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Time of India
19 hours ago
- Time of India
Foresters lacked intel to anticipate tiger deaths in MM Hills: Ex-Indian Forest Service officials
Bengaluru: The death of five tigers at Male Mahadeshwara (MM) Hills Wildlife Sanctuary in Chamarajanagar on Thursday — said to be the largest single-day tiger mortality in the state since the launch of Project Tiger in India — has raised several questions over the preparedness of the forest department in the management of the protected areas across Karnataka. Amid the mounting criticism over the deaths, former Indian Forest Service (IFS) officials have pointed out the failure of the forest intelligence in anticipating the incident, especially in a sensitive area like MM Hills that borders the neighbouring Tamil Nadu. Retired principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) Braj Kishore Singh, who served in Kollegal division as DCF, attributed the deaths to a failure of intelligence. "While elephant poaching or electrocution was known in that area, the killing of tigers is strange and shocking. The death of the tigress and her cubs indicates that forest officials were neither active nor present on the ground," Singh said. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru Lamenting that in any conflict, it is the tiger that pays the price, Singh said the presence of the tigress and her cubs was a testimony to good conservation, but the administration failed to safeguard it. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Livguard Lithium-X: The Future of Power Backup Livguard Buy Now Undo "Meenyam and Hoogyam are remote areas and connected to Tamil Nadu via a walkable mud road. The beat forest guards should have noticed the kill by the tigress and accordingly sensitised the surrounding villagers. The camera traps in the region may have revealed the presence of the tigress with her cubs as the animal may have been moving in the area for 3 to 4 days. But that was clearly missing at the ground level as a few miscreants resorted to killing tigers by feeding poison," Singh said. Yet another former PCCF, BJ Hosmath, who previously served as project director and field director of Bandipur-Nagarhole tiger reserves, acknowledged that the administration of tiger reserves requires dynamic leadership. "The officer and his team could have anticipated this event by relying on the department's intelligence. Even if you suspect the incident as the handiwork of local villagers, the anger could have been simmering for months. Why did the staff not notice it and report to the higher authorities for suitable action?" A few other officials revealed that the tigress killed the cattle on Tuesday evening and may have been revisiting the carcass with her cubs a day after. "The cattle carcass was seen within a few yards of the main road, and it is strange that the ground staffers failed to notice it and alert the higher authorities of the department," another retired official from the state forest service said.
Deccan Herald
5 days ago
- General
- Deccan Herald
The tiger's future without the roar of the ‘tiger-man'
Thapar's lifelong mission was shaped in no small measure by his mentor, Fateh Singh Rathore, an Indian Forest Service veteran, part of the first Project Tiger team and a tiger expert in his own right.
News18
5 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Rajasthan's Sariska Tiger Reserve Under Threat As Mining Push Prompts Boundary Shift
Last Updated: The Rajasthan government's plan to alter Sariska Tiger Reserve's boundaries for mining leases has sparked outrage among conservationists, raising fears of ecological damage A controversial proposal by the Rajasthan government to alter the core boundaries of the Sariska Tiger Reserve has sparked outrage among wildlife conservationists and raised fears of a major ecological setback. At the heart of the controversy lies a plan to shrink parts of Sariska's Critical Tiger Habitat (CTH) while expanding it elsewhere. If implemented, this reshaping of Sariska's map could pave the way for the revival of over 50 mining leases previously barred under environmental restrictions. According to the official proposal currently under review, the government intends to exclude 48.39 square kilometres of land from the CTH, terming it 'eroded peripheral hills" that are already 'impacted by human activities". In exchange, it suggests adding 90.91 square kilometres from the buffer zone – areas considered of relatively lesser protection – arguing that this swap will create 'quality tiger habitat" and foster 'harmony" between forest authorities and local communities. 'This move is deeply unfortunate," said Sunayan Sharma, a retired Indian Forest Service officer and former Field Director of Sariska. We lost all our tigers in 2004 and spent years restoring the population. Today, with 48 tigers, including several cubs, we are seeing hope. Undermining this fragile recovery by opening up pathways for mining is akin to inviting disaster, Sharma added. Sharma was among the key figures in the massive relocation and rehabilitation efforts that brought tigers back to Sariska in 2008 after they were declared locally extinct. Critics argue that the land proposed for exclusion isn't merely degraded, it includes critical wildlife corridors. These narrow natural pathways allow tigers to move between different parts of the forest and are vital for their genetic diversity, territorial spread, and safety. Emotions also run high among local conservation activists. Sunil Mehta, president of the Sariska Tiger Foundation, said the proposal feels like a betrayal of years of hard-won progress. 'We fought to bring Sariska back to life. Tigers returned. The forest began to breathe again," Mehta said, visibly emotional, adding, 'Now, if mining resumes, what legacy are we leaving behind? That we chose industry over integrity, concrete over cubs?" According to Mehta and other experts, reintroducing mining in the area – even just outside the core boundary – will intensify noise, pollution, and human activity, directly threatening tiger habitats and the reserve's ecological balance. The state government maintains that the proposed boundary realignment is scientifically sound and socially balanced. Officials argue that the new areas being added to the CTH are of high ecological value, and that the shift will not compromise tiger conservation. However, many experts remain unconvinced. 'The claim that this is for better coordination with communities sounds more like a cover for economic interests," said a conservation policy analyst. 'We've seen such narratives before – conservation rebranded as compromise." The proposal is currently pending approval before the State Wildlife Board. If it clears that hurdle, it will be forwarded to the National Board for Wildlife for final review. If greenlit, over 50 mines, dormant due to environmental safeguards, could resume operations almost immediately. First Published: June 23, 2025, 16:29 IST
