Mutilated body of male rhino recovered

PTI | 03:11 PM,Nov 30,2011
Lakimpur (UP), Nov 30 (PTI) Mutilated body of a male rhino, suspected to have been killed by poachers for its horn, was recovered in Sonaripur range by the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR) authorities. "The body was recovered yesterday from Kakarha Tal area. The condition of the carcass indicates that the animal died about one and a half months back," Ganesh Bhat, Deputy Director of the DTR, said today. Following recovery of a horn from neighbouring Nepal, investigations were initiated into the matter. "Two persons have been held for interrogation, while samples from the body have been collected to be sent to WII, Dehradun, to match the DNA with that of the recovered horn in Nepal," he said. The forest authorities in Kailali, Nepal had arrested three poachers along with a rhino horn. During interrogation, the poachers told the Nepal forest officials that they had purchased the rhino horn from an Indian of Basantapur village in Kheri. The rhino rehabilitation programme in Dudhwa is the world's most successful project, where they were relocated on the terai land of Kheri district after 150 years. The programme was started in 1987 with just five rhinos brought in from Assam and Nepal. The accommodating atmosphere, rich flora and fauna of Dudhwa helped these uni-horned animals to flourish and within a few decades the number of rhinos has swelled to 31. PTI CORR AVA PG SG

‘Future of the tiger is dependent on India’

BANGALORE: Dr George Schaller, emeritus scientist of New York Wildlife Conservation Society, also a leading wildlife biologist, was here in connection with a programme organised by director of WCS India Program and Centre for Wildlife Studies K Ullas Karanth, when The New Indian Express caught up with him for an exclusive interview. Excerpts:
“Tigers are extinct in Cambodia, Vietnam, Russia, China and Myanmar. The only ray of hope is India which still has around 1,600 tigers. It is time the Indian government protects them. If tigers are still in India, credit must go to former prime minister late Indira Gandhi,” said Dr George Schaller. He added that there are hardly 3,600 tigers left in the entire world.
“Tigers will exist provided there is political will and strict implementation of wildlife rules. It is heartening to note that the tiger population in India is improving, thanks to conservation. From the 1990s till date there has been an increase in the population of big cats. India has been a success story thanks to the efforts of people like Ullas Karanth,” he elucidates. Pointing out that more tigers exist in private captivity around the globe, he said: “In US, there are more than 3,500 tigers outside zoos and forests and in Russia over 7,000 tigers in people’s backyard.”
“Tiger skin and bones are sought in China for medicinal purposes. Many organised gangs kill tigers and sell the products for a huge sum. It is possible to check this illegal trade provided local communities are taken into confidence. A percentage of profit earned through tourism should be given to them for their inclusion in wildlife conservation. Unfortunately, borders to China are open; poachers take this route for all illegal trade.”
He said that villagers kill tigers and sell it to middlemen for a paltry sum who in turn take it to China where they get high prices, while calling for strong policing and cooperation of villagers.
“In a bid to improve tiger habitat, the Chinese government has initiated several measures. More areas in forests are declared as core areas for breeding in peace. It is critical to improve tiger breeding in wild. But in last 10 years, 18 out of the 800-odd poachers arrested were convicted,” Dr Schaller said.
“I hope the right steps will be taken to save the tiger; its future depends on India.”
http://expressbuzz.com/states/karnataka/%E2%80%98future-of-the-tiger-is-dependent-on-india%E2%80%99/336139.html
Photo-With George Schaller

13 nations come together to save tigers

NEW DELHI: Project Predators, an initiative to save tigers, was unveiled on Wednesday at the general assembly of Interpol in Hanoi, Vietnam, where the CBI is representing the country. The project is aimed at combing the efforts of police, Customs and wildlife officials in 13 countries, including India where tigers can still be found in the wild.

It will provide capacity building to law enforcement agencies to combat tiger crimes, strengthen their ability to work with wildlife officials using advanced, intelligence-led methods of investigation. The project will also encourage countries to establish and resource National Tiger Crime Task Forces, a statement from Interpol said.

"Besides Tiger saving initiative, the assembly will discuss a wide range of issues, including assessment of the implementation of resolutions on combating crime and exchanging experiences in preventing transnational crime," CBI spokesperson Dharini Mishra said.

"During the general assembly, the director of CBI has held important discussions on matters of mutual interest with secretary general of Interpol, Ronald K Noble, Vietnam's vice minister of public security and heads of delegations from the member countries, including the USA, the UK, France, Singapore, Vietnam, Bhutan, Hong Kong and Denmark," she said. She added, "The general assembly will also ratify important resolutions on police cooperation and elect the organization's executive committee."

source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/13-nations-come-together-to-save-tigers/articleshow/10586744.cms