Soon, guidelines for elephant safaris in tiger reserves in Uttarakhand

The Uttarakhand forest department will soon come up with guidelines for elephant safaris in buffer areas of tiger reserves, according to chief wildlife warden DVS Khati. In the absence of guidelines, the Corbett Tiger Reserve, which was allowing elephant safaris stopped them in 2017 after a wild tusker attacked two elephants of the forest department. … Read more Soon, guidelines for elephant safaris in tiger reserves in Uttarakhand

Rare black panther spotted in Maharashtra’s tiger reserve

The Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) in India has called for an intensive search for black panthers after one was recorded by a Belgian diplomat and his family at Shivanzari in Kolsa range of the reserve on Tuesday (22 May 2018). “It is something unique as black panthers are melanistic and are generally found in evergreen forests … Read more Rare black panther spotted in Maharashtra’s tiger reserve

Less than 1% of India’s mangrove cover deforested in 15 years: Global study

India has the 10th largest mangrove cover in the world and according to a recent study, less than one percent of it was deforested between 2000 and 2015. “We found that less than 1% of the Indian mangrove forests were deforested between 2000 and 2015 (4,000 ha). This rate of loss is only half the … Read more Less than 1% of India’s mangrove cover deforested in 15 years: Global study

Two more tiger cubs spotted in Sariska

Good news continues to trickle out from Sariska Tiger Reserve in Alwar. Forest officials have reported spotting two more tiger cubs of tigress ST-10 on Friday. With these cubs, the total strength of tigers in Sariska now touched 13. Two cubs, around 3-4 months old, of tigress ST-2, were spotted in Sariska on July 20 … Read more Two more tiger cubs spotted in Sariska

Wildlife Crime Control Bureau to train officers in intelligence gathering

Keeping in mind the frail intelligence network in the state on wildlife-related crimes, the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) has decided to train forest officers as ‘master trainers’ on intelligence gathering and these officers will further train other staff in their respective states. The bureau will also train defense personnel deployed at base camps on … Read more Wildlife Crime Control Bureau to train officers in intelligence gathering

Leopard cub’s killing in Bajpur puts focus on mob frenzy

The beating up of a leopard cub to death in Bajpur has once again raised the issue of crowd management in such situations. The leopard had attacked an old man working in the fields, which enraged the local people and they attacked the leopard with sticks and weapons. The animal succumbed to the injuries. Last … Read more Leopard cub’s killing in Bajpur puts focus on mob frenzy

Hundreds of snow leopards being killed every year : TRAFFIC

Hundreds of snow leopards are being killed every year across the mountains of central Asia, threatening the already endangered cat, according to a new report. There are as few as 4,000 of the solitary and elusive cat remaining and numbers have fallen by a fifth in the last 16 years. But between 220 and 450 … Read more Hundreds of snow leopards being killed every year : TRAFFIC

Snow leopard breeding program to restart in Himachal Pradesh

In an attempt to save its endangered state animal, the wildlife wing of the Himachal Pradesh (HP) forest department has said it will restart the project of breeding elusive snow leopard at Himalayan Nature Park at Kufri, 18km from state’s capital Shimla. The state government recently shot off a proposal to the Central Zoo Authority … Read more Snow leopard breeding program to restart in Himachal Pradesh

Tigress (ST-5) may be dead, says Forest dept

About two months after tigress ST-5 went missing from the Sariska Tiger Reserve (STR) in Rajasthan (India) and intensive combing operations were taken up to search the big cat, the forest department on Saturday said that the tigress is likely to be dead and an FIR will be filed soon. “For investigation purposes we are … Read more Tigress (ST-5) may be dead, says Forest dept

Death in the wild: On trail of a spotted killer

A team of investigators is using forensic science and behavioural analysis to identify which of two leopards, now locked up at Van Vihar national park, killed three children in the latter half of March 2018 just beyond the outskirts of Bhopal, the state capital of Indian state of Madhya Pradesh (MP). Samples of excreta and … Read more Death in the wild: On trail of a spotted killer

Tiger seen in Junglemahal after a century

One hundred and seven years after a tiger’s presence was last recorded in Jungalmahal (West Bengal, India), a big cat has strayed into the area. For a fortnight now, an army of Forest Department and police officials have been scouring the dense forest, armed with tranquiliser guns, cages with live baits, binoculars, search lights and … Read more Tiger seen in Junglemahal after a century

Toll plaza to jeopardize leopard corridor disclosed in RTI

For the first time, the district wildlife department has recommended that the Kherki Daula toll plaza be shifted to Panchgaon, instead of the proposed Sehrawan, due to presence of a high density of wild animals in the surrounding areas. In a comprehensive RTI (Right to Information) response, the department said the area around the proposed site … Read more Toll plaza to jeopardize leopard corridor disclosed in RTI

U.S. Lifts Ban on Some Lion and Elephant Trophies

The United States has moved to allow hunters to import big-game trophies, including elephant tusks and lion hides, acquired in certain African countries with approvals granted on an individual basis. The decision, reported in a memorandum published last week by the federal Fish and Wildlife Service, overturns an Obama-era ban on some trophies and contradicts … Read more U.S. Lifts Ban on Some Lion and Elephant Trophies

