Tiger is symbol of wilderness and well-being of the ecosystem.

By conserving and saving tigers the entire wilderness ecosystem

is conserved.
In nature, barring human beings and their domesticates, rest of
the ecosystem is wild.
Hence conserving wilderness is important and crucial to maintain
the life support system.

Earlier estimate at the - 40,000

First ever Indian Tiger census (1972) – 1827 nos.
 Reasons for the Endangered Status
• The Bengal tiger is endangered because it is poached for its body parts to cater
to an illegal market.
• Another reason is habitat loss due to depletion of forest cover- interference of
humans and encroachment of forest land by people causing fragmentation.
• The 1950s saw extinction of the Caspian tiger and in 1970 -Bali and Java
tiger -extinct.
• The South China tiger 20-30 are remaining, is nearly extinct in the wild.
 Project Tiger 1973
• Recommended by IBWL
“The main objective of Project Tiger is to ensure a viable population of tiger in
India for scientific , economic , aesthetic , cultural and ecological values
and to preserve for all time, areas of biological importance as a natural
heritage for the benefit, education and enjoyment of the people”
The term “minimum viable population" refers to the population of a species
in the wild, usually estimated as the population size necessary to ensure
between 90 and 95 percent probability of survival between 100 to 1,000
years into the future
• Main objectives under the scheme include
– Elimination of all forms of human exploitation and disturbance
from the core and rationalisation of such activities in the buffer.
– Limitation of the habitat management to repair damage done by
man.
– Researching facts about habitat and wild animals and carefully
monitoring changes in flora and fauna.
• Initially, the Project started with 9 tiger reserves, covering an area of
16,339 sq.km., with a population of 268 tigers.
• 39 Tiger Reserves in 17 states, covering an area of 37761 sq. km
(2008, Feb)
Andhra Pradesh NAGARJUNASAGAR 17 (39)

Arunachal Pradesh NAMDAPHA, PAKKE

Assam MANAS, NAMERI, KAZIRANGA
Bihar VALMIKI

Chhatisgarh INDRAWATI, ACHANAKMAR, UDANTI-SITANADI

Jharkhand PALAMAU

Karnataka BHADRA, BANDIPUR, DANDELI-ANSHI, NAGARHOLE

Kerala PERIYAR, PARAMBI KULAM (Part),

PENCH, KANHA, SATPURA, KANHA, BANDHAVGARH,
Madhya Pradesh PANNA, SANJAY DUBRI

Maharashtra PENCH, MELGHAT, TADOBA-ANDHARI

Mizoram DAMPHA
Orissa SIMLIPAL, SATKOSIA
Rajasthan SARISKA, RANTHAMBHORE
KALAKAD-MUNDANTHURAI, MUDUMALAI, ANAMALAI
Tamil Nadu (Part)
Uttar Pradesh DUDHWA-KATERNIAGHAT
Uttaranchal CORBETT
West Bengal BUXA, SUNDARBANS
 National Tiger Conservation Authority
• The basis of the recommendations of National Board for Wild Life chaired by
the Hon’ble Prime Minister, a Task Force was set up to look into the problems
of tiger conservation in the country.
• Project Tiger has been converted into a statutory authority (NTCA) by
providing enabling provisions in the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 through
an amendment, viz. Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2006.

