Leopard Carcass found near Dhari

27-07-2009
Leopard Carcass found near Dhari
Divya Bhaskar
Briefly Translated from Gujarati

A Carcass of Leopard was found in Kankava Bit of Hadala range of Gir East. Postmortem was done on site and it is found that Leopard may have died due to illness.

Over 9,000 people evacuated from Junagadh and Porbandar districts

25-07-2009
Over 9,000 people evacuated from Junagadh and Porbandar districts
Express India
http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/over-9-000-people-evacuated-from-junagadh-and-porbandar-districts/493946/

As many as 9,400 people have been evacuated from Junagadh and Porbandar districts following flooding due to incessant rainfall in the last three days.

The rains finally stopped on Friday. Though it did bring much relief to the people residing along the coastal cities and villages in Junagadh district, the excess shower did cause much damage to the roads and the agriculture sector.

Apparently, some 38 villages under Veraval, Mangarol and Kodinar talukas have been marooned. These villages have remained cut off since the last three days.

The situation in the marooned villages is said to have worsened compared to the city areas, as no official help has reached there. As many as 8,000 people from Veraval, Mangrol and the surrounding villages have been evacuated since Thursday, according to officials.

A house collapse was reported in Koliwada area of Mangarol city on Friday, but no one was reported injured, officials said.

Besides the local administration, three companies of national disaster response force and two companies of State Reserve Police Force have been pressed into service to carry out relief and rescue operations in the flood-hit areas of Junagadh district.

The district administration has distributed some 10,000 food packets in the flood-hit areas.

Rivers flowing from the Gir forest to the plains, namely Machhundri, Devka, Hiran, and Shingoda are flowing with full force. Dams constructed on these rives are either overflowing or their sluice gates have been opened, said officials. The situation in the adjoining Porbandar district has also worsened.

Authorities evacuated some 1,400 people from Porbandar district following heavy rainfall in Porbandar (10 inches), Rananvav (8 inches), and Kutiyana and Madhavpur (6 inches) in the last 12 hours.

Waterlogging was reported from several places in Porbandar city, including Chhaya, Bokhira and the Jubilee area of the city. Many city roads went under knee-deep water, while the rural areas remained cut-off from the main centre.

"More than 1,400 people have been shifted to safer places. The administration is expecting the Army to arrive from Gandhinagar and Jamnagar. Food packets have been prepared even as survey is on to get the full assessment of the damage," said Porbandar disaster mamlatdar M M Khandar.

Three platoons of the Army have been called in for relief work. They are expected to reach the district headquarters by Friday night.

Some 25 kaccha-houses on the Madhavpur shore were badly damaged by gushing seawater on Thursday night.

A fishing boat was reported capsized at sea between the Porbandar and Madhavpur coasts. But three fishermen onboard the vessel managed to reach the shore safely, though one fisherman from the same boat was reported missing, sources said.

Waterlogging has badly affected traffic on the state highways as well. The state highways connecting Mangarol-Veraval, Mangarol-Keshod, Porbandar-Veraval and Una-Kodinar were closed to traffic for the second consecutive day today. Except for highway connecting Rajkot, all other links connecting the coastal districts to Dwarka, Veraval and Junagadh were snapped.

Besides, inter-connecting roads in the rural areas were completely washed out in the floodwaters. Areas like Barda and Ghed are submerged in three to five feet deep water.

Three cabinet ministers, Vaju Vala, Anandiben Patel and Nitin Patel rushed to Porbandar in the afternoon to take stock of the situation and did an aerial survey of the region.

Leopard cub dies in road accident

25-07-2009
Leopard cub dies in road accident
Divya Bhasker
Briefly Translated from Gujarati.

The incidence was reported on the outskirt of Gir Gadhada Village in Una sub-district in Gir East. A Leopard cub was killed in a road accident yesterday night by unknown vehicle. It was about three months old. Forest department has started inquiry to catch the vehicle.

68 lions have moved out of Gir protected area'

24-07-2009

'68 lions have moved out of Gir protected area'

Times of India

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4809305.cms

 

GANDHINAGAR: The state government admitted in the Assembly on Wednesday that only 291 of the 359 lions in Gir were in the protected sanctuary area.  

Replying to a question by Karjan MLA Chandu Dabhi, the government said as per the last census conducted in 2005, there were 68 adult lions, 100 female lions and 123 cubs within the protected Gir Sanctuary.

 

Officials said this meant 68 lions had moved out of the sanctuary. Forest officials also said Gir's carrying capacity is just 250 lions and as of now, there could be nearly 370 lions. "The census which is due will reveal the exact number but at present, I feel that there are over 370 lions. The lions are moving out because of the want of food and also because of the fight for the territory," said a forest official. He added that getting prey in the sanctuary was more difficult. Once the animal got used to an easy kill, it will not move back to the sanctuary and even if they are caught, they will get out and come closer to human habitat.

 

Officials said an adult lion requires an area of 30-40 sq km and hence there is always a fight for territory which results in the weaker lion coming out of the sanctuary and coming in direct conflict with humans.

