Monday, 23 July 2018

Drones to hound elephants

Five drones buzzing like honey bees will begin surveillance as virtual guards.

Forest officials hope the noise of the drone engines will drive away wild elephants, from their habitat..

Times of India   July 18 2018.

No records of conviction

At least 125 elephants have died in Tamil Nadu last year - a two-fold jump from 61 documented deaths in 2015-16.

There have been numerous deaths due to electrocution too, in the past few years - and there are no records of conviction in the past decade.

- Times Of India    July 12, 2018 . 

Sunday, 15 July 2018

Elephant population plunges by 30%

Jumbo population in Tamilnadu has slumped by 30% in the last five years.

From 4015, the numbers have dropped to 2,761 in 2017, according to Union Environment Ministry;s reply in Lok Sabha .

Times of India  
 December 24, 2017

Database on elephant conservation

A senior wildlife expert has compiled the extent of crop damages, property damages and human casualties due to man- elephant conflict from 1990 till now.

The study is titled 'Database on Elephant Conservation Human- Elephant conflict and Elephant mortality causes' .
The author, B M Arora if former Principal scientist and wildlife in charge of the Indian Veterinary Research Institute. He is now the president of the Association of Indian Zoo  and Wildlife Veterinarians.

The study has been supported by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate change.

350 deaths a year, thousands of hectares damaged in human - animal conflict every year
Times of India 

amendment - a threat to wildlife

 The original Act did not allow sale or transfer of ownership of property demed illegal.
Now, with the amendment, owners can transfer or sell.
And if the District Forest Committee refuses to accept the trnsfer or sale, the owner can appeal.
The amendment will prove a threat to wildlife.

"The amendment will usher in corruption and alienate local communities who depend on the forests. It will compromise their traditional rights," says K Mohan Raj, a conservationist.

- Loopholes in act may legalize forest structures,  Times of (India      July 12, 2018.