Final Report Tiger Conservation Enhancement in Bhutan (July 2002 - June 2003)

WWF Project Number: BT085600 NFWF/STF Project Number: 2002-0301-010 Project Duration: 1 Year (July 1, 2002 – June 30, 2003) Project Budget: US$ 70,000 Reporting Period: July 1, 2002 – June 30, 2003 Funding Source: Save the Tiger Fund, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, USA

WWF Bhutan Program Chubachu, Thimphu PO Box 210 Bhutan

Background: Tiger conservation as a national program in Bhutan was begun in 1996. WWF’s Bhutan Program, in conjunction with Department of Forestry Services, has been implementing the Tiger Conservation Program in Bhutan. Prior to the program, tiger conservation was mainly addressed through the enactment of the Forest and Nature Conservation Act of 1995 and the establishment of a network of protected areas. The Bengal tiger stands out amongst Bhutan’s wildlife. Tigers are a revered species because of their legendary association with Guru Padmasambhava, the great Indian saint who brought Buddhism to Bhutan. Given the fact that 79 percent of the country’s populations are rural and live near wilderness, the role of the tigers in maintaining the integrity of the ecosystem bears enormous relevance in the Bhutanese context.

Tiger conservation in Bhutan has immense significance at the regional and global level. The tiger population in Bhutan forms the centerpiece of one of the two largest tiger populations in the Indian subcontinent, the Manas-Namdapha Tiger Conservation Unit.

Project Objectives:

1. To establish a Tiger Conservation Fund for protecting viable tiger populations in the country; 2. To educate and raise the awareness of the Bhutanese public to enlist their support for, and participation in, tiger conservation through establishment of a network system; and 3. To strengthen the capacity and capability of the Department of Forestry Services and its affiliates for effective implementation of tiger conservation activities with adequate resources and professional competence.

Output 1: Tiger Conservation Fund

With seed money of US$ 30,000, the Tiger Conservation Fund has been established at the Nature Conservation Division. A board, chaired by the Minister of Agriculture, manages the fund. Other board members include senior officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and the country representative of the WWF Bhutan Program, and the joint director of the Nature Conservation Division (NCD) serves as the member-secretary. The immediate objectives of the Tiger Conservation Fund are to compensate for the livestock depredated by tigers and provide immediate relief to the affected farmers. The long-term objectives are to maintain a viable population of tigers in the country and convince the farmers that tigers are an endangered species worth protecting.

The coordinator for the Tiger conservation program based at NCD had completed guidelines for the investigators to identify predators along with the “guidelines and mechanics 2002” of fund management. The guidelines were presented to the board members and other forestry officials for comments in a half-day workshop. A detailed format for collecting information from the field on livestock depredation by tiger and other carnivores was also developed and presented. Necessary comments received were incorporated and document finalized. The guidelines and reporting format will be printed and distributed to territorial divisions, forest ranges, park offices and Dzongkhag Authority.

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Records collected by the Nature Conservation Division over a period of two years (1999-2000 and 2000-2001) revealed that tigers killed 218 livestock. While it is very difficult to get reliable data on the number of the tigers poisoned, official records at various field offices reveal that at least one to two tigers have been killed every year either by trapping or poisoning. Even by low estimates of two to five percent of the 218 cases of kills by tigers, at least 5 to 10 tigers are killed in retaliation each year. At this rate, tigers are becoming even more endangered and in danger of extinction. By putting in place a mechanism whereby the owner of the livestock depredated by tiger is compensated immediately, retaliatory poisoning/trapping of tigers could be highly reduced. Such a scheme would also spread the message among the farmers of the need to protect tigers for present and future generations.

The process in paying the compensation to the livestock depredated by tiger involves field verification process by the Gup (village headman) or the local forest/park staff immediately or within one week of any kill of livestock upon the receipt of report from the affected farmers. The field-verified report would be than forwarded to the divisional forest officer/park manager with a recommendation for payment. The Gup or the local forest/park officials has the authority to reject the compensation requests if they are not convinced that the livestock depredation was by a tiger. The rate of compensation for different types of livestock is described in the table below:

Sl. Amount in Nu. Type of Livestock No 100 % 75% 50% 1. Jatsha & Jatshim (Mithun breed) 7,500 5,625 3,750 2. Calf of Mithun 2,500 1,875 1,250 3. Jersey 9,000 6,750 4,500 4. Calf of Jersey 2,500 1,875 1,250 5. Cow 5,500 4,125 2,750 6. Calf of cow 2,000 1,500 1,000 7. Yak 9,000 6,750 4,500 8. Calf of Yak 2,500 1,875 1,250 9. Mule 9,000 6,750 4,500 10. Donkey 7,500 5,625 3,750 11. Horse 7,500 5.625 3,750 12. Heifer 2,500 1,875 1,250 13. Sheep 2,500 1,875 1,250 14. Kid 1,000 750 500 Calves: All animals under 3 years.

