Expressions September

september 2010 expressions1

Shekhar Dattatri

YEAR OF THE TIGER Courtney Graham

WILDLIFE IN KAILASH G S Rawat

expressions september 2010 september 2010 expressions2 3

LETTERS TO THE EDITORI have to admit that I am deeply impressed by the August edition of “expressions”. It´s a piece of art in terms of graphic design and it contains very valuable and motivating articles. And all this has been compiled by such a young team like yours!

That reminds me of the time when I was in your age in the late seventies ...and I was quite active in a similar way and for the same aims like you. In the meantime quite a lot has happened in Germany in terms of reduc-tion of air and water pollution, waste management, use of renewable en-ergy, promotion of the use of bicycles etc., even though still much needs to be done. This might be good news for you that activities like yours can be a successful contribution to a necessary positive development, but it may take centuries …Coming to the details: Mrs. Annie Singh rightly stresses the importance of teachers for the life and behaviour of the next generation. By the way, the garbage problem – also mentioned by Yudhishter – is one major bothersome impression we foreigners dislike in India. It is great to see that a famous actor like Archana Puran Singh could be motivated to write such words of love about Doon´s nature and by this surely impresses her admirers. I really loved “The girl with the green handbag” because this story nicely focuses on the consumption oriented youngsters (like my own daughter), and this kind of story might better address them than any scientific study. Vineeta Bhardwaj and Yudhishter Puran Singh give a comprehensive and really interesting overview on the importance of women in the ecological movement. Ishita Khanna´s example finally even motivates me to enhance my activities for environmental protection since I became somewhat more sluggish while getting first grey hairs …

Ernst Kuersten

Maria told me about your magazine and sent me the previous issues. I am very impressed, well done!

Courtney Graham

Hey Yudhishter, I received your email with the attached issues and WOW!! You guys really put some heart and soul into those issues. I would love to do an article for you guys.

Maria Sedona

Had a pleasant reading of the Aug issue of EXPRESSIONS...Really loved the article Photographing Doon by Mr. Sandeep Puran Singh.. The article, sort of provoked me to get my camera in hand, drive up the streets to Mussoorie and click the most “lucid views” the monsoon offers...

Ashutosh Pohary

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20 The Truth about Tigers Shekhar Dattatri

Features

Regulars

founder & editorYudhishter Puran Singh

news editorSubhinay Khosla

assistant editorPooja Bhattcreative editor

Akshay Madan

photo editorSandip Puran Singh

advertisingTushar Goel (NCR Region) [email protected]

Gaurav Gupta (Rest of India) [email protected]

subscription teamHarshal Mirchandani, Lavish Bhatia

Ashutosh Pohary

special thanksSuresh C Sharma, Girinath Gopinath

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Cover Story

cover designAkshay Madan

24 Conservation of Wildlife in India &

Relevant Laws Abhidebh & Ankit

12 Panthera Tigris Subhinay Khosla

30 Wildlife in Kailash G S Rawat

28 Forest Guards Aditi Bisht

10 The Green Beat Simren Singh

11 Photo Story Saran Vaid

23 Green Tips Shilpy Goel Agarwal

6 Conservación de la fauna Yudhishter Puran Singh

14 Ways to photograph Doon Sandip Puran Singh

10 The Girl with the Green Handbag Pooja Bhatt

8 Year of the Tiger : It is Time to act Courtney Graham

33 Eco-fanatics Speak

Imagine a world without wildlife.

Imagine a world without trees.

I wouldn’t want to live in that barren place they call earth now.

Welcome to the September issue of Expressions. The support and

encouragement from our readers is indeed overwhelming, thank

you all!

Stay with us and we promise to deliver more with each edition.

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” Mahatma Gandhi

This issue is dedicated to the ‘WILDLIFE’ and aims to stir the readers regard-ing the same.

“A tiger is a large-hearted gentleman with boundless courage and that when he is exterminated - as extermi-nated he will be unless public opinion rallies to his support - India will be the poorer by having lost the finest of her fauna.”, as Jim Corbett rightly said, our cover story deals with the same subject which is a matter of national pride for us and is beautifully penned down by renowned wildlife conservationist and film maker who has inspired millions with his pioneering work, Mr. Shekhar Dattatri who emphasizes the urgency of saving the tiger!

Also, we have ‘Year of the Tiger: It is Time to Act ’, making a relevant plea about the tiger, ‘Conservation of Wildlife in India and relevant laws’ which talks about the imperative need to ‘conserve’ and serve this world, it brings to light the great Project Tiger, Project Elephant and the Shahtoosh case.

Do we need a wake up call? Perhaps yes!Let’s fight this together, like any of Earth’s problems; this one cannot be possibly dealt without public coopera-tion, surpassing goodwill and also prompt government action.The citizens need to be vigilant, question and protest against all necessary evils and the state and central gov-ernments must exercise their crucial power and immediately ‘take remedial action’ .Dr. G.S Rawat, in his edifying article, ‘Wildlife in Kailash’ shows us the wide spectrum of floral and faunal diversity in Devbhoomi, Uttarakhand, but also delves into the fact that the very same is depleting at a rather alarming rate!

The wildlife stands on a fragile edge today, it’s only ‘us’ who can bring about the much desired change, we should not end up being filled with remorse and resentment later in retrospection, we have the chance in our hands ‘right now’Let’s make full use of it.

Have a delightful reading…!! Best,

Pooja BhattAsst. Editor Expressions

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

copy & desk editorShubhodeep Pal

Fresh


cOnSERvacIón DE La Fauna what is wildlife conservation?

why conserve wildlife?

how are we contributing towards

conservation?

can people and wildlife co-exist?

These are some of the questions that I am sure all of us must have come across over the past couple of months in various maga-zines, blogs, papers etc. But have you ever wondered what next?

Wildlife conservation is nothing but protection of various life forms inhabiting the protected areas, be it the national parks or wildlife sanc-tuaries. We are all aware of the food chain aren’t we? When plants and animals feed on the other natural life within an ecosystem, they are a part of a food web. A food chain is a part of a food web and even a slight disturbance can play major havoc with this web of life. We are ig-norant of the fact that the flora and fauna is being destroyed at a rather alarming rate!Experts estimate that we are losing 137 plant, animal and insect spe-cies every single day. That equates approximately 50,000 species a year that are lost forever. Not to forget even species like tigers, snow leopards, giant pandas, red deer and many more are on verge of ex-tinction.

member a few years back a group of students from WII had visited Sariska and how they had exposed the callous nature of the forest officials. Sariska National Park was forced to admit that close to 30 odd tigers had been killed. These are some of the reasons why the experts believe that the present

Tiger census conducted two years back may not depict the real pic-ture, which could be far worse.

We have all seen how eager tourists are when it comes to going to various national parks all across the country mainly Ranthambore, Jim Corbett etc. But if you truly ask yourself, are they the reason for the fall in tiger population? I don’t think so. All those in favour of banning tiger tourism must understand that it’s never the tourists who are the real problems but it is the poachers and illegal loggers that are the main-culprits and by banning tourism you are all but going to ensure the tiger is exterminated in peace and quiet.

Last year, World Bank chief Robert Zoellick said that the global black market in wildlife products was worth about $10bn per year, making wildlife the third most valuable illicit commodity after drugs and weapons, so now you can very well imagine the extent of corruption as far as wildlife conservation is concerned not just in India but all across the globe.

I do realize the fact that there is a problem with tourism and tigers in our country. Increase in no. of visitors has resulted in haphazard growth in terms of wildlife lodges and resorts. But that doesn’t necessarily mean we can do away with the tour-ists. There is a need for eco-tourism with proper emphasis being given to promoting well-managed eco-parks.

The first place that comes to my mind is Forsyth Lodge at Satpura, though I have never been there myself but upon talking to people who have visited, they all have loved each bit of their time spent at the lodge.

The lodge advocates that well thought out and re-sponsible wildlife tourism can be a potent tool in the business of conservation and stresses importance

on the need to provide local employment and trust me, the ordinary park workers in general possess a wealth of knowledge which is most often ignored.

But at the same time towards the end, I would like to raise the alarm bells as far as other species are concerned be it the snow leopards, rhinos or count-less birds and insects. At this point of time not many people in our country are willing to look beyond the Tiger. The media is ever ready to focus on Tigers as if to say that other species face no extinction threat, which is sad. Facts reveal that almost 1/3 of the frog species are declining at yet no efforts are underway to save them.

Reading various articles given I am sure you may wonder why is it that this particular issue of our magazine is singularly focusing on tigers and that may prompt you in saying that I am contradict-ing what I am saying in my own article, but let me reassure you all that over the next few issues we are going to try and bring forward various issues related to wildlife conservation other than merely focusing on tigers. Be it the Ganges River Dolphin,Great Indian Rhinoceros, Kashmir Stag, Loggerhead Sea Turtle, etc.

cOnSERvacIón DE La Fauna

The perpetual loss of forests all across the world is a result of many aspects, the most common being the combination of governmental mismanagement and corruption, economic development by virtue of ever increasing human population, and an ever-widening gap between classes continues to cause deforesta-tion across the globe. With the importance of forests on the decline and also the fact that environmental protection, yet remains ‘undervalued’, resulting in immediate economic gains, deforestation continues to be a devious predator onslaught by the humans who need it most!

