Conservation Times Vol 1, No. 3: October-December 2020 Honouring Nature Conservation FUTURE OF TIGERS TIGER, NOW Sariska's Tigers' diet:77% of them consume livestock, 13.6% fall upon Sambar deer, 3.6% capture Spotted Deer, while 2.4 can catch Bluebull, and only 0.95% can procure Wild Boar. A CASH COW This study has been undertaken by Dr. An estimated Rs 650 crore (about G.S. Bhardwaj, Additional Chief Tiger is now icon in global $100,000 US dollars) turnover is Conservator of Forests, Rajasthan, at c o n s e r v a t i o n . M o r e Sariska Tiger Reserve and is available netted by five Tiger Reserves in India visitors/experts follow its through fees charged on entry of at:http://www.scirea.org/journal/Paper pugmarks and derive newer Information?PaperID=3461 visitors, safari vehicles, camera, guides strength. A humongous amount is etc. Future of Indian Tigers is arguably generated in its name. Goes assured within the Tiger Reserves. Five times more (Rs 3,250 crores or rd where? Does Tiger receive any Ironically, nearly 1/3 of the 50 Tiger about $490,000 US dollars) is the Reserves in India are facing such dollar/rupee? The 3rd issue of likely turnover of the tourism sector problems that managing them as per The Conservation Times outlines being provided by visitors at these conservation scruples is unthinkable. economic benefits from Tiger reserves. Reserves and inks the stake- One third of total Indian Tigers are The fee is deposited with the roaming outside the designated holder community that receives Government as annual revenue. It is Reserves (an item appears in this issue). the direct brunt, remaining bereft not considered as determining factor Owing to successful breeding and of tangible gains. while budget is finalized for a reserve. additional cubs born, the new adults are – Editor forced to seek pastures anew – they are The five Reserves are: Ranthambhore, elbowed out of parental habitats by Bandhavgarh, Tadoba, Pench and dominating males. So they have to Kanha, where Tiger sightings are the settle in nearby scrub zones, and remain best. surrounded by human beings and their What does the Tiger get? Nothing. livestock – countryside survival. Likewise, the forest employees receive Human-wildlife-conflicts continue nothing, the Reserve gets nothing, and unabated. Poaching comes to the fore. stake holders in surrounding villages Is it not true then that Tigers' breeding also get nothing – out of the tourism rate success inside the Reserves is revenue. Its major part goes to getting negated by uncertain fate of hoteliers. their new generation forced to feed for Of late the forest department has taken themselves in non-designated over tourism management in Tiger Reserves, and meet their fate untimely? Reserves. Priority appears to have been Is it because the existing Reserves shifted from conservation work to cannot be geographically expanded to tourism. accommodate increasing population of this wild cat? The new entrants have Research on Tiger related aspects is been reported breeding in alien zones, carried out by outside agencies who forest authorities confirm. Will there be find it hard to receive permissions to another set of Reserves, non- carry out the same. designated, to have Tigers in good Maximum research has been executed numbers, without adequate prey-base by the Wildlife Institute of India, an and shorn of management cover? autonomous body of the Ministry of Tigers are under direct charge of forest Water is consequential for survival of Tigers, Environment, Forest and Climate authorities in each State in India. photo by Hemraj Meena in Ranthambhore Change. --Editor --Editor. Tiger Reserve.

Conservation Times 1 The study provides quantitative and cheap, clean drinking and irrigation qualitative estimates for as many as 25 water from forests. ECONOMIC ecosystem services from selected tiger Tiger reserves not only help in reserves. The study findings indicate mitigating natural disasters such as that the monetary value of flow benefits VALUATION floods and cyclonic storms, but the emanating from selected tiger reserves genetic material is also a source of range from Rs 8.3 to 17.6 billion many medicines and drugs. Natural and OF TIGER annually. In terms of unit area, this cultural resources in tiger reserves are translates into Rs 50,000 to 190,000 per important drivers of tourism, hectare per year. In addition, selected supporting local earnings and RESERVES IN tiger reserves protect and conserve employment. In addition, these natural stock valued in the range of Rs 22 to landscapes play an important role in 656 billion. INDIA ecosystem-based approaches to climate Dr. Madhu Verma, 70% Tigers in India: India holds over change adaptation and contribute to Head of World Resource Institute, seventy percent of the world's tiger mitigation by storing and sequestering email:[email protected]. population and is considered to have carbon. the best chance for saving the st T h e c u r r e n t s t u d y p r o v i d e s 1 such indepth study in world: population of this magnificent animal conservative estimates of the economic Madhu Verma, Dhaval Negandhi, in the wild. Tiger is an umbrella species value of six selected tiger reserves in C h a n d a n K h a n n a , A d v a i t whereby its protection also conserves India. These tiger reserves have been Edgaonkar and Ashish David from habitats of several other species, selected from different tiger landscapes I n d i a n I n s t i t u t e o f F o r e s t thereby ensuring continuity of natural of the country to provide indicative Management (IIFM), Bhopal, India, evolutionary processes in the wild. The economic values associated with tiger have brought out brilliant facts on Project Tiger, launched in 1973 by the conservation in India in various what services are received from Government of India, now includes 50 ecological and socio-economic Tiger Reserves to people – tangible tiger reserves across the country, contexts. and non-tangible. Here are excerpts covering over 2 per cent of India's from their study. – Editor. geographical area. While the underlying objective of Besides conserving wild, tiger reserves Corbett Tiger Reserve establishing tiger reserves under also provide a range of associated It is estimated that the Corbett Tiger Project Tiger is to ensure continuity of economic, social, cultural and spiritual Reserve (CTR) provides flow benefits natural evolutionary processes in the benefits, which are also termed as worth Rs 14.7 billion (Rs 1.14 lakh / wild, tiger reserves also provide a range ecosystem services. Tiger reserves hectare) annually. Important ecosystem of associated economic, social, cultural support human life by protecting fish services originating from CTR include and spiritual benefits, also termed as nurseries and agricultural genetic gene-pool protection (Rs 10.65 ecosystem services. material (wild cultivars) and providing billion), provisioning of water to

On-the-tail as you cannot be over its face, Tiger Tourism at its zenith but what the Tiger receives back, photo by Harsh Vardhan.

