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s t r i p e sBI-MONTHLY OUTREACH JOURNAL OF NATIONAL TIGER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

Volume 1 Issue 3 Mar-Apr 2010

PROJECT TIGER: Amount Released during 2009-10(As on 31.03.2010; Amount in INR lakhs)

Tiger Reserve State Total Amount Amount released Total AmountReleased to to State for 2nd Released to StateTiger Reserve All India Tiger Estimation during 2009-2010

Nagarjunsagar Andhra Pradesh 94.9100 43.34366 138.25366

Namdhapa Arunachal Pradesh 14.6200 1.23000 64.71000

Pakke Arunachal Pradesh 48.8600

Kaziranga Assam 165.0000 7.70000 194.29000

Manas Assam -

Nameri Assam 21.5900

Valmiki Bihar 8.0000 0.85600 8.85600

Achanakmar Chhattisgarh 1,193.5000 44.80320 1,383.50320

Indravati Chhattisgarh 42.1500

Udanti-Sitanadi Chhattisgarh 103.0500

Palamau Jharkhand 110.7350 6.40360 117.13860

Bandipur Karnataka 164.1970 9.59000 657.06200

Bhadra Karnataka 128.0870

Dandeli Anshi Karnataka 144.3700

Nagarhole Karnataka 210.8180

Periyar Kerala 151.8000 30.26000 311.42000

Parambi Kulam Kerala 129.3600

Bandhavgarh M.P 159.9600 159.91020 2,582.47620

Kanha M.P 280.1800

Panna M.P 175.8950

Pench M.P 158.3200

Sanjay Dubri M.P 145.8400

Satpura M.P 1,502.3710

Melghat Maharashtra 155.1850 5.64000 373.51700

Pench Maharashtra 75.8720

Tadoba-Andheri Maharashtra 131.8200

Sahyadri Maharashtra 5.0000

Dampa Mizoram 2,171.0000 - 2,171.00000

Satkosia Orissa 127.7300 51.66000 221.74000

Similipal Orissa 42.3500

Ranthambhore Rajasthan 10,560.0000 - 10,694.17000

Sariska Rajasthan 134.1700

KMTR Tamil Nadu 138.4550 17.80000 258.35400

Mudumalai Tamil Nadu 51.8540

Anamalai Tamil Nadu 50.2450

Corbett Tiger Uttaranchal 241.7050 4.50000 246.20500

Buxa West Bengal 38.5800 0.23500 298.78500

Sunderbans West Bengal 259.9700

I) Dudhwa U.P 285.9570 17.08000 431.51700

II) Katerniaghat U.P 128.4800

Total 19751.99 401.01166 20152.99766

Corrigendum: The error on page 8, Stripes Jan-Feb 2010 issue is regretted. It should read ‘In August 2009’ instead of ‘2000’

Tiger numbers evinceconsiderable interest and

rightfully so. In the recent past,there have been suggestionsfrom several quarters for settingtargets to double the tiger

number in range countries as a part of theGlobal Tiger Recovery Programme. Howsoever,convincing and catchy this may appear, thesuggestion is unrealistic, fraught with practicalfield problems which are bound to make thisunachievable.

India has around 32,000 sq.km. of tiger forests underProject Tiger as core areas. These encompass the six majorlandscapes within the country having the source populationsof tiger. Thanks to Project Tiger, these populations are stillviable. The ecologically unsustainable land uses outside suchsource areas is a major bottleneck for the survival of the spillover tigers from core habitats. Due to this, the man-tigerconflicts are increasing in many tiger districts leading totargeted / non-targeted killing of tigers. Therefore, the need

of the hour is to secure and expand the inviolatespace (habitat) for tiger, which can be the besttarget for the future. As has been our experiencesince 1972, tiger responds very well tomanagerial interventions aimed at protection.Given the short gestation of 90 to 100 days,securing and expanding inviolate areas wouldlead to increase in tiger numbers without man-tiger interface complications. The situation inmany tiger range countries may not be muchdifferent from India. Therefore, an overenthusiastic projection in tiger number without

ground truthing for the feasibility of securing inviolate space,would make the 'number centric target' counter productive byfostering more conflicts between the tiger and people. Thiswould go against the cause. If the temptation for numberscannot be resisted, then at the most, it should be projected asa possible realistic outcome of an attainable target of inviolatespace.

Dr Rajesh Gopal Member-Secretary, NTCA

EDITOR Dr Rajesh Gopal Member Secretary NTCA

EDITORIALCONSULTANT Ananda Banerjee

CONTENTCOORDINATORInder MS Kathuria

FEEDBACK Annexe No 5 Bikaner House ShahjahanRoad New Delhi [email protected]

Cover photo Nanak Dhingra

s t r p e sn o t e f r o m t h e e d i t o r

Volume 1Issue 3

Mar-Apr2010

ChallengesNagarjunasagar SrisailamtigerPg 4

Status Panna’s success story

Pg 12

ChallengesThe SimilipallandscapeP14

STRIPESmailResponses &commentsPg 17

InitiativesMonitoringTigers inKazirangaNational ParkPg 16

First PersonP K Sen

P18

iBI-MONTHLY OUTREACH JOURNAL OF NATIONAL TIGER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

StrategyM-STrIPES -Monitoringsystem forTigers Pg 8

4 | Mar-Apr 2010 | STRIPES

CHALLENGES

While India’s WesternGhats havegarneredtremendousnational and

international attention, the samecannot be said of the EasternGhats, despite their incrediblyrich biodiversity. Nagarjunasagar- Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR)in the Nallamalla Hill Range, anoffshoot of the Eastern Ghats,has the potential to be one ofIndia’s finest Tiger Reserves.Freed from 16 years of armedextremist domination, theReserve is in urgent need ofinfrastructure, increased staffstrength and capacity building.This report is the result of a rapid appraisal carried out fromSeptember 9th to 15th 2009 forthe National Tiger ConservationAuthority (NTCA).

