*“Don’t Buy Trouble” film wins CMS Vatavaran Award *

TRAFFIC India’s film “Don’t Buy Trouble” has received an *award **at the **CMS
Vatavaran Environment and Wildlife Film festival held in New Delhi this
October.*

The award was in the *Public** Service Announcements (PSA) **category, which
*includes messages, short or promotional films, commercials or advertising
campaigns that educate or inform the public at large. **

This film is part of TRAFFIC India’s campaign to curb illegal trade in
wildlife. A one minute version of the film captures glimpses of the
burgeoning illegal wildlife trade in India that threatens our precious flora
and fauna, and is the latest addition to TRAFFIC India’s consumer awareness
“Buyers Beware” campaign. It is anticipated that the film will be shown in
airports and other locations where tourists gather.

Besides highlighting the gruesome reality for many species in illegal trade,
the film also draws attention to the various national and international laws
that protect them and informs viewers about the legal consequences of
engaging in such trade.
Targeted mainly at domestic and foreign tourists, the film sends out a clear
message that it is not only poachers and traders who fuel illegal wildlife
trade, but also those who purchase and use such products. “The end consumer
is as much a partner in wildlife crime as the trader or the poacher,” says
Samir Sinha, Head of TRAFFIC India. If found guilty, offenders are liable to
hefty fines and up to seven years of imprisonment. Ignorance of the law is
not an excuse. “In recent years, illegal wildlife trade has become an
international, organized criminal activity that can only be curbed through
action at the grassroot-level as well as international co-operation and
collaboration at the highest levels. ""Equally important is the need to
sensitise potential buyers about the
dangers of buying illegal wildlife goods, and this film—as part of
TRAFFIC India’s awareness campaign—aims to make buyers beware they
could be buying trouble."The film was shot by renowned wildlife filmmaker
Himanshu Malhotra and has been produced by TRAFFIC India/WWF-India.

In October 2007, TRAFFIC India launched a Consumer Awareness Campaign with
the release of the leaflet, “Are you committing a Crime? Think before you
buy”, followed by a release of four posters in February 2008 on shahtoosh
shawls, reptile skins, marine products and ivory. These can be downloaded at
www.traffic.org or www.wwfindia.org/traffic The film can be watched online
at: http://www.wwfindia.org/news_facts/?2700

A longer, five minute version can be viewed at:
http://www.youtube.com/trafficnetwork#p/u/8/J8WPRfeqdwM

*The CMS Vatavaran Environment and Wildlife Film festival has been held
annually since 2002. *This year a total of 366 film were entered for the
festival, 90 of them international and 276 of them national film entries. A
total of 25 awards were made, in 15 Indian categories and 10 awards in nine
international categories. **

CMS Vatavaran is a visionary initiative of CMS, an independent Delhi-based,
pan-India, multidisciplinary organization. For over two decades, CMS has
been engaged in research, policy advocacy, advisory services and programme
evaluation in the domains of environment, social issues, public health,
governance, development communications and transparency.



*Film: Don’t Buy Trouble*
*Producer:* TRAFFIC India*| Editor: *Sabina Kidwai *Narrator: *Jatin Ram
Prakash *| Scriptwriter: *Sabina Kidwai and Samir Sinha *| Camera:* Himanshu
Malhotra *| Technical inputs: **Khalid Pasha and Dilpreet Chhabra.*
*

Regards
Shubhobroto Ghosh
Programme Officer
TRAFFIC India
WWF India Secretariat
172-B, Lodi Estate, New Delhi 110003, India
Tel: +91-11-41504786, Fax: +91-11-43516200
Visit us at "www.traffic.org"

TRAFFIC- the wildlife trade monitoring network- is a joint programme of WWF
and IUCN-The World Conservation Union. It works to ensure that trade in wild
plants and animals is not a threat to conservation of nature.
*


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JTS8yMDA5LzExLzE1I0FyMDA\
1MDI=

Times of India Mumbai;
Date: Nov 15, 2009;Section: Times Features;Page: 5

ANIMAL INSTINCT

The jumbo brigade packs its trunk

Behind the Central Zoo Authority’s recent decision to ban elephants in zoos and
circuses was a mammoth struggle

*Anuradha Sawhney *

     It happened almost as soon as People for the Ethical Treatment of
Animals (PETA) first launched in India in 2000. We turned our attention to
the four elephants in the Mumbai zoo and then to those in other zoos and
circuses. Everywhere we went, we found that these gentle giants—who in the
wild live in herds, who care for their babies till they are almost nine
years old and who mourn for their lost babies for almost 19 years—were in
horrifying condition. They were in captivity, kept constantly chained, never
exercised, made to stand in their own excreta, fed substandard food, beaten
regularly and not given adequate food or water. The Ahmedabad zoo elephants
were shackled with chains which had spikes on the inside, so that even the
slightest movement resulted in their skin being pierced.

     The circuses were as bad, if not worse. Elephants, who for years have
been revered, had been turned into a parody of their magnificent cousins in
the wild by insensitive circus owners who made them play cricket, stand on
one leg whilst balancing on a stool, balance humans on their trunk and other
asinine tricks. Their handlers thought nothing of poking them with an ankus
to force them to obey. And when they were not entertaining circus goers,
these poor animals were kept fettered by chains on three legs (on occasion
even four) outside the circus tents, with inadequate food, no constant
source of water, no mud to have mud baths, and being gawked at by all and
sundry.

