Nature Initiative Kerala

Showing posts with label Forest and Wildlife Department. Show all posts

Kerala Assembly passes forest, wildlife amendment Bills

tHE HINDU BUREAU,

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, october 9, 2025

Indigenous know-how to mitigate wildlife conflicts

THE HINDU BUREAU,

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, January 3, 2025

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary hitches wagon to star tortoises

Ignatius Pereira, KOLLAM
The Hindu, May 08, 2017

An ambitious project of the Kerala Forest Department at the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS) to rehabilitate Indian star tortoises (Geochelone elegans) seized from smugglers has turned into a major success. This makes the CWS the only rehabilitation centre for star tortoises in the country.
The CWS is the only place in Kerala where star tortoises are known to occur in the wild. The sanctuary is now a haven for at least 450 such tortoises seized from poachers in less than two years. The success of the programme is so overwhelming that the star tortoise has turned into an icon of the sanctuary.
It all began in August 2015 when Customs sleuths of the Nedumbassery International Airport seized an out-of-the-ordinary consignment that contained 200 star tortoises meant for an east Asian destination. In these regions, live Indian star tortoises are considered auspicious for gaining wealth. It is the reason why Indian star tortoises, which are protected under the Wildlife Act, are poached and smuggled. Seized consignments have to be handed over to the Forest Department under law but it led to the question of where to release them.
Fearing they would perish in a zoo or a forest area where they cannot adapt naturally, the CWS authorities created a special project under the Wildlife Warden of the Eravikulam National Park G. Prasad, and CWS’ Assistant Wildlife Warden P.M. Prabhu.

Species indentification

The tortoises were then kept under quarantine for 30 days at Chinnar, where they were scientifically identified as a southern Indian species, Mr. Prasad said, adding, “This was important to avoid mixing of genetically different populations since there was also a western Indian species inhabiting Gujarat and Rajasthan.” Mr. Prasad said that species identification is done through a molecular genetics process.
Rehabilitation partly adopts the ‘soft releasing’ process in which randomly selected tortoises are taken to the wild in an enclosure from which they may enter the forest at will.
The enclosures are monitored to prevent attacks by wild animals, and after the entire batch leaves, the enclosures are removed, Mr. Prasad said.
He added that during the quarantine period, the natural food preferences of star tortoises were identified and found to include a herb locally known as thazhuthama, and a particular variety of cactus found abundantly inside the CWS.

Project to conserve vultures in Wayanad

E.M. Manoj, KALPETTA
The Hindu, March 14, 2016

The Forest and Wildlife Department has launched a comprehensive project to conserve the existing vulture population in the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, a major habitat of different species of vultures in South India.

The Union Ministry of Environment and Forest has earmarked Rs.50 lakh for the project and it has sanctioned Rs.30 lakh this fiscal, Promod G. Krishnan, Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife), told The Hindu .

Awareness programmes planned

“We are planning awareness programmes, continuous monitoring of the birds, year-round protection to the nests, and will also ensure availability of food for the scavenger bird,” he said

“We have already identified the habitats of two species, including the white-rumped and red-headed vultures, in three forest ranges,” P. Dhaneshkumar, warden of the sanctuary said.

The sanctuary has procured 51 infrared cameras for watching the movements of the birds, he said.

“As many as 25 tribal watchers have been selected for monitoring the birds and they will be provided special training,” he said.

Special programmes

Awareness programmes will be organised for villagers and students on the significance of conserving the scavenger bird.

Special awareness programmes will be organised for veterinarians and medical shopkeepers on the misuse of drug diclofenac, responsible for the dramatic fall in vulture population in the country.

The department has started preparing pamphlets, posters and documentaries for the purpose. “We are also planning to leave the carcasses of wild animals for the birds instead of cremating or burning them, with the support of villagers and vulture watchers,” Mr. Dhaneshkumar added.

E.M. MANOJ KALPETTA,
The Hindu, February 20, 2016
The Forest and Wildlife Department has launched an operation to attach radio collar on rogue elephants in the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (WWS) to keep them off human settlements.

“We are planning to attach radio collar telemeter on rouge elephants after tranquillising them, for which the department had identified two jumbos, a tusker and a makhana (male elephant without tusks), in Sulthan Bathery and Tholpetty ranges,” P. Dhaneshkumar, warden in charge of WWS, toldThe Hindu .

“Radio collaring will help constant monitoring of the marauding elephants and local people could be warned about their entry into farms and habitats. The radio signals sent by the device would also be used for studying the movement pattern and behaviour of elephants in general,” he said.

The World Wildlife Fund has supplied three radio collars, each costing around Rs.3 lakh, free of cost to the department after importing them from South Africa.

A team of wildlife experts, including C.S. Jayakumar, Forest Veterinary Surgeon; Arun Zachariah, Assistant Professor, Centre for Wildlife Studies, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, and Jijimon, Assistant Forest Veterinary Officer, had tracked a wild tusker on Friday in the Ponkuzhy section of the WWS to fix the radio collar telemeter on it. But their attempt failed as the jumbo hid among bushes along with its herd. Though the team had applied two tranquilliser darts on it, it was deflected, Mr. Dhaneshkumar said adding that the operation would continue on Saturday.