2 Conservation Times downstream districts of Uttar Pradesh population of tigers and elephants. It is (Rs 1.61 billion) and water purification estimated that the Kaziranga Tiger TIGER services to the city of New Delhi (Rs Reserve (KZTR) provides flow benefits 550 million). Other important services worth Rs 9.8 billion (Rs 0.95 ENTREPRENEURSHIP emanating from Corbett include lakh/hectare) annually. Important By Anand Mishra generation of employment for local ecosystem services originating from President, TWSI, communities (Rs 82 million), provision KZTR include habitat and refugia for email: [email protected] of habitat and refugia for wildlife (Rs wildlife (Rs 5.73 billion) and gene-pool I a m p r o u d t o 274 million) and sequestration of protection (Rs 3.49 billion). Other appreciate that my carbon (Rs 214 million). important services emanating from colleagues have Kaziranga include recreation value (Rs p r o v e n h o w 21 million), biological control (Rs 150 d i s t a n c e - e d i t - Kanha Tiger Reserve million) and sequestration of carbon management should (Rs 17 million). A typical geo-physiographical b e a c t i v e l y representative of the Central India executed. Highlands, Kanha is internationally Periyar Tiger Reserve renowned for successful conservation So the 3rd Conservation Times is in of two endangered wildlife species, viz. P e r i y a r T i g e r R e s e r v e i s a hands, thanks to all the editors on the Royal Bengal Tiger and the Central representative of the southern western board, led by Ed J McCrea based in Indian Barasingha. It is estimated that Ghats with high endemism. It is USA (details are on the last page). the Kanha Tiger Reserve (KTR) estimated that the Periyar Tiger It is devoted to Tiger, India's National provides flow benefits worth Rs 16.5 Reserve (PTR) provides flow benefits billion (Rs 0.80 lakh/hectare) annually. worth Rs 17.6 billion (Rs 1.9 Animal. A species as charismatic as Important ecosystem services lakh/hectare) annually. Important India is? Looks like, first time the originating from KTR include ecosystem services originating from economics of Tiger Reserves has been genepool protection (Rs 12.41 billion), PTR include gene-pool protection (Rs o u t l i n e d w i t h s t a r t l i n g , n a y provisioning of water to downstream 7.86 billion), provisioning of water to questionable, approximate data on regions (Rs 558 million) and districts of Tamil Nadu (Rs 4.05 billion) cash-flows. provisioning of fodder in buffer areas and provision of habitat and refugia for Another dimension to conservation as I (Rs 546 million). Other important wildlife (Rs 3.55 billion). Other like to laud initiative of Dr. Madhu services emanating from Kanha important services include generation Verma, who piloted first study of its include recreation value (Rs 384 of employment for local communities kind in the world, while she taught at million), provision of habitat and (Rs 25 million), water purification the Indian Institute of Forest refugia for wildlife (Rs 319 million) y services to nearby towns and districts management (IIFM), Bhopal, an and sequestration of carbon (Rs 219 (Rs 483 million) and recreation value autonomous body set up by India's million). (Rs 425 million). Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change. Excerpts from the Kaziranga Tiger Reserve Ranthambhore Tiger study are presented in this issue. Kaziranga is a World Heritage Site Reserve Fifty Tiger Reserves in India today inhabited by the world's largest Ranthambore is undoubtedly the most which at start of this challenging population of one-horned rhinoceros. mission in 1973, were only nine. In addition, it also supports the popular tiger reserve and marks the Phenomenal success, it has been hailed as. Behind it are the forest authorities who have to be constantly on heels to face ongoing man-wildlife conflicts, village communities suffering the most, and receiving almost nothing out of massive proceeds accruing out of Tiger sightings. Think of the day when all 50 Tiger Reserves will answer the questions being raised over their performance. MoEFCC has listed 600+ National Parks and Sanctuaries in India. They are capable to generate a new revenue – incalculable as it is today to estimate. If India is able to set out a new equation between Conservation and Tourism. Is it a big if? No, it is not. How much do I give you daily, what you give back to me, photo by Harsh Vardhan.

Conservation Times 3 transition zone between the true desert function (Rs 5.17 billion), genepool stock) are intangible, and hence often and seasonally wet peninsular India. It p r o t e c t i o n ( R s 2 . 8 7 b i l l i o n ) , unaccounted for in market transactions. is estimated that the Ranthambore provisioning of fish (Rs 1.6 billion) and Economic valuation can help in Tiger Reserve (RTR) provides flow waste assimilation services (Rs 1.5 recognizing these intangibles and benefits worth Rs 8.3 billion (Rs 0.56 billion). Other important services hence have them considered in policy lakh/hectare) annually. Important emanating from Sundarbans include actions. Further, adequate investment ecosystem services originating from generation of employment for local in natural capital contained in tiger RTR include gene-pool protection (Rs communities (Rs 36 million), reserves is essential to ensure the flow 7.11 billion), provisioning of water to moderation of cyclonic storms (Rs 275 of ecosystem services in future, and is the neighbouring region (Rs 115 million), provision of habitat and economically rational based on the million) and provisioning of habitat refugia for wildlife Rs 360 million) study findings. and refugia for wildlife (Rs 182 and sequestration of carbon (Rs 462 million). Other important services million). emanating from Ranthambore include generation of cycling of nutrients (Rs 34 million) and sequestration of carbon Total Gains (Rs 69 million), apart from housing the The study findings indicate that the Ganesh Temple visited by about 10 monetary values of flow benefits lakh pilgrims every year. emanating from selected tiger reserves range from Rs 8.3 to 17.6 billion Sundarbans Tiger annually. In terms of unit area, this translates into Rs 50,000 to 190,000 per Reserve hectare per year. In addition, selected tiger reserves protect and conserve Sundarbans forms the largest stock valued in the range of Rs 22 to contiguous track of mangrove forest 656 billion. In the light of growing found anywhere in the world and is the awareness of life-supporting functions only mangrove forest inhabited by of many ecosystem services and tigers. It is estimated that the advanced technology to make use of Sundarbans Tiger Reserve (STR) genetic diversity, the economic value of Camera-trap device: it is a tiny camera with provides flow benefits worth Rs 12.8 flash and an auto-click system to photograph this stock is likely to appreciate rapidly. any moving object passing in front of its lens. billion (Rs 0.50 lakh/hectare) annually. It is tied at low height (same height as of a Important ecosystem services Study findings also indicate that a large mammal) over a tree-trunk. A miracle device originating from STR include nursery proportion of flow benefits (as well as to enable identification of tigers.

High-end visitors extract the best out of Tiger Reserves, generating huge economic gains, for whom, photo by Harsh Vardhan.

4 Conservation Times species of charismatic megafauna, can vehicles, camera, guides etc. Five CHARISMATIC you? Thus, by this list, India is the times more (Rs 3,250 crores or about charismatic megafauna leader of the $490,000 US dollars) is the likely world. (Even if China and India are turnover of the tourism sector being MEGAFAUNA tied, I give India the nod because some provided to visitors at these reserves. experts are currently discussing the By Ed McCrea So then, is an emphasis on charismatic possibility of reintroducing the cheetah email: [email protected] megafauna the best idea that has ever to India.) happened to wildlife conservation? What do you think that even mean, and That fact may be interesting to you, but You might think so, but some experts in why is the term important in wildlife is it just a bit of trivia, or is it important? the field feel differently. c o n s e r v a t i o n ? C h a r i s m a t i c - - Actually, the concept of charismatic They point out that there usually is only exercising a compelling charm and/or megafauna is important in the world of so much money to be spent on wildlife generating high interest. Movei stars wildlife conservation. Take the conservation in a given year. have it. Some politicians have it. You example of the tiger. It is number one Charismatic megafauna may turn and I probably don't have it. on the above list, and, I think, number budget allocations into a popularity Megafauna—mega means big and one by far in India and around the contest rather than the allocations fauna means animals rather than plants. world. Because of this high interest, flowing from a serious research-based So, charismatic megafauna means large p e o p l e h a v e f o u n d e d m a n y planning process. How can an animals that have compelling charm nongovernment organizations for its endangered mouse species or a rare and/or generate high interest. conservation. And, the public has been type of grass compete with the tiger for willing to donate millions of dollars to Around the world, perhaps the Giant funds? And how about areas with few conserve this charismatic carnivore. Panda is the best example of or no charismatic megafauna? The They donate money that can be used for charismatic megafauna. Everyone Thar Desert in Northwest India has land acquisition, prey species loves the panda and thinks it is cute and leopards, but none of the other 20 management, research, etc. charming. People's interest in the panda species of high interest. Should we is extremely high. So much so that the These tiger conservation efforts also ignore this area of importance for Director of the National Zoo in benefit a wide variety of other plants conservation of species like the Great Washington, DC thought that the and animals. What is good for the Indian Bustard when money for presence of pandas would increase animal atop the food pyramid is also conservation is budgeted? attendance at the zoo by 20 percent. good for all the plants and animals on In a like manner, the tourism that l o w e r l e v e l s o f t h e p y r a m i d . Authors of a 2018 journal article charismatic megafauna generate may Government agencies can also take (https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone. not be all for the good. Sometimes, advantage of the charisma of an animal 0199149) went to considerable lengths private enterprises or the government to build political and public support for to determine what the general public do not use money generated by wildlife needed conservation action. Project and other sources thought were the 20 tourism for conservation efforts. The Tiger is a well-known and effective most charismatic megafauna in the tourist traffic itself may disrupt the lives example. world. The top 20 were--tiger, lion, of the animals involved and result in elephant, giraffe, leopard, panda, In addition, people's strong interest in degradation of their habitats. cheetah, polar bear, wolf, gorilla, some highly popular species has I n f r a s t r u c t u r e n e e d e d f o r chimpanzee, zebra, hippopotamus, produced wildlife tourism activities tourism—roads and lodges, among great white shark, crocodile, dolphin, generating millions of dollars. This is other things, can also impinge on rhinoceros, brown bear, koala, and blue money that can be used, in part, for important habitat areas and disrupt the whale. conservation efforts. As one of the natural cycles of reserves and protected By my count, you can find half of these articles in this issue of Conservation areas. Times documents, tiger tourism is a animals in India—tiger, lion, elephant, So, the idea of using charismatic major revenue generator: leopard, great white shark, crocodile, megafauna to further conservation of dolphin, rhinoceros, brown bear, and An estimated Rs 650 crore (about species should probably be employed blue whale. With the possible $100,000 US dollars) turnover is netted with caution. The needs of the mouse exception of China, I can't think of any by five Tiger Reserves in India through and the needs of the tiger must both be other country in the world that has more fees charged on entry of visitors, safari considered, and the concept of charismatic megafauna used as a tool not as an end in itself.

