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IndiaWilds Newsletter Vol. 4 Issue IV

Sabyasachi Patra — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 14:22:30 +0000

IndiaWilds Newsletter Vol. 4 Issue IV

Legalise War on wildlife? Is that the only solution? Do we allow culling of our wild animals? This and much more…
The Homo sapiens are at war with wildlife. Earlier it was a covert operation where by large dams, canals, power projects, roads, cities etc were built after clearing wildlife habitat. There are some organised gangs that poach wildlife for its skin, bones and other body parts. With the population explosion and the increased urbanisation due to need and greed is leaving no space for the wildlife.

Our forests are fragmented, and with our proclivity to concretise every available space, there is no chance for wildlife to take cover. This results in an animal moving from one forest patch to the other increasingly difficult as they can’t conceal themselves. When an animal is spotted, immediately there is pandemonium all around. The poor animal which is on its way loses its sense of direction and tries to flee in whichever direction there is less crowd. The fate of the animal is sealed. People throw stones, fire bullets, beat it up with sticks and soon it is dead. Al Jazeera footage of a tiger being hacked: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7TG4SIy3dg

Culling:

Now a bunch of wannabe conservation media professionals want to take this a bit further. They want to legalise slaughter of wildlife to control the population to a “manageable” number. They want to take the example of elephant culling from a few African countries and want to do the same for our herbivores and carnivores in India. The reason given is that due to “development” (read urbanization) activities being carried out, there is less space for wildlife and so their population need to be controlled. The argument is that herbivores come out of the forest and eat and damage the crops. An article in Tehelka, proclaims that crop depredation by wild animals is the single biggest challenge to livelihood of farmers citing 17,725 cases of crop damage between April 2010 and February 2011. (Tehelka Vol. 9 Issue 07, Dated 18 Feb 2012). While the call for “culling” wildlife is an outrageous idea and doesn’t require a comment, nevertheless, one can check a discussion in IndiaWilds by checking this link: (http://indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=574)

It would be pertinent to quote the Late Billy Arjan Singh “A wildlife management ploy, which is of immense harm to wildlife, is culling. Managers maintain this is essential in certain cases to maintain the biomass population in relation to the habitat available, and in preventing population pressures from degrading the habitat. In other words, the human has arrogated to himself the task of adjusting the wildlife population to the forage available in a given area. In these days of habitat reclamation for human use, this places an unwarranted onus on the human species, which, as we have already seen, is singularly unqualified to deal with population control“.

“Wild animals are eminently adaptable, and if certain ungulates overgraze the forage they have been used to, they will opt for other forms of life maintenance. Browsers may become grazers, and other sources may be discovered. The hardground swampdeer of Madhya Pradesh are genetically the same as the marsh inhabitants of Kaziranga. The sambhar, supposed to be solitary inhabitants of dense forest, now gregariously feed on water plants in Ranthambore, like the barasingha. Wild elephants propagate trees from the seed pods they ingest. When they cannot strip bark from trees, they switch to a diet of grass. Yet in Africa it is maintained that they have destroyed and are destroying their habitat, and should be culled for their own good. This reprehensible idea is implemented by the slaughter of entire herds of Zimbabwe, and is a crime against laws of the universe as ordained by nature. These insensate massacres are a greater offence than that of a country like Japan, which may illegally smuggle ivory, but those artisans have never seen an elephant“. (For other key messages of Billy Arjan Singh one can check here: http://www.indiawilds.com/diary/indiawilds-newsletter-vol-2-issue-i/)

Infact, recent research suggests that culling has a huge negative impact on the wildlife. The errant behavior of adolescent elephants in killing rhinos, tearing down huge trees etc in Africa was found to be due to the trauma they suffered when adult elephants from their herd were shot dead. In the US it has been reported that when adult cougars were killed, their place is taken by young ones. Whereas the adults had lived in close proximity of humans and have rarely been observed, the young ones have been attacking humans. Perhaps, the young ones need a calming influence and guidance of the adults in their growth stage as we certainly do.

Rodents pose bigger Challenges than wild herbivores:

In a world where big always appears to be better, we always try to do a quick fix solution like killing the bigger animals like deers, sambars, wild boars, Nilgais etc rather than looking at the root cause of the problems. It is often overlooked that small rodents cause the maximum damage to food grains. Rodents eat about 10 per cent of agricultural production. (Advani, Ranjan, “Rodent Damage to Various Annual and Perennial Crops of India and Its Management” (1987). Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings. Paper 47) According to Grant Singleton, Rodent Expert of International Rice Research Institute “In Asia, rodents cause, on average annual preharvest losses of 5-10% in rice crops. A loss of 6% is substantial as this is enough rice to feed 225 million people for a year.” (Rice Today October-December 2009). However, people are nearly oblivious to such huge damage caused by rodents and only when there was an outbreak of plague in Surat in 1994 people started talking about rodents.

Rodents also create havoc and have been the cause of famine and armed uprisings. A massive famine struck Mizoram in 1958 and it is said that several thousand lives were lost. This followed the bamboo flowering which happens every 48 years. After flowering the bamboo dies and the rodents feast on the seeds and give birth and increase their numbers exponentially. After the seeds are devoured, the increased number of rodents devastate the crops. This famine had serious implications with the birth of Mizo National Famine Front leading to insurgency which finally got resolved with the birth of Mizoram as a State of India.

In 2006 bamboo (melocanna baccifera species) started flowering in Mizoram and in 2007 the Agriculture department of Mizoram had stated that atleast 6,683 hectares of jhum (shifting) cultivation land in seven districts were impacted by rat infestations.

Owls predate on rats and need their habitat ie. old growth and dead trees to be preserved

The rodents have rapid rate of reproduction, the overall damage caused by rodents is phenomenal. Rats attain sexual maturity by 5th week and their gestation period is around 21-23 days. Since rats come on heat ie. Post partum estrus after 10 hrs, they can become pregnant during that time. In times of abundant supply of food like bamboo flowering, one pair of rats can technically multiply to 759122 in twelve months’ time. In normal conditions, assuming only 6 litters per year and a smaller number per litter, a pair of rats can multiply to 31250 in a year. (Source: IndiaWilds Model)

When rodents can cause such huge impact including changing the socio-political scenario and causing armed conflicts thereby inflicting so much of pain and misery on people, is it not time for us to focus our energy more on them? That will cause less of wastage of agricultural products and will then hopefully result in less area going under cultivation.

Rat snakes jostling with each other for dominance on the outskirts of a village

Biological Control of Rodents:

One of the major reasons for the explosion of rodent populations in the towns and cities is the lack of predators. Except for the domestic cat, the other predators need to have a suitable habitat for them.

Birds like Owls are mercilessly hunted due to superstition and black magic. Though a barn owl is considered as the vehicle of Maa Laxmi, the Goddesses of wealth, owls are hardly seen due to habitat loss and hunting. In most of the places, old dead trees are cut off, depriving owls and a number of others species of their habitat.

Similarly increased concretisation and lack of trees is leading to less of predatory birds. One can still find an occasional Shikra or a Black-shouldered kite. However, finding Kestrels, Merlins, tawny eagles etc due to loss of grass lands and wetlands is becoming increasingly difficult.

Apart from the poisonous snakes like Cobra, Viper, Krait, the non-poisonous snakes like rat snakes are very effective in containing the rodent population.Snakes are the major predators of rodents. So one can find more snakes in the villages and towns than in the forest. The traditional house construction used to favour the snakes going about their business of catching rodents in the attic. With the modern concrete constructions, it has become difficult for the snakes to penetrate the houses. In case a snake gets into, it has become difficult for them to get out without getting killed.

Unfortunately, due to lack of knowledge in identifying snakes, all the snakes are killed by people.

Pythons too regulate the rodent population effectively (Whitaker and Bhaskar 1978).

Pythons too regulate the rat population effectively

Unfortunately, people have waged a war on snakes due to their fear arising out of ignorance. So much is the ignorance that despite thousands of years of co-existence our villagers hardly know a thing or two about snakes. It is only natural that a lot of people have morbid fear of snakes.

In the book ‘Snakes of India – The field Guide’ by Romulus Whitaker & Ashok Captain, Chapter Snakebite and anti-venom:

“Snakebites are rare where people know about snake habits and learn how to avoid encounters. Snakes usually flee when humans approach, but are sometimes cornered or tread upon and that’s when they may bite in self-defense. Fortunately most snakebites are by non-venomous snakes and the great majority (85-90%) of venomous bites are not life-threatening as the snake generally injects only a small amount of venom or no venom at all (a “dry” bite). However, a bite from any venomous snake must be treated as serious.”

To make matters worse, of late there is an increasing breed of snake catchers/handlers who are ever ready to catch a snake for photographing. However, they too retain the deep rooted fear and hatred of snakes. One of them even argued with me that snakes should be killed mercilessly. Hindu mythology is replete with stories of snakes. Vasuki had served as a rope in the churning of the ocean. Sesha naga holds the earth on his head. Bhima is supposed to have been rescued by a Naga….. Alas, we have moved far away from our Gods and Goddesses and we are taking a very narrow view of our world.

Apart from snakes, animals like Jackal, fox, mongoose etc also predate on rats. Unfortunately our grasslands are vanishing and along with it are the jackals, fox etc.

Fortunately, mongoose can still survive in the parks and gardens, though they are hunted for their hair.

In the India of this new millennium, where the loudest voice is often mistaken as the wisest voice, we need to teach people as well as to the TRP/eyeball chasing journalists that there are greater issues in life that needs to be tackled rather than taking a narrow view and spending energy in championing the cause of “culling” herbivores and carnivores.

Other Conservation Articles and News:

An Article based on Road Kills study in Chinar and Aliyar in Anamalais by Wildlife Biologist R. Arumugam:
http://www.indiawilds.com/diary/road-kills-in-chinnar-road-and-aliyar/

(If anyone wants to contribute articles on wildlife and conservation, please mail to administrator@indiawilds.com)

Coimbatore Mayor Terrorises NGOs for stopping tree felling:

http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9552

Unregulated Tourism ravaging Western Ghats:

http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9539

Tiger presence confirmed in Mizoram

http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9503

Forest Fires:
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9303

Tug of war for lions between Gujarat and MP
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9406

Kawal Sanctuary notified as Tiger Reserve
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9404

Empowering Women: Punjab recruits 42 women as forest guards:
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9469

Kerala Govt. to take over Cherunelli Estate
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9443

IndiaWilds Meet:
Please check the following thread for more details on the ‘IndiaWilds Meet’
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9447

Those who are interested can email for details to administrator@indiawilds.com

Wildlife Photography:
Images shared by our members between March 10th 2012 and April 9th 2012 depicting either interesting behaviour, habitat, rare species or that are simply beautiful.

