Prevent Unnatural Deaths of Gir Lions: Parimal Nathwani

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Prevent Unnatural Deaths of Gir Lions: Parimal Nathwani

The News that bodies of 4 dead lions have been found in the last few days – 3 in Dalkhania range of Gir forest and 1 in Rajula is saddening and unfortunate. It is feared that total 11 lions may be dead and rest of the bodies have not yet been found.

WSON Team

If it is true, it is alarming and it is high time that authorities investigate the cause of such deaths and book the culprits. Mr. Parimal Nathwani, rajya sabha member and Group President of RIL has expressed his concern and anguish on deaths of lions, the pride of Gujarat.

WSON Team

Mr. Nathwani, who himself is a wildlife enthusiast and has authored a book ‘Gir Lion : Pride of Gujarat’ believes that the incidents of poisoning or electrocuting of lions must be curbed with iron hand before they attain alarming proportion and numbers. He further said that as happened in past, if some poacher gangs are operating then they must be exposed and brought to the books. Asiatic Lions of Gir are rare and precious, their unnatural deaths can never be tolerated, he added.

WSON Team

Incidentally, Mr. Nathwani has come forward in recent past to cover the open wells in Gir by constructing parapets to prevent deaths of Lions by falling in abandoned open wells. He had also proposed to help in constructing fence or underpasses in Gir to prevent deaths of lions on railway track.

WSON Team

All wildlife lovers must get together and raise their voice to prevent all such unnatural deaths of our precious animals, Mr. Nathwani added. Mr. Nathwani has separately written to the State Forest Minister and other officials concerned to probe such incidents on war-footing and take stern actions.

‘Horny’ dolphin forces shutdown of French beach

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‘Horny’ dolphin forces shutdown of French beach

People in the Brittany region in France were banned from bathing on the beach after a dolphin in mating season kept chasing swimmers and rubbing itself against boats.

The dolphin, who was named Zafar, had lifted a female swimmer out of the water using its snout and a rescue team had to be called to get her to safety.

The ban may have had the desired effect: It was lifted Monday after it appeared that Zafar had moved on to another area to try his luck in finding a mate, human or otherwise.

Locals report Zafar was known as being a friendly dolphin when he was hanging around the town of Plougastel-Daoulas, but his demeanor changed when mating season arrived and he started to swim near Landevennec.

Dolphins have sex year-round, but in some areas there is a peak in mating in spring and fall.

Dudhwa Tiger Reserve sets up helpline to curb man-animal conflicts

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Dudhwa Tiger Reserve sets up helpline to curb man-animal conflicts

The forest department in collaboration with the Reliance Foundation has launched a toll-free number 1926 to curtail man-animal conflicts. The helpline will work in tandem with the ‘Dial 100’ emergency service.

“The department has introduced a toll-free number 1926 through which villagers can inform the forest authorities about the movement of a big cat in their neighbourhood for prompt assistance,” field director, DTR Ramesh Pandey told PTI on Friday.

“The service has been initiated from Katarniaghat wildlife sanctuary where several leopard attacks were reported during past seven months,” he added.

A database of villagers living in the periphery of sensitive forest areas was being prepared and their phone numbers were being collected, the official said.

“Audio and text messages to alert the villagers about big cat movements, advising them not to defecate in the open are already being sent on their mobile numbers,” he added.
The initiative will be launched in other tiger reserves as well, Pandey added.

Mexico investigates deaths of over 100 endangered sea turtles

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Mexico investigates deaths of over 100 endangered sea turtles

Mexican officials are investigating the recent deaths of more than 100 endangered sea turtles in a sanctuary in the south of the country, the government said on Saturday.

Mexican officials are investigating the recent deaths of more than 100 endangered sea turtles in a sanctuary in the south of the country, the government said on Saturday.

A total of 113 turtles were found dead between July 24 and Aug. 13 in the Puerto Arista sanctuary in the municipality of Tonala in Chiapas state, according to a statement by the office of the federal attorney for environmental protection

They comprised 102 olive ridley turtles, six hawksbill, and five belonged to the green turtle species, PROFEPA said. The dead turtles were discovered in different parts of the sanctuary across some 30 kilometers (19 miles) of beaches.

All three turtle types are classified under Mexican guidelines as being at risk of extinction, PROFEPA said. The hawksbill is the most critically endangered of the three, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

Experts have posited that asphyxiation, fish hooks or harmful algae may have brought about the deaths, but the cause is still being investigated, PROFEPA said.

237 tigers died in last two years: Minister

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237 tigers died in last two years: Minister

As many as 237 tigers died in the country in last two years, the government said on Friday. Also 23 per cent of total deaths from 2012 to 2017 were due to poaching. However, the government asserted that unnatural deaths “have not had an impact on tiger numbers which are growing at the rate of 5.8 per cent per annum”.

“In 2016, 122 tigers died across the country while 115 died in 2017,” Minister of State for Environment Mahesh Sharma told Lok Sabha in a written reply.

He said during 2012-17, 55 per cent of the tiger deaths were due to natural causes while seven per cent were due to unnatural causes not attributable to poaching.

He said 23 per cent (of tigers) died due to poaching while 15 per cent have been tiger body part or derivative seizures.

He said the government through Project Tiger and National Tiger Conservation Authority, has taken a number of initiatives towards anti-poaching operations.

These include creation of Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF), formulation of Security Plan guidelines which form part of the overarching Tiger Conservation Plan (TCP), development of a security audit framework and creation of an online wildlife crime database.

Asked whether the government has assessed the impact of such unnatural deaths on the growth of the number of tigers, he said, “Unnatural deaths have not had an impact on tiger numbers which are growing at the rate of 5.8 per cent per annum.”

He said the National Tiger Conservation Authority has a collaborative project with the Wildlife Institute of India to customize drones for various tasks including surveillance in 13 tiger landscapes.

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