Conservation Times 5 33 PERCENT ONE THIRD OF INDIAN TIGERS RISE IN OUTSIDE OF RESERVES? Will anyone believe that more than one were utilized in the area of the reserve. TIGER third of India's wild tigers reside The Mandla forest division in MP outside the 50 Project Tiger Reserves? serves as a crucial link for the Kanha- NUMBERS It has been revealed by the All-India Pench habitat corridor and during the Tiger Population Estimation Report, 2018 estimation; nine individual tigers India's tiger population has jumped to drafted by the Government: were identified in this division. These an estimated 2,967, a rise by 33% over forests act as a buffer to Kanha tiger *as many as 1,923 tigers or 65% the 2,226 reported in 2014. This is also an reserve. total tiger population was found inside incredible 210% rise from 1,411 tiger reserves and Movement of tigers has been regularly recorded in 2006, according to the all- observed between Kanha Tiger reserve India estimation — 'Status of Tigers, *the rest were estimated to have a range and Mandla Forest Division. Hence, Co-predators, Prey and their Habitat, that was largely found in neighbouring protection of this area becomes crucial 2018'. (In 2014, tigers aged 1.5 years or forest blocks, the government's report for dispersing tigers. older were counted. The current report on 2018 tiger population estimation has the cut-off age as 1 year.) showed. A large number of tigers roaming outside reserves were found in One significant aspect of the latest Camera-trap images revealed this as Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh estimation is the capture of 2,461 were taken by the National Tiger Maharashtra, Karnataka forest individual tigers — 83% of the total Conservation Authority (NTCA) and divisions, said WII's Qamar Qureshi, a estimated 2,967 — in camera-traps. Wildlife Institute of India (WII). lead scientist and co-authors of the This limits the scope of extrapolation “There is always an issue of defining a 2018 tiger population estimation and potential bias or flaws in the number within an area that has a report. process. In comparison, only 1,540 contiguous habitat that can potentially unique tigers — 69% of the total YVJhala, lead scientist and co-author be used by tigers outside of tiger estimated population of 2,226 — were of the estimation exercise report, said reserves (Tiger Reserves not having camera-trapped in the 2014 estimation. that activity centers of the tigers were hard boundaries but embedded within mapped to determine their range. We The increase in tiger photos is due to the larger forested areas). tried to determine the centre of the much wider deployment of camera- In such cases, tigers that are photo- tiger's activity to arrive at its range. traps during the present estimation captured within a reserve could exercise. The tigers have been captured at potentially have their activity centres various locations on camera traps and For the 2014 estimate, only 9,735 way beyond the boundaries of a tiger using the geographical coordinates we camera-trap points were used. This reserve but visit and use the Tiger were able to determine if tigers were time, the coverage increased by 275% Reserves and thus get photo-captured,” largely found outside the tiger reserve. to 26,838 camera-trap points. the government report explained. A worrying aspect of the report is the This estimate of tigers outside the continuing loss of tiger-occupied areas. reserves again reinforces the While net occupancy remains stable at importance of contiguous forest 8 8 , 0 0 0 - 8 9 , 0 0 0 s q k m , t i g e r s habitats, tiger corridors and sink relinquished over 40,000 sq km since habitats that ensure the dispersal of 2014. tigers between different habitats. Since they also colonized over 25,000 NTCA and WII calculated the sq km in that period, the report estimated numbers and stated that tiger computes the net loss in tiger-occupied reserves like Corbett, Dudhwa, area to be 17,881 sq km or 20% of the Bandhavgarh, Pench, Tadoba, tiger habitat in four years. This explains Mudumalai, Nagarhole, Bandipur and the shrinking presence of tigers outside Sathyamangalam have a sizeable share tiger reserves. of such tigers whose home range was largely outside reserves but they also In fact, there is bad news from tiger visit the tiger reserve area. reserves as well. Against the 33% jump in the national tiger population, the In Corbett, an estimated 231 tigers were report recorded potential loss of all found inside the boundaries of the tiger tigers in three reserves. reserve while 35 were found visiting the adjoining forest blocks. While in No tigers were recorded in Buxa (West Kanha, Madhya Pradesh, 88 tigers Bengal), Dampa (Mizoram) and That is how a Tiger was weighed in India were found inside tiger reserves and 20 until yester years. Have things improved? Palamu (Jharkhand) tiger reserves. Photo by Harsh Vardhan.

