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BI-MONTHLY OUTREACH JOURNAL OF NATIONAL CONSERVATION AUTHORITY GOVERNMENT OF

Volume 3 Issue 2 Jan-Feb 2012 TIGER MORTALITY 2011 AS REPORTED BY STATES

Natural & other cause Accident Seizure Inside tiger reserve

Outside tiger Eliminated by dept Poaching No. of tiger deaths reserve

UTTARAKHAND 14 1 1 1 — 17 8 9

KERALA 3 — — 1 — 4 2 2

ASSAM 3 — — 2 1 6 4 2

MADHYA PRADESH 5 — — — — 5 4 1

RAJASTHAN 1 — — — — 1 1 —

ORISSA 1 — — — — 1 1 —

TAMIL NADU 3 — — — — 3 1 2

WEST BENGAL 3 — — — — 3 2 1

KARNATAKA 3 — — 3 — 6 6 —

MAHARASHTRA 2 — 1 2 1 6 1 5

UTTAR PRADESH — — 1 — — 1 1 —

CHHATTISGARH — — — 2 — 2 — 2

BIHAR 1 — — — — 1 — 1

TOTAL 39 1 3 11 2 56 31 25

* One old tiger trophy was seized in Delhi Volume 3 Evaluation Protocol EDITOR Issue 2 Status of Dr Rajesh Gopal Jan-Feb Monitoring in Phase-IV 2012 Western EDITORIAL in tiger Ghats COORDINATOR reserves & Landscape S P YADAV source areas Pg 4 Pg 15 CONTENT COORDINATOR Inder MS Kathuria

Photo Tiger FEEDBACK Feature Soldiers Assessment Annexe No 5 Camera Protection Management Bikaner House traps at force gets Effectiveness Shahjahan Road New Delhi work in going in Evaluation Kalakad TR Bandipur, P8 [email protected] Pg 14 Nagarhole Cover photo Pg 18 Bharat Goel

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 new year, with all its freshness, tigers and its prey in each tiger reserves which would commenced with a new set of initiatives complement the once in four year snapshot assess- from NTCA. Looking back, the last six ment of country level tiger status by NTCA, WII, tiger months were equally eventful. In August States in collaboration with other experts. Another 2011, the Scheme was initiative is to develop a national tiger camera trap revised and its cost estimate was photo database. This will help in keeping track of our stepped up to support voluntary village relocation wild tigers with individual IDs. The launching of “e- from core/critical tiger habitats. Besides, several new Eye” surveillance in Corbett is encouraging. components were added: change in funding pattern The is one of our most promising for TRs in the North-East, raising compensation for tiger landscapes. This issue carries a feature on its man-animal conflict, provision to acquire private assessment. NTCA has accorded in-principle approval holdings within the core, establishment of tiger for declaring Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary of safari/interpretation/awareness centre in buffer and , forming part of this landscape, as a tiger managing through Panchayati Raj Institutions, and reserve. NTCA has also recommended notifying reintroducing the cheetah. Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary in Andhra as a tiger reserve. The Phase-IV monitoring, launched recently, is a Another interesting feature in this issue is camera tiger reserve level monitoring of tiger, its prey and trapping of tigers in Kalakad Mundanthurai. Also, habitat. This needs to be done by the frontline staff has earned the distinction of being the first and officers of tiger reserves under the overall coor- tiger state to raise the Special Tiger Protection Force. dination and guidance of chief wildlife wardens. This Dr Rajesh Gopal ongoing monitoring would bring out yearly status of Member-Secretary, NTCA EVALUATION Western Ghats Landscape Vikram Singh

his The Western Ghats and the remaining parts of India. Wildlife Sanctuaries and forms (also called Sahyadri The Vindhya and Ajanta Ranges one of the largest Protected Area T Mountains) extend for in the north further strengthen networks in India. The Nilgiri and about 1600 km along the western this barrier. Agasthyamalai Biosphere coastline of India (Ranjit Daniels This region with a total forest- Reserves are also located within 1992). In the north, the Ghats are ed area of 1,01,467 sq km this zone in addition to several bounded by the Satpura Range (Qureshi et al. 2006) comprises reserved forests and sacred positioned in an east-west direc- nine notified Tiger Reserves, groves, totalling to about 5.8% of tion. This range hosts several three proposed (Sathyamangalam the total forested area in the towns of such as TR in Tamil Nadu and Western Ghats alone. , , and Biligiri and and also forms an Rangaswamy Temple Hills (BRT) CONSERVATION SIGNIFICANCE important bio-geographical barri- Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka); The Western Ghats apart from er between the Western Ghats 20 National Parks and about 68 being a store house of tropical