Humpback Dolphin leap by Abhishek Jamalabad
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9276

Blyth’s Reed Warbler by Deepak Ramani
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9243

Bee-eater by Mrudul Godbole
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9205

Montagu’s Harrier by Dipankar Mazumdar
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9119

Elephant Scapes of Nilgiris by Mohan Raj
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9351

Leaping Frog and the Ant by Bibhav Behera
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9176

Mango stem borer by Prasanth Sreenivasan
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9184

Weaver ants by Kaling Dai
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9141

I look forward to your inputs and your support in preserving the last tracts of wilderness and wildlife left in this beautiful country. For other interesting articles and photographs please check: http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/

All the newsletters can be found online at:
http://www.indiawilds.com/diary/category/newsletter/

In case, anyone of you has forgotten his/her user id and password can email the admin at the following email id administrator@indiawilds.com

Others may register at www.indiawilds.com/forums/register.php using your Full Name as user id.

Regards,

Sabyasachi Patra
www.indiawilds.com
Profile: http://www.indiawilds.com/profile.htm
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Sabyasachi Patra

I am passionate about wildlife conservation. I am striving to make my films and photographs full of life and emotion and write articles to educate and evangelise the need for conserving the last tracts of vanishing wilderness sand wildlife in our country. I pray to the almighty that my wildlife films, photographs and writings force people to pause, look, ponder and ultimately take action. To make my ends meet, I work as Executive Director at MAIT (Manufacturers’ Association for Information Technology)

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Shoulderpod: Bush Hawk 320D

Sabyasachi Patra — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 05:24:03 +0000

Bush Hawk 320D

I have been photographing handheld from the back of an elephant for a long time. I faced many situations where the tiger was sleeping in shade and the light was low resulting in a low shutter speed. With a moving elephant, the challenge increases. At times I have told the mahout to restrain the elephant from moving resulting in the mahout beating up the poor elephant. The elephant becomes restless due to the weight on its back and also because despite the huge size of an elephant, the tiger’s presence is unnerving. Proper handholding techniques can help you a lot. However, there are situations when a support inform of shoulder pod is a must. I have tried many local made contraptions. I have perfected a technique using monopod with ball head and can get sharp images on a swaying boat or elephant. However, I finally decided to search for a suitable shoulder pod which will not break down at vital moment. About 5 years back, I finally found the Bush Hawk when I saw Frans Lanting’s comment and got it from US.

This is nicely designed shoulder pod and it appears as if one is holding a rifle. In the place of a trigger is a button which is connected to the camera by a remote. So you just need to gently press the trigger to actuate the shutter button. The eye piece is adjusted so that it rests on your eye, like our normal photographing position. One can easily hold this in the right hand with the “butt” of the bush hawk placed on your shoulder, the way you would do while firing. (If any one of you fired with a gun/airgun then you would be able to visualize better).

I have successfully used my shorter lenses like the 300mm f4 with a 1.4x TC attached, 70-200 f2.8 with EF 2xII TC attached etc.
I have also tried my heavy EF400mm f2.8 L IS USM lens with 2XII Tc attached with my 1D series body. With this attachment, it actually becomes difficult to hold for a long time due to the long length. Anyway, this lens is not to be handheld, though I have successfully have got many sharp images handholding it. Once in Nagarhole, when langurs were giving alarm calls due to a leopard, one langur looked at me and started giving alarm calls. The leopard kind of got spooked due to it.

The other challenge I found was while trekking, it became difficult to carry the bush hawk holding it ahead like a gun. Unless one is a soldier and has been trained to move ahead in the bush with the gun ready to fire, for us mere photographers it was a challenge. I don’t want my lens to get scratched by any vegetation.

In insurgent infested areas and in sensitive places, it is better not to be carrying this. Else, you are inviting trouble from the security forces.

Of late this doesn’t get used much, as I have too many equipment to carry and I am more involved in filming than in photography. However, this is also good for handheld filming. You can hold it in one hand and do the focusing with the other hand. My EF 70-200 f2.8 L IS USM with a converter works well for filming with this bush hawk shoulder pod as well.

Overall, this is a good design.

Sabyasachi Patra

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A Call in the Rainforest – DVD

Sabyasachi Patra — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 11:36:39 +0000

DVD Cover

This film is completely shot with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and documents the plight of the endangered Lion-tail Macaque in the Western Ghats, India. The duration of the film is 18 and half minutes.

To Order the DVD please mail to the following id with your complete address and contact number-

administrator@indiawilds.com

Price – 300 Rs. only

To check the trailer of the movie check -

http://www.indiawilds.com/diary/inspiration-for-the-film-a-call-in-the-rainforest/

The documentary has been screened in the following film festivals -

Haida Gawii Film Festival, Canada on Feb 26th 2012 -

The complete schedule is here: http://www.haidagwaiifilmfestival.ca/2012%20schedule.pdf

Kirloskar Vasundhara Film Festival, Pune on Feb 25th 2012 -

The complete schedule is here: Kirloskar Vasundhara International Film Festival (KVIFF)

You can find it on Page 41 and page 44.

It was also screened at Wild India Film Festival, Pune on 13th Jan 2012.

To know more about the film check -

http://www.indiawilds.com/diary/inspiration-for-the-film-a-call-in-the-rainforest/

Check the Review of the film in ‘The Hindu’ -

http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article2531988.ece

Sabyasachi Patra

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Wildlife Photographer’s Message to Students

Sabyasachi Patra — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 09:19:21 +0000

I was asked to contribute to a college newsletter by Bhargava Srivari – a member of IndiaWilds – and wrote this piece based on a few questions in August 2011. I guess the newsletter didn’t see the light of the day, So I am sharing it here for the benefit of all students and people interested in learning photography.

Childhood influence:
Wildlife Photography & filmmaking is a lifelong journey. When I look back, I realise that the seeds were sown early. As a kid, when one is at an impressionable age, it is often natural to get influenced by his/her parents and immediate surroundings. More so, when your father is a Professor of Zoology and often conducting post graduate Life Science and Ecology classes at our home. I used to listen to those descriptions of the complex relationships between various organisms – large and small – forgetting much of what was spoken but retaining the essence of it.

When I was eight years old, he had bought me books of Jim Corbett and Kenneth Anderson. The lucid writing style and the rich and vivid descriptions remained etched in my mind. After reading these books, and then listening to the classes, the quest to learn more about ecology and animal behaviour had firmly taken roots. My father had very good knowledge of photography and he used to bring photography books home. I remember trying to draw images of cameras looking at those colourful pages. I had never realised that those two will combine to lay a solid foundation for wildlife photography, filming and conservation which has become an all-consuming passion.

Bio-diversity and Need for Photo documentation:
Today, India is at a stage where there is huge clamour to create infrastructure. Our development model is flawed, and hence there is unequal development with cities growing bigger and bigger with migration from smaller towns and rural areas. With economic growth, more industries, dams, airports, canals etc are being planned. Unfortunately, the planners view our jungles as just source of timber or count the number of trees that would be hacked. Ecology is much more complex. There is a complex web of relationships binding various species with each other. Most of our fresh water resources originate from our forests. Many a civilisation has perished due to want of water. So protecting those bio-diversity rich areas would help in preserving our future economic security as well.

There is an acute lack of documentation of our many bio-diversity rich places and hence most of the times when a large infrastructure project is planned, these areas are easily sacrificed. These ecologically fragile areas are devastated even before we know that they exist, as documentation is non-existent. Photography can play a major role in documentation and increasing our understanding of the flora and fauna in these places. It would be impossible for one person to travel the entire length and breadth of this huge country and do a good job in documenting the rich bio-diversity. So India needs wildlife photographers who can document the various forests, sanctuaries, wetlands and other protected areas of this country. The challenge is to train the wildlife photographers so that they can see and document this amazing bio-diversity. Else, their focus will remain on the few mega fauna like tiger, lion, leopard, elephant, gaur, rhino etc.

Future of our Protected Areas:
India now has a billion plus population and increasing its population every other second. This huge population is increasing the pressures on the available land. Need and greed is fuelling the increased concretization and reduction of green areas. The wilderness areas are increasingly being fragmented and bound by human settlements. This has led to isolation of our wilderness areas. Migration of our fauna from one forest to the other is becoming impossible. This is impacting the genetic diversity and as a result, their resistance to diseases goes down. The survival of many species is at stake and in many areas one will only find the remaining few of the species being radio-collared for scientific studies or just for tracking. One has to be satisfied at the sight of lions, tigers and elephants wearing radio collars. And with the small size of our protected areas, the feeling of being in a zoo is complete.

Digital Photography and Ethics:

The rapid increase in digital technology is increasingly resulting in cameras becoming better and better. Today, one can just shoot a video and select one still frame out of the video footage from high end cameras. One can also place cameras in camera traps and later use those photographs. With increased technology, there is also the question of ethics of wildlife photographers. The younger generation of photographers are finding it difficult not to take short cuts. One can select the animal from one image and paste it with a pleasing background photographed separately and fake it as originally photographed in the field. There have been instances of even reputed photographers taking the shortcuts. So the old adage that a “Photograph never lies” is challenged severely. To verify such claims one needs to check the RAW image from the camera. Since the viewers of photographs in a magazine or newspaper won’t have the luxury to verify the authenticity of the images, the wildlife photographers will be looked at with suspicion.

This will have a major impact on use of photographs as documentary evidence of the bio-diversity of an area. So people who want to setup large projects in ecologically fragile areas will argue that the photographs are not real. So that will increase the challenge for the few of us who are engaged in documenting the wilderness areas. We will then have to take added pains of showing the RAW files, geo tagging etc.

Conservation Movement in India:

In India, there have been a few brilliant individuals who have raised their voice for conservation. However, it has never attained a mass movement, except for a few instances like the Chipko movement when villagers hugged the trees to prevent logging of those trees. The few champions of Conservation efforts in India are branded as elitist by opponents. In India, we don’t have a conservation movement. Unless we are able to raise awareness about the conservation issues and educate people about the perils of the present flawed model of economic growth, and the resulting challenges of climate change, it would be difficult to enlist the support of the masses. It is very important to enlighten the individuals and harness the power of “WE” by creating a cohesive network of like-minded citizens for conserving the fast vanishing wilderness and wildlife in this country. It is with this express purpose, I had founded the IndiaWilds so that concerned individuals can join at www.indiawilds.com/forums raise their voice and become change agents themselves.

Why Save Wild Tigers?