6 Conservation Times TIGER FACTS Adapted from Big Cats Wild Cats - https://bigcatswildcats.com Tigers have been seen hunting during inside the tiger reserves the dogs and the day and night. They prefer medium livestock were photographed. to large, hoofed animals such as deer, “We are aware of this problem. boar and buffalo, as well as domestic Livestock and dogs are found in certain livestock and, on occasion leopards, fringe areas close to villages. In view of dogs, crocodiles and bears. They have threats such as canine distemper virus, also been seen eating vegetation. etc., we are trying to minimise the Sometimes a tiger will share its kill interaction between these domestic with another tiger. The tiger's hunting species and wildlife,” said S P Yadav, success rate is only 10 to 20 percent. member secretary, National Tiger Males and females will typically mate Conservation Authority, which from November to April. There are conducts the quadrennial all-India generally 2 to 3 cubs in a tiger litter, survey. with a range of 1 to 6. Cubs will usually The 2018 tiger survey data show that stay with their mother until they are 2 to A collared Tiger, photo by Hemraj Meena. more dogs were camera-trapped than 2 ½ years old. Sometimes a male tiger tigers in 17 tiger reserves. This includes Tigers are an endangered species. In will help raise the cubs. Tigers live seven major reserves — Nagarjunsagar addition to having lost over 90% of between 20 and 26 years, both in -Srisailam (Andhra Pradesh), Sariska their original habitat, they have been captivity and in the wild. (Rajasthan), Pench, Panna and aggressively hunted and poached. The The tiger has been hunted relentlessly Bandhavgarh (Madhya Pradesh), current population of tigers in the world for its skin and body parts. Most black Bhadra (Karnataka), Sathyamangalam is believed to be between 3,000 and marketers involved in the tiger parts ( Ta m i l N a d u ) a n d M e l g h a t 4,000. The largest population of wild trade are based in China. There are also (Maharashtra) — that together house tigers is in India. “farms' where the tigers are being bred almost 400 tigers. The tiger is the biggest cat on the planet. for their parts. It is estimated that there The remaining 10 — Udanti-Sitanadi are between 5,000 and 10,000 tigers It is the national animal of four and Achanakmar (Chhattisgarh), currently living on these farms – more countries – South Korea, Malaysia, Kawal and Amrabad (both Telangana), than the current wild tiger population. India and Bangladesh. Anshi-Dandeli (Karnataka), Sanjay- Dubri (MP), Mukundra (Rajasthan), They have the biggest canines (long, B o r ( M a h a r a s h t r a ) , P a l a m u pointed teeth) of any cat. MORE DOMESTIC (Jharkhand) and Buxa (West Bengal) Tigers are the third largest carnivore DOGS THAN TIGERS — recorded few or no tigers. (meat eater). A study in 2017 found that domestic Tigers like water and swim. IN MAJOR INDIAN dogs killed more livestock than those hunted by snow leopards and wolves They are the only cat species that is RESERVES combined in the upper Spiti landscape totally striped. Camera-traps used in the latest all- of Himachal Pradesh. The largest male tigers can grow up to India tiger survey captured more free- Elsewhere, too, they compete with 12 ft. long and weigh as much as 675 ranging domestic dogs than tigers in 17 smaller carnivores. lbs. tiger reserves. Presence of both dogs “It is ironic that the so-called 'inviolate' Tigers could once be found throughout and livestock in significant numbers areas like tiger reserves were created Asia. During the past 100 years, their was recorded in at least 30 tiger for wildlife by shifting people out, but numbers have plummeted from reserves. policymakers are wary of removing approximately 100,000 to fewer than Experts say the proliferation of dogs dogs from there. Even critical 4,000. Within the past 15 to 20 years, and livestock, mostly feral and landscapes such as the breeding areas their range has also decreased by over abandoned, inside forests carries the of Great Indian Bustards are not safe,” 40%. Many tigers live in the forest, but risk of transmission of various diseases said Dr AT Vanak, Senior Fellow at you can also find them in grasslands to wildlife. They also compete with C e n t r e f o r B i o d i v e r s i t y a n d and places where there are hills and wild animals for resources. Conservation, ATREE, Bangalore. rocks. While Environment Ministry officials In 2017, a global study published in the They are excellent swimmers and like claimed that “these domestic animals journal 'Biological Conservation' said being near water. Tigers generally lead were spotted mostly in the peripheral domestic dogs contributed to 11 solitary lives in established territories, forests away from the core” areas, the vertebrate extinctions and pose a risk to although they are also considered quadrennial tiger report does not at least 188 threatened species “social.” provide any spatial data on how far worldwide.

Conservation Times 7 availability, climate, fire, roads, and other human modifications) was used LANTANA SPECIES TO in a model, which was used to predict the spread of lantana in these forests. DESTROY 40 PERCENT OF This research shows that forests degraded due to human influence and those occurring in warm and humid INDIA'S TIGER HABITATS regions are most affected. Madhya Pradesh, which has the highest reported forest cover in India, was found to have a substantial part of its forests invaded. Likewise, Bandipur Tiger Reserve, which was shown to be 'greening' by another study, was found to be substantially invaded by lantana. High risk:“Nearly 60% of lantana occurred outside its native climatic niche”, mentioned NinadMungi, a researcher at the Wildlife Institute of India and the lead author of this study. “Lantana can tolerate warmer temperature and more moisture (in India), as compared to its native region. This can help it utilize the changing climate, where most of the native plants are failing,” he added. The models estimate that 3,00,000 sq.km forest area (an extra 44% of Lantana flower, smell and you get head ache. forest area) across India is threatened with lantana invasion – which means Arriving in India as an ornamental plant A recent study published in Global there is a high risk of biodiversity loss in the early 1800s,this plant, Lantana Ecology and Conservation reports that due to lantana invasions in these areas. camara, is a thicket forming shrub lantana occupies 154,000 sq.km forests native to tropical America. It has now (more than 40 percent by area) in While more than 40% of Indian forests escaped from gardens and taken over India's tiger range. Among forests, are invaded, the remaining 50% holds entire ecosystems. It occupies 40 Shivalik Hills in the North, fragmented the potential to conserve the native percent of India's tiger range alone. deciduous forests of Central India, and forms of our forest ecosystems. The Southern western Ghats are worst hit by study identified such uninvaded forests Multiple hybrid varieties of lantana its invasion. to be present in northeastern India, and were brought to India and over the 200 in parts of Odisha (Simlipal and years of its introduction, the varieties Lantana as new green:The study has Satkosia), Chhattisgarh (HasdeoArand have hybridized and formed a complex. analysed data from one of the most forests), Jharkhand (Palamau) and The species is now able to climb up the extensive known systematic surveys Maharashtra (Bander – TadobaAndhari canopy as a woody vine, entangle other done for evaluating the status of Tiger Reserve). However, most of these plants by forming a dense thicket, and invasive plants at multi-landscape forests have been earmarked for spread on the forest floor as a scale. These surveys were part of the developmental projects (like dams, scrambling shrub. National Tiger Estimation Project. coal mining, etc.). They were conducted both inside and Lantana is one of the world's ten worst outside of protected areas in India by When human influences are overlaid on invasive species and a species of High the forest guards of respective State forests along with the effects of Concern for India. It competes with Forest Departments and a team of invasion, the situation becomes grim. native plants for space and resources, wildlife biologists. Widening of roads, mining, and and also alters the nutrient cycle in the submergence due to dams lead to forest soil. During the survey, the forests in 18 tiger fragmentation, increased invasion, and states of India were divided into units of This invasion has resulted in the ultimately loss of biodiversity. The 25 sq.km. Each unit was sampled to scarcity of native forage plants for wild study reports forest degradation to be record native and invasive plants and herbivores. If eaten, the leaves can one major driver of lantana spread. human disturbance. In this way, induce allergies on the muzzles of Unsustainable human modifications of 117,104 plots were sampled across animals. In some cases, extensive the uninvaded forests can degrade 200,000 sq.km of forest area. Along feeding on lantana has led to 'diarrhoea, them, which can in turn help lantana with this information, data on factors liver failure, and even the animals invade these forests. known to facilitate the spread of death. invasive plants (like soil fertility, water Economics of managing lantana: Eradicating lantana has been practiced