Area and extent: Encompassingan area of 3,568 sq km spreadover five Districts of AndhraPradesh, NSTR is India’s largestTiger Reserve. In 2007, an area of2527 sq km of the TR wasnotified as ‘Inviolate Area’. Inaddition, a contiguous area offorest of 1140 sq km, called theGundla BrahmeshwaramSanctuary (GBM) - to the south ofNSTR – has been proposed ascore/ critical tiger habitat. GBM isentirely devoid of humansettlements and is therefore anextremely valuable addition thatneeds to be notified as aCore/Critical Tiger Habitat at theearliest.

Topography and fauna of NSTR:

Hilly terrain cloaked in tropicalmixed dry deciduous forest ischaracteristic of this picturesqueTiger Reserve, which also boastsof plateaus and valleys, gorgesand escarpments.

The Krishna River runsthrough the TR for 130 km. Thefaunal diversity is remarkable tosay the least, and includes tiger,leopard, wild dog, striped hyena,Indian wolf, sloth bear, spotteddeer and sambar as well as fourspecies of antelope, namelyNilgai, Blackbuck, Chinkara andChousingha.

Present status of habitat andstatus of tigers, co-predatorsand prey:The overall quality of the habitat,particularly in the Core/Critical(inviolate) area appears to begood. Encouraging signs of tigers,leopards and wild dogs wereobserved. Frequent sightings ofprey animals in some parts of theTR indicate the potential forlong-term persistence of tigers,and provides ecologicaljustification for investments inthe NSTR landscape.

NAGARJUNASAGAR-SRISAILAM TIGER RESERVEExtracts from a rapid appraisal report of conservation status of Nagarjunhasagar -

Srisailam Tiger Reserve by @ravEen Bharcav, She#aR aptatri and Abay Desai for NTCA

STRIPES | Mar-Apr 2010 | 5

A unique feature:We would like to draw specialattention to the unique fact thatNSTR and GBM are connected to,and contiguous with, a mosaic ofReserve Forests and PAs thatextend all the way south to theSri Venkateshwara National Parkin Chitoor District. The combinedarea of this tract, spanning alength of approximately 350 kmfrom north to south, andcomprising over 13,000 sq km ofmixed deciduous forest andsouthern tropical thorn scrub,presents an extraordinaryopportunity for conservation.The forests and grasslands hereare home to rare and endangeredspecies such as Jerdon’s courser,Great Indian bustard, Asianelephant and the red sanderstree. The AP Forest Department

has already started planning thelinking up of these areas, andneeds to be supported andencouraged in implementing thisplan.

NSTR - problems and solutions:The Reserve has several chronicproblems, which need to beeither resolved or mitigated. Herewe present a summary of ourfindings and recommendationsbased on our field assessments.

CRITICAL CONSERVATION ISSUES:Staff strength & Infrastructure:The Tiger Reserve is grosslyunderstaffed at all levels given itsvast extent. Due to thebreakdown of administrativemachinery during the 16 years ofnaxal domination, protection

infrastructure in the Reserve isseverely crippled. There are noanti-poaching camps, nofirearms, no patrolling vehiclesand no wireless network. Lack ofstaff quarters and monetaryincentives are major hurdles inattracting and retaining qualitypersonnel.

Dual responsibility: Officers andstaff of NSTR are saddled withnumerous territorial duties thattake their focus away from thetask of managing the TigerReserve.

Lack of coordination: Severalother government departments,including the Integrated TribalDevelopment Authority (ITDA),appear to be working atcrosspurposes with the ForestDepartment, exacerbating theproblems of the Reserve throughad hoc developmental activitiesthat are often incompatible withtiger conservation.

Development activities thatare poorly planned and/or whichdo not follow the terms andconditions stipulated are alsocreating problems in the Reserve.

Township: The irrigationtownship of Sundipenta in theheart of NSTR is expanding at analarming rate. If left unchecked,

Members of the AP Govt’s elite anti-naxal force - ‘Greyhounds’ - onpatrol along the periphery of NSTR. The team’s vehicle, as well as NSTR vehicles, were able to move aroundthe reserve without an armed escort. This would not have been possibleabout 18 months ago due to Naxal presence in the park.

its cancerous growth could posea big threat to the Reserve in thefuture. Already, the bioticpressures exerted by thecombined population ofSundipenta and the temple townof Srisailam (about 25,000) aresaid to be considerable.

Encroachments: Encroachmentsin the Nagarjunasagar Division(northeast extreme of NSTR) haveseverely fragmented the habitat,which is already fragmented by the presence of theNagarjunasagar reservoir.Encroachments are also present elsewhere. Some illegalsettlements by fishermen alongthe Srisailam Reservoir bringdisturbance and anthropogenicpressures to undisturbed areas ofNSTR.

