest investment priority of most agencies. Fortunately, knows of it! Nests of giant squirrels are other indicators WWF-India and the Rufford Small Grant Program of their presence. Well built, globular structures of twigs thought otherwise and provided generous support for the and leaves, the nests are used for resting, raising pups, survey, allowing it to take off. storing food, and as protection from rain, wind and predators. Giant squirrels are known to make multiple The survey was carried out over a large area of Western nests for spatial and temporal use. They often renovate Maharashtra on an intensive scale. From October 2011 to their old nests and at times, try to invade the June 2012, the research team assessed the occupancy of well-maintained nests of their neighbours!

WWF - INDIA NEWSLETTER JULY - SEPTEMBER 2012 PAGE 15 geographical range, they are vulnerable to changes in local conditions, which may not be reflected immediately. Due to its long life span (16 years in captivity), the giant squirrel may continue to survive in a degraded habitat, but this does not contribute to perpetuation of the species since such populations may be made of non-reproductive individuals. Giant squirrels have a small home range and will continue to occupy an area if there is no drastic change in its environment. In case of habitat loss, they cannot migrate to another habitat or tolerate sub-optimal habitats such as plantations. If giant squirrels are confined to smaller forest fragments, that population is likely to become extinct. Like the giant squirrels, there are many taxa which inhabit areas outside the Protected Areas. In light of rapid economic and human population growth, there is considerable negative impact on these as well. There is a great need to assess distribution patterns of these species and understand the determinants of their survival. This will strengthen the case for adopting land use practices compatible with other life forms and extending conservation implications outside the boundaries of Giant squirrels require large forest patches that have tall, Protected Areas. mature trees. Being arboreal, they require canopy So, in fact, sometimes, it is a good idea to invest connectedness between trees, for travelling. During the resources and concern towards the country’s species of survey, we found a few areas that, despite having tall, “least concern”! mature forests, did not show signs of the giant squirrel. Although non-detection does not always mean absence of Fortunately for Dr. Prachi Mehta of the Wildlife a species, it could indicate that the species is not common Research and Conservation Society, Pune, professional there. There could be many reasons for this: the forest and personal interests collide in her work. What began patch may be small, discontinuous or lacking diversity; or as a hobby in the form of -watching, soon morphed there could be high hunting pressure. Logging for timber, into career, when she began training with the Wildlife lopping for firewood and deforestation for development Institute of India (WII), Dehradun as a wildlife scientist. projects are immediate threats faced by the giant Since then, she has been executive director with the squirrels in their current habitat. Giant squirrels are Wildlife Research and Conservation Society, an NGO therefore useful indicators of intact, undisturbed forests that she helped establish at Pune. Prachi not only gets to and canopy continuity. Giant squirrels require large work in the areas that she does – she also gets to forest patches that have tall, mature trees. Being vacation in them! Apart from working with species close arboreal, they require canopy connectedness between to her heart, Prachi enjoys bird-watching, photography, trees, for travelling. snorkelling, reading, trekking and star gazing. Hunting of the giant squirrel is common throughout its Dr.Prachi Mehta may be reached at range. It is eaten for its meat, its ears are used by tribals [email protected] to make earrings or necklaces, its bushy tail and skin is considered a good luck totem, stuffed giant squirrels are displayed in living rooms as impressive showpieces, and it is also kept as an exotic pet. Several elderly villagers informed us that they used to hunt giant squirrels earlier but not anymore because of legal protection. They would hunt using guns, or catapults, or catch pups from nests with the help of trained domestic dogs. In many areas, we found traps, snares and catapults used for killing birds and mammals, so hunting for giant squirrels cannot yet be completely ruled out. In some areas, farmers admitted to shooting the giant squirrels with guns because they regularly raided their coconut plantations. However, the behaviour of giant squirrels towards people offers valuable clues to hunting pressure in that area. Although giant squirrels are found over a large

WWF - INDIA NEWSLETTER JULY - SEPTEMBER 2012 PAGE 16 THROUGH A GREEN LENS

TSOMGOAt an altitude of 12,400 feet above mean sea LAKE level and 38 km away from Gangtok in the East district of Sikkim, lies Tsomgo Lake. Till the early sixties, this lake lay tranquil and placid until inroads began to be made in the area for defense purposes. Soon, tea stalls that began as umbrella-covered sheds mushroomed into shops, totaling 52 by 1998. Each year, 400 vehicles would ply the roads, and garbage, oil spills from vehicles, and waste water from tea stalls, kitchens and by visitors began to pollute Tsomgo Lake. ndi a ©WWF -I

This “after” picture is the result of the relocation of existing huts/ shops and car parking facilities, the provision of pay toilet facilities, the installation of garbage disposal bins and signboards, and the development of parks and gardens in the Tsomgo Lake area. ndi a ©WWF -I

In 1997, the State Forest Department in consultation with and NGOs like WWF-India and TMI played a major role the Tourism Department, Government of Sikkim moved a in conservation and clean-up, and in 2007, the Tsomgo proposal for eco tourism and conservation of the lake. Pokhari Sanrakshan Samiti was formed at a gram sabha The Tsomgo Lake Management Committee constituted in held at Tsomgo under the guidance of the Forest 1999, the Forest Department (Government of Sikkim) Department and WWF-India.