 

The forest department has also said there has been no incident of poaching in the last two years. To check poaching, the forest and police department are working in co-ordination under a monitoring committee headed by inspector general of police, Junagadh range. The committee has met eight times so far.

 

The government has also decided to keep a check on the vehicles entering the jungle and other visitors. The department said a close watch is being kept on the activities and movement of labourers coming from other states. Vigil is also being maintained on suspicious movements in Gir railway station and bus station. About 200 motorcycles have been given to the staff and Friends of Wild Animal scheme has been floated.

 

The department said in order to avoid accidents, as many as 9,350 wells have been covered with parapet walls till May 2009. Also, the staff has been given wireless sets and patrolling intensified in the areas.

 

To check death of lions due to electrocution, the forest department in collaboration with the electricity company has launched a drive to check illegal power connection.

 

Task force suggests preserving lion genes

23-07-2009

Task force suggests preserving lion genes

Times of India

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4809306.cms

 

GANDHINAGAR: Special task force formed by state government after 2007 poaching incidents has suggested that apart from use of GPS-based tracking and  

other modern surveillance systems, establishment of gene pool population and a genetic laboratory for cryopreservation of genetic material is needed to save lions.

 

Forest department, in reply to Shahpur MLA Gyasuddin Shaikh's question in the Assembly, has said that the task force laid emphasis on establishing a gene pool population at three places, including Sakkarbag Zoo, Rampara Sanctuary and forest area near Hingolgadh and a semi-captive population of lions in Barda Sanctuary with an ultimate objective of having a wild population there. The work for the gene pool and sanctuary has already begin.

 

The task force in its report said that breeding and exchange protocols must be developed for the gene pool population and semi-wild population at Barda. It suggested that Sakkarbag Zoo act as nodal agency for all activities related to genome mapping & conservation. The force also proposed to setup a laboratory at Sakkarbag Zoo fully equipped to carry out genetic studies. The laboratory would have facilities for Cryopreservation, DNA finger-printing & sequencing, Microbiology and Biochemical testing, Artificial Insemination and Embryo Transfer.

 

The task force recommended that system requirement study should be carried out to develop specifications for VHF Network (voice and data communication), GIS Database and Application, GPS enabled hand-held communication sets, Control Room System, Night Vision Equipment, DNA Finger printing and Cryopreservation.

 

Also 500 GPS enabled hand-held communication devices should be supplied to protection staff in the first phase. About 10 animals should be fitted with GPS VHF Collars in Gir and should be monitored. The task force suggested that in the first phase 25 long range night vision equipment should be supplied to mobile patrolling squads in Gir.

 

 

1 more nabbed for Bhanderiya lion poaching

23-07-2009

1 more nabbed for Bhanderiya lion poaching

Times of India

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4809076.cms

 

CID officials from Bhavnagar have nabbed one more poacher belonging to the gang that poached two lions in Jesar-Bhanderiya in 2007. Dora  alias Daru Parghi, 30, was caught from the jungles of Katni in Madhya Pradesh on July 17.

 

Police was granted 10 days custody when he was presented in Palitana court on Tuesday. "We had specific information about Dora. Our team travelled to Katni,100 km from Jabalpur, with a CRP team. We caught him from the jungle, obtained journey warrant from the local court and brought him to Bhavnagar.

 

Police inspector of Bhavnagar CID Lalubha Jadeja said, "Dora is closely associated with Prabhakar Keshav Gajakosh, the main accused in the Bhanderiya case and a poacher in Karnataka. Police had recovered from Prabhakar, animal skins, including skin and other parts of a lion worth Rs 50,000. Dora had met him many times and was close to him. We want to find out if the goods found on Prabhakar were sold to him by Dora or someone else."

 

While demanding longer remand, police also cited reasons like Dora's connection with an international network of poachers and need to get information about his other associates who are still at large.

 

Carcasses of two lions, with bones and claws missing, were found buried in a private farm in Bhanderiya village of Jesar taluka of the district on April 12, 2007. Previous to this, five lions had been killed under mysterious circumstances in Gir forest in Junagadh, leading to suspicion of a poacher gang operating in the area.

 

Police caught 17 people, including a minor, and 16 have been convicted. The accused that belong to Beliya tribe from Katni of MP were nabbed with spears and traps. Minter Parghi, an associate of Dora, was caught a while ago and investigations are on. Dora's arrest is the 19th made in the case and police hopes to get vital information about six more accused from him and catch them soon.

 

The 16 people were convicted in a landmark judgment in any wildlife poaching case in the country and sentenced to five years' rigorous imprisonment for killing Asiatic lions of Gir by a Bhavnagar court on February 26, 2008.

 

Chief metropolitan magistrate of Bhavnagar had pronounced the case as a criminal conspiracy punishable under the Indian Penal Code besides the Wildlife Protection Act. This was the highest term in any poaching incident across the country.

 

Pride of 22 Lions in a Village Outside Forest

20-07-2009

Pride of 22 Lions in a Village Outside Forest

Divya Bhaskar

Briefly Translated from Gujarati.

