22 Nepalis caught smuggling Yartsa Gumba in Valley of Flowers National Park

Twenty two persons belonging to Nepal were arrested from several places near Ghangharia, the base camp of Valley of Flowers National Park in the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, District Chamoli, Uttarakhand, INDIA, who were trying to smuggle Yartsa Gambu or the Chinese caterpillar mushroom (Cordyceps sinensis) which costs Rupees 10 lakh per kg ($ 20000/kg) in the local market and much more in the international market. It is used as an aphrodisiac as well as for strength and used especially by athletes as it is not detected in the dope test. The smugglers are found to have links with high profile people. The details are awaited. Will post them soon.

RETURN OF THE HYENA IN HARIDWAR- VIDEO FOOTAGE

LIQUOR LADEN VEHICLES SEIZED IN RAJAJI NATIONAL PARK

Around 200 bottles of Indian Made Foreign Liquor was seized from Rajaji National Park in Uttarakhand on 28 Nov 2013 along with two vehicles carrying them. The liquor bottles were being transported from

SMALL INDIAN CIVET KILLED IN ROAD ACCIDENT

A Small Indian Civet (Viverricula indica) was killed in a road accident on 16 Nov 2013 on Dharmawal-Paonta Sahib road (Shimla Bye-pass road) in Dehradun district of Uttarakhand, India. The road kill was estimated to be between 8:30 a.m to 10:30a.m. The blood stains on the road suggests that the Civet was hit and dragged atleast two metres ahead where it was found dead with broken head by a team of foresters who had gone on patrolling in the Timli range of Soil Conservation Division, Kalsi. 

CORBETT NATIONAL PARK - Dhikala Zone OPENS TO TOURISTS

The Dhikala Zone of Corbett National Park has opened to tourists from 15th November. The rooms inside the park are already booked to its full capacity due to the new online booking facility that has been launched. The park is famous for being the one of the highest tiger country along with other animals like Elephant, different kinds of deer and around 650 species of birds and several species of other flora and fauna.

CORBETT NATIONAL PARK OPENS TO VISITORS

Bijrani zone of Corbett National Park, Ramnagar, Uttarakhand, INDIA, opens.

The Bijrani Zone of Corbett National Park and Tiger Reserve opened on 15th October 2013, however, due to a strike by the Forest Guards, no entry was being allowed. Today, the forest guards agreed not to obstruct the entry gate after they were invited for a meeting by the Government to resolve their demands.

180 Schedule I Turtles seized in Haridwar - 3 Arrested

The Haridwar Forest Division of Uttarakhand Forest Department today seized 180 schedule 1 turtles in a joint operation with the Wildlife Protection Society of India under the guidance of Mr.Jairaj, Additional PCCF, Uttarakhand, who is in charge of implementation of Prevention of cruelty to Animals Act. Three persons have been arrested, out of which two are aquarium shop owners. The different species seized were Indian Tent turtle, Brown roof turtle, Indian Roof turtle and Spotted pond Turtle. These turtles were brought by the poacher from Shajahanpur in Uttar Pradesh for sale in aquarium shops in Haridwar. This poacher has been involved for a long time in illegal trade of live turtles and also crocodile babies likely for aquariums abroad. The trader was contacted for a trade deal after which he was caught at Jwalapur railway station. His statements further led to raids in shops nearby to get more material.

THREE YEARS IMPRISONMENT FOR IVORY POACHERS of Rajaji National Park

The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate has awarded three years imprisonment and a fine of Rs.10000 to Mr. Jagdish, the main accused in the Elephant poaching and Ivory Trading case