WWF - INDIA NEWSLETTER JULY - SEPTEMBER 2012 PAGE 17 GREENHEARTS IN THE FORESTS OF

Walk with Sonali Nandrajog in the shoes of Asif Hussain Qureshi as he strides through the forests, watching over wildlife; weaving stories out of THE NIGHT everyday experience. connection with wildlife and nature at an early age, and ndi a followed his passion through by joining the Madhya

©WWF -I Pradesh Forest Department as a forest guard in Kanha Tiger Reserve in 1999. He lives a disciplined life in the forest, waking up with the sun, and patrolling 10 to 15 km on foot every day with his team, looking for signs of wildlife movement and illegal activities. He loves the time he spends in the forest, and takes in his stride the challenges that come with the job. Being stationed in remote areas without mobile connectivity keeps him away from his family and friends most of the time, but his motivation to protect the tiger and learn what the forest has to offer keeps him going. In his career of 12 years, he has been part of more than 90 rescue and rehabilitation operations of wild animals, ranging from ungulates to tigers. He stays on top of his game by participating in wildlife and law enforcement training programmes and is well versed with the Wildlife Protection Act. His well-connected informant network has helped in the seizure of three leopard skins. A naturalist at heart A forest can be a lonely place. So what does he do for entertainment? Says Asif, “When I get done with the “The forest is my temple, wild animals are my friends, day’s routine, I go to my favorite spot in the jungle which protection is my aim, and Asif is my name!” is perfect for bird watching. I spend my time listening to bird calls, and spotting different kind of birds to increase The silence in the forest of Kanha Tiger Reserve is my knowledge. I can identify almost all bird species in suddenlypunctuated by a loud high-pitched call of a bird. Kanha, and around 20 butterflies.” He can also identify Asif, out on his morning patrol with his team, nonchalantly 60 species of plants, and 18 different types of grasses! announces that it’s a Malabar pied hornbill. And sure enough, a hornbill spreads its wings and takes off With a heavy heart, he admits the forests today are not from a nearby tree, soaring across the early morning safe for its wildlife. But he remains hopeful, that with the skies. This is the call Asif Hussain Qureshi has woken up efforts of his team and forest guards around the country, to every morning since he was a little boy, growing up in they will be able to protect the wild animals he has grown the forests of Central India. up observing all his life.

The above profile is only one among several of the forest rangers and guards working on the frontline towards protecting animals in the wild. Living his childhood dream As part of WWF’s efforts to motivate these bravehearts, the Cards4Tigers campaign has been initiated at events and on the Born to a forest range officer, Asif always knew he would WWF-India website and Facebook page. You too can send a postcard to follow in his father’s footsteps. He developed a deep a forest guard by logging on to www.wwfindia.org/cards4tigers

WWF - INDIA NEWSLETTER JULY - SEPTEMBER 2012 PAGE 18 SHUTTERFLY Rupare l am N THE FORESTS OF © G au t

Taken at Ranthambhore National Park in February 2012, immerses himself in travel and wildlife photography. this was the photographer’s first sighting of a leopard and He has worked with the print media and continues to lasted less than 2 minutes, but it was enough to get the job work with NGOs, shooting sports, news and children. done. It was about 8 am and Gautam Ruparel and his team A core member of the NGO, Project Play, Gautam also had spent 45 minutes listening to the warning calls of spends his time raising funds towards training and monkeys and deer before catching this glimpse of the cat. equipment for underprivileged children showing promise in the field of sports. A freelance photographer of six years, Gautam Ruparel

To have your own photo featured here, please send them in on a CD/DVD at the following address along with the downloadable form available at http://www.wwfindia.org/help/share_picture/ Full credit information will be carried every time we use the pictures. Photo Manager, Communications Department, WWF-India, 172-B, Lodi Estate, New Delhi – 110003

WWF - INDIA NEWSLETTER JULY - SEPTEMBER 2012 PAGE 19 OFF THE PRESS Dr. Asad R. Rahmani’s THREATENED BIRDS OF INDIA: THEIR CONSERVATION