• NTCA- 4th of September, 2006

How many tigers??????????
 The Gir Lion Project-1972
Gir Forests of Saurashtra peninsula of Gujarat is unique as
the last strong hold of the Asiatic Lion (Panthera leo persica )
Earlier ranged in similar semi- arid tracts from Greece to NE
India
Threats
1. Grazing
48, 000 non resident cattle
Change in crop composition
Compaction of the soil
Increased soil erosion- impairing the fertility
Spread of disease
Reduction in wild ungulate population
2. Maldharis- herds men of Gir Forests
Effect of non resident cattle population triggered in the
depletion of natural resources
The lion prey base shifted from wild ungulates to the
domestic buffaloes
Man- animal conflict- death of lions due to poisoning
Management by the state Government in 1971
closing of sanctuary form grazing of the non- resident
domestic livestock
Areas were provided with physical barrier
Shifiting of the maldharis+ cattle in a phased manner
 1972- Gir Lion Sanctuary project was initiated- Gujarat
Government– 45.07 lakhs
Salient feature of the scheme
Construction of dry rubble wall of 1m height and raising
live hedges on both sides of the rubble wall
Construction of barricades along the waster courses
trasverisng the periphery of the sanctuary
Providing check posts with barriers across all the public
roads
Shifting of the permanent Maldhari families
Work done under the project
1972- area of the sanctuary- 1265.01 km2 increased to 1412.12 Km2 in 1974
The core portion of the Gir Sanctuary covering an area of 258.71 km2 was
declared as National park in 1978- (initially only 140.10 km2 was declared as
NP in 1975 later 118.13 km2 was later added to this in 1978)
400 km of barricade along periphery and as well as construction of rubble wall
and live hedges
3.2 ha of cultivable land to each Maldhari family+ a plot of 610 M2 as house
site free of cost
For construction of house each family- Rs.2500 as subsidy and Rs2500 as loan
Household materials and the dismantle material were transported free of cost
Provision of community facilities
 Crocodile Breeding Projects
Three species of Crocodile
1. Gharial- Gavialis gangeticus (sole living member of
the familyGavialidae
2. Mugger/fresh water – Crocodylus palustris
3. Salt water crocodile- C. porosus
Threats
 Hunting- 1972- 73 species in Schedule I
 Dr. H R Bustard– FAO expert- project initiated
from 1st of April- 1975- in Orissa
 Subsequently extended – UP( 1975), Rajsthan(1975, W
Bengal (1976), TN (1976), AP (1977-78), Gujarat (1977),
Kerala (1977), MP (1978-79), Maharastra ( 1979) Andaman
(1979) Assam (1979), Bihar (1979) and Nagaland (1980).
1976-80- 2700 Gharials, 600 saltwater crocodiles and 900
muggers have been hatched at project rearing stations
Total of 710 crocodiles were released
 African elephant Asian elephant
(Loxodonta africana) (Elephas maximus)