As a kid, I remember starring at a photo of a tiger in a bookstore. Many of us have been mesmerised by the tiger. From my childhood days, I have read a lot of books and research papers written about tigers in India and abroad and have spent many hours watching tigers in the wild in safaris or have also spent many hours alone waiting for a tiger to make its appearance near waterholes and other places. The more I learn about the tiger, the more I feel I am in awe about its intelligence, its beauty and the need to conserve God’s most magnificent creation. The Tiger is the Apex predator, perched on top of a complex chain of ecological relationships including animals, birds and plants. To save the tiger we also need to save its habitat. So saving the tiger will help in preserving the entire ecosystem.

Message to Students:
I feel it is important to find out what you are passionate about and then continue working on it. If you are passionate about your subject, then you will know more about it and it will show up in your work. It will help in persevering even when there are challenges. Not everybody can become a professional wildlife photographer or filmmaker or a conservationist and devote all the time. However, one can take up one cause as a Life Project and then continue working on it. I am sure one day you will achieve success.

If you are a budding wildlife photographer, then it is better that you first learn more about your subject. Unless one knows animal behaviour, it becomes difficult to predict the movement of the subject and get great images. So try reading books, journals, articles in the internet etc.

You all should try writing either in English or in your mother tongue. There is a severe shortage of good writing in various Indian languages. Keep on sharing your thoughts as you continue learning. There would be many people who will find your writings interesting and will learn from you.

Wildlife photography is also all about perseverance. One can’t just take one safari in the jungle and expect to see a tiger and create a world famous image. You need to keep on taking one step at a time and build up your work. It takes years of effort, along with your personal vision to show your subject in its own unique way.

And last but not least, please don’t forget to raise your voice to protect the remaining wilderness areas and wildlife in this country. After all millions of Indians are now starring at the specter of climate change, and our economic security and protection of our bio-diversity are interlinked.

Sabyasachi Patra

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IndiaWilds Newsletter Vol. 3 Issue XII

Sabyasachi Patra — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 08:55:37 +0000

IndiaWilds Newsletter Vol. 3 Issue XII

This issue of IndiaWilds Newsletter tries to take a deep dive into our culture to find solutions for today’s environmental problems.

Conservation: Learnings from Mahabharata

Fear:

Several incidents and examples that I have faced or read have remained in my memory as I have not been able to get an answer.

During my childhood days, while wandering alone in the nearby hillock, I have always been fearful whether I will stumble upon some unknown animal or snake. I have no idea if it was a result of reading Jim Corbett’s experiences in his much acclaimed book “Jungle Lore” where as a child he had accidentally stepped upon a sleeping python and had immediately discharged his muzzle loading gun into it and ran away as fast as he could. In later years, I had successfully overpowered this fear and used to sit alone in waterholes in the night waiting for animals come to drink water.

However, I often wonder why we get tensed when faced with an unknown situation and tend to kill/subjugate the other. This thought had again come to my mind when I was reading Dr. George Schaller’s experiences in the high Himalayas, especially in his book “Stones of Silence”. He had said that hardly anyone had visited Changthang and other pristine wilderness areas and had encountered animals that didn’t have any fear of humans.

Two weeks back, on 9^th December, Dr. George Schaller showed us his slides and he said that these animals had no fear of man. They were never persecuted by man, so didn’t run away when he approached close. However, these days people rundown animals using their motor cycles, if they don’t have guns. As a result, the animals develop fear and now runaway when they see an approaching human being.

In a stark contrast to the lack of fear seen in animals by Dr. Schaller, a few weeks back, fifteen bullets from an automatic AK 47 were pumped into a lactating tigress near the Kohra range in Kaziranga: http://indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8119

This senseless and arrogant display of firepower in pumping fifteen bullets from the AK 47 left many people stunned.

We always talk of sensitising the armed forces and police etc that they should not over react. Whenever, the armed forces have been given clear-cut instructions they have followed it religiously and have even given up their lives in trying to uphold those instructions. For eg. the IPKF (Indian Peace Keeping Force) in Srilanka was instructed not to fire at civilians and the LTTE militants had even taken benefit of this by hiding within civilians and firing at the IPKF soldiers. So it becomes a bit difficult to understand why the armed forces and police officers become trigger happy when they see a wild animal. Why cannot they be instructed to maintain peace in front of stone-throwing mob without firing at a tiger or leopard?

The question that comes to my mind is with no one persecuting us – except for our own brethren – why are we so insecure? Why our first reaction is to kill or maim any animal that appears on our way?

Nabagunjara:

Nabagunjara Rupa by Traditional Oriya Artists

In my childhood days we used to read the Mahabharata and I was especially fond of the carvings in the stones in various temples in Orissa. There is the mention of Krishna taking the “Nabagunjara rupa” or the form of a monster Nabagunjara to test Arjuna. The monstrous Nabagunjara had head of a rooster, neck of a peacock, left fore feet of an elephant, one hind leg of tiger and the other hind leg of horse, waist of lion, hump of bull, tail in form of a snake, and the right fore leg in the form of a human hand carrying a lotus. However, Arjuna could immediately know that Krishna is playing a trick on him as he could see the Padma ie lotus in the human hand. While reading Devdutt Pattanaik’s retelling of the Mahabharata titled “Jaya”, I was again reminded of this. He has reminded us that this Nabagunjara story highlights an important facet of Hindu philosophy “what cannot be understood by the human intellect need not be feared because it ultimately comes from God.”

In a country where the majority of people are Hindus and since in the past we have had massive mobilisation of people for building a temple, one ought to expect that the Hindu philosophy of not fearing the unknown is followed and we don’t resort to killing any animal, bird, insect, reptile that we find near our human habitations.

Is it a product of our complicated modern life where each of us is looking to “lord over” a lesser mortal to compensate for being subjugated by someone else in the social/official hierarchy?

Or is it because we have forgotten our culture?

Dr. George Schaller had said that Conservation is all about “Culture, Economics and Politics”. With our politicians displaying the propensity to self-destruct and the economic modeling failing to take into account our nature heritage, the Culture plank may be the only hope for Conservation.

Discharging Hot Water: Learnings from Mahabharata:

At a time, when our nuclear scientists and planners are least bothered about the impact of the hot water they want to discharge in the creeks of Jaitapur where the nuclear power plant is planned, it would be pertinent to quote an incident from Mahabharata. (For details about Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant please check here: http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6313

After the Mahabharata war, where one billion and two hundred and twenty million people were killed, Gandhari had asked Krishna as to why her 100 sons had to die. Krishna had replied that it was written in Gandhari’s fate that she was destined to watch her 100 sons die. Krishna told Gandhari that during her younger days, while cooking rice she had poured hot water on the ground thereby destroying hundred eggs of an insect. This had made the insect curse Gandhari to witness the death of her sons the way the insect had to see the death of her own.

Stunned by this discourse, Gandhari had said that it was the act of an innocent child. Krishna had explained that the laws of Karma are like that. Every action howsoever unintentional has an equal reaction, and one has to experience it in this life or the next. So in Andhra Pradesh women are advised never to pour hot water on the ground. The hot water must be cooled or mixed with cold water before pouring on the ground.

In a country with such a rich culture and with specific examples, do we need to look elsewhere to learn how we treat our mother earth?

In the Vishnu Purana, Dharitri or the Earth Goddess took the form of a cow to complain to Vishnu that she has been milked so greedily by the kings on earth that her udders have become sore. So Vishnu promised her that Parashurama, Ram and Krishna will spill blood to teach the greedy kings will a lesson so that she can drink their blood taking the form of a lioness. In another retelling of this story by Devadutt Patnaik in his book “Jaya”, Bhisma on his death bed had told Yudhishtira, the eldest Pandava, that King Vena was killed by the sages when Dharitri or Earth Goddess tired of the exploitation ran away inform of a cow and cried before the sages. Prithu, the son of the slain King Vena, begged before the Earth goddess that without her, his subjects will die. The earth goddess had replied that her udders have been squeezed till it is sore and her back broken by the ambition of the people. This led to Prithu creating a Code of conduct for all humans based on empathy rather than exploitation for the survival of all humanity. This code of conduct was given the name “Dharma” by Prithu. By this code, the earth became a cow while kings became the earth’s cowherds ensuring there was always enough milk for humans as well as the cow’s calves. Today the kings have made way for democratically elected Governments, military rulers, greedy corporations that are often bigger than some countries and other despots.

One should take cues from this example and learn that there is one earth where we live. It is enough for our needs but not our greeds. We need to stop this exploitation of mother earth. We need to rise above this petty fight as to who is responsible for this climate change and who ought to pay/sacrifice their material comforts and ensure that we lessen mother earth’s burden and cool down her anger.

Other Conservation Issues:

Hydropower rejected by FAC – approved by Ministry:

A project developed by GMR in Uttarakhand on Alakananda river was earlier rejected by the forest advisory committee. However, the ministry has decided to give the go ahead for this project which will now come up in the ecologically sensitive area.

http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8098

Climate Change: Waiting on climate is escapism: Dr Pachauri

http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8251

Climate Change: India in climate change agreement with neighbours:

http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7996

More than 100 leopards killed in Uttarakhand in 2011

http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8200

Alarm due to Crow deaths

http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8213

India Does not need Nuclear energy

http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7896

Wildlife Photography:

Images shared by our members between Nov. 10th 2011 and Dec 9th 2011 that depict interesting behavior, habitat, rare species or just plain beautiful.

Blue Sheep by Hem Chander

http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8003

Wild Ass by Supreet Sahoo

http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7995

White Bellied Sea-eagle Pair by Abhishek Jamalabad

http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8161

Ruddy Turnstone by Roopak Gangadharan

http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8026

Purple Sunbird by Kalpamoi Kakati

http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8019

Jumping Spider by Joshi Bhavya

http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7952

Announcement:

IndiaWilds has completed three years..

http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8151

I look forward to your support and inputs in preserving the last tracts of wilderness and wildlife left in this beautiful country. For other interesting articles and photographs please check : http://www.indiawilds.com/forums

All the newsletters can be found online at http://www.indiawilds.com/diary/category/newsletter/

In case, anyone of you has forgotten his/her user id and password can email the admin at the following email id administrator@indiawilds.com Others may register at www.indiawilds.com/forums/register.php using your Full Name as user id.

Regards,
Sabyasachi Patra
www.indiawilds.com
Profile: http://www.indiawilds.com/profile.htm
Contact: http://www.indiawilds.com/contact%20us.htm
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/IndiaWilds/132629240481 www.indiawilds.com
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Forums: http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/index.php

Sabyasachi Patra

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IndiaWilds Newsletter Vol. 3 Issue XI

Sabyasachi Patra — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 16:24:59 +0000

IndiaWilds Newsletter Vol. 3 Issue XI

This issue of IndiaWilds Newsletter examines the present sad state of wildlife tourism, its negative impact and way forward. You comments are appreciated at the end of the article.

