A simple idea rescues a Sloth bear mother and her cubs from a dry well

The rich wildlife of Madhugiri

Tumkur District's Madhugiri taluk, in south-eastern Karnataka, is of great interest to wildlife lovers. The habitats here range from dry deciduous forests in Madhugiri State Forest to the famous grasslands of Jayamangali Conservation Reserve near Maidanahalli, which has one of Karnataka's healthiest single population of blackbuck. The hills to the south of and west of Madhugiri town are well-known for their sloth bears. For the past few years, WANC is working to bring these reserve and revenue forests along with those around Channarayana Durga hill, under the umbrella of a Conservation Reserve or Wildlife Sanctuary.

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A distress call

I got a call at 6.30 pm, 12 May 2010 from Mr. Ramesh, a resident of Veerapura village. Veerapura is about 15 km to the west of Madhugiri town and lies along the Madhugiri - Sira state highway. It is about 3 km, as a crow flies, from the northern boundaries of Madhugiri State Forest, which has a functional Forest Bungalow built by the British in 1898! Ramesh informed me that three bears had fallen into a dry well.

We rushed to the spot and it was almost 8.00 PM. We reached a well that was completely dry and without fencing. We saw three sloth bears - one adult female and two baby bears. The animals looked a little dehydrated and tired. It is peak summer in this part of the world and the days are currently hot, reaching as high as 38 degrees centigrade. We guessed they might have fallen inside the previous day night. We carefully inserted two buckets filled with water into the well. Initially they were not responding. A few minutes later the mother walked up to the bucket and drank from it. The babies soon joined. They consumed nearly three buckets of water, after which they looked a little healthy.

Residents of the village were kind enough to offer these animals jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus). Jackfruit is one of the favourite foods of sloth bears. These fruits ripen annually in later winter - early summer, which often brings these animals to trees in farmlands. The sloth bears started eating the jackfruit without worry.

Some of the smartest ideas are often the simplest

We all, including Mr Harish, RFO, Madhugiri territorial range and Shankarappa, Forester, Madhugiri section, wondered how to bring these bears out from the well. We had intense discussions. We then consulted experts from Bangalore, but they in turn informed it would take 4 hours for them to reach the place. That would have been too late in the night. We hit upon a simple idea which might sound very silly to some. Why couldn't we lower local bamboo ladders into the well and see if the bears would walk out of this well? As it would take 4 hours for the experts from Bangalore to be here, we decided to insert the ladders. If the animal could come out - well and good. If not, the experts could tranquillize them. We cleared the people around the place and went to sleep.

When the experts reached at 3 AM we walked together to the well. We were thrilled to find all the three bears had disappeared into the dark night. Hurray! The bears had successfully climbed the ladder and gone away, probably to their home - the forest. The entire operation ended successfully with a very basic and simple yet successful idea. This is a good lesson learnt and we shall repeat this in the future. We suggest others try this too...

As told by TVN Murthy

Trapped Sloth Bear rescued & released in state forest

As told, with his pictures, by:
Mr.TVN Murthy
Honorary Wildlife Warden, Tumkur District, Karnataka and
Founder Advisor, WANC, Tumkur.
Email: tvnmurthy at vsnl dot com

----------------
Dear Friends,

It was yet another incident of Sloth bear being trapped by the farmers at Pandithanahalli near Hirehalli of Tumkur Taluk.

It is common in Tumkur district for farmers to set up traps to catch wildboars that venture into farm land for food. This was unfortunate for a well built adult male sloth bear on the night of 20 July 2009. It was trying to cross the barbed wire fence of a farm land near TVS Electronics at Pandithanahalli. The trap hooked the front leg of the bear sometime during night and the animal was crying for help after that.

Early morning on 21 July, the local forest department officials and WANC took a local veterinary doctor to release the animal. The animal was sedated even as it was trapped. When the sedation was in effect it was manually released from the trap and put into a cage.

The entire operation to successfully catch the animal and safely release it near Nayakana Kere inside Devarayanadurga State Forest, took about 3 hours. Mr. Naik, RFO, Tumkur Range and Mr.Boregowda, Forester were present during the operation.

It is to be noted that 11 days into the release, there have been no reports of this (or any) bear attacking humans or entering villages surrounding this state forest.

WANC, led by TVN Murthy has been working to conserve the lesser wildlife of Eastern Karnataka, which gets far less attention (and funding) both by the Government agencies and non-Government agencies.

WANC has been actively work for a sloth-bear sanctuary/ conservation reserve in Madhugiri State Forest and its surroundings in Tumkur district, south-eastern Karnataka.

Best Regards,

TVN Murthy

Notes to editor:
1) Click here to know more info and see a map on Devarayanadurga State Forest.

2) Click here to read another incident of Sloth Bear rescue in Tumkur District.

3) Click here to know about WANC and its activities.

Sending a wild guest back to its home

As told, with his pictures, by TVN Murthy

Honorary Wildlife Warden, Tumkur District, Karnataka and 

Founder Advisor, WANC, Tumkur. 

