The Kings Share

The fall in number of Tigers in the census of 2007 was at last taken seriously

by the Government of India. The Finance Minister Mr. P. Chidambaram alloted a grant of Rs. 50 Crore for the protection of tigers following pressure from International conservationists to save the last tigers of the country.

While presenting the budget of 2008-09 Chidambaram told "The number 1,411 should ring the alarm bells.. The tiger is under grave threat." Further Chidambaram said that the National Tiger Conservation Authority would be granted Rs. 50 Crores to "raise, arm and deploy" a Tiger Protection Force.

The Project Tiger plans to create eight new Tiger Reserves across the country at a cost of $153 million. An estimated 2,00,000 people from across 250 villages will be relocated as the human interference in tiger territories and encroachment are considered equally dangerous as poaching.

THERE IS STILL SOME HOPE FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL CREATION OF GOD.

The Diminishing Pugmarks

February 19, I am one year old in the Blogging World today. The day I posted the first entry on my Blog, The tiger count in the country was estimated about 3500-5000 (Approx). But after the 2007 census, a mere 1500 wild cats roam free in India.. 1411 to be more precise..

The very first post on my blog was “Is capital punishment enough for people involved in Poaching”. Every one had a different view. Some felt it is the correct punishment but some on the other hand felt that poachers should be fed to the tigers. Here are the views of a few people about this. Click here

I personally feel that people involved in poaching should be hanged. But sometimes I feel that tigers should also be given a chance to deal with these killers the way they want. Not just feeding them but throwing them to hungry predators. But I know this is next to impossible. According to the Official figures the population rose from 3508 in 1997 to 3642 in 2002. But in 2008 there is a fall of 60%. The figures of 2007 shows that only 1411 tigers are left in the country known as "The Land Of Tigers".

There are several methods for Tiger Census. Prey density estimation, radio telemetry, digital photography of pugs, camera trapping method, Identification using DNA from Tiger droppings and the very famous Pugmark Method. Camera trapping method is not practical especially where there are 1 or 2 Tigers per 100 sq. kms. This method was confined to a few major tiger habitats. The Final figure was an outcome of the new and advanced techniques used in 2007 census.

Encroachment by humans in their natural habitat and poaching are the prime reasons for the fall. Relocation and Resettlement is only done on papers and is never taken seriously.

How long are we going to remember these figures? It is quite possible that some might think about this issue after the next census. Wouldn’t it be a little too late? A decline of 60% in a decade makes the picture very clear. There is still hope if saving tigers is taken as a priority.

The World would not be as Beautiful as it is, Without Tigers…. !!!!

BATTLE TO SAVE THE TIGER..

Another Sariska in the making…. ??
The Orissa Government claims that there are 101 Tigers in Simlipal National Park. While the official figure of the census has reported the presence of not more than 30 tigers in the park. This clearly proves that the Government has failed in tiger conservation.

A couple of days after the Chief Minister of Orissa denied the figures of the report, NDTV had posted pictures that clearly show poachers in the core area of the park. Poachers were armed with bows and arrows and had dogs along with them. No one is allowed in the core area of a protected forest and it is to be heavily patrolled. The photograph clearly show that there is absolutely no patrolling in the forest.

Is this the making of another Sariska.. ??

I DO NOT HOLD ANY RIGHTS OF THE PHOTOS USED IN THE POST.
Photograph of Poachers in Orissa taken from NDTV.
I THANK THE OWNERS FOR ALL THE PHOTOGRAPHS.

Birding and Blogging.. !!!!

It’s been a long long time since I last published any post on my Blog. And if I ask myself Why? I don’t find an answer to it. No, My love for wildlife has not curtailed. Tigers are still the first love of my life. My last trip to any National Park was in October when the Bandhavgarh National Park re-opened after monsoons. It’s been 4 months since I last saw the majestic cat in the Wild. And it’s been 3 months since I last wrote an entry here.

What was I upto all these days.. ?? I don’t have much work but whatever work I have keeps me busy all day. In these three months I have witnessed lots and lots of things. Gone Birding to Dumna Nature Reserve in Jabalpur, Trekking at Village Sarrai, near Jabalpur (Not exactly, Kind of :p), And the worst part was to see a sad end to a very very precious life. When a Tiger Cub took its last breath in Government Veterinary College at Jabalpur after being rushed for treatment from Bandhavgarh National Park.

