Thursday, February 23, 2017

With no hurdles, Madhya Pradesh officials optimistic of getting Gir lions

15/2/2017

With no hurdles, Madhya Pradesh officials optimistic of getting Gir lions

THE TIMES OF INDIA

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/with-no-hurdles-mp-officials-optimistic-of-getting-gir-lions/articleshow/57155052.cms

BHOPAL: Forest officials from Madhya Pradesh are optimistic that a final decision would be taken to shift Gir lions from Gujarat to Palpur Kuno sanctuary in the state. A meeting of the chief wildlife wardens is scheduled in New Delhi on February 15 and February 16.

 

Officials in the state secretariat here said there is no administrative reason left and only political will is required for translocation of Gujarat lions to state. MP has already addressed the all concerns raised over the years by Gujarat official on the issue. The issue has been lingering for over a decade, now.


Madhya Pradesh wants at least 2 lion prides, which means a total of around 12 lions, including cubs. Principal chief conservator of forests (Wildlife) Jitendra Agrawal said the state is continuing its efforts to get the Gir lions and believes that the outcome would be positive.



State had hosted a meeting of 12-member committee constituted to look into the translocation of Asiatic lions from the Gir sanctuary at Kuno wildlife sanctuary in Sheopur district in December last year. Before the inspection, shortage of prey base was one of the major objections raised by Gujarat. State has declared 700 sq km as a protected area to resolve the issue and the committee members moved area and checked the prey base.

 

Officials said committee members could not point any issue major issue during the visit that could hold back the translocation of lions.

 

The move of visiting Kuno-Palpur was viewed as a step towards finalising the translocation, but officials got retired and transferred in Gujarat resulting in the process being held up, claimed officials.

 

"We have given enough time to the Gujarat government. Despite a standing order from the Supreme Court, they are reluctant. Gujrat will have to say 'yes' or 'no' this time so that we can take further initiative," said an officer in the state's wildlife unit.

 


In the past Gujarat also raised some issues regarding core and buffer area of the Kuno-Palpur wildlife sanctuary, which has now been sorted out. MP officials claim with an increase in prey base, Kuno has become one of the most suitable places for lions.

 

 

 

Forest department to revisit study on Gir’s economic gains

17/2/2017

Forest department to revisit study on Gir's economic gains

THE TIMES OF INDIA

UNAGADH: At a time when the Vijay Rupani government has shrunk the eco-sensitive zone around Gir sanctuary in the garb of 'local peoples' development', the forest department is planning to revisit a crucial 15-year-old study that had detailed the immense economic benefits accrued to the people as a result of the Gir ecosystem.

 

The study carried out by the scientists of Junagadh Agriculture University (JAU) had mapped the economic as well as environmental benefits resulting from the ecosystem and gave a big reason to enhance conservation efforts.
 



"Gir protected area (PA) has multiple impacts on agriculture, mango orchards, sugar industries, livestock enterprise, tourism, carbon sequestration, water table and water quality and bio-diversity, besides large number of environmental benefits," said Dr 
R L Shiyani, an agricultural economist with JAU who was part of the study.
 



The study was a pioneering one and replicated in other wildlife areas of India too.
 



Shiyani said, "It was found that villages surrounding the Gir protected area have relatively higher irrigated area, total cropped area and area under horticultural crops. All these led to higher crop productivity and more profitability per hectare of cropped area. Net profit per hectare of cropped area was more than Rs 35,000 in villages adjoining Gir PA, whereas it ranged about Rs 11,000 to Rs 15,000 in the villages that were over 15km away. The magnitude of total profit from agriculture was to the tune of Rs 6,020.05 million per annum."

 

Then, the annual estimated value of environmental benefits from Gir PA was about Rs 10,575.71 million which included benefits from carbon sequestration.

 

A P Singh, chief conservator of forest (wildlife), Junagadh, said, "We plan to revisit the same study to assess the various aspects of Gir ecosystem's benefits to people living around it."

 


The study was undertaken as there was dearth of quantification of economic analysis from the forest resources so as to help policy makers.

 

According to the study, maintenance of Gir PA should be accorded high priority considering that the total economic value was to the tune of nearly Rs 211 crore a year.