Earlier, in 2011, a wild elephant had been successfully fixed with a radio collar telemeter in the sanctuary.

Survey reveals butterfly diversity of Wayanad

T. Nandakumar Thiruvananthapuram,
The Hindu, January 12, 2016

A three-day butterfly survey organised by the Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) and the Forest and Wildlife Department in North Wayanad has revealed 178 species, including at least four rare species. The survey which covered portions of the North Wayanad forest division, Wayanad wildlife sanctuary and South Wayanad forest division was conducted to document the butterfly diversity of the region and understand their role as indicators of the state of the environment.

As many as 43 species of skippers, 44 species of blues, 15 species of swallow tails, 19 white and yellows and 57 species of brush-footed butterflies were recorded. The Sahyadri Banded Tail was first recorded from the region. Rare species like the Danaid egg fly, Crimson Rose and Malabar Banded Swallow Tail were sighted from Mattilayam, Periya and Kuruva island. As many as 180 people, including 40 students, from various biodiversity clubs in Wayanad district, 19 experts, six officials from KSBB and nine Forest staff participated in the survey. The expert team included Muhammed Jaffer Palot, senior scientist, Zoological Survey of India; Balakrishnan Valappil; Chandrasekharan Koyilandi; and Pavithran Vadakara.

The participants were split into 15 groups to cover different transect each day. Each group consisted of one or more experts, forest watchers and staff from KSBB. A datasheet and detailed species checklist were prepared for each transect. The photographs of all the butterflies have been filed.

K.P. Laladhas, member secretary, KSBB, said the survey was part of a study to assess the migration pattern of butterflies and use it as a tool to formulate conservation strategies.

Climate change issues

“Apart from understanding the biological behaviour of the species, the study will also help to assess how climate change influences mass migration. The findings of the survey will be linked to other data like climate parameters to draw inferences”, he said.

“In many countries, butterflies are recognised as environmental indicators for their sensitive response to habitat and climate changes,” says Oommen V. Oommen, chairman, KSBB. He said periodic surveys would be conducted to keep the data up to date.

Survey spots 51 odonate species in Munnar

Radhakrishnan Kuttoor, PATHANAMTHITTA
The Hindu, October 26, 2015

The four-day odonate survey, organised by the Kerala Forest and Wildlife Department in association with the Kottayam Nature Society and Travancore Natural History Society, has identified 51 species of dragon and damsel flies in the high altitude Munnar landscape.

G. Prasad, Wildlife Warden at Munnar, told The Hindu that Davenport’s False Spreadwing, Red Veined Darter, Laidlaw’s Clawtail and Plain Sinuate Clubtail were the rare sightings during the survey that came to a close on Saturday.

Of the 51 species identified, 44 were spotted in the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary. Survey teams observed large-scale migration of Global Wanderer (commonly known as ‘Onathumbi’) at the Kurinjimala and Chinnar wildlife sanctuaries, he said. Acccording to Tom Augustine of the Kottayam Nature Society, these dragon flies migrate all across the Indian sub-continent in the monsoon winds and cross the Arabian Sea to Africa. Travancore Torrent Dart, Blue Darner, Coorg Bambootail and Blue-tailed Forest Hawk were also recorded during the survey, he said.

Mr Prasad said the study of the odonates was important as they were good indicators of environment and habitat quality and the survey results too amply indicated the same. The survey teams could spot only 11 species at Kurinjimala wildlife sanctuary, which is a disturbed habitat because of its wattle plantation and agricultural lands, he said.

B. Sreekumar, KNS president, said pollution of water bodies due to agricultural chemicals posed a big threat to dragon flies.

The survey was led by Kalesh Sadasivan, Kiran C.G, David V. Raju, and Toms Augustine. Prabhu P.M, and Siby K. E, Assistant Wildlife Wardens, monitored the survey team under the guidance of Mr. Prasad.

Forest Dept. stretching beyond its limit

Sarath Babu George,

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM,
The Hindu, October 6, 2015

The Forest and Wildlife Department has been stretching the resources under its disposal for finding vital leads in the elephant poaching case.

However, the limitations have now threatened to hinder the progress of investigation.

Boost to probe

The arrests of Umesh Agarwal from Delhi and Rajan alias Eagle Rajan on Sunday from Thiruvananthapuram will boost the ongoing probe carried out by the department.

However, the probe has reached a point where the assistance of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has become crucial.

“We have done our best to bring those responsible for the ivory trade to book. However, despite having done much of the ground work, further progress will be possible only with the help of an agency such as the CBI as the purview of the investigation will have to be extended beyond the boundaries of the State,” a senior official, who is part of the investigating team, told The Hindu .

Recounting the efforts put in to nab Umesh Agarwal, a key accused in the case, the official said the assistance of the Delhi police had to be sought for his arrest.

“Though we were given a flight to the Cochin International Airport from New Delhi, the accused feigned discomfort to slow us down. This compelled us to seek medical assistance to ensure his good health. We were left with no option but to board a flight to Bengaluru and later, another one to Coimbatore. A team of officials from the Malayatoor forest division were entrusted with the task of bringing the accused from Coimbatore. When working outside our jurisdiction, we are often forced to overcome such eventualities and also incur unforeseen expenses,” he said.

