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BI-MONTHLY OUTREACH JOURNAL OF NATIONAL TIGER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY CONSERVATION TIGER NATIONAL OF JOURNAL OUTREACH BI-MONTHLY Volume 3 Issue 1 Issue Volume 3

LANDMARKS

STRATEGIES OENETO OF GOVERNMENT

EVALUATION

ACHIEVEMENTS

PERSPECTIVES Nov-Dec 2011 Nov-Dec

INITIATIVES Country-wise visits on www.tigernet.nic.in 2,834 visits from 49 countries/territories (Nov 1, 2011-Dec 31, 2011)

COUNTRY VISITS NO. OF PAGES NEW VISITS BOUNCE RATE

INDIA 2,113 3.48 46.10% 43.02% UNITED STATES 268 2.84 43.66% 59.33% UNITED KINGDOM 116 4.53 55.17% 18.97% FRANCE 79 3.73 6.33% 62.03% SWITZERLAND 77 2.73 55.84% 59.74% HONG KONG 19 8.79 10.53% 5.26% JAPAN 12 1.83 100.00% 75.00% GERMANY 11 6.09 81.82% 54.55% CANADA 9 1.22 100.00% 88.89% AUSTRALIA 8 4.12 100.00% 62.50% CHINA 7 1.57 85.71% 42.86% ITALY 6 2.33 66.67% 33.33% SAUDI ARABIA 5 2.80 100.00% 60.00% MALAYSIA 4 2.75 75.00% 75.00% BRAZIL 4 1.00 25.00% 100.00% SINGAPORE 4 1.25 75.00% 75.00% IRAN 3 1.00 100.00% 100.00% UAE 3 1.00 100.00% 100.00% SOUTH KOREA 3 1.67 100.00% 66.67% NEW ZEALAND 2 2.00 100.00% 50.00% THAILAND 2 2.00 100.00% 50.00% SWEDEN 2 2.00 50.00% 50.00% NETHERLANDS 2 1.00 50.00% 100.00% NIGERIA 2 1.00 100.00% 100.00% CZECH REPUBLIC 2 1.50 100.00% 50.00% SOUTH AFRICA 2 1.50 100.00% 50.00% SRI LANKA 1 1.00 100.00% 100.00% UKRAINE 1 1.00 100.00% 100.00% KUWAIT 1 2.00 100.00% 0.00% NORWAY 1 1.00 100.00% 100.00% FINLAND 1 1.00 100.00% 100.00% SYRIA 1 1.00 100.00% 100.00% PHILIPPINES 1 1.00 100.00% 100.00% PAKISTAN 1 1.00 100.00% 100.00% ARMENIA 1 1.00 100.00% 100.00% SPAIN 1 2.00 100.00% 0.00% ETHIOPIA 1 1.00 100.00% 100.00% POLAND 1 1.00 100.00% 100.00% BANGLADESH 1 3.00 100.00% 0.00% EGYPT 1 1.00 100.00% 100.00% Volume 3 Coordination Evaluation EDITOR Issue 1 Indo-Nepal Dr Rajesh Gopal Nov-Dec consultation Status of tigers in 2011 Pg 14 North-East EDITORIAL Hills and COORDINATOR Indo-Russian S P YADAV strategies Brahmaputra Pg 4 Pg 18 CONTENT COORDINATOR Inder MS Kathuria

Report Stock-taking A Fresh Start FEEDBACK Dandeli TR Management Relocation & Annexe No 5 Operation effectiveness rehabilitation Bikaner House Shahjahan Road Manual in Red zone in Nagarhole New Delhi Pg 16 clusters of Tiger Reserve [email protected] forest P12 reserves Cover photo Pg 8 Vinod Goel Ranthambore

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

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

THE 2010 country-level snapshot assess- Valmiki, Indravati, Achanakmar, Udanti-Sitanadi, ment of the North-Eastern landscape, Simlipal, Satkosia, Nagarjunasagar Srisailam and including the Brahmaputra flood plains, Palamau. Nagarjunasagar is showing recovery owing to highlights the conservation significance of committed management. However, the situation in Upper Bengal Dooars, Brahmaputra flood Simlipal, Palamau, Indravati and Satkosia leave a lot to plains and the North-Eastern hill region. be desired. NTCA is actively engaging with the states. Two important tiger conservation units exist here, viz. Securing inviolate space through voluntary relocation one stretching across Bhutan through Manas to is crucial for wild tigers with 100% assistance under Arunachal and the other from Kaziranga to Meghalaya. through an enhanced package of Rs 10L The Manas landscape is the only habitat where tigers per family. The case study of Nagarhole highlights good are found close to the timberline, predating on moun- coordination and innovation by the local management. tain ungulates. Considerable evolutionary significance is The Tiger Conservation Foundation is an important also attached to the tiger population in this landscape statutory institutional framework available with the is the entry point of tigers into the Indian subcontinent. states for the development of tiger reserves with the Fragmentation of habitat, poaching and depletion of active involvement of civil society. The operation manu- prey are serious overarching issues of the landscape. al of Dandeli-Anshi Tiger Reserve is encouraging. The Management Effectiveness Evaluation (2010-11) of tiger reserves clustered in the ‘red zone’ highlights Dr Rajesh Gopal the actionable points for strengthening reserves like Member-Secretary, NTCA EVALUATION Northeast Hills & Brahmaputra S P Yadav his landscape can be divid- ed into three zones: the T Upper Bengal Dooars, the Brahmaputra flood plains and the north-eastern hill region. These zones are connected to the Indian mainland through the Siliguri Corridor or ‘chicken’s neck’, which is about 20km wide (Datta 1995) and is located in the northern part of . The Bengal Dooars are fertile plains in the foothills of the Himalayas, to which several mountain passes open, providing accessibility to parts of Bhutan. The Brahmaputra flood plains are about 750 km long and 80 km wide with hills rising on all sides except the west (Rao 1974). The north-eastern region comprises of several hill ranges which can be categorised as the Eastern STATUS OF TIGERS, CO-PREDATORS Borderlands and the Eastern AND PREY IN INDIA, 2011 Himalayas. This landscape stretches CONSERVATION SIGNIFICANCE harbouring three of the 200 glob- across the floodplains of River Apart from being located at the al ‘Terrestrial Eco-regions of the Torsa in West Bengal, to the meeting place of the Himalayas World’ of the WWF (Olson and peaks of Khangchendzonga in and peninsular India, this region Dinerstein 1998). A common fea- Sikkim, includes the Brahmaputra also incorporates the transition ture to all these accolades is the flood plains and the hills of zones of the Indian, Indo-Malayan recognition of this area as a and Myanmar along with and Indo-Chinese bio-geographic region with high species diversi- the Eastern Himalayas. realms (Mani 1974). The biologi- ty, high levels of endemism, taxo- The region includes seven cal importance of this area is reit- nomic uniqueness of species, Tiger Reserves — Buxa in north- erated through its declaration as serious habitat loss and threat- ern West Bengal, Manas, a ‘Global Biodiversity Hotspot’ by ened status of the floral and fau- Kaziranga and Nameri in Assam, Conservation International (Myers nal diversity of the area. Pakke and Namdapha in et al. 2000), its recognition as an From the perspective of the and Dampa in ‘Endemic Bird Area (EBA)’ by tiger, this region has two impor- . BirdLife International tant Tiger Conservation Units (Stattersfield et al. 1998) and it (TCUs), one comprising the