 

A big pride of 22 Lions has made Raningpara village surroundings as their home in Khambha sub district in Gir East. Yesterday 14 of this pride jumped over the compound wall of Kanabhai Ranabhai Bhambhar's farm and killed a cow and bull. At about half kilometer away other four Lions killed two sheeps.

 

Tiger Poacher Arrested in Katni

19-07-2009
Tiger Poacher Arrested in Katni
Print Edition
A well-known tiger and leopard poacher, Durru Pardhi, was arrested in Katni on Thursday, 16 July 2009. The operation was carried out by the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department, led by Katni Divisional Forest Officer, Mr A.K. Baroniya, with intelligence and assistance provided by the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI).

Durru, aged about 30 years, is believed to have killed dozens of tigers and leopards in Karnataka and Maharashtra. He is wanted in the high-profile 2007 Gujarat lion poaching case, and is the prime absconder in the December 2007 Karnataka case of the seizure of 65 skins. The information for this case was also provided by WPSI. Durru is also an accused in two cases in Maharashtra in 2006 that involve the seizure of two tiger traps in Warsa Forest Division and five tiger traps near Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary.

"We are thrilled that this habitual tiger killer has been apprehended. This is a clear example of the need and effectiveness of intelligence-led enforcement", said Nitin Desai, Director Central India of the Wildlife Protection Society of India.

Poacher who killed Gir lions held, handed over to CID

17-07-2009
Poacher who killed Gir lions held, handed over to CID
Press Trust of India
http://ptinews.com/news/180133_Poacher-who-killed-Gir-lions-held--handed-over-to-CID

An accused, wanted in connection with the 2007 killings of lions at Gujarat's Gir Sanctuary, abode to Asiatic Lions, was nabbed, Forest officials said today.

"Daru alias Dora Pardi was arrested from Burhali village last night and handed over to Gujarat CID this noon," Divisional Forest Officer A K Baronia told PTI.

Pardi was a member of inter-state gang of poachers and was wanted by Maharashtra and Karnataka police in connection with certain poaching cases, he said, adding the accused used to sell off animals' body-parts to smugglers.

Earlier, a smuggler arrested along with 65 hides of tiger from Karnataka had confessed that he got the skins from Pardi, Baronia said.

Poacher who killed Gir lions held, handed over to CID

17-07-2009
Poacher who killed Gir lions held, handed over to CID
ZEENEWS.COM
http://www.zeenews.com/news548013.html

Katni (MP): An accused, wanted in connection with the 2007 killings of lions at Gujarat's Gir Sanctuary, abode to Asiatic Lions, was nabbed, Forest officials said on Friday.

"Daru alias Dora Pardi was arrested from Burhali village last night and handed over to Gujarat CID this noon," Divisional Forest Officer A K Baronia told agency.

Pardi was a member of inter-state gang of poachers and was wanted by Maharashtra and Karnataka police in connection with certain poaching cases, he said, adding the accused used to sell off animals' body-parts to smugglers.

Earlier, a smuggler arrested along with 65 hides of tiger from Karnataka had confessed that he got the skins from Pardi, Baronia said.

Bureau Report

Cattle Killing by Lions

15-07-2009
Cattle Killing by Lions
All News Paper
Print Edition

Pride of five Lions killed a donkey in Dhari sub – district of Gir East. Earlier this pride killed a buffalo in farm at Monzar village. It seems lions need variety in their diet! (Divya Bhaskar : 02-07-2009)

Lioness attacks a farmer

13-07-2009
Lioness attacks a farmer
Divya Bhaskar
Briefly translated from Gujarati

Farmer Rajabhai Bhimabhai Vanzara (Age – 42) was working in his farm. To quench his thirst he went to nearby lake to get the water. When he was walking back to his farm, a lioness attacked on him from behind. He was injured on right leg thigh and on the back. When other farmers gathered hearing victim's help yell, Lioness ran away. He was then moved to Khambha hospital for treatment.

The incidence happened near Bagoya village in Savar kundla range of Gir East.

Carcass of lioness found near Sarasiya

13-07-2009
Carcass of lioness found near Sarasiya
Divya Bhaskar
Briefly translated from Gujarati

On 12th July 09, a dead lioness was reported by locals to forest dept. in Bid land (Vidi land) near Sarasiya village in Dalkhaniya range in Dhari sub – district of Gir East. All the claws were intact meaning lioness was not poached. On sight postmortem was done and viscera in sent to FSL to find out encate cause of death.

Leopard attacks 9 year girl

11-07-2009
Leopard attacks 9 year girl
Divya Bhaskar
Briefly translated from Gujarati

The incidence of one more human attack happened at Jamka village in Khambha sub-district of Amreli District in Gir East. A labour family of Mangabhai Rathod lived at Jamka with his wife and five children. At about 1 AM in the night, a leopard silently jumped over the wall and caught the 9 year old Ramila by the neck. Girl started yelling and the family woke up. Leopard left her injured and ran away. She was taken to hospital for treatment.

