Category: Anti poaching

Uttarakhad: Watch Out For Poachers!

October 16, 2019 by All credits to the original author·Comments Off

Original source, credits text and photograph

Forest Dept issues alert for poachers in Uttarakhand.

Content

Uttarakhand Forest Department has issued an alert for poachers in the state. In order to protect the tigers, Nandhaur Wildlife Sanctuary in Haldwani district is being safeguarded by the forest officials. While speaking to media, the Forest Official said, “Our main focus is on tiger poachers and we want that our wildlife sanctuary to be safe and protected.” Tiger poaching has impacted the probability of survival of tigers in India since long time.

Read the original article here.

Commentary

The forest department of Uttarakhand is warning for poachers, especially in Nandhaur Wildlife Sanctuary.

Please share with people in Uttarakhand!

#tiger #tigernews

Gotcha! Tiger Poacher Arrested In Assam.

October 13, 2019 by All credits to the original author·Comments Off

Original source, credits text and photograph

India – WIO News

Tiger poacher arrested in Assam.

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A tiger poacher has been arrested by Assam police with the help of the Indian Army, paramilitary forces and the forest officials.

The accused identified as Sunilal Boro was arrested on Saturday in Bilasipara area of Dhubri district.

“Sunilal Boro, who is related to a tiger poaching case under Panbari Range was apprehended by the Army and Police in Bilasipara area of Dhubri district on October 12,” Assam Police informed.

Read the original article here.

Commentary

TIGER POACHER CAPTURED!

The Assam police in cooperation with the Indian Army, paramilitary forces and forest officials have arrested Sunilal Boro, a reknown tiger poacher.

Well done!

#tiger #tigernews

Unknown Heroes: Ramesh Pandey.

October 7, 2019 by All credits to the original author·Comments Off

Original source, credits text and photograph

India – NDTV

Indian Bureaucrat To Receive Asia Environmental Enforcement Award From UN

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Senior Indian Forest Service officer Ramesh Pandey has been selected for the prestigious Asia Environmental Enforcement Award by the United Nations Environment Programme.

The 1996-batch IFS officer, posted as Chief Conservator Forests in Lucknow and Secretary, UP State Bio-diversity Board, is known for his investigation and intelligence gathering on poachers.

Ramesh Pandey will receive the award on November 13 at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok.

Read the original article here.

Commentary

Ramesh Pandey is a Field Director (Dudhwa Tiger Reserve) and will receive a UN Award for his contributions to catching bad guys.

He is known for his investigation and intelligence gathering on poachers. He made sure that renowned golfer Jyoti Randhawa was arrested for poaching in the protected area of Katarniaghat and he busted infamous tiger poaching gang of Lambu Fariyad, who was flagged by Interpol as well.

So an award is well deserved!
We need more people like Ramesh.

#tiger #tigernews

100 Lashes For Tiger Poachers?

October 4, 2019 by All credits to the original author·Comments Off

Original source, credits text and photograph

United Kingdom – Daily Mail

Poachers to get 100 lashes under new endangered animals rules in Indonesia's Aceh province.

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Poachers who threaten endangered animals could receive up to 100 lashes under new rules in Indonesia’s Aceh province, which usually reserves whipping for morality crimes under Islamic law.

Public flogging is a common punishment for offences including gambling, drinking alcohol and pre-marital sex in the region, which is the only area in Indonesia to impose religious law.

But these new rules, adopted last week, mark the first time that crimes against wildlife fall under Aceh’s strict sharia code.

Read the original article here.

Commentary

Indonesia is introducing new penalties for poaching:

– up to 100 lashes for individuals that are caught for poaching
– up to 60 lashes for civil servants that are negligent in their duties

These lashes are on top of other penalties (prison sentence, fine).

What do you think?

#tiger #tigernews

Forest Department Arunchal Pradesh (India) Fails With Setting Up Much Needed Tiger Protection Force – But Why?

September 28, 2019 by All credits to the original author·Comments Off

Original source, credits text and photograph

India – The Shillong Times

Arunchal CM Prods Forest Department To Raise Tiger Protection Force.

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Arunchal Pradesh Chief Minister, Pema Khandu, has expressed his concern over the hitherto of the state department to raise Special Tiger Protection Force despite the fund provided by the centre for recruitment of personnel for the force.