4 | Nov-Dec 2011 | STRIPES Manas Tiger Reserve, stretching population in Kaziranga, which Anglong, West Khasi Hills, East across Bhutan to Arunachal in has lost its onnectivity to the Khasi Hills and East and West the northeast, while the other north (to Pakke) due to intensive Garo Hills is fragmented. The includes the Kaziranga Tiger agriculture on northern banks of major source population of tigers Reserve in Assam and stretches the River Brahmaputra. Intanki in this landscape are in upto Meghalaya. While the for- National Park is also connected Kaziranga and Pakke in India and mer is supposed to be the only westwards through priority III dispersing tigers from Bhutan landscape in south-Asia sustain- forests upto the Balphakram and Myanmar. This landscape ing the phenomenon of tigers liv- National Park. This landscape has holds the largest tiger population ing close to the timber line and in the North-Eastern region con- predating upon mountain ungu- sisting of about 125 tigers. It is lates, the latter encompasses the connected to the southern parts best preserved grassland habitat of the North East Landscape via in the global tiger range the Karbi-Anglong Hills, for (Wikramanayake et al. 1998). which it acts as a major Much of the prey is depleted in source. The Kaziranga population these forests as the hunter-gath- connects to the tiger population er tribes are efficient hunters of Nameri-Pakke through riverine and depend a lot on wild game corridors (Fig. 4.1). for subsistence (Aiyadurai 2007). b) Manas-Ripu Chirang- CONSERVATION STATUS Buxa/Jaldapara-Gorumara- Currently tiger occupancy was Singhalila landscape unit is about recorded from an area of 4,565 7,200 km2 with a single block of sq km of forests within the 5,000 km2 from northern West Brahmaputra Valley and the Bengal (Gorumara) to the conifer- North East Hills landscape, with ous forests of Sikkim (Singhalila). an estimated population of about The forest connectivity in the 143 (113 to 172) tigers. The Brahmaputra plains is patchy important tiger populations in Tiger populations and fragmented, but the land- this landscape include: scape is connected through the in this landscape forests of Bhutan. a) The largest contiguous forest- have evolutionary On the Indian side, “stepping ed region in this landscape is significance as they stone” connectivity exists over 136,000 sq km. This land- between Gorumara, Jaldapara, scape unit commences in the share the connecting Buxa, and Ripu Chirang through north-west from Pakke Tiger gene pool with the the district of Jalpaiguri. Reserve through the forests of south eastern tiger Connectivity between Ripu Palia, Tale Valley Wildlife Chirang and Manas is degraded Sanctuary, Mouling National Park populations and on the Indian and Daying Ering Wildlife represent the entry side. This landscape needs to be Sanctuary into Dibang Wildlife point of tigers into managed through transboundary Sanctuary and upto the international cooperation with Namdapha Tiger Reserve in the the Indian the Government of Bhutan. east. The landscape continues sub-continent The tiger populations in this south through some degraded landscape have historical evolu- areas into the Intanki National tionary significance as they share Park, and further south to the contiguous forest across the the connecting gene pool with and Blue international border with the south eastern tiger popula- Mountain National Park. The Myanmar. The weak links in this tions and represent the entry in the landscape are the forests in the point of tigers into the Indian Brahmaputra flood plains is con- districts of Mon, Mokokchung, sub-continent. nected through the Karbi-Anglong Tuensang, Zuheboto, Wokha, and Hills to Intanki in the south. Phek in the east. The landscape ASSAM | The state has three Tiger This connectivity through between the Balphakram National Reserves, five National Parks and Karbi-Anglong is crucial for dis- Park and Intaki National Park 17 wildlife sanctuaries and three persal of tigers from their source through the districts of Karbi- proposed wildlife sanctuaries.