Skin More wrinkled Smoother

Highest point On the shoulder On the back

Size of the ears Bigger Smaller

Shape of the back Concave Convex or straight

Shape of the head no humped with humped

structures, no dent structures on the top
of the head, forehead
dented
Tusks Existing with both Males in many cases
sexes. Bigger with the having tusks. Females
males having only
rudimentary or no
tusks
Trunk Trunk end with two With one finger
fingers
 Project elephant 1992
• Elephant ( Elephas maximus ) is the largest terrestrial mammal
• Elephant being wide ranging animal requires large areas
• The requirement of food and water for elephants are very high and therefore
their population can be supported only by forests that are under optimal
conditions.
• The status of elephant can be the best indicator of the status of the forests.
• Asian elephants were believed to be widely distributed – from Tigris –
Euphrates in West Asia eastward through Persia into the Indian sub-continent ,
South and Southeast Asia including Sri Lanka , Java , Sumatra , Borneo and
up to North China.
• currently they are confined to Indian Subcontinent , South East Asia and some
Asian Islands - Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Malaysia.
 Why Project elephant ??
1. Poached for Ivory
 During the last 20 years the proportion of sub-adult and adult
tuskers in various populations have declined, some by as much
as 75%.
 This results in a skewed sex ratio
Anthropogenic effect
 Reduction in habitat and fragmentation-
 1966-1976- 1/3 of 1660Km2 most suitable habitat used for – monoculture
 Mining
 Developmental projects- construction of Dams and reservoirs-affects the
habitual migration pattern- establishment of Ramganga reservoir in Corbet
NP and construction of Chilla Rishikesh Power channel- prevented
seasonal migration- over use of resources – depletion.
 Qualitative degradation of habitat-
 lopping and Grazing– Rajaji NP- 57% of the scrub- Lantana, Adthoda etc
 Regeneration of favorable sps- Sterculia, Grewia etc negligible
 Crop raiding and human killing
Project Elephant (PE) was launched by the Government of India in the year
1992 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with following objectives
 Ecological restoration of existing natural habitats and migratory routes of
elephants
 Development of scientific and planned management for conservation of
elephant habitats and viable population of Wild Asiatic elephants in India
 Promotion of measures for mitigation of man elephant conflict in crucial
habitats and moderating pressures of human and domestic stock activities in
crucial elephant habitats
 Strengthening of measures for protection of Wild elephants form poachers
and unnatural causes of death
 Research on Elephant management related issues
 Public education and awareness programmes
 Eco-development
 Veterinary care
• 26 Elephant Reserves (ERs) extending over about 60,000 sq km (The
Project is being mainly implemented in 13 States / UTs) have been
formally notified by various State Governments . Consent for
establishment 6 more ERs - Baitarini ER & South Orissa ER in Orissa
, Lemru & Badalkhod in Chattisgarh and Ganga-Jamuna (Shiwalik)
ER in U.P , Khasi ER in Meghalaya has been accorded by MOEF. The
concerned State Governments are yet to notify these ERs.
• Project Elephant has been formally implementing MIKE (Monitoring
of Illegal Killing of Elephants) programme of CITES in 10 ERs since
January 2004. These include Shiwalik (Uttaranchal); Eastern Dooars
(West Bengal); Mayurbhanj (Orissa); Ripu-Chirang and Dehing-Patkai
(Assam); Garo Hills (Meghalaya); Deomali (Arunchal Pradesh;
Wayanad (Kerala), Mysore (Karnataka) and Nilgiri (Tamil Nadu).
Manipur Brow-antlered Deer- cervus eldi
• Also known as Sangai
• Rarest and localized mammals in the world
• Considered extinct- but located- Keibul Lamjao at the SE
corner of Logtak lake
• Declared as sanctuary in 1954
• NP- 1977- 35Km2- real habitat- 15 Km2
• Estimated No. of 100 in-1960- 18 in 1977
• Estimate of -1978 was 23
• There are also- 49 individuals in captivity in different
regions
 Lesser cats Project
• Leopard cat, Marbled Cat, Golden cat and Fishing cat are
regarded as vulnerable in Eastern India
• WWF- “status of survey of lesser cats in Eastern India”-
states of NE+ Sikkim and W. Bengal in collaboration with
ZSI
Objective
• Asses population abundance
• Factors responsible for their decline
• Formulate conservation strategies
• Effort to save the Snow Leopard, the Government of India launched the

Project Snow Leopard (PSL) on 20 January 2009 in New Delhi

• The PSL is an initiative to conserve the globally endangered flagship species

Uncia uncial- its population in the country is merely about 750.

• The PSL will cover five Himalayan states of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal

Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.

• In addition to the Snow Leopard, other species which are expected to benefit

from this project are Asiatic Ibex, Tibetan Argali, Ladakh Urial, Chiru,

Takin, Serow and Musk Deer.

Asiatic Ibex

Takin

Tibetan Argali Serow

U Chiru
Ladakh Urial
 The Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

• CITES is an international agreement between governments.

• Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals
and plants does not threaten their survival.
• CITES was drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of
members of IUCN (The World Conservation Union).
• on 1 July 1975 CITES entered in force- 175 Parties- Geneva, Switzerland
• India become a signatory- 18th October, 1976
• Roughly 5,000 species of animals and 28,000 species of plants are protected
by CITES against over-exploitation through international trade.
• The species covered by CITES are listed in three Appendices, according to the
degree of protection they need
• Appendix I- includes species threatened with extinction. Trade in specimens of
these species is permitted only in exceptional circumstances.
Fauna- 597 spp.
• Appendix II- includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but in
which trade must be controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible with
their survival.