Deforestation has a very serious consequence as far as wildlife conservation is concerned. One of the most damaging effects of deforestation on wildlife occurs when ‘forests are split’. Say for example, if you have a square area of a forest, there is a perim-eter of the forests edge and the dense area inside the square. Most of the animals reside within that dense area and if this area is cut down in the middle, two squares of the forest are now formed thus in-creasing the perimeter of the forest and severely re-

ducing the dense area in which most animals reside. Therefore, the animal habitats are being severely reduced with each swing of an axe. Gruesome! Not just that, but the cutting down of forests, puts forest wildlife at risk and decreases the level of oxygen in the air. Thus, one realizes the imperative role the forests have to play towards wildlife conservation.

Off-late, there has been a lot of talk about various wildlife conservation projects, whether they really contribute towards conservation or not. The most recent one being, the immediate need to limit Tiger tourism in India, but in my opinion banning tourism will not necessarily contribute towards saving the Tiger, rather on the contrary, it will just hasten its extinction.

The tiger, as everyone knows, is in deep trouble. There were close to 40000 animals in India about a century ago and now as per the recent Tiger cen-sus in 2008 there aren’t more than 1400 in the wild which I honestly think is an exaggerated figure. Quite a few sub-species are already extinct. I re-

Are tourists the reason for the fall in tiger population?

picture by akshay madan

Yudhishter Puran SinghEditor, Expressions

email: [email protected]


YEaR OF THE TIGER IT IS TIME TO acTcompliance with a protected species designation.

While CITES is an important tool for regulating the international trade in vulnerable and endangered species, it has no influence on domestic trade, much less the illegal trade in Tigers and Ti-ger parts. Compounding this problem is the fact that majority of the 13 Tiger range states are ill-equipped to effectively contend with poaching and illegal trade, which are significant threats to the species. Consequentially, without the ability to successfully confront these threats, mere regulations alone remain insuffi-cient to combat the “Tiger Crisis.”

As our global population rapidly increases and society requires the expansion in infrastructure, the competition between man and Tiger for dwindling resources has become inevitable. Unfortunately, Tigers have disproportionately been affected as a result of habitat destruction as well as extrinsic and intrinsic human interferences. Tigers as an apex species are at the top of the terrestrial food chain, making their very existence critical to the balance of all other animal and plant species in that ecosystem. In addition to regulating lower species population dynamics, Tigers help to con-trol spatial distribution, promote the genetic fitness of other species, and increase species diversity within ecosystems. If Tigers were wiped out of their ecosystem, the population of their primary prey species would substantially increase, placing immense strain cascading down the food chain. This would have dev-astating consequences throughout the jungles and pose potentially crippling consequences on farmlands and resources that we heavily rely on.

The next decade presents a critical period for the Tiger species. Our destructive practices are a direct reflection of the respect we have for our future, ourselves, and Mother Nature. In the words of

one of the Western world’s most esteemed thinkers, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: “knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.” It is not necessary that each one of us makes world-altering contributions; there are numerous ways that compassionate and empowered

individuals can collectively improve the outlook for Tigers. For example, it could be as simple as contributing to initiatives focusing on villages within Park buffer zones, educating local community groups and youth about the important role Tigers play in the ecosystem, or volunteering time and

resources to staff working in Tiger reserves. Regardless of the magnitude, each one of us is capable of making contributions that could help ensure that future generations have the privilege of observing

Tigers in the Wild

YEaR OF THE TIGER IT IS TIME TO acT

With a regal gait and intensely mesmerizing eyes, the Tiger is one of our planet’s most sacred and char-ismatic apex species. The Tiger has been a central

figure in Asian culture, folklore, and religion as a symbol of mysticism, fearlessness, and power. Unfortunately however, the future of this iconic species is in grave jeopardy as Tiger population continues to slip closer to the brink of extinction. Poaching, habitat destruction, systematic eradication, and the black market trade in Tiger parts have reduced the population of wild Tigers to less than three percent of what it was at the turn of the 20th century.

While some government leaders are reluctant to accept such a staggering population decline, researchers estimate that there are only 3,200 Tigers left in the wild spread across thirteen Asian range states. In this, the Year of the Tiger, many conser-vation initiatives have focused their efforts to reignite concern and bring awareness to the current “Tiger Crisis.” The central purpose is to prevent the devastating forecast that Tiger popu-lations will be depleted to the point of no return before the next Year of the Tiger in 2022.

© EXPRESSIONS 2010

Courtney GrahamAn environmental lawyer from the United States with a pas-sion for marine and terrestrial apex predators. She is a con-tributing writer for Beyond Blue Magazine and an educator and collaborator for OCEANS Aware located in South Africa

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species has clas-sified Tigers as an Endangered species as a result of their population declining by more than 50% within the last three generations and an absence of any Tiger subpopulation having more than 250 mature breeding individuals. Only five subspecies of Tigers exist today: the Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris), the Sumatran Tiger (P. tigris sumatrae), the Siberian Tiger (P. tigris altaica), the Malayan Tiger (P. tigris jacksonii), and the Indochinese Tiger (P. tigris cor-betti). The South China Tiger is believed to be extinct, while the Bali Tiger, Javan Tiger, and Caspian or Persian Tiger are extinct.

As the wild Tiger population continues to struggle, ironically the world’s captive Tiger population con-tinues to increase, as an estimated 20,000 Tigers are held captive in zoos, wildlife sanctuaries, traveling circuses, “farming” programs, and in private owner-ship. In the United States alone, it is estimated that at least 5,000 Tigers are held in captivity, with many being possessed by private owners as “pets.” How-ever, the rapid emergence of China’s captive Tiger population is now believed to exceed that of the United States. The Chinese captive Tiger population in contrast, has largely been cultivated to satisfy the

domestic demand for Tiger parts in traditional Chi-nese medicine. In many parts of China, the wild Tiger population has been wiped out, and thus captive or “farmed” Tiger populations have supplemented a de-mand for their bones, pelts, meat, claws, teeth, and other parts used in traditional Asian medicine. Tiger bone is the most widely utilized part in traditional Asian medicine and has been prescribed to treat a range of physical ailments, including: paralysis, migratory joint pain and stiffness, back pain, spasms, and bone pain despite a lack of scientific evidence to support these uses.

Since 1975, the commercial international trade in all Tiger species and Tiger parts, with exception of the Siberian Tiger (received full protection in 1987) has been prohibited under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). CITES is the main inter-national regulating body for endangered species, it is a voluntary agreement that controls the trade of vulnerable flora and fauna in a manner that will ensure their sustainability and preservation. CITES has no force of law over domestic policy, however, once a nation becomes a party to the Convention, it is responsible for adopting domestic regulations in

saran vaid

Tigers as an apex species are at the top of the terrestrial food chain, making their very exist-ence critical to the balance of all other animal and plant species in that eco-system.


and as a personal homage to Brutus, I decided to take up the ‘NO Plastic Bag Week Challenge’, which meant that any place I go to, I had to make a conscious ef-fort to minimize the use plastic bags. It was hard ini-tially, but I conquered it, some people laughed at me, mocked at me, [mean souls inhabiting the earth :\ ] but surprisingly some gave me the ‘look of awe’ which I secretly loved and enjoyed so much!

I carried my green cloth bag when I went to college, or the grocer, or the departmental store, or any other place. Sometimes I carried two. Ha, Beat that! That’s how they named me the girl with the green handbag, funny thing! But let me make this clear to you, I have many bags okay, that name’s just an epithet.

Now, what to do when you visit the mall to buy some-thing? How can you refuse those plastic bags, the beautiful ones? Or when you’re at McDonald’s or KFC or somewhere getting food parceled? Or when you’re at the market place and you have too much stuff to carry. I suggest then, we can make use of ‘the bag’, but whenever possible, restrict its use please, like taking one packet instead of more.

SCRAP the BAG! hOW?

SIMPLE- Whenever you’re picking something up from the market or anywhere, MAKE SURE you’re carrying a foldable cloth or jute bag inside your purse, which would perfectly slash ‘the need of using a plastic bag’ in the core, and you’d see how much that’ll help!

But in skewed circumstances when you just don’t have a choice and you don’t have to go a long distance or it isn’t raining, be good and look out for paper bags first; okay?Only and ONLY if you have NO alternative left and it seems truly difficult to manage, *sad sigh*: give in to a plastic bag but make sure you re-use it multiple times.

Forget the rest, at least at an individual level you are absolutely eco-friendly, you’ll know well that you’re chilling in life and making the most of it but the proud fact here is that you are also harmless to other living beings and so little girls won’t cry and innocent dogs

won’t have to lose their lives! I am pretty content with how things have come along, the week passed by and it was a radically different experience for me, but not completely alien, there would have been a time I’m sure when there were no plastic bags and their use was initiated in the first place to fulfill a functional re-quirement that was to basically make carrying stuff around easy, over time.. Like now, they’ve grown to be a real menace to society! We need to fight it, you can be quirky, erratic, mad, a geek or fun-loving just whatever, be whoever you want to be, but just be sensible and that will make you happy!And believe me it is cool to be.