Email: tvnmurthy@vsnl.com

Dear Friends,

On Feb 20, 2009, I received an unusual call from residents of Devalapura village, near Madhugiri Town, in south-eastern Karnataka, at half past eight and rushed to the spot. I could hear howls of a bear from almost half a KM from where it seemed to be located. On reaching the place, I saw an entire village watching in apprehension a Sloth bear. It was trapped up a Jackfruit tree. 

The problem

Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus) is quite common around Madhugiri in Tumkur District. Many villagers encounter this animal in early hours and at dusk. I have heard many reports of attack on human in this area. During the recent by-elections to Madhugiri Assembly constituency, a sloth bear mother with cubs, mauled to death a home guard deputed to secure the elections.

But, what I didn't know was, about a systematic trap used by villagers to catch this animal. All that the farmers here do is wind a thick steel wire around trunks of Jack fruit trees in and around their farmlands and intertwine it with a few ligatures drawn from automobile brake/ clutch cable. When an animal tries to climb or come down the tree, it unwittingly puts its feet into the knot. As it tries to pull the limb away, the 'trap' will arrest the animal. You can see this in the close-up image of the trapped leg.

The solutions

It would have been an easy task to just untie the knot to release the animal, but villagers said this animal frequently entered the farmlands around their village. They demanded its relocation away from their village. Giving into the villagers, authorities summoned a veterinary doctor to assist them. 

The rescue

It was not easy to go near the injured and anxious animal. First, ropes were tied to the animal arresting its movement and then the Vet managed to inject a sedative. In a few minutes, the animal developed drowsiness and was near asleep. With the support of  villagers and forest guards we could able to bring down the animal. It was then put in a cage.

It was a sub-adult male Sloth Bear. The body was about 168 cm long, covered in long and shaggy fur. It has its distinctive "V"-shaped white mark on the chest, a whitish snout and black nose. It's snout was long with bare lips and lacked upper incisors - adaptations for its insect-based diet. For your information, the sloth bear's front feet are turned inwards and its curved claws are non-retractable, that are adapted to dig and climb.

The release

Since the bear was healthy and did not have any injuries, it was decided that it be released in a nearby state forest. It was brought into the wilderness of Devarayanadurga State Forest, 10 km as a crows flies south-east from the place where it was caught. After ensuring the sedation had worn off and it was active as it should be, it was released in to the wild. 

Aftermath

Three weeks from the release, there have been no reports of this (or any) bear attacking humans or entering villages surrounding this state forest. Please click here to read some info and see a map on Devarayanadurga State Forest. 

Blackbuck census - backstage images

Dear Nature lovers,

Below are some images that depict the way the wildlife census at Jayamangali Blackbuck Reserve, Maidenahalli, Madhugiri Taluk was conducted, in February 2009.

Mr.TVN Murthy, Honorary Wildlife Warden, Tumkur District and Founder Advisor, WANC welcomed the volunteers.

Murthy explained how WANC has made a difference to the area

WANC ex-chairman and member Ameen Ahmed spoke about the Conservation Reserve, its history and current status.

 

The campus at the reserve got a facelift in time for the census, thanks to the enthusiastic RFO of Madhugiri, Mr.Harish.K. The forest Inspection Bungalow was inaugurated just in time and the repainted hoarding can be seen below.

WANC had put up hoardings and banners at various locations guiding volunteers to the area.

The conservation reserve comes in the jurisdiction of Madhugiri Subdivision as well as Range

Much of the area inside the conservation reserve has been planted and gives the look of an artificial forest. 

The expansive grasslands of this area are mostly spread across private farmlands as well as a 'Gomal' or Government common grazing lands, outside the boundaries of the conservation reserve. 

A male buck is curious to find out who is in the SUV.

Closing remarks by Mr.Harish.K, RFO, Madhugiri Range and Mr.TVN Murthy, Honorary Wildlife Warden, Tumkur District and Founder Advisor, WANC.

Participants listening in rapt attention to the closing speeches.

The dynamic RFO of Madhugiri Range Mr Harish K, distributing certificates to the census participants.

Enthusiastic WANCers (WANC members) pose for the cameras at the end of gruelling two days.

'Red alert: Blackbuck numbers on the wane'

Source: The New Indian Express, Bengaluru, 23 Feb, '09

Link: http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Red+alert:+Blackbuck+numbers+on+the+wane&artid=qf6zORGiYXU=&SectionID=Qz/kHVp9tEs=&MainSectionID=Qz/kHVp9tEs=&SEO=blackbucks&SectionName=UOaHCPTTmuP3XGzZRCAUTQ==

Red alert: Blackbuck numbers on the wane

DAYS NUMBERED? A male blackbuck at the Maidenahalli Conservation Reserve in Bangalore on Sunday.

Navya

First Published : 23 Feb 2009 03:44:00 AM IST

Last Updated : 23 Feb 2009 11:29:34 AM IST

BANGALORE: The number of blackbucks in the state is fast dwindling, finds a census conducted in and around Dayamangali Conservation Reserve in Tumkur by the forest department.