Appendix III -This Appendix contains species that are protected in at least one
country, which has asked other CITES Parties for assistance in controlling the
trade. fauna-152 spp.
 IUCN-International Union for Conservation of Nature
• helps the world find pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment
and development challenges.
• It supports scientific research, manages field projects all over the world
and brings governments, non-government organizations, United Nations
agencies, companies and local communities together to develop and
implement policy, laws and best practice
• IUCN is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental network
• The Union’s headquarters are located in Gland, near Geneva, in Switzerland.
• Founded in 1948 as the world’s first global environmental organization
• Ensures that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically
sustainable.
•The IUCN Red List System was first conceived in 1963
•The IUCN Red List Categories evolved over a four-year period through
extensive consultation and testing with more than 800 SSG members, and
the wider scientific community.
•The more precise and quantitative Red List Categories and Criteria were
adopted by IUCN in 1994.
USES of IUCN Red List
• Draws attention to the magnitude and importance of threatened
biodiversity
• Identifies and documents those species most in need of conservation
action
• Provides a global index of the decline of biodiversity
• Establishes a baseline from which to monitor the future status of
species
• Provides information to help establish conservation priorities at the
local level and guide conservation action
• Helps influence national and international policy, and provides
information to international agreements such as the Convention on
Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Convention on International Trade
in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
 Trade Records Analysis of Flora and Fauna In Commerce
• TRAFFIC was established as a specialist group of the IUCN Species Survival
Commission
• TRAFFIC was established in 1976
• Trade in wild plants and animals is managed at sustainable levels without
damaging the integrity of ecological systems and in such a manner that it makes
a significant contribution to human needs, supports local and national
economies and helps to motivate commitments to the conservation of wild
species and their habitats.
• TRAFFIC operates through a network of nine regional programmes,
coordinated by the TRAFFIC International headquarters in Cambridge,
UK
 World Wide Fund for Nature
• Formerly known as World Wildlife Fund
• The organization was formed as a charitable trust on September 11, 1961,
It was an initiative of Julian Huxley and Max Nicholson
• Gland, Switzerland is the home of WWF International,
Mandate
• conserving the world's biological diversity
• ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable
• promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.
 Structure of WLPA (1972) amended upto 2006
• CHAPTER I- preliminary:- Title, extent and commencement, definitions
• CHAPTER II- Authorities to be appointed or constituted under this Act
• CHAPTER III- Hunting of Wild Animals
• Sec 9- No person shall hunt any wild animal specified in Schedule I, II, III
and IV except as provided under section 11 and 12
• CHAPTER IIIA- Protection of Specified plants
• CHAPTER IV- Protected areas
– Sec 18 deals with declaration of Sanctuary
– Sec 35 declaration of National Park
– Sec 36 A deals with declaration and management of a conservation reserve
– 36 C- declaration and management of community reserve
– Sec 38- power of Central Government to declare areas as Sanctuaries or national
Parks
• CHAPTER IV A – Central Zoo Authority and Recognition of Zoos

• CHAPTER IV B- National Tiger Conservation Authority

• CHAPTER IV C- Tiger and Other Endangered species Crime Control

Bureau

• CHAPTER V- Trade or commerce in Wild Animals, Animal articles

and Trophies.