According to him, while the department has ensured much progress in the case, the CBI would have to undertake a peripheral role, especially while apprehending those from outside the State. The mystery surrounding the death of Aickara Vasu, one of the prime accused, has also necessitated a CBI probe. Official sources said that over 20 guns, large quantities of gunpowder, and iron spikes that were used to torture and hunt down elephants have been recovered so far.

While official statistics said that 18 elephants had been poached within two years, unconfirmed reports pointed towards a larger figure.

Over 50 persons had been arrested in connection with the case, sources said.

Butterfly survey spots 206 species in Munnar

Radhakrishnan Kuttoor, PATHANAMTHITTA
The Hindu, September 30, 2015

The first ever comprehensive butterfly survey held in the Munnar wildlife division has spotted as many as 206 new species. The three-day survey, conducted by the Kerala Forest Department in association with the Travancore Natural History Society (TNHS) and the Kottayam Nature Society (KNS), came to a close on Sunday.

According to G. Prasad, wildlife warden at Munnar, the survey team has systematically reviewed the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary as well as the four national parks of Mathikettan Shola, Pampadum Shola, Anamudy Shola and the Kurinjimala wildlife sanctuary. He said 15 strategically located base camps, covering all the habitats, had been set up as part of the survey. Mr. Prasad said the highest number was recorded at Mathikettan Shola with 148 species, closely followed by the Chinnar wildlife sanctuary with 141 species. The Anamudi Shola recorded 94 species and Pampadum Shola had 88 species.

Migration of Common Emigrant, Common Albatross, Common Crow, Double Branded Crow, and Great Eggfly was noted in Chinnar and Kurunjimala sanctuaries. The highlights of the survey in the Shola national parks included Eversheds Ace, Indian Awlking, Nilgiri Four Ring, Broad-tailed Royal, Pale Green Awlet, Sullied Sailor, Dirty Sailor and Anomalous Nawab, he said.

The noteworthy finding from Kurunjimala Sanctuary include the Palani or Davidson’s Bushbrown, which is an endemic butterfly seen only in and around the Palani hills. This grassland species was recorded at Kadavari region.

Mr. Prasad said the largest butterfly in India, Southern Birdwing, was sighted at Kurunjimala and Pampadum Shola and the smallest butterfly, Grass Jewel, was sighted in the Chinnar sanctuary.

The other important sightings at the Kurinjimala were Palni Fritillary, Palni Four-ring, Yellow Striped Hedge Hopper and Nilgiri Clouded Yellow, all endemic butterflies of Western Ghats,

The sightings in Chinnar wildlife sanctuary included the Coorg Forest Hopper which is an endemic butterfly of Western Ghats and Nilgiri Tit, a very rare and exclusive butterfly of low elevation dry habitat, said Mr. Prasad.

With this survey, the checklist of Chinnar wildlife sanctuary has touched 222 butterfly species.

Counting Munnar’s winged beauties

Radhakrishnan Kuttoor
Pathanamthitta,
The Hindu, September 23, 2015

The Kerala Forest and Wildlife Department is to launch the first-ever comprehensive and scientific survey of butterflies in the Munnar landscape soon. The three-day survey will commence on Thursday, according to G. Prasad, wildlife warden at Munnar.

Mr. Prasad says the area is characterised by a wide variety of habitat, starting from the low-lying dry scrub jungles of the Chinnar wildlife sanctuary to the ascending peaks with shola forests in the four adjoining shola national parks and the Eravikulam National Park with vast spreads of grasslands.

There is also a wide gradient of altitude, temperature, and vegetation, which all put a lepidopteran enthusiast in great excitement.

The survey

As many as 60 butterfly enthusiasts, including Kalesh Sadasivan of the Travancore Natural History Society and B. Sreekumar and Toms Augastine of the Kottayam Nature Society, will be participating in the butterfly survey, says Mr. Prasad.

E. Kunhikrishnan, senior wildlife biologist, will be the programme coordinator and Mr. Prasad will lead the survey to be held at the Chinnar wildlife sanctuary as well as the four national parks of Mathikettan shola, Pampadum shola, Anamudy shola, and the Kurinjimala wildlife sanctuary. All the four shola national parks and the Chinnar wildlife sanctuary will be systematically surveyed by establishing 14 strategic base-camps covering all the elevations and habitats. The data will be gathered using structured checklists and data sheets and critically analysed with GPS readings, says Mr. Prasad.

Butterfly calendar

For the first time in the world, the Wildlife division at Munnar has made attempts to prepare a butterfly calendar for the Chinnar wildlife sanctuary this year, he says. So far, as many as 208 butterfly species, including 58 new species, have been identified in the Chinnar wildlife sanctuary alone, he says.

Nilgiri Clouded Yellow, Nilgiri Fritillary, Palni Four-ring — all rare and endemic to the Western Ghats, Davisons Bush Brown and Red Disk Bush Brown, which are endemic to the Southern Ghats, are a few of the rare butterfly species identified in Chinnar.

The survey results are expected to be published during the Wildlife Week celebrations to be held from October 2 to 8.

