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A tourist is describing a trip to the Bhadra tiger reserve, which is good for wildlife and good for people. He feels that Bhadra is crowded with people and has a huge lucrative market demand for forest resources, subsistence harvesting is folklore and has axis deerEs, herds of gaur, barking deer, Asian elephants, tigers and others, and is one of the best reserve in the world.

Understanding population parameters are important tools for wildlife man- agement, and one of the key objectives of ecological research. Motion sensor cameras are a widely used tool to estimate abundance and densities of species that are identifiable based on the natural markings on their bodies. Though camera trapping provides information such as count data, on species that are not individually identifiable, estimating population size using conven- tional capture-recapture methodologies is not possible hindering estimating population information of several wildlife species. However, recent method- ologies help use camera trapping data to bridge this gap. Here we extend the model of Chandler and Royle (2013), with suitable modifications, and used camera trap detection data to estimate abundance and density of eight wild prey, and five domestic prey species of leopards (Panthera pardus fusca). In this context, a new procedure has been proposed, based on grouping of the count data, which is useful in cases of large encounters. The current model should apply widely to a range of other unmarked wildlife species such as dholes, lions, golden jackal, Indian fox, ratel, to name a few, that could help understand prey-predator relationships, competition, trophic interactions, species interactions and other similar ecological ques- tions. The methodology could also reduce costs, and maximise the utilisa- tion of existing camera trapping data. The methodology helps understanding population parameters of several endangered, unmarked species to draw up conservation strategies whose estimates are currently largely based on edu- cational guess. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Vulnerable leopard Panthera pardus is declining as a result of poaching, habitat loss, retaliatory killing and collisions with vehicles. In the southern Indian state of Karnataka there is also an unconventional threat that has received little attention: leopards accidentally falling into unsecured open wells. During 2008–2017 there were 70 incidents of leopards falling into wells, in 10 of 30 districts, with the greatest number recorded in Udupi district (46%). Leopards were released at the site (40%, n = 28), or assisted to escape on their own or were translocated after rescue (41%, n = 29). Eleven per cent (n = 8) of the leopards died as a result of the fall, and 7% (n = 5) were sent to zoos, with serious injuries. The highest number of falls occurred during the pre-monsoon and monsoon seasons in districts with high rainfall, which may curtail visibility. Open wells are an emerging threat to the leopard and other animal species, and require covers and the security of a parapet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses consideration of irregular weather pattern, natural disaster and increased temperature as signs of climate change and mentions popularity of environmental protection due to social media. Topics discussed include investment of companies in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes for tree planting, association of biodiversity with species and panacea for stabilizing environmental deterioration.

Author(s): Sanjay Gubbi (corresponding author) [1]; H. C. Poornesha [2] India harbours 60% of the world's wild tigers but, as elsewhere, populations are declining because of habitat destruction. An initiative [...]

Conservation of large carnivores is challenging as they face various threats, including habitat loss and fragmentation. One of the current challenges to tiger Panthera tigris conservation in India is the conversion of habitat to uses that are incompatible with conservation of the species. Bringing more tiger habitat within a protected area system and in the process creating a network of connected protected areas will deliver dual benefits of wildlife conservation and protection of watersheds. Focusing on the southern Indian state of Karnataka, which holds one of the largest contiguous tiger populations, we attempted to address this challenge using a conservation planning technique that considers ecological, social and political factors. This approach yielded several conservation successes, including an expansion of the protected area network by 2,385 km2, connection of 23 protected areas, and the creation of three complexes of protected areas, increasing the protected area network in Karnataka from 3.8 to 5.2% of the state's land area. This represents the largest expansion of protected areas in India since the 1970s. Such productive partnerships between government officials and conservationists highlight the importance of complementary roles in conservation planning and implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Independent evaluations of the impact and legacy of large donor-funded integrated conservation and development projects (ICDPs) are critically important but rarely undertaken. The India Eco-Development Project around Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR-IEDP) in southern India received US$ 6.0 million, of which 43.2% was spent on community-based conservation activities. The PTR-IEDP was internally evaluated as ‘successful’. Questionnaire surveys and on-site visits were used to independently evaluate its development impact and legacy, two years after the IEDP ended. Questionnaire surveys were administered to a random sample of 90 respondents from a treatment group who participated in and benefited from IEDP, and to 90 respondents from a control group who did not participate in IEDP. Among the treatment group, 71.1% of respondents were aware of IEDP's objectives, but receipt of community benefits did not influence their attitudes to conservation. Instead, their attitudes were best explained by previous experience of human-wildlife conflict, their age and their participation in an ecotourism-based profession. Furthermore, only 36.4% of the 55 community benefits sampled were still being used or maintained. Future investments in ICDPs, or any similar conservation and developmental projects need to carefully justify any of the developments they implement, and to use appropriate indicators and study design to measure project legacy. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article reports on increasing leopard mortalities due to vehicular collision in India as of March 2014. Topics discussed include the 23 leopard killed due to road accidents in Karnataka in the past five years, the species' category as Near Threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, and need to implement conservation planning when roads overlap with wildlife habitats.

The article focuses on the deaths of crop-raiding elephants Elephas maximus in Karnataka, India. It notes that most of the deaths was due to electrocution. It contends that the inappropriate management of elephant habitat could be one of the reasons for high human-elephant conflict. Moreover, it says that wildlife conservation problems can be minimize by raising awareness and sensitizing communities, police and electricity companies regarding illegal electric fences.

The article offers information on the Status Report of Tigers, Co-Predators and Prey in India that was released by the National Tiger Conservation Authority. The report, which was released in relation to issues on the country's tiger crisis and the conservation of tiger, stated that India has 1,400 tiger, a reduction by 50% compared to a report in 2001-2002. This study used spatial mapping of tigers, prey and habitat, capture-recapture and line transect methods, and the estimation of tiger and prey densities using occupancy surveys.

This article reports on the tiger crisis in India. This tiger crisis came to the world's attention when an Indian journalist mentioned the fact that no tigers had been seen in the high profile Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan since June 2004. In the early 1970s, the Indian government set up dedicated tiger reserves with support from international conservation organizations. The tiger made a remarkable comeback in the wild during 1970-1990 with strict enforcement backed by able leadership in the government.

The article reports on the effort of the government of India in protecting the rights of forest dwellers. The Indian parliament passed the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers Bill in December 2006 recognizing the rights of the forest dwelling communities. The bill provides land tenure rights and access rights to non-timber forest produce for sustainable use. However, the legislation did not include the right to hunt or extract body parts of animal species. Furthermore, the bill lacks definitions for key terms leaving it open to misinterpretations.

The article provides information on the tiger conservation program Tigers Forever in India. It has been noted that the conservation program is a project in collaboration with the Panthera Foundation. It purpose is to serve as both a science-based action plan and business model to ensure the protection of the tigers. The initiative has set clear biological goals based on rigorous science. With the help of the local government, the program aims to increase tiger numbers by more that 50% in the next ten years.

Presents photographs from the 2004 camera-trap survey of tigers in Nagarahole, India. Importance of photographic capture histories; Comparison between the photos of T-155 in 1999 and 2004.

Provides information on the recipients of the 2004 Carl Zeiss Awards for their commitment to wildlife conservation in India. D.V. Girish of the Bhadra Wildlife Conservation Foundation; Niren Jain of the Kudremukh Wildlife Foundation; Aparajita Datta of the Nature Conservation Foundation.