Tiger

Tiger count in Maharashtra up at 444 from 101 in 2000, says forest minister

Maharashtra Forest Minister Ganesh Naik on Wednesday said the state's tiger count has gone up to 444 this year from 101 in 2000, and the government has approved funds of Rs 200 crore for solar fencing of villages near tiger habitats. Naik was replying to a debate in the state assembly on the issue of man-animal conflicts in a wildlife sanctuary near Bhandara. The minister said two persons were killed in the area in tiger attacks this year. Naik assured the House that he would pursue the demand for fencing of villages which are close to forests and fall on the route of tiger movement. "The number of tigers in the state has gone up to 444 now compared to 101 in 2000," he told the House. Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar said there was anger among locals over tiger attacks. Farmers were living in fear as tigers and leopards destroy crops as well, he said. Members cutting across party lines expressed concern over the increasing incidents of human-wildlife ...

Tiger found dead, nails stolen in Uttarakhand forest; poachers suspected

Chief Forest Conservator of Kumaon Division Dheeraj Pandey shared that women from the Dhakna Badola forest panchayat in Champawat discovered the tiger's body on Jan 8 suspected to have been poisoned

Probe underway after death of tiger cubs in Siliguri, tigress under watch

Authorities in Bengal Safari Park in Siliguri have launched a probe into the death of three tiger cubs after their mother accidentally bit them on their necks while shifting them together from one part of the enclosure to another, an official said. The cubs, born to tigress 'Rika' at the open-air zoo in Siliguri last week, died after their trachea was punctured as the big cat was trying to take her children inside the night shelter enclosure on Thursday. Senior West Bengal Zoo Authority member Sourav Choudhury told PTI "Rika accidentally killed the three cubs as she was taking them away from the night shelter to another part of the enclosure." "However, we have launched a probe to ascertain the circumstances," he said. The probe team consists of senior forest, zoo officials and one vet. Senior forest officials are also talking to the zoo keepers, handlers and ascertaining the behaviour and mood of the tigress before the incident, afterwards and kept her under watch though she has

Kuno faces prey, predator challenges; Gandhi Sagar not ready for cheetahs

Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park, the first home to translocated cheetahs in India, continues to struggle with a high leopard population and a low prey base, while the twin challenges have delayed preparations at the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary that will be the second site for cheetah introduction. Summary records from meetings of the Centre's Cheetah Project Steering Committee reveal that prey augmentation and leopard management are among the major challenges facing the grand initiative since the reintroduction of cheetahs in India in September 2022. The low prey density is also one of the reasons why cheetahs spent an extended period in enclosures in Kuno after being brought back from the wild in August last year, following the death of three cheetahs due to septicemia. As an interim solution, authorities have been introducing prey into both Kuno and Gandhi Sagar that is also in Madhya Pradesh. The high leopard population in both areas also prompted the initiation of a ...

International Tiger Day 2024: History, significance, quotes and more

Tiger Day 2024: The tiger population is declining significantly. This day aims to establish a framework to protect the natural habitat of tigers, raise public awareness and support tiger conservation

Cheetah Gamini gives birth to five cubs at MP's Kuno National Park

Cheetah 'Gamini' on Sunday gave birth to five cubs in Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, taking the total number of the big cats in the country to 26, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav said. Taking to social media platform X, the Union Minister of Environment, Forests and Climate Change said, "High Five, Kuno! Female cheetah Gamini, aged about 5 years, brought from Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, South Africa, has given birth to 5 cubs today." The number of cheetah cubs born in India now stands at 13, the minister added. This is the fourth cheetah litter on Indian soil and the first litter of cheetahs brought from South Africa, Yadav informed. "Congratulations to all, especially the team of forest officers, vets, and field staff who have ensured a stress-free environment for cheetahs, which has led to successful mating and birth of the cubs. The total number of cheetahs, including cubs in Kuno National Park, is 26. Gamini's legacy leaps forward: Introducing her adorable cubs," the Union .