Toilets on top of the world:

I was startled and astonished when I came across a news article about a demand for setting up of toilets in the Everest. Their reasoning was that though the mountaineers use portable toilets, the hordes of sherpas who are employed to carry luggage relieve themselves wherever they want and hence the need for toilets.

My initial reaction changed to sadness when the realization dawned by the extent of devastation we are wrecking on our pristine wilderness areas. The highest mountain peak in the world has seen many mountaineers attempting to scale it or “conquer” it as they say. Ever since this mountain was surveyed and given the tag of the highest mountain in the world, it has caught the imagination of mountaineers from around the world. There have been hundreds of deaths while attempting to scale this peak or while returning after a “successful” summit, often these are also due to people consciously attempting a difficult route. While it is difficult and beyond the scope of this article to talk about why this fascination to flirt with danger or glory – depending upon ones point of view – has continued for several decades, the point is that with the march of technology, there are better materials available for all your needs. Infact, it has become a thriving industry to help people climb the Everest. About 9 years back someone had asked me whether I am willing to spend 8000 dollars (eight thousand US dollars) to climb the Everest. I had politely declined the offer. I knew that I was physically not fit enough to undertake a successful climb of Everest and it is beneath my dignity to take that offer and be literally pulled up by sherpas. Nevertheless, that is what happens and wealthy tourists flock to the Everest so that they can brag about their latest “conquest”.

Wildlife tourism the “In Thing”:

And this is precisely what is happening these days. People with sufficient disposable wealth want to do something to get some bragging rights. And unfortunately, visiting wildlife destinations and wildlife photography is considered to be a “happening thing”, as I was told by a few youngsters whom I met in a National Park. The effect of this fad can be seen clearly in our well known national parks.

Tourists hound this radio collared tigress in Ranthambhore

Hordes of tourists screaming at their top of voice when they see a tiger; tourist jeeps jostling with each other for space hitting each other and hurling abuses; tourist vehicles and forest department elephants blocking the path of the tiger forcing to wait for hours away from water in a hot summer day so that tourists can get to see the tiger; tourist resorts coming up in ecologically fragile places; township developing to cater to the constant influx of tourists along with the attendant problems…. The list is endless.

Ranthambhore tiger stopped from hunting by photographers

Too much of tourism:

The fact is there are too many people visiting our few national parks, and it is beyond the carrying capacity of the place. Unfortunately, instead of restricting the number of tourists entering the forests, the draft eco-tourism guidelines by the MoEF talks about a formula which means tourist vehicles move around in a procession with a particular distance between them. Is this what our forests are meant to be? Degenerated into safari parks?

Touching and feeding a Nilgai in Tadoba

The late Kailash Sankhala, the first director and creator of the Project Tiger, had raised his voice against tourism several decades back.

Quoting Shri Kailash Sankhala from his book Tiger! The story of the Indian Tiger “I would suggest we concentrate on creating reserves where man’s interference – or what he arrogantly calls “scientific management” – is minimal. I do not like the term “national parks”, for it has been too loosely used. The initial meaning of “the untouched glory of God” has been so diluted that it has lost its significance. The term “park” conveys artificiality and the word “national” limits its universal appeal. The pleasure of a visit to a natural area has been destroyed by the influx of tourists with their transistors and trailers. I would condemn even the camera, except in case of professionals who employ their skill to interpret nature for the benefit of those millions who never get the chance to visit these gardens of Eden. The casual visitor is always in a hurry, and if he takes pictures he fails to see anything around him; his mind is preoccupied with shutter speeds, lens openings and focusing. The uncertainty of the results haunt him for hours after and instead of enjoying a relaxed holiday he is tensed. Many a wildlife photographer does not hesitate to disturb, sometimes even kill an animal, pluck a flower or destroy a tree to suit his picture. The visitor to a reserve should bring with him nothing but a receptive mind, and take away nothing but the understanding that he is only a small part of the whole complex pattern of nature’s ecology.”

An analysis of the impact of tourism infrastructure in Ranthambhore can be found here:
(http://www.indiawilds.com/diary/indiawilds-newsletter-vol-2-issue-v/).

Wildlife tourism is supposed to be non-consumptive and have minimal impact on wildlife and wilderness areas. However, the way wildlife tourism is run in this country, it is having a huge negative impact on the wilderness areas and wildlife. A tiger cub was mowed down by a tourist vehicle in Bandhavgarh on 21^st April 2009 (for details please check here:http://www.indiawilds.com/diary/indiawilds-newsletter-vol-1-issue-v/) and the case meandered towards a natural death. It is a different matter that the tour operator in this case, as well as most of the tour operators call themselves tiger experts, bringing into light the issue of lack of any control or license. A year after this, a tigress was mowed down by a forest department vehicle in the night, while doing an illegal night safari for some influential persons (For details check here: http://www.indiawilds.com/diary/bandhavgarh-tigress-runover-by-jeep/). Predictably this case too made no headway. Despite this the tour operators maintain that they are eco-friendly.

The tour operators associations say that there are a “few black sheep” in the tourism industry who bring disrepute, else more or less the tourist operators are ethical and are the champions of conservation.

Nothing can be farthest from the truth!

PIL to Ban Tourism in Core Areas:

Recently, a PIL being heard in the Supreme Court to ban tourism in the core areas of the tiger reserves has brought the conflict of tourism vis-a-vis conservation into the open. The NTCA (National Tiger Conservation Authority) has favoured the proposal to ban tourism in the core areas. Predictably this has irked the tourism community.

Interestingly, a part of the conservation community – NGOs, media, and a few so called conservationists – have sprung to the defence of the tourist operators. Tourism is a cash cow and many players have a stake in that which includes wildlife activists, forest officials, tribal rights activists, researchers and other NGOs. It is standard ethical practice which warrants people who have a stake in the tourism pie, should refrain from offering their views as conservationists in this issue.

This case in the Supreme Court can have far reaching consequences. The tribal rights activists say that since the conservationists have argued that there is a need for inviolate spaces – and there have been a few successful efforts to shift villages from the core areas – there should not be any human foot fall in these core areas. However, no human footfall is an impracticable idea and can’t be implemented as well.

It is a fact that we need inviolate areas for our wildlife. And it is also a fact that the tourism in its present avatar is highly counter-productive and needs to be streamlined and curtailed in certain areas. I firmly believe and agree with Kailash Sankhala that human interference should be restricted to the minimum and allow “professionals who employ their skill to interpret nature for the benefit of those millions who never get the chance to visit these gardens of Eden” and patrolling units for the protection of these forests. Road building activities inside the core area should be immediately discontinued.

Lack of Tourism Policy:

Unfortunately, the present state of affairs in the tourism arena is such that it is absolutely difficult to derive pleasure during our visits to the forests. It is sad that lack of tourism policy, is pushing our forests into such an abhorrent state. My analysis of the ecotourism practices in Botswana (http://www.indiawilds.com/diary/indiawilds-newsletter-vol-2-issue-iv/)was shared with the MoEF. A year later MoEF came out with its draft Eco-tourism guidelines which appeared to be hurried collated (my analysis of it appeared in the IndiaWilds Newsletter Vol. 3 Issue VI http://www.indiawilds.com/diary/indiawilds-newsletter-vol-3-issue-vi/). It is really unfortunately, that the men and women in power instead of taking a holistic view are playing the game of blind men and the elephant and interpreting this as per their convenience.

The way tourism is run in this country needs to be regulated. At a minimum the following points needs to be tackled immediately:

Ecotourism Operators:

Due diligence should be carried out before allowing any groups or individuals to set up resorts in sensitive areas.
Effort should be to minimize concrete or permanent structures. Absolutely no concrete inside the forests. Instead promote camping using tents.
The individuals, groups, organizations entering into this field should show their commitment to recruit the right kind of resources, adopt best practices etc.
The Government may help them in enriching their knowledge from time to time by creating a best practices compendium, organizing seminars etc.

Where:

At present tourism operators are crowded around a few places. In the absence of any legislation, our tourism operators will only move to well established areas to pick up the low hanging fruit first. For example, when CC Africa (a group well known for its ecotourism practices in Africa) set up its operations in India along with Taj (India’s one of the top most ethical organization); they set up their operations in well known areas like Kanha, Bandhavgarh etc instead of venturing into little known places. In sharp contrast, Jungle Lodges, a unit of Govt. of Karnataka’s Tourism Department, popularized BR Hills as a wildlife destination after setting up their resort in a relatively unknown place like K Gudi.
New areas should be identified, the carrying capacity measured and tourist operators invited to set up their services in a controlled manner. Tour operators in these less visited areas can provide camping experiences by taking people on treks.

How:

EIA done by reputed professionals and open to public scrutiny. There should be annual Environment Impact Assessment of the resort.
Local construction materials used. The design should be in sync with the landscape. The construction should be based on the local conditions like weather, fragile environment, water scarcity etc. Brick-and-mortar resorts should be avoided in environmentally sensitive areas.
A cradle to grave approach should be used to monitor the entire lifecycle of all materials used in construction.
The resort should have a knowledgeable ecologist/naturalist as part of the team.
Though it is good to promote Traditional crafts and culture. It should not be made a practice to conduct tribal dance, sale of handicrafts and other items in the forest. Else, this brings in more people from outside to setup shops. A well known case is Tala village in Bandhavgarh which had around 6 original families and now it is a small town offering even massage joints.
In case the land is already degraded, the tour operator should take action to restore it along with its original vegetation.
The Government should create a list of plants and trees in each area and make it mandatory for the resorts to adhere to it. The ecotourism site should be landscaped with vegetation native to that area. Landscaping should not be meant as creating lawns.
Air-conditioners go against the grain of Ecotourism. The use of local materials, natural ventilation and local trees shading the cottages would help in removing the requirement of air conditioners.
Light pollution should be minimized by designing appropriate lighting.
Energy conservation should be prioritized. Renewable energy, especially solar energy should be used in the ecotourism facilities. The Government should provide adequate subsidies. A monitoring mechanism should be set up. Solar panels should be used for both, heat water as well as generate electricity for select appliances such as fans, lights, and kitchen equipment, water heating etc. Occupancy sensors should be used to cut down on unnecessary electricity consumption.
It is estimated that approximately 30% water use in resorts is used for toilet flushing. Low flush toilets should be used to cut down on the water requirements.
All cleaners, polishes and pesticide must be biodegradable, noncorrosive, non toxic and phosphate-free.
All buildings should be connected by raised walkways to prevent vegetation from being trampled. Ground cover and other plant and animal life continues to flourish underneath the raised walkways and tent-cabins, and the trees and vegetation whose lives we spared return the favor by protecting us and our guests from the hot tropical sun. A similar structure is present in the White Tiger Lodge in Bandhavgarh.

