Tiger with travelling itch finds home from home

The finding, supported by photographs taken by hidden camera traps, established that the tiger from the Bhadra tiger reserve moved out of its home range and formed a new territory at Dandeli-Anshi reserve. 

Scientists and tiger experts in the State are as excited as they are baffled, as the discovery may go to render the camera trap a reliable method to monitor tigers. The finding, resulting from three years of study, began with the camera trapping a four-month-old cub that was photographed along with his sister and mother for the first time at Bhadra in April 2006.In October 2006, a wildlife photographer captured it on camera while it was trying to corner a gaur in the company of another tiger. 

The bombshell came in May 2008, when the cub, now a two-year-old, was first pictured at the Dandeli tiger reserve. Yet again in 2009, a camera trap in Dandeli photographed it. The picture was sufficient proof of the migrant tiger having set up its territory over there – 270 km from its native home range.

How did the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) establish that the tiger was from Bhadra? 

It is well established that the stripes of the tiger, like human fingerprints, are unique to each animal. 

Tigers photographed by camera traps are classified by their stripes for monitoring purposes. The cameras are placed at crucial places where the animal movement is frequent. The traveller-tiger is among 11 individuals trapped by camera at Bhadra, and after it was photographed again at Dandeli, was identified by its stripes. The WCS has created a database of individual photographed tigers.

Scientists say that Indian tigers, governed by the availability of prey, do not migrate for a long distance, unlike the Siberian tiger which tend to travel up 500 kilometres in search of prey. 

WCS India director Dr Ravi Chellam said the home range of tiger was believed to be 60 sq km. “This has opened avenues of study, because there is human habitat en route, and it (tiger) could not have travelled as the crow flies,” he said.

An edited version of this article was published in Deccan Herald and can be read from the following link:
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/48570/tiger-travelling-itch-finds-home.html

Tiger Census-2010 Begins at Dandeli-Anshi Tiger Reserve:

                            The much awaited Tiger Census-2010 begun at Dandeli-Anshi Tiger Reserve from January 22.The census will be conducted for 6 days.First three days census of carnivores such as Tiger,Leopard,Wild dog,Sloth Bear,Fox will be done.In the succeeding three days herbivores census such as Deer,Sambar,Elephant,Gaur etc will be done.The census will be carried out according to the Scats,Pug marks, Scratches,Roars and direct sightings of animals observed.

                            There are 5 ranges and have 50 beets.For each beet , one individual group has been created and will include one forest guard,One forestry college student from Sirsi and one local person.Each range which has beets and groups will be supervised by respective Range Forest Officers and will be headed by Assistant Conservator of Forests and Deputy Conservator of Forests.

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Night Traffic Ban on Potoli-Ulavi Road

Vehicular movements through Potoli-Ulavi road which connects many villages such as Gund,Avurli,Shewali etc is banned in the night.But this decision is questioned by the local people as they may not be able to transport their goods and other basic needs.They also told that this is the shortcut way to reach Ulavi which saves nearly 10-15Kms instead of going through Kumbarvada-Hankon Road.And most of the pilgrims who used to go to Famous Ulavi temple chooses the same road.So if night traffic is banned in this road it will cause lot of inconvenience for both Pilgrims and local people.When they contacted Phansoli RFO Mr.Raghu,he told this area comes under Dandeli-Anshi Tiger Reserve and there are lot of chances of elephant attacks on this road so to prevent these we have banned night traffic.And as a question of local people,he told local vehicles will be allowed.

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Illegal Activities in Mandurli IB disturbs wildlife

A well equipped Inspection Bungalow which was built in the late 1860s to facilitate the British Officials at Mandurli is becoming a threat for wildlife in Dandeli-Anshi Tiger Reserve.Popularly known as Mandurli IB in Phansoli Wildlife Range which forms the core part of the Tiger Reserve is becoming a tourist spot.According to the National Tiger Conservation Authority Guidelines,the core areas should be kept completely inviolate from human activities unless there are any traditional forest dwellers.But this case is completely terrifying since all the political party meetings and other activities are being held in this area which is strictly not allowed.It is also important to know that Bollywood Star Sanjay Dutt was caught for poaching a spotted deer in the same forest and it was told that he stayed in the same bungalow which also indicates that poaching activities are still happening.Hence there is a strong appeal from the public to the Dandeli Wildlife Division officials to stop all such activities immediately in order to save the wildlife.

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