New hope for the critically endangered Sumatran tiger

A new study has provided a rare glimmer of hope for the Sumatran tiger, the last subspecies of tiger still in existence in Indonesia.

Reports that tiger populations are declining in many parts of its range paint a bleak and all too familiar picture. Of the 13 tiger-range countries recognised today, the Indonesian archipelago has already lost two distinct subspecies from the islands of Bali and Java.

Reliably determining where tigers are present within dense tropical jungle is challenging because their secretive behaviour and excellent camouflage naturally make them difficult to detect. But, for the past three years, eight NGOs have joined forces to carry out the first ever Sumatra-wide survey, in collaboration with the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry.

Hariyo Wibisono of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and chairman of the Sumatran Tiger Forum, who led the project, said: ‘This survey is a milestone for Sumatran tigers. The results provide the most up-to-date and reliable information ever collected for this critically endangered species.'

The comprehensive study found that while more than 70 per cent of forest patches surveyed were occupied by tigers, its status varied greatly between the different landscapes.

Speaking about the newly created 3.3 million hectare Leuser-Ulu Masen landscape in Aceh Province, co-author Dr Matthew Linkie from Fauna & Flora International explained: ‘This study puts Aceh's previously unsurveyed forest firmly on the map as a global priority for wild tigers in Asia.'

12 peacocks found dead in Bhilwara

Twelve peacocks were found dead in a farm near the forest area at Hamirgarh at Bhilwara district on Tuesday.

The reason behind the deaths are not clear. A team of forest officials have reached the spot to inquire in to, said a forest official.

State president of People for Animals Babulal Jaju has demanded strong action against the guilty. Jaju approached the superintendent of police & officers of the forest department to bring the guilty to book. "The rising cases of poaching of peacocks in the district is due to the lackadaisical attitude of the police & the forest department. The head of forest forces & the CMO ought to take up the matter urgently," they said.

The Wildlife Conservation Act 1972 provides for six years confinement & a fine of Rs 50,000 for killing the national bird. But in Rajasthan the crime seems unabated. The state has been seeing the poaching of peacocks in places like Haler, Ojaira, Jahajpur etc.

"It is the incapability of the police & the forest department that the criminals have not been caught so far while the poaching of the national bird continues," they said.

Recently, the Union surroundings minister Jairam Ramesh, concerned over the rise in peacock poaching, ordered a study to evaluate their number in the country. The ministry has asked the Bombay Natural History Society to get the study done.

In Rajasthan, where the bird was present in great abundance two times, cases of killing of peacocks have been on the rise. Besides, speedy urbanisation is taking a toll on the habitat of the bird.

In the coursework of the budget session of Parliament, BJP MP Arjun Ram Meghwal had raised the issue of killing of peacocks saying the national bird is being killed as there is a immense demand for the bird's feathers. The bird is also poached for its meat.

Previous Post : Injured cheetah caught roaming in Abu Dhabi

Injured cheetah caught roaming in Abu Dhabi

A young, injured cheetah viewed roaming on the streets in a residential area in the capital on Sunday dawn was caught and transferred to the Abu Dhabi Wildlife Centre.

The animal that might have escaped from private captivity in Al Karamah locality is now at the center and being looked after, wildlife gist conductor Ronel Smutts said.

She said the center incurred a cry from a concerned occupier enouncing a Panthera tigris was on the prowl in the city. Our functionaries and a veterinarian stepped on it to the area and looked for the animate being but they could not find oneself it. The law dealt to capture the fauna, and to our surprise it was a cheetah who was immature and ill injured, she said.

The cheetah was cared for by the ex serviceman and transferred to the midpoint which has a roomy wildlife parkland that will assist it to recuperate from its injuries. She told the 11-month-old animate being was shocked.

The immature brute had a Brobdingnagian chain around its neck opening and had a real big harm on the left movement stage. We gave initial intervention to exempt it of the pain in the neck,.

and tomorrow we will get an X ray to help regulate the internal leg injury. The animate being is now under watching, Smutts added.

The chetah, allotting to a Karamah occupant, was viewed swaning the streets on Sabbatum Nox. It was caught by the Abu Dhabi police force and the pest ascendance employees deputed for the caper. Initial accounts advise municipality section workers too took part in the surgical process to catch the beast.

Still, a voice from the section denied having any function in the search. The Municipality of Abu Dhabi Metropolis interpreter told Khaleej Times that they got a phone call from Al Rahma Society of Animal Welfare viewing a chetah being flecked in Al Karamah country and we just trained them to meet the constabulary and other competent offices for catching the creature.

The Abu Dhabi Law articulated they moved immediately to ensure the base hit of the occupiers in the locality.

The Abu Dhabi Police force reacted immediately to protect the safety of the occupants and in collaboration with other government agencies moved apace to deal with the issue. The fauna was caught and transferred to appropriate attention, in accordance with regulatings and best patterns, Major General Mohammed Al Awadhi Al Menhali General Director of Human Resources and General Director of Police Operations enunciated.

Smutts, who has been looking after chetahs and other big cats at the center for many years, told it was illegal to continue these brutes in small scale houses and secret incarceration.

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