STRIPES | Nov-Dec 2011 | 5 a) The Kaziranga Tiger Reserve covers an area of 1,033 sq km. The National Park is located in Nagaon, Golaghat and Sonitpur districts, bounded in the north by the Brahmaputra and to the south by the Karbi-Anglong Hills. National Highway 37 separates it from the Karbi-Anglong hills while about 150 villages are located along this road, within the zone of influence of the reserve. The Kaziranga tiger population is con- tiguous with that of the Rajiv Gandhi con- nected through island systems of the Brahmaputra. This is the sin- gle largest population in this Dr Venkat Landscape consisting of about 125 by high levels of extremist activi- current situation. tigers. The Kaziranga population ties, thus making conservation connects with Nameri through and scientific monitoring in the ARUNACHAL PRADESH riverine corridors, which is an area a challenge till date. The The largest tract of forest in the important connectivity maintain- reserve shares the area with the north-east of India is located in ing gene flow between the plains Ripu Chirang Elephant Reserve Arunachal Pradesh, covering and the hill population of tigers and further westwards continues 67,353 sqkm which constitutes (in Arunachal). This region being with the forests of Buxa in West 80.4% of the total geographical extremely fertile is in demand for Bengal. The entire area inclusive area of the state (State of the agriculture and the Protected of the Bornadi Wildlife Sanctuary Forest Report 2009). The state is a Areas are increasingly becoming in Assam covers 7,200 sqkm. The biodiversity hotspot with two tiger isolated islands. In light of this the Manas Tiger Reserve was camera reserves, Namdapha and Pakke. connectivity with Nameri in the trapped with almost a total cov- north, Karbi Anglong in the south erage and its current tiger densi- a) Namdapha Tiger Reserve cov- as well as the riverine islands, ty is estimated to be 1.8 tiger per ers 1,985 sq km in Changlang “stepping stones” through 100 sqkm. However, the region district of eastern Arunachal. Laokhowa and Burachapori has high potential and is on its While most of the area is free of Wildlife Sanctuaries to Orang form path to recovery. human presence, around six the crucial elements for targeting small patches of cultivation still conservation efforts. c) The Nameri Tiger Reserve is exist within the reserve, covering located in the Sonitpur district of around 25 hectares. On the b) Manas Tiger Reserve spans the north-east Assam. It is contigu- peripheries of the reserve are districts of Kokrajhar, ous with Pakke in Arunachal to settlements such as Gandhigram, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Nalbari, its north and covers 344 sqkm of Deban and M’pen with mostly Kamrup and Darrang in north- which 200 sqkm forms the core Lisu population. Hunting for cul- west Assam, across 2,837 sqkm demarcated by the rivers Bhorali tural and subsistence reasons of which 470 sqkm designated as and Bordikarai. Within the appears to be the greatest threat the core area. To the north, it is reserve are located 13 villages of to biodiversity. Namdapha is con- separated from the Royal Manas which eight are forest villages nected to the forests of Kamlang National Park of Bhutan by the with predominantly tribal popu- Wildlife Sanctuary and further River Manas and its tributaries — lation. The population of tigers is eastwards to the forests of Beki and Hakua; while to the small (about 9) and is shared Myanmar which is a contiguous west, it is separated from the with Pakke. Though the area has forest patch of 1,36,000 sqkm. of West potential for higher densities and Bengal by the river Sankosh. ability to sustain a larger popula- b) The cov- Around 62 villages are located tion of tigers, the depletion of ers 862 sqkm in the East Kameng within 2km of the reserve bound- prey by subsistence poaching as district along the boundary with ary between rivers Sankosh and well as other anthropogenic dis- Assam. Around 27 villages are Dhansiri. The region is affected turbances is responsible for the located on the fringes of

6 | Nov-Dec 2011 | STRIPES the reserve and several conserva- cy was 416 sqkm with a popula- Park, Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary, tion initiatives such as formation tion estimate of about 5 tigers. Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary and of self help groups (SHGs), Sporadic tiger occurrences have Neora Valley National Park in Village Forest Development also been reported from the Darjeeling district. Councils and implementation of Ngengpui Wildlife Sanctuary Buxa Tiger Reserve, spread eco-development schemes have which covers an area of 110 over 760.87 sqkm in Alipurduar been undertaken to increase the sqkm close to Indo-Myanmar and sub-division of Jalpaiguri district, awareness of biodiversity and Indo-Bangladesh borders. is demarcated on the west reduce the dependence of people The high hunting levels in the by tea estates and the Joygaon- on the park. The largest tiger region primarily for subsistence Nimti State Highway. To the population of Arunachal is within and cultural reasons along with north of it is the international pockets of this landscape. The the nature of forests do not sup- boundary with Bhutan while on tiger population of Pakke is port high tiger presence in this the south a mosaic of agricultural shared with that of Nameri Tiger landscape. However, with larger land, tea estates and the NH 31C Reserve (Assam) and was estimat- areas being brought under high are located. ed to be around 9 tigers. levels of protection, this region The Reserve has 37 forest vil- The Namdapha region was not could support a viable tiger pop- lages while 7000-8000 pilgrims surveyed systematically but tar- ulation if managed as a trans- visit the Mahakal Temple, located geted areas were sampled by the boundary population with in the reserve in March each WWF-India, Aaranyak and the Myanmar. The current policy of year. The other factors adding to Wildlife Trust of India. fencing the international borders existing disturbance levels in the Population estimate for the state to prevent infiltration can be a area include existence of a num- could not be derived due to the major barrier to sharing the gene ber of PWD roads, a national nature of the data recorded pool of tigers across the larger highway and a metre gauge which was limited to tiger sign landscape. railway line from Damanpur coordinates. The current distri- to Hasimara. bution of tigers in Arunachal NORTHERN WEST BENGAL The reserve has weak connec- Pradesh is the reflection of this The total forested region in the tivity to the Jaldapara Wildlife limited survey effort which has northern districts of West Bengal Sanctuary and Gorumara National resulted in recorded tiger occu- comprising of Darjeeling, Jalpai- Park and is better connected to pancy of 1,304 sqkm. guri, West Dinajpur and Cooch- Manas and Bornadi Wildlife behar districts is 4,904 sqkm. Sanctuary in Assam and Royal MIZORAM Other than the Sundarbans, this is in Bhutan. Mizoram has an area of 19,240 sq the only forested region in the The population of tigers in Buxa km under forest cover which con- state and comprises several PAs, was estimated from stitutes over 91% of the total geo- most of which are restricted to the fecal DNA by NGO Aaranyak to graphical area as per State of the Siliguri Corridor of the Dooars and be a minimum of 15 (Borthakur Forest Report (2009). Of this, include the Singhalila National et al. 2010). 9,084 sqkm is categorized as Tiger Dr Venkat Conservation Priority I and II area. The state has one tiger reserve, Dampa. The Dampa Tiger Reserve is located in the Mamit district and covers an area of 500 sqkm of which 340 sqkm is categorised as the core area. To the west, it is separated from Bangladesh by River Saza, while metalled roads demarcate it on the east and north. About 20 villages are located on the peripheries of the Reserve and exert high pressure on the Reserve. In 2006, tiger occupancy was recorded to be 482 sqkm in this area while in 2010 the recorded tiger occupan-

