The Ranthambore reserve is embarking on phase IV of tiger monitoring as part of National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) protocol for all tiger reserves for a national figure on big cats.

Flush with a baby boom since the past couple of years but equally at the receiving end for deaths and straying of tigers, the Ranthambore tiger reserve has left one and all guessing on the exact tiger count.

A deadly virus is stalking the big cats, but the State Forest department is yet to wake up to the warning.

Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) has reportedly affected tigers in the northern and eastern parts of the country, killing two cubs in Patna Zoo, a couple of months ago.

Kolhapur: The first national census in the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve (STR) is halfway through as experts completed the transect line observations and began the carnivore census from Tuesday.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has, once again, issued a warning to the authorities of national parks and sanctuaries about a possible attack of Canine Distemper Virus (CDV).

The centre has released the first ever financial sanction to Amangarh tiger reserve. The sanction of Rs 24 lakh will be utilized for the management of the reserve.

Six persons have been killed in area adjoining the reserve since December 29, in attacks by a stray feline. Though, the big cat has moved on to Corbett as is hinted by the seventh killing reported from Kotdwar, Uttrakhand, on Tuesday, forest department plans to utilize central funds for better management of Amangarh reserve.

Canine distemper virus, common in dogs and deadly to other carnivores, has killed at least four tigers in past year

Fifty-three cases of tiger poaching and 160 cases of killing of leopard are being tried in various courts in Madhya Pradesh, some for over four decades.

A case of tiger death registered on May 17, 1975 in Kanha National Park in Mandla district is still pending decision in the court. Another case of tiger death registered on September 25, 1979 in Balaghat district is also under the legal process.

The country lost 63 tigers in 2013 with Karnataka alone losing 16 big cats.

Environmentalists are sceptical of the new institution’s power to expedite projects

After the Supreme Court ruling on Monday, it is now clear that India will soon have an independent environmental regulator. What is less clear is whether this regulator will be a watchdog with teeth or without. In environmental circles, the news was received with some scepticism.

Projects falling within wildlife zones back in the reckoning

Several project proposals which were taken off the list for forest clearance as they fell within wildlife zones or were awaiting comprehensive assessment will be considered afresh by the Forest Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Environment and Forests in January.