LEOPARD'S DEATH IN RAJASTHAN

While watching news on the television yesterday, I saw something which was really shocking. It was something which no one could ever thought of. We take the forest officials as the saviors of wildlife and when they turn into killers is something that is not expected by anyone. This incidence made it very clear that how much the officials are worried about the wildlife and how much trained our officials are.

A Leopard fell into a well in Nauwa Village about 70 kms from Udaipur district in Rajasthan. The villagers reported this matter to the forest department but There was no sign of the rescue team for long. After the team reached to the spot where the Leopard was fighting a lost battle, The people were relieved that the leopard would be saved. But no one would have imagined the fate of the poor leopard.

The Team of Forest Officials started their work. Rescuing an animal from the well needed some experts, who could lay a plan to save the animal. But there seemed to be no expert or any doctor present at the spot.

The Plan: Pull the Leopard out of the well by tieing a rope around its body.

Chaman Singh, A Forest Official said that we cannot tranquilise the leopard as it might drown.

What actually Happened: The rescue operation started as was planned. A rope was tied along the body of the Leopard which later slipped and formed a noose around the poor animals neck. The animal was then pulled out of the well and was put in a Cage. Initially the Leopard was in a state of shock and later it died in the Gulab Bagh Zoo in Udaipur.
The post mortem report indicates that hunger, anaemia and shock are the other plausible reasons for its death.

What should have been done: In an interview, Mike Pandey, Wildlife Expert and Documentary Film Maker, suggested a better and a correct way that should have been applied to save the Leopard’s life. As we all know, Leopards can climb trees and poles, He suggested that a big log or a long wooden plank should have been placed near the Leopard and it could have come out on its own.

Some doctors also say that the Rescue team should have taken more precautions while pulling the animal out. They should have given it support with a plank or cot while pulling it out.

The investigation will be over.. The cause will be known.. But I have some questions..

• Why was a team which was not trained for such operations sent to the spot.. ??
  
• Why wasn't a doctor present at the spot.. ??
• And who should be held responsible for this loss.. ??

Whatever may be the cause of the Leopard death.. The fact is that we have lost One more.


Photo of another Leopard killed. (Not of the leopard in the above post)

In a country where these Big Cats are fighting for their lives every moment, Every Death is a BIG BIG LOSS..

The Success Story: Sariska Tiger Reserve

Located 107 kms from the State Capital, Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan is spread over 866 sq kms. This reserve is home to many rare animals like the Leopard, Jakals and Jungle cats. The core area streches to about 500 sq kms.

After the Kings went missing in the Sariska Tiger Reserve two years back, The Central Government decided to bring them back, provided the state government created an ecologically secure habitat.

The Tiger Task Force recommeded relocating four villages as they were a threat to wildlife. Bhagani village in Tehla forest range in the heart of the Sariska Reserve was relocated to Behor in Alwar district. About 100 kms from Sariska. The Wildlife Trust of India, an NGO helping the forest department to relocate the vilage, handed over the drafts for compensation to the 18 relocated families. The remaining three villages will be relocated soon.

Sariska Tiger Reserve, home to dozens of majestic cats a few years back, lost the entire population due to poaching and habitat disturbances. Poachers like Sansar Chand, who is currently in a jail in Rajasthan are responsible for the heavy loss. A Poacher, Balwan, confessed of obtaining 2 Tiger skins from Sariska for a petty sum of Rs.5000.

Success in relocating the villages would bring back the King in the Wild. We have 1300-1500 Tigers still roaming free in our Country. Let them Live. Save the Tiger.

Failure of Project Tiger in Rajasthan.

The Rajasthan government is in a spot following a CAG report indicating it for failing to save tigers in the state.

The report said the poplulation has reduced drastically from 47 in 2004 to 26 in 2006 in Ranthambore Tiger Reserve and from 16 to nil in Sariska Tiger Reserve. "This shows the failure of project authorities and monitoring system at government level" said the report.

"Project Tiger" was launched in 1973 as a Centrally-Sponsered scheme. It covered Ranthambore and Sariska Tiger Reserves to help conserve Tigers and preserve the eco-system. "The objective of saving tigers from imminent extinction seems far from being realised as effective measures to stop degradation and fragmentation of thier habitats were not taken during 2000-2006." the report said.

There were delays in transferring funds, failure in fixing time schedules for achieving targets and improper management of the reserves, it added.

According to the report. the presence of 74 villages inside the protected areas (PAs) of the sanctuaries are the main cause of the depletion of forest areas. Chopping trees for timber, fuel etc causes great damage to the habitat of animals.

To minimise the negative impact of these villages on the PAs, relocation of these villages was essential. However, of four villages in Ranthambore only one village, Padra, was sanctioned a relocation package of Rs 1.46 crore in August 2001.

While the process was to be completed by March 2003, scrutiny revealed that out of 111 families, only 59 were relocated after incurring an expenditure of Rs90.76 lakh in March 2006. Remaining 52 familiescould not be relocated due to allotment of unsuitable agricultral land and delays in constructing houses.

The report availability of communication network equipment and arms for protecting wildlife in tiger reserves was insufficient. "Against the requirement of 26 revolvers and 73 guns in both the reserves, only seven revolvers and eight guns were available."

"Schemes and works executed under India-Eco Development Project such as providing of LPG connections, immunisation of cattle among others could also not achieve the desired objectives." CAG said.

As stated by The Times of India, Dated 20/03/2006. Page 6.