STRIPES | Nov-Dec 2011 | 7 STOCK-TAKING

unique but unfortunate characteristic of Cluster III A that comprises Valmiki, Indravati, Achanakmar,Udanti- Red Zone Sitanadi,Simlipal, Satkosia Gorge, Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam and Palamau is that it falls in the ‘red corridor’, with some of the reserves either currently under siege by Naxalites ie Indravati and Palamau; or Udanti-Sitanadi, which has deteriorated sharply in the past year or two. Simlipal Management Effectiveness & Evaluation 2010-11 saw 25 attacks in March 2009, Photos: S P Yadav and is gradually recovering, as is Nagarjunasagar Srisailam which was under the grip of Naxalism for 16 years, but has shown remarkable recovery since. These reserves must be viewed through the prism of Left Wing Extremism (LWE) which cripples every aspect of management, from protection to monitoring to rela- tions with the local communities. Though the forest department is apparently not the direct target, there has been tragic loss of life due to Naxal attacks, and the impact goes beyond the tangible, impacting the psyche and morale of the staff who work here.

NAGARJUNASAGAR SRISAILAM Strengths | The biggest strength of NSTR is its sheer size. The reserve encompasses 3,568 sqkm. Additionally to the south of NSTR, there is a contiguous pro- tected area of 1,140 sqkm, the Gundla Brahmeshwaram These reserves must be viewed through the prism Sanctuary that has been proposed of Naxal extremism which has been crippling as an extended core-critical habi- tat of the reserve. Good, commit- staff is insufficient, given the the heart of NSTR is expanding ted leadership. The reserve has area of the reserve. The temple rapidly, and must be contained. shown remarkable recovery in the town of Srisailam is expanding, Encroachments in the Nagarjuna- past three years after over 15 leading to increase in traffic. Also sagar Division have severely frag- years of Naxalism. Focus on pro- of serious concern is the mented this part of the reserve tection, and orientation toward Mannanoor-Dornal road which which is already impacted by the conservation, involving local trib- cuts through prime tiger habitat. Nagarjunasagar reservoir. als and communities. Presence of breeding tigresses with cubs has been well-docu- Action Points| The region must Weaknesses | Paucity of staff. mented close to this road. The irri- be a focal landscape for tiger Number of anti-poaching camps, gation township of Sundipenta in conservation as is the Terai Arc,

8 | Nov-Dec 2011 | STRIPES Western Ghats and the Central Indian landscape. The state gov- ernment must fast-track the process of notifying 1,140 sqkm of GBM sanctuary as the core critical habitat of NSTR. The Mannanoor-Dornal road cannot be expanded into a four-lane, as proposed, as this will only accen- tuate threats to tigers and wildlife. The state government must also take steps to immedi- ately divert all heavy vehicles to the alternate highway for Guntur- Kurnool State Highway which divides NSTR and GBM Sanctuary.

SIMLIPAL Strengths | The reserve encom- passes 2,750 sqkm which is part of the Simlipal Biosphere Reserve and the Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve and represents the largest, most viable source popu- lation of tigers in the entire Chhotanagpur plateau. The park saw a Naxalite attack in March 2009, but is on the recovery path with immense efforts under able leadership. One village Jennabil was successfully relocated which tary force, given the kind of of the reserve has been has freed a valley with a perenni- mass hunting in the reserve, encroached near Kotraha and al water source for wildlife. influx of armed poachers and Lakshmipur, which has broken timber smugglers. connectivity to Madanpur range Weaknesses | The field director (western Valmiki). Bagha-Valmiki has only the ‘old’ core area under VALMIKI road and Bagha-Chhitauni railway him — not even the entire core Strengths | Valmiki’s contiguity line cuts through the park. critical tiger habitat, while the with National Park and Parsa regional chief conservator of Sanctuary in Nepal makes solid Action Points | Immediate notifi- forests at Mayurbhanj commands chunk of 3,550 sqkm productive cation of core critical habitat and the buffer and other territorial tiger landscape. A mosaic of buffer area. Streamlining man- ranges. The field director no habitats supporting biodiversity. agement of the reserve to ensure longer has control over three Active support of strong NGO there is dedicated field director, DFOs who manage the 1,555 and less pressure of tourism. deputy director and ACF. Timely sqkm of buffer zone. Practice of Efforts of proactive reserve offi- release of funds and filling up traditional mass hunting coupled cials to control mining bordering vacancies. Local communities with the new threat of commer- the reserve. must be part of the protection cial poaching of tuskers and prey force. Re-establishing connectivi- species for bush meat. Shortage Weaknesses | Core/critical area, ty of Madanpur Range to ensure of staff. Lack of commitment buffer not notified. Lack of prior- viability of tiger population in from state in receiving funds. ity or commitment on the part of Madanpur which is contiguous to the state government. Weak pro- the Sohagi Barwa Wildlife Action Points | The core and tection infrastructure. Staff not Sanctuary in . buffer of Simlipal TR must be sufficient, need training brought under command of the in basic wildlife skills. DDearth PALAMAU field director. Staff strength must of grasslands. Connectivity Strengths | Comprises a large be augmented. Need for paramili- between eastern and western part forested tract, across the northern