He directed the department to take up the matter on priority basis and raise the Tiger Protection Force at the earliest.

Read the original article here.

Commentary

The forest department of Indian State has the money to set up a much needed special tiger protection force to give an extra layer of protection.

But they don’t. The reason is why?

Is there a dispute with the government? Does the forest department not believe in a STPF? Are people within the forest department getting (financially) better without that extra layer of protection.

We support the Chief Minister of Arunchal Pradesh that puts pressure on the forest dept. to install the STPF as soon as possible.

Tigers need all the protection that is possible.

#tiger #tigernews

Unknown Hero: Shanti Ram Chhetri.

September 15, 2019 by All credits to the original author·Comments Off

Original source, credits text and photograph

India – Outlook

In Kaziranga, Forest Guard Shantiram Chhetri Stands Between Poacher's Bullets And Rhinos.

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Kaziranga is one park in India, which, like the African savannah, will spoil you silly. It boasts of the presence of its own big five: Rhino, Asiatic water Buffalo, Elephant, Swamp Deer and of course the Tiger. The tiger will play elusive but the others are easy to spot.

The national park is blessed with an abundance of wildlife, and it is this very fact that has now become its weakness.

Such abundance can be taken for granted only at great peril and cost.

Read the original article here.

Commentary

Forest guards are often alone, in dangerous situations and underpaid. And above all: undervalued.

Meet Shanti Ram Cchetri, forest guard in Kaziranga National Park.

#tiger #tigernews

Drones To Save Tigers.

September 9, 2019 by All credits to the original author·Comments Off

Original source, credits text and photograph

Bangladesh – DDI News

Drones To Monitor Sundarbans: Bangladesh Forest department.

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The forest department of Bangladesh has planned to use drones for monitoring poaching and other illegal activities in the Sundarban area.

The department is also considering to erect net-fence around the forest to prevent the intrusion of tigers into the nearby human habitations. These methods have been used successfully by India in checking poaching and tiger attacks on people

Illegal activities like poaching of tigers and deer, felling of trees and fish catching take place regularly in the Sundarban area which is the largest mangrove in the world and UNESCO world heritage site.

Read the original article here.

Commentary

The Bangladesh forest department is finally going to use modern equipment for monitoring the Sundarbans, the world largest moangrove forest with more than 100 tigers.

With the drones the department can monitor poaching and other illegal activities.

#tiger #tigernews

More Anti-Poaching Camps For Indian Tiger Reserve.

September 2, 2019 by All credits to the original author·Comments Off

Original source, credits text and photograph India – The Hindu Photo courtesy: Mithun Hanagund

M.M. Hills Wildlife Sanctuary to get more anti-poaching camps.

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The Forest Department will increase the number of anti-poaching camps at M.M. Hills Wildlife Sanctuary this year to shore up protection in the area.

The 906-sq.km sanctuary with pristine forests has 40 anti-poaching camps at present, but another 15 will be added to strengthen protection, according to Deputy Conservator of Forests V. Yedukondalu.

This is because the sanctuary is set to be declared a tiger reserve in due course and is also a biodiversity hotspot as it is home to others species of animals such as deer and gaur, constituting the prey base for carnivores.

Read the original article here.

Commentary

To fight tiger and other poaching the management of the M.M. Hills Wildlife Sanctuary will install another 15 anti-poaching camps.

Well done!

#tiger #tigernews

Finally A Special Tiger Force For Corbett!

August 29, 2019 by All credits to the original author·Comments Off

Original source, credits text and photograph

India – The Tribune

Special Tiger Force For Corbett Reserve Set Up, Wildlife Officials Welcome Move.

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The Uttarakhand government has decided to form a Special Tiger Force for Corbett Tiger Reserve, a move which will help serve as the much needed second layer of protection for the big cat.

The decision to set up the force was taken by the state cabinet on Wednesday. The force will have 85 posts.

Chief Wildlife Warden Rajiv Bhartari said: “The STPF will be effective in checking illegal human intrusion into the reserve through villages located on its fringes and serve as a second layer of protection for tigers at the CTR”.

Read the original article here.