Pilgrimage: Several lakh pilgrimsvisit the Shiva Temple atSrisailam as well as several othersmaller temples and shrines inthe Reserve every year. While alarge number of vehicles ply onthe highway through the forest

posing a risk to wildlife, an even larger number of peoplechoose to walk up to the templesthrough the forest, causingdisturbance to wildlife andposing a major fire hazardduring the dry season.

Cattle: A large resident cattlepopulation (reportedly 50,000 –100,000) in and around NSTR andthe influx of migratory cattle ona massive scale (reportedly 300,000 +) from June to Octoberand again in the dry season is amajor problem. Competition for scarce resources(water and fodder), threat ofdisease, disturbance to largeareas of NSTR and potential forretaliatory killing of cattle-liftersare the major problems posed bythese cattle.

Timber smuggling: The parkmanagement estimates thatapproximately 2100 plus cubicmetre of timber is extractedillegally for house constructionand manufacture of agriculturalimplements annually. There are

an estimated 1500 carpentersinvolved in making these itemsoutside NSTR. These goods areapparently sold in the open at anannual fair in Tartur Village,where people from Karnatakaand Maharashtra, as well aslocals, visit to buy them. Thereare said to be several hardenedgangs and cartels involved in thistrade, which the management ishard-pressed to countereffectively.

In addition, fuel woodcollection and lopping of trees toprovide fodder for cattle andgoats is exerting a huge pressureon the trees.

Poaching: Poaching of preyspecies and small game remainsa un-quantified threat; targetedpoaching for tigers has also beenrecorded in the past. Illegalfishing, estimated to be around2400 plus tons annually, is alsothreatening the aquatic species,which include many endemicfishes, otters and MarshCrocodile.

Conflict: Human wildlife conflictis prevalent in and around thereserve and this could result inincreased animosity towardsconservation, and in retaliatorykilling of wildlife.

HIGH PRIORITY RECOMMENDATIONS:Staff strength: State Governmentmust urgently increase officerand staff strength and initiatecapacity building to establish acredible and effective protectionmechanism.

Dual responsibility: StateGovernment must unburden theField Director and Divisional Forest Officers of NSTR from allTerritorial Division duties so thatthey may focus their energiesexclusively on managing theTiger Reserve. Ideally, key NSTRofficers presently leading therecovery process must be


The sprawling landscape. Over 200 Chenchu have been employed as‘Tiger Trackers’ and ‘Protection Watchers’, but their wages have notbeen paid for over ten months due to bureaucratic delays.

retained for at least two moreyears to ensure consolidation ofgains achieved and continuity.

Protection Force: In lieu of theproposed armed Special TigerProtection Force, thesensitization/utilization of theelite Greyhounds (Police) forceunder an appropriatecoordination protocol - or jointcommand - should be carefullyconsidered.

Infrastructure: NTCA mustimmediately provide adequatefunding for creating/rebuildingprotection infrastructure,including staff quarters,

permanent anti-poaching camps,appropriate patrolling vehiclesand a wireless network.

Nodal authority: StateGovernment must empower theChief Wildlife Warden as the senior-most nodal officer tointerface with the NTCA, in orderto streamline the administration of the TR.

Notification: State Governmentmust immediately complete theprocess of notification of the1140 sq km GBM Sanctuary as aCore/Critical tiger habitat, asagreed before the NBWL.

Relocation: State Government /NTCA must fast-track the processof relocation of around 1100families living within thecore/critical tiger habitat withnecessary funding, including the16 crore rupees alreadydeposited by user agencies.

Coordination: State Governmentmust ensure primacy of ForestDepartment amongst governmentagencies operating in the NSTRlandscape to ensure propermanagement. Conservation ofTiger Habitat must be made themain administrative objective.

Road diversion: The Guntur-Kurnool State Highway that nowdivides NSTR and GBM Sanctuaryand runs through the forest for30 km is a horrendous death trapfor animals, resulting inhundreds of roadkills every year.An excellent alternative highwayalready exists between Kunta andKurnool via Giddalur thatinvolves an additional distance ofa mere 25 km. The StateGovernment must take steps toimmediately divert all heavyvehicles through this alternativehighway. Further the StateHighway through the forest mustbe closed between dusk and

dawn for all vehicular traffic.

Township: State Governmentmust identify and shift allunnecessary infrastructure andhuman artifacts out ofSundipenta Irrigation Township,which is situated on ReservedForest land.

Tiger Conservation Plan: NTCAmust critically evaluate the newTiger Conservation Plan byreferring it to an independentpanel of ecologists/conservationists to determineecologically prudent short/medium/long-term managementobjectives.

Science: AP Forest departmentmust establish a rigoroussampling based monitoringprogram for estimating tiger, co-predators and prey populationswithin the notified core/criticalhabitat by a competentindependent institution, withparticipation of appropriatelytrained NGOs/amateur naturalists.

Alternatives: Alternate materialsfor agricultural implements andhouse construction material forlocal people should be found andencouraged so as to minimizetimber removal from the forest.Alternate sources of energy forcooking and other needs need tobe explored and encouraged tominimize dependence on fuelwood from forests.