The fund will only compensate either 75 percent or 50 percent of the livestock value estimated at 100 percent. Farmers would receive 75 percent for those animals which are productive, healthy, and guarded while grazing, and 50 percent for those animals that are not guarded and free ranging, or unproductive (old, sick and feeble) animals.

As of now, Nature Conservation Division has received more than 41 cases of livestock depredated by tiger since January 2003. The reports were verified by the concerned park/forestry staff in the field. Most of the cases reported were from the Jigme Dorji National Park where eleven yaks (including six females) and two mules

WWF Bhutan Program Page 3 were killed within two months by tigers. From Haa Dzongkhag, there was a reported case and claim for compensation for three yaks (2 male, 1 female) killed by tigers in May. There are also two cases of livestock killed by tiger from Gonpa Karp and Tshangwog villages under Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary. There is an investigated report from Royal Manas National Park, where 15 cattle and one horse were killed from Edi and Krajong areas. These areas fall at the core zone of the park and frequently visited by tigers. In Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park, the reported cases of livestock depredated by tigers are seven cattle from Korphu geog.

Tooth-mark on the left leg of a Carcass of a yak killed by tiger in JDNP yak at JDNP Output 2: Tiger Conservation Strategy

To update the Tiger Conservation Strategy and to maintain time series data, nationwide preliminary surveys were conducted to collect baseline information on tigers.

Gedu Division conducted the survey in December and January, when they collected evidences of tigers such as pugmarks and feces on a ridgetop above Gedu. A plaster cast of the pugmark has been prepared. Though a information on the presence of tigers are collected from other part of the Gedu area, collection of evidence from the ground are not possible as the area receives rainfall most of the time and evidence is washed away. Additionally, the area is covered under thick, moist forest.

In Bumdeling a team consisting of three trained park staff conducted surveys in two areas from March 5 to May 15. During this time tigers were reported frequently. The team used survey methodology designed by eminent tiger specialist Dr. Chuck McDougal in 1996 and 1997. The survey covered areas comprised of cool broadleaf forest, temperate broadleaf forest, conifer forest, and hardwood forest with bamboo undergrowth, open meadows, and alpine pastures. The team spotted a pugmark at Longtong area and also recorded evidences of possible wildlife prey species and other carnivores such as leopard, serow, sambhar, yellow throated marten, wild pigs, barking deer, goral, red panda, Assamese macaques, wild dogs, and Himalayan black bear. Some of these animals were sighted, while in other cases the team found feces and pugmarks. To record the information from the field, survey teams were supplied with notebook, pen, pencils, altimeter, GPS, scale/ruler, glass and transparency sheets.

WWF Bhutan Program Page 4 Tiger habitat on the western part of JDNP Field staff trying to identify the scat

Measuring scrape Claw mark on a fir tree at 3900 m in JDNP

In the central part of Jigme Dorji National Park (JDNP), in the area between Dolamkencho, Mirchong, and Tshebgang, and area along the new Dodena-Barshong mule track and nearby was selected for a study to determine the presence/absence of wild animals and habitat quality. To conduct the survey, team members laid five transects approximately 42 kilometers long and 10 meters wide. The survey also aimed at locating poaching-prone areas for vigilant anti-poaching activities. During the survey, eight species of animals, including tiger, musk deer, goral, sambar, serow, Himalayan black bear, wild dogs and red pandas, were recorded. The survey revealed that the tiger have been located at elevations up to 3900 meters; several pugmarks were found at this elevation (the transect laid was at elevation between 3100 meters and 3900 meters). Several tiger pugmarks were also recorded in the areas of Tshebang towards Chungri Sago at different locations (GPS readings 27º37’27”N, 89º39’03”E; 27º37’29”N, 89º38’53”E; 27º37’40”N, 89º38’56”E and 27º39’36”N, 89º38’49”E)

Tigers were also reported in the western part of the JDNP, as there were several reported cases of livestock depredated by tiger. Other evidence from these areas include a claw marking on a fir tree, pugmarks, and several dropping found near the kill sites. Based on the survey conducted in the past, tigers were believed to present in the south-central part of JDNP, but now the report on livestock kills in the western part of JDNP and Haa confirm the presence of tigers in the western part of the country, where there is relatively intact forest cover with abundant prey.