8 Conservation Times religiously in several protected areas in tropical India, where on an annual basis, hectares of lantana invaded patches are either burnt, or are uprooted. Most of the time, the frontline forest staff works across the summer months in these forests manually uprooting this thorny plant one after the other. But, the impact of dealing with this plant on human health is little known, nor are the wages for these labours promising. The study also mentions that controlling lantana in one sq.km costs 14 lakh rupees and with the current expanse it would need 10 billion dollars more than the total funds allocated to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), in the year 2019! Protecting biodiversity and patrolling the forests against illegal activities becomes difficult with the presence of these invasive plants. Today, some forests (like Bandipur Tiger Reserve) are completely covered with lantana bushes, raising concern for both scientists and managers. Lantana grass in full bloom, most invasive. But what leads to such a monstrous spread of this invasive plant? Well! The a follow-up removal of lantana various lantana removal practices like answer lies in the numerous ways it is seedlings is necessary for a minimum uprooting, weeding, fire, etc. Many propagated. Lantana is mainly of two years. It is a mammoth task and countries have informed policy through dispersed by fruit-eating birds, results have not yielded much. similar exclusion experiments (e.g., United States, Australia, Hawaii) but monkeys, bears, etc., but it also has a Grass replaced:Lantana has replaced evidence from India is rare. capability to grow from its root-stock, grasses (primary fuel for forest fires) and nodes (via vegetative propagation). from the understory, changing the This article was originally published by Spread by birds:When Geetha intensity and spread of fire when it Mongabay-India.-- Editor Ramaswami and her colleagues studied occurs. the dispersal of lantana in Rajaji “We suspect that controlled fires to National Park, they observed that a lot destroy seeds in the seed-bank may be of fruit-eating birds are attracted to an important management tool in lantana. controlling rates of lantana re-invasion, Bulbuls in particular. “They rapidly but this idea remains to be tested. In my disperse lantana seeds from source view, using fire to control lantana has to plants to managed areas. These areas be carefully orchestrated and are often not very far from fruiting managed”, Ratnam said. source plants [of lantana] and they fall These forests are rich in native well within the median dispersal range biodiversity and provide ecosystem of bulbuls!,” said Ramaswami, who is services worth millions of dollars. currently with the Nature Conservation Unless prioritized, biodiversity loss Foundation. due to the presence of invasives and In every Tiger Reserve, a few hectares fragmentation can lead to unhealthy of land is cleared of lantana each year, ecosystems and may result in but the area requires intensive ecosystem disservices. Hence, along surveillance. with early detection and monitoring, there is a need for management- Since lantana seeds are already present oriented research. in soil and they are also dispersed by On a priority basis, we need to study Russian President V. Putin holding the Ussuri many birds from surrounding areas, tiger being tagged in Russian Academy of lantana regrows rapidly. To tackle this, how native vegetation responds to Science's reserve in far-east Russia.

Conservation Times 9 CARACAL: NEW FACTS

A Caracal with its prey, photo by Hemraj Meena.

Observing Caracal (Caracal caracal) is not easy in India The locations of caracal presence are marked on a map. It – it is nocturnal, and visitors are not allowed for night indicates that a sizeable population of Caracals is present in inside forests. It is highly secretive. It is territorial and the adjoining forest areas of Karauli, Dholpur and Bundi as lives mainly alone or in pairs. well as in the ravines in and around the National Gharial Sanctuary along the Chambal River. It may be largest It preys upon small mammals, birds, and rodents. It can Caracal population in any Reserve in India. leap higher than 4 m (12 ft) and catch birds in midair. The main threat to the species is the loss of habitat although there have been reports of retaliatory killing by the goat and sheep herders. Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve has recorded 7 species of wild cats, of which Caracal is the rarest and least known in terms of its status and ecology. Probably, it is now found only here in any significant numbers. To estimate its numbers in Ranthambhore, the Reserve officials developed a new practice of assessing Caracal over camera-traps: counted and segregated all caracal photo-captures in a particular camera, checked as to how many individuals were present in a photo-capture, what was distance between camera stations, calculated the time difference of capture, detected any distinguishing feature Most elusive Caracal was once maintained at a residence in Jaipur among different caracals. (60s) by Kishan Gopal Rungta, India's celebrated cricketer and astute wildlife expert. He had picked up cubs from Sariska, then a Sanctuary. Based on such aspects, it was concluded that there were at A photo of the same is shared by him for readers. Rungta's book, least 18 different Caracal individuals and the population “Stalking Tigers On Foot” was released a few years ago, like to could range from 18 to 35 individuals. connect:

10 Conservation Times Chambal ravines, he said. The sight excited him, and he began to think of REVIVING RAJASTHAN'S what he could do there. While he worked in Jodhpur, Krishen would travel often into the desert areas DESERT LANDSCAPE along the border with Pakistan, and he By Rosamma Thomas discovered, from asking a local person A freelance journalist based in Pune, Maharashtra, India who herded camels, that the traditional email: [email protected] name for the scrubland in the deserts where camels could feed was “Roee”. If Rajendra Singh is India's award- dune” – a sand dune that in the normal The sandy dune landscape was called winning waterman, then Pradip course would sweep forward but finds Thull – in Pakistan, the Thar desert is Krishen is the nation's plantman. The itself blocked by the hill. Sand has now now called Thal, and it is clear that this former filmmaker has for over a decade piled up at the bottom of the hill, and local word was the root of the been working with the Mehrangarh water has carved pathways down this Anglicized “Thar”. Fort Trust in Jodhpur, where the Rao dune. Kishan Bagh, the restored Krishen says he wanted visitors to Jodha Desert Rock Park now stretches landscape here that Krishen has been experience the Roee of the desert, and over 70 hectares near the Fort, with working on since 2016, is set to be open so he brought elements of the desert to over 300 species of plants. Krishen is a to visitors soon. the Kishan Bagh, shifting even a large champion of “rewilding”, or restoring Describing how he came to begin work boulder that had been naturally degraded landscapes by prodding on this site, Krishen says he was invited splintered. Visitors will see now how nature along, so it takes its course. by the government to recreate some of plants grow through the crevices of For the first time in his life, the 70-year- his work in Jodhpur in the state capital. rocks. old is now working with a government He was shown municipal parks; those Desert landscapes these days are highly agency, Jaipur Development Authority. did not interest him, there's little scope degraded and fragmented, with the He is working to restore degraded lands of re-wilding a park. That was when the profusion of mining activity and the at the foot of the Nahargarh Fort in state government horticulturists took thinning of natural vegetation. Rajasthan state capital Jaipur. At the him to the foot of Nahargarh Hill in Renewable energy projects – solar foot of the hill, there is an “obstructed northwest Jaipur – it looked like the panels and windmills -- too have

Gardeners in the early part of the rains spreading seed-bearing soil that has been brought in from the desert. The soil has been collected in (empty cement) 'kattas' and each different kind is marked for identification so that only one type is spread in one particular area.

Conservation Times 11 disturbed the rugged beauty of these landscapes. At Kishan Bagh in Jaipur, a visitor might get a sense of what the Roee was, before human intervention interfered with the natural vegetation. Most Roees in Rajasthan have three common plants, that locals call Seenio (Crotalaria burhia), Bui (Aerva pseudo-tomentosa) and Kheemp (Leptadenia pyrotechnica), Krishen explains. The plants in the desert change according to the composition of soil; even so, these three plants are quite common. The interpretation spaces in the new park will expose visitors to similar scrublands in other parts of the world – large photographs will allow visitors to see how such areas are conserved in other countries. “If they can do it, why not us?” That should be Pradip Krishen (right) with Faith Singh (middle) and Jane Singh (left) the question visitors pose. at Kishan Bagh, photo by Harsh Vardhan. There is a section of Kishan Bagh that planted with dhok so visitors can see it with the canal, diseases like malaria, will have the traditional dhok up close. that desert people had never known (Anogeissus pendula) – a variety of tree before, also arrived. The rise in the found only in the Aravalli range. It can Pradip Krishen expresses dismay that water table from irrigation caused survive with little water in rocky soil on forest officials in India think of the soluble salts to rise closer to the the hill. desert as “wasteland”, and that surface, causing decline in crop yields governments often try and green these “These are clonal forests,” Krishen and creating new wastelands. areas, channeling water to them from explains. The trees appear like separate long distances away. The work undertaken in Jodhpur and trees, but in reality, their root system is Jaipur could make people stop and all meshed underneath, so actually the The Indira Gandhi Canal was also think about the desert and see how this trees are all linked. This is the planned to bring water from Punjab to interesting natural landscape waits to vegetation on the Nahargarh Hill too, the Rajasthan desert. Although the be better understood. and a section of the park has been cultivation of crops became possible

Showing the micro-habitats (with different desert soil-types) in the foreground and the Viewing Deck (that overlooks the dunes) to the left, top.