Income generation: The StateGovernment must encourageeducation, alternate sources ofincome and livelihoods, incomeenhancing mechanisms, etc. forthe local populace so as tominimize peoples’ dependenceon forests. Such dependence isseverely eroding the landscape’sability to provide key ecosystemservices like water catchment andclimate moderation, which arecritical to people locally andregionally.


A very recent photo of a tiger in NSTR by A.K.Naik, FD ofNagarjunsagar Srisailam TR,

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STRATEGY

M-STrIPES

AIMSn Assist in effective patrolling

and protectionn Evaluate status and trends of

carnivores and ungulates at regular intervals

n Monitor habitat changen Evaluate human pressuresn Generate reports to provide

quantitative information for management effectiveness assessment and decision making

SYSTEM FEATURES n Provide user friendly Field Protocols (inc training

and material, data quality control), Data Storage andReport Generating Tool

n Administered and maintained at protected areas,landscapes, States and NTCA

n Captures detailed information on population statusand trends, animal mortality, illegal activity, humanpressures, patrol effort, habitat status for monitoringand guidng management

n Provides a comprehensive GIS and statistical tool forprocessing and reporting information needed forconservation and management purposes

FIELD PROTOCOLS & EQUIPMENTn Phase I Data collection– Carnivore Sign Survey– Ungulate Line Transect– Human Pressure Assessment on Plots on Transects– Ungulate Dung on Plots on Transects– Habitat Status on Plots on Transects

n Fixed Location PIP’s (track plots) for Tigers (min. 5 in each beat monitored once a week)n GPS Units (or PDA’s) and Data Collection Formsn Training of Tiger Reserve Staff in Data Collection and Software Entry

Field Protocols & Customized Software for Analysis, Mapping & Inference National Tiger Conservation Authority - Wildlife Institute of India - Zoological Society of London

MONITORING SYSTEM FOR TIGERS’ - INTENSIVE PROTECTION AND ECOLOGICAL STATUS


AN ENTITY RELATIONSHIP DIAGRAM

SPATIAL MAPPING AND TRENDS OFILLEGAL ACTIVITIES

HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLE

HUMAN DISTURBANCE IN CORBETT TIGER RESERVE

SPECIES DISTRIBUTION,STATUS & TRENDS

HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLE HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLE


TIGER SIGN ENCOUNTERS(BEATS OF CORBETT TIGER RESERVE 2006)

TIGER SIGN ENCOUNTERS(BEATS OF CORBETT TIGER RESERVE 2009)

TABLES FOR CARNIVORE OCCUPANCY ESTIMATES

TABLES FOR CHANGESIN CARNIVORE OCCUPANCY

SYSTEM PROCESSn Computes adequacy of sampling effort and advises to sample more if required statistical power is not achievedn Conduct Spatially Paired Statistical Comparisonsn Conduct Trend Analysis (Regression)n Interpret Results at Appropriate Spatial Scales (Beat, range, 10x10 km Grid, Circle and State) both Statistically and Biologicallyn Output User Friendly Results as Maps and Tables

APPLICATIONSn Monitoring population status, trends, and spatial occupancyn Mapping of illegal activities and their trendsn Guiding Park Management for patrolling - spatially and in intensityn Mapping and trend analysis of human impactsn Understanding interrelations between above parametersn Export of data for in-depth analysis in desired formatn Entry, Analysis, Interpretation, and use of Phase I data at field leveln Ready reports at desired spatial & temporal scales and for evaluating management effectiveness and guiding decision

and policy making

HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLEHYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLE

Coming into the 15thConference of the Parties toCITIES, Sweden, on behalf of

the European Community, hadsubmitted a proposal for therevision of Resolution Conf. 12.5on the conservation and trade inTigers. Considering the vigorousobjections raised by some rangeStates to the proposal, the UnitedKingdom, on behalf of theEuropean Community, enteredinto negotiations with the rangeStates in an attempt to acheiveconsensus on the revision. WhileIndia was in agreement with thespirit of the most of therecommendations made by theEuropean Community, it had someconcerns regarding the proposal.In particular, it shared China’sreservations about aspecificreference to compliancemeasures being incorporated inthe resolution and theonerousreporting requirementsthat the proposal sought toimpose on the range states,especially considering the fact thatmany range stateswere not able tocomply with even the currentreporting requirements.

India however was extremely

[keen] that the language regarding“operations breeding tigers on acommercial scale”, taken fromDecision 14.69 from the 14thConference of the Parties, beretained, either throughincorporation in the Resolution, orthrough the continuation ofDecision 14.69. China objected tothis on the grounds that it wasoutside the scope of theConvention, despite the fact thatthe 14th Conference of the Partieshad voted this through with acomfortable majority.

After prolonged deliberationand dialogue between India, China,the United Kingdom, the CITESSecretariat and the other rangeStates, a consensus position waseventually acheived. Based on thisconsensus, a revised proposal wasput forward by the UnitedKingdom, on behalf of theEuropean Community, and thisproposal was adoptedunanimously by the Conference ofthe Parties without any objections.The salient features of thisconsensus position are that:

- Decision 14.69 dealing with“operations breeding tigers on acommercial scale” will be retained

as it is.- the specific reference to

compliance measures will not beincorporated in the resolution

-the reporting requirementshave been reworded so as to takeinto account range Statesconcerns.

