When are we going to learn????

We are aware that our national animal is under serious threat to its very existence due to rampant poaching. But how many of us know that the real threat to the magnificent wild cat called Tiger, our national animal, faces even more threat from those who are supposed to protect it?
Yes. Tiger faces equal threat from the forest department, across all the states. The forest department is indirectly responsible in pushing the big cat close to danger at equal pace that of the poachers. The biggest example is killing of a full grown male tiger by police on the orders of forest department on November 30 last year near Talodhi in Chandrapur district.
The tiger that was eventually shot down was credited with 23 human kills in as many months. Local villagers and political leaders virtually held the forest department for ransom to kill the wild cat. Every one blamed the tiger for human kills, which according to the wild cat was nothing but defending its prey. Rampant poaching and habitat destruction in the region has left the tiger with no choice but to resort to cattle kill and humans got killed when they tried to snatch the cattle from the tiger’s claws and the wild cat tried to protect its prey.
The first human kill was reported from the area in January 2006 and after that it became almost monthly event in Brahmapuri division of Chandrapur district. People and politicians even proclaimed the tiger to be man-eater, despite the fact it never ate any human being after killing. They unanimously wanted it to be killed at any cost and eventually succeeded. But no one gave a thought to the reason of such behaviour of otherwise illusive animal. People continued to kill herbivorous animals in the area and cut trees as per their wishes and whims. People in the area could get desired quantity of wild boar and peacock meat on demand and the wild cat, who had a legitimate right on it, was being starved. And the forest department officials responsible to check such activities had turned a blind eye to rampant poaching and tree cutting in the area.
Bogged down by ever mounting pressure from public and politicians, finally the department got a tiger shot dead. The nation lost one full grown magnificent male tiger on November 30, 2007, this time to the bullets fired by the orders of none other than the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife). Forest department officials had a sigh of relief and claimed that the problem animal was killed and people in the area could live happily again. But the worst fears expressed by environmentalists came true in just six days after the animal was killed. The wild cat struck again on December 6, and killed a 22-year-old youth. Ironically, the forest department officials ignored caution bells rang by environmentalists and refused to do anything to revive prey base in the area, which is an ideal tiger habitat.
Unfortunately, the human kills have not stopped even after ‘killing the man-eater of Brahmapuri’. After the tiger was killed, the territory has now been occupied by another tiger and human kills still continues. And the wild cat has claimed nine lives since taking the total to 37 human kills in 31 months. The counting is not yet stopped and the number is bound to go up in days to come. Proper wildlife management in the area holds the key to solution and unless it is done, the man-animal conflict will continue and the forest department will shoot even more tigers. Who knows?

Prerna, I don’t have the dates of human kills before December 2007. Here is the record I have.
December 6, 2007 – Tanaji Raut, a resident of Navtala was killed when he had gone to graze cattle at Madnagarh in Chimur Range.
January 10, 2008 - The incident took place at compartment number 301, Kolsa Range of TATR. The deceased has been identified as Jhingaji Kulmethe, 65, a resident of village Doni. He had gone to cut fire wood in the nullah.
January 29, 2008 - Janabai Kashinath Gurnule, 60, a resident of village Kawadpeth was killed when she had gone to answer nature’s call. This is the third human kill in the area during last month.
March 24, 2008 - Kashinath Suryavanshi, 45, a resident of village Jhankapur had gone to forest along with six other people from the village to collect Mahua leaves.
May 29, 2008 - Monali Baban Neware, 9 and Sitabai Dadaji Gedam, 50, both residents of village Kitadi Bormara. The incident took place at around 8 am on Wednesday at compartment number 29 of reserved forest in Nagbhid range of Brahmapuri division.
June 19, 2008 - Dhrupada Kumre, 51, a resident of Sonoli. Dhrupada had gone to the forest adjoining the village to collect mahua seeds when the tiger attacked her.
July 26, 2008 - Ramesh Ichkape and Rajeshwar Kumre, both from Jankapur village in Nagbhid taluka of Chandrapur district. The duo was killed while grazing cattle in the forest.

Mumbai sitting on e-waste

Ever though of what happens to a discarded personal computer or a cell phone or any other electronic and electrical gadget for that matter? It heads straight to illegal disposal. The raw material used to manufacture these gadgets then turns into the biggest hazard for the society.
“Mumbai generates 1000 tones of e-waste every month which is posing a grave threat for soil, trees and environment,” says Rajkumar Sharma, convener of Clean-sweep Forum, a city based NGO working to create awareness about e-waste. The NGO had recently organised a seminar in the city to create awareness on e-waste.
“It is high time we acted to find out appropriate solutions to the problem before it turned un-manageable like the solid waste. Most importantly, people must come to terms with so called donations from developed countries,” Sharma said. Many developed countries are dumping their e-waste in third world countries in the name of donations, he added.
“E-waste or Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) is a waste type consisting of any broken or unwanted electrical or electronic device. Some define e-waste to include all secondary computers, entertainment devices, electronics, mobile phones and other items, whether they have been sold, donated, or discarded by their original owner,” says Abhishek Pratap, Toxins Campaigner of Greenpeace. Pratap feels that if treated properly, electronic waste is a valuable source for secondary raw materials. Otherwise it is a major source of toxins and carcinogens. Toxic substances in electronic waste may include lead, mercury, and cadmium. The un-sustainability of discarding electronics and computer technology is another reason for the need to reuse electronic waste, Pratap says.
“Uncontrolled burning, disassembly, and disposal are causing environmental and health problems, including occupational safety and health effects among those directly involved, due to the methods of processing the waste,” Pratap said. Experts feel that if the estimated amount of e-waste generated every year would be put into containers on a train it would go once around the world.
E-waste now makes up five percent of all municipal solid waste worldwide, nearly the same amount as all plastic packaging, but it is much more hazardous.
“Mobile phones and computers are causing the biggest problem because they are replaced most often,” Pratap said.
“There is an urgent need of proper co-ordination among the entire stake holders like the MPCB, BMC and forest department to find out best possible solution to the problem,” Sharma said. Clean sweep will soon launch a mass awareness programme on e-waste. “We feel that scientific disposal of electronic and electrical gadget is the responsibility of the manufacturers. They must take back discarded products for appropriate disposal or recycling,” Sharma said.