STRIPES | Nov-Dec 2011 | 9 slopes of the Chhotanagpur for the Asiatic wild buffalo of process to identify areas which plateau in , extending central India (a very small popu- are least affected by Naxalism to upto Bandhavgarh on one side and lation believed to be about 15- make them the focus of conser- into Orissa from another connec- 20). Rich biodiversity and diverse vation, with sound habitat inter- tivity also through to the forest of habitat. It is a large reserve, ventions. Building better rela- southern West Bengal. Harbours encompassing 2,799 sqkm of for- tions with local communities. excellent tiger habitat, has a sound est area. Indravati and the entire Focus on Asiatic wild buffalo population of elephants and har- Bastar region for that matter, has population here. bours rare grey Indian wolf. some of Central India’s finest mixed, moist and dry deciduous SATKOSIA Weaknesses | 40% of the reserve tiger bearing forests. Strengths | Satkosia’s rich forests out of control of administration located in the very heart of and inaccessible to the manage- Weaknesses | Has been under Orissa are a crucial biodiversity ment. General lawlessness. Over the grip of LWEs for the past two ‘hub’ with direct or indirect cor- 80% staff shortage. Funds delayed decades. There has been no per- ridors with almost every other hugely. Administrative structure manent base in Indravati for major forest patch in the state. of the park is weak and counter- about a decade. Visit of frontline Satkosia has a unique gorge productive. The field director is a staff to the core area of the ecosystem which once had a CF level post and the officers reserve has become rare after viable population of the critically assigned for the core and buffer 2003 and almost nil after 2005. endangered gharial. It is the only zone working under him are also This has impacted every aspect other source population of tigers of the same level. 20km of rail- of reserve management. There is in Orissa besides Simlipal, along way tracks pass through the TR. no protection (no staff presence, with proposed tiger reserve, Political instability leading to low no patrolling) and management Sunabeda. Working jointly with priority for conservation. within the reserve. No infrastruc- law enforcement officials, the for- ture, no communication systems. est department timber smuggling Action points | Timely release of The buffer area is not under the has been controlled to some funds. Fill staff shortages immedi- control of the field director. extent in the reserve. ately. Pay daily wagers on time. Build and strengthen relations Actionable Points | The buffer Weaknesses | The reserve has with local communities, especially must be brought under the con- failed to save the gharial in its in view of the Naxal threat. trol of the field director, since it only non-Himalayan river system, Appoint a dedicated field director is the only area in which they can even though this was where the along with DFOs and ACFs to operate effectively. Strengthe- Indian Crocodile Project was initi- enable systemised management. ning the protection in the buffer ated. Poor protection, little wildlife and building relations with the orientation and no monitoring. INDRAVATI people will contribute to making Faulty management structure: The Strengths | Indravati is perhaps the habitat in the core safer. CCF, Angul, who has under him six the last known remaining habitat There must be an immediate territorial divisions, was given

10 | Nov-Dec 2011 | STRIPES additional charge as field director The field director of the Udanti- impacted by Naxalism must be of Satkosia. He has under his con- Sitanadi Tiger Reserve is sta- mapped, and concentrated con- trol only part of the reserve ie tioned at Raipur, which is at least servation-oriented community Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary. The four hours away from the field. works and habitat management. DFOs also have additional The superintendent of both territorial responsibilities. Udanti and Sitanadi sanctuaries ACHANAKMAR Immense pressure with 106 vil- supervise the fieldwork, who are Strengths | The park is part of lages within the tiger reserve — all under administrative control of Achanakmar-Amarkantak of whom depend on the reserve DFOs, who report to the Raipur Biosphere Reserve in the Satpura for fuel, timber, fodder and fish- Circle. The buffers are almost landscape and is part of the ing in the reserve. Tourism not in Central Indian tiger landscape, it sync with wilderness. is contiguous to the rich Kanha- Pench landscape and serves as a Action Points | Streamlining man- link between Kanha and Palamau. agement structure with dedicated Is a rich habitat, much like Kanha- field director, deputy directors, Pench, with the ability to support ACFs. Staff augmentation and skill good prey density and tigers. Six building. Traffic must be regulated villages have been relocated creat- on the PWD road from NH 42 ing inviolate tiger habitat. (Cuttack-Sambalpur) to Tikarpada. It is recommended that this road Weaknesses | Lack of proper pro- be handed over to the forest tection strategy. Though currently department, since it terminates at the habitat supports a decent prey the Satkosia gorge. Tourism base, there is reported to be a (camping) must cease on the dramatic decline of late. Poaching Mahanadi riverbank. Rehabilitation of ‘game’ and poisoning waterhole of villages from core critical tiger has also been reported. The habitat. The Narsinghpur (West) reserve does not have a field range which adjoins the TR may director and deputy director and be handed over to Satkosia both these positions are held by wildlife division as it is a very vul- These reserves must Territorial CF and DFO respective- nerable entry point for ivory and ly. The reserve is being managed timber smugglers. be viewed through the like a territorial division. The core prism of Naxalism area has extensive human and UDANTI-SITANADI which cripples every biotic interference. There were 25 Strengths | It represents the forest villages in the park, six of westernmost limit of the Central aspect of management, which have been relocated. There Indian Tiger Landscape The from protection to appears to be a lack of commit- Udanti-Sitanadi Sunabeda (pro- monitoring to ment from the state towards tiger posed Tiger Reserve) landscape reserves and conservation. is a single compact forest of relations with the about 3,000 sqkm and together local communities Action Points| The alternate road represents a large, rich and proposed for Bilaspur-Amarkan- diverse habitat. out of bounds for the park tak national highway dividing the management. park in two must be made opera- Weaknesses | The department tional with immediate effect. and the state have failed the Action Points | streamline man- Until then, speed regulations and state animal, the Asiatic wild buf- agement structure. The wild buf- no night time traffic must be falo, which has now whittled falo is almost extinct, and one enforced. Skill building of staff down to a mere eight, four of wonders if there is any point of for wildlife orientation. A protec- which are in captivity. The pres- yet another ‘Conservation pro- tion strategy and controlling ence of tigers is questionable, gramme’ when the recovery plan grazing pressure. A systemized though late signs were made a mockery of the exercise. method of monitoring tigers and reported. Though earlier totally Fill staff shortage and skill build- other wildlife must be inculcated. accessible, the past 18 months ing of existing staff. A proper Village relocation process needs or so the park has come under assessment of tiger status is to be closely monitored. Tourism the influence of Naxals. required. Areas which are least must be in sync with wilderness.

