Subject: AP Tiger Killings (NSTR) long To All Concerned RE: PROJECT TIGER KILLINGS NAGARJUNASAGAR SRISAILAM TIGER RESERVE (AP) >From information being made public it seems the killings of tigers at = the 3568 sq. km Nagajunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR) is the MOST EXTENSIVE KILLING OF TIGERS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. The fact that it hap= pened in the MID-1990's and under the nose of local authorities and NGO's in= the heart of such a large reserve is doubly disturbing and appalling.=20 Venkat Nagesh's posting from last week had more specific numbers=20 OFFICIAL FIGURES Census Year Number of Tigers in entire NSTR reserve 1989 94 1993 54 1995 35 1997 25 These numbers do not show what happened in the Northern- NSTR which is = 2100 sq km in area where as per (OFFICIAL) figures of the May 1997 tiger cen= sus indicated a population of only five tigers against 25 in the 1993 censu= s. Unofficial figures put this at two or three pug marks detected. The sta= te government plans to hold another census. TIGERS IN NORTHERN NSTR (NORTH BANK OF RIVER KRISHNA) Year Official count 1993 25 1997 5 (Unofficially only 2-3 pugmarks detected) Between 20-23 tigers were lost in a span of 3-4 years and the problem w= as not highlighted by anybody. This amounts to a near wipeout of the tiger population in northern NSTR, accompanied by large scale deforestation.=20 The bottom line remains that a very large number of tigers have been w= iped out due to apathy, callousness and misplaced priorities. Such an event = could happen again in other states of India and it is important that everyb= ody on this list in India and outside India as individuals and groups take an = active role in bringing pressure on all concerned to do something drastic to s= ee this never repeated - ANYWHERE. =20 This could also open new roles for national and international NGO's . M= ost state level NGO's in many states lack the political clout or the capac= ity to effectively handle such issues alone and only a national and internatio= nal support can help. There seems a near complete lack of awareness in Andhra Pradesh that = the NSTR and tigers of NSTR are NOT the property of the local government a= nd state officials but a part of India's and the world's natural heritage. It seems paramount that individuals and NGO's from across India and international conservation groups step in to help solve this problem. T= his can be done by making local authorities aware that it a matter of grave concern worldwide. By doing this we can convince all including governme= nt authorities, villagers and Naxal groups that letting the NSTG and tiger= s remain will ultimately serve the larger interests of all. ANY AND ALL SUGGESTIONS WELCOME A LIST OF NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF PEOPLE WHO CAN BE CONTACTED WILL BE PO= STED SHORTLY. THANK YOU =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D BACKGROUND :=20 While it is easy to apportion blame on several parties - the problems i= n Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam is somewhat complex. 1. LACK OF PUBLICITY: NSTR covers a large rugged area and it is NOT a p= rime tourist area - both a strength and weakness. Due to rugged terrain and = lack of infrastructure - few wildlife people visit the reserve despite it be= ing India's largest tiger reserve and as a result there is little national = or international awareness of the site. The only tourist traffic are cars = and buses of pilgrims negotiating the 85 km (50miles) northern ghat road th= rough Mannanur that passes through the reserve to the temple town of Srisaila= m. The road is open only during daylight hours. Srisailam is also site of a hu= ge 585-foot high dam and massive hydroelectric complex. The River Krishna = flows here at the bottom of a canyon several hundred feet deep. On both sides= of this river valley are forested hills with deep ravines, hills and plate= aus of mixed forest which are prime tiger habitat. Downstream from the Srisail= am dam is the approximately 900- foot high Nagarjunasagar dam which also holds= a large lake over inundated forest. Both these mega-projects were built b= efore environmental concerns had much momentum. 2. POLITICAL COMPLEXITY : There are several groups involved in this pro= blem. This includes=20 (a) state government officials (b) timber contractors/ smugglers (c) ro= ad contractors ( d) local Chenchu tribals, cattle herdsmen, villagers (e) armed naxali= te groups. Everybody with their own agenda.Caught in the middle of this are the ti= gers and other wildlife. Local villagers are caught between forest officials= , timber contractors and Naxalite groups. In some instances local forest officials allegedly exploit their power over villagers ( this power inc= ludes control of forestry issues and also the awarding of financial compensat= ion for cattle killed by tigers) - the friction between villagers and fores= t officials is of ten allegedly in turn exploited by Naxal groups who are fighting the government. THE WHOLE ENVIRONMENT/ TIGER CONSERVATION ISSU= E IS MADE TO SEEM LIKE ANOTHER FOREST DEPT./GOVERNMENT SCHEME TO EXPLOIT LOC= AL VILLAGERS.=20 (As of September 1997 - Several parts of AP which include several prim= e tiger habitat areas such as Srisailam, Adilabad, Parkal, Eturnagarm res= erves and border regions with Maharashtra, Orissa and MP are in near anarchy = in the fight between state authorities and the PWG Naxalites. This also involv= ed armed attacks and destruction by explosives of Forest Department property/buildings) 3. HISTORY: This area has a complex religious and cultural history - ha= ving the ancient Srisailam Temple complex in the middle of the NSTR. Inside= the forest are several pilgrim footpaths that follow water sources and old = ruined temples and forts=20 ( some of these huge fort complexes were frequented by wildlife includi= ng tigers as they were uncleared and even in the 1980's reachable only on = foot after passing through thick lantana/thorn tunnels)=20 4. LOCATION: The NSTR is located 135 km South-East from Hyderabad AP by= road. The forest starts where the ghats begin near Mannanur and it is a furth= er 85 km by road to Srisailam town. The NSTR and River Krishna are is also cl= early visible from the air on the Delhi-Hyderabad-Madras flight or Hyderabad-= Madras flight which pass directly over the NSTR. The River Krishna flowing thr= ough hills is a prominent landmark even from an altitude of 30,000 feet. Fro= m this height deforestation patterns and the forest=92s fragility are depressi= ngly apparent. 5. NEW DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS: Adding to existing problems several new re= gional building/development/ irrigation projects are in the planning pipeline = which can further impact the NSTR.