The census was released in the city on Sunday. The census, conducted in association with NGO Wild Awareness Nature Club (WANC), estimated the population of the endangered species at 458.

This is a steep fall from the 2002 census data, which had pegged the number at 600.

Dayamangali is one of the two blackbuck reserves in the state, the other being Ranibennur Reserve.

Direct spotting method was adopted for the census, in which 100 volunteers and 25 forest department officials participated. The number of male and female blackbucks were put at 129 and 325 respectively, while the gender of four was not known.

The first blackbuck census in Dayamangali in 1997 had put the numbers at 408. "The population rose during 1997-2002, but has dwindled now. Reasons for this could be loss of habitat, heavy use of pesticides in farms and electric fencing," says Ameen Ahmed, Secretary of WANC. The demography of the area has been changing during the last few years. "Earlier the area around the forests was occupied by marginal farmers, who cultivated groundnut and dry crops. Now these holdings have been consolidated and acquired by large farmers, who use it for horticulture.

This has affected the mobility and feeding practices of the blackbuck, which tends to stray a lot. Commercial activities by vested interests, with some support from the government, has been going on in the area," says Ahmed.

Adding to the trouble is a road right in the reserve forest area constructed by the Zilla Panchayat (ZP) authorities without the forest department's consent.

A case filed by the department against the ZP authorities is pending in the court. However, the road continues to be used by the public.

The number of poaching cases in the area has also risen recently. In two separate incidents, the forest department and the police had arrested poachers in the last ten months. Poaching is usually for sport or meat.

Forest guards should be given vehicles and equipment for patrolling.

More funds should be allocated to protect the blackbuck, activists say.

"This forest was declared a blackbuck reserve, but no funds were allocated for it. Blackbuck or antelope cervicapra is the only animal belonging to the antelope family that is spotted in India and more needs to be done to protect it," says TVN Murthy, wildlife warden in Tumkur district.

Feb 22, 2009: Census at Jayamangali Blackbuck Reserve, Karnataka

UPDATE ON 17 FEB 2009

Dear Nature lover,

We have CLOSED the registration to new participants.

If you have already submitted your form, we THANK YOU FOR SHOWING YOUR INTEREST TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CENSUS. THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN OVERWHELMING AND WE HAVE RECEIVED OVER 400 INQUIRIES AGAINST THE AVAILABLE FOOD AND ACCOMMODATION FOR 75 PEOPLE + 15 FOREST STAFF/ VOLUNTEERS.

WE ARE CONDUCTING A BLACKBUCK CENSUS AGAIN IN NOVEMBER, AS WELL AS A
BIRD SURVEY IN DEVARAYANADURGA FORESTS IN MONSOONS, THIS YEAR. THOSE
OF YOU WHO COULD NOT BE ACCOMMODATED THIS TIME WILL BE GIVEN FIRST
PREFERENCE THEN.

Please click here to see if you were one of the first 100 participants
http://maidenahalli.googlepages.com/censuslist

Best regards,
WANC,
Tumkur

--
WANC (Wildlife Aware Nature Club)
Tumkur, INDIA
htpp://wildlifeaware.googlepages.com

-----------------------------------------------

UPDATE ON 13 Feb. 2009

A couple of the participants who happen to run an adventure organisation, 'X-Trails' have come forward to transport other participants from Bengaluru to the venue. Please contact Mr.Omer Khaiser or Mr.Prasad at omer.kaiser@gmail.com OR 98450 19200

DISCLAIMER: WANC OR KARNATAKA FOREST DEPARTMENT DO NOT OFFICIALLY ENDORSE THIS. PLEASE SPEAK DIRECTLY AND DO YOUR RESEARCH OF 'X-TRAILS' OR THE PERSONS BEHIND THEM, BEFORE GETTING INTO ANY FINANCIAL DEAL.

Dear wildlife lovers,

Introduction:
Blackbuck is one of the most endangered mammals of India. Its population in India, once estimated at 40 lakhs is now estimated between 25 - 35 thousand. Jayamangali Blackbuck Conservation Reserve neighbours Maidenahalli, a small village in Madhugiri Taluk, at the north-eastern tip of Tumkur district of Karnataka state. It has the largest contiguous population of Blackbuck in Karnataka, next only to Ranibennur sanctuary. Apart from blackbuck, this area abounds with birds of prey and wildlife - typical of grasslands.

About the census:
The first ever census was conducted in the area in 1997 by Forest Department and WANC, led to the counting of 408 blackbuck. Subsequent census in October 2002, had resulted in the counting of over 600 blackbuck.

The 3rd Blackbuck and wildlife Census of this Conservation Reserve is being held on 22 (Sunday) February 2009. The census aims to approximate the current population of blackbuck in the area along with other mammals. The census has been organised by Tumkur Division of Karnataka Forest Department in association with WANC - Wildlife Aware Nature Club.