 

"Estimation of environmental benefits is a complex procedure. The total economic value (TEV) concept is widely used in the environmental economics parlance. The same was used in the present study. All efforts were made to quantify maximum identified benefits. Both primary and secondary data were collected," Shiyani added.

 

 

 

With 100m eco-sensitive zone, Gir lions have lesser protection than tigers

17/2/2017

With 100m eco-sensitive zone, Gir lions have lesser protection than tigers

 THE TIMES OF INDIA

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/with-100m-eco-sensitive-zone-gir-lions-have-lesser-protection-than-tigers/articleshow/57196802.cms?

HIGHLIGHTS

·         The Asiatic lions, which are 523 in numbers, have the least protection

·         Three tiger reserves have a protection area ranging from 2 km to 14.85 km

·         The decision to modify the ESZ was taken at a meeting held on November 28

RAJKOT: In an election, every vote counts. And, the BJP government does not want to displease anyone living near Asiatic lion's last abode the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary , even if a decision results in dangerously less protection to this endangered animal.



A right to information (RTI) reply has revealed that the government has finally shrunk drastically the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) from the earlier 8 km to 17.9 km around the sanctuary to a meagre 100 metres to maximum 500 metres in the modified ESZ proposal.



In fact, the Asiatic lions, which are 523 in numbers as per latest census, have the least protection; lesser than the equally endangered tigers in India. Three tiger reserves, where ESZ has been finalised, have a protection area ranging from 2 km to 14.85 km. Other tiger reserves are yet to send their ESZ pro proposals.

 

The decision to modify the ESZ was taken at a meeting held on November 28 where wildlife conservationists were not even invited for suggestions. " As revealed in the RTI reply , the meeting was held on November 28 last year in the presence of ministers in Gandhinagar with `affected' people around Gir and the decision to modify ESZ was taken. Now, ESZ has been kept minimum 100m and maximum 500m around Gir Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park, Mitiyala Wildlife Sanctuaryand Paniya Wildlife Sanctuary ," said Biren Padhya, the wildlife activist who filed the RTI, told TOI. Ironically , lion is the symbol of Prime Minister Naren dra Modi's `Make in India' campaign. Now, the ESZ covers only 207 sq km in 114 villages in nine talukas of three districts as against the original 3,328.8139 sq km covering 291 villages, said Padhya.

 

Earlier, the central government had notified an area up to 17.9 km from the boundary of the Mitiyala Wildlife Sanctuary , 16.3 km from the boundary of the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary and up to 14.98 km from the Paniya Wildlife Sanctuary . A senior IFS officer told TOI, "The forest department was completely left out while deciding on ESZ. Earlier proposal of 17.9km that we had prepared was made using sound scientific data. If the modified proposal is legally challenged, it would be very difficult to defend the decision."

 

Experts said the alarming consequences of a shrunk ESZ would be little control over mining, haphazard and illegal tourism and chances that even polluting industries coming up dangerously close to lion movement. Even the lions outside the protected area would not be safe and chances of human-animal conflict would only strengthen.

 

Recently , the parliamentary committee headed by Renuka Chaudhary had lambasted the shrunk ESZ as a joke."Chaudhary had even pulled up a forest officer who was defending the haphazard tourism at the cost of wildlife and asked them whether he was a forest officer or a tourism officer" an official present in the meeting said.

Friday, February 17, 2017

Peace of the lord be with you and your family.

Dear  friend
Peace of the lord be with you and your family.

It's my pleasure to have contact with you, based on the critical condition I find mine self, though, it's not financial problem, but my health, you might have know that cancer is not what to talk  about at home I am married to Mr. Abaulkarim banneth who worked with Tunisia embassy in Burkina Faso for nine years before he died in the year 2008.We were married for eleven years without a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted for five days. Since his death I decided not to remarry because of the attitude of his adopted child that do away with some property as the only son , When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of US$ 14.2m (fourteen million two hundred thousand dollars) in a bank in Burkina Faso, Presently this money is still in bank. And My Doctors told me that I don't have much time to live because of the cancer problem, Having known my condition I decided to hand over this fund to a responsible person that have fear of God to take care of the less-privileged people with fund , please utilize this money the way I am going to instruct here I want you to take 30  Percent of the total money for your personal use While 70% of the money will go to charity works and helping the orphanage. I don't want my husband's efforts to be used by the Government. I grew up as an Orphan and I don't have anybody as my family member, if so please do not hesitate to indicate your interest to me.