STRIPES | Nov-Dec 2011 | 11 A Fresh Start

Relocation of tribals from Nagarhole Tiger Reserve in 2010-11 B K Singh, PCCF (Wildlife) & R V Singh, Dy Director, Nagarhole TR

ection 38V of Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 Ranjan Singh, deputy conservator of forests, has provides that a Tiger Reserve should be invio- taken action to give final touches to these houses, S late. Prior to promulgation of ‘The Scheduled arranging for wiring, drainage, road construction Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers and development and preparation of the 3-acre (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act 2006’, 643sqkm plot attached to each of these houses. of was declared as Several questions were raised regarding the core critical tiger habitat. Though the facilities created at Shettihalli Lakpattna. relocation of people from inside Two members from tribal department Nagarahole National Park is in progress were brought on the district level com- since 1998-99, nearly 1,700 families mittee headed by deputy commissioner, still resided in the park at the time of Mysore, and all complaints relating to recognition of rights under the forest civil works were dealt with. rights act. Recognition of rights in Complainants were also invited for the Mysore district of the park has proceed- meeting along with PWD engineers, rev- ed smoothly, while there have been some enue officers etc. roadblocks in Coorg district. Finally, National Institute of Technology At Shettihalli Lokpattana (20km from Hunsur), (NITK), Suratkal, was entrusted with the work of 150 houses were constructed in the forest area for checking the quality of civil works and they certi- occupancy of tribals. After taking over charge of fied the houses. Hunsur Wildlife Division in November 2009, Vijay The deputy conservator of forests and his offi-

12 | Nov-Dec 2011 | STRIPES cers took up the challenge of contacting Kurubru tribals in their hadis (colonies) inside the national park. Details of the reha- bilitation package were explained. Option I of the pack- age entails that each family be paid Rs 10 lakh to relocate while option II requires the provision for housing, alternate agriculture land for subsistence and provid- ing facilities for meeting their socio economic needs. Under option II, Rs 2 lakh is to be spent on the house, Rs 1 lakh for com- munity development such as road, water supply, electricity, temple, school etc, Rs 3.5 lakh for the cost of land, including development charges, Rs 3 lakh is to be provided to each family for settlement of right and Rs 50,000 is to be paid as incentive. To select 150 beneficiaries to be relocated under option II, the deputy conservator of forests and his officers visited interior tribal colonies and held consulta- tions with the families. Many tribal families opted for it but several tribal NGOs tried to dis- suade them, arguing that reloca- tion should not be taken up with- out recognizing their rights under the forest rights act, 2006 Maize harvest by relocated tribals; a festival in progress and that relocation should not be forced and that the culture and and misguided several tribal fam- ing the remaining seven families traditions of tribals should not ilies. In effect, the decision of of Dalimbe Kolli colony. A be destroyed. The deputy conser- several families swung back and divorced woman along with 8 vator of forests countered that forth. These families were dependents including her chil- their rights are already recog- involved in all decisions, right dren from Madenoor hadi, were nized in Mysore district, while from the construction of houses declared ineligible by junior offi- tribals of Coorg district are also and all were shown houses and cers and she was asked to join willing to be relocated, thus lands on July 30, 2010. Despite her husband in one of the coffee there is no forced relocation. He all opposition, 143 families were estates in Coorg. The woman rep- also explained that the tribals shifted between November 15, resented to the deputy conserva- would have access to better 2010 and December 16, 2010. tor of forests and it was found health facilities, and their chil- Among these, 42 families shift- that she could not return to her dren, to better education. He said ed in D B Kuppe range, 60 in husband as he had already the tribals, now working as Kallahalla, 15 in Anther Santhe, divorced her. Overruling his offi- labourers in adjoining coffee 13 in Nagarhole and 17 in cers, the deputy conservator of plantations, would be trained to Anechowkur. forests declared her eligible for cultivate the 3-acre land assigned Though several families from relocation. to each family, which is always a other tribal colonies are willing M/s Rockwood Farms of better livelihood option. to occupy the seven vacant slots, Gopinath from the National Coffee estate owners also but the deputy conservator con- Horticulture Mission has offered opposed the relocation efforts tinues to make effort in convinc- to train tribals for free in raising

STRIPES | Nov-Dec 2011 | 13 and maintaining horticul- no regeneration ever ture species such as comes up. mango, sapota, papaya, During an inspection etc. The tribals are not of the rehabilitation area traditionally farmers and on December 21, 2010, would be discouraged if all 147 families were they were asked to take found living happily. up any dry land farming They have not started of ragi, maize etc. working on the agricul- The incentive amount ture land assigned to of Rs 50,000 per family them, but some enter- was used for transporta- prising families have tion of goods, providing opened shops. Some one month ration, clear- have added temporary ing the debt, advances to Newly constructed houses for villagers; (below) a structures to their hous- engage labour etc and the family poses in front of its harvest es. Two families are balance kept in a savings found adding permanent bank account opened in Kaveri Hebbala and Murkal, where tribal structure to the buildings handed Kalpataru Gramin Bank, families have multiplied because over to them. Teachers from Hanagodu Branch in favour of of departmental elephant camps, adjoining Shettihalli Lokpattana the head of each family. are also becoming inviolate. school are persuading the fami- Several tribal colonies such as Elephants from Hebbala are lies to send their children to Gangoor, Madenoor, Hebbala already shifted to Mattigod, school. Construction of 130 more Bogapur and Murkal have become along with other elephants in the houses is in progress. completely free from people, camp near Anechowkur. Murkal Though NTCA has not released which will help in a big way in elephants will also be shifted to adequate funds for rehabilitation, tiger conservation. Bogapura trib- Mathigod. funds from the Tiger Foundation als used to indulge in illegal fish- A large number of departmen- of Bandipur and Nagarahole is ing, while that of Dalimbe Kalli tal elephants in the interior of being used to expedite the reha- tribals indulged in teak smug- National Parks inflict lot of dam- bilitation. Hopefully, NTCA would gling. Thus, some of these tribals age to the habitat. These ele- make good the amounts spent were a threat to the park. phants trample vast areas, where from the two tiger foundations.

