Dehradun, January 3
As many as 1,000 camera traps will be installed for tiger count across the country, the outcome of which is likely to be revealed in the first week of October. The mega exercise comes at a time when the world is observing 2010 as a year of tigers.

The Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, which has initiated a second tiger count in the country, is laying much emphasis on camera traps for ensuring a foolproof count of the charismatic species of big wildcats. The WII is in the process of procuring as many as 1,000 high-quality camera traps and have started the tendering process. These sophisticated cameras will be installed at the designated places in forest areas for necessary photographing exercise for the tiger count.

The distinct advantage of the camera traps was felt in the last 2007 tiger census when the photographs taken from hidden cameras ensured that there were no cases of overlapping during the census. Thus, the count of a particular tiger twice got negated, which was quite common otherwise.

Interestingly, the camera traps were used on an experimental basis in the last tiger census, the first in the country on national level. “Last tiger census, we used camera traps on a very limited scale, but this time we will be using over a 1,000 camera traps for ensuring better results,” Vinod Mathur, Dean, WII, Dehradun, said while talking to The Tribune.

Ahead of the installation of these camera traps, the WII scientists, along with foresters, would be conducting sign surveys for assessing the presence of tigers. These camera traps will be installed in forest areas, which have signs of any possible presence of tigers. “It gave encouraging results last time and more accurate tiger scenario in the country will emerge this time,” hoped Vinod Mathur.

Meanwhile, after completing training for officials of the Forest Department from as many as 17 states of the country, the WII has also come out with a total of one lakh booklets both in Hindi and English linked to methodology needed to be adopted by the foresters en course of the tiger count. Taking in the demands put forth by some of the states, the institute is also now publishing these booklets in eight regional languages of Bengali, Tamil and Malayalam and others.

The training for these forest officials took place at Ranthambore, Rajaji Corbett Park, Kanha and Kaziranga sanctuaries and were conducted by senior scientists of the institute. These trained officials are now further training their subordinates in the respective states. The entire tiger census exercise is expected to involve nearly one lakh officials, prominently including foresters.

A high sensitive and costly devise, camera traps are of immense help in photographing tigers, which cannot be easily approached by humans either for safety reasons or nature of such animals to maintain a safe distance from humans. The photographs help in an easy detection of an individual tiger as stripes of each tiger have a distinct pattern. Thus, none can be counted twice during the census.

Interestingly, there has been a section of wildlife conservationists and foresters who question the credibility of the camera traps. They argue that at times the time duration between clicking of the two photographs is something too much leading to a big possibility of some wild animals failing to get trapped by the camera. Even their usage in sugarcane fields is doubted in certain areas. But, their claims have so far led to little acceptance even as camera traps are all set to play a key role in the tiger census this time.

Pitthoragarh, January 3
Kumoan farmers after being badly hit by lack of rains are now facing the menace of wild animals, specially herds of wild pigs. Hill farmers in the absence of any credible deterrence against the wild menace are either shifting to other crops or leaving the fields uncultivated.

“In more than three dozen villages in the Pal Bilon area of Champawat district, farmers are now shifting to cultivate ginger as their groundnut and colocasia crops are often destroyed by wild pigs,” said Shankar Joshi, a farmer from Sukhi Dhang village in Champawat district. Not only in the Sukhi Dang area, but also in villages of upper and lower Pal Bilon area the attack of wild pigs on root crops is getting out of control of the villagers in nearly 100 villages in various areas of Champawat district. According to rough estimates, most of the farmers in these villagers are losing 50 per cent of their crops to these wild pigs in the past decade.

Not only in Champawat district, but remote areas of Pitthoragarh, Almora and Bageshwar districts are also hit by the attack of herds of pigs, monkeys or Himalayan bears. “Mainly villages close to the higher Himalayas are hit by Himalayan black bears, while the mid-Himalayan region is hit by pigs and monkeys and the Tarai region by wild elephants,” said Nishant Verma, District Forest Officer (DFO), Pitthoragarh.

In the Thuwal Khera and Nayak Gotht area of Champawat, herds of wild elephants are not only destroying the crops, but also killing villagers,” said Dinenh Pandey, a journalist based in Champawat district. In the DiDihat area of Pithoragarh district, villages of Pamtori, Hat, Pamsyari, Kuta, and Chupra Khet area are badly hit by the attacks of wild pigs on farmers crop. “In some villages, as in Pamtori, the farmers are losing more than 80 per cent of their crops to these pigs. We have also tried to stop them by putting solar fencing around the village, but the scheme failed,” said Vijendra Metha, a farmer from Pamtori in DiDihat sub-division of Pitthoragarh district.