Waiting for your reply soon.

My regards,
Mrs Ida Banneth
written from Hospital


Please reply me on my private email address: idabanneth54@gmail.com

Thursday, February 16, 2017

With no hurdles, Madhya Pradesh officials optimistic of getting Gir lions

15/2/2017

With no hurdles, Madhya Pradesh officials optimistic of getting Gir lions

THE TIMES OF INDIA

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/with-no-hurdles-mp-officials-optimistic-of-getting-gir-lions/articleshow/57155052.cms

BHOPAL: Forest officials from Madhya Pradesh are optimistic that a final decision would be taken to shift Gir lions from Gujarat to Palpur Kuno sanctuary in the state. A meeting of the chief wildlife wardens is scheduled in New Delhi on February 15 and February 16.
 



Officials in the state secretariat here said there is no administrative reason left and only political will is required for translocation of Gujarat lions to state. MP has already addressed the all concerns raised over the years by Gujarat official on the issue. The issue has been lingering for over a decade, now.



Madhya Pradesh wants at least 2 lion prides, which means a total of around 12 lions, including cubs. Principal chief conservator of forests (Wildlife) Jitendra Agrawal said the state is continuing its efforts to get the Gir lions and believes that the outcome would be positive.
 



State had hosted a meeting of 12-member committee constituted to look into the translocation of Asiatic lions from the Gir sanctuary at Kuno wildlife sanctuary in Sheopur district in December last year. Before the inspection, shortage of prey base was one of the major objections raised by Gujarat. State has declared 700 sq km as a protected area to resolve the issue and the committee members moved area and checked the prey base.

 

Officials said committee members could not point any issue major issue during the visit that could hold back the translocation of lions.

 

The move of visiting Kuno-Palpur was viewed as a step towards finalising the translocation, but officials got retired and transferred in Gujarat resulting in the process being held up, claimed officials.


"We have given enough time to the Gujarat government. Despite a standing order from the Supreme Court, they are reluctant. Gujrat will have to say 'yes' or 'no' this time so that we can take further initiative," said an officer in the state's wildlife unit.

 

In the past Gujarat also raised some issues regarding core and buffer area of the Kuno-Palpur wildlife sanctuary, which has now been sorted out. MP officials claim with an increase in prey base, Kuno has become one of the most suitable places for lions.

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Peace of the lord be with you and your family.

Dear  friend
Peace of the lord be with you and your family.

It's my pleasure to have contact with you, based on the critical condition I find mine self, though, it's not financial problem, but my health, you might have know that cancer is not what to talk  about at home I am married to Mr. Abaulkarim banneth who worked with Tunisia embassy in Burkina Faso for nine years before he died in the year 2008.We were married for eleven years without a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted for five days. Since his death I decided not to remarry because of the attitude of his adopted child that do away with some property as the only son , When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of US$ 14.2m (fourteen million two hundred thousand dollars) in a bank in Burkina Faso, Presently this money is still in bank. And My Doctors told me that I don't have much time to live because of the cancer problem, Having known my condition I decided to hand over this fund to a responsible person that have fear of God to take care of the less-privileged people with fund , please utilize this money the way I am going to instruct here I want you to take 30  Percent of the total money for your personal use While 70% of the money will go to charity works and helping the orphanage. I don't want my husband's efforts to be used by the Government. I grew up as an Orphan and I don't have anybody as my family member, if so please do not hesitate to indicate your interest to me.

Waiting for your reply soon.

My regards,
Mrs Ida Banneth
written from Hospital


Please reply me on my private email address: idabanneth54@gmail.com

Monday, February 13, 2017

Gir lions have maximum exchange value

08/2/2017

Gir lions have maximum exchange value

THE TIMES OF INDIA

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/gir-lions-have-maximum-exchange-value/articleshow/57030678.cms

HIGHLIGHTS

·         Asiatic lions are in high demand in zoos across the globe.

·         Gujarat is the only abode of the endangered species.

·         In last two years, the Sakkarbaug Zoological Park in Junagadh has got 104 animals in exchange of 24 lions.