4 | Jan-Feb 2012 | STRIPES biodiversity are also a source of (2005) improvised upon this of large areas for commercial 38 east flowing rivers and 27 framework and added more plantations. flowing into the Arabian Sea details and national level conser- Johnsingh and Goyal (2005) (Dahanukar et al. 2004). These vation rankings to these land- recognised TCU 55 which covers rivers act as important sources of scapes. They also identified the tiger landscape between hydro-electric power, water for breeding habitats and potential Silent Valley-Mudumalai-Bandipur agriculture and industrialisation threats to each of these TCUs. and Dandeli (with 7500 km2 downstream and add impetus to Photo: S P Yadav under protection and about 2000 the development of large cities in km2 of inviolate area) as the the plains of Karnataka, Tamil most important area for the per- Nadu and . sistence of the species. They also These hills also structure rain- identified five breeding habitats fall and climatic patterns of this in this zone capable of sustain- region, allowing vast scale planta- ing upto 600 tigers and suggest- tions of commercial crops while ed strengthening the connectivity supporting amongst the highest between -Nadugani- abundances of endangered Mudumalai to link populations species of floral and faunal ele- between areas north and south of ments in India. Despite sustain- the Nilgiris. The second impor- ing the high diversity of flora and tant landscape (ranked 8th in the fauna, the region is also suscepti- country) was Megamalai-- ble to high levels of anthro- Kalakad with 1800 sq km area pogenic disturbances and thus under protection and capable of was amongst the first 18 global holding as many as 100 tigers biodiversity hotspots identified The of this with a breeding habitat in (Myers et al. 2000). region was recognized in Periyar. Anamalai unit was recog- The south Western Ghats moist the pre-colonial era for its nised as the 9th best landscape deciduous forests and the South importance as a trading with 1600 sq km of protected Western Ghats montane rain zone for spices, thus plant area with a carrying capacity of forests also constitute two of studies were initiated here 100 tigers. WWF’s 200 global terrestrial by the Dutch and the Jhala et al. (2008) estimated ecoregions due to their unique Portuguese as early as 1565 the single largest contiguous biodiversity with high levels of when Garcia de Orta pre- population of tigers in India (and endemism (Olson and Dinerstein pared a list of medicinal probably in the world) within 1998; Olson et al. 2001). plants. The region also Nagarhole-Mudumalai-Bandipur- In 2006, the Nature hosted one of the first Wayanad landscape with occu- Conservation foundation (NCF), comprehensive botanical pancy of 10,800 km2 and an esti- Mysore and the Ashoka Trust for treatises (not following mated tiger population of 280 Research in Ecology and the binomial nomenclature) individuals. Environment (ATREE), from the pre-Linnaean era However, despite the conserva- submitted a proposal to the of the modern world, tion impediments, a strong lobby UNESCO to include the Western Hortus Malabaricus of conservationists in this zone Ghats sub-cluster comprising of (The Garden of Malabar), have enabled the creation of invi- the region between the Sahyadris by Heinrich Van Rheede Tot olate zones in parts of Nagarhole and the Agasthyamalai Hills on Draakenstein between NP and Bhadra Tiger Reserve the World Heritage List. The 1678-1703. It was in 12 (Karanth 2007) by relocating vil- proposal is under review. volumes and inspired Carl lages from both these Protected Wikramanayake et al. (1998) Linnaeus to write his Areas and making them partially recognised two important level Species Plantarum. or fully inviolate. Further, they one tiger conservation units have ensured closure of mining (TCUs) within this landscape com- operations in Protected Areas prising of Dandeli-Bandipur and CONSERVATION STATUS such as Kudremukh National Park Periyar-Kalakad regions while The major impediments to tiger (Krishnaswamy et al. 2006) and Parambikulam National Park was conservation in this zone are the prohibited the creation of included in level II TCUs based existence of hydroelectric proj- which would submerge large bio- on their importance in tiger con- ects, hunting (Madhusudan and diversity rich areas in Silent servation. Johnsingh and Goyal Karanth 2002) and deforestation Valley National Park, while,

STRIPES | Jan-Feb 2012 | 5 organisations such as the NCF Bathery highway, are a distur- forested area of 23,338 sq km. It work in plantation forest mosaics bance to wildlife in the area. has three Tiger Reserves while a and restore the natural vegeta- proposal is awaited from the tion in those regions (Shankar c) Bhadra Tiger Reserve | state for one more, Raman and Mudappa 2003). Constituted in 1972 by joining Sathyamangalam. There are five Jagara Valley and national parks, 21 wildlife sanc- KARNATAKA | The state has forests in the Malnad region. tuaries and one conservation 36,190 sq km under forest cover. Small parts of the reserve are reserve. Large parts of the State It has four Tiger Reserves and also located in Shimoga district. also fall under the Nilgiri two proposed TRs, Biligiri This reserve is often cited as the Biosphere Reserve, Agasthya Rangaswamy Temple (BRT) best example of successful ‘vol- Malai Biosphere Reserve and the Wildlife Sanctuary and untary relocation’ of people from Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Kudremukh. There are also five protected areas with 11 villages Reserve. national parks and 22 wildlife having volunteered to move out sanctuaries across diverse habi- of the Reserve by 2003. Presence a) Indira Gandhi (Anamalai) Tiger tat types of the state. Parts of the of magnetite ore in the Baba Reserve | Covers 959 sq km in Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve also Budangiri Hills and the plans of Pollachi, Valparai and Udumalpet span across the state and include Chamrajanagar, Bandipur and Hunsur forest divisions. a) Nagarhole Tiger Reserve | The TR is contiguous with Bandipur to the south-east, separated by the backwaters of Kabini reser- voir. About 6000-7000 tribals (mostly Kuruba) live within the park with some having chosen to be a part of the ‘voluntary reloca- tion’ schemes initiated by the forest division and local conser- vation organizations. The park is also an important site for the India Eco-development Project scheme. b) Bandipur Tiger Reserve | One of the earliest TRs in the country Subhash Mishra covering an area of 870.36 sq km damming River Somvahini could talukas of Coimbatore district. at the junction of the Western be major threats to this area. Several rivers originate in the Ghats, the Nilgiris and the Reserve providing water to reser- . The reserve is d) Anshi-Dandeli Tiger Reserve | voirs such as Parambikulam, bounded by Wayanad Wildlife Forms a contiguous forest patch Aliyar, Sholayar and Amaravathi. Sanctuaries to the west, of about 2200 sq km which links It has unique habitats at Nagarhole to the north-west and to six Protected areas of and Karian Shola, Grass Hills and the River Moyar to the south Maharashtra. Anshi National Park Manjampatty. which forms a political boundary to the west of Dandeli shares a between Karnataka and Tamil border with Goa and receives b) Mudumalai Tiger Reserve | Nadu and separates Bandipur high rainfall supporting ever- Covers an area of 321 sq km and from Mudumalai Tiger Reserve. green forests while Dandeli is located in Gudalur and Human pressures on the park Wildlife Sanctuary faces intense Udhagamandalam talukas such as livestock grazing and human pressures from the sur- of the Nilgiri district. It is con- fuel wood collection is high with rounding villages as well as from nected to Wayanad Wildlife about 200 villages located within the paper and plywood industries Sanctuary of Kerala and Bandipur 5 km of the reserve boundary. in Dandeli town. Tiger Reserve of Karnataka. River Two highways, the Mysore-Ooty Moyar traverses the reserve from highway and Gundulpet-Sultan TAMIL NADU | The state has a south to north, parallel to which