14 | Nov-Dec 2011 | STRIPES COORDINATION

INDO-NEPAL voluntary relocation from key habitats/corridors, managing encroachment and support to secure trans-boundary corridors Cooperation were discussed. Indo-Nepal collaboration on he fifth Indo-Nepal trans- MT of seized Red Sanders to the Biodiversity Conservation | boundary consultative government of India. The Indian Delegates discussed implementa- T meeting was held on delegation informed that a sus- tion of Convention on Biological October 21-22, 2011 in Pokhara, pension on international trade of Diversity (CBD) and CITES. Nepal. The Indian delegation com- Red Sanders material from India Dr Gopal spoke about the need prised Member-Secretary of NTCA has been imposed by the Standing for “active tiger management” Dr Rajesh Gopal, DIG (NTCA) Dr H Committee of CITES. involving practices like reintro- S Negi, DIG (WL) Prakriti Shrivas- duction of tigers in habitats tava, deputy director of Wildlife Maintenance of corridor and which have suffered from local Crime Control Bureau Ramesh connectivity | Mechanisms relat- extinction, establishing monitor- Pandey, AIG (NTCA) Rajeev Sharma ing to communication system ing and surveillance systems and first secretary (economic), between trans-border PA man- like e-eye, periodic tiger status Embassy of India, Kathmandu, agers, PAs in Trans-Sharada assessment through double sam- Rajesh Kumar Mishra. The region of , synchronization pling using camera traps, effec- Nepalese delegation was led by of periodic estimation in trans- tive use of statistical Dr K C Paudel, Environment border PAs, establishment methods and strategy for Division, MFSC, Nepal. of linkage between addressing man-animal The issues on the agenda Bardia National Park conflicts. ranged from trans-border cooper- and Dudhwa- ation to Indo-Nepal collaboration Katerniaghat Tiger The two sides on biodiversity conservation. Reserve and others, agreed to, among eco-development in other measures, Trans-border cooperation and Nepal bordering Formalize the wildlife trade | The issues dis- Dudhwa and draft MoU between cussed included mechanism for Katerniaghat, extension India and Nepal sharing wildlife crime intelligence of Koshitappu Wildlife  Expedite redressal of specially on trans-national link- Reserve in Koshi Barrage were issues relating to seized Red ages, tripartite meeting between discussed. Sanders India-Nepal-China and the border Early funding support for a meetings between enforcement Landscape level biodiversity rescue centre at Chitwan officials. The high demand for conservation strategy | Identi- National Park, through the Global wildlife parts in international fication of priority areas of Tiger Forum markets with Nepal as a transit Suklaphanta-Laggabagga-Pilibhit, Facilitate regular trans-bound- point for illegal wildlife trade, Bardia-Katerniaghat-Khata, ary meetings and information trans-boundary wildlife move- Valmiki/Betia-Chitwan/Parsa, sharing at central and field levels ment and conservation, trans- Banke-Sohelwa, Jhapa-Darjeeling, and exchange visits of officials boundary timber trade (eg Koshitappu etc. were discussed.  Undertake landscape level Valmiki to Chitwan), concentrated assessment of tiger, rhino and trans-boundary efforts required Joint Management Planning, elephant to control the illegal wildlife Capacity Building & Knowledge Support innovative wildlife trade etc were also highlighted. sharing | Special attention to research, scientific studies, flagship species like tiger, ele- assessment and monitoring Illegal trade in High Value Forest phant and rhino, joint monitor- including source-sink population Product | Discussions were held ing of wildlife population in the with mutual exchange of scientif- regarding seized Red Sanders adjoining areas, information ic advancements. (Pterocarpus santalinus). Nepalese sharing, regular trans-border Facilitate functioning of authorities said their government meetings, efficient and smart South Asia Wildlife Enforcement was ready to repatriate around 17 intelligence on wildlife crime, Network (SAWEN).

STRIPES | Nov-Dec 2011 | 15 Dandeli Anshi Operation Manual of Dandeli Anshi Tiger Conservation foundation By Dr Sunil Panwar, DCF Dandeli Tiger Reserve Photos: S P Yadav

he government of approved management plans, nical, financial, social and other established and to support similar initiatives support; and support ecotourism, T three tiger conservation in adjoining landscapes, consis- eco-development, research, envi- foundations in Karnataka ie tent with the national and state ronmental education, training, Bandipur tiger conservation foun- legislations. The functions of the management and advisory dation with its office in foundation has to be undertaken aspects. Bandipur, Bhadra tiger conserva- through the implementing tion foundation with its office in agency and its staff and or spon- GOVT POWERS | The government Shimoga and Anshi Dandeli tiger sored/supported by it or through may review the functioning of conservation foundation with its other institutions, agencies or the foundation and issue direc- office in Dandeli as per an order individuals collaborated by the tions regarding affairs of the on December 13, 2007. implementing agency. foundation. To achieve this main aim, the OBJECTIVE | The main aim of the foundation will facilitate ecolog- GOVERNING BODY | Minister in foundation is to facilitate and ical, economic, social and cultur- charge of wildlife will be its pres- support the tiger reserve man- al development in the tiger ident, principal secy (forest dept) agement for conservation of tiger reserve and adjoining landscape; the vice president, chief wildlife and biodiversity, through multi- provide support to safeguard the warden a member secy, and stakeholder participation as per natural environment; solicit tech- members include the principal

16 | Nov-Dec 2011 | STRIPES chief conservator of forests, field director(s), deputy director(s), two prominent scientists or qual- ified experts, MLA(s), representa- tive(s) of district Panchayat etc