FAQs (FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS):

1) How can I register?
Please send an email, BEFORE 15th February, the filled registration form that was sent to you. If you have not received the form as an attachment, please email Ameen Ahmed at tumkurameen AT gmail.com. Selected participants will be informed by 17th Feb by email.

2) Is there any registration fee?
No. Participation is free.

3) Will I be provided food?
Yes, you will be provided simple vegetarian food during the length of the census, specifically the following:
a) Dinner on 21 (Saturday) night.
b) packed breakfast on 22 (Sunday) morning.
c) lunch on 22 (Sunday) afternoon.

4) Can I bring eatables?
Yes, you can bring eatables. But please do not litter the area with plastic and remember to take away packaging of all your eatables.

5) Will I be provided accommodation?
Yes, you will be provided basic accommodation in the forest bungalow at the conservation reserve. We encourage you to bring your own supply of floor mat, bed spread, a bed sheet to cover yourself as well an air pillow. Bringing along an odourless inspect repellent will be a good idea as well.

6) Can I camp in my own tent?
You can get your own tent if you have one. There are three tent bases that can acommodate 6 persons each. PLEASE INFORM US IN ADVANCE IF YOU PLAN TO BRING YOUR TENT.

7) How will the weather be there right now?
February is the month when the temperatures start to rise in this area. The day temperature will be around 33 degrees.

8) What should I wear?
Please wear full sleeved shirts preferably earth or dry grass coloured. Wear full pants and comfortable shoes. The soil here has pebbles, hence please avoid high heeled shoes. Dark/ dull coloured sneakers should be fine.

9) How much do I need to walk?
The census might involve walking over 5 km in a day in hot conditions. Those who are able to withstand this physical activity are encouraged to apply.

10) Where is the venue? How and when should I reach it?
Venue of the census is Forest Quarters, Jayamangali Conservation Reserve. Details on how to reach the venue along with a printable map are available at: http://maidenahalli.googlepages.com/go .

Please reach the area by 5 pm on Saturday 21 Feb.

12) Can I reach the venue by bus?
No. The conservation reserve is not accessible by public or private transport.

13) I am coming from Bengaluru/ Tumkur, I do not have a car or bike. Can you provide me transportation?
Please note that we have NOT made any arrangements to travel to the venue, as we do not have the resources to do so.

14) I am coming from Bengaluru/ Tumkur, I do not have a car or bike. Can you let me know if any other participant/ any body else can provide me transportation?
A couple of the participants who happen to run an adventure organisation, 'X-Trails' have come forward to transport other participants from Bengaluru to the venue. Please contact Mr.Omer Khaiser or Mr.Prasad at omer.kaiser@gmail.com OR 98450 19200

DISCLAIMER: WANC OR KARNATAKA FOREST DEPARTMENT DO NOT OFFICIALLY ENDORSE THIS. PLEASE SPEAK DIRECTLY AND DO YOUR RESEARCH OF X-TRAILS OR THE PERSONS BEHIND THEM, BEFORE GETTING INTO ANY FINANCIAL DEAL.

The other option is to pool with friends and arrange your own transportation.

15) Is first aid available at the venue?
Basic first aid in the form of dettol and band-aid is available in case of very minor injuries. But it is suggested that the participants carry their own small first aid kid for common ailments and injuries. We are trying to arrange for a resident doctor, how ever this is not guaranteed. The nearest medical aid is available at Kodigenahalli village along Hindupur - Madhugiri highway, 11 km from the venue. The nearest hospitals with admission facilities are either at Madhugiri and Hindupura towns, around 20 - 25 km from the venue.

16) Can I carry a cell phone?
We encourage you to bring your cell phone. Please note that the points for recharging cell phones at the venue are limited and the electric power supply is erratic. You are requested to bring a fully charged spare battery for your cell phone, if you have one.

17) What cell phone network is available in the area?
All the major cell phones have network coverage in the area including Airtel and BSNL. Since this is a remote area, BSNL is supposed to have a wider coverage. Also please note that, since this area borders Andhra Pradesh, you might be charged for roaming, even though you might technically be inside Karnataka boundaries.

18) Whom should I contact, if I need more information?
Please contact either of the following:
TVN Murthy, Honorary Wildlife Warden, Tumkur District at tvnmurthy AT vsnl.com (Mobile: 94480 73129)
Ameen Ahmed tumkurameen At gmail.com (99808 32814)

Government buldozes CEC direction, authorises construction in forest

The Tumkur University authorities have again raised their voice to have the University campus inside the jungles of Devarayanadurga.

There is a direction by the CEC to the Chief Scretary of Karnataka in its hearing on Application Number 585, Wildlife Aware Nature Club, Tumkur VS State of Karnataka, 20th October 2005 (Ref: FOREST CASE UPDATE, Issue 17, October 2005). It has been clearly said that "there be no construction activity or felling of trees till a decision on this case is taken".