25 to 30 snow leopards in Kibber wildlife sanctuary of Himachal Pradesh

As the snow leopard population across the world dwindles, tribal Lahaul-Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh (HP) in India offers a ray of hope with a forest guard capturing images of a snow leopard having two cubs. This suggests an increase in their population. There are 25 to 30 snow leopards in Kibber wildlife sanctuary of … Read more 25 to 30 snow leopards in Kibber wildlife sanctuary of Himachal Pradesh

93 leopards dead in first two months of 2018

Environmentalists and wildlife experts said they were alarmed by a new study which has reported 93 leopard deaths — a very high number — from across the country in just the first two months of 2018. Most of the big cats were felled by poachers for their skin and other body parts. Uttarakhand topped the … Read more 93 leopards dead in first two months of 2018

Governments not doing enough to save tigers of the world

In November 2010, the first “Tiger Summit” in St Petersburg, Russia, endorsed a Global Tiger Recovery Programme aimed at reversing the rapid decline of tigers, and doubling their numbers by 2022. India was one of the 13 tiger range countries that participated in the gathering, at which leaders committed to “drawing up action plans to … Read more Governments not doing enough to save tigers of the world

Scientists baffled after a lioness mysteriously sprouts mane

Veterinarians have been left baffled after a female lion suddenly sprouted a mane at an American zoo. Bridget, an 18-year-old African lioness living at Oklahoma City Zoo began to develop the usually-masculine trait in March last year. The cause of the shaggy growth around the lion’s jaw is so far unexplained, although zoo staff said they … Read more Scientists baffled after a lioness mysteriously sprouts mane

Two leopards caught in trap, one dies

A leopard caught in a trap set by poachers died a painful death, while another sustained grievous injuries after falling into another trap set up elsewhere. The leopards, both around a year old, were found in Palampur area in Dharamshala district of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh (HP) on Sunday (18-02-2018). Poaching activities increase … Read more Two leopards caught in trap, one dies

Jungle in and around Panchkula has 153 leopards

Two wildlife sanctuaries located in Panchkula, a district in the Indian state of Haryana, Bir Shakargah and Khol Hi-Raitan, has 26 leopards. Conservator of forests and wildlife M L Rajvanshi said the wildlife reserves spread across Panchkula, Morni, Pinjore, Kalka, Sukhna and Nalagarh starting from Kalesar near Yamunanagar have a total of 153 leopards. According to … Read more Jungle in and around Panchkula has 153 leopards

India’s forest cover increases by 1%, Northeastern states cause for concern

India’s forest cover increased by 6,778 sq km over the last two years with Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Odisha and Telangana increasing their green footprint during the period though there is a worrying decline in six northeastern states, including a shrinkage of 630 sq km in the eastern Himalayas. While overall green cover, including tree patches … Read more India’s forest cover increases by 1%, Northeastern states cause for concern

Leopard skin seized from Ballabhgarh, 1 held

The wildlife department seized a leopard skin, measuring 73 inches in length and 36 inches in width, from Ballabhgarh in Faridabad district on 7 Feb 2018. One person was arrested and an FIR was lodged in the matter under Wildlife Protection Act, sources said. Acting on a tip-off from Wildlife SOS, an NGO, to the … Read more Leopard skin seized from Ballabhgarh, 1 held

40 leopards killed in January alone in India

More than a third of the 40 leopards that died in the country in the first month of 2018 were killed by poachers. Of these 15 were poached (38%), three died in road and rail accidents, two were killed by villagers and 15 were found dead , revealed data from the Wildlife Protection Society of … Read more 40 leopards killed in January alone in India

Surgeon to gift artificial limb to tiger with amputated paw

In what could be a first anywhere in the world, a top orthopaedic surgeon and leading veterinary doctors of Maharashtra Animal and Fisheries Science University (MAFSU) have come together to implant a prosthetic limb on a male tiger whose paw was amputated in 2012 after it got caught in a steel trap laid by poachers … Read more Surgeon to gift artificial limb to tiger with amputated paw

Bombay High Court prohibits killing of Yavatmaal man-eater

Maharashtra (India) state wildlife warden AK Mishra directed the forest officials of Yavatmal to tranquilise a man-eater tigress after the Nagpur bench of Bombay high court granted a stay to shoot-at-sight order issued by him. The animal has killed 10 people over the last year. A division bench of the high court, comprising justice Vasanti … Read more Bombay High Court prohibits killing of Yavatmaal man-eater

Why cats purr ?

Purring is the most common sound cats make, yet we know very less about it. It is commonly believed that they purr when they’re content, but it is not always true. They purr to communicate other emotions and needs, too. Happy Cat Your cat looks relaxed: Perhaps she’s on her back, eyes half-closed, tail mostly still. … Read more Why cats purr ?

Tigers and Other Wild Cats

Author: Sanjiv Shukla