Birding may be a new passion for me. But I seem to be falling in love with Birds. Dumna Nature Reserve, though not a very big forest area has a lot to offer to Wildlife lovers. Chital(Spotted Deer), Mongoose, Langurs, Rhesus Monkey, Jungle Cats and if you’re lucky you might come across a Leopard. Magpie Robin, Drongo, Asian Koel, Alexandrine Parakeet (The common parrot), Rose-ringed Parakeet, Plum-headed Parakeet, Spotted Owlet, Peafowls, Bee-eaters, Kingfishers and Indian Rollers are a few birds to name. Not very far away from the city, Dumna gets many visitors. I mean the Migratory Birds. And what better season than winters to see them glide over the lake in Dumna. The local and the visiting birds makes this place worth exploring.

It’s always a sad feeling to hear about Tiger deaths. Though not a poaching case this time, A Two month old cub was admitted to the Government Veterinary College, Jabalpur ailing from severe pneumonia and gaestroentitis. After being separated from it’s mother, this cub was found in a very critical condition. The body temperature was above normal and the cub was vomiting. A team of several doctors gave their best to save it’s life. The cub was also kept in incubator and was attended 24 hours a day. Despite all efforts the Cub died on 25th December 2007.

Saving a Life....

Rahul Jain, A Farmer by profession and a very dear friend, found a Pariah Kite/Black Kite on the terrace of his house after being injured in a clash. The poor bird had wounded its right wing and was not able to move. The Bird was in a furious mood and was not letting anyone come near itself. After a little trouble the bird was carefully placed in a box and was taken to the Government Veterinary College for treatment. From where the Bird was released after recovering. Pariah Kite undergoing treatment in Govt. Vet. College.

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.

Mera Bharat Mahaan and still going Strong..

Independent India is 60 years old........
15th August 1947 - 15th August 2007.

Where do we find ourselves 60 years after Independence..

Developing ?? For sure.. but not in all aspects..
Lets see.. Where do we stand.. ??

What India had in 1947? There were a few universities and research laboratories. But there were spirited and visionary scientists Mahalonwis, Bhabha, Sarabhai, Saha, Sahani, Randhawa who had big plans for the poor nation. Jawharlal Nehru, Indira and Rajiv Gandhi, Atal Bihari Bajpayee, Manmohan Singh provided tremendous boost to indigenous scientific research and technological development.



India did not produce a rifle or a tank or an aircraft in 1947. We had to beg for arms and ammunition during the Chinese incursion in 1962. Indigenous missiles, frigates, warships, tanks were a distant dream. And where we have reached today? India has a powerful battery of missiles. We can produce our own tanks and air crafts. India has also developed a supersonic multirole fighter aircraft named Tejas. The project was originally known as the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).
The Smiling Buddha was the first nuclear test explosion by India on May 18, 1974 at Pokhran. It was also the first confirmed nuclear test by a nation outside the permanent five members of the United Nations Security Council.

Pokharan-II refers to test explosions of five nuclear devices, three on 11 May and two on 13 May 1998, conducted by India at the Pokhran test range. The test was conducted when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government was in power with Atal Bihari Vajpayee as Prime Minister. These nuclear tests resulted in a variety of sanctions against India by a number of major states. Shakti was the codename for Pokhran-II.





India faced a scarcity of milk in 1947. Operation Flood was a rural development programme started by India's National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) in 1970. One of the largest of its kind, the programme objective was to create a nationwide milk grid.It resulted in making India one of the largest producer of milk and milk products, and hence is also called the White Revolution of India. It also helped reduce malpractices by milk traders and merchants. This revolution followed the Green Revolution and helped in alleviating poverty and famine levels from their dangerous proportions in India during the era Thanks to the success of "operation flood" and dairy co-operatives.

Today India is one of the world' s largest food producer. The breakeven point was reached in 1966-67 after the Green Revolution. By the late 1970s, the Green Revolution raised rice yields in India by 30 percent and bought India the vital time to curb its population growth without suffering a recurrence of the devastating famines of the 1940s. In production of fruits and vegetables India has been among the top three nations for the past decade. Our only competitors are China and Brazil.



