http://www.indianjungles.com/070205.htm

There appears to have been massive poaching - some of it ongoing - of tigers (and other wildlife) in Rajasthan's Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve and Sariska Tiger Reserve. Both Reserves are also National Parks. They are among the most fragile tiger habitats in northern India; semi-arid zones for the most part, and oases of green in a dry and poor area. They are also among the most accessible Tiger Reserves for poachers of forest produce and wildlife.

This is a very critical situation. I would urge all of you reading this to write to the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Vasundara Raje Scindia, at the address or fax given below along with a sample letter.

We must fight to save our tigers.

Thank you,
Nirmal Ghosh


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Deathtraps in place, Ranthambhore gets that Sariska feeling
NGO says 18 tigers missing since 1999; officials can't agree on number: 'nothing foolproof, only Almighty perfect'

by Jay Mazoomdaar in the Indian Express (front page)

Ranthambhore is not Sariska. You cannot escape pugmarks inside the park, you can sense the tigers lurking from frequent alarm calls and you can actually see them on a lucky day. Ranthambhore is not Sariska-yet. But then, you could find signs of tigers around in Sariska, too, till last year.

Then, one monsoon, they vanished altogether. It's difficult to miss the uncomfortable signs of a Sariska in the making in Ranthambhore.

Consider the warning signs:


The number of tiger sightings, say guides and tourists, has dropped in the recent past. Forest authorities dismiss it as ''rumour'' but can't offer any comparative data as they ''couldn't find time'' to tabulate figures from guide feedback forms in months.

Forest officials admit the adjoining sanctuaries-Kela Devi in the north and Sawai Mansingh in the south-are ''death traps'' and tigers stand little chance of survival when they move in those forests.

Hardly any check on poaching by Moghiyas-tribal hunters hired by villagers to guard their fields at night. If they can get away with killing sambars, boars, even sloth bear, it is anybody's guess if they are also trying their hand at bigger animals or guiding outsiders in.

Hundreds of villagers enter the National Park every day-between Diwali and Holi, for anything between Rs 150-250 paid to forest guards-to collect wood and grass.

Lakhs of pilgrims enter the core area on foot every year and are allowed even LPG supply, loud speakers and diesel generators.

Grazing pressure is huge, particularly during the monsoons when villagers herd in thousands of cattle and settle down for the entire season.

Forest staff is inadequate and aging; 45 posts have been lying vacant at present.

Shortage of funds means post-monsoon repair of patrolling roads delayed for months. Vehicles donated by international agencies rust in the garage.

''Nothing is foolproof, only the Almighty is perfect,'' says Shafat Hussein, Ranthambhore's Chief Conservator.

Says his deputy Govind Sagar Bhardwaj, DFO: ''Animals keep moving to the adjoining forests which are death zones with very few guards. But here, you can see our staff is on the go all the time.''

But it seems too many people are on the go. Valmik Thapar, a member of the Central Empowered Committee constituted by the Supreme Court, visited Ranthambhore last week to prepare a report. He wasn't amused: ''With wood and grass-cutters come local poachers. And with them come outsiders who target big animals.''

It is scary how little check is in place.

In fact, it was only after The Sunday Express reported the Sariska tragedy on January 23 that forest authorities here invited local NGOs and volunteers-they were earlier told to stay away from the park-to launch Operation Cooperation on January 26 and conducted four raids in a week. The catch? A poacher on his mobike with gun and a sambar, more poachers, sloth bear's nails, wild cat's hair, stock of bush meat...

Wildlife expert Fateh Singh Rathore says his NGO, Tiger Watch, has been blacklisted here. ''We have photographed 25 tigers here. Dr Ullas Karanth photo-trapped 16 tigers in 1999 and 10 of those have gone missing. Another eight have vanished last year. We wanted the department to find out what happened to these 18 tigers and keep a record. And they were after us,'' alleges Rathore.

DFO Bhardwaj has also photographed what he claims are 34 different tigers. Nine of these, officials claimed, are in Kela Devi, the ''death trap''. But the bosses can't agree on the current number. While Shafat puts it around 40 and promises to be more ''transparent'' during the next census coming up in May, Bhardwaj pegs it between 32 and 36.

But they are non-committal about comparing their data with independent experts and settle the dispute about the ''missing'' ones. ''We are not allowed inside the park so that the officials can get away with false claims. Khandar, Kundera, Sanwata, and Rajbag chowki are open bush meat markets. You burst a cracker near any chowki, see if a forest guard comes checking,'' claims Rathore.