Our wilderness areas and wildlife cannot be subservient to anyone’s interests and should not suffer due to the negligence of forest department in implementing laws or due to the inability of the law makers to frame adequate laws. I hope the Supreme Court case acts as a trigger to much needed action. Some news articles and discussions can be found here: http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7895

Other Conservation Issues:

Windmill Projects and bird hits:

http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7948

Navy’s Andaman & Nicobar missile test plan threatens Nicobar Megapode

http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7899

Articles in IndiaWilds:

IndiaWilds invites articles written on various conservation,scientific and natural history issues. For further details you may mail at administrator@indiawilds.com

Wildlife Photography:

Images shared by our members between 10^thOct 2011 – 9^thNov 2011 that depict interesting behavior, habitat or are just plain beautiful.

A rare sighting: Red Fox by Dipankar Mazumdar

http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7875

A rare sighting: Musk Deer by Kaling Dai

http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7784

Blackbuck female by Jitendra Katre

http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7800

Green bee-eaters in action by Atul Sinai

http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7902

Coppersmith barbet by Dr. Kalpamoi Kakati

http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7726

Common Crow Chrysalis by Abhishek Jamalabad

http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7673

Lizard by Mohan Matang

http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7737

Snail by Jitendra Katre

http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7762

All the newsletters can be found online at: http://www.indiawilds.com/diary/category/newsletter/

In case, anyone of you has forgotten his/her user id and password can email the admin at the following email id administrator@indiawilds.comOthers may register at www.indiawilds.com/forums/register.php using your Full Name as user id.

Regards,
Sabyasachi Patra
www.indiawilds.com
Profile: http://www.indiawilds.com/profile.htm
Contact: http://www.indiawilds.com/contact%20us.htm
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/IndiaWilds/132629240481 www.indiawilds.com

Diary: http://www.indiawilds.com/diary/

Equipment reviews: http://www.indiawilds.com/diary/category/equipment/

Forums: http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/index.php

Sabyasachi Patra

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IndiaWilds Newsletter Vol. 3 Issue IV

Sabyasachi Patra — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 06:53:06 +0000

IndiaWilds Newsletter Vol. 3 Issue IV

This issue of IndiaWilds Newsletter Vol. 3 Issue IV examines Tiger Census, Bamboo as minor forest produce and many more. This newsletter is available online. To view and to post your comments check at: http://www.indiawilds.com/diary/indiawilds-newsletter-vol-3-issue-iv

Tiger Census: Is it just a Numbers game?

Last month amid much fanfare, the Hon’ble Minister for MoEF announced the 2010 tiger census results. Interestingly, he was flanked by Planning Commission deputy chairman Shri Montek Singh Ahluwalia and water resources minister Shri. Salman Khurshid while making the announcement of the increase in tiger numbers to 1706. For details please check here: http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?p=31919#post31919

How correct are these estimations? The technique for estimating numbers have undergone a sea change. Initially the tiger population estimates was primarily based on casual estimates done by some experts like the 40,000 tiger numbers which was supposed to have come up during a casual discussion ( as mentioned by Dr. Salim Ali). Later the pug mark method was used to estimate the tiger population. It was another matter that this method was thoroughly abused by people either due to lack of knowledge in interpreting or due to ulterior motives. Of late, techniques like camera trapping and DNA finger printing show promise and has been used in some select resevers. We have come a long way in creating a process for scientifically estimating the population of wild tigers. However, we are yet to create a robust mechanism that includes proven scientific methodologies.

It is said that the previous census conducted in 2006 had thrown results with a considerably huge variance. The range, as officially declared, was 1165 to 1657. I am not sure who did the arithmetic, but 1411 ie. the simple average of the lower and higher limits was spoken about as the official wild tiger population. A high voltage awareness campaign by a private telecom operator – which was based on knowledge inputs provided by a leading wildlife NGO – cemented the 1411 number in public memory.

No wonder, in the recent census, the so called percentage increase in tiger numbers were based on this average figure of 1411.
It is another matter that this time there has been more areas included in the census. Nor did it worry people, that the methodology adopted is inconsistent across all territories. In some cases, images of tigers recorded in camera traps have been used where as in other cases it is not. Unless and until there is a consistent approach throughout, it will remain as much of an inexact science as the pugmark method it replaced.

It would be far better, if there are long term monitoring and studies in the tiger landscapes, so that rather than a one time effort, we can have consistent data across all regions. That would also help in conserving our wildlife and wilderness areas rather than the numbers approach in the present tiger census.

An important statistics that has emerged out of the tiger census is the loss in habitat to the tune of 20,000 kilometers. This is a phenomenal number. Not much has been discussed about it.

Interestingly, Shri Ramesh is supposed to have said – as reported by The Hindu – that “a country of 1.4 billion cannot survive on Solar, Wind and biogass alone, so we do need commercial sources of energy, but we also need to conserve these forests,” he told Mr. Ahluwalia. “We must decide whether we can afford a 9 percent growth agenda which would destroy our forests and the cultures and livelihoods that depend on them.”

A major part of the 20,000 sq. kilometers of the forest land lost is due to large infrastructure projects like dams, canals, airports, road building and increase in human habitations. Our urban planning has failed and has resulted in unequal and unsustainable growth of our mega cities. I hope the Deputy Chief of Planning Commission Shri Ahluwalia can give a thought to it.

Sadly, big is better seems to be the Mantra. So today we are turning a blind eye to the devastation unfolding in Fukushima Nuclear Power Plants in Japan and are pushing for a massive Nuclear Power Project in Jaitapur. More details can be found in the IndiaWilds Newsletter Vol 2 Issue III (http://www.indiawilds.com/diary/indiawilds-newsletter-vol-3-issue-iii ).

The ministers as well as the media were happily reporting the increase in tiger numbers. Numbers like 12% etc were thrown around and there were smiles in faces as if our conservation efforts have become an overnight success.

The Hon’ble Minister for MoEF was talking about sustaining a 9% year on year growth rate for the economy. However, he is happy at the so called 12% increase in estimated tiger population spread over 4 years. Since simple arithmetic has become the norm, perhaps he should have asked someone to do quickly compute the yearly percentage growth rate of tiger population. That might have had a sobering effect.

Though the census suggests that central India and Eastern Ghats have 601 tigers and Western Ghats have 534 tigers, the corridors in most of the areas have either been broken or under threat. Since none of the tiger reserves and the contiguous areas around those have a combined single population of 500 tigers – the minimum accepted number to have a genetically viable population – it is imperative that we focus on restoring the contiguities between various wilderness areas. That would help in replenishing the gene pool and maintaining the genetic diversity. The fact is tigers are prolific breeders and due to their tremendous instincts, given a chance, can repopulate areas. Last year a tiger from Ranthambhore managed to pass through sugar cane fields and sparse vegetation and reached Keoladeo Ghana National Park. Another managed to reach Kuno, though the contiguity has long been lost. So if the Hon’ble minister for MoEF and the Deputy Chairman of Planning commission and other ministers are serious, then we can certainly recreate those contiguous linkages.

However, given the fact that budgetary allocation for resettlement of villagers from tiger reserves is being reduced, I am not sure if the Dy. Chairman of Planning Commission Shri Ahluwalia is aware of the importance of recreating the linkages between wilderness areas and the importance of maintaining our amazing biodiversity.

A cursory look at the Planning Commission website makes for some interesting reading “The Planning Commission was set up by a Resolution of the Government of India in March 1950 in pursuance of declared objectives of the Government to promote a rapid rise in the standard of living of the people by efficient exploitation of the resources of the country, increasing production and offering opportunities to all for employment in the service of the community. The Planning Commission was charged with the responsibility of making assessment of all resources of the country, augmenting deficient resources, formulating plans for the most effective and balanced utilisation of resources and determining priorities. Jawaharlal Nehru was the first Chairman of the Planning Commission.” (Ref: History section)

When there is exploitation there is grief. The use of the word exploitation takes us to the so called “wood cutter” mentality which is far removed from preservation. The British with the sole idea to exploit had mercilessly cut down our forests and had planted many exotic species for timber. They had trained our foresters solely to exploit our forests. It is sad that even today we unknowingly retain the same wood cutter training of the British. It has been six decades since the Planning Commission was set up and it is unfortunate that Planning Commission hasn’t been able to truly appreciate the value of our natural heritage.

Probably, India can learn from Bolivia which is creating laws to establish 11 (eleven) new rights for nature, one of them being right of nature. The right of nature talks about “to not be affected by mega-infrastructure and development projects that affect the balance of ecosystems and the local inhabitant communities.” For further details please check here: http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6461

The article 51A of our constitution states that “it shall be the duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures.” Is it not the duty of the State too?

Until that realization dawns, tiger census will remain a mere statistical exercise.

Bamboo: Is it a tree or is it a grass?

Well, the Hon’ble Minister for MoEF seems to have woken up to the fact that bamboo belongs to the grass family. Whatever may be the scientific classification, bamboo has been historically treated by the forest department as a tree. The Hon’ble Minister has issued a letter to the states to treat bamboo as minor forest produce and allow the extraction of bamboo. He has asked for creation of management plans for commercial exploitation of bamboo.

Predictably, this has been welcomed by forest rights activists and has been described as a pro-people move. Cynics say that with the UPA Government completing two years and struggling to cope with the overload of scandals, this is perhaps a conscious decision to be seen as pro people. Since the wildlife doesn’t have a vote and our traditional economic models don’t value our rich biodiversity, it becomes an easy decision.

Bamboo is not just a grass or a minor forest produce like tendu and other such items. A clump of bamboo is like a mini ecosystem. It’s leaves are browsed by many herbivores. A large part of elephants diet comes from bamboo. Apart from giving the shade and shelter to carnivores like tigers, it also is the home to birds, rodents, reptile species and host of bugs and micro organisms. There is a complex chain of inter-relationships and removing one of the elements destabilizes the ecosystem. And here, we are talking about removing the parent (or host, so to speak) around which a micro-ecosystem is built. It might be pertinent to quote Sir Richard Attenborough, who says, “The best route to conservation is to save ecosystems.”