Greens oppose move to plant teak in forest

E.M. Manoj
KALPETTA,
The Hindu, June 10, 2015

A strong protest is brewing against the alleged move of the Forest and Wildlife Department to replant monocrops on two pieces of forestland in the North Wayanad forest division in the district.

The department has prepared nearly 22 hectares of reserve forestland at Irumbu Palam, near Thurunelly, in the Begur forest range and 14.5 hectares at Kunhome in the Mananthavady range for replanting monocrops such as teak and mangium, N. Badusha, president, Wayanad Prakruthi Samrakshana Samiti, has alleged.

Such a move will adversely affect the biodiversity of the district, he said.

Mr. Badusha said monoculture plantation would increase man-animal conflict.

It would also worsen water scarcity and speed up desertification, a phenomena that had begun in villages in the district on the border with Karnataka.

The total forest area of the district, he said, was 1,100 sq km, of which nearly 350 sq km had been planted with monocrops such as teak and eucalyptus after clear felling the natural forest.

Teak wood had been planted on 50,000 hectares of forestland as monoculture in the State, of which 30,000 hectares was in Wayanad, he said.

The unique climate and biodiversity of the land had changed drastically after the planting of monocrops in the forest, E.K. Sakeer Husain, secretary, Green Cross, an environmental organisation, said. It had also increased man-animal conflict in the past two decades.

Bird survey points to rise in temperature in Pathanamthitta

The Hindu, January 21, 2015
PATHANAMTHITTA

The sighting of a bluethroat, a flock of glossy ibis, and a dozen Asian openbill in Pathanamthitta during the Asian Waterbird Survey of the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) is indicative of the increasing atmospheric temperature in the region. These birds are normally found in dry wetlands with high atmospheric temperature.

The survey was conducted jointly by the WWF-India, Kerala chapter and the Social Forestry wing of the Forests and Wildlife Department at five locations — Thonnallur, near Pandalam; Karingalipuncha; Aranmula-Nalkalikkal wetlands; Pampa river at Aranmula; and Othera-Thiruvamanapuram wetlands — on Saturday, A.K. Sivakumar, project coordinator, said.

The survey found the Aranmula wetlands, which come under the disputed private airport project site, a very good waterbird habitat with more than 1,000 birds belongs to 22 species.

The maximum count was from Karingalipuncha with around 1,200 birds belongs to 33 species. The birders counted nearly 800 birds belonging to 39 species in the Thonnallur fields.

Mr. Sivakumar said around 600 birds were counted in the Othera-Thiruvamanapuram wetlands. Migratory birds such as common sandpiper, little-ringed plover, Pacific golden plover, green sandpiper, whiskered tern, glossy ibis, and black-winged stilts were reported from these areas.

River degradation

The sighting of an increased number of black kites in the Pampa at Aranmula indicated increased pollution owing to dumping of poultry waste. The sighting of whiskered terns, generally found in stagnant waters such as paddy fields, was also reported from the river, indicating the degradation of its ecosystem.

The census revealed a steady total bird count in the district. It highlighted the need to protect the wetlands for the existence of these birds and thereby, the agricultural sector and sustainable socio-economic status, he Mr. Sivakumar said.

Highest number of waterbirds recorded at Vembanad

TheHindu. January 20, 2015
KOTTAYAM,

The Vembanad Waterbird Count 2015, taken up by the Department of Forests and Wildlife and Kottayam Nature Society, has recorded highest number of wetland and wetland dependent birds ever recorded.

According to B. Sreekumar, coordinator, 57,828 birds have been sighted from the 10 sites surveyed. They belonged to 54 families, Dr Sreekumar said. This healthy development is, however, dependent on the huge number of ducks counted at Kaipuzhamuttu areas. The area has recorded 31,232 Northern Pintail ducks and 16,501 Lesser Whistling Ducks. It has also recorded the highest number of bird species at 34.

In fact, Kaipuzhamuttu areas has recorded a steady increase in the bird population, except in 2013, during the past five years. Bird species such as Oriental Darter and Black Headed Ibis were listed as ‘near threatened’ while the Greater Spotted Eagle was listed as ‘vulnerable’ as per the IUCN Red List, Dr Sreekumar said.

What was of concern was the fact that while Kaipuzhamuttu area registered the highest number of birds, the KTDC held Kumarakom Tourist complex area, which once boasted itself as one of the finest bird sanctuaries, had a lesser count at 182. Pathiramanal, another tourism spot, recorded the second lowest bird population at 507 while it also had the lowest number of bird species at 15. Dr. Sreekumar called for regular monitoring of the area especially during the migration season when thousands of birds descended on the paddy fields. He also called for introducing incentives for informants on poaching.

The bird count initiative had formally commenced on Saturday evening when 150 participants joined the base camp organised at the Regional Agriculture Research Station, Kumarakom. The actual survey was conducted from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Sunday morning in area that commences from Thollayiram Kayal near RARS to Nedumudy-Bhoothapandy area close to Alappuzha-Changanassery State Highway.

This year’s Vembanad conservation Award was presented to K. Binu, member, tree authority committee.

Kumkis sought to keep wild elephants at bay in Wayanad

E.M. Manoj
KALPETTA,
The Hindu, November 4, 2014

The State Forest and Wildlife Department is preparing to procure Kumki (trained) elephants from Karnataka to drive crop-raiding wild elephants back into forests in Wayanad district.