12 Conservation Times TROUBLED TIMES FOR ANIMALS IN KAZIRANGA By Seema Sharma, a freelance journalist based in Chandigarh, email: [email protected]

The wild animals of Kaziranga Britain's Prince William and his wife, executive officer of Aaranyak and Asia National Park and Tiger Reserve Kate Middleton, have expressed their coordinator of International Rhino (KNPTR) in Assam are having a tough concern for the park's animals in a letter Foundation said, “Kaziranga is located time battling with the deluge these sent to park authorities a few days ago. in flood plains. Animals have been days. The couple who had visited the park in surviving floods here for over 100 2016 expressed their distress about the years. Had the floods been too More than 120 animals, including 11 flood unleashing havoc to the park and detrimental, the rhinos' number would rhinos, have died in the flood which has its world famous wildlife. have gone down.” swept over 85% of Kaziranga. According to official sources, two of Flood essential for the ecosystem of However, he also emphasised that the rhinos succumbed to natural causes. the park deforestation in catchment areas, water Full count of animal causalities will be release by dams upstream and climate However, park authorities and many known only after the flood recedes. change is worsening the magnitude of experts believe floods are also essential devastation and taking its toll on the The 880 sq. km Kaziranga comprising a for the ecosystem of Kaziranga. unprepared animals. This is the sixth core area of 430 sq. km is surrounded “Flood plays a vital role in maintaining heaviest monsoon in the state in the last by the Brahmaputra on the north and the riverine ecosystem of Kaziranga by 40 years. the hills of Karbi Anglong in the south. providing for the essential alluvial The annual flood puts immense Artificial highlands v/s natural hill deposits from the Brahmaputra and its pressure on these animal species for highland for shelter tributaries.” P Sivakumar, director, survival. KNPTR said. Kaziranga authority has created 144 KNPTR, a UNESCO World Heritage artificial highlands—of which 33 were Uttam Saikia, Honorary Wildlife Site, is proudly the world's major sanctioned three years back—to Warden of Kaziranga, reinforced this stronghold of 2400 one-horned rhinos. provide temporary shelter to the view saying that floods replenish The park has other impressive animals animals during flood and bring down Kaziranga's water bodies and maintain like about 121 tigers and 1100 Asiatic animal casualty during this yearly its wetlands, grasslands, and deciduous elephants. It is also home to several tragedy. forests as well as stocking up the globally threatened animal species breeding ground for fish. But the reality is that about 70 percent such as gaur, wild water buffalo, hog of these highlands are in dilapidated deer, and the Hoolock gibbon. Bibhab Kumar Talukdar, chief

Deer crossing over NH -37 amid heavy road traffic to reach Karbi Anglong Hills for safety during flood in Kaziranga National Park (Uttam Saikia).

Conservation Times 13 condition. Around 33 new ones have the river Brahmaputra is continuously The district administration has imposed been built in the direction flow, along eroding the northern and eastern bank a speed limit of 40 km/hr to avoid the southern boundary of Kaziranga. of Kaziranga core.” animal getting killed in road accident. Despite this, around 15 hog deer Talukdar added, “Too many highlands R o h i t C h o u d h u r y , w i l d l i f e besides other animals have been are not good for animals as the erosion conservationist said, “It is very crushed by the speeding vehicles, this and siltation caused by them may affect unfortunate that due to the disturbance year. w e t l a n d a n d m a y c h a n g e t h e caused in their habitat of Karbi composition of grasslands. They must Anglong hills, most of the wildlife like “A flyover will be built over NH-37 to be created for short-term and in barking deer, hoolock gibbon, rhinos divert the traffic on it to permit animals scientific manner.” etc have abandoned the area.” to cross the road without any difficulty. The project may take a decade to “The artificial highland will lead to In April last year, Supreme court complete,” said Sharma. more erosion, more siltation in the restrained mining and related activities grasslands and wetlands on which along the Kaziranga National Park area New plans to facilitate intrusion-free rhinos and other multiple animal and in the entire catchment area of movement of animals species are dependent. Karbi Anglong rivers/streams and rivulets originating According to Sivakumar, the park hills are the natural traditional shelter in Karbi Anglong Hill ranges and administration is mindful of managing for the animals”, said Rabindra flowing into the Kaziranga. “No new corridor issue including those cutting Sharma, research officer with the park. construction shall be permitted on a c r o s s N H - 3 7 . H e s a i d t h a t private lands which form part of the E r o s i o n , m i n i n g , c o r r i d o r management will develop three new nine identified animal corridors,” the bottlenecks impacting Karbi corridors on 500hectares of land in near bench said. Anglong future. Both Kaziranga and Karbi Anglong National Tiger Conservation Authority He further added, “This year, the Hills make an area of 25,000-square- in their last year's report had mentioned Centre approved and sanctioned a fund kilometer (9,650-square-mile)as that this landscape connectivity, crucial of Rs 12.5 crore for a highland and Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong Landscape. for the survival of long-ranging species road project that will raise the heights Kaziranga and Karbi Anglong were like the Indian elephants and Bengal of some of the low roads in the national part of the same landscape in the past. t i g e r s i s u n d e r t h r e a t f r o m park to the level of the existing tourist- Nine wildlife corridors — Panbari, indiscriminate rock mining and circuit road. These new additions are H a l d i b a r i , B a g o r i , H a r m a t i , quarrying. meant to give relief to the animals Kanchanjuri, Hatidandi, Deosur, during floods while the heightened “While the southern part of Kaziranga- Chirang and Amguri — have been roads will be used for patrolling by the K a r b i A n g l o n g l a n d s c a p e i s badly disrupted with the construction forest staff.” experiencing fast paced urbanisation of expanded infrastructure like resorts coupled with destruction of Karbi and National Highway 37. The officials contended that they have Anglong hills due to illegal and heightened the patrolling to ensure Around 17 animals were killed by rampant mining/quarrying activities, protection of vulnerable animals from speeding traffic during last year's flood, the Kaziranga is also facing another poaching during flood time. according to the flood report of forest natural threat on its northern department. Community support for animals boundary,” the report said. “Every year, Parimal Suklabaidya, minister of environment and forest said, “The forest department is facing a double whammy of protecting the animals in Kaziranga every year, one from poachers and other from natural calamities. The forest department and the government are making all efforts to protect the animals even at Karbi Anglong”. Saikia talked about community awareness of wildlife rescue. “Regular a w a r e n e s s p r o g r a m m e s w e r e conducted in the nearby villages with regard to saving and rescuing the animals during flood situation. Dr. Rathin Barman, Joint Director, Wildlife Trust of India, chipped on this subject saying that the support they are getting from the community in rescue operations is enormous. Rhino stuck in flood situation in Kaziranga National Park in Assam (Uttam Saikia).