6 | Jan-Feb 2012 | STRIPES runs the Udhagamandalam- Mysore Highway, for some dis- tance. The region has high live- stock grazing pressure and human disturbance levels. c) Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve | Covers 895 sq km of which 550 km2 forms the core and is a part of the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve. The western border of the reserve coincides with the crest line of the Western Ghats. About 14 rivers originate from this area and support three dams which provide hydro-elec- tric power and irrigation facilities to the district of Kanyakumari. The reserve has several settle- ments which include religious enclaves, private forests, dams, PWD land and encroachments. Fire during the dry season along with grazing and NTFP collection are among the numerous pres- sures exerted on the Reserve by the 145 hamlets within 5km of the eastern boundary. The Tiger S P Yadav Reserve has demonstrated suc- struction of the Parambikulam- sanctuaries. NTCA recently invit- cessful implementation of local Aliyar Project. ed proposal from the state gov- community participation in con- b) Periyar Tiger Reserve | Covers ernment to declare the Mhadei servation efforts through eco- 777 sq km within Pirmed taluka Wildlife Sanctuary a TR. development projects. of with a small portion in Rani taluka of Proposed Mhadei Wildlife KERALA | Has 17,324 sq km Pathanamthitta district. To the Sanctuary | Covers 208.48 sq km under forest cover constituting east of the Reserve are the in Sattari taluka of northeastern 45% of geographical area of the Srivilliputhur Grizzled Giant Goa. It is connected to the larger state. The state has two TRs, six Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary and tiger landscape of Karnataka national parks, 15 wildlife sanc- Tirunelveli Forest Division of around Anshi-Dandeli Tiger tuaries and two Biosphere Tamil Nadu. The Mullaperiyar Reserve through the Bhimgad Reserves, Nilgiri and constructed in 1895 result- Forest in the east and through Agasthyamalai. ed in a lake which covers 26 sq Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife km of the TR. Over five million Sanctuary in the west. a) Parambikulam Tiger Reserve | pilgrims visit the Sabrimala The latter Protected Area is Covers 285 sq km and is located Temple in the reserve each year; connected to Mollem National within Chittur taluka of Palghat disturbing the habitat severely Park and Netravali Wildlife district. It is located between the and polluting River Pamba. Only Sanctuary in south Goa which in Nelliampathy Hills of Kerala and four small settlements exist with- turn form a contiguous forested the Anamalai Range of Tamil in the park at Labbakkandam landscape with Anshi-Dandeli Nadu within a cluster of near Kumily, Mannakudy, Tiger Reserve in the Western Protected Areas. The TR has six Paliyakudi and Vanchivayal. Ghats of Karnataka. Mhadei, colonies with indigenous tribes along with Netravali and such as the Kadar, Malasar, GOA | The state has 2,151 sq km Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Muduvar and Malamalasars living under forest cover, constituting Sanctuaries are located within in them. There is also a colony in 58% of the total geographical the iron ore mining zone of Goa the TR which came up in the area. The state has one National and are under intense mining 1950s and 60s during the con- Park, Mollem, and six wildlife pressure.