A team consisting of three trained park staff conducted a two-week survey in Thrumshingla National Park. The team surveyed from the northeastern part of the park to the western part of the park Shingkhar, crossing the Simela ridge covering the areas of Pangkhangbee, Thrungthrungla, Wabragchu, Phiscula, Nangayla, Wangthangla and Geyzamchu. During the survey, the team interviewed local residents to collect information on the presence of tigers; they also informed residents about the compensation schemes for tiger kills initiated by the royal government and funding from WWF. The team, however, did not find much evidence of tiger—with

WWF Bhutan Program Page 5 the exception of one old scat—tiger, due to heavy rainfall during the trip, dead fallen leaves covering most of the tracks, and seasonal migration of cattle.

Output 3: Tiger information system

The tiger coordinator had started collecting information to develop a Web site about tigers in Bhutan and has developed a Web site mock-up on tigers. However, he could not complete the job, as he had to leave for further studies; he will complete the Web site when he returns from his studies.

In order to develop awareness among Bhutanese youths and the public in general about the faunal biodiversity of Bhutan, the WWF Bhutan Program developed 5,000 copies of posters on the biodiversity of Bhutan for distribution to schools and other institutions. As most of the schools are in remote areas, and since schools are also places where local communities frequently gather, they provide ideal places to disseminate information to local communities on the importance of natural resources.

Output 4: Capacity and capability development of major stakeholders

In-country training:

WWF conducted a two-day training session for the forestry staff of Sarpang and Gedu divisions in January and February, respectively. Our purpose was to standardize the surveying methodology and enroll more field staff in conducting wildlife surveys. In Sarpang, more than 36 staff from different ranges under Sarpang Division, Royal Manas National Park, and Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary attended the training. Similarly, in Gedu, more than 26 staff from different ranges and the Dzongkhag Forestry sector attended the course. During the training the participants were briefed on surveying methodologies, including identification of tiger evidence such as pugmarks, scrapes, and feces. Information on tiger biology and habitat in Bhutan were also presented to the participants. The participants also participated in a hands-on exercise on making plaster cast and tracing and measuring pugmarks. These two sites were selected because tigers have been reported in these areas frequently, and most of the staff were not trained in the past to conduct field surveys systematically. The

WWF Bhutan Program Page 6 participants were provided training package, working lunch, tea and snacks and daily allowances

External training:

To meet the shortages of trained manpower in conducting wildlife surveys, three park staff underwent wildlife management courses ranging from a three-month certificate level course to a nine-month, post-graduate diploma course at the Wildlife Institute of India. Two candidates (one from Bomdeling Wildlife Sanctuary and one from Jigme Dorji National Park) attended the certificate level course and one staff from Jigme Singye Wangchuck (former Black Mountains) National Park began the diploma course in September 2002. All the candidates completed their courses and returned to their respective field offices in May.

The tiger program coordinator, Mr. Sangay, is currently working towards a post- graduate diploma in wildlife management in the University of New England, New South Wales Australia. The coordinator is away for a period of one year and on his place, Mr. Sherub, who had earlier worked in the Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park as research warden, has taken.

Regional meeting:

One senior official from Nature Conservation Division attended a five-day meeting organized by the Global Tiger Forum and held September 4 – 8, 2002, at Dhaka. The objective of the meeting was to promote a worldwide campaign to save the tiger and its prey and habitats; promote legal frameworks in the countries involved for biodiversity conservation; increase the protected area network of habitats of the tiger and facilitate their inter-passages in the range countries; promote eco-development programs with the participation of the communities living in and around protected areas; urge countries to enter into relevant conventions for conservation of tiger and elimination of illegal trade; promote and carry out scientific research to generate information useful for tiger, its prey and its habitat to disseminate such information in an easily accessible manner; and promote the development and exchange of appropriate technologies and training programs for scientific wildlife management. A country paper was presented in the meeting.

Study Tour:

Six people from Nature Conservation Division and Ministry of Agriculture who are responsible for managing the tiger conservation fund left for India at the end of June for a period of ten days to study compensation schemes. They visited Rajaji National Park, Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun where they received briefings on field verification methodology for kills by tigers and other carnivores, compensating payments, and fund management. Biodiversity Project supported the tour through UNDP fund.

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