Villagers of Someshwar sub-division of Almora district have written to the government that being their only source of livelihood, agriculturists should be protected from these wild animals. “We have learnt that truck loads of monkeys are being carried from Tarai and dumped in this area. These monkeys as well as pigs are eating our more than 50 per cent crop for the past five years. These unwanted animals have destroyed more than 50 per cent crops of potato, ginger, colocasia, turmeric and radish,” said Joga Singh Bora, a farmer from the Someshwar area in Almora district. “If we go to kill these wild animals, forest officers charge us under the Wildlife Protection Act,” said Shankar Joshi. But the forest officer claimed that the protection of crops was not that tough, as the wildlife protection law had been simplified in favour of farmers.

“The power to kill a wild animal which is destroying farmer’s crop now lies with the DFO instead of the Chief Wildlife Warden as was the case earlier. If villagers pass a resolution in their Gramsabha, the DFO can order the killing of the wild animals which are destroying the crops,” said Verma, DFO, Pitthoragarh.

Nainital, January 3
Residents of the Gandhinagar locality of Lal Kuan were in for a shock on Saturday afternoon as a large herd of elephants had entered the area. Panic spread among people residing in the area when they saw the elephants marching towards the human settlement.

A large number of people climbed on electric towers and other high spots for their safety, while a number of them simply fled from the area.

The noise created by people to scare away the elephants proved futile as the animals roamed around in the area just adjacent to the residential quarters for a long time.

The people of the area have asked Forest Department officials to take some preventive safety measures. They said normally the elephants tried to get close to human settlements only in the dark, but now they had become bold enough to come into close human proximity even during daytime.

Nainital, January 3
Kumaon University has bagged a mega project worth Rs 1 crore for setting up a centre of excellence for natural resource development and management. The centre is scheduled to come up at the Almora campus of the university.

Disclosing this, Vice-Chancellor of the university Dr VPS Arora stated that the university was also in the process of setting up a centre for Himalayan studies in Nainital. This centre would carry out research work on different aspects of the Himalayan terrain, including subjects like linguistics, culture etc. Dr Arora further stated that the state government had given clearance for setting up a centre for climate change by the university.

Talking about the academic reforms undertaken by the university, the Vice-Chancellor informed that the authorities had agreed to conduct entrance exams for admissions to doctorate programmes being offered by the varsity. The first exam for PhD admissions would be held in March this year. “Our emphasis is to encourage quality research at the university. Only those qualifying the exam will be taken for the programme,” he said.

The university has also decided that the teaching staff will get extraordinary leave for taking up projects outside only after they have completed a five-year teaching stint. “They must serve the university before they apply for leave without pay,” he said.

The office of the Registrar is also being reconstituted in accordance with the norms laid by the University Grants Commission (UGC). The VC informed that the university would soon have a Deputy Registrar, Assistant Registrars, Controller of Examination and Finance Office in place as per the UGC guidelines. The appointment of teaching and library staff would be done in accordance with the qualifications specified by the UGC.

Dr Arora said, “Our emphasis will be to give priority to bringing about academic and financial discipline in the university. There will be new research programmes. The placement and counselling directorates will be extended to the government degree colleges”. The university has also decided to go in for central evaluation system for the exams conducted by it.

The VC said from the current year the exams would be held on time. The annual exams would be conducted in March and April and the results declared in June. The improvement exams would be held in July and the new session would begin from August, he added.

Dehradun, January 3
Gunjan Magazine organised a painting competition at the Gandhi Park today. The free-style painting competition was open to all schoolchildren of Dehradun. Around 350 kids and 22 schools took part in the contest.

The competition was categorised into five groups. Group A, B and C were allotted to schoolchildren, while the D group was allotted to the degree section.

Interestingly, the fifth group was for parents of the participating kids. The participants were free to paint the canvas from their imagination and innovation. No topic was given to them in particular.

The results will be announced on January 26. Prize distribution will also be held on the same day at 10 am.

Cadets from the 11 UK Girls Battalion also participated in the event as volunteers.

Dignitaries present at the function were organiser and Editor-in-Chief of the magazine MPS Kandari, Professors from DBS (PG) College Dr SK Gupta and Dr VC Pandey. 

Dehradun, January 3
The Doon Star team lifted the Khadag Bahadur Memorial Football Trophy here today. In the final, it defeated Cantt Blues by 5-4. Manish Thapa of the Cantt Blues was given the man of the tournament trophy. Cantt Blues also won the fair play trophy.

It was a young Cantt Blues side that gave a tough fight to the much-experienced Doon Star team. The Cantt Blues team gave their opponent the first jolt in the 3rd minute of the match.

It was Manish for his side who scored the goal. Tsring scored an equaliser in the 13th minute of the match through for Doon Star team. After scoring an equaliser, the Doon Star team grew in confidence and scored the second goal of the match through Tenzing in the 25th minute of the match making it 2-1.

The Cantt Blues team made a come back in the match through Ravinder in the 39th minute of the match making it 2-2 at half time.

After the first half, the Doon Star team came up with a different strategy with Rajesh Chauhan scoring the goal for his team in the 51st minute of the match making it 3-2. The match seemed to have swing in Doon Star favour and fans had expected it to be the final score. But the young Cantt Blues team came back to score an equaliser in the 60th minute through Ravinder. Despite Doon Star team did not give up, it scored the fourth and the fifth goal of the match in the 74th and 81st minute.