Though the CEC decision refers to the entire 300 acres that was originally occupied by the University, only 225 acres has been vacated. The rest 75 acres has been fenced off and has remained in possession of the University authorities. The University wants to clear fell this 75 acres for non-forest purposes. Of late the Vice Chancellor of the University has been

issuing many press statements to this effect. Below is one such statement that appeared in Kannada Prabha, a sister publication of the Indian Express from Bengaluru, on 6 Nov 2008.

Also on 30 November 2008 at 9:30 AM, the University VC claimed on TV9 Kannada Television channel that "he has filed an appeal with CEC". He said there was "a hearing about the same on 28 November and that there is a 'final' hearing regarding this soon" and he "expects the land to be hand over for construction purpose." But this seems far from the truth.

The team of wildlife lawyers who are helping us have a different story. According to them "the matter was listed before CEC on 26.11.2008. The VC of Tumkur university was present during the hearing and requested for the land. CEC has asked the university to approach State government for the land and if they agree, then the VC can ask for reopening of the case."

But despite this, the State Government has gone ahead and directed the Deputy Commissioner of Tumkur district to hand over 75 acres of land for construction of University (please see copies of the letter below).

WANC opposes any non-forest activitiy in the area including construction or felling of trees till a clear directive is given by the H'ble CEC in this case.

Huge Python run over in Devarayanadurga

Dear Friends,

A huge Rock Python was run over on one of the roads inside Devarayanadurga on 16 Nov 2008. This magnificent specimen measured 8.74 ft and weighed over 6 kilos. It was a really sad day as DD lost one more precious and endangered animal due to increased vehicular traffic and human movement inside the Forest.

This is the reason why we suggest there should be speed breakers on the roads here. Also there should be checkposts inside the forest to prevent unneccessary movement of vehicles from dusk to dawn.

Regards,

Mallikarjun (Mallik)

 

Friend of Slender Loris

Dear nature lovers,

Many of you might have heard about the Slender Loris' of Nagavalli village near Tumakuru City. This place is a story of the tireless efforts of BV Gundappa, a school teacher and the current Chairman of Tumkur -based conservation group Wildlife Aware Nature Club (WANC), to conserve wildlife of our eastern plains.

An article on this place by Amit S Upadhye, who is doing a wonderful job of covering wildlife stories in the mainstream media, was published in The Times of India. The story reminds us of the rich bio-diversity of the much neglected eastern Karnataka, like Kaggaladu Heronry, Jayamangali (Maidenahalli) Blackbuck area, Devarayanadurga State forest and numoerous other places of spectacular wilderness which lie outside the Western Ghats and also need the Government's focus.

In conservation,
Ameen

Ameen Ahmed
WANC, Tumkur

PS: For those interested in emailing Mr.Gundappa, unfortunately he doesn't currently have access to internet at his home : (

Source: Sunday Times of India, Times City
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Daily/skins/TOI/navigator.asp?Daily=TOIBG&login=default&AW=1190527197187

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This village has an unusual friend
Amit S Upadhye | TNN
Nagavalli village (Tumkur district):

Are your children delighted to see wild animals on a TV show? But here is a village where one of the rare species dwells right in the backyard and peacefully co-exists with the villagers.

Slender loris (loris tardigradus), smallest of the primates in India, is found in abundance in and around Nagavalli village, situated 86 km from Bangalore. Thanks to a government high school teacher who was instrumental in making villagers aware of the wealth they have in their backyard for decades.

It was in 1996 some children saw two small monkeys sleeping on a bamboo clump in the school compound. When the villagers searched the clumps, they were found to be slender loris which excited everyone, recalls the school teacher Gundappa B V.

Later, several people in the vicinity started reporting to Gundappa about spotting the rare animal in their areas too. These primates are found in Lakkenahalli, Sopanahalli, Timmasandra, Pannasan dra, Banavara, Bidrekatte, Dommanakuppe and Bellagere, all surrounding villages of Nagavalli.

Today, children from schools in and around Tumkur visit Nagavalli to see the animal. Villagers have made friends with loris and no one harms them. "We are used to seeing these animals throughout the day. Sometimes in the evenings we see them crossing the road or moving in the bush,'' says Maruthi, a villager.

Interestingly, slender loris can be easily spotted only during nights because it is a nocturnal animal. But, in Nagavalli, even a school kid can guide you to the tree where slender loris are resting in broad daylight. Today, these primates are facing the danger of habitat destruction. A few electric wires which have come up in the village are also posing a threat for loris. "We have requested the department to insulate the electric wires where loris are usually found,'' Gundappa added.

According to Tumkur deputy conservator of forests B M Parameshwar, the department could not make Nagavalli a popular spot as the exact number of these animals was difficult to estimate.

Conservationists are now planning to put pressure on the forest department to declare the village as community conservation reserve on the lines of Kokkare Bellur where painted storks and pelicans coexist with villagers.