Commentary

Finally Corbett Tiger Reserve will get the so needed Special Tiger Protection Force – the second layer of protection – to fight illegal human intrusion.

It took too long for the decision to be made by the Uttarakhand government but now 85 extra posts will be installed to help the Corbett Tiger Reserve to protect the habitat of tigers.

#tiger #tigernews

Bangladesh Must Do More To Save Tigers.

August 26, 2019 by All credits to the original author·Comments Off

Original source, credits text and photograph

Bangladesh – Prothom Alo

Tigers Must Be Saved From Poachers.

Content

According to a survey on tigers in the Sundarbans, carried out by German tiger expert Hen Reeds in 1975, there were 350 tigers in the mangrove forest.

A study on the Sundarbans in 2017 by Kent University in the UK, said the number of tigers in the Sundarbans is 121. So the number of tigers in the Sundarbans has fallen by one third in 42 years.

According to a tiger census in 2004, the number of tigers was 440 in Bangladesh. In another tiger census in 2015, the number of tigers decreased to 106.

Read the original article here.

Commentary

Bangladesh faces many challenges when it comes to tiger conservation.

Climate change, industries and poaching to name a few.

Although the Bangladesh government increased activities to save their Bengal tiger, it has to do a lot more.

#tiger #tigernews

Malaysia Only Points Fingers To Foreign Poachers.

August 17, 2019 by All credits to the original author·Comments Off

Original source, credits text and photograph

Malaysia – MalayMail

In Ops To Save Tigers, Johor Perhilitan Finds Signs Of Poachers From Abroad.

Content

Thought to number fewer than 200 in the wild, the critically endangered Malayan tiger is being threatened by foreign poachers on home ground.

In a recent Ops Belang, the government’s initiative to protect the dwindling tiger population in its natural habitat, the Johor Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) found traps and abandoned camps in the jungle that point to poachers from Indochinese countries ― judging from the food wrappers, food cans and cigarette wrappers found.

“Our initial investigation showed that many of these poachers come from Indochina countries where some came into Malaysia illegally while others have work permits as they are employed in factories here.

Read the full article here.

Commentary

While Malaysia is finally stepping up to do something about the terrible state of Malayan tigers, it only points fingers to foreign poachers.

No word still about encroachment or burning down precious habitats by logging companies on behalf of the palm oil and paper and pulp industries.

Using Myanmar As Major Transit Point, Illegal Wildlife Trade Spreads In Region.

August 2, 2019 by All credits to the original author·Comments Off

Myanmar – source: Myanmar Times

The UNODC released a report this month that said the number of wildlife trafficking seizures in Myanmar is considerably lower than those made elsewhere in the Mekong sub-region but the country is an increasingly important transit point for the illicit wildlife trade.

From 2013 to 2017, officials seized 34 shipments of pangolin scales and other parts, totalling more than 1.2 tonnes.

Myanmar also has a modest illegal trade in elephant skin, which is often found for sale in popular markets in special economic zones such as Mine Lar and Tachileik in Shan State.

Tigers 2018: A Small Step But Challenges Galore.

August 2, 2019 by All credits to the original author·Comments Off

India – source: https://www.indiatoday.in/news-analysis/story/tigers-2018-a-small-step-but-challenges-galore-1576253-2019-08-01

Amid the regular distressing news of tiger deaths due to vehicular accidents and retaliatory killings, the findings of the “Status of Tigers in India-2018” report are heartening. In 2010, the Chinese Year of the Tiger, at the Tiger Summit in Saint Petersburg, India and the other 12 tiger range countries committed to doubling wild tiger numbers by 2022, the next Year of the Tiger. In 2010, the estimated wild tiger population in India was 1706; the latest corresponding figure is 2967, within sight of the target, and well in time. Collectively, the nation needs to celebrate. Since the last estimate of 2266 tigers in 2014, the report shows an impressive 31 per cent increase.

Although the report has its share of unanswered questions as well as grey areas of interpretation, we do not find any obvious discrepancies. Particularly impressive is the scientific rigour and the use of modern techniques of estimation. The methodology is as robust as it can be, using a combination of camera trap images, pug marks, tiger scats as well as habitat mapping. With a survey that covered 3,81,400 km of forested habitats in 20 tiger range states of India involving a foot survey of 5,22,996 km and camera traps deployed at 26,838 locations, one cannot question the robustness of the exercise. Most importantly, a total of 2,461 individual tigers were photo-captured. Thereafter, combining the estimated forest areas, grading them based on prey density and local ecology, the overall tiger population was anywhere between 2,603 to 3,346 with a standard error of approximately 12 per cent.