To be spotted again: India wants to bring back the cheetah

09-07-2009
To be spotted again: India wants to bring back the cheetah
The Independent Nature By Andrew Buncombe
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/to-be-spotted-again-india-wants-to-bring-back-the-cheetah-1738069.html

Asiatic cheetahs are confined to Iran after extensive hunting in India

They appear in portraits and carvings and the Mughal Emperor Akbar was said to have kept more than 1,000 for hunting. But the cheetah – prized for its speed and its ability to be trained – has not been seen in India for at least 60 years.

Now the government wants to bring them back. In an ambitious plan to reintroduce an animal whose numbers were reduced to zero by hunting, India's Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh told parliament that plans were under way to identify whether the big cat's return would be possible. "The cheetah is the only animal to have been declared extinct in India in the last 1,000 years," he said this week. "We have to get them from abroad to repopulate the species here."

The plan will involve importing cheetahs from Namibia and trying to establish breeding populations in specially constructed enclosures. If this were successful the animals would be then set free in the wild – putting them alongside the leopard, the tiger and the Asiatic lion, which constitute India's other large cats.

The government's moves follow a proposal made by an NGO, the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), that has drawn up a detailed plan to reintroduce the sleek, high-speed cat. It has identified several locations which it believes could become suitable habitats. An international conference involving experts from Africa and Europe will be held in September to move the project forward.

"The government has agreed in principle to the reintroduction of the cheetah," said MK Ranjitsinh, the WTI's chairman. He said the problems that the cheetah would confront would be the same as those faced by India's other wild cats – the proximity of humans and the decline in prey species. "We would have to build that up – the deer and the antelope," he added.

The cheetahs that once roamed from Arabia to Iran, Afghanistan and India, are Asiatic cheetahs. The name derives from the Sanskrit word chitraka, meaning "speckled". Yet while it is estimated that at the turn of the 20th century there may have been several thousand in India where they were known as hunting leopards, and were kept to hunt gazelle, the subspecies is today critically endangered with perhaps no more than 60 animals remaining in the wild. This last, tiny population is confined to Iran's Kavir desert with perhaps a few still remaining in south-west Pakistan.

Experts say that unlike the African and Indian elephant, there is little genetic difference between the African and Asiatic cheetahs. "These animals are very close. I think they could probably breed together, the only problem is that there aren't really any Asiatic cheetahs left – just some in Iran," said Stephen O'Brien, head of the US government's Laboratory of Genomic Diversity and author of Tears of the Cheetah: And Other Tales from the Genetic Frontier. "This reintroduction is something they have been talking about for decades. I think it's probably worth a try."

There is little doubt that the battle to reintroduce an animal such as the cheetah would be a tremendous challenge. Already India is fighting what appears to be a losing battle to retain its tiger population. Estimated to number perhaps 100,000 in 1900, the total today may be as few as 1,300. Almost every week there are reports of tigers being killed in India's national parks and reserves, either by poachers or villagers whose homes increasingly encroach on the animal's habitat.

India's population of leopards, meanwhile, may total 14,000, while the Asiatic lion, which once spread as far as the Mediterranean, is confined to the Gir forest in the western state of Gujarat where it numbers around 350. There are plans to reintroduce them to another national park in the state of Madhya Pradesh.

In addition to the problems of habitat and human population confronted by India's other big cat population, the cheetah would also face the issue of lack of genetic diversity. Studies have shown that the gene pool of the world's African cheetah population is unhealthily small, something that has led to low birth rate and high abnormalities. If there were just a small breeding population in India, the problem may be exacerbated.

This would not be the first time India has sought to reintroduce the cheetah. During the first half of the decade, scientists at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology in Hyderabad worked on a plan to collect tissue samples from an Asiatic cheetah in an Iranian zoo and clone the animal. "In the end the Iranians did not give us permission," said the director, Lalji Singh.

It is commonly claimed that the last known three Asiatic cheetahs in India were shot dead in 1947 by the Maharaja of Surguja, the ruler of a princely state in what is now eastern Madhya Pradesh. He also bears the dark honour of holding the record for shooting the most tigers – a total of 1,360. Yet his great-grandson and the current maharajah, Tribhuvaneshwar Saran Singh Deo, questioned whether his ancestor was responsible for the cheetah's demise. While confirming the tally of tigers ("They were very different times," he said) he added that the family had no information that he had ever shot cheetahs.

Ironically, Madhya Pradesh is one of the areas that experts have identified as a location for the possible return of the cheetah.

The fastest thing on four legs

* The cheetah is the fastest land animal, capable of reaching speeds of between 112 and 120kph.

* When closing on its prey it is capable of accelerating from 0 to 110kph in three seconds, faster than most sports cars.

* The body length of an adult cheetah is between 115 and 135cm, of which the tail accounts for up to 84cm.

* An adult cheetah weighs between 40 and 65kg.