SLENDER NOTES

- Slender loris is a small, nocturnal primate found only in South India and Sri Lanka

- Loris tardigradus malabaricus is a subspecies of the slender loris which is found only in Western Ghats

- The animal has long, pencil-thin arms and legs. It has no tail and has saucer like eyes

- It lives alone or with a mate and an infant. It feeds on insects and small lizards

- It is protected under Schedule 1 of Indian Wildlife Protection Act 1972

------------Unquote-------------

Wild Tigress sighted (and caught) near Chitradurga after 60 (35 ?) years!!!

Dear friends,

A wild tiger has been sighted near Holalkere in south-interior Karnataka's Chitradurga District after nearly 60 years (or 35 ?) years. Please click here to see a satellite image of the area on Google maps. Some of the stories as they appeared in the press are on this page. 

So, did this tigress come from south-west of Chitradurga via Joldala from the north-eastern portion of Bhadra Tiger Reserve? Or did it do so from the south-east of Chitradurga via the huge forest belt along the Tumkur - Chitradurga district borders. This sighting may fuel the controversy that Tigers might just be surviving in the forests of Mari Kanive State Forest (Chitradurga District) - Bukkapatna State Forest (Tumkur District). Or is it that the tiger population of Bhadra Tiger Reserve has increased beyond its carrying capacity driving young tigers like these out of its boundaries? 

But the biggest question is, are tigers (like leopards) adapting to so called "big prey-depleted" forests like those of Tumkur and Chitradurga districts? This is particularly in view of the tiger sightings inside the isolated Devarayanadurga State Forest. It's high time serious scientific research is taken up to prove/ disprove this.

For those interested in knowing the sightings of Tigers in Devarayanadurga jungles near Tumkur city, please see: 

http://tumkurenvironment.blogspot.com/2007/08/tiger-in-devarayanadurga-posted-august.html

http://tumkurenvironment.blogspot.com/2008/03/tigers-return-to-haunt-devarayanadurga.html

In conservation,

Ameen

---------

Source: Deccan Chronicle, Bengaluru, Sep 23, 2008

http://www.deccan.com/Bengaluru/home/homedetails.asp#Durga's tiger after 35 years

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Durga's tiger after 35 years

Bengaluru Sept. 22: A tiger in Chitradurga? A three-year-old tigress was spotted on the outskirts of the fort city of Holalkere on Monday, the first report of a tiger sighting in this region for over 35 years.  Alarmed that the feline could prey on their cattle, the local people alerted the forest department which captured the beast. The big cat, which was manually trapped, has been kept under observation at the Chitradurga mini-zoo. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, deputy conservator of forests Srinivasulu said: "Some people noticed the animal around eight in the morning. But they could not identify the carnivore. By the time we arrived at the spot, it had moved into a maize field. We noticed its movement from the top of a tree." "But we had to wait for three hours before we managed to immobilise it manually. The government veterinarian (Dr Bhaskar) sedated it and we moved it to the mini-zoo," said Srinivasulu. The DFC said the tigress was given vitamins and glucose. "As it had travelled a long distance it was finding it difficult to move. The veterinarian injected vitamins and glucose so that it would not collapse from exhaustion. At the moment it is doing well." Would the tigress be released in the wild again? "I am in touch with the principal chief conservator of forests. We will take a decision once it recovers completely," said Srinivasulu. Where did the feline come from? "It is hard to say as there is no forest cover for nearly 10km from where we captured it. In fact, the nearest patch of forests is at Chitradurga, Chennagiri and Bhadravathy," said the DCF.

----------Unquote--------

A case for expanding India's second oldest Reserve Forest

Background

Devarayanadurga state forest (DDSF) has seen many changes in its boundaries since it first got protection status by the British, way back in 1853. When it finally got notified in 1907 as a Reserve Forest, for unknown reasons, some parts of the forest were excluded from its official boundaries. These are chiefly the slopes along the periphery of state forest’s hills. These have been under control of the state's revenue department but protected by the forest department.

Proposed 'Devarayanadurga East Yellow-throated Bulbul' Conservation Reserve in relation to Devarayanadurga State Forest (sketched from Survey of India sheet No:57 G/3, Scale 1:50,000) Ameen Ahmed, March 2008

Wildlife

India's largest butterfly, over 250 bird species, some of India's most beautiful mammals and snakes, all live in DDSF and its surrounding revenue forests. The Yellowthroated Bulbul (Pycnonotus xantholaemus), endemic to interior peninsular India and categorised as 'Vulnerable' by Birdlife International - IUCN’s official red list authority for birds, deserves special mention. First sighted here by well-known ornithologist Dr.S.Subramanya, it is found here in large numbers. As part of observing of the state forest's 'centenary year' - its final notification in 1907, a bio-diversity survey of the revenue forests around Devaranayadurga village was conducted this March by WANC. Wildlife biologists and scientists from IISc also participated in this. During this exercise, Dr.Gururaja KV added 4 new species to the previous list of 6 amphibians here.

A sketch on a picture showing the forested slopes proposed to be included in the proposed conservation reserve. They were originally excluded from the final notification of the forest by the then Government of Mysore, in 1907.