The State Chief Wildlife Warden had requested his counterpart in Karnataka for six trained elephants to tackle the wild elephant menace in the district a few months ago, and the latter had agreed in principle to transfer the elephants. “We are awaiting a formal letter from the Karnataka government for transfer of the elephants,” Pramod G. Krishnan, Conservator, Northern circle (Wildlife), Palakkad, told The Hindu .

The Karnataka Forest Department would also provide the services of mahouts till the Kerala Forest Department trained its mahouts for the purpose, he said.

The elephants would be kept permanently here, and it was expected that the Kumki elephant squad would tackle the increasing wild elephant menace up to an extent, Mr. Pramod said.

Though the Forest Department has two tamed elephants at the elephant kraal at Muthanga in the district, they are yet to be trained to drive the crop-raiding pachyderms back into the forests, Forest Department sources said.

When the crop raids had increased considerably a few months ago, the officials of the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary planned to attach radio collar on the pachyderms after tranquillizing them. As many as five wild elephants were identified in different forest divisions of the sanctuary.

However, the project could not materialise owing to the dearth of radio collars, which were to be supplied by the WWF free of cost after import from South Africa.

The WWF could not provide it in time owing to technical reasons, but we have requested them to provide as many as six radio collars for future use, the sources said.

14 ഇനം തുമ്പികളെ കണ്ടെത്തി

Mangalam, June 5 ,2014
കല്പറ്റ:

വനം-വന്യജീവി വകുപ്പ്‌ കോഴിക്കോട്‌ ആസ്‌ഥാനമായ മലബാര്‍ നാച്യുറല്‍ ഹിസ്‌റ്ററി സൊസൈറ്റിയുടെ സഹകരണത്തോടെ വയനാട്‌ വന്യജീവി സങ്കേതത്തില്‍ നടത്തിയ തുമ്പി സര്‍വേയില്‍ കണ്ടെത്തിയതില്‍ 14 ഇനങ്ങള്‍ പശ്‌ചിമഘട്ടത്തില്‍ മാത്രമുള്ളത്‌. വംശനാശ ഭീഷണി നേരിടുന്നവയാണ്‌ 14 ഇനം തുമ്പികളും. വയനാടന്‍ മുളവാലന്‍, കൂട്ടുമുളവാലന്‍, പുള്ളിവാലന്‍, ചോലക്കടുവ, പെരുവാലന്‍ കടുവ, പുഴക്കടുവ, നീലനീര്‍തോഴന്‍ തുടങ്ങി 14 തദ്ദേശീയ ഇനങ്ങളെയാണ്‌ സര്‍വേയില്‍ കണ്ടതെന്ന്‌ കോഡിനേറ്റര്‍ ഡോ.ജാഫര്‍ പാലോട്‌ പറഞ്ഞു. വന്യജീവി സങ്കേതത്തില്‍ തോല്‍പ്പെട്ടി, കുറിച്യാട്‌, മുത്തങ്ങ, ബത്തേരി റെയ്‌ഞ്ചുകളില്‍ എട്ടിടങ്ങളിലായി നടത്തിയ സര്‍വേയില്‍ 67 ഇനം തുമ്പികളെയാണ്‌ ആകെ കണ്ടത്‌. ഇതില്‍ 38 ഇനങ്ങള്‍ കല്ലന്‍തുമ്പികളുടെ ഗണത്തില്‍പ്പെടുന്നതാണ്‌. സൂചിത്തുമ്പികളുടെ പട്ടികയില്‍പ്പെട്ടതാണ്‌ 29 ഇനങ്ങള്‍. ഇരിക്കുമ്പോള്‍ നിവര്‍ത്തിപ്പിടിക്കുന്ന ചിറകുകളും തടിച്ച ഉടലുമുള്ളതാണ്‌ കല്ലന്‍തുമ്പികള്‍(ഡ്രാഗണ്‍ ഫ്‌ളൈ). ഇരിക്കുമ്പോള്‍ ചിറകുകള്‍ ഉടലിനു സമാന്തരമായി ചേര്‍ത്തുവെക്കുന്നവയാണ്‌ സൂചിത്തുമ്പികള്‍(ഡെംസല്‍ ഫ്‌ളൈ). വന്യജീവി സങ്കേതത്തിലെ പരിസ്‌ഥിതി ദുര്‍ബലമായി അടയാളപ്പെടുത്തിയ പ്രദേശങ്ങളിലെ ചതുപ്പുകളും അരുവികളും കേന്ദ്രീകരിച്ചായിരുന്നു സര്‍വേയെന്ന്‌ മലബാര്‍ നാച്യുറല്‍ ഹിസ്‌റ്ററി സൊസൈറ്റി പ്രസിഡന്റ്‌ സത്യന്‍ മേപ്പയൂര്‍ പറഞ്ഞു. സംസ്‌ഥാനത്തിന്റെ വിവിധ ഭാഗങ്ങളില്‍നിന്നുള്ള ഫോട്ടോഗ്രാഫര്‍മാരും പരിസ്‌ഥിതി വിജ്‌ഞാന വിദഗ്‌ധരുമടക്കം 50 പേരാണ്‌ ത്രിദിന സര്‍വേയില്‍ പങ്കെടുത്തത്‌. ഫോട്ടോഗ്രാഫര്‍മാര്‍ പകര്‍ത്തിയ ചിത്രങ്ങള്‍ വിശകലനം ചെയ്‌താണ്‌ കാണാനായ തുമ്പികളുടെ പട്ടിക തയാറാക്കിയത്‌. വയനാട്‌ വന്യജീവി സങ്കേതത്തില്‍ നടാടെയായിരുന്നു തുമ്പി സര്‍വേ. വന്യജീവി സങ്കേതത്തിലെ തുമ്പി വൈവിധ്യത്തെക്കുറിച്ചുള്ള സമഗ്രമായ പഠനം മുന്‍നിര്‍ത്തിയാണ്‌ സര്‍വേ നടത്തിയതെന്ന്‌ വയനാട്‌ വൈല്‍ഡ്‌ ലൈഫ്‌ വാര്‍ഡന്‍ റോയ്‌.പി.തോമസ്‌ പറഞ്ഞു. സര്‍വേയിലൂടെ ലഭിച്ച വിവരം ആവാസവ്യവസ്‌ഥ മെച്ചപ്പെടുത്തുന്നതടക്കം തുമ്പികളുടെ സംരക്ഷണത്തിനായുള്ള പദ്ധതികളുടെ ആസൂത്രണത്തിന്‌ ഉപയോഗപ്പെടുത്തുമെന്ന്‌ അദ്ദേഹം പറഞ്ഞു. നിത്യഹരിതവനങ്ങളും ചോലക്കാടുകളും പേരിനുമാത്രമുള്ള വന്യജീവി സങ്കേതത്തിന്റെ ചില ഭാഗങ്ങളില്‍ മാത്രം ഇത്രയും ഇനങ്ങളെ കണ്ട സാഹചര്യത്തില്‍ വയനാട്‌ മുഴുവന്‍ സര്‍വേക്ക്‌ വിധേയമാക്കിയാല്‍ നൂറിലധികം ഇനം തുമ്പികളെ കാണാന്‍ കഴിഞ്ഞേക്കുമെന്ന്‌ ഡോ.ജാഫര്‍ പാലോട്‌ പറഞ്ഞു. 'തേക്കിന്‍കാടുകള്‍ നിറഞ്ഞ വന്യജീവി സങ്കേതത്തിനു പുറത്താണ്‌ വയനാട്ടിലെ യഥാര്‍ഥ വനം. സൗത്ത്‌ വയനാട്‌ വനം ഡിവിഷനിലെ ചെമ്പ്ര, വടക്കേവയനാട്‌ വനം ഡിവിഷനിലെ പേരിയ, തിരുനെല്ലി തുടങ്ങിയ സ്‌ഥലങ്ങള്‍ നീര്‍ത്തടങ്ങള്‍, നിത്യഹരിതവനങ്ങള്‍, ചോലക്കാടുകള്‍ എന്നിവയാല്‍ സമ്പന്നമാണ്‌. തുമ്പി വൈവിധ്യത്തെക്കുറിച്ചുള്ള പഠനത്തിനു വയനാട്‌ മുഴുവനായും സര്‍വേക്ക്‌ വിധേയമാക്കേണ്ടതുണ്ട്‌. ഇക്കാര്യം വനം-വന്യജീവി വകുപ്പിന്റെ ശ്രദ്ധയില്‍പ്പെടുത്തിയിട്ടുണ്ട്‌. കേരളത്തില്‍ 154 ഇനം തുമ്പികളെയാണ്‌ ഇതിനകം കണ്ടെത്തിയത്‌'-ഡോ.ജാഫര്‍ പറഞ്ഞു.