93 lions have died in three years

09-07-2009
93 lions have died in three years
Times of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Ahmedabad/93-lions-have-died-in-three-years/articleshow/4755298.cms

As many as 93 lions have died in the state in the last three years. Of these, 50 were cubs. Replying to a question by Arjun Modhvadia in the state Assembly, the forest department said 85 lions had died naturally, while six lions were killed by poachers.

The forest department informed the Assembly that to check incidents of poaching, the forest and police departments are working in coordination. A joint monitoring committee is headed by the range inspector general of police, Junagadh. The committee has held eight meetings so far.

Also, the government has decided to keep a check on vehicles entering the jungle and a watch is being kept on the movement of each person entering the lion habitat. The department said a close watch is being kept on activities and movement of labourers coming from other states. Apart from any suspicious person moving around at the Gir railway station, the bus station is also being monitored. The department said that in order to save the animals from falling in open wells, 9,350 wells have been covered with parapet walls till May 2009. Also, the staff has been given wireless sets and patrolling has been intensified.

Replying to a question on how many persons have been arrested in the poaching incident, the department said that in all 19 persons have been arrested, of which 18 have been sentenced while one person died in police custody. Moreover, for effective patrolling, beat guards have been given 200 motor cycles and also friends of forest animals (FOFA) have been appointed. These FOFAs have been given the task of keeping a watch on illegal activities in the forest.

Eight firms granted sanctuary land

05-07-2009
Eight firms granted sanctuary land
DNA By Kapil Dave
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_eight-firms-granted-sanctuary-land_1271231

It took the state wildlife advisory board and the Gujarat Forest department just 90 minutes to convince chief minister Narendra Modi, and recommend to the Centre a proposal to grant hundreds of hectares of forest land, until now protected as sanctuaries for wildlife.

Five private firms and three government companies will benefit from this move which further worsens the status of five of the state's sanctuaries which are already facing very heavy pressure from human activities inside and outside.

The proposals, cleared by the state on Saturday, will now be sent to the National Wildlife Board for final approval.

A highly placed source in the state government said, "The board has cleared proposals of the Power Grid Corporation, Adani Power, Reliance Communication, BSNL, GSRDC, Vodafone, Usha Breco and the IOC.

These include parcels of land as small as 0.315 hectares to a vast expanse of 52 sq km. Decades of conservation efforts by foresters and activists in the Wild Ass sanctuary, Girnar sanctuary, Narayan Sarovar, Velavadar and Balaram-Ambaji sanctuary will be wasted."

He added, "The forest department may justify this action claiming it's a very small piece of land, but the fact is that these industries and their activities will ruin the tranquillity and privacy of the places that are essential for Gir lions, the Wild Ass, migratory birds and others."

Principal secretary, forest & environment, SK Nanda, said, "The board has cleared all the proposals placed before it because they were in the state's larger interest. The use of sanctuary land by these private companies to lay fibre-optic lines, establish power transmission towers and lay a 1.3 km road in wild ass sanctuary, or a road line in Gir, will not harm the environment. Not a single tree will be cut for these activities.''

But the government's decision has shocked many. "As it is, the government is giving away all available land at token rates to industries," said activist Mahesh Pandya, of NGO Paryavaran Mitra.

"So why give away forest land too? These developments will lead to heavy activity inside forest areas where there should be minimal human intervention.

The state has held back from declaring the sanctuaries as Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZ) for the last seven years, despite supreme court orders. The apex court has ruled that the government cannot allow any activity within 10 sq km area of the ESZs."

Rollercoaster ropeway

06-07-2009
Rollercoaster ropeway
Times of India
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Client.asp?Daily=TOIA&showST=true&login=default&pub=TOI&Enter=true&Skin=TOINEW&GZ=T

Last weekend, Gujarat's wildlife board cleared a rope-way for Girnar, which is to pass through the forest sanctuary. A project contemplated more than a decade ago by Keshubhai Patel as CM, chief minister Narendra Modi wanted to know why was it kept pending for so long. This is what Modi was told – former chief secretary PK Laheri opposed it for inexplicable religious reasons. Fist, he did not allow it as principal secretary to Keshubhai Patel, from 1998 to 2001. Then he opposed it as MD of Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd, which he remained between 2001 and 2003. Again, he opposed it as Gujarat chief secretary, from 2003 to 2005. Therefore, Modi was told, began the roller coaster of trying to "overcome" the "negative file notings" by Laheri on the reasons why one should not have the rope-way. "Laheri was a powerful man. It wasn't easy to contradict him", a senior official who finally managed to bring the rope-way back to the track said. It seems convenient to find scapegoat in Laheri – even the poor Narmada canal networking is being called a "Laheri's legacy"!

Wildlife board clears sanctuary land for for Power Grid, Adani transmission line

05-07-2009
Wildlife board clears sanctuary land for for Power Grid, Adani transmission line
Express India
http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/wildlife-board-clears-sanctuary-land-for-for-power-grid-adani-transmission-line/485182/

The state Wildlife Board will soon send a proposal to the Centre requesting it to allow some industrial houses as well as government agencies to use forestland for non-forest purposes in the four protected sanctuaries in the state. These four include the Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary, the Wild Ass Sanctuary in the Little Rann of Kutch, Velavadar Blackbuck Sanctuary and the Narayan Sarovar Bird Sanctuary.