 

AHMEDABAD: Asiatic lions are in high demand in zoos across the globe, and Gujarat being the only abode of the endangered species is at a greater advantage. The exclusivity of the Asiatic lions has helped Sakkarbaug Zoological Park in Junagadh get more species and animals in exchange of a few lions.



In last two years, the zoo has got 104 animals in exchange of 24 lions. Being one of the oldest and largest zoos in the country, Sakkarbaug zoo houses 1,300 animals of 114 species. Spread over 81.81 hectares, the zoo is located near mountainous hills of Girnar.


Recently, Sakkarbaug zoo gave three lions (one male and two females) to Prague zoo in Czech Republic and will get 15 animals in exchange. These will include five wallabies, three caracals and three green peafowls among others.Sakkarbaug zoo will soon get seven animals including a pair of African cheetahs from London zoo in exchange of one pair of Asiatic lion.



In 2009, the zoo got four African cheetahs from Sing apore zoo under animal exchange programme. However, three of them died due to various reasons and only one female survived.



"Asiatic lions are in great demand from zoos across the world. Of late, zoos are emphasising on pure breed species and Sakkarbaug zoo is one place where one can find pure breed of Asi atic lions. This gives us an upp er hand while bargaining for more species and animals in exchange for a pair of Asiatic lion," said A P Singh, chief conservator of forests, (wildlife), Junagadh circle.

 

According to International Studbook of Asiatic lions (2013), there are 263 Asiatic lions in various zoos across the globe, especially those in European countries. According to International Studbook of Asia tic lions (2013), there are 263 Asiatic lions in various zoos across the globe, especially those in European countries.

 

The lions can be found in UK (22), France (18), Germany (11), Poland (5), and countries like Russia, Israel, Singapore, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy , Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, Estonia, Denmark, Belgium and Finland among other countries.

 

Sakkarbaug Zoo, established in 1863 by the then Nawab of Junagadh state, is mandated by Central Zoo Authority to coordinate breeding of Asiatic lions. The zoo plays an important role in conservation of various species including Asiatic lions. "Sakkarbaug Zoo is nodal agency for Asiatic lions gene pool project," said S J Pandit, director, Sakkarbaug Zoo.

 


"We are providing founder animals (lions) to zoos across European countries to avoid inbreeding and maintain gene diversity ," he said.                        

Leopard attacks one-year-old in Junagadh village

04/2/2017

Leopard attacks one-year-old in Junagadh village

THE TIMES OF INDIA

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/leopard-attacks-one-year-old-in-junagadh-village/articleshow/56960720.cms

RAJKOT: A one-year-old boy was attacked by a leopard, who dragged the toddler into a cotton field in Dholva village in Bhesan taluka of Junagadh on Friday early morning. The wild cat abandoned the kid after local residents rushed to save him.

 

According to sources the boy, identified as Bansi, is son of an agricultural labourer from Madhya Pradesh. The incident occurred at around 5am when family members were asleep in an open field. The leopard pounced upon Bansi and dragged him into the field.

 

When the family members woke up, they saw him missing and informed the farm owner. The villagers gathered at the spot and launched search for the missing boy. During search, a leopard was found in the cotton field that escaped after seeing the crowd and the boy was found with critical injuries on his head.

 

The villagers called an ambulance and rushed the boy to a government hospital in Vadia. From there, he was referred to a hospital in Junagadh for further treatment. The boy's condition is said to be stable.

 

Earlier on Tuesday night, a 47-year-old farmer Bharat Patel was killed by a leopard in Visavad village in Visavadar taluka of Junagadh. According to the villagers, farmers and farm labourers are the main victims of wild animals as they sleep in the open.

 

Thursday, February 02, 2017

Leopard kills man in Junagadh village

2/2/2017

Leopard kills man in Junagadh village

THE TIMES OF INDIA

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/leopard-kills-man-in-junagadh-village/articleshow/56921949.cms

RAJKOT: A 47-year-old farmer was killed by leopard in Visavad village in Visavadartaluka of Junagadh Tuesday late night.

 

According to forest officials, the deceased was identified as Bharat Patel.

 

Tuesday night, Patel went to his farm to keep watch on blue bulls and wild boars. However, on Wednesday morning, he was found dead with signs of leopard attack. The incident came to light after Patel's family members went to the farm and found his body in pool of blood.

 

Previous Posts