- A new paragraph encouragingParties to provide financial andtechnical assistance to rangeStates has been incorporated inthe Resolution.

this position ensures that thehard fought victories from the14th conference of the Partieshave not been lost, strengthensthe enforcement related aspects ofthe Resolution and takes rangeStates concerns into account. Assuch, it seems to be a win winsituation for all.

Additionally, the United Statesproposed the adoption of adecision, directing the StandingCommittee to update theinformation contained in the newAnnexes I-III of the Resolution,and report back to the 16thConference of the Parties, as it wasout of date. The conferenceadopted this decision unanimouslyas well.


INDIA leads Range States to Agreementwith the European Community on Tiger

Conservation at CITES


Panna Tiger Reserve hasachieved its first milestone of success in TigerReintroductionprogramme.

Tiger Reintroductionprogramme of Panna TigerReserve was initiated in March2009 with reintroduction of twofemales from Bandhavgargh andKanha Tiger Reserves. Females'settlement in Panna National Parkwas not that arduous. A male

tiger was brought from PenchTiger Reserve (Madhya Pradesh) inthe month of November 2009.

But the tiger reintroductionprogramme hit a major road blockwhen this male tiger after stayinginside the park for around 10days moved out of the park in thecontiguous forests of Chattarpur,Damoh and Sagar districts. Ittravelled in southern direction formost of the time and traversedaround 400km. Tracking of this

male tiger in new terrain was aherculean task (where the GPSradio collar fitted to the tigermalfunctioned). A contingent ofmore than 70 people led by FieldDirector camped outside the parkand finally with the help of expertveterinarians from WildlifeInstitute of India, brought himback on 26th December 2009.During this travelogue the maletiger crossed human habitations,highways and railway lines

STATUS

Panna'sSuccess StoryFirst mile stone of success in Tiger Reintroduction programmeBy R.Sreenivasa Murthy (CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS AND FIELD DIRECTOR,

PANNA TIGER RESERVE)

Panna’s new generation above.Facing page inset is the male tiger


effortlessly without being seen formost of the time. Out side thepark, protection of the tiger was amajor issue. But the team's effortsand a bit of luck helped. Thisstraying out by male tiger isattributed to 'homing' instinct ofwild animals and this is the firsttime this theory was experiencedin the case of a tiger.

Mean while all the threereintroduced tigers are monitoredand given security on 24x7basis. Itwas in the first week of April2010 that based on the restrictedmovement pattern and behaviorof the tigress brought fromBandhavgargh, first signs of shegetting pregnant was noticed bythe management and the locationof this tigress was isolated from

disturbance due to tourism etc.,Based on our observation anddaily monitoring records it can besaid with certainty that thistigress delivered on 15/16th ofApril 2010. But this news got

confirmed on 7.5.10 when sheshifted the cubs for the first time.Initially only 3 cubs could becounted due to the bushy natureof the site. But latter verificationsyielded four cubs. Thus with thearrival of four cubs Panna TigerReserve has touched its firstmilestone of success in TigerReintroduction Programme. As ondate all the cubs and the tigressare doing fine.

Tiger ReintroductionProgramme at Panna TigerReserve, Madhya Pradesh ForestDepartment is technicallysupported by Wildlife Institute ofIndia, Dehra Dun and WWF-India,New Delhi and financed byNational Tiger ConservationAuthority, New Delhi.


Acommittee was set up by theNational Tiger ConservationAuthority on 14th July 2009

to visit Similipal Tiger Reserve andundertake: (1) An appraisal of the damage toinfrastructure/habitat due toleftwing extremism; (2) Assessment of present status oftiger, co predators and preyanimals, and protection efforts;and (3) Provide suggestions forrestoring the area and elicitinglocal support to strengthenprotection.Accordingly, the committeeundertook a field visit between 1stand 8th August 2009 togather firsthand information for an appraisal.During the visit, the committee meta wide range of people includingfield protection staff, seniorofficials of Similipal TR and theOrissa Forest Department, seniorofficials of the civil administration,localvillagers and civil societyorganizations. The committeesolicited their views, asappropriate, on the status of thereserve, the threats it faces, and itsmanagement challenges. Thecommittee also visited several sitesin the core and buffer zones ofSimilipal TR, which had recentlywitnessed attacks by left wingextremists. Recent efforts to assessthe status of tigers and their preyin the reserve were also reviewed.The committee found:1. extensive damage to vital park

management infrastructureincluding range and beat offices,forest antipoaching camps,communication networks, and also,

to the morale of park staff. As aninevitable consequence, reserveprotection has slackened andthreats from poaching and

CHALLENGES

Extracts from a rapidfield assessment of

conservation status ofSimilipal Tiger Reserve

by Bivash Pandav,Suresh Kumar Mishra,S. P. Yadav and M. D.

Madhusudan

Log house at Jenabil Range before (top) and after (bottom) the extremist attacks.