A decision to send the proposal was taken at the state Wildlife Board meeting here on Saturday under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

Among the main items cleared at the Board meeting were a proposal for diversion of 89.74 hectares of land in the Wild Ass Sanctuary for the power transmission line of Adani Power Limited, and another 241.59 hectares for the state-owned Power Grid Corporation's transmission lines in the same sanctuary.

The Board also cleared a proposal for the diversion of 7.29 hectares in the Girnar Sanctuary for Usha Breco Limited (UBL) for power ropeway construction, and another 0.450 hectares each for Vodafone Gujarat Ltd and Reliance Communication Gujarat Ltd for laying fibre-optic lines in the famous Narayan Sarovar Bird Sanctuary.

It also cleared the proposal of the State Road Development Corporation, seeking the diversion of 4.40 hectares of land in the Velavadar Blackbuck Sanctuary for laying a six-lane Sarkhej-Vataman-Bhavnagar Road, and BSNL's proposal for 0.315 hectares diversion

in Balaram Ambaji Sanctuary for laying fibre-optic lines.

Pradeep Khanna, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), told Newsline after the meeting: "All these proposals seeking clearance under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 will now be sent to the National Wildlife Board which, in turn, will forward it to the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee for consideration. The apex court will take a final decision on the proposals."

Khanna said the Board meeting also approved other proposals, including a 265 km-long "garland road" to be laid around the Gir Sanctuary, the setting up of Leo-genetic lab for Gir lions and other wild animals at Junagadh, besides creating a communication network for surveillance, management and protection of animals in the Gir Sanctuary.

Gujarat offers hefty sum to shift out of Gir

03-05-2009
Gujarat offers hefty sum to shift out of Gir
Times of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Earth/Hefty-sum-to-shift-out-of- Gir/articleshow/4735088.cms

The Gujarat government is planning to shift some 100 families of the Maldhari community living inside the sprawling Gir NationalPark as part of a project to resettle these herdsmen outside the sanctuary, officials said on Friday.According to the plan, prepared by the state environment and forests department, each family will receive a compensation of Rs. 1 million and would be rehabilitated outside the sanctuary by the end of 2010, an official of the department said, requesting anonymity.

He added that the compensation amount has already been allocated in the Gujarat State Budget 2009-10, announced by State Finance Minister Vajubhai Vala in the assembly on the opening day of its monson session.

The Maldharis have been living inside the Gir sanctuary for centuries and consistently refused proposals for relocation made by the past state governments since 1972.

However, the government has now worked out a compensation package which may be acceptable to the Maldharis, he said.

Over the years, the state government could persuade only a small number of Maldhari families to relocate, while the rest of the herdsmen continued to live inside the national park, the official added.

The Gir sanctuary, spread over 1,000 sq. km in western Gujarat, is home to some 350 Asiatic lions - the only place where the species can still be found in the wild now.

Experts say the lions are threatened by man-animal conflict, accidents and poaching. Earlier, a proposal to shift a pride of lions to Madhya Pradesh's Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary was made, but it has been rejected by the state government citing security reasons. The case is pending in the Supreme Court.

344 Ha of land of five Wildlife Sanctuaries given for Commercial purpose

05-07-2009
344 Ha of land of five Wildlife Sanctuaries given for Commercial purpose
Gujarat Samachar
Briefly translated from Gujarati

State Wildlife Board meeting was held at Gandhinagar yesterday, Chief Minister Shree Narendrabhai Modi as Chairman.

Conservation wild animals of the state was discussed. Members also discussed Leo Gene Laboratory for Asiatic lion and other wild animals. For further prevention of road accident of Lions, it was decided to contract wall on both the sides of road in Junagadh district wildlife week celebrated in Gujarat. But along with, Shri Narendra Modi, said that "Jivdaya" week should also be celebrated on Environment day.

The important decision that the board took was to accept following proposals for allotment of land in wildlife sanctuaries.

Name of Sanctury	Area	Company	Purpose
Wild Ass Sanctuary	241.597 Ha	Power Grid Corporation	For Power transmission line
Wild Ass Sanctury	89.74 Ha	Adani Power	For Power transmission line
Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary	7.2871 Ha	Usha Breko Ltd	Rope way project
Velavadar Black buck WLS	4.40 Ha	State Road Dev. Corp	For Sarkhej-Vataman-Bhavnagar High way
Balaram WLS	0.315 Ha	BSNL	Laying Optical Fiber
Narayan Sarovar	0.450 Ha	Vadafone Ltd	Laying Optical Fiber
Narayan Sarovar	0.450 Ha	Reliance Comm. Ltd	Laying Optical Fiber

Will CM gift forest land to industry?