14 Conservation Times better versed to decipher the Bhagwat “Gyabante ham sa- Gulab Gita. vijnamanidamvaksyamyasesatah Gulab attained PhD and DLit. He is yajjnatvanhabhiyo Chairman of the Rajasthan Patrika, a 'nyajjnatavyamavasisyate” (Gita: 7.2). daily published from numerous places It means: I shall now declare unto you discovers in India. He scripts a front-page edit- in full this knowledge ("vigyan" ie piece to hammer out ancestral morality science), both phenomenal and vs contemporary hybrid trends. He numinous. This being known, nothing Science questions the loss of values and urges further shall remain for you to know. readers to be conscious of their roots. When the cause of all causes becomes His father, Karpur Chandra Kulish had known, then everything knowable established the daily during the 50s, in Gita becomes known, and nothing remains and saw science in Vedic scriptures. What relevance today of Bhagwat Gita, unknown. the discourse between Lord Krishna Gulab has written more than a dozen Be cited Gita's 4th couplet in the same and his relative, Arjun. The Lord books. The latest to hit the stands is 7th chapter: "Earth, water, fire, air, goaded him to 'reason' at a time he had "Samvaad Upnishad". It runs into 760 ether, mind, intelligence and false ego - lost it. pages. all together these eight constitute Numerous interpretations have been Its glossary is spread over 30 pages, separated material energies." More attempted on Gita, since time references forming a separate part. than the 5-Elements of the Universe, immemorial down to what Dr. S. Spread-knowledge --- his mantra. The summed up as conservation meaning, Radhakrishnan and A.C. Bhaktivedant book was formally released on 8 true to this day. Swami Pabhupada of International September 2020 by India's Prime Not easy to understand or practice this Society for Krishna Consciousness Minister, Narendra Modi through a truth. Best wishes to Gulab Kothari for (ISCON) had rendered. Has Krishna video-meeting lasting nearly an hour. this Himalayan journey. been understood in toto? He lauded efforts of this Patrika Group Head. As though to answer it, an experienced His writings are available at: journalist, Dr. Gulab Kothari is Only Gita can bring the curtain down https://www.patrika.com/tags/gulab- treading on a new path: learning on knowledge, he adds wistfully. So kothariarticle/ and his email is: Sanskrit daily from a tutor so that he is learning afresh: [email protected]

India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi (left) and Rajasthan Patrika's, Chairman, Gulab Kothari seen greeting each other over a video-release of Gulab's book, Samvaad-Upanishad and inauguration of the Patrika Gate on 8 September 2020.

Conservation Times 15 WHAT DO WADING BIRDS EAT? Adapted from an article by Rick Simpson Wader Quest Newsletter, email: [email protected]

Zoobenthos: comprises the animals belonging to this group. Phytobenthos: comprises the plants belonging to this group. Both types of Benthos can be subdivided by size. Macrobenthos: Visible organisms of a length greater than 1mm. It includes polychaete worms (worms with bristles like lugworms etc.), bivalves (seashells with two halves like cockles, oysters, clams and mussels), echinoderms (star fish, sea urchins etc.), sea anenomes, c o r a l s , s p o n g e s , s e a s q u i r t s , turbellarians (flatworms), crabs, lobsters and cumaceans (comma shrimps). Meiobenthos: Organisms that are between 1mm and 0.1mm in size. It includes nematodes (roundworms), f o r a m i n i f e r a s , w a t e r b e a r s , Black-tailed Godwit (left) and Ruff scurrying aquatic feed at a water body, photo by Harsh Vardhan gastrotriches (hairybacks), copepods So, what exactly are all those wading will be taking mostly epibenthos and and ostracods (seed shrimps). birds out there on the mudflats eating some endobenthos organisms that live Microbenthos: Organisms under with such enthusiasm? The answer is near or just under the surface as they 0.1mm in size. It includes bacteria, benthos, also known as wader food. forage primarily by sight. This would diatoms (algae), ciliates, amoeba and Benthos is the flora and fauna found on obviously suggest that feeding at night flagellates. the bottom, or in the bottom sediments, would be a disadvantage. It is for this of a sea or ocean. reason that Plovers have such They can also be divided by their proportionally large eyes to maximise location: Wader bills have developed to take light gathering to facilitate night advantage of all forms of benthos as Endobenthos: living buried, or foraging. prey. (See the definitions of different burrowing in the sediment. type of benthos below.) There is also a school of thought that Epibenthos: living on top of the suggests they may also be able to forage Long bills that penetrate the mud such sediments. by hearing prey which would also not as those of Godwits will search for be affected by the light level. endobenthic organisms. Some waders with medium-length Species feeding in this way will be bills, such as Red Knot may employ doing so without the benefit of sight so both methods of feeding—mainly their bills are sensitive to touch and tactile on the wintering grounds where pressure. it forages for endobenthos and mainly Their bills have nerve endings known visual on the breeding grounds where it as Herbst corpuscles, which can detect forages for nonbenthic creatures away the difference in pressure produced by a from the benthic zone. solid object in the wet mud. These species have sensitive bills for Many waders that feed in this way tactile feeding and forward-facing demonstrate rhynchokinesis, where the vision for visual feeding. upper mandible can be bent to allow the The more delicate recurved sweeping bird to strike and capture prey. bills of Avocets will be seeking This ability to forage blind means they epibenthic prey on the surface of the are equally able to forage at night as mud and hyperbenthic organisms that they are during the day. are suspended in the water. Short bills such as those of the Plovers There are two types of benthos: Little-ringed Plover feeding over the mud flat.

16 Conservation Times left mail

Prince Bernhard of The Netherlands, then President of WWF-International, at The 1969 IUCN meet in New Delhi that led to formation of Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve in 1973, after launch of Project Tiger, Harsh Vardhan Project Tiger in 1973, Dr. Salim Ali and Maharaja FSR is on left taking notes. Gaekward having good humour over it. THE NATURE OF NATURE: WHY WE NEED THE WILD by Enric Sala (Author), Edward O. Wilson (Introduction)

In this inspiring manifesto, an all, by reversing conditions that led to c r e a t e 2 2 m a r i n e r e s e r v e s internationally renowned ecologist the coronavirus pandemic and encompassing almost 6 million square makes a clear case for why protecting preventing other global catastrophes. kilometers of ocean, more than half the nature is our best health insurance, area of all 50 United States. and why it makes economic sense. With a foreword from Prince Charles and an introduction from E. O. Wilson, Contact: Enric Sala wants to change the world-- this powerful book will change the way https://www.amazon.com/Nature- and in this compelling book, he shows you think about our world--and our Why-We-Need-Wild/dp/1426221010 us how. Once we appreciate how nature future. works, he asserts, we will understand About the Author why conservation is economically wise and essential to our survival. Enric Sala is a marine ecologist and National Geographic Here Sala, director of National E x p l o r e r - i n - R e s i d e n c e Geographic's Pristine Seas project dedicated to restoring the health (which has succeeded in protecting and productivity of the ocean. more than 5 million sq km of ocean), He is widely recognized for his tells the story of his scientific worldwide conservation awakening and his transition from e f f o r t s , b a s e d o n s o l i d academia to activism--as he puts it, he observational and experimental was tired of writing the obituary of the research, combined with ocean. His revelations are surprising, strategic communications and sometimes counter-intuitive: More policy discussions. Previously a sharks signal a healthier ocean; crop professor at the prestigious diversity, not intensive monoculture S c r i p p s I n s t i t u t i o n o f farming, is the key to feeding the Oceanography in California, he planet. founded National Geographic Using fascinating examples from his Pristine Seas, a global project expeditions and those of other that combines exploration, scientists, Sala shows the economic research, and storytelling to wisdom of making room for nature, i n s p i r e l e a d e r s a n d even as the population becomes more communities to protect the last urbanized. In a sober epilogue, he wild places in the ocean. To shows how saving nature can save us date, Pristine Seas has helped to