STRIPES | Jan-Feb 2012| 7 Some Way Still To Go Management Effectiveness Evaluation Of Tiger Reserves In India Processes & Outcomes 2010-2011

Dharm Khandal n our country it is generally time, be much more active and whereas for some of them the for- observed that the Government really steer the Tiger Reserves mulation of Tiger Conservation I of India alone is fully taking with guidance and support. plan is still in progress (eg initiatives and responsibility for Tiger Conservation Plan Legal Periyar). The present system of wildlife conservation and tiger notification and delineation of Beat, Section and Range as unit of conservation in particular. This is nine Tiger Reserve (TRs) falling management, perhaps needs to be generally reflected in funding pat- within this Cluster have all been evaluated to see whether it is serv- terns wherein the state govern- done appropriately. All TRs have ing the twin major purposes of ments’ priority in funding for an approved Management Plan but protection and implementation of wildlife conservation is quite inad- none of them have approved Tiger developmental programmes. equate and low. There is large Conservation Plan. Some of the The enforcement of Wildlife scope for the state level steering TRs have an indicative Tiger Protection Act. 1972 and The committees to meet regularly in Conservation Plan (eg Nagarhole) Indian Forest Act /State Forest

8 | Jan-Feb 2012 | STRIPES Act is done very routinely and most of the TRs is not so well considerable strengthening to perhaps leaves large scope for organized. Publicity, advance ensure sustainability. We must considerable improvement with booking, accommodation, food, recognize the importance of better protection plans for each transport, interpretation, all developing a Tiger-Man ecosys- range for prevention, control and needs to be considerably tem in each TR with a well bal- detection of offences. Booking of improved. A good feedback sys- anced approach to take care of wildlife offences, filing of tem for visitor satisfaction is both tiger and human needs in chargesheets and taking them to absent in most of our TRs. all aspects. The conservation of logical conclusions in a time Management of local communi- tiger and biodiversity in each TR bound manner also is absent in ties has not received adequate is dependent upon the develop- most of TRs. It is desirable to attention in the TRs due to vari- ment of villages both inside and ensure that the patrolling of the ous reasons. The communities outer periphery of TRs. The only beat areas by foot, vehicle or both inside and in the immediate way to garner and elicit the other means are not only intensi- surroundings are not still accept- active support of local communi- fied but monitored and control ed as full partners in the man- ty in tiger conservation is to led at appropriate levels for pre- agement practices. Implemen- meet all the immediate and felt vention and detection of wildlife tation of Forest Rights Act 2006 needs of those villagers offences. The introduction of S P Yadav anti-poaching camps and watcher systems mostly manned by local tribals in all TRs have definitely reinforced and further strength- ened the protection but must be closely watched and controlled to prevent their likely misuse. There is an urgent need to intro- duce an information and intelli- gence gathering system and action in all TRs to make protec- tion much more effective. Documentation and record keep- ing, retrieval and sharing of vital information also needs consider- able improvement. The staff is invariably not ade- quately trained to manage the TRs and most of them are trans- ferred out frequently resulting in discontinuity of actions. There are no adequate incentives or The enforcement of wildlife laws leaves large scope for improvement rewards for better performers and therefore the motivation is quite tardy and poor in most by the consistent effort of TRs. level is not very high. There is no of the TRs. Therefore there is an immense system in place record the per- The participation of various need to integrate the develop- formance of staff and follow it stakeholders in management of ment of villages both inside and up with adequate responses. Tiger Reserves (TRs) is just mod- outer periphery of TRs with con- Most of the personnel are not erate. The Ecodevelopment servation of Tiger and all biodi- trained in wildlife management model practiced in Periyar and versity in the Tiger Conservation in TRs. Training need analysis Parambikulam TRs are very Plan. A mechanism has to be should be carried out for each TR encouraging and worth emulating evolved for each TR to ensure and suitable training pro- in other TRs with local variations active participation of grammes designed to suit their to suit their needs. The researchers, developers, sociolo- needs should be developed. Ecodevelopment model followed gists, planners, tourists, students Continuity of trained staff in TR by Kalakad TR in involving the and villagers in planning, man- management needs to be communities both inside and agement and monitoring of TR. ensured. immediate outer periphery are As the herbivorous population The tourism management in also quite promising but needs has considerably increased in

STRIPES | Jan-Feb 2012 | 9 M S Dungriyal numbers in TRs they are straying spread of diseases to the wild into adjacent agricultural fields animals from adjoining livestock. resulting in huge losses of agri- cultural crops, threatening even Opportunities | Increasing sup- the livelihood options of margin- port of government for biodiver- al and poor farmers. Most of the sity conservation. Increasing damages are caused by wild interest of researchers and other boars and porcupines. It calls for stakeholders in the area. active management of those pop- ulations by various means NAGARHOLE including policy level changes. Strengths | TR has sound protec- tion strategy in place. TR is part BANDIPUR of large landscape due to adjoin- Strengths | TR is part of large ing Bandipur TR and Wayanad landscape supporting largest WLS and this landscape holds population of tiger in the country biggest tiger population in the and has contiguity with adjoining country. Populations of tiger are Mudumalai TR, Nagarhole TR and M S Dungriyal stable in the last several years. Wayanad WLS. Core area free ets. Weak component of staff There is a good support of from human settlements.Good training. Still some important research institutions and hence support of scientific institutions corridors are outside TR. good scientific baseline particu- and adequate baseline informa- larly of tiger and its prey.TR has tion. Good support of Threats | Increasing number of experience of implementing good NGOs.Effective system of visitor private resorts around TR there- relocation programme . management. by creating more tourism pres- sures. Increasing conflicts with Weaknesses | Core area has set- Weaknesses | Spreading invasive the local communities due to ele- tlements and resultant biotic species particularly Lantana. phant depredation. Proposed pressures. Weak support of local Weak support of local communi- projects and other developments communities and NGOs and inad- ties due to weak Ecodevelopment in and around TR (including the equate participation of stake- programmes. Increasing Human future possibilities of widening holders in general. Increasing Wildlife Conflicts in certain pock- of Mysore-Ooty Road). Likely anthropogenic pressures and

