How does a tiger cross a fence?

March 2013. There has recently been a debate about fencing some tiger reserves in India - Is it good or bad for wildlife? Whatever the debate, if the fences are no good, the debate is academic.

This tiger was seen and photographed leaping the fence that was built around part of Bandhavgarh National Park. It is thought that some tigers have been injured while negotiating this fence. The photos were sent to us by Satyendra Tiwari of Skay's Camp, prompted by the images we published last week of a lynx and kitten passing through a wildlife fence very easily.

In Africa, a debate has just started about the benefits of fencing in some lion populations for their own protection. A recent study seems to show that lions have a better future if separated from humans by fences - The fence keeps humans out of lion habitat, and vice versa, reducing conflict between the species.

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/tiger-fence.html

Indian court bans tourism in tiger reserve 'core zones'

The Supreme Court in India has ordered a ban on tourism in "core zones" of more than 40 of the country's central government-run tiger reserves.

In a landmark ruling, it warned that states that fail to implement the ban face contempt proceedings and fines.

The court imposed fines of 10,000 rupees each ($178;£115) on six states for not complying with its earlier tiger protection directives.

Tiger numbers have shrunk alarmingly in India in recent decades.

A 2011 census counted about 1,700 tigers in the wild.

A century ago there were estimated to be 100,000 tigers in India.

Read on:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-18967906

65% tiger reserves have inadequate protection

Wild tigers remain vulnerable to poaching in most protected areas

May 2012. A recent preliminary assessment of 63 legally protected areas in seven tiger range countries shows that only 22, or 35%, maintain WWF's minimum standards of protection. This indicates that the areas set up to protect tigers and other threatened species are not necessarily the refuge they are designed to be, says WWF. 

"Poaching is the most immediate threat to tigers and protected areas are the first line of defence against poaching," says Mike Baltzer, Leader of WWF's Tigers Alive Initiative. "If this preliminary assessment reflects the full situation on-the-ground, then protected areas are not functioning as an effective safe haven for tigers. Without places tigers can be safer from poaching, there is no hope to meet the target of more than 6,000 tigers by 2022." 

Poaching of tigers, to meet consumer demand for their body parts and products, is now the main factor reversing the gains made by governments, donors and other partners working towards the 2022 goal of doubling the world's tiger population agreed at the 2010 tiger summit in Russia. The meeting in New Delhi provides a perfect opportunity for the 13 countries to immediately launch an elevated operation to improve the protection of sites critical to tigers and take deliberate action towards Zero Poaching. 


Continued:  http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/tiger-protection.html