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Indian Express
21 hours ago
- Indian Express
Narmada: A team of 60 rescues leopard 12 days after attacks on woman, child
It took a team of 60, comprising forest officers and volunteers, several hours of gruelling search and a nearly 12-day combing operation to rescue a wild leopard that is believed to be behind two back-to-back attacks on humans in Sagbara taluka of Narmada district. The said attacks include a fatal one involving a nine-year-old. On Saturday night, forest officials managed to tranquilise the animal after two near-miss hits earlier during the week, after trapping it inside a net in a sugarcane field in Beda Pani village of Sagbara taluka. Forest officials believe that the wild leopard, a four-year-old adult male, had lived in the sugarcane field for a brief period owing to easy access to prey in nearby villages. Range Forest Officer (RFO) Sagbara Abhay Singh told this newspaper, 'We managed to rescue the leopard after tranquilising it on Saturday night in a sugarcane field in Beda Pani village, which is within a three kilometre periphery of Kolvan, where the nine-year-old had been dragged and killed by the leopard. Our analysis, so far, based on the pug marks and other indications, says that the same leopard has been involved in both the attacks.' It was in Beda Pani that a 40-year-old woman was attacked in her sleep with the big cat biting off a part of her ear. Singh said that the forest department teams, comprising experts from Banaskantha, Devgadh Baria and Chhota Udepur, camped in the periphery of the two villages where the forest department had also set up multiple trap cages for over a week, but did not find succeed. Singh said, 'We waited for weeks to see if the leopard walked into the cage but he did not… Therefore, four days ago, we began combing the sugarcane fields as we had analysed the movement and concluded that it was hiding in the fields. We used our tractors and JCBs to comb the fields, causing the leopard to move. On two occasions, the tranquilisation teams also hit successful darts but the leopard managed to escape. On Saturday, it was cornered in a spot where we were able to trap it in a net and then tranquilise it.' Singh added that the leopard has now been taken to the Forest Rescue Centre in Timbi village of Rajpipla in the district while directions will be sought from the Chief Wildlife Warden (CWW) of Gujarat to decide the further action. Singh said, 'We will submit the report to the CWW as per protocol. The CWW will decide if the leopard should be released in a core forest area with a prey base or be sent to a centre earmarked for leopards involved in human conflict resulting in death. Since this leopard has been involved in at least two human attacks within a week, we will await appropriate directions…' Meanwhile, the forest officials will continue night patrolling in the villages in Sagbara to ascertain if more big cats have been moving in the revenue area. Singh said that with villagers having shifted to growing sugarcane in the area, leopards have made their way into the revenue areas in search of prey. 'The villagers in this area have transitioned to growing sugarcane in the last few years… It has given the big cats a reasonable place to hide and attempt to prey on domestic animals and hens in the villages. Leopards are good at adapting and therefore, they can survive well in revenue areas outside the forest area too.'
Time of India
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Environmentalists oppose ‘unlawful' darting of elephant in Wayanad
Kochi: Environmentalists filed a petition with the state chief wildlife warden (CWW) against the unlawful darting of a wild elephant within the elephant corridor on the eastern flanks of Chembra Peak in Wayanad. The CWW ordered the darting to tranquilise a wild elephant in Meppadi following allegations by locals that the elephant trampled an estate worker to death on Thursday night. The petition, signed under 'For Coexistence Collective, Kerala' and the Ernakulam-based NGO ANEC, was sent to the CWW and other forest department authorities in the state and the Centre. It demanded the withdrawal of the move and the protection of the elephant corridor. As the darting operation amounts to violations of various laws, the petition demanded the assurance of ecological sensitive zone-related incentives to farmers, a ban on sound pollution activities that disturb wildlife at night, and the identification of illegal tourism resorts in the area, among other demands. It warned of legal action against the authorities if they failed to stop these violations and halt the darting operation. The petition noted that uncontrolled tourism activities fragment the forest and lead to man-animal conflicts. It highlighted that more than 1,000 legal and illegal tourism resorts operate in Vythiri and Meppadi, disturbing the wildlife. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Secure Your Child's Future with Strong English Fluency Planet Spark Learn More Undo Meanwhile, the environmentalists noted that the department has not even identified the elephant which allegedly killed the estate worker Arumugan. The petition demanded that the elephant be continuously tracked, observed, monitored, and a database created to ensure that it has a tendency to attack humans before darting and capturing. The petition said that the govt is violating the existing provisions of the Indian wildlife and environment laws. "A Schedule-1 animal can be captured and removed from its ecosystem only if it is an inevitable situation, and a forest official succumbing to the pressures of locals is such a pathetic situation," it read.
