Conservation in India. Dr. A.J.T.Johnsingh, Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysore and WWF-India

Transcription

1 Conservation in India Dr. A.J.T.Johnsingh, Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysore and WWF-India

2 Faunal immigration into the Indian subcontinent

3 Two examples of floral migration, Rhododendron arboreum

4 Mesua ferrea

5 India is one of the 12 mega biodiversity countries in the world (195 countries) Australia, Brazil, China, Colombia, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru and Zaire, and constitute % of the biodiversity Biodiversity values of India Angiosperms: Freshwater fishes: 678 Marine fishes: 1708 Amphibians: 271 Reptiles 447 Birds: 1302 Mammals: 425

6 The reasons for the mega biodiversity In addition to its geographic location, which enabled many species to immigrate, India has enormous biome/ecosystem diversity

7 Other reasons for the existing conservation status The hunting reserves of former kings. Arrival of the British and the Reserve Forest system (Indian Forest Act 1865), establishment of Protected Areas. Vegetarianism??? Wildlife Protection Act (1972) and Forest (Conservation) Act 1980 Dedicated conservationists and managers. Significant number of world-class conservation biologists.

8 Notable wildlife values of India Half the tiger (ca. 1500) and Asian elephant (ca. 25,000) population Nearly 80 % of the Great Indian rhino population (ca. 2000) Only subcontinent to have wild buffaloes, swamp deer, Asiatic wild ass Exceptional mountain ungulate diversity, 19 species because of the Himalaya

9 While understanding the conservation scenario in India remember human race originated in Africa, Homo sapiens colonizing Indian subcontinent ca. 50,000 years ago

10 In the beginning humans were hunter gatherers, this was followed by settled agriculture Diseases, calamities like famine and dangerous animals took a heavy toll of the population Arrival of British, conquest of disease, rapid increase in human population. Babar brought in firearms and Westerners brought in weeds. Now 1.27 billion people, high consumption rate, enormous pressure on the habitat and as a result a fragmented and degraded habitat (weed abundance and lack of regeneration of palatable species) Conservation can succeed only when there is peace, prosperity, political will and support of people

11 One priceless habitat we have lost over the decades is terai grasslands. How did it happen?

12 As a result loss of some splendid species, Book: Exotic Aliens. 200 years ago cheetah was a problem species in Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu Cheetah Acionyx jubatus

13 Cheetah was largely supported by black buck which were in thousands then. Firearms drastically reduced their numbers.

14 India then had three species of rhinos, Javan rhino

15 Sumatran rhino, largely in the hills

16 Sumatran rhino, largely in the hills

17 Many sub-species occur as single populations Lion (Panthera leo persica), hangul or Kashmir stag (Cervus elaphus hanglu) Thamin or Manipur browantlered deer (Cervus eldii) Status of Peninsular wild buffalo (Bubalus arnee, could be a special ecotype) is precarious. Photo: P.M. Lad IFS (Retd)

18 In the hilly areas sambar conservation is tiger conservation. Are we ok with sambar conservation? NO.

19 Rhino, pride of Assam, protection largely with guns.

20 Wild buffalo, like rhino, a habitat specialist

21 Swamp deer, another difficult species to protect

22 Hog deer another difficult species to protect

23 Barking deer status need to be monitored It is on the decline

24 Chowsingha or four-horned antelope It is on the decline as well Here, the female, is feeding on silk cotton flower

25 Chital can proliferate with little protection and sufficient habitat

26 Nilgai are a problem species in north India, around 1950 were found near Coimbatore

27 Wild pig is a public relations disaster. It causes enormous problems. Good electric fencing may stop them. It can be hunted in forests where there are no large predators.

28 Gaur numbers are increasing in many parts of Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu, e.g., Kodaikanal, Ooty, Kothagiri. There is conflict due to walking across fields, crop raiding and accidental encounters with people. Observations of R.C. Morris and near fatal encounter of late E.R.C. Davidar are worth remembering

29 Elephant conservation has not received that much attention as tiger conservation

30 We may have a maximum of 1000 adult tuskers Conflict with people, They are the only source of white gold and so the tuskers are short lived We need in fact Project Tusker, rather than Project Elephant to save our tuskers.

31 When there is cattle grazing wildlife is the loser

32 When palatable crops are grown near forests elephants raid them. Leads to man slaughter - nearly 400 people killed every year Most are poor.

33 A shining example of captive elephant management at Mudumalai Tiger Reserve

34 In Nagrahole Tiger Reserve tribal mahouts (Kurubas) grow with elephants

35 A tiger conservation story from Chilla Range, Rajaji National Park

36 A man killed by a tiger in the periphery of Chitwan National Park, Nepal. Photo credit : Peter Jackson

37 Asiatic lion, Panthera leo persica, ca. 400 animals inside and outside Gir protected area (outside cattle, nilgai and wild pig), and outside often get into conflict by killing livestock and occasionally people.

38 Even when a leopard becomes a man-eater it never loses the fear of man. It Attempts to kill humans at dawn, night and dusk. So killing a man-eating leopard is much more difficult than killing a man-eating tiger which loses all fear of man once it becomes a man-eater: Jim Corbett.

39 Snow leopard, Uncia uncia. Entire Himalaya is still one snow leopards habitat Conflict as result of killing sheep and goats. Surplus killing is occasionally reported.

40 Where there is bharal there will be snow leopard

41 Sloth bear, Melursus ursinus. Nearly 8,000 sloth bear in India Attacks on unwary lone travelers on foot in jungles is common. Can be found in places which provide rock shelters Crop raiding is common.

42 Dhole a peerless predator

43 Gibbon conservation is difficult as a result of habitat loss. However most people don t kill them

44 Now even the common langur has been habituated to people

45 All macaques are aggressive and omnivorous, langurs largely folivorous. Rhesus macaque Macaca mulatta crop damage extensive frequent attacks on people predators seldom prey on macaques feeding by people because of religious beliefs excess population?

46 Can t Assam grow enough fish for its people from its hundreds of productive water bodies?

47 Can we allow our water bodies being taken over by Eichhornia crasipes and Ipomoea cornea?

48 Since we have small protected areas (aver ca. 300 sq.km) intensive management of the habitats is a must for conservation

49 Some examples of invasive inedible plant species: Eichhornia crassipes, Eupatorium odoratum, Flemingea bracteata Hyptis suaveolans Ipomea cornea, Lantana camera, Mimosa invisa. Opuntia dillenii Parthenium hysterophorus, Prosopis juliflora, Pteridium aqilineum Xanthium strumarium Interestingly most of them from south America. It appears we are helpless against them.

50 Challenges of conservation.. Control of poaching Growing fodder and firewood Reintroduction (lion, hangul, swamp deer, rhino, Brow-antlered deer, Pygmy hog) Establishment of corridors and management of landscapes Problem of human-elephant conflict and crop depredation by wild pig Weeds, Ipomoea cornea, Eichhornia crassipes, Lantana camara Regeneration of palatable species Control of human population