Like Art Buchwald once said, “And Man created the plastic bag and the tin and alu-minum can and the cellophane wrapper and the paper plate, and this was good because Man could then take his automobile and buy all his food in one place and He could save that which was good to eat in the refrig-erator and throw away that which had no further use. And soon the earth was covered with plastic bags and aluminum cans and paper plates and disposable bot-tles and there was nowhere to sit down or walk, and Man shook his head and cried: “Look at this Godawful mess.”

SO PLEASE Turn eco-friendly my friends! :: ASAP:: Take up the challenge like I did.

Stay green until next time! Love, Esha.

Pooja BhattAsst. Editor, [email protected]

THE GIRL WITH THE GREEn HanDBaG

Hello fellow countrymen and everyone else!

This is the second time I shall tell you all about the crazy life and times of Esha Ved a.k.a ‘The Girl With The Green Handbag’; actually it’s like having a look at any other journal of a sparkling 19 year old girl, but sneak peak into my life and you’ll know what I’m talk-ing about. Along with my regular activities, the highs and lows, I make a slight bit of an effort to pen down my ‘green’ experiences for all of you. It’s so much fun. It brings a fresh perspective to all that I see and hear and feel and believe, okay enough, I’ll stop bragging about it now.

So, I went for this amazing concert to Hard Rock Cafe last Sunday, but, in spite of knowing the awful implica-tions of my actions and the potent danger that it ex-posed me to, I still couldn’t afford to have missed that one. I returned home at 11:45 p.m that night, and my ‘messier than ever’ room welcomed me, it was all hell breaking loose. I actually felt like being ensnared by a spider web: books and papers lying everywhere they shouldn’t be, clothes strewn about universally but the closet, pizza boxes, dirty dishes and random stuff on the bed, on the floor, a clogged table which had little functional space. My head was already spinning with all that head banging I had so generously indulged in, and all I craved for at that living moment was that de-lightfully delectable cup, oh wait no *mug* of that bit-ter sweet enchantment that youngsters live on- yes, I’m talking about Coffee- the caffeine that helps us get through unforgiving nights, gives us our energy surplus, something we must abstain from since too much of it isn’t good for health they say, but honestly, I didn’t care at the moment though I still feel we could look for herbal or green tea/ milk/ juice as a substitute (Later). But coffee is harmless, WAIT !!! haha WHAT?! *sob-sob* Empty coffee jar!! How could you do this to me Lord? And my electric kettle seemed to have found perfect timing for a breakdown. WOW, I had a

Spanish test in the morning and I barely knew any-thing and sleep also found its way through, my eyelids turned heavy and longed for those dewdrops of divine sleep, but I became a worrywart, but amusingly :P that lasted for only 10 minutes and all I remember of it is me quickly clearing up the bed to make some space to park myself over there. My eyes snapped open and I saw Mitali’s beautiful gold rimmed specs and she said, “Morning sweetie, it’s eight, and we have a test?! OBLIVION? *silly grin*”I jumped out of bed and then crept in back again… ur-rrgh, seeing the noxious sight my room was, but no use trying to fight Mitali. I rushed in for a shower, got dressed in like ten minutes (record-breaking feat) and picked up the essentials and rushed for class.

My test. Don’t you want to know what happened to that?It was cancelled! YEssSSss :) My happiness was unde-niably beyond explication. But you’ve got to be careful, this time around, I got lucky and escaped the noose by a whisker but banking on luck can end you up in muck sometimes. Anyway, I decided to go home, but was greeted by a gory sight on my way.It was a sewer we passed by everyday and its charac-teristically unpleasant smell that made us clip our nasal doorways, had a different effect today... very close to the drain I witnessed an ocean of plastic bags hoarded there, a dead dog and scavengers. Sweet Lord! What? Huh! *gobbledygook* That dog was our community stray dog ‘Brutus’ with whom I had shared fine memories, lying lifeless like a martyr, torn apart. Pollution and dismay had reached a new level now. ‘That’ stench overpowered my olfac-tory senses and I felt wobbly.I came home and the first thing I did was to get rid of ALL the clutter in my room and it helped me to clear away the clutter in my head considerably, it’s good to be in our comfortable cozy mess but sometimes we ‘must’ clean up for hygienic purposes! Mom says that not me but she’s right I feel, hehe, okay still that grue-some spectacle remained stuck in my mind forever and just refused to go away. I told Mitali about it later,


PanTHERa TIGRISPanTHERa TIGRIS

It is estimated that in circa 1900, India was home to around 40,000 of the most numerous tiger subspe-cies: the Royal Bengal Tiger. In 1972, however, the official records showed the presence of only 1827 tigers in India. As a result, the next year saw the launch of Project Tiger, a government-initiated effort

to conserve a dying population of tigers. This effort clearly paid off as the number rose to 3642 tigers in 2002. However, the 30-year effort seems to have gone waste as the latest figures released by the National Tiger Conservation Authority claim, shockingly, that only 1411 such tigers remain in India. The authority, which used an improved methodology to estimate the tiger population, also suggested that previous counts might have overestimated the numbers.

During the 70’s and mid-80’s, a number of pro-tected areas (66 national parks and 421 wildlife sanctuaries) were established so that the tigers in India could thrive. These areas eventually rose in number to 99 national parks, 514 wildlife sanctu-aries and 43 conservation reserves. The outcome was a serendipitous increase in the tiger popula-tion over the years. Sadly, these conservation efforts are being threatened today by the poach-ing of tigers for trade in tiger parts, most of which are in high demand in profitable markets beyond India’s borders.

Present conservation efforts have been slow to address new threats. Better protection strategies such as heightened law enforcement, better train

ing and support have been lacking. A number of excellent protection measures have been pro-posed but none have been implemented. Hardly any of the tiger reserves have established an intelligence network and nearly 80% of our tiger reserves do not have the basic infrastructure, such as armed strike forces and surveillance equip-ment, to combat poaching. Forest guards are often out-gunned and out-manned by poachers.

“As the poachers continue to erase the jungles of its stripes, our tigers growl in anger at us, at a system that has repeatedly failed to address the grave concerns our jungles are facing, at those who ignore the signs of an impending disaster

that is waiting to happen. From tiger pelts to ivory, from timber to Sandal wood, from unplanned rail tracks to illegal mining, from swindling funds to human encroachments, humans continue to dig graves in these shapes and sizes for our tigers, our elephants and all those magnificent creatures we once called wild”, says a sentimental Pablo Tachil, wildlife crime inspector in Bangalore.Large developmental projects, such as mining and hydroelectric dams, are also taking their toll on the tiger’s natural habitat. In the past ten years, thousands of square kilometres of forest land have been captured or destroyed to facilitate such projects. Though mostly outside the protected net-work, the loss of this vital habitat will have serious repercussions for tiger conservation in India.

Forests, ranging from shrub forests, to dry decidu-ous forests, rainforests, wetlands, Shola ecosys-tems, mangrove forests and pine forests belong to the tiger’s real estate in the Indian sub-continent. Climate change has now induced the tiger to scale new heights, literally. However, it bodes ill for the Royal Bengal tiger which is at home in the tropics. The typical food of the Royal Bengal Tiger includes the ungulates (e.g. deer) of the tropics. Even though the higher reaches are warming up, there might not be enough food for the tigers there. This could lead to territorial fights for prey base and terrain in higher reaches; besides, there might not be an adequate management perspective for for-est conservation in the higher reaches. Scientists are watching with increased nervousness as to what might be the fallout of this new anthropogen-ic conflict on wildlife and tiger behaviour.Since the humans have encroached upon the tiger’s natural habitat, some tigers have recently started invading human settlements and causing unprecedented havoc. In 2010, 21 “tiger deaths” have already been recorded. Even though prob-

lems abound, India might still succeed in sav-ing its remaining tigers. A number of motivated organisations are involved in the tiger conserva-tion effort. Current efforts, though paltry, have ensured that a relatively large number of tigers still exist in some of the vast tracts of protected land. However, in the immediate future, adequate funding, international pressure, political will and active participation will be required to spur greater conservation efforts. The tiger is the sentinel of the ecological destiny of the whole Indian subcontinent. The least we can do is recognise and assist the enormous respon-sibility that the Royal Bengal Tiger bears on its fragile shoulders in an even more fragile earth. We are not defined by the things we can replace, but by our concern for the things we cannot.

saran vaid

Subhinay Khosla a 19-year-old student of English in Delhi University is a passionate nature lover. He loves to write in his free time and this article, in his words, “is dedicated to my father for all he has done for me. Love you dad!”