Of course, the proponents of this idea would jump to point out that the Hon’ble Minister for MoEF has mentioned that Gram Sabhas will develop management plans in consultation with the forest departments. Perhaps this is a bit late for an April Fool joke, however, in a country where the premier Tiger Reserves and National Parks work in an adhoc manner trying to dig a water hole here or burn down grasslands in another place or tie a couple of goats for an injured carnivore, their only actions are a series of short cuts rather than well thought out action plans. It is another matter that expecting each forest department officer to create long term management plans that have a sound ecological basis is nothing but foolishness as they are neither specifically trained for it, nor they do have the sufficient wherewithal’s to do it. There have been documented cases, when even our expert wildlife organizations have failed, not due to lack of intent, but these studies require an interdisciplinary approach and vision. The talk about the management plan in the Hon’ble Minister letter can at best serve as a handle to defend his order in the future when the devastation wrought by this order becomes apparent. It is a completely impractical idea.

Unfortunately, we humans as a race are perhaps the greediest of all and are not known for our foresight. And as Jane Goodall opines, in this panel discussion, “If you did a census of all species on earth as to which species would be the best one to disappear for the future sustainability of earth and it would be us.” For more details on it see here: http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?p=32087#post32087

Conservation:

Leopards attacking humans to be killed:
Recent guidelines to manage human-leopard conflict:
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6477

The Bannerghatta Night Safari:
The Karnataka Government’s plan to introduce night safari in Bannerghatta is now with the Supreme Court. For further details please check here: http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2799

Dolphin Poaching:
There have been recent reports of dolphin poaching continuing as fishermen are using the oil from dolphins to catch fish. The tag of National Acquatic animal has brought no respite for it. If this continues, as is likely to be, then soon Ganga may follow the footsteps of Yangtze in losing its dolphin. For further details please check here: http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6448

Impact of Pesticides:
One can no longer ignore the impact of pesticides. There has been recent reports of its impact on bees in UK (http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6379 ). Another herbicide from Monsanto having Glyphosate has been found to be causing infertility and cancer (http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6442 ).
Back here in India, the Government refuses to ban Endosulfan despite its documented impact on people. With India producing about 80% of the world production of endosulfan, the Governmet of India seems to be prioritizing business over people. If the studies conducted by the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers is to be believed, trials of neem based pesticides conducted in tea estates and in other places have not only been successful, but it has also led to regeneration. That means it is acting as a fertilizer as well. In face of the powerful pesticides and fertilizer lobby, I doubt if neem based pesticides will ever be promoted. For further details please check here: http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5539

Wildlife Photographers and Tunnel vision:
An interesting discussion started by Vikram Nanjappa. For further details please check here: http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6388

Illegal Resort:
After reports of illegal housing schemes, now comes the report of an illegal resort coming up near Bandipur. For further details please check here: http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6542

Natural History:

Striped Neck Mongoose feeding on Crocodile Eggs by Vikram Nanjappa : http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6363

Wildlife Photography:

Images shared by our members between 10th March 2011 – 9th April, 2011 that depict interesting animal behaviour or are just plain beautiful.

A Jungle Cat trying to avoid being run over by Mohan Matang
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6366

Tiger with Langur by AB Apana
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6399

Lesser false vampire bats by Mohan Raj
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6386

Stags at War by Mrudul Godbole
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6398

Tiger Drinking by Dipankar Majumdar
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6264

Blue headed Rock Thrush by Dr. Jitendra Katre
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6356

Blackcrowned Sparrow Lark by Shreeram M. V
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6404

A good effort with a compact camera by Joshi Bhavya
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6355

Equipment discussions:

Filter
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6338

Benro Vs. Manfrotto Tripods
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6314

Canon launches two PL Mount Digital Cine zoom lenses with 4K capability
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6406

Canon launches 20x portable 2/3 inch HD Zoom lens with built in 2x capability
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6410

The link to this Newsletter is available at: http://www.indiawilds.com/diary/indiawilds-newsletter-vol-3-issue-iv

All the newsletters can be found online at: http://www.indiawilds.com/diary/category/newsletter

In case, anyone of you has forgotten his/her user id and password can email the admin at the following email id administrator@indiawilds.com Others may register at www.indiawilds.com/forums/register.php

Regards,
Sabyasachi Patra
www.indiawilds.com
Profile: http://www.indiawilds.com/profile.htm
Contact: http://www.indiawilds.com/contact%20us.htm
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/IndiaWilds/132629240481

Sabyasachi Patra

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A date with Lion Tailed Macaques

Sabyasachi Patra — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 05:21:59 +0000

A date with Lion- tailed Macaques

I have been longing to renew my acquaintance with the Lion tailed macaques for some time. However, due to work pressure I was postponing my visits. Finally, I could resist no more and headed towards Anamalais with Valparai as the first stop in filming Lion tailed macaques.
My trusted Safari 4×4 had a condenser coil failure the previous day. However, I could get the part replaced and the next day, I was driving towards Valparai from Chennai. I followed the Chennai – Krishnagiri – Salem – Coimbatore – Polachi- Valparai route. The road construction is still remaining in a stretch of about 50-60kms while approaching Coimbatore and is a real pain.

I had decided to stay in a tea estate and had booked a bungalow. I reached there at around 1:30 pm and discovered that the lovely bungalow named Indraprastha is about 120 years old and has been recently renovated. A few minutes were spent in unpacking and the lunch was ready. After a heavy lunch, I thought it prudent to relax. The light drizzle making my decision easier.

In the evening, after a cup of coffee, I thought it fit to go for a casual stroll. After a while, decided to sit on the culvert of a bridge to hear the sound of water flowing in the stream. It was dark outside and after an hour or so while returning back, I discovered that the staff have panicked. I was told that there has been a spate of sloth bear attacks in the recent past. The caretaker cum cook indicated to me that a bear had come near the verandah. There was a depression in the mud, but no foot prints to verify that he is indeed speaking the truth. The watchman, who was from Assam told me that Sloth bears and Gaurs routinely visit the estate. Later on the administrator told me about the sloth bear attacks. One of the tea pickers probably stumbled upon a sloth bear and was badly mauled. She was admitted in the tea estate hospital, however the bleeding didn’t stop for two days and they were forced to transfer her to a bigger hospital elsewhere. A tinge of sadness gripped me, thinking about the plight of the poor tea pluckers. I couldn’t imagine someone bleeding for two days. Not sure why the tea estate didn’t think it fit to shift the lady immediately to a bigger hospital. Probably, profit motive overrides all considerations for human life.

The next day, I drove down towards Valparai. On the road, found the two watchmen employed by NCF. They are supposed to warn motorists so that lion tailed macaques don’t get run over by vehicles.

Since the lion tailed macaques could not be found, I moved ahead. While returning, I decided to park the vehicle and take a stroll. And voila! The lion tailed macaques were there on a nearby tree.

A few of those were perched on top of a few houses of the tribals. It was interesting watching them move from one roof top to the other using the wires hanged for drying clothes. Soon one Lion Tailed Macaque mother came with its baby to the roof top in front of me and started grooming it. I couldn’t suppress my smile when I found that one lady came out of the house and started searching for lice from a small girl’s head.

I watched and filmed the Lion tailed Macaques for a couple of hours till the watchmen appeared on the scene and indicated that there were leaches. And then the struggle starts to find out where all the leaches have invaded. The only feasible solution was to rush to the confines of my Safari, so as not to strip down in the open.

The leeches secrete an anti-coagulant called hirudin and an anesthetic. The anesthetic ensures that you don’t feel the bite. I still remember the pain I felt when a local anesthesia was injected in the webbing of my fingers to set right my brokern fingers. The pain of administering the anesthesia was high. I think it would be a real book if scientists study leeches and develop better anesthesia.

The anti-coagulant injected by the leech stops the blood from clotting and the painkiller does its job so that you don’t realise. The watchman had told me that they place small strips of paper over the spot where the leech has bitten and the blood dries up and clots after sometime. Unlike the leeches found in our villages, the leeches in the forest are small in size and are shiny. To prevent leech attacks, you need to either use leech proof socks or just raise your trousers so that the leeches cannot climb up using the trousers. I was told Leeches sense their prey based on smell and vibrations as they are in the leaf litter. One leech also fell on my neck from a tree. So they remain in the trees as well and one needs to be careful.

When we were kids, in our village they used to tell us that placing salt results in the leech immediately bursting out. We used to even have fun with it. However, I realised later that if the leech if we put salt or spray any spray (leech is very sensitive to chemicals), then the leach will burst/drop but it vomits into the wound and the wound is infected. Also by pulling out the leech or crushing it, results in its teeth remaining in your body. The best method of removing a leech from your body is to slowly put a thin stick or object between the leech and your body and slowly pull up sideways the narrow end portion of the leech. This will result in the leech stop sucking the blood and you can remove both its ends this way.

After this leech hunt was over, I was too distracted and enervated to continue with the filming. A quick lunch followed and by the time my lunch was over, the lion tailed macaques had left the place and moved away. Soon the sky opened up and it started pouring. It was time to start the slow drive in the ghat roads. A cup of hot tea from a road side tea stall lifted the spirits and reached the bungalow by 4 pm.

I hoped that the Sloth bear will make an appearance; however, the sloth bear apparently had other ideas.

The next day morning it was time again to have a date with the Lion tailed macaques. There were lot of fighting among the Lion tailed Macaques. One big male was trying to mate and another female was disrupting it. There were lot of vehicles passing very close to the Lion tailed Macaques.

Thankfully, no one was hurt. Around noon time, suddenly they all started calling each other and then left the scene. I wish, I could have recorded the sound. I cursed myself for having left my sound recording equipment in the Safari parked a kilometer away.

I thought it was better to have lunch. After lunch, I was undecided where to go, however, thought of checking the same place again. Thankfully, a group of lion tailed macaques were there. A lion tailed macaque was near a stream too. I parked my Safari and got down. Immediately, the lion tailed macaque appeared infront of the vehicle. No sooner had I got down to photograph it, the Lion tailed macaque climbed on top of the Safari. I quickly closed the doors, lest it gets inside and damages my precious photographic equipment.

After sometime, the lion tailed macaques left the spot. I could see one at a distance on a tree. Suddenly it moved and broke a honey comb and ran down the tree in a fraction of a second, so that the honey bees could not sting it. After few minutes, when the honey bees had deserted the fallen honeycomb, the lion tailed macaque picked it up and had a sumptuous feast on the honey. It was a great learning for me. I wish, I could have filmed the scene with a wider angle, as the honeycomb was only visible for a brief moment in my footage. This incident, tells how less we understand the behaviour of our endangered species. Since then there have been many more visits to different areas in search of Lion tailed Macaques, and the many pleasurable moments of watching these endangered primates.