A sketch on a picture showing the forested slopes proposed to be included in the proposed conservation reserve. They were originally excluded from the final notification of the forest by the then Government of Mysore, in 1907.

(Above and below) View of the Yellowthroated Bulbul habitat

Importance
Apart from being a haven for rare and threatened wildlife, its jungles are a catchment area for tens of streams. These streams provide much needed water for tens and thousands of villagers along their courses. Two irrigation reservoirs - Irraksandra and Teetha, apart from countless small ‘keres’ (small man-made lakes or ponds) are fed by the rivers Jaya and Mangali which originate here and for whom this forest forms a major catchment area.

Conservation
Like the rest of urban and semi-urban India, Tumkur district has been expanding by leaps and bounds. There has been an immense pressure on natural areas to meet the demands of development, particularly the boom in construction of not only Tumkur District but that of Greater Bangalore as well. There is an urgent need to safeguard current and future interests of humans as well as wildlife in and around our urban centres. This has to be done by sustainably using our non-renewable natural resources. Expanding official boundaries of forests like DDSF by including the existing wooded areas contiguous with them and retaining the legitimate rights of local villagers, is one way of doing it. In this direction, a team from the local NGO Wildlife Aware Nature Club (WANC) has been identifying the potential forest areas around DDSF that are currently free of human habitations and developmental activities like quarrying. A proposal is being prepared to submit to the state forest department, in April this year, for a Yellowthroated Bulbul Conservation Reserve to be carved out from the revenue forests surrounding Devarayanadurga village, under India's Wildlife Protection Act (1972). This proposal is a part of WANC’s overall strategy to conserve DD’s revenue forests.

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For an earlier story on the Revenue forests of Devarayanadurga, please see this link:

http://tumkurenvironment.blogspot.com/2007/10/slopes-of-devarayanadurga-hill-clothed.html

'Saving the bulbul's home'

Yellowthroated Bulbul: A new home to secure the future of this exclusively 'Indian' bulbul. Pic: Clement Francis

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Saving the bulbul's home
Amit S Upadhye TNN Bangalore:
In 1906, when the British government notified a 42.27-sqkm forest patch on the hills along east Tumkur district as Devarayanadurga state forest, it left out 6 sqkm abutting it.

Over a hundred years later, the patch is now getting its due, with conservationists formulating a proposal to declare it a yellow-throated bulbul conservation reserve. The area is a nesting ground for these winged beauties, apart from being home to sloth bears and leopards.

On World Forestry Day recently, researchers from the Indian Institute of Science, members of the Wildlife Aware Nature Club (WANC), Tumkur, and forest department sleuths began a two-day survey of the patch, which is categorized as southern thorny scrub forest. The forest department will formulate the proposal based on the study results. The patch is at present under possession of the revenue department.

"Quarrying on the hill ranges around Tumkur has been putting immense pressure on the critical wildlife habitat thriving below. Seeking the declaration of this patch as a reserve is an attempt to retain it,'' said Ameen Ahmed, WANC member.

"The area holds potential for wildlife. The yellow-throated bulbul is found in plenty in the Devarayanadurga forest, as well as the patch which is being studied,'' said Tumkur DFO B Parameshwar.

The findings of the two days survey were overwhelming for the local conservationists when they sighted a spotted deer and jungle cat, apart from number of winged beauties. "The presence of prey base (spotted dear) for the big cats, gives boost to the theory that the tigers are on prowl in Devarayanadurga state forest,'' added a biodiversity expert.


THRIVING ECOSYSTEM
The 6 sqkm of forest, abutting Devarayanadurga state forest, is likely to be proposed as 'Yellow-Throated Bulbul Conservation Reserve'. The patch, situated about 75 km from Bangalore, is home to leopards, slender loris, blacknaped hares, jackals, hyenas, langoors and sloth bears. Paradise fly-catcher, tickel's blue catcher, Nilgiri fly-catcher and blue rock thrush, apart from yellow-throated bulbul, are seen here in large number.

Givotea trees are found here, along with sterculia and anogeisus species. Anogeisus trees, locally known as 'antu mara' or 'dinduga', are elephants' favourites. Bamboo clumps and more than 200 medicinal plants are found here.

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Source:
The Times of India (Bangalore), Times City, Page 5 http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JQkcvMjAwOC8wMy8zMSNBcjAwNTAx&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom

Map below shows some of the areas in focus in the above story:

View Larger Map

Tigers 'return' to haunt Devarayanadurga

Dear WANCers,
The Tigers of Devarayanadurga have always haunted nature lovers visiting this place so as many of our 'Tiger Conservationists'. The later deny their existence or attribute them to captive tigers being released by travelling circuses or others. What ever the truth is, the Tigers of Devarayanadurga don't seem to go away as quickly as our 'tiger conservationists' want them to. Please read the latest 'sighting' below.