No one could have ever thought of India being an IT Power in 1947. Today Indians hold important positions in the Global IT industry. NRI venture capitalists are well established in the Silicon valley. IT firms like TCS, Infosys and Wipro are global brands.




The economic condition has also grown immensely. Sensex up at an all time high of 15000 points.Rupee appreciation forced the Dollar to a 10 year LOW. We are a fast growing economy.

In 1977 there was uncertainty over Colour-Television. After Rajiv Gandhi took over the prime ministership in 1984 the whole picture changed.
Global telecom giants consider India as one of the top five fastest growing market for mobiles. The number of mobile handsets in India may soon cross over hundred million.


After being granted Test status in 1932, India continued to play the role of whipping boys of cricket for another 20 years. Then in 1952, India humbled the mighty English in Madras and have never looked back since. During the 1980s, players such as Kapil Dev, Ravi Shastri and Krish Srikanth came into reckoning and India thrashed the formidable West Indians to win the World Cup in 1983.

With Players like Sachin Tendulkar and Anil Kumble Indian Cricket team can give any opponent a run for their money. BCCI is the richest Cricket Board in the World.

From Vijay Amritraj to the latest sensation Sania Mirza, A variety of such player adorn the collection of Indian Tennis. Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupati are also the highlights of our proud collection.
Narain Karthikeyan became the first Indian driver to test and race in Formula 1. He became the first ever indian to drive in the formula 1 testing for Jaguar racing team in 2001. Impressed by his performance he was then offered a test drive by Jordan-Honda at Silverstone in September. Presently he is a Test Driver for the Williams Racing Team.

Viswanathan Anand is an Indian chess grandmaster and former FIDE world champion. Anand is one of only four players in history to break the 2800 mark on the FIDE rating list and he has been among the top three ranked players in classical time control chess in the world continuously since 1997.



Growing and Growing Quite Well..


But when it comes to our National Animal.. Panthera tigris..

There is nothing that can be said clearly..
1947…. A free Nation…. India has 92 National Parks and 28 Tiger Reserves. A country known as the Land of Tigers.

Every possible security is given to the animals here. Still everyday we read news about poaching and poachers being arrested. They are the biggest threat to our forests. Cases of killing Tiger for Skin, Teeth has been increasing day by day. Tiger skin and other body are being smuggled outside and the money involved is very large.

The number of tigers has fallen to just 1500 in 2007. The ongoing estimations indicates that only 1300-1500 tigers are left in the country. This was announced by Valmik Thapar(Tiger Conservationist) . Wildlife Institute of India indicated the presence of not more than 1500 tigers in India. The WII would be coming up with the final report and figures by the end of this year.




If this rate of killing continues we wont be able to see Tigers in the near future..
Our National animal would only exist in Pictures and Books..

This may not be the only problem our country is going through.. Still it is a major issue that cannot be overlooked..

We are harming ourselves..

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Let the Tiger Live..
Save the Tiger..

Wishing Everyone a Very Very Happy Independence Day..
Proud to be an Indian

Regards..
A.W

All views expressed here are my own. Information, Photos and Figures were gathered by me from the Internet. I do not hold any rights for the Photos.

Bandhavgarh National Park

All Rights Reserved.

All the photos included in this slide are taken by me or my friends..

I would like to thank Mr. Pranay Shrivastava and Mr. Kapil Parmar for their support and for providing me with some of the above shown Photographs. Photos taken are from our trips to Bandhavgarh in November 2006, December 2006 and May 2007.

Bandhavgarh National Park is home to more than 50 Tigers including 25-30 in the Tourism Zone. Bandhavgarh even holds the highest density of Tigers in the country. This place was once known for its White Bengal Tigers.

Reaching Bandhavgarh National Park.

By Air: Jabalpur- 165 kms and Khajurao- 230 kms are the most nearest airports.
By Rail: The nearest railhead Umaria- 30 kms, Katni- 75 kms and Satna- 117 kms.
By Road: Jabalpur- 165 kms, Khajuraho- 230 kms, Varanasi- 340 kms, Katni- 75 kms, Rewa- 115 kms, Umaria- 30 kms, Kanha- 250 kms.