Indian Kaziranga Tigers: Spotlight On Official-Poacher Nexus.

August 2, 2019 by All credits to the original author·Comments Off

India – source: The Hindu

An evaluation report on India’s tiger reserves has put the spotlight on an alleged nexus between some officials of Kaziranga National Park and poachers.

Kaziranga, a World Heritage Site designated by UNESCO, is more popular as the world’s best address for the one-horned rhino. It is also been a major tiger reserve covering an area of 1,080 sq km.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier this week released the management effectiveness evaluation reports for tiger reserves across the country, including Kaziranga.

Malaysia: Tables Turned On Poachers.

July 29, 2019 by Chris Slappendel·Comments Off

Malaysia – source: The Star Online

Two battalions of the police general operations force (GOF) have been directed to assist the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) in tackling poachers, especially those hunting the endangered Malayan tigers, says Datuk Seri Abdul Hamid Bador.

The Inspector-General of Police said one of the battalions, comprising 500 members, would be deployed together with Perhilitan personnel to patrol the forest.

Another battalion, he added, would be put on standby.

Both battalions are from Perak Senoi Praaq, the police unit made up mostly of Orang Asli.

More Than 4,000 People Run 5km To Save The Malayan Tiger.

July 28, 2019 by Chris Slappendel·Comments Off

Malaysia – source: New Straits Times

The Malayan Tiger Run 2019 today saw more than 4,000 participants roaring off in support of tiger conservation in Malaysia.

The 5km obstacle fun run, jointly organised by WWF-Malaysia and Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank), was flagged off by Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr A. Xavier Jayakumar.

WWF-Malaysia executive director Sophia Lim said the overwhelming response reflected the support of Malaysians to protect the Malayan tiger.

“We also launched our Malayan tiger pledge today, and we hope the people will continue to stand behind us and support us.

IGP Commits To Combating Poachers, Offers 500 General Operations Force Personnel.

July 28, 2019 by Chris Slappendel·Comments Off

Malaysia – source: Malaymail

Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Datuk Seri Abdul Hamid Bador has committed 500 police general operations force (GOF) personnel to assist the Wildlife Department in tackling poachers.

This commitment came after discussions held earlier this month to form a joint action force comprising the police and the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) to prevent the poaching and sale of protected wildlife.

“The support that we can offer on this joint action force is in terms of manpower.

“I have met with the home minister (Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin) and he ordered me to meet with the Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister (Dr Xavier Jayakumar), for further engagement).

“As the IGP, I’m commuting a GOF battalion based in Senoi Praaq, Bidor, Perak. One more battalion will be on standby,” he told reporters after the launch of the Global Tiger Day 2019 here at Le Meridien Hotel.

Earning The Stripes.

July 28, 2019 by Chris Slappendel·Comments Off

India – source: Deccan herald

When the Global Tiger Recovery Program (GTRP) was rolled out in 2010, it announced the exigency and intent in rather dramatic terms.

The programme, endorsed in the St Petersburg Declaration on Tiger Conservation, was billed as the “last best hope for tigers”. Inaction could lead to extinction of the “world’s most magnificent species”, the programme’s executive summary had warned. Nine years into the ambitious programme, designed over the period between 2010 and 2022, the intent appears to have translated to a rise in the number of big cats in India, one of the 13 Tiger Range Countries (TRCs) in the GTRP.

The TRCs’ shared goal of doubling the number of tigers globally by 2022 could still be viewed as unrealistic but conservationists see in these numbers a possibility to optimise ongoing efforts — in restoring a depleted prey base, reviving habitats, building new resources for site-specific strategies and more crucially, in improving protection of forests with minimal conflict.

Y V Jhala, scientist at the Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India, sees in the task for 2022 a “good target for politicians” to work toward and feels that the post-2010 thrust has, despite setbacks in some of the TRCs, had impressive returns. The senior scientist is working on the 2018 tiger census, a project that monitors the status of tigers, co-predators, prey and their habitat in India. The report is scheduled to be released by the end of July.