New Indian Express
25-04-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Similipal now national park, CM Majhi calls it a step towards Viksit Odisha
BHUBANESWAR: After decades of wait, Similipal was accorded national park status following a formal notification by the Odisha government on Thursday. An area of 845.70 sq km spread across 11 ranges of Similipal south and Similipal north divisions was declared as national park, making Similipal the second protected area to be declared a national park after Bhitarkanika in the state. It's also the 107th national park of India. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who made an announcement to this effect on the day, said Similipal is now the 107th national park in the country. It is also the largest national park in Odisha at 845.70 sq km, he said. Hailing it as a landmark step towards conservation and 'Viksit Bharat and Viksit Odisha's goal, Majhi said, 'This long-awaited declaration strengthens our ecological legacy, uplifts tribal aspirations and reaffirms Odisha's commitment to sustainable development.' PCCF (wildlife) and chief wildlife warden (CWW) Prem Kumar Jha said the national park status to Similipal is a significant milestone in the conservation history of Odisha. 'The long-pending proposal, originally initiated in 1980 and realised now, will be a big push for the state's forest and wildlife conservation,' he said. As per the notification of the Forest, Environment and Climate Change (FE&CC) department, the 845.70 sq km of Similipal National Park is spread over Pithabata north, Pithabata south, Nawana, Jenabil, Upper Barahkamuda national park, and Bhanjabasa ranges of Similipal south division and Barehipani, Chahala, Nawana North and Talabandha ranges of Similipal north division. Similipal, the state's biggest tiger reserve (TR) with 55 species of mammals, 361 species of birds, 62 species of reptiles and 21 species of amphibians, is spread over 2,750 sq km, including around 2,306 sq km that forms Similipal wildife sanctuary. The state had notified 1,194.75 sq km of STR as the core critical tiger habitat in 2007. However, acting on the criteria of the Centre, that an area to be accorded national park status must be completely inviolate and free from human habitation and movement of domestic animals, the Forest department notified an area of 845.70 sq km, mostly in Similipal south division, as the national park. The core of Similipal that consisted of six villages - Jamunagada, Kabatghai, Bakua, Barahkamuda and Bahaghar - posed a bigger challenge for national park notification for decades. Though the government succeeded in shifting Jenabil, Kabatghai Barahakamuda, Bahaghar and Jamunagada villages, around 61 families continued to inhabit Bakua. Keeping this in view, Bakua has been kept out of the national park area of 845 sq km, sources said. The notification issued by the department came after the statutory 60-day proclamation period issued by Mayurbhanj district administration was complied last year. Deputy director of STR south Samrat Gowda said national park status is a major recognition for Similipal. 'Apart from empowering us to strongly enforce laws, it will also help seek more funds for strengthening protection measures in the tiger habitat,' he added. Till now Bhitarkanika held the status of being the lone national park in the state. Established as a wildlife sanctuary in 1975, the mangrove ecosystem had been designated as a national park in 1998.
New Indian Express
24-04-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Similipal becomes India's 107th national park, largest in Odisha
BHUBANESWAR: After a wait lasting decades, Similipal has been accorded national park status, with a formal notification issued by the Odisha government on Thursday. An area of 845.70 sq km spread across 11 ranges of Similipal south and Similipal north divisions was declared as a national park, making it the second protected area to be declared a national park after Bhitarkanika in the state. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who made an announcement to this effect on Thursday, said Similipal is now the 107th national park in the country. It is also the largest national park in Odisha at 845.70 square km, he said. Hailing it as a landmark step towards conservation and the goal of 'Viksit Bharat and Viksit Odisha', Majhi said, "This long awaited declaration strengthens our ecological legacy, uplifts tribal aspirations and reaffirms Odisha's commitment to sustainable development." PCCF (wildlife) and chief wildlife warden (CWW) Prem Kumar Jha said the national park status to Similipal is a significant milestone in the conservation history of Odisha. 'The long pending proposal, originally initiated in 1980 and realised now, will be a big push for state's forest and wildlife conservation," he said. As per the notification of the Forest, Environment and Climate Change (FE&CC) department, the 845.70 square km of Similipal National Park is spread over Pithabata north, Pithabata south, Nawana, Jenabil, Upper Barahkamuda, national park, and Bhanjabasa ranges of Similipal south division and Barehipani, Chahala, Nawana North and Talabandha ranges of Similipal north division. Similipal, the state's biggest tiger reserve, has 55 species of mammals, 361 species of birds, 62 species of reptiles and 21 species of amphibians. It is spread over 2,750 square km, including around 2,306 sq km that forms Similipal wildife sanctuary. The state had notified 1,194.75 sq km of STR as the core critical tiger habitat in 2007. However, acting on the criteria of the Centre, that an area to be accorded national park status must be completely inviolate and free from human habitation and movement of domestic animals, the forest department notified an area of 845.70 sq km, mostly in Similipal south division, as the national park. The core of Similipal that consisted of six villages - Jamunagada, Kabatghai, Bakua, Barahkamuda and Bahaghar - posed a bigger challenge for national park notification for decades. Though the government succeeded in shifting Jenabil, Kabatghai Barahakamuda, Bahaghar and Jamunagada villages, around 61 families continued to inhabit Bakua. Keeping this in view, Bakua has been kept out of the national park area of 845 sq km, sources said. The notification issued by the department came after the statutory 60-day proclamation period issued by the Mayurbhanj district administration was complied with last year. Deputy director of STR south Samrat Gowda said national park status is a major recognition for Similipal. "Apart from empowering us to strongly enforce laws, it will also help seek more funds for strengthening protection measures in the tiger habitat," he said. Till now, Bhitarkanika held the status of being the lone national park in the state. Established as a wildlife sanctuary in 1975, the mangrove ecosystem had been designated as a national park in 1998.