Survey shines light on the weeny wildlife

E. M. Manoj
KALPETTA,
The Hindu, June 2, 2014

A three-day odonate (order of insects comprising dragonflies and damselflies) survey at the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (WWS) has revealed that the area populates a large number of micro fauna too.

The three-day survey, organised jointly by the Malabar Natural History Society (MNHS) and the Forest Department, came to an end on Sunday.

This was the first such a survey in the sanctuary and 67 species of odonates, including 38 dragonfly species and 29 damselflies, were recorded in it. Fourteen among them were identified as endemic to the Western Ghats and endangered. “Among the 12 dragonflies on the list are Malabar torrent dart, Black torrent dart, Long-legged club tail, Kodagu club tail, Giant club tail, Pigmy club tail and Blue hack. The two damselflies are Wayanad Bamboo tail and Pale spotted bamboo tail,” said Jaffer Palot, scientist, Zoological Survey of India, who coordinated the survey.

Around 50 odonate enthusiasts from across the State took part in the survey. They were divided into eight teams for the purpose. Two teams each along with supporting forest staff were deployed at eight areas of the four forest ranges in the WWS. “Thrust areas were near waterholes, streams, and rivulets in the sanctuary where odonates are abundantly found,” Ajith K. Raman, assistant wildlife warden said.

Though the macro fauna in the sanctuary was well documented, a thorough study on its micro fauna was yet to be take up, Mr. Ajith said, adding that the survey was the first step in the direction.