Snakes smuggling under the nose of forest dept officials.

In a major break through, the forest officials at Ahmedangar busted venom and illegal snake trade racket. The officials have arrested a self-proclaimed snake rescuer identified as Yusuf Khan, a resident of Paanch Peer Chavdi, Ahmednagar.
Acting on the information provided by Mumbai based Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) People in Defence of Animals (PIDA) a team of Ahmednagar forest department led by Range Forest Officer (Vigilance) DK Kapse raided the house of Yusuf Khan early morning on Tuesday.
In the initial search operation in the house forest officials seized few snakes like sand boa and tusker. But the officials got a shock of their life when it was revealed that some more snakes were kept in the basement of the house. After initial hesitation, the accused unlocked the room only to reveal 15 brown cobras and five kraits kept in boxes.
The news of the raid spread in the area like wildfire, and hundreds of people led by local corporator gathered at the house. The accused Yusuf Khan during preliminary interrogation claimed that he was supplier of Haffkine Institute and regularly supplied venom and live snakes to the institute. However, the public relations officer of the institute LS Patil could not be reached for his versions despite repeated efforts.
The situation in the area turned volatile when the forest officials seized all the snakes and arrested the accused. When the team was on its way back, local politicians intercepted the vehicle and even tried to manhandle forest officials. The founder president of PIDA Karim Khan said, “We had concrete information about the illegal trade being operated from Ahmednagar. After conducting investigations on our level, the information was passed on to the forest department officials.” There is much more into the matter than what meets the eyes. Thorough investigations can reveal a much bigger nexus of illegal venom and snake trade, Khan added. The divisional forest officer, Ahmednagar DD Gujela said, “It is definitely a serious matter. We will not leave any stone unturned to eradicate the nexus.” According to Karim Khan, the operators are involved in illegal sale of live reptiles like cobra, krait, python and even crocodile. “The cliental of the illegal snake traders is spread all over the country and even abroad. People from the cities like Mumbai, Pune and Chennai are regular clients,” Khan said. A famous film personality also possessed a python till recently. PIDA volunteers had prepared to raid the house. But the reptile was released in the forest when the information about the raid was leaked, Khan said.

Illegal beef in mumbai

In a blatant violation of municipal laws, thousands of kg beef is smuggled in the city every day. Shockingly, it is the flesh of immature calves below the age of six months.
According to information, illegal beef is smuggled in the city from Ahmednagar, Sangamner, Baramati, Faltan and Daund. “This is violation of municipal laws prohibiting supply of beef from outside the city BMC limits. The illegal trade needs to be stopped immediately as it poses a grave threat to human lives as well,” said Karim Khan, founder president of People in Defence of Animals (PIDA). Ahmednagar and Sangamner are major centres where immature calves are slaughtered illegally and the flesh is sent to Mumbai. Sources said that three illegal slaughter houses are operating in Sangamner and two in Ahmednagar. Abdul Haq and one Wahid are owners of two illegal slaughter houses in Ahmednagar while Haji Sabir, Shahid Sheikh and Abdul Karim, all residents of Bharat Nagar in Sangamner own the three illegal slaughter houses there.
The syndicate involved in illegal trade of calf beef operates highly systematically in nexus with police and octroi department officials of BMC. One of the traders from Sangamner, who is active in the business since last 15 years said that the animals for slaughter are purchased from villages and in some cases, even stolen from cattle-shades. “The animals are brought in Sangamner and slaughtered at three places. The flesh is ready to be transported to Mumbai by 5 pm and the trucks carrying the beef reach the city by 11 pm,” the trader said. In all nine trucks carrying around 2 tone beef each come to Mumbai every day, the trader revealed. “We have an understanding with BMC and Mumbai police which facilitate smooth movement of trucks to and from Mumbai,” the trader said. If he is to be believed, a hefty sum is paid to BMC and police officials every month.
Sources said that the trucks carrying illegal beef are parked at Mastan Talao, Nagpada, Dongri, Chaval Galli, Nalbazar, opposite to Saifee Ambulance Services in Bori Mohalla, Bhindi Bazar, Lucky Compound in Madanpura and Shivaji Nagar in Govandi till 4 am and then the beef is distributed to legal as well as illegal shops at Reay Road, Dock Yard Road and Madanpura. “We sale beef to traders in Mumbai at Rs 78 per kg who supply it to retail market at Rs 100-110 per kg,” said the trader from Sangamner. According to him Sabir Bhajiwale from Dongri, Mohammed Qureshi from Nagpada, Riyaz Qureshi from Madanpura and Farid Qureshi from Govandi are the main trades in Mumbai. “Sabir and Mohammed Qureshi purchase two trucks each while others purchase one truck each every day,” said Karim Khan. The beef is sold at more than 50 shops in the city, Khan said. “It is not just Ahmednagar or Sangamner. Huge quantity of illegal beef is smuggled in the city from Baramati, Faltan and Daund also. We have information that animals are slaughtered in forests around Pune,” Khan added. Repeated complaints with the police since last four years have proved futile. “We have even lodged complaints with the chief minister and the director general of police. But they have failed to control the smuggling,” Karim Khan said.