Sabyasachi Patra

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IndiaWilds Newsletter Vol. 3 Issue I

Sabyasachi Patra — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 06:32:56 +0000

IndiaWilds Newsletter Vol. 3 Issue I

This issue of IndiaWilds Newsletter Vol. 3 Issue I examines issues surrounding some of our often ignored but highly fragile Shola forests. You can post your comments below.

Save our Sholas:

When one views the rows of tea bushes immaculately manicured – yes the tea leaves are cut instead of being plucked in the tea gardens of South India – with a few tall trees planted in rows, one loves the symmetry and gets bowled over by the greenery. Tourists start flocking to have a vacation in these tea estates of Munnar, Valparai etc, which incidentally have a much cooler climate and perhaps soothes the frayed nerves of the tourists. They come back with picture postcards of their vacation in abundant greenery.

If you really think it is green in the true sense, wait a minute.

The tea estates came up when the British started clear felling the shola forests and establishing the tea estates. In those days, the estates were few. However, after the departure of the colonial masters, more and more people started colonizing these wilderness areas, replacing those with tea estates and exotic plantations.

Shola forests:

The Shola forests – which are broadly categorized as tropical montane forests – can be found in the western ghats at an altitude upwards of 1500 meters. The shola forests are generally found in patches in the depressions of mountains with grasslands bordering it.

Sholas and Mega fauna:

The shola forests and grasslands are home to an endemic species Nilgiri Tahr who are adept in escaping from predators by climbing the steep hill slopes. I found numerous scats and dungs of tiger, dhole, elephant and gaur apart from Nilgiri Tahr. In one place there was scat of tiger and dung of elephant and gaur forming a triangle of about 8-10 feet.

Sholas and Water:

This high altitude ecosystem of Sholas and grasslands helps in absorbing water and stopping the water runoff and the consequent erosion.

It is interesting to know that the term Shola was derived from the word “Cholai” in Tamil (small water body within a vegetation cover/ shaded and wet area). According to Swarupanandan the origin of the word Chola or Cholai can be traced to the word ‘Jal’ in Sanskrit, which means water. (Ref.Swarupanandan, et al., 1998)

Retention of Organic Carbon:

A study (Ref. V. Nandakumar et al) found that the shola forests show more organic carbon content in the soil than evergreen forests, grasslands and eucalyptus plantations.. The dense canopy created by the shola forests leads to less exposure to sunlight vis-à-vis grasslands or eucalyptus plantations. The unique microclimate within the Sholas with a low and steady temperature and high humidity reduces the evaporation and transpiration demands on the shola vegetation. This unique microclimate together with less soil erosion, leads to more addition of litter than its removal and hence results in net increase in organic carbon content. This role of Sholas in conserving more carbon compounds in the soil compared to dry grasslands and eucalyptus plantations has not been given much of importance till date.

The study also found that Shola forests has higher Cation Exchange Capacity and has higher organic matter, clay content, lower bulk density and volume expansion and has better protection for nutrient cations compared to grasslands and eucalyptus plantations due to the higher cation binding power.

Threats to Shola forests:

Cultivation:
The tea estates brought people to work as labourers. They in turn started cultivating vegetables which they were habituated to. Over a period of time, the tribals realised that beans, carrot, cabbage etc which were cultivated by the labourers gave much higher economic returns than the crops traditionally cultivated by the tribals. To make matters worse the tribals also learnt the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. So it is not only the tea estates who use synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, but also the tribals, polluting the fresh water streams that originate from the area.

Lemon Grass Cultivation:

The crops like beans, cabbage etc require attention, so the tribals can’t cultivate it very large areas. However, they discovered that lemon grass cultivation doesn’t require much attention. The lemon grass oil which is extracted from the lemon grass is easier to transport after distillation. So most of the high hills in the Tamil Nadu and Kerala areas in the Annamalai and Chinar Wildlife Sanctuary looks green from a distance, however, on closer look one finds that it is cultivated with lemon grass, which none of the herbivores like nilgiri tahr, gaur, elephants etc eat. So the lemon grass has no positive contribution. Ofcourse, one can say that lemon grass cultivation leads to binding of the soil and water runoff is arrested. However, the shola forests and grasslands that were there before these lemon grass cultivation started have a much higher capacity of water absorption.

The lemon grass needs to be distilled to extract the lemon grass oil. This requires huge amounts of firewood. One of the muduvan village (tribals) that I visited told us that they have collected firewood for the next five years, as they know that all the hills are denuded and there are no trees to be cut. Certainly a sad state of affairs!

The recent explosion of tourist traffic to areas like Munnar have further increased the demand of the lemon grass oil. In the last one year alone, the price of lemon grass oil has increased form With such a lucrative income available, it is unlikely that the tribals like muduvans will ever think of relocating from the forest areas. In a few places, there are efforts to provide efficient distillation units to lower the firewood consumption, however, there are no long-term solutions to control the structural changes brought out by the lemon grass cultivation. Rather, there are efforts being made to create pucca roads inside the sanctuary using the NREGA program.

Firewood Collection:
It was interesting to note that among the tribal populace, the firewood collection is mostly done by the women and children. Most of it is done from the Sholas and a small percentage from the wattle and other exotic plantations and from the estates. Firewood collection from the sholas has got a deleterious impact on the sholas. It may be pertinent to mention that the shola forests are unique in their composition with fire resistant trees on the periphery. Cutting those down will leave them vulnerable to future fire threats.

Grazing:

Grazing places a huge threat on the sholas. In an article in Ecological Economics, Perrings and Walker mentions that cattle grazing lowers the resilience of the ecosystem. It also gives rise to the chances of invasive weeds entering into the shola ecosystem.

Eucalyptus Plantation:

In the past wattle and eucalyptus plantations have been set up by the tea estates to serve their fire wood needs. However, with the increase in awareness about the deleterious impact of eucalyptus plantations, various State Governments have taken steps against it. However, In a recent visit to Devikulam range near Munnar in search of Nilgiri Tahr populations, I came across the ghastly sight of eucalyptus plantations near the shola forests at an approximate altitude of 2200 meters. Grasslands and shola forests have given way to these exotic eucalyptus plantations spread over several hills. When one comes to know that this is done by a State Govt. arm, it is indeed worrying. You can see the discussions on the two images here: http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5774
And here: http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5688

Reducing the organic matter content of these shola forests by burning, cutting down of the sholas, converting to eucalyptus plantations etc, will affect the water retention capacity of the soil. This in turn will reduce the water discharged to the streams that originate in these places. So the eucalyptus plantations have to be immediately cut down and the area left alone for natural regeneration of the native vegetation to take place.

The shola forests has been described as a Climatic climax by Champion in 1938. Shola forests have taken several thousand years to evolve into their present stage of climax. Is it not criminal to clear fell these to make way for eucalyptus plantations?

The shola forests have an impact on our water security as well as climate change. In a country where conservation perhaps starts and ends with the tiger, I hope we understand the value of the shola forests. It is a part of our irreplaceable Natural Heritage. We don’t have much of time to save our sholas.

Other conservation issues:

The Rule of the Mob: Leopards beaten to death

Another leopard beaten to death on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar! (http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5878 ) This just adds to the killing of leopards in various parts of the country. Virtually every other day we hear a story of leopard being beaten to death or trapped in a cage or burnt alive in a field or simply found dead and carcass burn (http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5851) or a venerable wildlife Institute setting on fire the trees in its campus to drive away leopard (http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4104). The other day the story was a bit different with a photo of one police officer published in the newspapers showing him shooting a leopard (http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5842 ). It is tough times for the Panther pardus.

Leopards are remarkably adaptable. Their needs are frugal and can survive in degraded forests preying on lesser wild prey as well as a goat or a village mongrel. However, this adaptability seems to be acting like a millstone around its neck, as people feel that nothing needs to be done as the leopard can survive in its own in degraded habitat or sugarcane fields.

The explosion of human population and the consequent demands has led to clearing up of forests and its herbivore population. As a result, the leopard is now completely devoid of its natural prey and has to depend on livestock for its survival. A hungry leopard moving out of the small patch of forest land in search of another habitat with adequate prey base leads it to pass through human habitations and cultivated fields. This creates unfortunate scenarios, as the people are not used to seeing a spotted feline. Also this brings into fore our hidden nature which feels happy at someone else’s pain, a regressive mentality of decimating all other species infront of us.

To make matters worse, as in the case of the mob lynching to death the leopard near Bhubaneswar, a TV camera man wanted to search for exclusive footage (a la Al Jazeera TV) and reportedly instigated the people to take law into their hands. The result was inevitable. The forest department, as is the case everywhere in India, remained a mute spectator.

This unfortunate incident should not be passed over with just a feeling of sadness.

The TV Cameraman needs to be arrested and the footage, computers etc should be sent for forensic examination.
In such cases, in all parts of the country, Section 144 should be immediately issued and people arrested.
All the persons, involved in the lynching should be arrested under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. Being in a Mob should not be seen as a sure shot way of escaping being convicted.
To save the leopard, a Project Leopard should be announced. A massive exercise to be undertaken in all the states to map the remaining suitable habitats. Suitable action plans to save the leopard to be drawn.
We are on verge of losing the leopard. Instead of frittering our energy in creating grandiose plans for bringing in exotic species like African Cheetah and introducing them into cages, we have to act fast in saving our leopard. I would appreciate our members to raise their voice in support of this cause.

Culling orders on monkey, wild boar and Nilgai in Himachal Pradesh:

Who says that culling is only done in Africa and USA.

The Himachal Pradesh Forest department is issuing permits to shoot monkeys, wildboars and Nilgais. For further details please check here:
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5596

Wildlife Photography:

Images shared by our members between 10th Dec 2010 – 9th January, 2011 that depict interesting animal behaviour or are just plain beautiful.

The Rain and the Sun by Dr. Hari Venkatesh K R
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5741

Lady Paradise by Tushar Dixit
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5617

Pied Kingfisher by Praveen Siddannavar
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5623

Great Pied Hornbill Mrudul
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5764

My first Frogmouth by Tushar Dixit
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5825

Tiger Cub by Mrudul Godbole
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5587

The Yawn by Bibhav Behera
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5649

Traffic sense on crazy weekends – a message – Roopak Gangadharan
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5580

Moyar Valley by Mohan Raj
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5689

Funnel Web spider by Akshay Kumar Manjunath
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5786

The link to this Newsletter is available at:

All the newsletters can be found online at: http://www.indiawilds.com/diary/category/newsletter
In case, any member of IndiaWilds forums has forgotten his/her user id and password can email the admin at the following email id administrator@indiawilds.com Others may register at www.indiawilds.com/forums/register.php with their full name.
Regards,
Sabyasachi Patra
www.indiawilds.com
Profile: http://www.indiawilds.com/profile.htm
Contact: http://www.indiawilds.com/contact%20us.htm
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/IndiaWilds/132629240481

Sabyasachi Patra

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IndiaWilds Newsletter Vol. 2 Issue XII

Sabyasachi Patra — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 10:24:32 +0000

IndiaWilds Newsletter Vol. 2 Issue XII

This issue of IndiaWilds Newsletter Vol. 2 Issue XII marks the completion of two years of existence of IndiaWilds as a Conservation and Wildlife Photography forum. In this issue we examine some of the often ignored areas that impact climate change. This newsletter is available online. To view and post your comments check at: http://www.indiawilds.com/diary/indiawilds-newsletter-vol-2-issue-xii

Climate Change:

A year has passed since the farce conducted in Copenhagen summit. Have we become more conscious about climate change? Has it brought any change in our behaviour? Let’s examine whether we are on the right track.