© EXPRESSIONS 2010

sara

n va

id

This picture of a young male tiger, called Kalua was taken in Bandhabgarh National Park


PHOTO STORYPHOTO STORY

thing of beauty is a joy foreverA

eave me aloneL

ooking towards heavenL

The author is a wildlife enthusiast who pursues wildlife photog-raphy as a serious hobby. He loves visiting the Ranthambore and Bandhavgarh national Parks in India. Outside of India, he recom-mends Masai Macra in Kenya as must-see place for all wildlife lovers. Even though he loves wildlife per se, he finds his “wild cats” the most fascinat-ing part of it. More of his work can be found at www.saranvaid.com


PHOTO STORY

I started off with a Tiger which I had in mind and wanted to create like a ‘Thinking Tiger’ image when one looks at it. It had a thought of ‘roar’, which for some reason remained a thought like his many other grim thoughts. Next, there’s a Clown fish, the first time we had met in ‘Finding Nemo’, emerging out of the water. There’s also the Intelligent Giraffe, Cu-rious Baboon and the hard working Ant, just a few of our friends we can learn a lot from! The wildlife, I feel is quite enriching and we must not harm them in anyway.

WILDLIFE ILLuSTRaTED

Girinath Gopinath was born in Cochin, Kerala.He worked as a designer for a leading fashion accessory brand, besides pursuing his school days passion for doodling. People and things morphed in his imagination into characters and ideas and he has ever since continued his expression. At present, he is a faculty in NIFT Bangalore and can be reached at [email protected]

© EXPRESSIONS 2010

leap of faithA

road less travelledA

by SARAN VAID


WaYS TO PHOTOGRaPH DOOn vaLLEY

3 WaYS TO PHOTOGRaPH DOOn vaLLEY

LOOKING for PATTERNSThe key to all creative photography lies in developing the ability to see beyond the

subject itself, and to recognize the essential visual elements that will give an image the structure and impact it needs to succeed. One of these visual elements is the impres-

sion of a pattern, created by the repetition of lines or shapes in a scene.

Nature has a wonderful knack of creating patterns and once you start to look you can see them eve-rywhere. This shot was taken at a remote location in the valley. An old tree-trunk had been left by roadside on the way to the Tiger Falls Arun Pratap and I were out photographing butterflies when I noticed the fallen tree. The bark had dried up and fallen off revealing a whirlpool of wrinkles and old age had created large knots worn smooth with time. It looked to me a gnarled face of a goblin come out from some dark underground cavern to admire the

beauty of a setting sun. I tried some shots fromvarious angles but, although initially quite striking, there was not enough variation in tone or colour to maintain interest. To overcome this problem I looked for a viewpoint where there were some well-formed circles in almost a face like symmetry. The slant-ing rays of an evening sun deepened the solemn wrinkles. Since I was without a tripod I had to hold my breath to steady my hand, a Singh-Ray Colour Intensifier added a bit of saturation to the 18-70mm. kit lens of the Sony Alpha 100.

Subjects like landscape often need something to give the image some cohesion and to draw the viewer’s eyes into the picture. A pattern can do this very effectively. It does not need to be a pattern in a literal sense, just a suggestion of a repeated shape is often enough to create a focus of at-tention and give the image a balanced and harmonious quality.

DRIFT WOOD

THE TERRACE PADDIES

Whenever you are in a hilly countryside even the smallest ‘flats’ seem to stand out by themselves and attract the eye. The Doon valley is like a huge amphitheater surrounded by hills on all sides with ridges dotted with quaint hamlets linked by goat tracks making for a picturesque sight. One of less visited cantonments in the neighborhood is among the hills of Chakrata. The view from here is also one of the best in the region, and I was lucky enough to be there on a day when the sunlight was undiffused and the atmosphere clear. There was an almost 360 degree view of the hills and valleys from where I stood and I chose a viewpoint which enabled me to use a small village with their paddy terraces winding away into the distance as a focus of attention, framing the image so that the hamlet was to one side of the centre.

The forest was lush and vegetation dark green, but by itself not very interesting, I’d framed the image to include only a small area of it in such a way that it ran in a fringe on both sides of the village making the emerald of the paddies stand out almost phosphorescent. To complete the picture a few of the village huts were included at the top left of the frame to give it a human reference and meaning.

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The tiger is protected under Schedule I of the Wild-life (Protection) Act and killing one (except in a clear case of self defense) is punishable with a maximum penalty of 7 years in prison. However, few poach-ers are caught and even fewer are successfully prosecuted and convicted.

So what can we do to save our National Animal?

Saving tigers isn’t rocket science. The tiger is a resilient species that breeds well and has the ability to bounce back given adequate protection. All we really need to do is provide adequate protection for wild tigers, their prey and the habitat, and nature will do the rest. We do not need to breed them in captivity or clone them or do any such thing.

In fact, in a few reserves, such as Kaziranga in Assam, Corbett in Uttarakhand and Nagarahole in Karnataka, where a proper system of protection, with anti-poaching camps and regular foot patrols by field staff, has prevailed for a few decades, tigersand other wildlife continue to flourish. But such reserves have become the exception rather than the rule. According to the Government’s own admis-sion, at least 18 of the 39 Tiger Reserves in the country are in an extremely bad state of neglect. As of 2010, only 11 Reserves are acknowledged to be doing well.

We now have all the knowledge we need to save the tiger, thanks to decades of research by top-notch wildlife biologists; and there is no dearth of money either, since India is no longer a poor coun-try. What is urgently needed is a determination to do away with the ‘business as usual’ approach and tackle the problems head on.

Protection of wildlife is the responsibility of both the Central and the respective State Governments. While the Centre provides substantial funding for Ti-ger Reserves, the onus of on-the-ground protection rests entirely with the State Governments. Unfor-tunately, most State Governments accord very little priority to wildlife conservation. As a result, there are many shortcomings in the protection of our forests and wildlife. These include severe short-age of frontline field staff, lack of proper equipment such as wireless sets, firearms and even footwear for the staff, inadequate training, and lack of finan-cial incentives. Some of these problems are being addressed presently and, hopefully, the situation will improve in the future.

Another major problem is the lack of leadership. Barring a few dedicated and capable individuals, most senior Forest Officers in the country are out of touch with field realities since they spend very little time in the forest. This has a cascading negative impact. After all, if the superiors in any institution do not lead from the front, one can hardly expect their juniors to do their jobs with zeal and com-mitment. It is therefore extremely important that officers who show a true commitment to protect-ing forests and wildlife should be handpicked and posted to wildlife reserves, and given all the support they need to protect our ecological heritage.

We, the people, are also to blame for the current state of affairs. Most of us are content to go to forests for holidays and just enjoy ourselves. It is time to realize that if we do not take an active interest in protecting forests and wildlife, they will disappear before our very eyes. We also need to realize that our natural heritage is not the property of the government. This is our collective heritage

cOvER STORY

Saving tigers isn’t rocket science !We do not need to breed them in captivity or

clone them.All we really need to do is provideadequate protection for wild tigers, their prey

and thehabitat, and nature will do the rest

cOvER STORY

At the end of a recent screening of my documentary, ‘The Truth about Tigers’, an elderly gentleman raised his hand and asked me, “what will happen if the remaining tigers in India disappear? Why must we spend time and money saving tigers?” I’m sure these are questions that occur to many peo-

ple. Some related questions might be, “isn’t saving tigers a luxury when so many people in our country are dying of hunger?” Why do we pay so much attention to tigers when there are many other species that are equally or more endangered?”.

There are several ironies in these questions that we should think about. Why are tigers endangered in the first place? Because we have destroyed most of their forests and exterminated them. Having driven them to the brink of extinction, is it not our duty to save them at least at this late stage? Do they not have an equal right to exist? We, in India, have chosen the tiger as our National Animal. Will it not be a national disgrace if we cannot even save our National Animal? And if we cannot save the tiger, the most charismatic and iconic of all animals, will we have the sagacity to save ‘lesser’ species?

As for the starving people in our country, will their situation improve if all the tigers disappear? I think not! In fact, it is certain that in the long run more people will suffer if tigers disappear. Let me explain. There are 39 Tiger Reserves in India. This means that 39 large blocks of forest have been protected in the name of the tiger. Over 300 rivers have their origins in these Tiger Reserves, and these rivers support the lives of hun-dreds of millions of people in our country. I think we can therefore say without exaggeration that the tiger is the guardian of our rivers and thus of our national prosperity.

It is true that the tiger gets a ‘royal share’ of attention. But let’s remember that when a forest is saved in the name of the tiger, thousands of other species that share the tiger’s habitat also get

saved! For this reason, the tiger is rightly regarded as an ‘umbrella’ species.

Why are tigers disappearing?

Tigers once roamed fearlessly across the length and breadth of our country. Today they are confined to a few wildlife reserves. There are three fundamental reasons why the status of tigers in India is so pre-carious today:

1. The insatiable demand for tiger skins, bones and organs - primarily from China – that fuels poaching by organized and well-networked criminal gangs. These gangs, mainly members of highly skilled hunt-ing tribes like the Baheliya and Bawaria from Central

India, travel to wildlife reserves across the country on poaching expeditions, and are wiping out entire populations.

2. The rampant illegal hunting of the tiger’s prey by local people, which is creating empty forests where it is impossible for tigers to survive, let alone multiply.