Similipallandscape

The


smuggling have grown stronger,butthere are sincere efforts by thereserve management to re-establishpresence and control on theground.2. reliable reports on recentpresence and activity of tigers bothin the core and buffer zones of thereserve, and signs of largemammalian prey, but noquantitative tiger or preypopulation assessments werepossible. There are strongindications that the status of thewild dog is extremely precarious inSimilipal TR, and may even belocally extirpated.3. serious challenges faced by thereserve in managing itsrelationships with localcommunities along its fringes aswell as inside the reserve itself.The reserve andcivil administration need dedicatedprofessional/technical supportimmediately to engage seriouslywith local communities in andaround the park, and particularly,to complete the long pendingprocess of resettling four villagesfrom the core zone.4. Several issues pertaining tostaffing policies and humanresource management practices ofthe tiger reserve and state forestdepartment. While seeming likesmall and routine issues, they have

the potential to seriously hampereffective management of thereserve.Based on its extensive learnings,the committee recommends that:1. with transitional support from alarger, competent paramilitaryforce, the NTCA must helpSimilipal secure its park staff,rebuild its damaged infrastructure,and strengthen measures againstpoaching and timber smuggling.This deployment must take a fewserious caveats into account, andbe in consonance with largerstate and central policies of dealingwith left wing extremism.2. alongside measures such as thedeployment of a transitionalparamilitary force, seriousaffirmative steps must be taken,based on a sound understanding ofthe local sociocultural contexts, toregain support of localcommunities. The very constructiveattitude of both the civil and forestadministration in this regard mustbe strongly backed by the NTCA.3. The park’s current system ofmonitoring tiger pugmarks onpugmark impression pads, whileremaining an important tool forlocal monitoring of tigerdistribution and activity, cannotprovide reliable populationestimates. Well designedphotographic capture recapturesurveys should be the method of

choice to estimate tiger numbers.However, a very sincere outreacheffort isnecessary, mainly on the part ofNTCA to help states transitionfrom pugmarkbased censuses tocamera trapping sample surveys,and this must be carried outas a genuine partnership betweenagencies providing technicalexpertise and park managements.4. a serious knowledge basedeffort, with professional supportfrom technically competentagencies, must be commencedthrough the assistance of NTCA tohelp understand local communitiesin and around Similipal. Thisunderstanding should guide theidentification of candidate villagesfor relocation and for locallyappropriate strategies to alleviateresourceconflicts between peopleand thereserve. Such an agency is crucialin facilitating greater coordinationbetween the forest and civiladministrations to make voluntaryrelocations fair and speedy.5. the range of administrative andhuman resources managementrelated issues pertaining toSimilipal Tiger Reserve, and StateForest Department must bedecisively resolved, if necessary, bysoliciting help from the highestlevels of state and centraladministration.

Range office at Chahala which was blown up and burnt down during the extremist attacks.(top) and(bottom) Destroyed staff facility in Joranda

The overall goal of this projectis ‘Long term conservation ofsource population of tigers in

the Kaziranga National Parkthrough intensive monitoring andensuring habitat connectivity tonearby tiger inhabiting areas.’

The study was spread over 50days during January-March 2009and camera trapping was carriedout at 50 trap locations in twoblocks in the park. For data analysisthe survey duration was dividedinto 25 sampling occasions. Thetotal sampling effort realized was1250 trap-days. The effort yielded249 photographs (of both flankstaken by two facing cameras) out ofwhich 242 were used for analysis(cubs below one year of age andpoor quality photographs werediscarded).

Individual tigers have theirunique pattern and are easilyidentified by comparing the stripepattern (Karanth and Nichols,2002). Based on the unique stripepattern 38 individual tigers wereidentified in the sampled area. The38 individuals included 20 females,15 males and 3 individual ofunknown sex.

This is the second study toaddress the population of tigersand prey animals and their ecologyin the Kaziranga National Park.Karanth and Nichols (1998)estimated the density of tigers inthe park as 16.8 tigers / 100 Km2that is considered one of thehighest in the world.

Considering the high density oftigers, human-tiger conflict on thefringe areas of the park may go upand suggest that the managementtake necessary steps to minimizesuch conflicts.


INITIATIVES

MONITORING TIGERS INKAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK

Excerpts from a report prepared by M Firoz Ahmed, JimmyBorah, Chatrapati Das, Ajit Basumatary, R. N. Sarma, D. D.Gogoi, S. N. Buragohain, N. K. Vasu, B. K. Talukdar, Y. V. Jhalaand Q. Qureshi

A JOINT INITIATIVE OF ASSAM FOREST DEPARTMENT ANDAARANYAK WITH TEHNICAL SUPPORT FROM WII.

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Comparison of tiger Density amongst different tiger habitats in India and NepalTiger Habitats Country Tiger Density/ Data Source

100 km2Kaziranga India 32.64 Present studyCorbett India 19.6 Jhala et al., 2008Kaziranga India 16.76 Karanth et al., 2004Bandipur India 11.97 Karanth et al., 2004Nagarhole India 11.92 Karanth et al., 2004Kanha India 11.70 Karanth et al., 2004Ranthambhore India 11.46 Karanth et al., 2004Chitwan Nepal 8.70 Sunquist, 1981Pench-MR India 7.29 Karanth et al., 2004Panna India 6.94 Karanth et al., 2004Melghat India 6.67 Karanth et al., 2004Rajaji India 5.12 Harihar et al., 2008Pench-MP India 4.94 Karanth et al., 2004Bhadra India 3.42 Karanth et al., 2004Tadoba India 3.27 Karanth et al., 2004


I am very grateful to receive thejournal and elated to be in yourmailing list. Being from Nagpur,(which I believe is the heartland ofthe most important tiger belt inthe world) I can vouch for everyword written about Pench andTadoba. Just like the tigernetwebsite, this journal also comesacross as an honest tool which hasnot used politically correctdiplomatic language but taken thebull by its horns. Tiger has afighting chance and I wish all thebest to NTCA.