REQUIREMENTS A review by Fionna Braganza From the ballad of the koel to the ballet of the peacock, Fortuitously, this book makes itself more than relevant - much has been written in ancient Indian literature of it makes itself virtually indispensible. birds and their habits. But there is only so much that Enlisting 15 Critically Endangered, 15 Endangered, 52 folklore and legend has said about these and other birds - Vulnerable, 66 Near-Threatened, 2 Data-Deficient there has never been, as Salim Ali laments, a species and 5 species with only stray data records in comprehensive “ancient treatise on Indian birds, as such, India, Threatened Birds of India : Their Conservation which describes their attributes and external characters Requirements is, however, never mere . in such detail to permit their identification with certainty.” Through diligent research, detailed reference and And this, when there existed in the country such profusion stunning visuals (by 182 photographers) the book makes of birds that years later filled Dr. A.O. Hume’s 11-volume itself authority on its subject and an obliging reference journal of Indian ornithology, ironically titled volume for policy-makers. And even so, as if considering Stray Feathers and Salim Ali and S. Dillon Ripley’s inadequate its own comprehensiveness in dealing with 10 - volume Handbook of Birds of India and Pakistan, the subject, it proceeds to offer resolutions to suit all completed in 1974. possible levels of action. In doing so, above all else, the Almost three decades after Ali’s remark, from this deficit book takes responsibility for initiating such of knowledge on a subject of wealth follows the irony of transformation that it expects, vocalizing vehemently Threatened Birds of India: Their Conservation what several agencies refuse to acknowledge. Requirements - a book that yields an abundance of A successor to Threatened Birds of Asia and Important information on a bevy of disappearing species. The book Bird Areas in India, this compendium of sorts also seeks uses bulk to draw attention to itself, and yet this ought to to ensure that the “guardian country” for more than a be disconcerting to the reader for a reason less obvious - hundred globally threatened species lives up to the there are more threatened birds in India than we should connotations of such guardianship. It is the geographical like to read about. dimensions of our country that deliver it with such varied And what is the purpose, one might ask, of this 870-page biodiversity, rendering it cordial host to several winged volume - that it refuses to be communicated in fewer creatures. When any of these non-indigenous species is words? According to Dr. Rahmani - to make itself allowed to die out then, it is expressly because we, as “relevant to the Indian public and decision-makers.” individuals and government, have not been hospitable enough. Dr. Rahmani’s emphasis is, however, not on the hopelessness of this situation, but on the lack of concern for it. © Rajat B hargav a In his preface to the book, Dr. Rahmani identifies another of its purposes as “(making) conservation more inclusive”. Over 50% of globally threatened bird species are not found in any of the 41 tiger reserves of India. It is precisely statistics like these that Dr. Rahmani’s appeal leans on for support - an appeal for conservation to take more than a few chosen species under its wing. Tiger protection, he propounds, will not automatically ensure the survival of all species - we cannot leave the conservation of these species to a trickle-down effected The book being released by Ms. Jayanti Natarajan at the WWF-India auditorium by our efforts in tiger conservation. Concrete measures

WWF - INDIA NEWSLETTER JULY - SEPTEMBER 2012 PAGE 20 like amendments to the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, thirty years of experience - proving yet again why better grassland management and the diluting of Dr. Rahmani is considered to be contemporary India’s adulation reserved for the tiger are what is required. authority on birds. In similar spirit to his introduction to the Panda special issue, Protecting Bustards in India, And so, for a nation accustomed to bold, black stripes on entitled “Can we protect the Indian bustards from glamorous gold, the visuals in this publication capture in ?”, Dr. Rahmani not only asks, but provides photographic eternity more than the “threatened” bird in answers, as to how we can prevent the extinction of the spectacular mid-flight - they arrest the attention and S OF INDIA: threatened birds of India. imagination for what may be. Visuals of birds with stitched eyelids, ready to be traded, are meant to tell a The real weight of this book lies, however, in its aptitude tale more gruesome than any graph can relate. And to, in time, become the definitive guide to policy-making accompanying these are pieces by various Indian with a view to protecting the threatened birds of India - ornithologists, writing on their own fears for the both through and despite, development. threatened species, like the article on bird trade by Abrar Ahmed, Consultant, TRAFFIC India. One also stumbles upon, interspersed at various intervals, gleaming nuggets of information in the form of Raja t B harga va

info-graphics. These contain the etymology of species and © their Latin names, drawn chiefly from Satish Pande’s excellent Latin Names of Indian Birds Explained, and a concise taxonomic history of each species. The maps in the volume though, use a point size too large so that they often overlap - better layout could have ensured that each location was clearly marked out. Both visually and literally then, underlining its many purposes is the book’s intention ultimately to move the reader, through emotion to feat. Dr. Rahmani undertakes this very herculean task with noticeable elan - inspiring and orchestrating the voices of hundreds of ornithologists, biologists, wildlife photographers and bird-watchers in sympathy of the threatened birds of India. Only the second of its kind by an Indian author after Salim Ali’s, the book encapsulates in a single text some Green Avadavat ndi a I AFFI C hmed / T R © A brar