04-07-2009
Will CM gift forest land to industry?
DNA By Kapil Dave
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_will-cm-gift-forest-land-to-industry_1270959

In a major setback to decades of forest and wildlife conservation efforts in Gujarat, the state government may decide today to de-notify hundreds of hectares of forest land in four sanctuary areas of Gujarat. If chief minister Narendra Modi approves the Gujarat Wildlife Board's agenda, there will be a severe threat of industrial and human activity in Gujarat's four prime forest areas - the Wild Ass Sanctuary in the Little Rann of Kutch, Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Velavadar Black Buck Sanctuary and Narayan Sarovar Bird Sanctuary.

Highly placed sources told DNA on Friday that influential industrial houses are likely to have their way if the forest department and the Board don't vehemently oppose the move. Highly placed sources expressed profound sorrow about the fact that "Gujarat's wildlife is facing major problems like poaching and increased human and industrial activity, but the Board is pressing for discussion on 11 issues, of which a majority are proposals of industries to take away forest land."

The board has proposed diversion of 89.74 hectare land in the Wild Ass Sanctuary for the power transmission line of Adani Power Ltd and 241.59 hectare land for Power Grid Corporation's transmission lines. It has also proposed diversion of 7.28 hectare land for Usha Breco Ltd for ropeway construction in Girnar Sanctuary; 4.40 hectare land from Velavadar black buck Sanctuary for Gujarat State Road Development Corporation (GSRDC) for construction of a six-lane Sarkhej-Vataman-Bhavnagar central spine road; 0.315 ha land diversion for Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd for laying of fibre optic lines in Balaram-Ambaji Sanctuary, 0.45 ha land diversion for Vodafone Gujarat Limited for laying of fibre optics in Narayan Sarovar Sanctuary and 0.45 ha land diversion for Reliance Communication Gujarat Ltd in Narayan Sarovar Sanctuary.

Ironically, the state government on Friday admitted in the assembly that because of increasingly serious man-animal conflict in Gir and Dangs forests, 23 people had lost their lives in the last two years. It also admitted during the ongoing assembly session to charges of misuse of land allotted in Gir.

Highly placed sources in the government said, "The State Wildlife Board will hold a meeting, to be chaired by chief minister Narendra Modi, on July 4 at the Secretariat. The main agenda of the meeting is to give land in protected sanctuaries to various private companies for commercial use." The other items on the agenda include a presentation on wildlife, formation of Leo-genetic lab for Gir lions, modern communication facilities for the management and protection of the animals in Gir and erecting of walls on the two sides of the road in Gir sanctuary.

However, the forest department prefers to remain quiet about the move to de-notify the forest land which it is supposed to protect! Principal chief conservator of forests ML Sharma was not reachable, while PCCF (wildlife) Pradeep Khanna refused to comment

Six killed, 46 injured in lion attacks in two years

03-07-2009
Six killed, 46 injured in lion attacks in two years
Times of India
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Client.asp?Daily=TOIA&showST=true&login=default&pub=TOI&Enter=true&Skin=TOINEW&GZ=T

In the last two years, six persons have been killed and 46 injured in lion attacks. On Wednesday, the forest department told State Assembly that in last 13 months, till 30 May, 2009, three persons died while 46 were badly mauled by prowling big cats.

The department said a compensation of Rs 5.95 lakh was paid to those killed and injured. During the same period, 2,527 domestic animals were killed in lion attacks. Of these, 339 cattle belonged to 314 Maldharis who stay within the Gir sanctuary. The department has awarded a compensation of Rs 26.90 lakh for animals killed by lions.

In reply to a query, the department said from June 1, 2007 to May 31, 2008, three persons were killed and 2,136 animals attacked by lions. It said in the last two years — from June 1, 2007 to May 31, 2009 — a compensation worth Rs 76.09 lakh was paid just for animal killings.

The department is yet to pay a compensation of Rs 16.21 lakh for animal killings and Rs 50,000 for people injured in lion attacks.

A senior bureaucrat said with more lions moving out of Gir Sanctuary and making other areas their home, mananimal conflicts are growing. He said though not many human casualties have been reported, number of animal killings has gone up by nearly 400 in a year. Officers said the lion population has increased because of proper conservation measures. They said apart from conservation steps taken by the forest department, people are also sensitive to the cause of lions conservation. "Villagers would often sacrifice their cattle for lion," said government officials.

Forest department is in the process of developing new sanctuaries which includes the Barda Dungar in Porbandar. The department declared Pania, Mitiyala and Gir as sanctuaries. The total area of these three sanctuaries put together is around 235 sq km and another 190 sq km, which is the area of Barda, is ready for shifting of lions. Officials said the carrying capacity of Gir Sanctuary was just 280 lions and hence, 70 lions have moved to Palitana, in Bhavnagar and to Porbandar.

Maldharis sold 279 plots in Gir illegally: Govt

03-07-2009
Maldharis sold 279 plots in Gir illegally: Govt
Times of India
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Client.asp?Daily=TOIA&showST=true&login=default&pub=TOI&Enter=true&Skin=TOINEW&GZ=T

State government has stated on record that 279 Maldharis had illegally sold land in the protected Gir forest, meant to relocate their families. Replying to a question of Gyasuddin Shaikh Congress MLA from Shahpur, the government said 588 Maldhari families were given land as part of relocation programme, of which 279 have sold their land.