Sir, my home in Nagpur is just30 Km away from Bor sanctuarywhich is estimated to have about 5tigers and it always brings me asmile to know that!!Vedang V. BakshiMumbai

Please communicate my deepappreciation to the authoritiesconcerned for bringing out such awonderfully documentedmagazine.Arin GhoshFormer Director, Project Tiger

Thanks for sending this wonderfulnewsletter.Asad R. RahmaniDirector, BNHS-India

Thank you for the excellent issueof STRIPES ! It is very informative and I really enjoyed reading it.With best wishes Belinda WrightExecutive Director, WildlifeProtection Society of India (WPSI)

Please keep me in the mailing listof this excellent journal. Please also let me have the planallocations for each tiger reservefor 09-10 and if already allocatedthat or proposed for 10-11A.K.MukerjiFormer DGF

The STRIPES product is quitefascinating, specially once you getbeyond the photographs. I foundthe piece on the NCTA initiativesover the last three years the mostfascinating piece as well as the backcover. It confirms what you weretelling me...NCTA has initiated a lotof relevant things that will begin toshow results soon. The morepromising ones of the NCTAinitiatives to me were:

The anti poaching activities,inclduing the STPF. EnhancedVillage rehab package. Scientificmethodology for population andprey estimation. The notification ofcore tiger habitats for 30K sq Kms.The pursuit of illegal trade viaCITES, at least once with China,Nepal and Russia. The creation of awild life crime data base withTRAFFIC.

I would love to learn more about the tri-partite MOU system withStates Nepal India MOU; Protocolwith China; reports due 20 Oct 2009from TRCs re CITES 14.69 and14.65; andwhat are the specifics ofthe second issue re infrastructure(out of the four listed). I was alsofascinated by the back cover, whichprovides a much needed androunded off answer to Why tiger.Looking forward, I am wonderingabout the merits of undertaking atask to better quantify the backcover page; and strengthening theefffort to report in STRIPES thesemajor initiatives and identfyingstates/reserves achieveing realresults. I do believe that telling thefull India stroy - including progresson these initiatives and plans todeal with the four issues, will be avaluable additon to the globalknowledge exchange that has beentriggered by GTI, and in which GTFcould be a potential partner. Withbest wishes.Anand sethWorld Bank

STRIPESmail

It's almost 45 years Ihave been dealing withissues related to tigersand yet my knowledgeis only peripheral.Such is the complexity

of the issue. So I think thatawareness, education and scienceare the most important tools tomanage tigers.

A charismatic animal, the tiger hasinspired many individuals andorganisations to do their bit.Governments have spent large sumsof money. NGOs have mobilisednational and international funds andhave highlighted the issue globally.

But it is a great challenge to savethe tiger in India, a country of 1.2billion people and over 700 millioncattle. About 70 per cent of India'spopulation is till earning less thanone US dollar a day and thereforedepend heavily on the naturalresources available in the forests.

A section of people stronglybelieves that humans and tigers canco-exist. In the very recent past, ithas been scientifically proved thattigers move away from humanhabitations. A solitary, elusiveanimal, the tiger requires sufficientspace to breed and survive.

So while there are commendableefforts to spread awareness throughpublications, films andphotography, to collate informationregarding tiger mortality, to carryout seizures and anti-poachingoperations or utilising the bestscientific inputs regarding tigerbiology or habitat, the basicquestion still remains: Are we reallysaving the tiger?

Very few look at the role of theforest staff. Till a decade ago,foresters were blamed for alldebacles happening in the forests.Few of us tried to categoricallyemphasize that with 40 per centvacancy in the frontline staff, an ill-equipped and over-worked forcecannot tackle the free loot of forestresources.

According to one estimate, Rs40,000 crore worth of forestproduce (including minerals) areextracted from India's forestsannually. Around 50 frontline staffare seriously assaulted or killed inprotecting the wilderness. But howmany of us try to raise our voice tohighlight the plight of the forestguard? They need immediate andsufficient logistical support.

I never faced any challenge fromany naxal group. Even today, forestpersonnel enter naxal-affected areasfrom Dantewada to Palamu. Seniorforest officials do not requireprotection to move inside forestswhile even a district-level police oradministrative officer is escorted bysecurity vehicles on our highways.

It is my considered opinion thatfailure on the part of administrationto handle development activitiesand stop corruption has led to thepresent crisis. It cannot be blamedon foresters who only try tosafeguard the country's naturalheritage against severe odds. Weneed to change our mindset.

There is no shortcut in

conservation and let me prescribean outline of a strategy for securingthe future of the tiger.■ Dedicate two per cent of thecountry's land mass for the tigerand make this area inviolate.■ Emphasize education, awarenessand science for better field results■ Recruit youth to fill frontline staffvacancies with a 10 per cent reservestrength forillness/leave/emergency etc.■ Appoint dedicated senior officersas range officers and above.Constitute awards/rewards toinspire field staff.■ Ensure specialized training offield staff in information gathering,anti-poaching and legal matters.■ Limit the field staff's daily shift toeight hours and give them legalprotection.■ Create family station for frontlinestaff with education, health andother basic facilities.