“Odonate taxa are ideal models to assess the impact of environmental warming and climate change due to their tropical evolutionary history and adaptation to temperate climates,” he said.

About 5,000 species of odonates are found throughout the world. In India about 500 species and subspecies are reported and of this, about 153 species are found in the State. A BioBlitz, in which participants are asked to record all the living species of a particular region within a specified time, was also organised in connection with the programme. Narendranath Veluri, Additional Deputy Conservator, WWS, gave away prizes to the winners. C.G. Kiran, an odonate expert and A.K. Gopalan, assistant wildlife warden, WWS, assisted in the survey.

An asylum for elephants at Adavi

PATHANAMTHITTA, April 30, 2014
Radhakrishnan Kuttoor

Adavi, a picturesque forest patch on the banks of river Kallar, will soon become an asylum for orphaned elephants, thanks to an initiative taken up by Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash with the support of Konni Divisional Forest Officer T. Pradeepkumar.

The Forest Department has identified 160 hectares of forest land at Adavi, 10 km from Konni town, for setting up a rehabilitation centre for elephants, especially for rescued, orphaned, injured and abused pachyderms.

The proposal is to develop defunct acacia and teak plantations spread across 160 hectares of forest land into an elephant sanctuary-cum-ecotourism centre strictly adhering to the provisions of forest laws, said Mr. Pradeepkumar.

VSS role

Mr. Pradeepkumar told The Hindu that Vana Samrakshana Samithis (VSS) would be entrusted with the task of running the centre with out disturbing the natural environs and the forest ecosystem.

An ecotourism project would be part of the elephant asylum with a view to spreading public awareness on environment conservation and wildlife protection by bringing man close to the forest environs as well as the wildlife.

According to Mr. Pradeepkumar, elephants calves, separated from their mothers and herds, are often found wandering in the forests and such animals would be brought to the proposed rehabilitation centre. Injured and abused elephants would also be given shelter at the centre.

The Revenue Minister, who is also the local MLA, said the project, estimated to cost Rs.350 lakh, would be implemented in two phases. The government had already sanctioned Rs.100 lakh for the first phase.

Familiarising people with the wild through such projects in an eco-friendly manner would be of great help in reducing excessive human intervention in forests leading to deforestation, fires, and poaching, the DFO said.

Work under way

Mr. Prakash said the work on an arch at the entrance of the proposed centre and a bridge across a stream leading to Kallar was fast progressing.

The DFO said the construction of a bathing ghat and six tree-top huts would also be completed in the next few months. The nearly 5-km river frontage of the project area facing Kallar would be an added attraction to the Adavi ecotourism venture.

Mr. Pradeepkumar said the project has been modelled on the Pannawala Elephant Orphanage in Sri Lanka.

An herbal garden, bamboo park, arboretum, honeybee park, butterfly park, bamboo shelters, and a bird-watching facility are the key components that have been included in the first phase of the project.

Trekking facility

The DFO said the Forest Department would also provide facility for coracle rides and rafting along the 15-km stretch of the river between Chengara and Thekkuthode. VSS volunteers would take tourists for a trek into the interior forest.

The department is also planning to set up tree-top walkways and an adventure trekking facility at Adavi in association with the Tourism Department.

The elephant rehabilitation centre would be set up in the second phase, he said.

A mahout training centre, a check dam with water-spread area of two acres for the elephants to take bath, and a breeding place have also been planned in the second phase.

Adavi is hardly 5 km from Mundommoozhy on the Achencoil-Chittar Hill Highway. The elephant camp and museum in Konni town will be the base camp of the eco-tourism initiative.

The forest shrines of Aluvamkudy and Avolikkuzhi are also situated in the area.

Mr. Prakash said the project, when completed, would be the first one of its kind in the country and would attract global attention. It would also generate employment opportunity for the local population in a big way.

He said entry into the Adavi eco-tourism project area would be strictly restricted through a pass system with a view to avoiding excessive human intervention in the forests.

The Hindu April 30 , 2014

Using honeybee buzz to ward off crop-raiders

KALPETTA, April 28, 2014
E.M. Manoj

A group of veterinary students of the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU), Pookode, have built a 1-km stretch beehive fence at Mathamangalam to mitigate man-animal conflict.

A series of crop raids by animals had been reported from Mathamangalam, a small village in Poothadi grama panchayat, even after trenches and power fencing were put up in the area.

As many as 50 students of the KVASU took part in the initiative.

The students took up the work as part of an innovative project being implemented by the Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA, Wayanad), in association with the State Forest and Wildlife Department, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard), and the Khadi and Village Industries Board (KVIB).

The brain behind the project is K.M. Sankarankutty, a field worker of KVIB. His trial project at Amba, a tribal hamlet inside the forests at Sugandhagiri, proved that bees could scare away big beasts.

He developed the fence with technical advise from Lucy King, a U.K.-based wildlife researcher in Kenya with expertise in beehive fences.

Honeybees produce three types of buzz, the most ferocious when they are provoked, Mr. Sankarankutty said.

The technology of the fence is quite simple: when the elephants hit the cable of the fence, the looped beehive boxes fall down swiftly, and the sudden shock provokes the bees. The ferocious buzzing drives away pachyderms, said A. Karthika, a B.VSc. third-year student of KVASU.