Cabinet nod to set up International Big Cat Alliance to save tigers

The Union Cabinet Thursday approved the creation of International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) to set up a global network to conserve tigers and other big cats. The India-headquartered alliance was conceived as a multi-country, multi-agency coalition of 96 big cat range countries and others to establish a common platform for conservation. Out of the seven big cats (tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, puma, jaguar and the cheetah), five -- tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard and cheetah -- are found in India. The Cabinet has cleared a one-time budgetary support of Rs 150 crore for the IBCA for a period of five years from 2023-24 to 2027-28. Acknowledging India's leading role in conserving tigers, other big cats and many of its endangered species, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had during his speech on Global Tiger Day, 2019 called for an alliance of global leaders to curb poaching in Asia. The IBCA aims for cooperation among countries for mutual benefit in furthering the conservation ...

Tiger population in U'khand rose by 314% in 16 years: Chief wildlife warden

The tiger population in Uttarakhand has increased at a rate of 314 per cent between 2006 and 2022, officials said on Saturday. Uttarakhand Chief Wildlife Warden Samir Sinha claimed the tiger population density in Uttarakhand is among the highest in the world. The tiger population which stood at 178 in 2006 rose to 560 in 2022, recording a rise of 314 per cent, Sinha said. He said the increase in the population of the wild animal in the state is due to steps taken by the forest department in recent years to improve their habitat conditions. However, a slight increase was recorded in 2023 in the number of people killed and injured in tiger attacks, the warden said. Two persons were killed in tiger attacks in 2021, 16 in 2022 and 17 in 2023, while eight persons were injured by big cats in 2021, 10 in 2022 and nine in 2023, Sinha said. The total number of people killed in encounters with animals such as leopards, elephants and snakes besides tigers was 71 in 2021, 82 in 2022 and 66

No one should teach us about environment: Goa Minister on tiger reserve

Goa Minister Subhash Phal Desai on Saturday spoke on the issue of declaring the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary and surrounding areas as a tiger reserve by claiming "no one should teach us on how to protect the environment". The Goa Bench of Bombay High Court last month ordered that the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary and surrounding areas be declared as a tiger reserve. Phal Desai said the state government has already decided to challenge the HC order. Speaking about the tiger reserve issue, Phal Desai said at least 600 people from his constituency will have to be displaced after the areas are declared as a tiger reserve, adding that people living in the forest are already facing difficulties due to notification of Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary. "We can't face more difficulties. Right now even to construct houses on our own properties in these areas, we have to struggle to get permissions from the forest authorities," he claimed. "People living in the forest areas have respect for the environ

Tiger cubs found dead in TN's Mudumalai Tiger Reserve; probe ordered

Two tiger cubs were found dead at the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve and a probe has been ordered to ascertain the reason for their death, Forest Department officials said on Thursday. The cubs were found dead during a patrolling by officials. An autopsy will be carried out as part of the probe to ascertain the reason for the cubs' death, they said, without elaborating.

Seven-month-old female tiger cub found dead at Bandhavgarh Reserve in MP

A seven-month-old female tiger cub was found dead under suspicious circumstances at Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, officials said on Wednesday.According to the Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF) of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, FS Ninama, it is suspected that the cub was killed during a fight with another tiger.The pugmarks of another tiger were found near the carcass of deceased cub, the official said.Further, officials informed that dog squads were brought in to aid the ongoing investigation into the incident.Last month, Madhya Pradesh had emerged as a tiger state yet again, inhabiting 785 big cats.According to the latest data released by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) on the occasion of International Tiger Day - titled 'Status of Tigers Co-predators & Prey in India, 2022' - the state has topped the list of the highest number of tigers and again became the tiger state.Madhya Pradesh tops the country in tiger population at 785, followed by Karnataka at 563, ...