10 | Jan-Feb 2012 | STRIPES weak ecodevelopment pro- DANDELI-ANSHI interest of research among insti- grammes for livelihood support Strengths | Location and connec- tutions and individuals. Potential of local people. Inadequate tivity to adjoining PAs of Goa and of awareness raising. resour ces and allocations. forest areas of Karnataka. Inadequate visitor services and Motivated team in place. Good PERIYAR information. Inadequate trained support of local people and Strengths | Core area free from frontline staff. Frequent transfer NGOs. Important semi evergreen human habitations and sound of officers. habitat for tiger and associates. connectivity to adjoining areas. Planned tourism and education Forming part of large Periyar- Threats | Growing tourism. facilities. Agasthyamalai landscape. Sound Growing conflicts with some support and involvement of com- stakeholders. Developmental Weaknesses | 52 villages in side munities through ongoing ecode- projects in the adjoining areas TR some of these well-developed. velopment and ecotourism pro- including plantations. Growing Spreading invasive species and grammes. Good scientific base- human wildlife conflicts. S P Yadav

Opportunity | Growing interest of research institutions in the area. Growing support of Government for conservation.

BHADRA Strengths | Location and connec- tivity to adjoining areas. Sound protection. Sizable area free from human habitations and a rich experience of rehabilitation of villages. Strong support of peo- ple and NGOs. Rich habitat / water resources. Potential tiger population and associated rich prey base. All tiger reserves have an approved management Weaknesses | Inadequately main- tained road network and infra- plan but none of them have approved Tiger structure. Spreading invasive Conservation Plan. The present system of beat, species. Still some human settle- section and range as unit of management, per- ments inside. Some pressures from fringe areas/buffer. haps needs to be evaluated to see whether it is Inadequate capacity of staff. serving the twin purposes of protection and Weak baseline information and implementation of developmental programmes long term monitoring.

Threats | Human wildlife con- some exotics in side TR. line information. Active Tiger flicts. Likely spread of tourism in Inadequate capacity of staff. Foundation. Emerging centre of the vicinity of TR. Leased area to Inadequate baseline information learning for community partici- SAIL still not closed. Proposal of and long term monitoring. pation in biodiversity conserva- raising the height of existing tion. Very less human wildlife . Threats | Increasing human conflicts. wildlife conflicts. Future pres- Opportunity | Recently estab- sures of tourism in and around Weaknesses | Significant area of lished Tiger Foundation. Growing TR if not planned. Difficulty in grasslands under exotic eucalyp- interest of research among insti- relocation of well-developed agri- tus plantations. Ecodevelopment tutions and individuals. culture enclosures programme stagnating due to Biologically rich areas adjoining second generation problems. the reserve. Potential of aware- Opportunity | Recently establish- Buffer zone small and yet to be ness raising ed Tiger Foundation. Growing notified. Adjoining areas of land-

STRIPES | Jan-Feb 2012 | 11 scape yet to be brought under human population. TR has sound Periyar Landscape. Strong sup- active wildlife management inter- protection and is integrated into port of local people, NGOs and ventions. Shingotta gap- ongoing large landscape due to adjoining other stakeholders. Good scien- and proposed developments in Annamalai TR and other divi- tific research information base the area. Inadequate systems of sions. Sound community support because of involvement of differ- management of Sabarimala pil- through ecodevelopment pro- ent institutions and individuals. grimage area. gramme. Emerging model of com- Strong ecodevelopment pro- munity base ecotourism. Almost gramme in place to address the Threats | Growing tourism rush no human wildlife conflicts. livelihood concerns of local and mushrooming of tourism dependent communities. infrastructure in Kumali town. Weaknesses | Large area under Emerging area as a learning cen- Increasing pilgrims in Sabarimala exotic plantations. Inadequate tre for community based protect- and delay in implementation of trained staff. Monitoring systems ed area management. already approved Master Plan. yet to be strengthened. Existing water disputes between Inadequate incentives to attract Weaknesses | Human settlements two states and proposed new and retain staff. Some distur- inside. Inadequate number and Mullaperiyar dam. Emerging dis- bance due to reservoirs and set- no training of the frontline staff. ease threat to wildlife from tlements inside TR (Buffer zone). Ecodevelopment programme still adjoining areas. Proposed devel- Threats | Growing demand for a needs support of TR management opments in Periyar-Agasthya- road through adjoining Kerala to deal with emerging issues of malai landscape. forests. Growing tourism rush. linkages between conservation of Possible water disputes between TR and community livelihoods. Opportunity | Growing interest of two states in future Inadequate visitor facilities and research institutions in the area. material. Pilgrimage pressures Support of tourism department. Opportunity | Support of tourism due to a temple inside TR. Wide possibilities of development department. Growing interest of of Periyar Foundation (both finan- research institutions in the area. Threats | Increasing pressures of cially and academically). pilgrimage. Likely spread of KALAKAD-MUNDANTHURAI tourism in the vicinity of TR. PARAMBIKULAM Strengths | Connectivity to the Upcoming projects around TR Strengths | Core area free from adjoining areas. Linking to and private plantation areas. S P Yadav Possible pressures from inter- state borders.