Thanks,
Ameen

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Tigress with two cubs spotted in Devarayanadurga State Forest
20th February 2008 :

Early morning by 00.30 hrs ie., 19th midnight (at 12.30am) Assistant Conservator of Forests, Tumkur Sub-Division Sri T V Srinivas and Range Forest Officer, Tumkur Range Sri. M N Naik along with a guard Ganganna K C, spotted a Tigress with two cubs near Shanimahatma Temple and Ganesh Temple along Belagumba - Oordigere road inside Devarayanadurga state forest. They were returning back to Tumkur from DDSF. According to Srinivas, he says he was thrilled to see a tiger in the wild. He says the majestic look of tiger can never be forgotten. He was driving his car from DDSF. Car passed the tigeress which was spotted on the road side. Two cubs ran away when the light of the car head light fall on the animal. They took the car reverse and focused the headlight on the Tigress which was sitting with out bothering about the car for about 5 minutes. It did not move from the spot it seems. After some time they raised the engine noise, the tiger gently raised and tried to climb the elevated area. It failed to climb and retook another direction.

According to Naik, who to his credit has worked in tiger reserves like Bhadra and Anashi - Dandeli, claims the visibility of tigress was very clear as the headlight was focused on the animal. He says the stripes on the body were very clear and the head was quite big compared to Leopard. Since they had the opportunity to see the animal for a long time he explains every part very clearly. According to him the cubs were of one and half foot height and the tigress was over 3 ft in height. He says only a tiger could sit such a long time with calm in spite knowing that some one is watching. The whiskers were very prominent and the and the markings on the face were prominent. Next day morning RFO along with few guards tried for the pug mark. Since it is summer and the soil was hard they could locate the pugmarks but were not very clear. No documentation made of the pug mark.

T V N MURTHY

Honorary Wildlife Warden, Govt. of Karnataka

Tumkur District

Email: tvnmurthy@vsnl.com
For more/related information, please see: http://tumkurenvironment.blogspot.com/2007/09/dear-readers-following-story-appeared.htmlhttp://tumkurenvironment.blogspot.com/2007/08/tiger-in-devarayanadurga-posted-august.html

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The following story based on this incident appeared in the Times of India (Bangalore on Mar 7, 2008

Link: http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JQkcvMjAwOC8wMy8wNyNBcjAwNTAw&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom

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IN A FOREST NEAR YOU

Tigress seen in Tumkur forest

TIMES NEWS NETWORK, Bangalore:

You don't have to go too far from the city to spot a tiger. In 2000, a team of biodiversity experts engaged in mapping the medicinal plants nursery in a forest patch in Tumkur district were stunned to spot tiger pug marks and fresh scat in the area.

This discovery proved the existence of tigers in Devarayanadurga reserve forests in Tumkur. Moreover, the Wildlife Institute of India,Dehradun, confirmed the scat found in Tumkur was that of a tiger.

Eight years later, on the night of February 19, a forest official team spotted a tigress along with her two cubs at Belamba Beat in Namadachilume, Devarayanadurga Reserve Forest.

The forest night beat, led by assistant conservator of forests,Tumkur division, T V Srinivas, along with range forest officer, M NNaik and guard K C Ganganna, spotted a tigress with two cubs atNamadachiluve, near Shanimahatma temple along Belagumba-Oordigere Road. This was inside the Devarayanadurga forest.

"We were thrilled to see a tiger family in the wild. We havealready recorded it in the log books. A letter will be submitted to the higher-ups in a day or two,'' said Naik, Tumkur range RFO. When the vehicle passed, the cubs ran away. They reversed and focused the headlight on the tigress, which was sitting without bothering aboutthe vehicle for 5 minutes. "The visibility of tigress was very clearas the headlight was focused on the animal. The next morning, we triedto check the pug marks, but could not since the soil was dry,'' Naik added.

Spread across 41 sqkm, Devarayanadurga forest is home to leopards,sloth bears, wild boars and spotted deer. Sambar and tiger have beenspotted in the past. The previous tiger census conducted by the stateforest department recorded indirect sighting of tiger in the samereserve, since pug marks were noticed.

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'Rare' sparrow spotted after 69 years in Devarayanadurga

Dear friends,
We saw a pair of Yellowthoated Sparrows in Devarayanadurga State Forest today (Sunday, 17 Feb. 2008) during an outing by WANC members. This was about a kilometre to the east of Namadachelume at the foot of Devarayanadurga hill, immediately after the Durgadahalli/Goravanahalli temple cross. The birds were perched at the top of a Ficus bengalensis tree and we could see them for about 7 - 8 minutes.

Below are some pictures taken with a Canon A95 digital camera through a spotting scope. We were not able to take a picture with the male showing the yellow patch on its throat as it (the male) had turned its face away through the sighting.

It is worth remembering that the only sighting of a YTS in DD was by Dr.Salim Ali 69 years ago. This was way back in 1939, during his survey of the birds of erstwhile state of Mysore. Most birders had thought the bird to be locally extinct. This is another reason to conserve Devaryanadurga's jungles.