State forest department said in Nazapur Chataria village, a case of land sale had come to the knowledge of the government and it had registered a case under Indian Forest Act 1972. The department had also taken action against the person who had purchased land. The department also stated that this move by the authorities was challenged in HC. Gujarat HC had reserved its order and asked the forest department and the petitioner to maintain status quo on the land whose ownership had exposed a racket of illegal sale of land meant to relocate Maldharis.

A petition was filed by Anil Chudasama, who had bought this land from a Maldhari, in the HC after he was prevented from constructing on the land. The government had also suggested that Junagadh collector, the chief conservator of forest, could jointly examine all 588 cases of land allotment and find out how many plots fall within the forest area. They could also factually ascertain whether the plots were transferred by the original Maldharis who were allotted plots.

Lioness caged in Mahuva forest

02-07-2009
Lioness caged in Mahuva forest
Times of India
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Client.asp?showST=true&Skin=TOINEW&Daily=TOIA&BaseHref=TOIA/2009/07/02&Enter=true&GZ=T

A lioness, which has been terrorising villagers in Chhapariyali area of Mahuva range forest for past two months, was caged by forest department officials on Tuesday. The lioness was nicknamed 'Lady Don' after she had mauled five persons. "The lioness, which has been kept at Raninga Beat Animal centre, is under observation," said range forest officer M Jaypalsinh. which has been kept at Raninga Beat Animal centre, is under observation," said range forest officer M Jaypalsinh.

279 Maldhari have sold land allotted to them from forest department

02-07-2009
279 Maldhari have sold land allotted to them from forest department
Gujarat Samachar
Briefly translated from Gujarati

In a question asked by MLA Jawaharbhai Chavda forest minister Shri Mangubhai Patel informed the house that in last two year six people have been killed by wild animals in Junagadh district. He said that family of the deseazed have been paid compensation of  Rs. 6 lacs. He also informed that 4663 domestic cattle have been killed and owners are paid compensation of Rs. 76 lacs (Rs. 7609654). He stated that 531 owners are yet to receive compensation.

In another question by MLA Gyasudinbhai Sheikh forest minister informed that 588 Maldharis had been allotted land while their rehabilitation. Out of this 279 land have been converted into "old condition" (Juni Sarat) by Maldharis and have been sold. This sold lands are being used for agriculture purpose only.

In one case legal action is taken against one purchaser under Indian Forest Act – 1927 and Wildlife Protection Act 1972. This owner has moved high court.

New international tourism circuit in Junagadh

01-07-2009
New international tourism circuit in Junagadh
Indian Express
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/New-international-tourism-circuit-in-Junagadh/483392

The state government has decided to develop the Junagadh international tourism circuit on the lines of the Saurashtra and Gandhian circuits, at a cost of Rs 600 crore.

This was stated by state Finance Minister Vajubhai Vala during his budget 2009-10 speech in the state Assembly on Tuesday.

Vala told the House that the Tourism Department has been preparing an action plan in cooperation with other departments for the overall development of Junagadh city as well as the district, the last abode of the Asiatic lion.

The minister said the Tourism Department is developing the Narsinh Mehta Lake, Uperkot Entrance, Adi-Kadi Vav, Circle Chowk, Sardar Patel Darwaza, Diwan Chowk and Majewadi Darwaja, apart from modernising the Junagadh library and developing Buddhist pilgrimage sites.

As part of the Junagadh Circuit, the state government is also developing

Lion attacks two brothers at Kaneri village

01-07-2009
Lion attacks two brothers at Kaneri village
Divya Bhaskar
Briefly translated from Gujarati

A pride with four adult lions and cubs had made Kaneri village in Una sub-district as their home since last one week.

In the morning at about 8AM, Rana Laxman Solanki and Dhiru Laxman Solanki, two brothers were working in their farm. Suddenly one lion attacked Ranabhai and started pulling him by holding him on his right hand. Dhiru when saw this came to rescue. Lion attacked him and injured him on back and thighs. Inspite of though fight by brothers lion would not buzz but it became more furious.

In the meantime Haresh Bachu olanki saw the man – animal fight. He started throwing stones at lion. And mob gathered started shouting. Finally lion left two men and hide into nearby barley crops.

At the time other three lions were hiding in the sugarcane farm. Injured brothers were taken to Una Govt. hospital for treatment. Forest department staff immediately rushed to the place to arrange for moving lions to jungle area.

FM provides for gene pools in budget

01-07-2009
FM provides for gene pools in budget
Gujarat Samachar
Briefly translated from Gujarati

Finance Minister of Gujarat Shree Vajubhai Vala today presented the budget for the year 2009-10. In this budget he has generously provided Rs. 8 crores (1.7 Mn dollars) for gene pools at Sakkarbaug, Rampara and Umat in Rajkot district. This is a praise worth step by state Govt. in conservation of Asiatic lions.