• CHAPTER VI- Prevention and detection of offences

• CHAPTER VI A- Forfeiture of Property Derived form Illegal Hunting

and Trade

• CHAPTER VII- Miscellaneous

Schedule I
• Part I (Mammals)- Cervus eldi, Panthera tigris, Elephas maximus
• Part II (Amphibians and reptiles)- Gharial, Mugger
• Part II(A)- Fishes- Whale Shark
• Part III- Birds- Frogmouth, Great Indian Bustard
• Part IV- Crustacea and Insects
• Part IV A-Coelentrates
• Part IV B-Mollusca
• Part IV C-Echinodermata
Schedule II
Part I- Common langur, Bonnet Macaque
Part II- Beetles
Schedule III- Barking Deer, Chital, Sponges
Schedule IV- Five-Striped palm squirrel, Avocet, Fresh Water frogs, etc
Schedule V – Vermin- Common crow, Fruit bats, Mice and rats
Schedule VI- Beddomes cycad, Blue Vanda, Kuth, Ladies slipper orchid,
Pitcher Plant, Red vanda
 RADIO-TELEMETRY
• Wildlife radio-telemetry may be defined as the transmission of
information from a transmitter on a free-ranging wild animal to a
receiver.
• Wildlife-related telemetry is also known as radio tagging, radio-
tracking or simply ‘tagging’ or ‘tracking’.
Basic component of a radio-tracking system-
1. A transmitting system- radio transmitter, power source and a propagating
antenna
2. Receiving subsystem- pick up antenna, a signal receiver and a power
source
Type of radio tracking device
1. Very high frequency (VHF) radio tracking
2. Satellite tracking
3. Global Positioning System tracking
Uses

• Resource use - nest sites, feeding locations

• Survival - Longevity, location and cause of death

• Movement patterns - sequential locations of moving animals such as

dispersing juveniles

• Activity patterns - timing and duration of activity and sleep, nest use

• Behavioral observation - fecal sampling for determining diet, mating

choices, caching behavior

• Home range analysis - drawing polygons around a large set of mapped

locations
 VHF RADIO TRACKING
 It’s a standard technique used
 It enables both ground detection and air detection
Advantage- low cost, reasonable accuracy and long life
Disadvantage- labor intensive and can be weather dependent if aircraft based
Transmitting system
Transmitters- signals can either be continuous or pulsed
Frequency and Detection- 27 MHz to 401 Mhz- ground to ground range of 5-
10 Km and aerially 15-25 Km
Power source: Lithium batteries of 2.9-3.9 V are generally employed
or photovoltaic solar cells can also be used
Transmitting antennas: whip antennas—(one end free) or loop antennas (fits
around the animal neck
Radio tagging mammals
• Ear tags transmitters
• Transmitters fixed with adhesives directly onto the mammal such as bats
or bear
• Surgically Implanted- Subcutaneous transmitters, Rumen transmitters,
abdominal transmitters
Receiving subsystems
Receivers- hand held walkie- talkie size receivers (352 g)
Receiving Antennas- higher frequency smaller the antenna
Tracking Methods
1.Homing- following its signal towards its greatest strength
2. Triangulating
Guidelines for attachment
• Minimum Weight
• Minimum effect on the animal
• Maximum protection for the transmitters
• Permanence of the attachment
• Maximum protection of the transmitter from animal mortality factors
such as predation and accident
SATELLITE TRACKING
• Platform transmitter Terminal is attached to the animal
• It sends an Ultra High Frequency signal (401-650 MHz) to the
satellites
• Calculate the animal’s location and sends into ground
• Generally Used for far ranging species- Migratory in nature
GPS TRACKING:
• Consists of a radio receiver (rather than a transmitter in an animals
collar.
• The receiver picks up signals from a special set of satellites and gives
the location of the animal
• A zoological garden, zoological park, menagerie, or zoo is a
facility in which animals are confined within enclosures, displayed
to the public, and in which they may also be bred.
• The oldest existing zoo, the Vienna Zoo in Austria (1752 )
• The origin of modern zoo commenced with the opening of London
Zoo (1828)
• First zoo in India was set up in Madras 1855- followed by TVM
(1857)
• Functions of a modern Zoo
1. Conservation- create condition for captive breeding
2. Education- enlighten the public about animals
3. Research- animal behavior, nutrition, pathology and
breeding ecology
4. Recreation
S.N NAME OF THE PARTICIPATING ZOO
O SPECIES
(SCIENTIFIC NAME)
1. ROCK PYTHON
(PYTHON MOLURUS 1.CHENNAI SNAKE PARK TRUST, GUINDY
MOLURUS) 2.CENTRE FOR HERPETOLOGY / MADRAS
CROCODILE BANK, MAMMALLAPURAM
3.ARIGNAR ANNA ZOOLOGICAL PARK, CHENNAI
2. GREAT INDIAN
HORNBILL 1.ALIPORE ZOO, CALCUTTA
(BUCEROS 2.ASSAM STATE ZOO, GAUHATI
BICORNIS)
3. HOLLOCK GIBBON -------do-----------
(HYLOBATES
HOOLOCK)
4. NILGIRI LANGUR
(PRESBYTIS JOHNI) 1.ARIGNAR ANNA ZOOLOGICAL PARK, CHENNAI
2.NEHRU ZOOLOGICAL PARK, HYDERABAD
3.TRIVANDRUM ZOO
5. LION TAILED 1.TRIVANDRUM ZOO
MACAQUE 2.KANPUR ZOOLOGICAL PARK, KAPUR
(MACCACA 3.NANDANKANAN BIOLOGICAL PARK,
SILENSUS) BHUBANESHWAR
4. NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK, DELHI
10 10