Best time to Visit.

The best time to visit the park, keeping all aspects in mind, is between December and February but it is the warmer months of April, May and June that are best for tiger and leopard sightings.


Regards..

Aman..

Attack or Defence !!!!

As this has been a very hot topic since this video was aired on every national news channel i decided to write some of the facts of this incidence those were available to me.

Every news channel has been showing a Tiger attack video and has been telling stories. Some came up with wrong facts. Well thats not the question. But what really happenned is the real question. After seeing this video many people do not consider themselves safe in the National Parks. But thats not right. I am no tiger expert and its not been a long time since i have been following tigers but one thing i can say is that.. Till the time you don't trouble them they won't do anything.. and generally Tigers are very shy..

Download the Video

Well.. After seeing this video for the first time.. I wanted to know everything about this.. Thats natural.. and everyone who sees this video has their own views..

But..

There were some questions those were unanswered..

1. Where did this happen ?
2. Why did this animal attack ?
3. Who was on the elephant ?
4. What happenned to the people ?


and one thing more.. Who shot this Video.. ( I really wanted to know this..)

The reconstructed story goes a bit like this..

The forest department received a message early in the morning about a large tiger which had killed two cows near Tamuli Pathar village, which is close to the boundary of the Kaziranga National Park (KNP) in the north-eastern Assam state. Actually this was a Tigress who was a mother of two cubs which were recently rescued and released.

By 10 am a joint team of the Assam forest department including the director of the park, Mr N. K. Vasu, the local administration, police and the army, and the Wildlife Trust of India(WTI)-managed Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) was combing the area with five elephants trying to locate the animal.


Second from left is D.D.Boro who darted both tigers but missed the suspected mother, who later mauled the mahout.


Here is a Screen Shot from the Video.



Range officer, Dharanidhar Boro, Dr Chaudhary along with a guard were riding the elephant, Joymala, driven by Pegu. Boro was carrying the darting gun.As the elephant moved towards the tigress, it did a mock charge. The guard fired two blanks to discourage her and she ran away into the next field, where the paddy was thick and hid there.

The team cautiously moved towards it and could get to almost 20 feet where she was growling away. Boro could see her clearly and took a shot at it with the dart gun. The dart missed her and this enraged her so much that she charged and took a “flying” leap on to the elephant’s head.

The footage showed that Pegu saw the tigress leaping and threw the metal ankush at it to defend himself. “The tigress saw the ankush coming, dodged it in mid-leap and took a swipe at Pegu without actually landing on the elephant, which had stepped back..

It all happened in a few seconds and noone knew that both Boro and the guard had fallen down. What now happened was even more amazing. As the tigress landed on the ground Joymala quickly pinned her down with her left foot and tried to control it with its trunk. The tigress struggled under this weight for at least half a minute roaring, as other people in the vicinity shouted and fired shots in the air. In this commotion another attempt was made to dart it, but even this shot was off the mark. The tigress finally struggled loose and ran away.

Joymala saved the life of both Boro and the gaurd.. Joymala then tried to chase the tigress was then calmed by the CWRC veterinarian.. who was holding the bleeding mahout.. The 25-year-old mahout, Satya Pegu, who was badly lacerated, lost three fingers on his left hand, and was admitted in a hospital in Dibrugarh. The Wildlife Trust of India and its partner, the International Fund for Animal Welfare covered his medical expenses.

The video footage was taken by the divisional forest officer, R.K.Das.

Noone was killed in this incidence.. just because of some quick thinking by Joymala (The elephant)..

Tigers do not generally attack human being but when it was shot by the dart gun two times then it was an act done in Self defence and to save her cubs..

Poachers Vs. Predators

SEVERAL ARRESTS AND SEIZURE OF TIGER SKINS, BONES AND IRON TRAPS ARE A CLEAR INDICATION OF POACHERS BEING EXTREMELY ACTIVE IN THE NATIONAL PARKS..