Time of India
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Watch: Tiger cubs play 'kabaddi' as mom acts 'referee'; viral video becomes the internet's newest obsession
There's something universally heart-melting about baby animals being goofy, but tiger cubs? That's next-level cute. A video recently shared on X (formerly Twitter) by former Indian Forest Service officer Susanta Nanda is making the rounds online—and for all the right reasons. It features a bunch of tiger cubs just… being cubs. Rolling around, chasing each other, tumbling over sticks and leaves, and generally turning the forest into their personal playground. The video clip was posted with the caption, "No sight can beat this from our forest. Sheer bliss". It's not just a treat for wildlife lovers; it's pure serotonin in video form. The clip opens with the young cubs bouncing out from the undergrowth, already buzzing with energy. They're not sneaky hunters yet—just tiny fluffballs with stripes and oversized paws that haven't quite figured out how to use their legs properly. You can almost hear their inner monologue: 'Tag! You're it!' One cub pounces on another, they roll around, then zip off like furry torpedoes through the dry leaves. They're clearly having the time of their lives, completely unaware that they've become viral celebrities in the human world. Mom's on duty—but not hovering As the cubs go full chaos mode, their mother watches from a short distance. Calm, majestic, and completely unbothered. She doesn't interfere or call them back—she's just observing, making sure they don't stray too far or get into real trouble. It's the kind of patient parenting that a lot of humans could probably learn from. Viewers loved this detail. It's not just about the cubs being cute; it's also a touching glimpse into tiger family dynamics. She lets them explore, but she's ready to leap into action if needed. Powerful and tender all at once. The internet can't deal with the cuteness Within hours of being posted, the video racked up thousands of views and hundreds of comments. People flooded the replies with heart emojis, awe-struck gifs. "Wow! It symbolises a thriving ecology due to the relentless effort of a team of passionate foresters," writes one user. "Children playing kabaddi and mother is the referee ! A sight to cherish for a lifetime and beyond!," writes another. Some even joked about wanting to trade their lives in the concrete jungle for a day in that jungle—just to get a front-row seat to these mini tiger Olympics. Wildlife clips often go viral, but something about this one feels special. Maybe it's the combination of raw joy, natural beauty, and the unfiltered playfulness of wild cubs. We usually see tigers as silent predators, apex hunters built for stealth and strength. But this video is a powerful reminder that before they become kings and queens of the jungle, they're just kids. Curious, clumsy, and full of energy. And honestly? That's what makes the video so charming. It shows that wildness and warmth can coexist. And in a world that often feels overwhelming, seeing something this pure just… hits different. So if you haven't already seen the clip, do yourself a favor. Watch it. Smile. Maybe watch it again.
Time of India
19-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
IFS officer red-flags ‘country's costliest' Miyawaki project
Dehradun: A proposal by Dehradun forest division to implement a Miyawaki plantation at an estimated cost of Rs 52 lakh per hectare raised serious concerns, prompting whistleblower Indian Forest Service (IFoS) officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi to call for an immediate probe into the unusually high expenditure. In a letter sent in April 2025 to the head of forest force Dhananjai Mohan, Chaturvedi, currently chief conservator of forests (research wing), termed the cost "potentially the highest in the country for such a project". He flagged a proposed 18,333 sapling purchase cost of Rs 100 each for three years, compared to the forest department's research wing's standard rate of Rs 10 for saplings grown in nurseries. Chaturvedi Miyawaki initiative in Kalsi, Dehradun, received praise from the former director general of forests of the ministry of environment, forest and climate change, CP Goyal, in 2023. As part of that project, which addressed soil erosion issues, 9,000 saplings of 70 native species were grown on over one hectare at a cost of around Rs 14 lakh. He also flagged a similar proposal in the Mussoorie forest division, where the plan included planting 7-8 ft tall saplings worth Rs 100-400 each. That project, pegged at Rs 4.25 crore over five years, was deemed "scientifically flawed and financially excessive". by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Calcula cuánto podrías ganar invirtiendo en CFD de AES ofertas especiales Registrarse Undo Chaturvedi recommended limiting it to 2 hectares and suggested six alternative sites of 1 hectare each in Mussoorie. In response, Uttarakhand forest minister Subodh Uniyal assigned senior officer Kapil Lal to investigate the matter. "In Dehradun, preliminary work like pit digging and manure application was done. In Mussoorie, funds were surrendered on March 31 and saplings were not purchased. An inquiry is underway," Uniyal said on Thursday.