3. The abysmally low level of protection in most of our protected areas, which allows poachers to have a free run. India has some of the strongest wildlife laws of any country, but extremely poor enforce-ment.


cOvER STORYand we are all its joint owners. As patriotic citizens we must be ever vigilant against the destruction of our remaining forests, and continually demand that our governments do a better job of protecting this priceless legacy. Only when our voices are heard loud and clear will the political establishment take matters seriously. So, a great deal rests on our

shoulders. Our planet is in a crisis, and we can no longer afford to remain passive in the face of the rampant destruction of nature, which is affecting all life on earth. Everyone has to get involved and each individual has the potential to bring about a positive change.

According to Dr. Ullas Karanth, one of the world’s

leading tiger biologists, India still has enough potential tiger habitat to support over 10,000 tigers. But right now, accord-ing to Government estimates, there may be less than 1500 left. We have a long way to

go, but if we all work together sincerely, I’m confident that we can double the present

number of tigers within the next 10 years. To learn more about tigers, their conserva-

tion and your role in making a difference, please visit

www.truthabouttigers.org

Shekar Dattatri is a wildlife and conservation filmmaker, whose films have won numerous national and international awards, and aired around the world on channels such as National Geographic and Dis-covery. In 2004 he received a Rolex Award for Enterprise for his conser-vation filmmaking, and subsequently, the Carl Zeiss Award for conserva-tion and the Edberg Award from the Rolf Edberg Foundation in Sweden. More information on my work can be found at www.shekardattatri.com

© EXPRESSIONS 2010

all pictures by Ramki Sreenivasan

GO GREEn TIPS

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Hi folks! Here we are, back again with yet another green tip of the month. In this is-sue we primarily focus on ‘Wildlife and its conservation’.

The Indian subcontinent boasts of serving as the natural habitat of a large and varied wildlife. We can find some of the most magnificent as well as the rarest wildlife species of the world in our coun-try. The beauty and variety we see in the jungles of India is difficult to be expressed in words.However, the past few decades have seen the greed and negligence of human beings working to the detriment of ‘this’ rich wildlife. Large-scale poaching, habitat destruction and conflict with hu-mans have resulted in a rapid decline in the popu-lation of most of the wild animals and birds. The major threats being faced by the wildlife in India are the problem of overcrowding ,increase of tourism in national parks, climate change to name a few.But just by following these simple techniques and remaining cautious about some other things, we can actually lend our hand in helping conserve our wildlife and saving ourselves from disgrace.The first step could be taken by any ordinary human being from their very own backyard or garden. YES YOU CAN!

By following a few of these tips, you could watch all the wildlife you want right in your backyard!

Plant native plants. Native plants will at-tract and provide food for native animals. Make sure your plants provide a mixture of nuts, berries, seeds, pollen and nectar for all the different kinds of animals that will be stopping by. Provide water. Try putting it in a birdbath, or even go so far as build-ing a pond. Animals need clean water to drink and bathe, so make sure you change the water fre-quently. Let it grow. A little overgrowth will provide cover for animals, giving them the ability to hide and feel more comfortable. They might even use the cover as a home to raise their young.

Avoid chemicals. Avoid using chemical ferti-lizers to beef up your garden. Instead, try to make the area as natural as possible by composting, letting wild grasses grow and removing invasive and foreign species. Go for Organic Gardening.It is

gardening without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides on the plants. Organic gardening is creating a whole natural system encompassing plants, water, soil, wildlife and insects. An organic gardener aims to work in harmony within the system while minimiz-ing and replenishing the resources used.

The soil is the starting point in the or-ganic garden. Gardeners continuously add local organic matter to the ground such as grass clippings and vegetable kitchen scraps. These items help add nutrients to the soil important in growing your plants.

Encourage natural predators of harm-ful garden bugs to roam freely in your plot. Frogs, birds, lizards and even ladybugs will help control pests. Make your garden an environment for these creatures. By doing this you’ll help eliminate the need for pesticides and further harm to the environ-ment.

Water the garden only when needed and preferably use sprinklers or mugs to wa-ter plants rather than just letting the water drain through the pipe, you can prevent water wastage to a great degree that way. Over watering can dam-age plants. Collect rainwater to use. This is a great way to recycle natures showers. If you’re really interested in making a habitat out of your backyard, please don’t wait just go ahead and kick start today and it’s not just your backyard, but you can also keep these things in mind for any green space in your homes, potted plants inside, the gardens, terrace gardens and so on. Take care of your gardens, love the plants and trees, nurture them and welcome those tiny creatures, those bugs, those frogs and flies that reside in there. Let them buzz around and spread the cheer. I hope you do. They’ll be grateful for it I’m sure.

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cOnSERvaTIOn OF WILDLIFE In InDIaa judgment forcing the government to enact and enforce its wildlife law. In 2002, the manufacture of Shahtoosh shawls was finally banned in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Project TigerProject Tiger, an initiative by the Government, launched on April 1, 1973, has become one of the most successful con-servation ventures in modern history. The project aims at tiger conservation in specially constituted ‘tiger reserves’ which are representative of various bio-geographical re-gions falling within India. It strives to maintain a viable tiger population in their natural environment. Today, there are 27 Project Tiger wildlife reserves in India covering an area of 37,761 km.A 2008 census held by Government of India revealed that the tiger population had dropped to 1,411. Since then the government has pledged US$153 million to further fund the project, set-up a Tiger Protection Force to combat poachers, and fund the relocation of up to 200,000 villagers to minimize human-tiger interaction.

CONCLUSIONDespite these laws and efforts, destruction of wildlife, il-legal trade, and poaching continue. Laws and the govern-ment alone cannot ensure successful conservation efforts. We, the public, need to understand the gravity of the situation. Conservation efforts can only succeed when we all do our bit to conserve wildlife. This can be achieved by increasing our own awareness as well as making others aware. We must speak to those in power and take a col-lective stance not to lose our national treasures in the rat race of modernization

Adhideb Bhattacharya and Ankit Srivastavaare final year students at the University of Petroleum Studies (UPES), Dehradun. They harbour a keen interest in Indian Wild-life and Environmental Laws as well as Oil and Gas Laws.

© EXPRESSIONS 2010

Project Elephant, though less known, started in 1992 and works for elephant protection in India.

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cOnSERvaTIOn OF WILDLIFE In InDIa

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anD RELEvanT LaWS

India, our vast and beautiful country, with its many coasts, deserts, rivers and mountains, is the home to an amazing variety of fauna and flora. There are

about 75,000 species of animals, of which 340 species are mammals, 1200 birds, 420 reptiles, 140 amphib-ians, 2000 fishes, 50,000 insects, 4000 molluscs and several other species of vertebrates.

Need for ConservationThe emergence of human beings as the dominant species on earth and their attempts to stamp their dominance on everyone and everything around them has laid the foundation for our current environmental problems. Increasing deforestation, poaching and negligence towards animals are some of the dangers posed to our wildlife and the ecosystem in which it survives. Present estimates state that 81 species of mammals, 38 species of birds and 18 species of amphibians and reptiles are endangered in India. India is keen to do its best to protect its wild life and change the current gloomy state of affairs. In recent years, the media, environmental groups and NGOs have also given wildlife conservation efforts an addi-tional boost with their zeal and intolerance of environmental degradation.

Wildlife lawsWildlife laws in India can be traced to the Third Century BC, when Ashoka the Great codified a law for the preservation of wildlife and environment. The first of modern wildlife laws came into existence with the Wild Bird Protection Act which was enacted by the British Government in 1887. However, the first com-prehensive set of laws was established in 1972 under the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA). Furthermore, to protect wildlife, the Government of India also became a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1976.A number of other laws act in tandem with the WPA to protect wildlife in India by punishing offences such as trading, hunting and poaching. Among the most prominent are the Customs Act, 1962; Indian Forest Act, 1927; Forest Conservation Act, 1981; Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. The WPA which is the most important of these laws provides for the protection of wild animals, birds and plants. It extends to the whole of India, except the State of Jammu and Kashmir. While the act clearly defines hunting it also prohibits the usage, supply etc. of animal articles. Punishment for offences under the WPA can include imprisonment of up to six years, a fine of Rs.25000 or both for hunting animals and birds.

Case Studies with respect to Wild Life ConservationShahtoosh caseShahtoosh wool is derived from the soft undercoat of the Tibetan Antelope (also known as Chiru), which has to be killed before its fleece is removed. Three to four Chiru have to be killed in order to weave a sin-gle shawl. Each shawl can cost several thousand dollars in the international market.In 1977, the Government of India had declared the Chiru as protected under Schedule I of the WPA. Also, killing of the Chiru is also prohibited under the CITES.A Public Interest Litigation(PIL)was filed in the Jammu and Kashmir High Court seeking implementation of the provisions of the WPA as well as CITES in the state. On May 1, 2000, the Honorable High Court issued


theGREEN BEAT theGREEN BEAT

Ever wondered how our life would be if it did not rain at all? We are blessed to be in a place like Dehradun where it pours incessantly! But there are many places in the world where

there is acute shortage of water and people are not blessed with such a pleasant climate like ours. All this is what? Global warm-ing?? Yes!! Global warming is a result of human activities and it is we who have to face the consequences. But, we can surely miti-gate the impact of climate change if we change our living styles a bit.

