Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Cattle Killing by Lions

31-12-2008

Cattle Killing by Lions

All News Paper

Print Edition

 

Leopard kills 36 sheeps at Nana Ankodia Village near Amreli. A leopard (assumed to be leopard from pugmarks) jumped 7ft high thorny bush and killed 36 sheeps in house of Maldhari Bholabhai Sindhabhai Gamara. There were about 70 sheeps in total. (Source : Gujarat Samachar 16-12-2008)

 

In one more common incidence, a lion killed 12 sheeps at Aelampur village near Una in Gir East. When the owner Maldhari Rajabhai Vijabhai woke up, he tried to scare away the lion by stick. In turn lionn attacked him too. Raja is admitted to hospital for treatment. (Source : Divya Bhaskar 20-12-2008)

 

Pride of 6 lions killed a Bull near Dalkhania, 12 kms away from Dhari in Gir E. The kill being on a hillock on roadside, hundreds of people gathered for 'Sinh – Darshan'. (Source : Divya Bhaskar 22-12-2008)

Protective lionesses kill leopard in Gir

29-12-2008

Protective lionesses kill leopard in Gir

Times of India

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Client.asp?Daily=TOIA&login =default &Enter =true&Skin =TOI &GZ=T

 

Dhari (Gir): In a rare incident, a female leopard is believed to have been killed by lionesses on the outskirts of Gadhia village in Dalkhania range of Gir. The carcass was recovered on Sunday morning. At least three lionesses, moving together, may have killed the leopard for venturing too close to their cubs, believe foresters.

 

Officials found lion saliva on the leopard's wounds and pug marks of three lionesses, along with cubs', near the carcass.

 

"I had seen three lionesses late on Saturday evening taking shelter in my farm along with their very young cubs. The cubs were so young, the lionesses were carrying them in their mouths," says farmer Apabhai at whose farm the leopard was killed.

 

"Late at night, I heard wild cries of some big cats, making it evident that a battle was raging. In the morning, I found the dead leopard and informed the forest department," he added.

 

Chief forest conservator Bharat Pathak says, "All big cats are fiercely protective of their offspring. Lions are known to kill leopards in territorial fights. Though there is no confirmation, it could be motherly concern for the new-born cubs that might have provoked the lionesses."

 

Forest officials have sent the leopard's carcass to Jasadhar village veterinary hospital for postmortem.

 

About three years ago in Dalkhaniya range, an old leopard and a young lion had died after a fierce territorial fight.

 

"As the latest incident happened late in the night, we have no visual confirmation of the number of lions," said Manish Raja, divisional forest officer of Dhari. "Based on canine marks on the leopard's body, we can confirm these were marks of a lion."

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Lions cause traffic chaos on Una-Gadhadha road

25-12-2008

Lions cause traffic chaos on Una-Gadhadha road

Times of India

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Client.asp?Daily=TOIA&login=defa ult&Enter= true&Skin =TOI &GZ =T&AW=1230216163265

 

Ahmedabad: This was a traffic that just wanted to stay jammed. On Monday night, traffic on Una-Gir Gadadha road in Junagadh district, froze for a couple of hours and nobody seemed to mind it. After all, not everyday do you get to see a lion and lioness parked in the middle of a road enjoying the cool evening breeze.

 

This couple was spotted sitting near Dholiwav village on Una-Gadadha road around 8 pm. Drivers who saw them stood some 500 metres away, soaking in the sight. Eyewitnesses said that as the news spread, people gathered around, careful not to breach the romantic moment. Amit Unadkat who also went to watch the lions told TOI, "For the past few days, one can see a group of lions moving near Ramdechi village, about two km from Talala. The spotting of lions here is quite common."

 

Rajesh Patel, also a resident of Gir Gadadha said that seeing the two big cats, he immediately called some of his friends. "People were sensitive enough not to disturb the couple. There was a lot of noise, but the duo seemed not to mind," he said. It was nearly a couple of hours before the lions decided it was time to go back into the jungle, and the engines revved up to proceed.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Nailing poachers, a first for Gujarat

20-12-2008

Nailing poachers, a first for Gujarat

Times of India

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Daily/skins/TOI/navigator.asp?Daily=TOIA&login=default

 

KESHAV KUMAR

 

Ten Asiatic lions were poached between March and April 2007 in Junagadh and Amreli districts and initially, three different offences were registered. To begin with, they were investigated by Forests department. However, with registering of successive offences and the toll increasing to 10 lions, state government handed over the investigation to CID crime, which was investigating a case related to wildlife for the first time.