Opportunity | Sizable corpus available with communities. Recently established Tiger Foundation. Growing interest of research among institutions and individuals. Scope of growing awareness for conservation in the area.

ANNAMALAI Strengths | TR part of large land- scape covering a series of impor- tant habitats and rich flora and fauna with contiguity to Parambikulam TR and Chinnar WLS of Kerala, thereby providing space for migration of large mammals. Sound protection strategies in place. Adequate baseline information and support of research institutions. There are no adequate incentives or rewards for better performers Adequate support of local people and therefore the motivation level is not very high due to implementation of

12 | Jan-Feb 2012 | STRIPES Ecodevelopment programme for their livelihoods. Good coordina- tion with adjoining state of Kerala.

Weaknesses | Core area still has human settlements which are proposed to be shifted out. Increasing Human Wildlife Conflicts in certain pockets. Poor component of staff training. Still some important corridors outside TR. Inadequate information and facilities for visitors. Invasive species in certain pockets partic- ularly around .

Threats | Increasing conflicts with the local communities due to elephant depredation. Increasing rush of visitors and slow preparedness to deal with the situation. Possible spread of diseases from adjoining live- stock.

Opportunity | Increasing support of government for biodiversity conservation. Increasing interest of researchers and other stake- holders in the area. Recently established TR foundation.

MUDUMALAI Strengths | The tiger reserve is part of large landscape along with adjoining Bandipur Tiger Reserve and Wayanad WLS pro- viding space for migration of large mammals and integrated into this ecosystem. The protec- tion system is good and anti- poaching strategies are in place. The tiger reserve has good sys- tem to deal with human wildlife Photos: S P Yadav conflicts. This is a learning cen- inadequate. Some corridors have Threats | Increasing number of tre for Captive Elephant been identified but these are yet hotels around TR. Increasing con- Management and their use in pro- to be acquired. flicts with private hotels. tection. There is good support of Tourism pressures due to Proposed developmental projects research institution which has increasing number of around the reserve. generated adequate baseline resorts/hotels in and around information. Masanagudy. Visitor facilities Opportunity | Growing interests needs improvement. Weak liveli- of research institutions. Newly Weaknesses | There is still human hood support to the local commu- created Tiger Research habitation in side TR leading to nities through Ecodevelopment Foundation and support of biotic pressures in some pockets. and their low level participation in government and other agencies Component of training of staff tiger reserve protection. for the tiger reserve.

STRIPES | Jan-Feb 2012 | 13 CAMERA TRAP PHOTOGRAPHS OF KALAKAD MUNDANTHURAI TIGER RESERVE

Situated in the south Western Ghats, the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve is bound by forests in west, north and south and by villages in the east. This is the only area of Western Ghats which has longest raining period of about 8 months,and it is the only non-dipterocarp evergreen forest in the region. The reserve is part of the Agasthyamalai Biosphere reserve

14 | Jan-Feb 2012 | STRIPES SECTION-1 The Tiger Task Force constituted by the National Board for Wildlife (2005) has endorsed the revised methodology propounded by the Protocol on erstwhile Project Tiger Directorate (now the National Tiger Conservation Authority- NTCA) and the Wildlife Institute of India for country-level estima- monitoring tion/monitoring of tiger/prey status and its habitat. This Phase IV: Continuous monitoring of tiger includes a country-level assess- reserves and tiger source areas ment of tiger, co-predators, prey S P Yadav and habitat in 17 tiger states once in every four years; inten- sive monitoring of tiger source populations in TRs and protected areas in each tiger landscape complex (Phase-IV), and mainte- nance of a centralized photo- database of tigers at NTCA; rou- tine management-oriented moni- toring and survey design (for all tiger reserves except Sundarbans) for spatially explicit mark-recap- ture study involving research workers/scientists. After a series of meetings, as per the decision taken, the mini- mum standards for Phase IV pro- tocols were:-  Camera trap density one pair per 4-5 sq km Minimum trap nights of 1000 per 100 sq km. (ie 25 pairs of cameras in 100 sq km for 40 days) Minimum area coverage of 400 sq km reserves except Sundarbans) issues if this is not possible then Closure period of 40-60 days Part-A | Maintaining daily a GPS coordinate recorded and Minimum of 20 spatial repli- patrolling log in patrolling written down in the record form cates of line transects each of a camp/ chowki registers contain- every 30 min or at major devia- minimum of 2 km length (for ing the following information: tions from a straight line path. entire reserve) Total number of persons on Entire reserve needs to be Each patrolling team shall be the patrol are recorded along sampled. Each sampling occasion equipped with a GPS unit and a with number of armed personnel should cover minimum 400 sq km digital camera besides regular and type of arms. The mode of (100 pairs of cameras) and in case equipment (eg firearms, wireless, patrol is also recorded, eg on of larger reserves, the area should torch etc). foot, bicycle, motorcycle, 4WD, be covered by dividing the area Date, time and GPS coordi- elephant, boat etc. into 400 sq km blocks and camera nates of beginning of patrol Record of all illegal activities trapping done successively, within recorded entered in data sheet along with the closure period of 60 days. Preferably the GPS unit shall time, date and coordinate stamp. be switched on throughout the A photo is also taken of the site SECTION-2 patrol in a track log mode. with a time date stamp MANAGEMENT-ORIENTED However, due to constraints of Record of signs and sightings MONITORING (For all tiger technical knowhow or other or highly endangered species