''Just four raids and we have proved how porous the park is. Some guards and rangers often mislead the officers as no independent monitoring or research is permitted inside the park,'' says Aditya Singh, a member of the volunteer team.

But the Ranthambhore DFO dismisses such claims. ''NGOs come up with false studies and figures which don't match our reports,'' he says.

And the catches which his guards couldn't pull off without volunteers? Bhardwaj grudgingly accepts some of his men have links with intruders. ''But now I don't tell many people about raid targets."

The control, however, everyone seeks in Sawai Madhopur is that of tourism. Jungle safari was controlled by the Forest Department till last year after which it was handed over to the Tourism Department. Then the DFO had dealt a blow, warning there would be no big cats left to see in five years unless the number of tourists to Ranthambhore is controlled.

That sounds hypocritical, given the free run government vehicles and guests have inside the park. Even as we talk, Bhardwaj gets three such calls in two hours: more sarkari guests are on their way.

"I am trying, sir. Things are under control,'' he tells one of his bosses in Jaipur over phone.

Ironically, the problems of grazing or grasscutting are not visible in the tourism zone. The rest of the national park is quite unlike what the tourists see along their designated tracks. But the forest officials stick to their claims and reasons: ''Grazing is zero'' but ''women from villages are a problem as we don't have women staff to handle them''.

Bhardwaj also lists the logistics problems: ''My staff is aging. Our arms are obsolete. Since last June, we need to take permission from Jaipur even to move staff...Without rotation, the staff inside the jungle feels demotivated. But we are fighting to save the park. I'm open to everyone who wants to help.''



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SUGGESTED LETTER:
Mail to :

Vasundhara Raje Scindia
Chief Minister of Rajasthan
Rajasthan Secretariat, Jaipur, INDIA
Email: cm@raj.nic.in
Office Tel: 0141-2380351, 2380462
Office Fax: 0141-2381687, 2382705
Res. Tel: 0141-2381212, 2381213


To:

Ms. Vasundhara Raje,
Honorable Chief Minister of Rajasthan,
Jaipur, Rajasthan.

Subject: Rajasthan's tiger crisis

Dear Chief Minister,

I am appalled to hear the news that the world famous Keoladeo Ghana National Park at Bharatpur is dying. To make matters worse the tigers of Sariska are virtually wiped out. Ranthambhore is in deep trouble. Reports suggests that it is a lack of political support from your office that is responsible for this reversal of fortunes for Rajasthan's fabled wildlife.

Rajasthan was once renowned across the world for being one of the finest birding and tiger destinations. The protected forests of Rajasthan represent the most economical way in which to recharge depleted aquifers and thus ensure water and food security for millions. Tourism to each of these three wildlife reserves earns millions of Dollars for local people.

I urge you to:

1. Release water to the bird swamps of Keoladeo National Park in Bharatpur.

2. Publish a white paper on the tiger deaths of Sariska and punish those guilty of the actual crime and the subsequent cover up.

3. Enhance resource allocations for the protection of Ranthambhor and other protected forests of Rajasthan. Fill vacant posts, provide modern equipment.

Defending our natural heritage is not negotiable. History will judge the politicians of Rajasthan very poorly if they fail to protect the few remaining wilderness areas of the state.

Sincerely,

Send a copy to:
Mrs. Sonia Gandhi
President, Congress Party,
10, Janpath, New Delhi-110 011, India
Tel. 91-11-3012686
Fax. 91-11-3018651
E-mail: soniagandhi@sansad.nic.in

Thanks Johan,

India will never save it's tigers unless there is considerable international pressure on the idiots in government to do something.

Good hunting!

Thanks, Johan. Typing out my letter now.

I would be personally grateful if members of this forum would lend their support to this cause.

Thanks.

Rustam

Apparently, the Chief Minister of Rajasthan's e-mail ( cm@raj.nic.in ) is not working.

Have spoken to Lynx and he is trying to find an alternative e-mail address. He will keep the Forum informed in my absence.

Rustam

Lynx is unable to get an alternative e-mail address but confirms that the one above is correct.

It still wont hurt to e-mail it so long as you copy it to Sonia Gandhi. Since they are from rival parties, it is quite possible she will bring it up in Parliament.

Rustam