 

The case assumed importance as lions were poached for the first time in the country. Also, poaching of 10 lions at a stretch revealed international dimensions because there is no market for their body parts in India. For police officers in Gujarat investigating this wildlife crime, there was hardly any precedent to know the criminals and their modus-operandi. It was thus a blind case to investigate. NGOs like Wildlife Protection Society of India and Wildlife Trust of India came to the rescue in identifying poachers and their profile. All the information was pooled and dispatched to district units and finally all these efforts led to the arrest of poachers of 'Baheliya' from Madhya Pradesh.

 

Then began the process of collecting evidence under the close supervision of forensic experts. Forensic evidence from matchstick, button, bandage, footprints, eatables, weapons, blood splatters, clothes, nails, utensils, excreta (of children) etc., finally led to arrest of poachers. Subsequently polygraph and narco-analysis of the accused was undertaken. Special public prosecutors from trial court to the Supreme Court were appointed to fight the case. None of the 20 accused arrested were able to secure bail in any of the court due to the solid investigation. The links of the poachers were found in Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka. Evidence led to the arrest of a trader from Karnataka called Prabhakar Gaza Kosh. Arrest was also made of Shabbir Hussein Qureshi in Lucknow. Enforcement Directorate of UP have registered a case of money laundering against him and seized his entire property. Enforcement Directorate, Ahmedabad is shortly to begin such an investigation against the accused here. This was the first case of wildlife crime where 20 accused were convicted at a national level in one go due to forensic evidence. No case of poaching has been reported thereafter. (The writer, an IPS officer, headed the CID crime when investigation was being conducted into the lion poaching case)

 

It was a rare conviction for wildlife crime in India by a senior division judicial magistrate first class court of Junagadh in October 2008. Twenty people, including three women, were sentenced to three years imprisonment with Rs 10,000 fine each, for poaching lions in the Gir forest of Gujarat.

Lion couple blocks main road

20-12-2008

Lion couple blocks main road

Divya Bhaskar

Briefly translated from Gujarati

 

Lions are straying far and far from Gir forest recently. A lion couple blocked Una-Gir Gadhda road near Dholiwaw village. Traffic was jammed in the evening.

Friday, December 19, 2008

Maldharis to be shifted out of Barda

19-12-2008

Maldharis to be shifted out of Barda

Times of India By Himanshu Kaushik

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Daily/skins/TOI/navigator.asp?Daily=TOIA&login=default

 

Gandhinagar: The Gir lions are one step closer to getting a new home. The state forest department has speeded up its plan to shift some of the endangered Asiatic lions to Barda Dungar sanctuary.

 

The department completed survey of Maldharis and have finally sent a proposal to the state government to relocate these families outside the sanctuary, said conservator of forest, Junagadh, MM Sharma. A senior official said, "In all, there are some 1,400 Maldhari families who will be shifted outside the sanctuary. Shifting of families would get funding from the Central government." The official said the department has identified alternative land for their relocation in Jam Jodhpur, Kutiyana, Upleta, Dhoraji and Gondal. The forest department has proposed land for construction of houses, area to keep individual cattle and also a place where the Maldharis would have the right to graze their cattle. The official said for every 100 families, there would be a dispensary. Apart from these, there would be a school building and roads. Sources said each family will get a compensation, which will be fixed by the government.

 

The forest department is proposing Rs 1 lakh as compensation for each family. Once the state government approves the proposal, it would be sent to the Centre. The relocation may take another six months and by December 2009, the lions would be shifted to Barda.

‘Hyena killed sheep’

19-12-2008

'Hyena killed sheep'

Times of India

 

Forest officials have revealed that it was not  a leopard but a hyena which killed 36 sheep recently in a cattle yard in Nana Ankadiya village near Amreli. Interestingly, the investigations also indicated that many of these sheep died out of fear. "Earlier, we found pug marks of a leopard near the yard and suspected it to be behind the death of 36 sheep found lying in a pool of blood in the cattle yard of Bhola Gamara on Sunday night. However, during our probe on Tuesday, we found pug marks of a hyena and marks of a sheep being dragged to a nearby bush," said a forest official. "However, the hyena injured only 10 sheep, the rest of them died out of scare," the official said.

Project Asiatic Lion, just like Project Tiger

18-12-2008

Project Asiatic Lion, just like Project Tiger

Divya Bhaskar

Briefly translated by Gujarati

 

Few months before Gujarat Chief Minister had requested central Govt. for Projection Lion like Project Tiger. On receiving favorable response Govt. of Gujarat has sent two proposals of Rs. 82 (62 + 20) crores to ministry of Environment & Forest, New Delhi After studying of the proposal central Govt. will release the fund in about 1 – 11/2   months. At present this is under consideration by planning commission     

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

How sleuths using forensic science cracked killings of 10 Gir lions

16-12-2008

How sleuths using forensic science cracked killings of 10 Gir lions

Thaindian News

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/how-sleuths-using-forensic-science-cracked-killings-of-10-gir-lions_100131371.html

 

Ahmedabad, Dec 16 (IANS) It was a macabre serial crime. Ten killings in over a month and the killers had melted away in the darkness of the dense jungle. But a dogged Criminal Investigation Department of Gujarat Police that probed the killings of 10 Gir lions was able to crack their first wildlife case, using conventional forensic methods, and nab the criminals.In early 2007, in a span of 35 days 10 lions were killed in three different incidents in the sprawling Gir wildlife sanctuary in western India. "Only two claws were recovered," says Keshav Kumar, Inspector General of Police, Prisons, who prosecuted the case.

