Greens highlight mining threat near Tadoba
06:08 | Author: eco-pro

CHANDRAPUR: Conservationists and wildlife activists in Chandrapur have joined hands to protect forest from the threat posed by large scale mining around Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve. In the backdrop of fact-finding report prepared by NGO Greenpeace India on deterioration of tiger corridors of TATR due to extensive mining, massive awareness campaign was launched by group of NGOs in the town.
Half a dozen tiger mascots accompanied by hundreds of students marched along the streets on Monday carrying placards about saving tiger and conserving forests. Students even painted their faces in stripped pattern of tigers to convey strong massage for protection of forest and tigers. Wildlife activists connected to Green Planet Society, Eco-Pro organization, Wildlife Protection Society of India and campaigner, Greenpeace India, Preeti Harman joined the awareness rally.
Harman said, "A total of 2,058 hectares of forest land has been given for mining in Chandrapur since year 2000. Even as coal block allocation to Adani mine in Lohara forest has been canceled after strong protest, the threat of the same block being allotted to others looms large. The wildlife corridors connected Tadoba forests with Chaprala, Indravati, Bor, Navegaon, Kanha and Melghat have been cut off due to growing mines. TATR has turned into a island of tigers from where they have not route left to move to the adjoining habitats."She warned that allocation of more coal blocks around Tadoba is in the offing, as coal ministry has plans to allocate mining blocks even in no-go zones. She claimed that deterioration of forest corridors is one other reason for rise in wild man-animal conflict in Chandrapur district. She alleged the government of not being serious towards protection of forests and demanded for formulation of concrete wildlife policy. She informed that fact finding report 'Undermining Tadoba's Tiger' prepared by Greenpeace was recently released in Delhi and copy of the same was submitted to forest and environment minister and coal minister.
Bandu Dhotre of Eco-Pro pointed out that mining in Durgapur and Padmapur coal mines, mining projects in Chichpalli, expansion projects of Durgapur and Padmapur, coal blocks in Lohara and Agarzari pose threat to corridors leading southwards of Tadoba. Similarly Murpar mine, proposed mines in Bandar, Surmanjiri, Bhansuli, Bhagwanpur, Nand-I and Nand-II and expansion Murpar mine threatens the northward corridor of Tadoba. The proposed Human dam project and Gosikhurd right bank canal threatens to block entire the North-East corridor leading out of Tadoba forest, he warned.
Suresh Chopne, president of Green Planet Society, said that they intend to raise strong opposition to proposed mines around the TATR. "We will try to get support of politicians and forest department."for sake of tigers and forests. We are ready to take to roads to protest against the mines and even knock the doors of court of law if situation demands," he said.
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Autopsy confirms tigress's death due to drowning
06:04 | Author: eco-pro

CHANDRAPUR: Veterinary doctors have concluded that the carcass of the tigress recovered from the open well near Ratnapur had died of drowning. Post mortem of the big cat was carried out on Monday morning and its body was cremated on the spot.
The carcass was found in the farm well of Vasudeo Kove on Sunday evening under Sindewahi forest range. "Veterinary doctors from Navargaon and Sindewahi performed the autopsy. The big cat turned out to be female aged around three and half years. They have suggested the cause of death as drowning," said ACF, Bramhapuri division, NJ Waghade.
He claimed that the carcass was around 24 hours old. "It is likely that the tigress fell into the well, with no parapet wall, while chasing a prey on Sunday. It had no injury mark on its body. It may have tried to scale the vertical walls of the well, but drowned after exhaustion," he said.
However, vets and foresters have failed to identify the other carcass recovered from the same well along with that of the tiger's. Earlier they had speculated it to be that of a wildcat. However Waghade said, since its identity is still clouded, doctors have decided to send the samples to lab for identification. Viscera samples of the tigress too are being dispatched to forensic lab for chemical analysis.
Wildlife activist Kundan Hate represented NTCA, while Bandu Dhotre of Eco-Pro represented chief wildlife warden during the post mortem. Later the carcass of the tigress was burned on the spot before the witnesses.
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CSTPS problem leopard captured
05:57 | Author: eco-pro

CHANDRAPUR: Two days after forest department set up a cage, the leopard which created trouble on Chandrapur Super Thermal Power Station's premises was captured in the wee hours of Saturday.
Forest department and the CSTPS security were on their toes since last three weeks after the leopard was noticed on the premises. Recent incidents of attacks on a dog and a goat stirred the residents of the colony, who in turn made the forest authorities install a cage. The cage was laid in a shrubby area close to the residential colony on Thursday night and camera traps were installed around it to watch the beast's movement.
Though the beast eluded the cage on Thursday night, it got trapped in the wee hours of Saturday. Chandrapur RFO Abhay Badkelwar confirmed the trapping. "The cage was moved out of CSTPS premises and after fitness examination by a veterinary doctor, leopard was released in a distant place," he said. The leopard is an adult male aged around four years, Badkelwar added.
Carnivore intrusion is common on CSTPS premises, thanks to a vast expanse of green cover. Wildlife activist Bandu Dhotre who assisted in caging the leopard, claimed that capturing of the beast is not a permanent solution to the problem. "There have been instances when even tiger has been sighted inside the CSTPS premises. To resolve the problem, management needs to clear the shrubby area close to residential colony and along the roads. High-mast lights should be installed to keep the area lighted and intrusion of cattle grazers should be checked," he stressed.
Dhotre did not rule out the possibility of the leopard returning into the same habitat after some time. The chances of other leopard or tiger occupying the same habitat too are strong, if remedial measures are not taken up, he added.
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Sand boas, tortoise rescued from doctor's residence
05:50 | Author: eco-pro

Sand boas, tortoise rescued from doctor's residence

CHANDRAPUR: A team of forest officials rescued two red sand boas and its hatchling from illegal captivity of a doctor in Durgapur adjacent to town on Wednesday. A dead snake of the same species and a tortoise was seized from the residence of Dr Vijay Gedam during the raid.

Due to its peculiar anatomy, the boa is believed to be a two-headed snake. According to superstition, both the boa and tortoise help in finding treasures. They are traded illegally for lakhs of rupees.
RFO (Patrolling) RB Rohankar said the raid was carried out on the basis of a tip-off. The boa is listed under Schedule-4 of the Wildlife Protection Act. Activists of wildlife organization Eco-Pro helped forest officials to rescue the snakes during the raid.
Wildlife activist Bandu Dhotre of Eco-Pro said the doctor appears to have been breeding and selling the snakes since long. "He had prepared a special room to keep the snakes captive. The room had black soil mixed with compost so that snakes could have natural habitat. A couple of months back, five hatchlings of Red Sand Boa had crept into the adjacent house, but were rescued by local snake handler," he said. He said that a bag full of yellow metal chips (fake gold chips) too have been recovered from Dr Gedam's possession.
Dhotre said the boa is a non-venomous snake. "It is valued for having two heads, but in fact, its tail resembles its head. This feature helps the snake confuse predators," Dhotre said.
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