Green Beat is a platform for me where I can inform and make readers aware of such a universal issue and ways to deal with it. After doing a bit of research I found out that there are measures being taken by people around the world to reduce the ill conse-quences of climate change. Since climate change and environment conservation is of primary concern today there is an urgent need to take suitable eco-friendly measures to compliment development efficiently and responsibly.

Spain is one such nation which has successfully adopted strate-gies of sound environment planning to mitigate the effects of climate change. The Spanish Network Of Cities For The Climate is a section of the FEMP which joined hands with the Ministry for the Environment (Spain) aiming at urban sustainability and reduction in green house gas emissions in municipalities. It was an initiative taken by the local governments of Spain to fight against climate change. The key sectors under the program were- Transport, En-ergy, Building, Town-planning and Eco-technology.

Development in India is taking place on a daily basis. It is an emerging economy and it needs to adopt sustainable development measures to face the brunt of climate change. India can also adopt such models as solutions to prevent the negative impacts of human activities carried out in the city with the use of strategic environ-ment planning and involvement of local governments. For this, India needs to

• Prepare sustainable mobility plans aimed at promoting non-polluting means of transport. ( For eg : CNG).

Dehradun too can do away with diesel run vikrams and three wheelers. Its high time that CNG run autos should come on Doon roads.

• Take actions aimed at reducing end energy consump-tion. Produce energy from renewable sources like wind, solar, etc.

India is endowed with abundant natural resources and we need to conserve them for our next generations. Therefore, we should make efficient use of other sources of energy like bio-gas.

Rain water harvesting techniques should be promoted and guided so that we can conserve as much as we can!

• Incorporate renewable energies in designing buildings. ( For eg : CII-Godrej Green Business Centre in Hyderabad.)

• Keep cities compact, multi-functional and efficient.• Urban mushrooming is not bad but it should be done in the most eco-friendly

way possible. Green investment is possible only when there exists awareness. But why wait for the Govt. to do that? When will our environment education come in use? Go ahead ! Each one tell one about the problem and the solution!

Like India, Spain too lacked awareness of the problem of climate change but conduc-tion of regular seminars/conferences and participation at the local level were the most helpful tools to ensure the success of the program.

India no doubt is a country with huge population and coordination is difficult yet ef-forts can be made to frame policies at local levels, green house gas emissions can be calculated from various sectors, waste handling and management can be practically guided, awareness can be spread through regular seminars not for the bureaucrats but for the local people.

Public awareness, adoption of sustainable habits at personal level, friendlier agreements amongst the authorities and its implementation is what we need today. Spain is thus one such example from which we can learn a lot and incorporate.

Happy Conserving!

“Rain is grace; rain is the sky condescending to the Earth; without rain, there would be no life”

John Updike

Simren SinghA 2nd year graduation student at Lady Shriram College For Women, New Delhi. Passionate about environment and an ardent nature lover, I am currently the secretary of my col-lege’s environment society - Prakriti

© EXPRESSIONS 2010

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The guards are often hampered in their duties by animal attacks. The problem is aggravated due to a lack of equipment that can mitigate such attacks. In May 2005, Madan Pandey, a snack-store assistant, was attacked and badly mauled by a tiger that had strayed into the Dhikala tourist lodge area. He is still recovering from the shock of the attack which is firmly etched on his body in the form of permanent scars. However, the government reimbursed him only a third of the amount he spent on surgeries. The promise of a job awaits fruition.Last year, a very popular TV show comprised a storyline wherein celebrities were put in a jungle with only bare necessities. Much sensation, chaos and controversy

ensued. Even though the storyline was admittedly exaggeratedly, we did get a peek into how difficult it is to live in the wilderness. Isn’t it time we give the forest guards their share of respect for living such a difficult life and doing such a dangerous job?

Those who bear everything silently are not weak but often have the ability to change the world. So before the cries turn into roars, the government should implement radical reforms that improve the living conditions of forest guards and provide for their well-being. It is in our best interest that these guardians of our wildlife are not compelled to look for other sources for living.

Forest guards are the protectors of wildlife. In sanctuaries, wildlife reserves or national parks, these people constitute the bottom rung of the ladder, which, as we know, is undoubtedly the most important. Even though forest guards have a different recruitment system, sometimes ex-servicemen choose to become forest

guards as well.

Two years ago, the then finance minister P. Chidambaram had allocated a budget of Rs 50 crores for the ‘Tiger protection force’. This force across India’s tiger reserves was to comprise ex-servicemen given their experience of fighting insurgencies. But they haven’t been used to the best of their abilities.

These folks embark on their lonely forest patrol braving both harsh weather and un-predictable wildlife without any supporting gadgets. Most of them work in appalling conditions wearing open-toed footwear, lacking basic equipment like torches, jeeps, wireless sets and guns. However, they courageously carry on with their difficult job. These guards are quite literally heroes who wear the forest on their skin, even as they learn to respect animals and wildlife in general. They are sharp at spotting an animal from afar and whistle to warn the animals of their approach.

Almost a year ago, several thousand for-est guards marched 460000 kms through India’s jungles to count India’s tigers for the tiger census. Forest guards not only pro-tect the forests but also man rest houses. During the monsoons they repair the hill roads which often become pot-holed in the wet weather.

Let’s take a look at the life of a typical forest guard: They are forced into leading a bache-lor-like existence for most of their lives even though they may be married. They visit their homes for hardly 3-4 days every 4 months or so. The younger guards share tiny rooms, a kitchen without slabs and a washroom. To save money they cook their meals together every evening in a makeshift mess.

In 2004, the Supreme Court ordered the Forest Department to absorb dozens of labour-ers who had been working for it for many years on a daily wage. One of them, Anand Ballabh Pandey, had spent nearly two decades as part of the temporary staff, handling all the responsibilities of a forest guard. Mr Pandey was being paid only Rs 1600 per month when the Supreme Court ruling came. Today, he divides his “princely” salary of Rs 7000 between himself and his wife who lives in a village with his grown-up sons. For all his years of dedicated service, Mr Pandey can claim a paltry sum of Rs 30,000 as insur-ance from the Forest Department.

FOREST GuaRDS FOREST GuaRDS

Aditi BishtA graduate student at MCM College Chandigarh, is a vora-cious reader and a concerned inhabitant of earth and can be reached at [email protected]

© EXPRESSIONS 2010

saran vaid


Wildlife in Lord Shiva’s own landscape: all’s not well!The prophecy of Buddha says most truly,

That this snow mountain is the navel of the world,A place where the snow leopards dance.

The mountain top, the crystal-like pagoda,Is the white and glistening palace of DemchogThis is the great place of accomplished yogis;

Here one attains transcendent accomplishments.There is no place more wonderful than this,There is no place more marvellous than here!

- Milarepa, the Great Buddhist Saint

I was born and brought up in a small village located at the base of Panch Chuli peaks in eastern Uttara-khand. Like most of the hill folks of yester-years,

I spent my childhood in the lap of nature. With no electricity or television, we used to be mostly out-doors playing Kabaddi, Gilli-danda and other games. The trip to school and back used be full of fun and adventure – climbing trees and swinging from the branches, looking for birds and their nests, collecting and eating wild fruits, pelting wasp nests with stones and what not.

Come winter, the family would gather around a fire and listen to fairy tales, adventurous accounts of Faujis posted at the borders and often ‘shikar’ stories of erstwhile hunters. My favourite story teller was Uncle Sheru, an acclaimed hunter in his days (before hunting was outlawed).

Of the numerous jungle stories which included his encounters with black bears and wild boars, one is vivid in my memory. One autumn, Uncle Sheru was alone on a hunting trip to upper basin of Panch Chuli. This area used to be rich in wildlife including Himala-yan tahr, serow, goral, Himalayan musk deer, Bharal (blue sheep), monal and various other pheasants. One morning, much before dawn, he had positioned himself on a vantage point overlooking a rugged slope hoping to get a big game. He had hardly waited for an hour, when he saw a majestic herd of around 70 Bharal slowly walking in his direction. Confident of his double barrel gun, he aimed at a big male Bharal. None of the triggers worked. He

changed the cartridges quickly and fired again. This time one trigger worked but to his surprise the bullets touched the body of the Bharal gently, as if someone had thrown grains of gram at the animal. He fired at least 3-4 rounds of bullets on other male but in vain. As the flock moved towards the higher slope, he was awestruck by the sight of a tall ‘shepherd-like’ figure following the beasts closely. Frightened, Uncle Sheru uncle descended to the lower valley where he had been camping. “After all, the Bharal were being guarded by their owner and I did not have permis-sion to take any animal that day.”