POWERS | The governing body will decide overall policy of the foundation; approve the balance sheet and audited accounts, annual report, annual budget of the foundation; secure effective coordination between different departments and other govern- ment/government-aided institu- tions and NGOs, among others.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE | Field director and conservator of forests (Kanara Circle, Sirsi) will be the chairperson, deputy con- servator of forests (wildlife divi- sion, Dandeli) will be member secretary and members to include two representatives of eco-development committees working in the reserve and two members of frontline staff of the reserve among others

POWERS | Executive committee have under its control manage- ment of all affairs and funds of the foundation; ensure objec- tives and functions of the founda- tion are achieved; exercise all administrative and financial powers; enter into arrangement UTILISATION OF FUNDS | The incentives and legal assistance to with other public or private funds of the foundation will be permanent and temporary staff organisations or individuals for utilized after approval of work called as witness in wildlife furtherance of its objectives; plan by the governing body. 10% offence cases; granting of research raise funds (at national and inter- of the fund will be kept in a fixed projects to institutions/qualified national levels), secure and deposit as society fund. individuals, among others. Up to accept endowments, grants-in- Remaining 90% will be used for 10% of this fund may be used as aid, donations, or gifts to the strengthening EDC and VFCs in vil- administrative expenses. foundation among others lages/hamlets situated in and around the tiger reserve; under- ACCOUNTS & AUDIT | The foun- FUNDS | The foundation derives taking eco-development activities dation shall maintain proper funds from income generated in villages located in and around accounts and prepare annual from levying tourist entry fees the tiger reserves; creating aware- accounts which will be audited and other charges for the servic- ness in the local communities; annually by a qualified chartered es generated out of the reserve, assisting adjoining territorial divi- accountant or any agency contribution from other sources sions in strengthening their forest approved by the governing body. in terms of specific projects from protection and anti poaching The accounts will also be sub- national as well as international efforts; formation of anti crop jected to the general provisions agencies and grants-in-aid, dona- depredation squads to mitigate and directives of the Comptroller tion or assistance of any kind. man animal conflict; providing and Auditor General of India.

STRIPES | Nov-Dec 2011 | 17 CO-OPERATION

he second meeting of the sub-group on tiger/leopard Indo-Russian T was held on November 17, 2011 in New Delhi, pursuant from the first meeting on May 26. The sub-group was decided upon by the India-Russia Inter joint strategies Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation in November 2010. The Russian delegation was headed by Amirkhan Amirkhanov, deputy head of Federal Super- visory Natural Resources Manage- ment Services. The Indian delega- tion comprised Dr Rajesh Gopal, Member Secretary (NTCA), S P Yadav, DIG (NTCA) and K D Dewal, Under Secretary (Eurasia), Ministry of External Affairs, among others. Delegations from the Russian Federation and India

The issues on the agenda: Training and capacity building ing activities. It was desired that of Field Officers/ Specialists | the Indian experience in this Scientific field | Both countries The Wildlife Institute of India is a field may be shared with the are carrying out research on tiger premier institute for capacity Russian side. using the non-invasive DNA building in wildlife management extraction from scats. India is which offers several short term Exchange officers to share using this methodology to esti- and long term courses. Both experience on good practices | mate the minimum population, sides agreed for building capaci- Both sides agreed for exchange of individual identification for bio- ty of field officers/ specialists in officers to share experiences on logical as well as forensic purpos- the designated institutions of good practices covering the areas es. It was felt that Indian institu- both the countries. of cooperation relating to tiger tions like the Wildlife Institute of and leopard conservation. The India, working in collaboration Landscape planning and smart Russian side extended their invi- with the National Tiger green infrastructure in the tiger tation to the Indian delegation. Conservation Authority, may facil- landscape | India has recently itate as a Focal Institution for done the country level status Global Tiger Forum | The Global cooperation in this field. assessment of tigers, co-preda- Tiger Forum is an intergovern- tors, prey and their habitat based mental international organization, Tiger reintroduction and on scientific methodology, which of which India is the founder rehabilitation | Considering the has been peer reviewed and pub- member. Tiger range countries; interest evinced by the Russian lished in an international journal. non-tiger range countries like UK side in leopard and tiger reintro- It was agreed that the Indian and US besides several interna- duction, the Indian delegation experience may be shared with tional and national NGOs are offered to share their experi- the Russian side for planning at members. The IUCN is willing to ences with the Russian counter- the landscape level. enter into MOU with the GTF for parts for mutual benefit. At the cooperation which has been request from the Russian side for Cooperation on anti-poaching assigned the status of “Special providing a Royal Bengal white strategy & planning | It was stat- Invitee” of GTF. The Russian dele- tigress (1 to 2 years old) to the ed that India has developed a set gation evinced interest in this Siberian reserve “Royev Ruchey”, generic guidelines for security Forum and it was felt that their India offered a captive tiger planning of tiger reserves membership in the said Forum from any Indian zoo for rearing besides creating the Special Tiger would further strengthen the tiger in captivity (zoo). Protection Force for anti-poach- conservation at the global level.

18 | Nov-Dec 2011 | STRIPES Country-wise visits on www.tigernet.nic.in MAP OVERLAY

VISITS 1 2,113

2,834 VISITS he ‘tigernet’ database is a collaborative effort of from 49 countries the National Tiger Conservation Authority (a statu- territories T tory body under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of India) and TRAFFIC-India, the wildlife trade monitoring network. The website aims to compile online authentic records on mortality of tigers and other key wildlife species across India. Compilation and analy- 3.41 sis of such data will be valuable as a management tool pages per visit for tiger conservation in India.

00:02:39 Average time on site

47.57% New visits

45.66 Bounce rate DELENG/2009/30636 STRIPES | BI-MONTHLY OUTREACH JOURNAL OF NATIONAL TIGER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY, A STATUTORY BODY UNDER MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA VOLUME THREE FOR FREE DISTRIBUTION ISSUE ONE

S P Yadav

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