STRIPES | Jan-Feb 2012 | 15 while on patrol is also main- no need for laying of transect mer and winter. In case a pre- tained by entering the GPS coor- lines in each beat as per Phase-I pared PIP is disturbed due to dinate, date and time of the protocol.) rain, traffic etc, then it should be sighting/sign as well as recording set again before data is collected. a digital picture of the same if Part-C | Recording data from The topography and forest type possible ‘pressure impression pads’ (PIP) should be recorded for each PIP. After the end of the patrol, As part of intensive monitoring Trails of all carnivore and the GPS track log is either down- of source populations of tigers, mega herbivore species should loaded onto a computer (in data will be recorded from pres- be recorded eg tiger one track MSTrIPES program if this is sure impression pads (PIPs, track set, two track sets, sever- applicable at the site) or the plots) in every beat. al track sets (as it may not datasheet with the recorded A minimum of 5 PIPs will be be possible to identify individual information deposited at the permanently maintained in each track sets due to many tracks by range headquarters beat. The dimension of the PIP a passing dhole pack), one small shall not be less than 6m in cat track (as species-level identi- PART B | Carrying out beat-wise length the width of the PIP should fication may not be possible). monitoring of signs and encoun- equal the foot path, jungle trail or It is important to note that a ters of animals/vegetation/habi- dry nullah’s width on which the track set is constituted by one to tat disturbances following Phase-I PIP is made. GPS coordinates of all many pugmarks made by a single protocols twice a year The entire tiger reserve would be covered at the beat level, by considering the latter as a sam- pling unit, as done in Phase-I of the country-level assessment by following the standardized eight day protocol. This would involve beat-wise collection of data (in the standardized formats) twice a year relating to tiger/carnivore signs survey, ungulate, encounter rates, habitat status, human pres- ence and pellet/dung counts. Based on such data, beat level maps indicating spatial presence/relative abundance (index) of prey/predators species should be prepared in GIS domain for record. (i) Beat-wise collection of data in the standardized formats of S P Yadav Phase-I country level assessment PIPs need to be recorded. animal traversing the track plot process. The location of the PIPs within (PIP). One need not identify the (ii) Data collection should be the beat should be such that they gender or individual animal done twice a year (summer and maximize the possibility of recor- (tiger), but if this information is winter). ding carnivore tracks. Minimum known, it should be entered in (If the tiger reserve is following distance between any two PIPs the remarks column. If there are advanced protocols as described should be more than 1.5km. more than one track sets of in the next section in collaboration The PIPs should be cleaned of “same” animal eg a tiger moving with scientific institutions, then debris, leaf litter, gravel and cov- up and down the trail several the routine monitoring of prey ered with fine dust of about times, they should be recorded animal signs/encounters, vegeta- 0.5cm depth. After preparing the as separate track sets. tion features and habitat distur- PIP, data should be recorded the bance features should be carried next morning and the PIP cleared Part-D | Obtaining the minimum out along transect lines designed of all tracks. number of tigers in the reserve based on protocols described in The PIPs should be sampled (i) Three pairs of camera traps Part-E of Section-3. There may be thrice every month during sum- to be deployed per beat and