The Cantt Blues team scored the fourth goal to reduce the lead, but failed completely to score the fifth by losing it to Doon Star by 5-4. 

Dehradun, January 3
Manoj Singh’s life revolves around boxing ring and he desires to represent the country at the international level.

He recently won bronze at the All-India Inter-University Boxing Competition held 
at Hissar.

Speaking to The Tribune, Manoj said, “I have been boxing since 2002. In these seven years I have learnt a lot and is still learning more about the sport. The most important thing in boxing is to have a strong basics and a strong counter attack. Along with it your movement in the ring is crucial. One who is able to master these three things and implement it during the fight, he turns out to be a successful boxer”.

This was not the lone success for Manoj. He had earlier won gold at the school state in 2004 and at the senior state boxing competition. According to Manoj in order to be a successful boxer one needs to have a good coach and, most importantly, a good partner to practise with.

“Coaches play an important role in making one a good boxer, they are the motivational force. The most important motivation from a coach comes during a bout, when he discloses to a boxer what he needs to focus on during the fight,” added Manoj.

He accepted the fact that though he may be enjoying good facilities at Kashipur hostel, this is not the case throughout the state where boxers are not getting basic boxing facilities, despite having an abundance of talent.

In spite of this shortcoming, he feels that in the coming years state boxing will undergo a great change, something like Haryana, which has produced some of the big names in boxing.

Dehradun, January 3
The VCA team registered a narrow seven-run victory over the Little Master Cricket Club (LMCC) team at the Banke Lal Shah Memorial Cricket Tournament underway at Rangers Ground here today organised by the Little Master Cricket Club here today.

Batting first, the VCA team scored 121 runs in 20 overs. Opener Pawan scorer 10 runs, whereas another Moni made 4 runs. But it was first down batsman Bhagesh who scored 26 runs, before going down to Saleem.

Middle order batsman S Datta supported Bhagesh well on the other end to go on to score 21 runs. Divyansh scored 15 runs. For the LMCC team, Shekhar and Saleem took three wickets each.

Chasing the victory target of 122 runs, the LMCC team missed the target by just seven runs. Mukesh was the lead scorer for the team with 23 runs. He was caught by Harsh on Bhagesh’s delivery.

Another batsman Dhanajay scored 14 runs. Middle order batsman Rahul scored 15 runs and lower order batsman Amit also came up with useful contribution of 15 runs. But the team’s lower order batsman failed to score. For VCA team Harsh, Pawan and Bhagesh took two wickets each. 

Dehradun, January 3
ACA and DRCA won their respective matches at the u-17 District Cricket Tournament organised by Col Brown School here today. In the first match, the ACA team registered a 129 runs victory over DGRM team. Batting first, ACA team scored 248 runs in 30 overs.

Gunjeet was the lead scorer for the team with 94 runs in 61 balls, hitting 11 fours and five sixes in his innings.

Earlier the openers gave a solid start to the team with 95 runs in the first 13 overs. Priyanshu scored 37 runs, whereas Abhimanyu scored 33 runs. First down batsman scored 27 runs. For DGRM team Pandey took four wickets.

Chasing the victory target of 249 runs, the DGRM team was all-out for 119 runs. Ashish was the lead scorer for the team with 40 runs in 36 balls, whereas Manish scored 29 runs.

For the DGRM team Nishant, Abhimanyu and Shaksham took three wickets each.

Meanwhile, in the second match, DRCA team defeated CAU team by 57 runs. DRCA team scored 253 runs. Manish scored 91 runs in 57 balls, hitting 11 fours and four sixes.

Risav scored 43 runs and Pradeep scored 43 runs as well. For the CAU team Shobhit took three wickets, whereas Nishant, Vinit and Himanshu took two wickets.

In reply, the CAU team was all out for 158 runs. It was Vaibhav for CAU team who lead the fight for his team. He scored 92 runs in 78 balls, whereas Tony scored 30 runs.

For DRCA team Rishabh scored 30 runs, rest none of the batsman scored any runs. For the DRCA team Rishab took three wickets, whereas Pankaj took two wickets. 

Dehradun, January 3
The OTCC team won by 110 runs against the Vidhan Sabha team at the 58th District Cricket League here today.

Batting first, the OTCC team scored 245 runs in 30 overs. Openers Bunty and Vijay contributed 59 runs off 40 balls. Bunty scored 55 runs hitting nine fours in his innings while Vijay scored 19 runs.

Middle order batsman Babu scored 40 runs and Shobhit scored 70 runs while Parvesh scored 25 runs. For the Vidhan Sabha team, Anshuman took two wickets.

Chasing the target of 246 runs, the Vidhan Sabha team was all-out for 121 runs. Bhugneshwar made 46 runs off 29 balls.

For the OTCC team, Sharad took four wickets and Ajit took two wickets.