Falcon with its eyelids stitched for trade

WWF - INDIA NEWSLETTER JULY - SEPTEMBER 2012 PAGE 21 YOUNG CONSERVERS CORNER TEN GOOD PRACTICES Hooper / WWF -Cano n Roger WITH BIRDS © Have you ever had your bathroom window, air- they notice undue focus on areas where birds could conditioner or even a corner in your balcony become a potentially nest. home to a family of birds? I have, and it has always been 6. With the help of your bird-watching tools and powers an amazing, interesting experience. So much so, that of observation, identify and make a list of birds in your I went out of my way to observe the birds around me. surroundings. After you have identified the birds, identify People are enthusiastic bird-watchers because much can their habitat requirements, predators etc. Do some be learnt about birds and their habitats through keen research on the bird’s habits and its needs. observation. The status of birds and their changing habits are indicators of the health and quality of the environment. 7. Once you have an idea of the bird’s requirements, you Unfortunately, various factors have resulted in a can help facilitate a safe and healthy environment for the decline in bird populations in urban environments. birds through various methods such as - We can help our avian neighbours by identifying and observing birds and facilitating bird habitat a. Providing shrubbery for ground-nesting birds maintenance. b. Fencing off potential breeding habitats for ground Here are some tips on identifying our feathered friends nesting birds to keep away predators such as cats and being good neighbours to them. and dogs 1. Go out, explore your surroundings and patiently look 8. Contact ornithologists, nature clubs or organisations for birds. Carry with you a notebook, pencil and if like WWF-India. These experts on birds can provide you possible, a pair of binoculars. These are essential tools for with tips and tools to help make your school, society etc. bird-watching. If you are particularly interested in bird- a bird - friendly area watching, also get yourself a field guide for identifying 9. If you have a garden, ensure that it is not entirely birds - these can help you identify unknown birds on manicured. Leave some shrubbery for birds to breed in the spot. 10. Install bird feeders, bird houses etc. according to the 2. You will find a greater variety of birds if you explore needs of the birds in your area. Leave water for birds in different habitats. Water holes and other sources of water shadows, or comparatively cooler areas during the summer are very crucial for the survival of birds. Identify water holes near you and go bird-watching there. You might just observe some exquisite species! 3. Wear neutral colours as these are less alarming for HAPPY BIRDING!! birds. While observing the birds, be aware of other bird- Aarushi Jha is currently in her watchers around you and more importantly be respectful final year at the State University towards the birds. Do not agitate them or scare them. Sit of New York, College of patiently and observe them. Remember to respect the Environmental Sciences and privacy of the avians. Forestry studying Biological Applications in Environmental Studies. Her passion lies 4. The best times for bird-watching are when birds are in bettering human-environment relations, and she also most active. Most birds are busy as bees early in the loves travelling and experiencing new cultures. morning and later in the evening. However, one must remember that different birds are active at different Sources times of the day. For example, raptors (eagles, hawks 1. http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=176402 etc.) are more active during late morning – afternoon, 2. http://www.kolkatabirds.com/birdingtips.htm whereas birds such as woodpeckers are more active early Some interesting bird-watchers guides are: Grimmet, R., Inskipp, C. in the morning. & Inskipp, T (1998) Birds of the Indian Subcontinent. 2 Vols. Oxford University Press, New Delhi. Rasmussen, P. C. and Anderton, J.C. 5. If you chance upon a bird nest, DO NOT disturb the (2005) Birds of : The Ripley Guide. Vol. 2. Smithsonian nests by taking photographs (this is illegal and can get Museum, Washington, D. C. and Lynx Edicons, Barcelona. you in trouble), or draw attention to the nests. Predators of birds and their chicks could be drawn to the nests if

WWF - INDIA NEWSLETTER JULY - SEPTEMBER 2012 PAGE 22 Hooper / WWF -Cano n Roger CTICES ©

Black Drongo

WWF - INDIA NEWSLETTER JULY - SEPTEMBER 2012 PAGE 23 DID YOU KNOW? er / WW F in t ck / St eve W eographic St o ional G Na t ©