Tiger Reserve judgement protects forest dwellers' rights, Cong slams BJP

Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President Amit Patkar on Sunday addressed a press conference and lambasted Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane for trying to misguide people and also the court

High-level teams visit Dudhwa Tiger Reserve to probe tiger deaths

Within hours of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announcing a probe into tiger deaths in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR), a high-level investigation teams have reached DTR

Tiger bonds will encourage private capital participation in conservation

Innovative finance solutions are needed to encourage private citizens to take up ecological responsibility

PM to release tiger numbers, mark 50 yrs of 'Project Tiger' in Mysuru

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the latest tiger census data at a mega event to mark the completion of 50 years of 'Project Tiger' in Mysuru on Sunday. He will also release the government's vision for tiger conservation during 'Amrit Kaal', and also launch the International Big Cats Alliance (IBCA). IBCA will focus on protection and conservation of seven major big cats of the world -- Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Puma, Jaguar and Cheetah, with membership of the range countries harbouring these species. The Prime Minister will visit Bandipur Tiger Reserve in Chamarajanagar district in the morning and interact with frontline field staff and self-help groups involved in conservation activities. He will also visit the Theppakadu Elephant camp in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve in neighbouring Tamil Nadu bordering Chamarajanagar district and interact with mahouts and 'kavadis' of the elephant camp. He will also interact with Field Directors of tiger reserves that have scored ..

Chhattisgarh sees tiger numbers tumble, despite spending Rs 5 cr per month

In 2014, there were 46 tigers in the state, but in the census of 2018, the number came down to 19

240 lions, 370 leopards died in Gujarat in 2 years: Forest Minister

At least 240 lions, among them 123 cubs, died in Gujarat over the last two years, and 26 of these fatalities were due to unnatural causes, state Forest Minister Mulubhai Bera informed the legislative Assembly on Tuesday. Responding to a query by senior Congress MLA Arjun Modhwadia during Question Hour, Bera said 370 leopards, including 100 cubs, also died in two years -- 2021 and 2022 -- in the state. Of the 240 lion deaths, 124 were reported in 2021 and 116 in 2022. In case of leopards, 179 died in 2021 and 191 last year, the minister said in a written reply in the Assembly, which is having its Budget session. As many as 214 lions succumbed to natural causes, while 26 fatalities were due to unnatural causes such as the big cats getting hit by vehicles or falling into open wells, he said. Among leopards, 256 deaths were due to natural causes and 114 fatalities were attributed to unnatural reasons, Bera said. The state government has taken various steps to prevent unnatural deaths

5 Bihar villages to be developed into human-carnivore coexistence zone

Five villages of the Valmiki Tiger Reserve in West Champaran district of Bihar will be developed into a model human-carnivore coexistence zone, with the state government joining hands with the Wildlife Trust of India, a Nepalese organisation and a UK-based zoo for the project, officials said. The objective of the project is to end the human-carnivore conflict in the Valmiki-Chitwan-Parsa transboundary landscape, they said. The WTI, National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC-Nepal) and Chester Zoo (UK) had jointly applied for the project and sought a letter of support from the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Department, said P K Gupta, Bihar's Chief Wildlife Warden. The department has given its go-ahead for the initiative, he told PTI. The Chester Zoo has been actively working on human-wildlife conflict worldwide for the last several years, including in Terai in Nepal, where human-tiger conflict is a matter of concern, Gupta said. Human-wildlife conflict is among the most

Bihar to review measures to check human-animal conflict near tiger Reserve

The Bihar government is in a quandary on how to avoid frequent human-animal conflict around the Valmiki Tiger Reserve, where 40 of the state's 50 big cats live. The tiger population of the state jumped by over 50 per cent between 2014 and 2018, from 32 to 50. The 2022 census is yet to be completed but experts believe the numbers will go up significantly. An official said the forest department has taken adequate and effective measures to check human-animal conflicts in and around the VTR, where a tiger was shot dead days ago after allegedly mauling nine people. Arvind Kumar Chaudhary, principal secretary of the department, said the tiger had spread terror in the area in West Champaran district and the loss of people's lives was "extremely unfortunate". "At the same time, there's no point in glorifying the killing of a tiger," he told PTI. The tiger was shot dead in Bagaha on October 8 by a team of forest personnel who were brought in from Hyderabad and Patna. The order for the kill

Supreme Court rejects plea seeking declaration of cow as national animal

'It is not the job of the court to decide on such matters,' the SC bench commented while enquiring which fundamental right of the petitioner was affected