Most of the villagers in our area believe that Panch Chuli and the adjacent high ranges are contiguous with the Holy Kailas and that the entire range belongs to Lord Shiva and people disrespectful of it are pun-ished by supernatural powers. Moreover, the flora and fauna of these hill-ranges are guarded by deities and spirits who follow Shiva’s bidding. According to the elders in the village, the high alpine meadows, which harbour holy plants such as Brahmakamal, Phenkamal and Jatamansi, are sacred sites and one should take permission of the ‘guardians’ before har-vesting anything here. Over the years I have heard many tales and myths associated with higher Hima-laya including those of abominable snow man (Yeti) and mythical resurrection herb (Sanjeevani booti).

Being a staunch believer in Darwin’s Theory of Evo-lution, I don’t believe that the Yeti exists. However, I am fascinated by innocent hill folks and their folklores that concern nature. Sadly, in recent decades, there

has been a rapid decline in traditional knowledge and cultural values in the hills. Better access to education and modern amenities has led to more greed and inequity in the society. In the absence of adequate employment opportunities and livelihood options, many people in the remote areas have resorted to unscrupulous means to earn money. The exploitation of high value medicinal plants is common and the business in wildlife products, such as musk pod, bear gall, skin and bones of various animals, which are smuggled outside the country, is thriving. In recent years, Cordyceps sinensis, a wild mushroom of the alpine region has gained limelight. Locally called Keera Jari or Yartsa Gombu, this commodity fetches as much as Rs. 3-4 lakhs per kg in the local market. Also, known as the “caterpillar mushroom”, as it grows on the head segment of an underground caterpillar, it is in great demand in China and Korea as an ingredient in oriental medicines. When the summer arrives and the snow thaws, the mushroom, in its fruit-ing stage, emerges from the ground. This is the time when thousands of people throng the alpine meadows and search for this mushroom, not spar-ing even the most rugged and dangerous slopes. Harvesters look for the tiny, horn-like body of the mushroom jutting out of the ground. They proceed to dig it out with caterpillar because the mushroom is not accepted without the caterpillar. During collection, human casualties and serious conflicts often occur.

Devbhoomi Uttarakhand is rich in floral and faunal diversity and the state, compared to several oth-ers, has done a fair job of conserving its wildlife. At present, we have 14 protected areas that include six national parks, six wildlife sanctuaries and two conservation reserves. However, only a few parks such as Corbett and Nandadevi get adequate funds and man-power for effective management. Askot wildlife sanctuary is one such protected area that has been largely neglected by the govern-ment. The sanctuary, 1400-6700m above sea level, supports a diverse but dwindling population of en-dangered species such as the snow leopard (Pan-thera uncia), Himalayan tahr (Hemitragus jemla-hicus), blue sheep or Bharal (Pseudois nayaur), Himalayan musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster), Asiatic black bear (Selenarctos thibetanus), red fox

(Vulpes vulpes) and a variety of pheasants. There are as many as 22 different forest types and a number of endemic species in the area. The sanc-tuary also encompasses a large number of sacred sites such as Chhipla Kedar, Panch Chuli, Chhota Kailas, Parvati Tal and Kharangdang among oth-ers. Difficult terrain, harsh climate, a long and po-rous international border that is difficult to patrol, are the major challenges for the management of this sanctuary. Adding to the problem is the acute shortage of a trained and motivated staff plus negligible infrastructural and logistical support. There are conflicting demands for development and conservation in and around this sanctuary. In spite of general awareness of the laws pertain-ing to wildlife protection, there is a general apathy towards dwindling natural resources since local communities feel largely neglected.What can be done to ensure the conservation of the high-altitude ecosystem and its wildlife in Askot? How can we meet our current needs with-out compromising the needs of future generations? There are no simple answers. The issues of con-servation and development are equally involved on the other side of the border (Nepal in the east and Tibet in the north). Recently, the Governments of India, Nepal and China have signed a tripartite agreement to develop a trans-boundary coopera-tion for the conservation and management of natu-ral resources, threatened flora and fauna, and to strengthen the cultural ties around the junction of these three countries. This junction covers an area that spans around 500 km in radius from Holy Kai-las and has been designated as the Greater Kailash

cOnSERvaTIOn OF WILD LIFE In KaILaSH cOnSERvaTIOn OF WILDLIFE In KaILaSH

The caterpillar mushrooms of the Kailashpictrues by G.S.Rawat


cOnSERvaTIOn OF WILDLIFE In KaILaSHSacred Landscape (GKSL). This junc-tion also provides a contiguous habitat to many threatened animals such as the snow leopard, blue sheep, Himalayan tahr and a number of pheasants. Un-der the agreement, the three countries will develop landscape level conserva-tion plans which will be facilitated and coordinated by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in Kathmandu. For the India part of GKSL, a conservation plan would be prepared jointly by the G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment & Development, Almora; Wildlife Institute of India, Dehra Dun; and Uttarakhand Forest Department. Preparing such a plan would require the involvement of the local communities, who are major stakeholders in the area as well as vari-ous line departments including security personnel. The plan would address long-term monitoring of threatened species, developing enterprise-based livelihood options for poor communities and adaptations for vulnerability due to climate change. The long term conservation plan for the GKSL should include strengthening community-based organizations such as Van Panchayats, Yuvak Mangal Dals (youth society) and Mahila Mangal Dals (women’s welfare society) and edu-cating the locals in the managemet of their own natural resources and also, in restricting theft of high-value plant and animal products. Coordination between different line-departments would be essential for achieving the long-term conservation goals in this landscape.Essentially, the only way to sustainably develop this landscape and conserve its biological, aesthetic and cultural val-ues would be to declare the erstwhile Askot sanctuary and its surroundings as a Biosphere Reserve. This has the benefits of allowing traditional resource

use by the local communities while conserving the threatened species in their natural habitats. Although easier said than done, the successful implementation of such a plan will require im-mense political will, support from local institutions, commitment from the conservation agencies and respect for the landscape in which our roots lie.

Can Lord Shiva’s landscape return to its primordial and pristine verdure? Only time can tell.

G. S. Rawat The author is a Senior Professor at the Wildlife Institute

of India, Dehra Dun. His areas of specialization are Angiosperm Taxonomy,

Wildlife Habitat Ecology and Mountain Ecosystems Ecology. He is a Fellow

of National Academy of Sciences, India; member of IUCN (SSC) Orchid and

Medicinal Plant Specialist Groups and Life Member, Association for Plant

Taxonomy. He has published over 150 scientific papers and popular articles

in various national and international journals.

© EXPRESSIONS 2010

time to careEveryone is living,Living a wonderful lifeBut what about our forests, rivers and wildlife?

Wildlife is God’s most striking creation,Then why are we pushing it to extinction?We are the culprits, we are the cause:Nature has become what it never was!

Hunting and killing,Poaching and selling:All such deeds have taken their toll.We are so inhuman and lost in callousness,We cannot see our wildlife’s helplessness.

If this heartlessness lingers,Rock-like rhinos and ferocious tigers

We’ll never be able to adore,The elephant’s trumpet and the lion’s roar

Will not be heard anymore....

That awful moment is very nearWhen the jungles will be torn with sounds of strife.

But we can still save our dying wildlifeBy standing for them and saying “icare”.

Aanchal TamtaXIIth std, Touchwood School

This small scribble of a young mind has a lot to say!It depicts 2 tigers, one of them is a sad one which makes one notice how far and wide man has gone to disrupt the life of animals and

how we must all make an effort to ‘save the wild’!We must give them a chance to be happy and live peacefully and it’s essential to care for the environment like little children do in their innocence!

Keshav Roy 4yrs


eco fanatics speak

POACHING

“Animals never kill for sport. Torturing and killing fel-low creatures amuses only Man.”

Poaching refers to the illegal capturing or killing of wildlife. It can occur in the wild or even in protected areas such as wildlife sanctuaries. People have different reasons for poach-ing. Some poach animals to satiate their hunger for animal flesh while some others believe that some animals or plants

Shreyashi KukretiIXth std., Convent of Jesus and Mary

Dehradun

have medicinal value. Poaching is also done to sell and trade in the parts of an animal which have economic value. Hunting, which involves killing animals for sport, is also a form of poaching.

The fault lies in us. Despite reaching great heights, we humans lack humanity. We have reached the moon but still hanker for more. We have turned into selfish fiends who stop at nothing to achieve our ends. There are instances where we are callous even towards our relatives; it isn’t surprising then that we treat animals so insensitively.

drive away thoughts of poaching. But its adverse effects are appar-ent today. Many animals are on the verge of extinction while many more have already died out. If we do not want our future genera-tions to call us murderers, let us pledge to stop poaching and abide by the law.

Ironically, when man kills animals it is called sport but when animals kill man it is called ferocity. However ferocious an animal may be, it has a life, a heart and perhaps even a language. But we see animals as inferior creatures born to do our bidding and to serve our needs. According to me, no distinction should be made between the life of an animal and the life of a man. After all, life is life. And everyone should have the right to live. The only thing that separates a man’s life from an animal’s life is his perception which is shaped by his ego. This perception sometimes becomes so cloud-ed that it does not even consider upholding the ultimate authority: the law. Laws in our country ban poaching but are often ignored. Poaching occurs throughout the world as people continue to ravage wildlife and the environment.We seem so eager to exploit our wildlife that we can perhaps never

In THE nEWSTiger census promises good newsThe Pioneer New Delhi 7 Aug 2010

Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh has hinted that the upcoming tiger census expected in November “will make us all happy”.

