Unlikely man-eaters

The forest department trapped the animal and sent it to a zoo in Nainital on February 10. Bhagwati Devi's husband B C Nainwal, however, does not blame the tiger. "It is the policies of the government that made the tiger a victim of public ire," he said. "The tiger was roaming near Dhikuli for four-five months. The main reason was elephant safaris by resorts here. They are known to throw meat in front of the tiger to increase the sighting of the big cat."

Living on the edge

Protected areas attract human settlements?

Tragopan country

Ecotourism can backfire if mismanaged

wildlife and environmental experts say promoting ecotourism helps generate funds for wildlife protection and conservation of their habitat. But a recent study in China suggests the concept can backfire if not managed properly.

Eco-tourism museum for Maracaibo lake

Artists, scientists, writers, teachers and entrepreneurs in Venezuela's northwestern state of Zulia have set up a foundation to sponsor an eco-tourism museum. At the heart of their endeavour is Maracaibo lake, the largest in South America, covering more than 12,000 sq km. The lake was the epicentre of the region's most productive oil basin during the 20th century. "But it was 2004 when water lentils

Rajasthan HC issues orders against encroachments in Ranthambore

all encroachments in the eco-sensitive zone around the Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan will be removed following a court order. The encroachments include residences, hotels and other commercial establishments.

What the debate on Singur hasn't touched

A remarkable fact about the recent debate about Singur is that it is so much about land, and so little about cars. Yet a thousand acres of land is really not very much, given that the state has over 1.3 crore acres of cultivated land, and even Mamata Banerjee cannot be entirely serious when she talks about the absolute sanctity of agricultural land. After all, if someone really believed that, then why stop at Singur?

Wilidlife photography ain't that simple

Many of us tend to regard wildlife with a degree of awe. This has much to do with representations by the popular media, images circulated by television channels such as the National Geographic and Discovery, and the curiosity created by a genre of travel writing. Such accounts do help create interest in wildlife, and in conservation, but they also foster an image of the wild that is a little distant from reality.

Andaman & Nicobar opens 50 sites in 15 islands to enhance tourism

the Andaman and Nicobar administration has decided to open 50 sites in 15 islands to set up environmentally sensitive hotels and beach resorts under the Union territory's 2006 tourism plan. The islands open to bidders are: Neil, Havelock, Little Andaman, North Passage, Peel, Aves Island, Rutland, Baratang, Cinque, Interview, Long Island, Middle Andaman, North Andaman, Smith and Ross Island and South Andaman.

One step forward, many steps back

The Wildlife Protection Act, 1976, is under the scanner again. The mainstay of biodiversity protection in India, the act has undergone only one major amendment -- in January 2003 -- since it was promulgated. Some of the changes then were substantial and at least had the potential of infusing new life to a moribund wildlife protection regime. The time, it seems, has come for the act to undergo major changes for the second time. Some amendments have been tabled in parliament, and a few more are on the anvil.