 

"After a lacklustre probe by the forest department, the CID Crime was called and I was asked to head the probe," Kumar, who had served for four long years in CID Crime, told IANS.

 

"There were many firsts to the case. It was a wildlife crime investigation case that was given to the police CID Crime to investigate. None of the accused was released on bail until conviction - a national record as in most wildlife crime cases bail is granted within 15 days," said Kumar.

 

In October, 20 people, including three women, were sentenced to three years' imprisonment along with Rs.10,000 fine each for poaching lions in the Gir forest of Gujarat.

 

It was a rare conviction for wildlife crime in India by the court of a Senior Division Judicial Magistrate First Class of Junagadh.

 

Speaking to IANS about his experiences in handling the wildlife crime, Kumar said, "When I began I knew nothing about wildlife crime though I had 23 years' expertise in solving conventional crimes with orthodox police training. I therefore sought the help of wildlife crime investigation experts, wildlife NGOs and expert help from the forensic lab."

 

"It was then that I contacted Belinda Wright, who heads the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI). She told me to focus on hazel-eyed Baheliyas, a tribal community of Madhya Pradesh, that specializes in poaching activities at an all India level."

 

"But how was I to recognise a Baheliya? Belinda told me that foul smell emanated from these people as they rarely took bath and usually pitched tents on the roadside selling exotic herbs. Their womenfolk looked different in ghaghras (full length skirts). She said they hid their instruments in potholes dug behind the tents," Kumar said.

 

"My early focus was in Junagadh and my team picked up 55 suspects in the Junagadh Range… It was also for the first time that blood splatter analysis was done to reconstruct the scene of crime," Kumar said.

 

He was given a full forensic team and deputy director who camped with him in the jungle for 15 days. It soon paid off.

 

"From Baheliya women in custody we found two lion claws. There was lion blood in the finger nails of their menfolk. The claws, the clothes and other things were sent to the forensic lab. I prepared the case systematically," Kumar said.

 

As the case progressed the defence wanted bail on grounds of the accused being very poor.

 

"Baheliyas are known to jump bail and they cannot be traced as they are nomads," Supreme Court lawyer Sudhir Mishra, appointed legal consultant for the case, told the apex court.

 

"I too pointed to the court that lion's blood was found on the finger nails of the Baheliyas and further investigation is on, including polygraph and narco-analysis. The bail was cancelled. It was for the first time all lower courts and session courts had rejected their bail applications," Kumar said.

 

Why did the culprits, who included the notorious Circus Lal of Madhya Pradesh, go for lions instead of tigers? "This is the first known case in India in which the lions were hunted for trade. Tigers are the first preference as each part of it is highly valuable. But with tigers disappearing, the poachers thought that lions would have to do, and secondly it is difficult to differentiate the parts of the two species," Kumar said.

 

"The tools of conventional forensic methods were used for the first time in wildlife crime and it is Kumar who deserves full credit ultimately in cracking the case," Samir Sinha, country head of Traffic India, which is part of WWF Delhi, told IANS.

 

Discussing another wildlife case, he said the Karnataka government had recently held one Prabhakar and seized from him Rs.12.5 million worth of tiger skins, claws and teeth. A fortnight before that, a notorious smuggler Shabbir Hassan Qureshi was apprehended by the Uttar Pradesh police from Lucknow and 17 tiger skins and 100 tiger bones, worth Rs.20 million, were recovered. A team went from Gujarat to Uttar Pradesh.

 

Qureshi, who was nabbed Nov 25, was interestingly booked under the Money Laundering Act along with the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

 

"Unlike the Wildlife Act, fixing Shabbir Hassan Qureshi under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) was quick and effective as it involved only paper work," said Rajeshwar, assistant director in the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Lucknow.

 

Speaking to IANS from Lucknow, Rajeshwar said it was a new dimension to book an accused of wildlife crimes also under the PMLA. "PMLA results in faster conviction in almost 100 percent cases," he said.