Author was Director, Project Tiger,during 1996-2001 and Chief WildlifeWarden Bihar from 1994 to October 1996


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tigers?At theforefront ofthe battle,the groundstaff needsall the supportsays P K Sen


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Ownership Statement

FORM IV

1. Place of publication Annexe No. 5, Bikaner House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi -110011

2. Periodicity of its publication - Bi-monthly

3. Printer’s Name - Inder Mohan Singh KathuriaNationality - IndianAddress - C 30, Defence Colony, New Delhi - 110024

4. Publisher’s Name - Inder Mohan Singh KathuriaNationality - IndianAddress - C 30, Defence Colony, New Delhi - 110024

5. Editor’s Name - Dr. Rajesh Gopal, Member-Secretary, NTCANationality - IndianAddress - D-I/13 Bharti Nagar, New Delhi - 110003

6. Names and addresses of individuals who own thenewspaper. - NTCA (National Tiger Conservation Authority)Ministry of Environment and ForestAnnexe No. 5, Bikaner House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi - 110011

I, Inder Mohan Singh Kathuria, hereby declare that theparticulars given above are true to the best of my knowledge and belief. Date April 30, 2010 Signature of Publisher

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LIST OF CORE AND BUFFER AREAS OF TIGER RESERVES IN INDIA,notified under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, as amended in

2006 (as on 06.04.2010)Sl. Year of Name of State Area of the core Area of the buffer Total areaNo. creation Tiger Reserve /critical tiger habitat /peripheral

(In Sq. Kms.) (In Sq. Kms.)

1 1973-74 Bandipur Karnataka 872.24 118.27* 990.512 1973-74 Corbett Uttarakhand 821.99 466.32 1288.313 1973-74 Kanha Madhya Pradesh 917.43 NA 917.434 1973-74 Manas Assam 840.04 2310.88 3150.925 1973-74 Melghat Maharashtra 1500.49 NA 1500.496 1973-74 Palamau Jharkhand 414.08 NA 414.087 1973-74 Ranthambore Rajasthan 1113.364 NA 1113.3648 1973-74 Similipal Orissa 1194.75 1555.25 2750.009 1973-74 Sunderbans West Bengal 1699.62 885.27 3470.2710 1978-79 Periyar Kerala 881 NA 88111 1978-79 Sariska Rajasthan 681.1124 NA 681.112412 1982-83 Buxa West Bengal 390.5813 367.3225 757.903813 1982-83 Indravati Chhattisgarh 1258.37 1540.70 2799.0714 1982-83 Nagarjunsagar Andhra Pradesh 2527 NA 252715 1982-83 Namdapha Arunachal Pradesh 1807.82 NA 1807.8216 1987-88 Dudhwa Uttar Pradesh 693.70 NA 693.70

(DNP 490.29 + Kishanpur WLS 203.4)

1999-2000 Katerniaghat-(extension) 400.09 NA 400.0917 1988-89 Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tamil Nadu 895 NA 89518 1989-90 Valmiki (Not received) Bihar 840* NA 840*19 1992-93 Pench Madhya Pradesh 411.33 NA 411.3320 1993-94 Tadoba-Andheri Maharashtra 625.82 1101.7711 1727.591121 1993-94 Bandhavgarh Madhya Pradesh 716.903 NA 716.90322 1994-95 Panna Madhya Pradesh 576.13 NA 576.1323 1994-95 Dampa Mizoram 500 NA 50024 1998-99 Bhadra Karnataka 492.46 NA 492.4625 1998-99 Pench Maharashtra 257.26 NA 257.2626 1999-2000 Pakke Arunachal Pradesh 683.45 NA 683.4527 1999-2000 Nameri Assam 200 144 34428 1999-2000 Satpura Madhya Pradesh 1339.264 NA 1339.26429 2008-2009 Anamalai Tamil Nadu 958 NA 95830 2008-2009 Udanti-Sita Nadi Chattisgarh 851.09 991.45 1842.5431 2008-2009 Satkosia Orissa 523.61 453.25* 976.8632 2008-2009 Kaziranga Assam 625.58 548 1173.5833 2008-2009 Achanakmar Chattisgarh 626.195 287.822 914.01734 2008-2009 Dandeli-Anshi Karnataka 814.884 NA 814.88435 2008-2009 Sanjay-Dubri Madhya Pradesh 831.25* NA 831.25*36 2008-2009 Mudumalai Tamil Nadu 321 NA 32137 2008-2009 Nagarahole Karnataka 643.35 NA 643.3538 2008-2009 Parambikulam Kerala 390.89 252.772 643.66239 2009-10 Sahyadri (including Maharashtra 741.22 NA 741.22

Chandoli NP : 317.67 and Koyna WLS : 423.55) = 741.22 Total Area)

TOTAL 32878.36 11029.0781 44786.82* Not yet notified. NA - Notification Awaited# Total core area notified (32878.36 - 840 - 831.25 = 31207.11 sq.km.)# Total buffer area notified (11029.0781 - 118.27 - 453.25 = 10457.5581 sq.km.)

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

STRIPES | BI-MONTHLY OUTREACH JOURNAL OF NATIONAL TIGER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY,A STATUTORY BODY UNDER MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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