Let’s start with our popular minister for MoEF Shri Jairam Ramesh ridiculing SUV’s as Socially Useless Vehicles. A smart politician that he is, he understands that this attack on the SUVs – that were earlier considered to be symbols of the rich – is not going to harm his political career and even may help him earn a few brownie points. However, is he focusing on the root cause?

Public Transport:

If he would, then he would have expressed dismay – I don’t think if he can do any better – at the shockingly inefficient public transport system which forces individuals to buy a two wheeler or a car or hitch a ride in a fuel guzzling three-wheeler. The sale of these automobiles is helped by a nexus of lending agencies and agents who would be hit if we move towards an efficient public transport system. Furthermore, the housing tax breaks induced home buying spree of individuals, deftly manipulated by the real estate lobby and aided by the poor urban planning by our Government departments ensures that individuals buy residences that are often at a considerable distance from their place of work. These complicated relationships can often rival the intricate web of relationships between various organisms in nature. I am sure it would now be evident to all, that streamlining the public transport system would need a huge focus and commitment and hence didn’t feature in the Hon’ble Minister’s wise cracks. We need a messiah who can streamline our public transport system. However the vacancy for that job is likely to remain for a long time.

Sports and Public Events:

If SUV is a sign of conspicuous consumption, then it is time that we look at some of the wasteful consumptions that we engage in a mass scale. The sports events conducted in the night or events in airconditioned complexes immediately comes to mind. Take the case of conducting night race in Formula 1 Grand Prix, the pinnacle of motor sports.

Night Race in Formula 1:

Formula 1 Grand Prix – the pinnacle of motor sports – has a huge carbon footprint due to its fuel guzzling engines, crisscrossing the world with Boeing loads of equipment etc. As if that was not enough, in 2008 it was decided to conduct the first night race in formula 1 in Singapore, so that the race can be viewed by European viewers at a convenient time. Let us examine its environmental impact.

The F1 race track in Singapore is 5.067 kilometers long. To light this 5.067 kilometer circuit, 108,423 metres of power cables, 240 steel pylons and around 1,600 light projectors are used. Each bulb is of 2000 watts. The total power requirement to light the circuit is supposed to be 3,180,000 watts ie. 3180kwh or 3.18 Mwh. The lighting level with around 3000 lux, is supposed to be four times brighter than the lighting in sports stadiums.

Considering that there would be practice in Friday, qualifying in Saturday and race is Sunday; the race track will be lighted for atleast for a minimum of 18 hours in three days. So the power requirement for lighting the tracks on the three days would be 15*31800000 watts i.e. 18*3.18 Megawatts ie. 57.24 Mega watts. Apart from this there would be additional lights brought by the teams to light up their pit areas and lighting required for grandstands. I am sure they would have kept the track lit for an equal number of hours for testing. So the total consumption can be atleast 100 Mwh.

It is estimated that the average household energy consumption in US is about 936kwh per month. So 100Mwh can light up more than 100 houses for a month or 3000 households for a day in the USA.

Is it not a criminal waste of energy, especially at a time when the dark clouds of climate change are engulfing us?

2022 Football Worldcup in Qatar:

Formula one, though it has a massive fan following, can be branded as elitist and infact was branded as such by our sports minister the previous year. A few days back, FIFA the body that governs football worldwide announced that Qatar is going to host the worldcup in 2022. Qatar, a country where the temperature during June and July goes well beyond 40 deg. C, has decided to use air conditioned stadiums where the temperature can be brought down to around 20 degrees. Well the amazingly rich football players need not worry playing in the heat and dust of the desert, as FIFA has said that there would be air-conditioned stadiums to play in. Is it not crash consumerism that can be avoided? Unfortunately, I didn’t see a single word of condemnation for such a thoughtless action.

Cricket:

There is a saying, if you point a finger, then three fingers point back at you. Formula 1 may be doing this recently. However, Cricket – the sport that has a hysteric fan following in India – is not far behind. Lets consider the floodlighting of the stadiums. Data from MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) shows that the four floodlights lighting the stadium consume 360,000kWh, this is based upon a running time of 400 hours over a twelve month term. So every hour consumption is 900kw. If we use this average for the calculations for our T-20 matches, then each T-20 match spanning over three hours will consume 900*3=2700 kw or 2.7 Megawatt. Since the T-20 tournament fixture is yet to be drawn, the number of matches can be anything between 60 and 94. So the power consumed can be atleast 162 Mw considering 60 matches. Per capita consumption of power in India is 612Kwh. So the power consumed in lighting IPL matches can light up the homes of 264 people for a year or 96617 people can get power for a day.

There are far more number of One Day Internationals and T-20 events conducted in the night these days than a child can count. The reason is solely to increase the spectacle. Do we care to raise our voice against these spectacles? These sports events have become energy guzzling orgies. If we don’t raise our voice against those, solely because we love sports, or because these events are popular, then we certainly don’t have a right to engage people in trivial things. Scientists and leaders are all engaged in the blame game on small trivialities, such as impact of gas emitted by cattle on climate change; where as they are silent about these frequently occurring major energy guzzling events.

The talk of cattle reminds me of another issue that was raised by Shri Jairam Ramesh last year and laughed upon by critics – the issue of consumption of beef and its impact on climate change.

Beef & Climate Change:

Vast tracts of virgin rain forests in the Amazon are being ruthlessly razed down to the ground by machines. When one watches the video of these chainsaws cutting down hard growth trees in seconds, that took several hundred years to grow, one becomes speechless. In those areas come up industrial scale soybean farms and cattle ranches primarily for satisfying the beef demand from Europe. Today, a school kid can lecture us – provided we pause to listen – that the trees release moisture to the atmosphere and a large patch of forest often helps its cause by releasing large amount of moisture to the atmosphere which helps in rainfall.

The 2006 report of UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) titled “Livestock’s Long Shadow -Environmental Issues and Options” mentions that Livestock sector generates more greenhouse gas emissions than the transport sector, 18% from the livestock sector vs 13% from the transport sector. As we know, increased prosperity leads to increase in consumption of not only food grains but also of animal proteins. The FAO report has confirmed that with mindboggling statistics. The global meat production is going to double from 229 million tonnes in 1999/2001 to 465 tonnes in 2050. Livestock uses 30% of the earth’s entire land surface and 33% of the global arable land is used for producing feed for livestock.

I am not sure if the developed world is going to give up on their luxuries of beef eating, as it requires a tremendous amount of awareness generation. However, a partial reduction is also going to have a huge impact.

Climate change is going to harm developing countries like India the most, as a major part of our population lying below the poverty line is going to be impacted the most. Climate changed induced diseases, submergence of coastal areas and islands, water scarcity due to perennial rivers turning seasonal are some of the few issues that is going to impact our people. With nearly half of the population yet to be connected to the electricity grid, which is at present primarily powered by power from polluting thermal power plants, and hydel projects inducing submergence of vast tracts of forests, there is no sign of green house gas emissions reducing. The aspirations of the people to ape the western lifestyle, symbolized by the SUVs may hog the limelight; however, there is no solution or will power in the political class to contain climate change is in sight.

Other Conservation Issues:

Call for banning synthetic pesticides in and around our wilderness areas:

Our wilderness areas givers birth to our numerous streams and rivers and serve as the lifeline of our country and our economy. Spraying of poisonous chemicals as pesticides leads to accumulation of those in the soil and pollute our fresh water sources. A Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers project has clearly shown that synthetic pesticides can be replaced by neem based pesticides. Hence, with a clear alternative in sight, It is time to ban synthetic pesticides around National parks, Sanctuaries, Reserve Forests, protected areas, wetlands and areas of ecological importance. For further details, please check here:
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5539

Supreme Court bans Plastic in pan masala sachets:

In a far reaching move, the Hon’ble Supreme Court has banned use of plastic in pan masala sachets. This is expected to reduce the amount of littering in our wilderness areas. For more details on this issue you can check here: http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5563
Wish the Hon’ble Supreme Court can ban use of plastics in all our wilderness areas. For the deleterious impact of plastics you can check here: http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=108

Centre Issues Wetland Conservation Guidelines:

Our wetlands, are being indiscriminately filled up and concretized after being branded as wastelands. Hopefully, the issue of wetland conservation guidelines by the centre will help bring in more focus in saving our wetlands. For further details you can check here: http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5499

Train driver jailed for running over elephants:

In a far reaching move, a train driver who had run over elephants has been handed a jail sentence by the court. I think this incident will wake up the callous railway authorities and will force them to think of long term solution to the problem and order for alternate alignment of railway tracks. For further details please check here:
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5429

Seizure of Pangolin Scales:
We have to be careful about our lesser known species, else they are going to be extirpated much before the tiger.
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5484

Notable Images of the Year 2010:
Images shared by our members in 2010 that depict interesting animal behaviour or are just plain beautiful….

Mammals:

Pair.. by Praveen P Mohandas
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3417

A Dream called Tiger by Subramanya CK
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3231

Elephant digger by Dipankar Majumdar
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3626

Birds:

Black-winged Stilt by Gautam Biswas
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5434

Purple rumped Sunbird by Amit Kalele
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4535

Kestrel Hunt by Tushar Dixit
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5555

Landscapes:

Rain…at last! By Dr. Jitendra Katre
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4197

And clouds cover the jungle…. By Sagar Patil (with a compact camera)
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3876

Sunset Hue by Dr. Kalpamoit Kakati
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5365

Others:

The Green Predator by Dr. Hari Venkatesh K R
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4206

Master of Disguise by Vikram Gupchup
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5041

Kandil-pushpa at Kaas plateau
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5058

The link to this Newsletter is available at: http://www.indiawilds.com/diary/indiawilds-newsletter-vol-2-issue-xii

All the newsletters can be found online at: http://www.indiawilds.com/diary/category/newsletter

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Sabyasachi Patra

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