Lion attacks farmer in Dhari

16-12-2008

Lion attacks farmer in Dhari

Times of India

 

A lion attacked a farm labourer, injuring him grievously at his farm in Dangavadar near Bharad in Dhari taluka. As per details, the lion pounced on Vallabh Bhura from behind while he was watering his field and pulled off 2 inches of flesh away from his body. Hearing his screams, people came running and scared away the lion. Bhura was rushed to a hospital in Dhari, where his condition is stated to be serious.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Seven liquor breweries raided in Gir sanctuary

13-12-2008

Seven liquor breweries raided in Gir sanctuary

Times of India

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Daily/skins/TOI/navigator.asp?Daily=TOIA&logi n=default& AW =1229162 64 7796

 

Junagadh: Forest officials on Friday raided seven liquor breweries and recovered a cache of over a 1,000 litre of illegal country-made liquor from Gir sanctuary on Friday.

 

According to local crime branch (LCB) officials, a team led by police inspector JK Jhala swooped down on the area behind Wilingdon Dam in Datar Hill area and raided seven liquor breweries. "The raid yielded 200 litres of country liquor and 10,300 litres of raw material. This apart, equipment worth Rs 29,000 was also recovered from the breweries," said an LCB official.

 

"However, liquor mafia including Devayat Rabari, Karshan Rabari, Manu Rabari, Parbat Rabari, Manda Rabari, Naresh Rabari and Arjan Rabari fled before police could catch them," the official said. The raid put a question on the forest department's claim of maintaining law and order in the sanctuary. This is the first major haul of liquor from the area which is thronged by more than 10 lakh pilgrims at least twice a year. This is the same Datar Hill area where Chandni rape-and-murder case was reported oneand-half years ago.

79 Asiatic lions die in past two years

11-12-2008

79 Asiatic lions die in past two years

Press Trust of India

http://www.ptinews.com/pti/ptisite.nsf/0/5A224005E0E210916525751C00542694?OpenDocument

 

New Delhi, Dec 11 (PTI) At least 79 Asiatic lions have died in Gir forest alone in Gujarat in the last two years since 2006, Environment minister S Reghupathy told the Lok Sabha.

According to Reghupathy, while 24 lions died in 2006, another 55 died in 2007. Out of the total deaths, as many as 50 died due to natural reasons such as old age while 13 animals died accidentally felling into wells in the area during the two years, he said.

 

The Minister, who was replying to a written question, said in 2007, six cases of electrocution and eight poaching incidents were also reported.

 

"As per information received from the state government, the population of Asiatic lion, based on the census carried out in 2005, is approximately 359 in Brihat Gir region of Gujarat," Reghupathy added.

 

The Minister said as part of its effort to protect the animal, the state government has taken several steps such as augmenting manpower, increased mobility of staff by providing motorcycles and other vehicles, better communication between the personnel and gathering support of local residents. PTI

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Should Acacia trees be cut?

10-12-2008

Should Acacia trees be cut?

Divya Bhaskar

Briefly translated from Gujarati

 

Accia (Gando Baval) trees are fast spreeding in Savarkundla area surround Gir East forest. This is favourite Labitate for Lions as sources say. It may happen that further these type may start thickening the forest. Since about 20 years trees are not cut inside the forest area.

Carcass of Leopard found

10-12-2008

Carcass of Leopard found

Gujarat Samachar

Briefly translated from Gujarati

 

A carcass of Leopard was found in Ambardi forest near Dhari. It is expected that leopard had died about 15-20 days back. Hence it is not possible to ascertain cause of death, forest officials said.

Thursday, December 04, 2008

Hyena attacks 4 in Savarkundala village

02-12-2008

Hyena attacks 4 in Savarkundala village

Times of India

 

A hyena that strayed into Abhrampara village of Savarkundala bit four people on Sunday night. The injured, including a woman and her daughter, were admitted to hospitals in Rajkot and Ahmedabad. According to forest department officials, Amba Wakeriya was attacked when he was driving his motorcycle near Abhrampara. "The hyena jumped at Amba and bit his leg while he kept on driving the vehicle," said a forest officials. "Later, the same animal entered the orchard of Naresh Donga (25) and bit him. After this, the hyena went to the adjoining orchard and attacked two women-Mukta Nashit(42) and her daughter Alphana(20)," the official said. "The victims were rushed to hospitals for emergency anti-rabies treatment. Meanwhile, we have set up cages to trap the hyena at different spots on the village outskirts," he said.

Monday, December 01, 2008

Cattle Killing by Lions

30-11-2008

Cattle Killing by Lions

All News Paper

Print Edition

 

Pride of lions injured two cows at Radha Vallabh Gushala on Fareda Road in Gir Gadhda in Gir East (Source : Gujarat Samachar 21-11-2008)

 

Lion couple jumped 7ft high compound wall and killed a calf around 11PM. Incidence happened Punja Bhagwan's home in Lor village near Jafrabad in Greater Gir. (Source : Divya Bhaskar 21-11-2008)

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