Conservation Times 17 theory of loss aversion RETHINKING help our cause? The idea is that when CONSERVATION people come in direct contact with nature, over time, they start CAMPAIGNS seeing it as a valuable By Rohit Jindal possession. The joy in experiencing nature “Global warming is driving polar becomes ingrained in bears to extinction,” says a newspaper their minds. So, when headline (The New York Times, July t h e e n v i r o n m e n t 20, 2020). Another points out deteriorates, they feel emphatically, “Biodiversity in peril, the t h e p a i n o f a n U.N. warns.” Statements such as these A moment of reflection in Jespar National Park incalculable loss. At are common place in national and (author sitting there), Canada, photo Mamta. that point, they are more sensitive to international media. Ever since the listening about environmental damage of money donated for pro-environment publication of Rachel Carson's “The and take action to restore nature. This charity work. However, there is little Silent Spring” in 1962, there is explains why the erstwhile hunters that most people change in their daily increasing evidence that the industrial became the first band of modern behavior. No doubt, information is revolution has imperiled the planet. conservationists when they saw the useful, but beyond a point, it becomes The Union of Concerned Scientists, a wildlife quickly disappearing. Does overwhelming. Some campaigns may science-based policy think tank, this mean that we must take every generate perverse effects whereby believes humans are to blame for rising individual to Antarctica before doing people disbelieve these campaigns and t e m p e r a t u r e s w o r l d w i d e something about the polar ice sheet? continue wasting resources around (www.ucsusa.org). Not necessarily. However, people do them. Similarly, in its latest annual report, the accommodate more quickly to gains World Wildlife Fund declares that As a recourse, I would call upon than to losses. As a result, once they “Human activities have caused the campaign managers to integrate more deepen their relationship with nature in world's wildlife populations to “experiential learning” in their work o n e f o r m , t h e y s e e m o r e plummet by more than two-thirds in the plans. Many of us are aware of slogans interconnections among ecosystems last 50 years” (the Living Planet such as, “learning by doing.” Or of and are possibly more open to R e p o r t , 2 0 2 0 ) . C o n s e r v a t i o n inculcating environmental values in protecting them. Experience-based campaigns have repeatedly used children by “catching them young.” conservation campaign, however, is not statements such as these to spur humans The idea is for people to experience the silver bullet to address all kinds of to stall this widespread degradation and nature in their daily lives directly and existential threats. It is more likely that replace it by regeneration of natural slowly become guardians of this way of experiential learning as a way of ecosystems. They hope that once life, thereby contributing to sustainable conserving nature works best at the p e o p l e k n o w h o w d i r e t h e conservation. Why might it work? local level. Once people wade in their local pond or get used to hiking in environmental crisis is, they will rise to In 1979, Kahneman and Tversky surrounding woodlots, chances are they action. The patchy success of published a paper positing that instead will be prone to saving these resources conservation campaigns to reverse of being rational calculators, human from destruction. However, many biodiversity loss or reduce carbon brains are mired in biases (Kahneman, times, people may also choose to emissions has belied this hope. Another D., and Tversky, A. 1979. Prospect suppress their instinct to protect nature news headline aptly describes the Theory: An analysis of decision under when confronted by economic situation, “Biodiversity loss is urgent. risk. Econometrica). One such bias is challenges. Spreading the message is hard” (The loss aversion: people hate to lose what New York Times, May 9, 2019). Why is they already have much more than they Helping people to experience nature is this so? And what can be done about it? love to get what they don't have. In not going to work always. But, when I believe that many, if not most, other words, the joy that we obtain from i n t e g r a t e d i n t o c o n s e r v a t i o n conservation campaigns are focused on finding $100 on the roadside is less than campaigns, the process of enjoying and creating guilt amongst people. They the pain we feel when robbed of $100. acknowledging nature as a valuable make people feel bad about the loss of Over the years, the finding has endowment may catalyze people to environmental quality. Since humans withstood rigorous testing in varying make long term changes in their are responsible for the current wave in contexts. For example, we routinely behavior. When that happens, we can the extinction of species, the campaigns value our possessions more than what thank Kahneman and Tversky and their work on the premise that the guilt will we are willing to pay for the same items theory of loss aversion for that. lead to remorse, and finally to remedial when buying them afresh. Or we find it ------action. It seems that shame leads to an easier to incur the pain of taxes (when Rohit Jindal is a professor in Decision Sciences deducted at source), then being taxed at MacEwan University in Edmonton, Canada. immediate emotional response, but His recent research explores the morality of hardly any long-term effort. No doubt, after we have received our salary. The using economic incentives in promoting millions of people respond to these discovery of loss aversion and other environmental conservation. He can be reached messages, as evidenced by large sums related biases was honored with a at: [email protected] Nobel Prize in 2002. So how does the 18 Conservation Times He has to quench thirst where ever water may be available, photo by Hemraj Meena.

T19 (Krishna), daughter of Ranthambhore's famed Tigress, Machhali (her second litter in 2014) with four cubs. Photo by Hemraj Meena .

Conservation Times 19 Yawning, a trait not deciphered totally for Tigers. Undaunted by human presence, he continues licking water.

Cautiously licking water and keeping an eye on human intruder. She was rearing four cubs and demonstrated to them how to lick.

He keeps an eye on the photographer while having his drink. Tigers stretch body and scratch barks, a trait interpreted variously.

All photos by Hemraj Meena

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EDITORS for Conservation Times

Anderson, Hartley Binita Pandey Binita Pandey is a researcher in Goodman, Martin Hartley Anderson is a Sydney, Australia entomology with a keen interest in insect Martin Goodman is an award-winning resident who, after more than fifty years taxonomy, behavior, conservation, and writer and publisher based in the UK. His in sales and marketing roles, has decided plant preference of pests. She has book Client Earth told the tale of eco- it was time to pursue leisure activities. conducted a Bumblebee research project lawyers on their global battle to save the His recent and new activity which is in Nepal. She is the founder and planet from environmental collapse. He is relevant to conservation is beekeeping. He manager of the Nepal Pollinator Emeritus Professor of Creative Writing at has a strong interest in India. Network. the University of Hull.

McCrea, Edward Sharma, Manoj Sharma, Satish Chairman of Editorial Board Manoj Sharma worked for the Indian Authored 11 books on forest, wildlife Ed McCrea is President of Environmental Statistical Service for 10 years and then management and biodiversity, specialized Education and Conservation Global, a US immigrated to the USA to pursue graduate in ethnobotany and ethnozoology, did PhDs nonprofit conservation organization. Over studies in statistics. Currently he is the on Plant life of Weaver Birds (1991) and the last fifty 50 years, he has worked in Director of Biostatistics at Adaptive Study of Biodiversity and Ethnobiology of environmental education and biodiversity Biotechnologies in the field of immune- Phulwari WL Sanctuary (2007), former conservation at the local, state, national, driven medicine. Forest Officer, based at Udaipur. and international levels.

Sharma, Seema Thomas, Rosamma Vardhan, Harsh (Editorial Coordinator) Seema Sharma is an independent journalist Rosamma Thomas is a freelance journalist based in Chandigarh. She was formerly based in Maharashtra, India. She has Wildlife conservationist and writer, served with the Tribune and the Times of India. worked in radio and print journalism. She for Bustards, Siberian Cranes, started the She writes on wildlife conservation and has only ever lived in cities, despite being a Indian Birding Fair, held annually at environment and is a fellow of CMS- wild creature at heart. She has supported by Jaipur's Man Sagar lake, worked with US IHCAP fellowship on impact of climate writing on a unique cause like House Fish & Wildlife Service, International change in Trans Himalayas. Sparrow ex situ breeding initiatives. Crane Foundation, EECG, and is Honorary Secretary of TWSI, based at Jaipur.

Published for Tourism & Wildlife Society of India (TWSI, email: [email protected]), 158-A, Dayanand Marg, Tilak Nagar, Jaipur 302 004, India, wwwbirdfair.org. Design and lay out by Manish Sharma at It's A Design Studio, Adarsh Nagar, Jaipur, email: [email protected], note: it is the third e-newsletter for free circulation aiming at education and awareness on conservation.

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