The Tiger’s Last Stand.

July 27, 2019 by Chris Slappendel·Comments Off

India – source: Economic & Political Weekly (EPW)

The recent spate of tiger deaths in Sariska Tiger Reserve, the last one being reported on 8 June 2019 (Suri 2019), does not augur well for big cat conservation in the country. It also brings into question the efficacy of the tiger reintroduction programme in the reserve that began in 2008. It is important to explore not only the immediate causes of tiger deaths, but also the long-term factors, given the chronic, larger challenges of wildlife conservation in a developing country like India.

Poaching and Local Extinction

Sariska, an 866 sq km protected area located in the Aravalli Hills of Rajasthan, became the epicentre of conservation debates in early 2005, soon after tigers were reported to have disappeared from there as a result of poaching (Shahabuddin 2010: 1–4). At the time, government reports suggested that the last few tigers had been poached with the connivance of resident Gujjar villagers in Sariska (Rediff.com 2005; Gupta 2005; Environmental Justice Atlas 2019). Subsequently, a number of arrests were made and the reserve was blocked off to the public and researchers for investigations. Swift governmental action largely focused on poaching, and attempted to solve the issue by stepping up protective measures and amending the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 to enhance punitive regulations (Shahabuddin 2010: 5).

Seven Dead Tiger Cubs Found In Car In Vietnam.

July 26, 2019 by Chris Slappendel·Comments Off

Pakistan – source: The Express Tribune

A haul of frozen tiger carcasses found in a car in Hanoi has led to the arrest of a key wildlife trafficking suspect, Vietnamese state media said on Friday, as the country tries to tackle a well-worn smuggling route from Laos.

Nguyen Huu Hue, who is believed to have smuggled animals in from neighbouring Laos for years, was arrested on Thursday with two other people after seven dead tigers were discovered in their vehicle at a parking lot, according to Cong An Nhan Dan newspaper.

“Hue set up a company… which sells building material as a cover for the illegal trading of tigers and wildlife,” Cong An Nhan Dan, the official mouthpiece of the Ministry of Public Security, reported.
All seven tigers appeared to be cubs, according to photos of the seizure.

Celebrating The Contribution Of Super Sniffers On Global Tiger Day.

July 26, 2019 by Chris Slappendel·Comments Off

Singapore – source: TRAFFIC

In the lead up to Global Tiger Day on 29th July 2019, TRAFFIC has announced the winners of Canines for Felines, a special contest for wildlife sniffer dogs (popularly called Super Sniffers) trained under a TRAFFIC and WWF-India programme in India, working to curb poaching and illegal trade of tigers.

Nirman, a wildlife sniffer dog from the Tiger Strike Force in Satna was the overall winner of Canines for Felines while Myna, a wildlife sniffer dog from Tiger Strike Force in Indore was runner up. Both the dog squads belong to the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department.

Since his deployment, Nirman and his handlers Mr Raj Kishore Prajapati and Mr Ashok Kumar Gupta, have helped in solving 35 wildlife cases, including six tiger-related cases leading to the arrest of several wildlife criminals along with recovery of poached tiger carcasses and seizure of tiger body parts. To become such an ace sniffer and tracker dog, Nirman along with his handlers underwent a rigorous nine-month training programme in 2016 at the National Training Centre for Dogs (NTCD), BSF Academy, Gwalior.

Dudhwa Officer Introduces App & Smart Patrolling, Nabs 200 Poachers in a Year!

July 25, 2019 by Chris Slappendel·Comments Off

India – source: The Better India

The forest can be a dangerous place. Not only for the unfamiliar visitor but also for the vulnerable animals. In a tiger reserve as dense and vast as Dudhwa in Uttar Pradesh, the risk of illegal wildlife poaching is especially high.

Considering the complications of poaching and the high-risk jobs of forest officials, IFS officer Ramesh Pandey introduced a mobile application in his department to phenomenal results.

Within a year of its introduction, M-STrIPES, which stands for Monitoring System for Tigers-Intensive Protection and Ecological Status, has been instrumental in catching 200 poachers in a patrol field that covers 2,50,000 km!