ANIMAL SACRIFICE IN RELIGIOUS PLACES ILLEGAL and not prescribed by any religion

Answer to question below

It is now clear that the practise of animal sacrifice in temples of Uttarakhand, India is ILLEGAL and an offence under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. This clarity has come after the Department of Culture, Uttarakhand has clearly specified that no religious documents mention or prescribe animal sacrifice. The Section 28 of the above act omits killing of animals as prescribed by religion from being an offence under the act. In this context, an application under the Right to Information Act 2005 was sent to the Department of Culture. Though the Public Information Officer denied the information at the first instance, the Appellate officer, Ms.Bina Bhatt, in her reply to the applicant Mr.Manoj Chandran, resident of Lintyura, Pithoragarh, wide letter no. 236/sa.ni.u./do-95(X)/2011-12 dated 21/6/2011, made it clear that animal sacrifice is not mentioned in any religious document or any other order. ( jahan tak prashn mandiron me pashubali dene ka he, to yah kisi dharmik granth athva kisi shaasanadesh mein ullekh nahin hai )

Hence from now on, we can say that Sec 28 of the act will not be applicable to animal sacrifice in temples and hence would be an offence.
Kindly spread the message to all forest and veterinary officials and the district administration and all temple authorities so that the law can be upheld and no offence be committed from now on.

MUSK DEER RESCUED and hundreds of Satyr Tragopan sighted

A musk deer calf was rescued by a shepherd after its mother was killed by

Three Orphaned Leopard Cubs Rescued

Three male leopard cubs were rescued by the Uttarakhand Forest Department from Village Marchaur, Adkini, 20 kms from Pithoragarh after these cubs were left orphaned by their missing mother. The villagers found the cubs in a stream bank in a dense oak forest where dogs were trying to attack the cubs. The villagers saved these cubs from the dogs and informed the forest department. The forest department team rushed to the spot and put the cubs safely back to the place where it was found and coodoned the area from any public activity. The team and villagers waited all night in the expectation that their mom would return to take away the cubs or feed them milk. However, inspite of the cubs crying (meowing) loud all night, the mother was not visible or heard anywhere around. After day break, since there was no use of leaving the cubs hungry, the cubs were brought to the Range office and after consultation with the veterinarian was fed with dilute milk, after which the cubs are now somewhat active. Two of the cubs have their eyes opened, but one is still to open its eyes completely. The cubs are expected to be around 25 days old. The search for the mother is going on, but the chances are high that the mother is no more. After observation for a few days, these cubs would be sent to Nainital Zoo.

The death or exclusion of one female leopard means the exclusion of three of its present litter, three of its previous litter and three in the womb. So, that means at least the life of 9 more leopards are at stake.

The death or exclusion of one male leopard will lead to capture of its territory by another male, who would like to have only his offsprings in the area. For this, he will kill all the nine cubs as mentioned above per female. A male territory can have 3-4 females and so, 9x4=36 cubs' life is at stake.

So, we should think before declaring any leopard as man-eater and killing them or allowing a leopard to be hunted otherwise.

Humans killing animals - Hill fox - killed in road accident at Nainital

Another victim of human negligence. This photo is of a Hill Fox (Red fox) Vulpus vulpus montana from Nainital highway, which is a hill station in the Uttarakhand Himalayas, India. The roads are mountainous and winding. The vehicle speed usually is around 30 kmph only. Still, drivers do not care for crossing wildlife. These accidents occur especially in the early morning hours, when these otherwise nocturnal animals would be returning home before day break.

Snow leopard photographed in Nandadevi Biosphere Reserve

Snow leopard has been photographed using a camera trap near Malari in Nanda Devi National Park, Uttarakhand, India. The photograph was taken on 10th April 2011, said Mr.B.K.Gangte, the Director of the reserve. Though several indirect evidences and direct sightings were there in the past, this is the first photographic evidence. Conservation efforts in this region has helped snow leopards to freely roam in their once forgotten territory. Blue sheep or Bharal is the main prey base, which has increased in the recent years due to anti-poaching activities by the forest department.

Two poachers arrested at Dehradun with wildlife traps

In a joint operation of the Wild life Protection Society of India and Rajaji National Park, 3 steel traps and a clutch wire trap were seized near Doiwala Kanjar Basti of Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. Two poachers belonging to the Bawaria community were arrested by the forest department.