THE MOST COMMON WAYS OF POACHING ARE POISONING, TRAPPING, ELECTROCUTION AND SNARING..
THE POACHERS OFTEN TEMPT THE VILLAGERS LIVING NEAR THE TIGER HABITAT AS THEY KNOW THE MOVEMENT OF THE TIGER BETTER THAN THE POACHERS.. SOMETIMES THE POACHERS EVEN OUTSOURCE THE JOB TO THE VILLAGERS, AND THE JOB IS DONE FOR NOT MORE THAN A SUM OF THREE TO FIVE THOUSAND RUPEES..

ON JUNE 7 A TIGER SKIN WAS RECOVERED FROM ERAMANGALAM IN KERELA.. LAST WEEK TWO TIGERS WERE FOUND DEAD UNDER SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES IN KARNATAKA'S BANDIPUR RESERVE.. ON MAY 16TH THE CID FOREST CELL OF THE KARNATAKA POLICE HAD SEIZED A TIGER SKIN IN NAZARBAD.. THIS ANIMAL WAS POISONED A MONTH BACK.. 106 PIECES OF TIGER BONE WAS SIEZED FROM THE HOUSE OF NAWAB ALI IN SATNA DISTRICT OF MADHYA PRADESH ON 29TH MAY.. ON 31ST MARCH A TIGER WAS FOUND INJURED AFTER BEING SHOT BY POACHERS.. IT WAS PARALYSED.. THIS ANIMAL WAS SHIFTED TO NANDANKANAN ZOO..


I CAN STILL REMEMBER AN ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN THE TIMES.. A YEAR AGO.. STATING.. A TIGER WORTH 20 CRORES IN THE FOREIGN MARKET IS SOLD FOR NOT MORE THAN 20 THOUSAND IN INDIA.. 

THESE VILLAGERS DONT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING.. THEY'RE
 NOT ONLY KILLING TIGERS BUT AT THE SAME TIME THEY'RE KILLING 
THEMSELVES.. SOMETIMES THEY KILL TIGERS IF THEY FEAR THE DANGER
OF THEM KILLING THEIR LIVESTOCKS.. AND SOMETIMES THEY DO THIS AS A PART OF VENGEANCE..

THE FINAL TIGER CENCUS FIGURES ARE EXPECTED TO COME BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.. AND I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF THE FIGURE FALLS EVEN LOWER..

IS THIS THE TREATMENT OUR NATIONAL ANIMAL DESERVES FROM US ??

PREDATOR OR PREY !!!!

HALF OF THE TIGERS POPULATION OF THE WORLD IS IN INDIA.. BUT THERE ARE STILL A LOT MANY STEPS TO BE TAKEN TO SAVE THIS ANIMAL..

THE FIRST CENSUS ON TIGERS WAS DONE WAY BACK IN 1973 UNDER THE PROJECT TIGER.. NUMBER ESTIMATED WAS 1827 THAT TIME.. BUT THERE WAS A RISE IN THE NUMBER OF TIGERS TILL 2002.. THE NUMBER CAME UP TO 3700 BY 2002..

IN 16 OF THE COUNTRIES 28 TIGER RESERVES ESTIMATES INDICATE A FALL OF 50% IN THE NUMBER OF TIGERS IN 2006-2007..


TIGER POPULATION IN MADHYA PRADESH AND CHHATTISGARH IN 2002 WAS ESTIMATED TO 710 TIGERS .. BUT NOW IT HAS FALLEN TO 290 (DECLINE OF ABOUT 61%).. MAHARASHTRA HAS 95 TIGERS IN COMPARISON TO 238 IN 2002.. WHEREAS RAJASTHAN HAS 32 TIGERS LEFT OUT OF THE 58 IN 2002..

A FINAL CENSUS IS EXPECTED TO COME BY THE END OF 2007..

THE MINISTRY OF ENVIORONMENT AND FOREST HAS TERMED THIS REPORT UNOFFICIAL.. WII IS A PART OF THE MINISTRY AND THE GOVERNMENT HAS SANCTIONED Rs. 130 MILLION FOR THE CENSUS.. THEN HOW CAN IT BE CALLED AN UNOFFICIAL REPORT..

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SOME PHOTOS AND VIDEOS ADDED IN THE PICTURE AND VIDEO GALLERY SECTION FOR EVERYONE TO DOWNLOAD.. IF THIS CONTINUES.. WE WILL HAVE TIGERS LEFT IN BOOKS AND PHOTOS ONLY..

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"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.