Though the increase may not be that phenomenal, but it would be encouraging. He was speaking at a seminar on “The Future of the Bengal Tiger”, organised by Sanctuary Asia in association with other partners.

As part of his effort, Ramesh spoke of wooing the state government with “green bonus” and rewards, based on their performance in this regard. A sum of 5,000 crores has been set aside for the next five years.

Further, rewards worth 900 crore would be introduced from the next fiscal. He admitted that reforms as these were necessary to tone up and galvanise the Indian Forest Service.

The Minister also claimed to bring in more participatory measures to involve the local communities in the reserve areas.

First, the revenue generated out of tourism would flow back for the benefit of the local communities, instead of the respective State exchequers. Nearly 3 crore in Kanha and 1.5 crore in Tadoba reserve.

“We have also begun aggressive recruitment of local communities in the reserve,” he said, adding 400 youths from chenchu tribes have been employed as forest staffs in the Nagarjuna reserve, 40 Van Gujjars in Corbett besides Kurumba tribes have been employed in the Nilgiris.

Present on the occasion were tiger expert Valmik Thapar, Bittu Sehgal and Belinda Wright amongst others.

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In THE nEWS In THE nEWSFrom Networking to saving the Bengal tigerDaily News & Analysis Mumbai 10 Aug 2010

Social networking sites often claim to help one get in touch with friends and like-minded people. But busi-nessman Guarav Mahajan and management student Neil Mehta experienced this first-hand when they first met on a ‘Save Tigers’ forum on a social networking website. They also realised that they were both interested in conservation issues, and together they started a youth-oriented organisation called the Tiger Action Force, nearly a year ago.

“Our genuine concern for the environment brought us where we are today,” says Neil Mehta, the presi-dent of the club. The organisation has a core team of 10 members and a large number of young volun-teers from different schools and colleges.

They felt that though people talk about conservation issues, most of them don’t take the initiative to do something about it.

The youngsters wanted to make people understand how important each and every creature is to our sur-vival and wanted people to realise that all of us have a part to play in saving our environment.

“Wildlife conservation is our priority because there are fewer tigers in the wild than there possibly are students in a school,” quips Mehta.

The primary reason why they insist on the conservation of the tiger in particular is because we depend on them for our survival. They are at the pinnacle of the food chain, and without them the ecological balance in the forests would go haywire.

What makes them different from other organisations is that they have a monthly newsletter that features not only local environment issues but also provides information on various species and other environ-mental issues.

“We were apprehensive in the beginning but now we have around 400 subscribers. It is encouraging for young people like us to realise that people are interested in our cause,” says Mridula Vijairaghavan, member and editor of the newsletter.

These youngsters feel that if people want to bring about change, then their words should translate into action. The organisation conducts workshops and events to create awareness among people, especially the youth.

They conduct programmes at different schools, and the Byculla zoo is one of their favourite locations. “We believe in showing people the beauty of nature by taking them to places that are under the threat of destruction.

We want them to realise that if we don’t act now, the future will be highly uncertain,” adds Mehta.

Wildlife Act adds teeth to anti-poaching fightThe Sentinal Guwahati 12 Aug 2010

The government has amended the Wildlife Act, 1972, incorporating stringent provisions aimed at curbing wildlife poaching in Assam. The amended Wildlife Act empowers a forest guard to punish a poacher and also enables him to carry firearms.

This was revealed by State Forest and Environment Minister Rockybul Hussain while inaugurating a videoconferencing facility at the office of the Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force, Rehabari here today.

“Now a forest guard can punish a poacher after catching him. A poacher can also be jailed for life if he is found guilty of the crime. Forest staff have also been authorized to carry firearms for self-defence and protection of forests and wildlife,” said Hussain.

The minister said, “If a forest guard is killed by wild animals or poachers, Rs 3 lakh will be paid as com-pensation to his family. The amount given earlier in such cases was Rs 1 lakh. Moreover, if a wild animal kills a civilian, Rs 1 lakh will paid to his family.”

Hussain said the new telecommunication system made available at the office of the Chief Conservator of Forests would not only help effective management of forests and wildlife but reduce travel cost and speed up decision-making as well. He said the videoconferencing facility would be introduced at all the district headquarters in the State. Hussain asked the senior forest officials to use the new system effec-tively and to be more vigilant in protection of forests and wildlife in Assam.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force VK Vishoni, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) S Chand, Commissioner of Forests BB Hagjer and others were present at the func-tion.

A top Forest Department official had recently said the Assam government had authorized the use of fire-arms by forest staff to ensure better protection of its forests and wildlife.“The order also provides immunity for forest officials from prosecution without prior sanction in case of firing incidents,” he said.

He said, “Forest officials in the past needed a licence to use firearms. Now they don’t need one and are on a par with the police. They will be able to use firearms like SLR rifles and other weapons.” The govern-ment order said there would be a magisterial inquiry into the firing cases and that criminal proceedings could be initiated against erring officials if the use of firearms was proven “unnecessary, unwarranted and excessive”.


Youth Activism Is The Need Of The Hour

Today what we understand by youth is the young generation, but we only consider the people between the age group of

18-25 but is the 5 year old child not the youth? We tend to see every environmental or public issue at the macroscopic level

but we forget the very essential part that every problem starts from the roots. Thus, for every solution we have to know the main reason and then try and eradicate the root and the tree

of problems will itself fall, its no use cutting the branches.

Youth activism is not just spreading awareness among the youth about the threatening danger of serious issues like pollution, population, sanitation, hygiene, global warming etc but actually working towards it. What people think is joining a group for ‘SAVE TIGERS’ on facebook or any other site fulfils our respon-

sibility. But is it so? Does ours responsibility ends here? NO. What we don’t realize is that we are directly or indirectly linked to all these causes. Today Tiger extinction is a big issue but we think that it is because of the deforestation talking place, we cannot do anything in it but what we are not realizing is that the el-egant furniture we are buying today has been the cause of the death of 1 precious tiger who is a innocent

being, while we are just making our life luxurious.

Taking another example, we dump our house garbage in the outside dump and think that the municipality people will come and dump it properly, But What we don’t know is where they dup all that trash and gar-bage. If they put it in open, birds and other animals and insects feed on them, on which higher carnivores

feed which ultimately lead to biomagnification of the pollutant and lead to the higher level of pollution.

Thus, the need of the hour is not only aware among youth, but activism of the whole society to completely wipe out our problems and lead a sound and

healthy life, not only for us but for all the living beings on earth.

BE AWARE,BE ACTIVEMAKE YOURSELF FUNCTIONAL AND EFFECTIVE

Aparajita GoyalArchitect

ECO SPACE WINNERMayank PradhanHilton School, Dehradun

We would like to congratulate you all. You can collect your gift vouchers from our city office:

51-A Subhash Road, Dehradun. For any confusion feel free to call us at

+919760614317Keep the entries coming in. Lots of prizes to be won.

cOnGRaTuLaTIOnS

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In THE nEWSRanthambore grappling with problem of plentyThe Tribune Jaipur 14 Aug 2010

Even as the government is content after the completion of tiger relocation process in the Sariska Tiger Reserve, the Ranthambore National Park is facing a problem of plenty and experts feel that it is high time to initiate measures like extending the core area of the sanctuary.

Presently the park has around 40 big cats, as against its capacity of accommodating only 30 tigers. Though the park is spread over 1,000 sq km, its core area measures around 400 sq km. Experts believe that the strength of tigers in the park can be doubled in the next decade if the Forest Department provides proper security to the growing number of wild cats by increasing the core area of the reserve.

According to them, one way of doing so is by boosting the connectivity of Kaila Devi Sanctuary (in Ka-rauli) and Sawai Man Singh Sanctuary (near Kota) with the Ranthambhore National Park so that the tigers can roam in their natural habitat. Though the Forest Department has recently included Baler range of Kaila Devi Sanctuary in the core area of the park, experts say the core area should be doubled to provide adequate space to the tigers.

According to Dharmendra Khandal of Tiger Watch (Ranthambore), Kaila Devi Sanctuary, with 51 per cent area of Ranthambhore tiger reserve, offers a great opportunity, which should be explored immediately.

Raghuraj Singh, honorary wildlife warden of the Keoladeo National Park, also feels that Kaila Devi is a natural habitat of tiger. “The development of core areas into Kaila Devi Sanctuary and developing water holes in the forest is needed. Also, protection will have to be ensured to the prey base in the sanctuary so that tiger can make its territory in new areas. The government should also contemplate developing old routes connecting the tiger reserves of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh seriously,” he added.

contestquestion

How do you feel you can bridge the gap between man and the wild?

Answer in about 100-150 words and you stand a chance to win a personally autographed DVD of the award winning documentary “The Truth about Tigers” by Shekhar Dattatri

Have a passion for writing, drawing, sketching, photographs.........?? This is your chance to be featured in “EXPRESSIONS” October issue, and you stand a chance to win a surPRIZE.

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