16 | Jan-Feb 2012 | STRIPES should be left open within a by sampling a minimum block of record of camera captures and closed period of 40-60 days 400 sq km at a time, but following the basics of mark recapture depending on the reserve. all other minimum standards in process using camera traps are (ii) The period of leaving the section 3. If deployment of camera provided. camera traps open (closure peri- traps in an entire reserve or parts (v) The analysis of capture data od) is important owing to the of it is not feasible for any reason, between years (using open popu- fundamental assumption of “pop- fecal DNA samples may be collect- lation models) should also be ulation closure” (no ed over the entire tiger reserve for done in collaboration with tech- deaths/births/immigrations/emi- capture-recapture analysis. The nical experts/scientists/WII. grations in the population). tiger population size may then be Leaving the cameras open for estimated over the entire tiger (b) Obtaining prey densities longer duration will lead to over- reserve using mark-recapture (i) Line transects must be sys- estimation of tiger numbers. methodology. tematically placed with a random Photo: S P Yadav (iii) The photographs obtained start according to the survey from camera trapping should be design and implemented in pro- submitted to NTCA for analysis gram DISTANCE. for fixing individual IDs of tigers. (ii) The line transect data should (iv) A digital camera trap tiger be analysed using the “DIS- photo database should be pre- TANCE" software for prey densi- pared for the reserve with location ty. The analysis of the data needs ID, date and time stamps as per to be done in collaboration with format to be provided by NTCA a technical expert/scientist con- (v) The minimum number of versant with the DISTANCE SAM- tigers should be ascertained PLING analysis. based on individual camera (iii) The standard format for col- photo traps of tigers obtained lecting line transect data to facili- within the closure period speci- tate analysis using “DISTANCE” fied to be 45-60 days software and the basics of DIS- (vi) Details of new captures/ miss- The entire reserve TANCE sampling using line tran- ing tigers should be recorded. sects are to be used. (vii) The format for recording the would be covered at camera trap capture data will be the beat level, by Part-F | Using scats for DNA provided by NTCA considering the latter analysis to obtain the minimum tiger numbers in reserves where SECTION-3 as a sampling unit, as camera trapping is not possible ADVANCED PROTOCOL in Phase-I of the coun- INVOLVING SCIENTISTS try level assessment (i) Collection of scat samples: (Phase-IV intensive monitoring (a) Use disposable surgical of source populations and tiger by following the gloves to handle scat samples reserves) 8-day protocol (b) For each scat a new set of gloves should be used to avoid Part-E | Obtaining tiger popula- (ii) The analysis of data needs to cross-contamination, used gloves tion size for the reserve using be done in collaboration with a should be discarded in an envi- spatially-explicit capture recap- technical expert/scientist conver- ronmentally friendly way ture framework and obtaining sant with spatially-explicit cap- (c) About 20g of fresh scat sam- prey population size using line ture-recapture process/analysis. ple should be taken and stored in transect sampling. (iii) The period of leaving the a vial/tube containing buffer and (a) Obtaining tiger population camera traps open (closure peri- or 70% alcohol. Tubes should be size. od) is important owing to the prepared in duplicate with GPS (i) The camera traps deployed as fundamental assumption of “pop- coordinates and date clearly per the survey design. Should be ulation closure” (no recorded on the tube (alcohol left open for a period of 40-60 deaths/births/immigrations/emi- erases permanent marking pens). days (depending on the areas). grations in the population). (ii) Obtaining the minimum num- Where possible, the entire tiger Leaving the cameras open for ber of tigers in the area through reserve must be surveyed. If the longer duration may lead to over DNA analysis of tiger scats survey area is very large, tiger estimation. involving an institution having population size can be obtained (iv) The format for summary the domain expertise.

STRIPES | Jan-Feb 2012 | 17 Soldiers for the Tiger SPECIAL TIGER PROTECTION FORCE IN BANDIPUR & NAGARHOLE

he National Tiger Conservation Authority, (NTCA) New Delhi during 2009-10 circulated T the guidelines, memorandum of understand- ing etc for raising, arming and deploying the Special Tiger Protection Force. Of the two options, the government of Karnataka after due deliberations resolved to raise the Special Tiger Protection Force for Bandipur and Nagarhole Tiger Reserves under Option-II. Accordingly, the government of Karnataka in a June 2011 order sanctioned 112 posts — one for assistant conserva- tor of forests, three range forest officers, 18 foresters, 63 forest guards and 27 forest watchers. The recruitment of 14 foresters and 40 forest guards has been completed. The 54 personnel of this elite force have under- gone induction forestry training and the 13-week training module as prescribed by NTCA. Recruitment for the remaining vacancies in the cadre of foresters, forest guards and forest watch- ers is under way. The three platoons each headed by a range forest officer will be deployed at Melukamanahalli (Bandipur), Hand Post, H. D. Kote (between Bandipur and Nagarhole) and Thithimathi (Nagarhole) being the platoon headquarters. The company headed by the assistant conservator of forests is headquartered at Hand Post, H. D. Kote.

18 | Jan-Feb 2012 | STRIPES First stocktaking conference to review implementation of GLOBAL TIGER RECOVERY PROGRAM

he St. Petersburg Declaration on Tiger Conservation and the Global Tiger T Recovery Program (GTRP) adopted at the International Tiger Forum in Russia, November MAY 15-17, 2012 2010, call for convening regular high-level VIGYAN BHAVAN CONFERENCE CENTER, meetings to review the implementation progress NEW DELHI, INDIA of the GTRP and its national priorities (NTRPs). While the first Asia Ministerial Conference on Hosted by the National Tiger Tiger Conservation (AMC), held in Hua Hin, Conservation Authority, Ministry of Thailand, in January 2010, played its critical Environment and Forests, Government of India role in preparations for the International Tiger & Forum in Russia, the second AMC, to be held in Co-organized and co-sponsored by the Global the second half of 2012, is expected to help Tiger Initiative (GTI) and its partners, Global ensure continued high-level political commit- Tiger Forum (GTF), and the World Bank ment to tiger recovery. Representatives and specialists from other government sectors, ALL EVENTS ARE FOR REGISTERED including law enforcement, infrastructure, and PARTICIPANTS ONLY. donor agencies, will join conservationists to ALL EVENTS ARE AT VIGYAN BHAVAN, deepen support to the line agencies in TRCs. A HALL NO. 5. Stocktaking Meeting of Senior Officials and WORKING LANGUAGE IS ENGLISH Experts will complete the work necessary for a review of GTRP implementation progress and preparation for the Ministerial-level decisions of the second AMC. OBJECTIVES

 Take stock of progress made in the implementation of the GTRP by tiger reserve countries and their partners, including adoption of the draft GTRP Annual Implementation Report 2011  Announce National Priority Implementation Activities 2012, discuss plans forward  Deepen engagement in several critical areas  Raise funds for GTRP Implementation  Address threats to tiger habitats; smart green infrastructure  Combat illegal trade and poaching  Eliminate demand for tiger products  Strengthen national monitoring systems 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 TWO

Vikram Singh

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