The students used nearly 120 beehive boxes for the purpose.

“Initially, we were afraid of bee sting, but we soon got acquainted with the apiculture procedure, said Vivek Philip, a research scholar at KVASU.We plan to install a 4-km beehive fence under the project this year, Anil Zachariah, deputy project director, ATMA, said. Farmers would also be trained in apiculture procedure to maintain and harvest honey from the hives. ATMA is planning to market the extracted honey and wax under a brand name, ‘Elephant friendly honey,’ Dr. Zachariah said.

The Nabard has earmarked Rs.6.5 lakh and the Forest Department has allotted Rs.1.5 lakh for the project.

The Hindu, 28 April,2014

A grove survives, thanks to a myth

Ignatius Pereira
Th Hindu, Mar 17, 2011

KOLLAM: A clump of weird looking hardwood trees deep inside the Kanayar forest of Kollam district and adjoining forest areas of Tirunelveli district in Tamil Nadu owe its survival to an Adivasi myth. In an area where poaching was rampant, these trees were spared in spite of being valuable timber if axed down.
‘Demon slayer'
The trees are known locally as ‘poothamkolli' which in Tamil means “demon slayer.” In the Kanayar forest belt they are found at elevation close to 1700 metres, right on top of the mountains.
With their twisted branches, the ‘poothamkollis' look strange, even eerie.
The forest dwellers looked upon them with awe and relied on these trees for protection from evil spirits and demons. The story goes that whenever evil befell them, the forest dwellers used to go to the ‘poothamkolli' clump praying for protection.
Their prayers were answered too, apparently. Eventually they considered the clump a sacred grove and took it upon them to protect the trees.
‘Poothamkolli' ( Poeciloneuron indicum) is a sturdy tree growing up to 35 metres and endemic to the Western Ghats, says noted botanist and environment activist N. Ravi.
Different names
Though the tree is distributed in other areas of the Western Ghats, found even in the Silent Valley, it is known by different names. In those areas these trees do not have a weird shape and are felled.
The timber is used for many purposes including boat building.
With permission from the Achencoil Divisional Forest Officer, the Kanayar ‘poothamkolli' clump can be reached through Mekkarai in Tamil Nadu after a two-hour trek from the point where the jeep track through the forest ends. One gets a creepy feeling while standing by these trees.
Unique feel
Forest Department personnel say that the elevation and the climate may have given the ‘poothamkolli' grove its unique feel.
There are about 500 trees in the grove.
Protected
“The grove is precious to the Kanayar range and the trees are now protected by the Forest Department,” Achencoil DFO Doney Varghese says.

Periyar dam: Kerala Irrigation Dept. seeks nod for transfer of land

K.S. Sudhi
The Hindu, Dec 23, 2010

KOCHI: The Kerala Irrigation Department has sought permission for the transfer of forest land for constructing the Periyar dam.
The executive engineer of the Minor Irrigation Department (MID), Kumily, has approached the Kerala Forest Department (KFD) with a request for allotting 50 hectares for the project. The KFD, however, is in a fix over the allocation of the land as it fears widespread environment and ecological imbalances in the Periyar Tiger Reserve, which is one of the 38 reserves dedicated to the big cats, and an elephant reserve, where the dam has been proposed. The new site is 366 metres away from the Mullaperiyar dam.
The MID has stated that the site identified for the new dam, which is “inside the national park sanctuary area, is the only feasible site approved after joint inspection by Kerala and Tamil Nadu.”
The new dam is considered as an alternative to the 115-year-old one. The area of submergence will be 50 hectares. Of this, 24.37 hectares will be submerged on construction of the dam and the rest will come under the area that will be additionally submerged. The Rs. 600-crore project will have no biodiversity impact and there will be no displacement of people, the Irrigation Department has stated.
Obtaining clearance for the construction of the dam will be a cumbersome process as the permission from a number of State and national agencies and officials have to be sought. The final clearance for the allocation of land should come from the National Board for Wildlife, which is chaired by the Prime Minister.
DFO clearance
As per the procedure laid down for allotting forest land for non-forest purposes, a report from the Divisional Forest Officer of the area will have to be obtained. The field reports from the Forest Range Officer of the region will also be considered for the preparation of this report. It will also have to be considered by the Field Director of the Periyar Tiger Reserve.
The views of the Chief Wildlife Warden and the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest of the State will follow and the reports by these officials will be placed before the State Wildlife Advisory Board. The Board, on its part, will forward the report to the National Board. The clearance of the National Tiger Conservation Authority will have to be sought in this case as the proposed site is the core critical tiger habitat of the Periyar Tiger Reserve.
The State Forest Department has not formed its opinion on the proposal and the department, whose mandate is to protect the forest and its ecology, is concerned about the implications of the project, said a senior official of the department. Incidentally, the Kerala government had been campaigning for a new dam highlighting the safety issue of the ageing Mullaperiyar dam.
Besides the impact of massive constructions on the fragile ecosystem and biodiversity-rich area of the tiger reserve, conservationists are worried about the possible fallout of the de-commissioning of the existing dam on completion of the new dam. The decommissioning will also leave widespread impact on the forest reserve and aquatic habitats, which evolved over a century, pointed out a forest official.