2
• barriers are needed at animal exhibits to separate animal from visitors.

• The main advantage of having a moated enclosure is to have an open

naturalistic enclosure where the animals may display their natural
behaviour.

• The word ‘moat’ - French motte “mound, hillock”

• Dry moats are for animals which are good swimmers and the moat is made
sufficiently deep , with steep walls to prevent their escape.

• Wet moats are useful for hydrophobic animals , the water prevents the
animals from escaping and the perimeter wall need not be too high.
 Guidelines for Safari Park
• Minimum area of a safari for large carnivores and for ungulates
should be 20 hectares and 30 hectares respectively.
• Topography should be undulating. It should not have steep
slopes. It should be well drained.
• Animals should be kept in viable and compatible groups. In
case of large carnivores i.e. Lions a small viable pride and in
case of Tigers a viable compatible group of two animals may
be kept.
• Ungulates like Cheetal, Sambar etc. could be kept in
viable herbs, and groups .
• In case of primates a troop would be desirable.
• The vegetation maintained in the Safari Park should be
of an indigenous nature.
• The density could be regulated according to the needs
of the species kept, and to provide naturalistic effect
• The chain link or wall fence should be of a minimum
height of 5 meter in case of large carnivores,
• 4 meter high non-scalable fence or wall for Bears
(Sloth and Himalayan Black Bear).
 Central Zoo Authority
• In India, functioning of zoos is regulated by an autonomous statutory body
called Central Zoo Authority which has been constituted under the Wild Life
(Protection) Act.
• The main objective of the authority is to complement the national effort in
conservation of wild life.
• Standards and norms for housing, upkeep, health care and overall
management of animals in zoos has been laid down under the Recognition
of Zoo Rules, 1992.
• Every zoo in the country is required to obtain recognition from the
Authority for its operation.
• The Authority evaluates the zoos with reference to the parameters
prescribed under the Rules and grants recognition accordingly.
• Since its inception in 1992, the Authority has evaluated 347 zoos, out of

which 164 have been recognized and 183 refused recognition.

• Provides technical and financial assistance to zoos which have the

potential to attain the desired standard in animal management.

• The Central Zoo Authority also regulates the exchange of animals of

endangered category Listed under Schedule-I and II of the Wildlife

Protection Act) among zoos.

• Exchange of animals between Indian and foreign zoos is also

approved by the Authority before the requisite clearances under

EXIM Policy and the CITES permits are issued by the competent

authority.

• Some of the major initiatives undertaken by the Authority since its

inception include Establishment of Laboratory for Conservation of

Endangered Species at Hyderabad.

• Stud Book: maintains a true record of the history of a captive

population that is used for managing Population Management Plans

(PMPs) and Species Survival Plans (SSPs).