Pug marks of Rani

The other day it was a sunny morning at Jim Corbett Park.Wanted to see some really wild ones ,but all had lazily hidden themselves in some unknown shrubs.Forest Ranger was desperately trying to convince me that the pug marks are fresh and maybe the wild cat has just crossed the road.But its always like that since last four years.Every year I visited remembering Sir Jim Corbett but all in vain.While speaking to the villagers inside the park I overheard that these forest officials have made pug marker for different species to create and maintain the mystery and charm in the wild life santuary.How do you feel if someone shows you the pug mark of Rani the Tigress in the mid of jungle and that too very confidently after sitting for a while and looking from different angles.Atleast I feel shudder in my spine and this feeling of adventure brings me to this place again and again.

Rain

Its so unpredictable.Wheat and Maize crops lying in the fields and then you have rain for continuous 3 days.Every thing gone down the drain.Who to blame for this?O lord !why you do this.?By having sheer super control mechanism in your hand you want to do anything you want.Did you not saw my wife collecting the remnant garins in the field to make Roti's for Malti and Bholu for today evening.Why you want to see them weeping.Now even the tears have lost in the eyes.

My energy, effort,toiling everything gone.I have been seeing this for years I do not want to make any hue and cry for this.Have you ever thought to punish these "Jalwadars"who are adamant to admonish your own creation.Forest and Rivers are like puppets in their hand and we the strings.Will remain like that in years to come it seems.

Forest,Eco System and Neel Gai

The move to shoot Blue Bulls popularly known as "Neel Gai" is shocking to save the crops.There is a news in Hindi daily today that hunters have been called by UP government on a contract of shooting these shy creatures at rupees one thousand per antelop.This comprehensible act should be condemned at all levels.

This is in view to curb the menace of destruction of crops in districts of Banda,Bulanshahar,Muzzafarnagar,Shahjahanpur and Pilibhit.How can these kinds of decisions can to be taken by so irrespossibly??.They are a protected species under the wild life protection Act 1972.

In Haryana and Rajasthan also they cause damage of crops worth of crores every year.Due to tendency to run over the road they are menace for highways also.But due to strong pressure group created by Bishnoi's and also since this creature carries the name of "Neel Gai" the sentiment to shoot the animals has strong resentment among the villagers of Haryana and Rajasthan.Goverment also bows down under there pressure and they gained lot of attention after the court took strong views against Salman Khan and Nawab Pataudi for killing of other antelopes.

These are shy creatures and come out in open only due to lack of food and fodder.The reducing forest cover and conversion of wastelands into agriculture lands has led to blue bulls coming out in open and destructing the farmers’ fields all over the state.As winter advances the scarcity of fodder in forest forces these animal species come out to adjoining village areas of forests,and attack their fields at night.The animals descend on the fields in herds, making it easy for them to damage large areas of farmland within a matter of minutes. These animals have been frequenting for the past many years and often destroy their standing crop of maize, wheat, sugarcane, fodder like barseem as well as seasonal cash crops.

This animal can run upto 50 km per hr thus destruction is within a very short span of time.There population is definitely on increase in northern india and probably that is the reason why it has been termed as low risk of extinction by IUCN Red List. The population density in central india is .07 animals per sq km.But we should not forget that these species are available in India only.

If at all we need to curb the menace it should be tackled keeping the environment in mind.Millets and grasses should be sown in forest and the conversion of wasteland into agricultural land should be stopped. Better forest management and wildlife management should be ensured by the forest and wildlife department so that they remain in their natural habitat. If they are confided to the forest a proper eco system is maintained and their growth and extinction is maitained.By this the menace of destruction of crops can be avoided to a large extent.

Help can also be taken from the Nath tribes who are excellent trackers and adept at capturing and handling wildlife.A method should be devised wherein they can be trapped and dropped to there natural habitat.This will definitely help in a balanced approach towards the environment and maintaining the eco system.