THE SNOW Order: Carnivora Family: Felicidae Genus: Uncia LEOPARD Species: Uncia uncia . Gathering speed to ambush prey, the snow leopard uses its long tail for balance . The snow leopard is found in the high mountain ranges of central Asia, from the Himalayas and the Hindu Kush up to the Gobi desert in western Mongolia and across to southern Russia . The camouflaging coat of the snow leopard varies from pale to creamy grey, with darker spots and white underparts. . Its dense, wooly underfur, up to 5 inches thick, provides protection against the cold . Its long tail, up to 3/4th of its total body length, can be wrapped around like a scarf for added warmth . Its well-developed chest muscles and large, short limbs make it well-adapted for mountain life . Its enlarged nasal cavity for oxygen intake ensures its survival, even at high altitudes . Its paws have furry soles for walking on snow. Their large surface area ensures that the cat can keep steady even over rugged terrain, while the fur keeps paws warm and dry . It is an opportunistic predator, capable of killing animals up to three times its own weight

WWF - INDIA NEWSLETTER JULY - SEPTEMBER 2012 PAGE 24 YOUNG CONSERVERS CORNER THE WHITE TIGER By Tanushri Majumdar

There were snowflakes falling to the ground The beauty of it was so, it made my head spin around.

Then suddenly I heard a gunshot far away, thought they were natives hunting down their prey.

But then I see looking at me a beautiful white tiger from behind the tree.

It was a work of art in ebony and ivory a carefree majestic beast with nothing to worry.

But when it turned around upon it I saw a smear of red - blood was flowing from a wound on its ear.

And it was then that i realised, what man was upto, creating havoc A student of class VIII at Cambridge in gods own little paradise. School, Noida, Tanushri’s talent was Shocked at what I saw, discovered at the 1st WWF-India Nature Writers’ Workshop. it left me astounded - since then I have never let an animal be hurt or wounded!

WWF - INDIA NEWSLETTER JULY - SEPTEMBER 2012 PAGE 25 GREEN DAYS In 1950 less than a third of the world's population lived in cities. Research shows that by the year 2050, 6 billion people, or two-thirds of humanity, will be living in towns and cities. If present trends continue, more than half of these people could be living in slums.

OCTOBER The United Nations has designated the first Monday in October every year as World WORLD Habitat Day to reflect on the state of human settlements and the basic right to adequate shelter for all. It is also intended to remind the world of its collective HABITAT responsibility for the future of an environmentally sustainable human habitat. The date was chosen to mark the anniversary of the first UN international conference on DAY human settlements in Vancouver, Canada in 1976. World1 Animal Day is a day to celebrate animal life in all its forms; to voice our call for the humane treatment of farm animals and to advocate for protection of the WORLD habitats that are home to wild animals. The day is observed by animal-lovers of all beliefs, nationalities and backgrounds. OCTOBER ANIMAL World Animal Day was started in 1931 at a convention of ecologists in Florence as a way of highlighting the plight of endangered species. DAY

Around 80 million tons of fish and seafood are caught WORLD globally each year. But overfishing and mechanisation NOVEMBER have lead to a crisis. Fish stocks are being4 depleted through FISHERIES 'factory' vessels, bottom trawling, and other unsustainable fishing methods.

DAY World Fisheries Day aims to draw attention to the necessity of changing the way the world manages global fisheries to ensure sustainable stocks and healthy oceans ecosystems. If we want to maintain the many seafood choices we have and keep our oceans healthy, we need to make smarter seafood choices right now.

The UN21 General Assembly designated 11 December (in 2003) as International Mountain Day, as a INTERNATIONAL result of the success of the UN International Year of Mountains in 2002. DECEMBER MOUNTAIN DAY Mountain systems cover about 27% of the world‘s land surface and support 22% of the world‘s people. major challenges which the Mountains have a wide variety of ecosystems, a diversity of international community species, and distinctive human communities and support will have to face in the next about one quarter of the world’s biological diversity decades. All these pressures damage mountain But mountains are exposed to a host of anthropogenic environments and affect the ecosystems and the and natural threats like land cover change and 11livelihoods of people that depend on these ecosystems. agricultural intensification, infrastructure development, armed conflict, fire, climate change and seismic activity. Adapted from the environment calendar at greenworks.co.za

Natural disasters due to climate change are one of the

WWF - INDIA NEWSLETTER JULY - SEPTEMBER 2012 PAGE 26 FROM THE NATURE GALLERY GREEN DAYS WALL CALENDARS

GREETING CARDS

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