     Saddened and angered at the cruelty inflicted on them, my staffers and I
prepared report after report on how these creatures suffered in different
zoos and circuses and sent them over eight years to the government, which
remained totally indifferent. We used film stars—Rahul Khanna and Celina
Jaitley—to create awareness about the torture inflicted upon elephants in
captivity, but to no avail.

     Then in 2008, I read a news report which gave me a shock. It said the
Central Zoo Authority (CZA), the only authority who could do something for
elephants in captivity, had decided to turn the responsibility over to the
Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), which has no authority under the
Wildlife Protection Act, under which Elephants are supposedly protected. CZA
undoubtedly saw this as the easiest way out. Alarmed, I immediately wrote an
impassioned letter not just to CZA but to the Chairman of AWBI as well as to
the Ministry of Environments and Forests, telling them how the provisions of
the Wild Protection Act were being violated by the zoos and circuses and how
it was imperative that the ministry immediately ban the keeping of elephants
by zoos and circuses. I even got an opinion from an advocate, Raj Panjwani,
as to how CZA, which has

been formulated under the Wildlife Protection Act, could not wash its hands
of the issue. PETA got ready to go to court if the need arose.

     Late last year, after our letter, a news report appeared which said that
MOEF could be considering a ban on elephants working in circuses and zoos.
Despite much effort, we were unable to get more information, and so decided
to send more reports on the suffering of elephants to MOEF and CZA,
stressing why a ban was imperative. And then we prayed.

     Well, God evidently heard us. After eight long years, CZA confirmed vide
its circular of November 7, 2009, that all captive elephants in zoos and
circuses needed to be rehabilitated in elephant camps/rehabilitation
camps/facilities available with the forest department under the supervision
of the chief wildlife wardens of the state. Our long struggle has ended—and
with it the misery of hundreds of captive elephants.

(The writer is ex-head of PETA and co-opted member of AWBI)

--
http://www.stopelephantpolo.com
http://www.freewebs.com/azamsiddiqui

Dear all,
             It gives me pleasure to say that TRAFFIC India has undertaken a
novel intiative to train sniffer dogs for tracking wildlife goods. This
appears to be the first scheme of its kind in India. There has been
substantial international interest in this initiative. I had the pleasure of
shooting the entire exercise in Bhopal at the 23rd Battalion when the
handover of dogs officially took place.
  Best wishes,

                        Yours sincerely,
                        Shubhobroto Ghosh
Regards
Shubhobroto Ghosh
Programme Officer
TRAFFIC India
WWF India Secretariat
172-B, Lodi Estate, N.Delhi 110003, India
Tel: +91-11-41504786, Fax: +91-11-43516200
Visit us at "www.traffic.org"

TRAFFIC- the wildlife trade monitoring network- is a joint programme of
WWF and IUCN-The World Conservation Union. It works to ensure that trade
in wild plants and animals is not a threat to conservation of nature.

*2nd Phase of Sniffer dog training programme started by TRAFFIC **India**.*



The second phase of the Sniffer Dog Training for Wildlife Enforcement was
successfully inaugurated on 3rd November 2009 at the Dog Training Centre,
23rd Battalion of the Special Armed Police, Bhopal. Five German Shepherd
Dogs and 10 Forest Department staff were inducted into the training that
will continue for the next nine months. The Forest Departments of Haryana
and Uttarakhand already have one Sniffer Dog each, fully supported and
funded by TRAFFIC India.

Encouraged by the success of the pilot project, this time the dogs have been
made available to the states of Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Maharashtra,
who have sent their staff to be trained as handlers and assistant handlers
and as done earlier, TRAFFIC has sponsored the complete cost of the training
as well as procurement of the dogs. Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand will get
two dogs each whereas Maharashtra will get one fully trained Sniffer Dog for
sniffing out Tiger and Leopard skins and bones.

The inaugural function organised at the Dog Training Centre of the 23rd
Battalion was attended by Mr. R.S. Negi, Principal Chief Conservator of
Forests (Wildlife) Madhya Pradesh, Mr. Aseem Srivastava, Conservator of
Forests (Wildlife) Bhopal, Mr. Samir Sinha Head, TRAFFIC India and senior
officials of the 23rd Battalion, M.P. Special Armed Police.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

.......have sent message to China team - no news on the Internet from
initial searches.... Jill
*
Jill Robinson MBE *
Founder & CEO
Animals Asia Foundation

	 Find out about our latest moon bear rescue in Chengdu, China and
Friends....or Food: http://www.animalsasia.org/
	 Find out about animal welfare issues around the world at our Animal
welfare action <http://www.animalsasia.org/index.php?UID=OG6PQIOVOKC>
pages.


Think before you print


itd@... wrote:
>
> Our friends in the International Movement Against Bullfights
> (www.iwab.org) are asking for information on a bullring that was built
> in Beijing in 2004. Apparently there were plans at that time to
> introduce bullfights into China, but these were cancelled. It seems
> that the bullring was used instead for rodeos and circuses.
>
> Unfortunately there are now reports that the Chinese government is
> keen on reinstating this project and is planning the construction of
> another bullring, this time near the Great Wall. These reports have
> yet to be confirmed, but does anyone know if the ring built in 2004 is
> still standing? Any other information you may have on this would be
> greatly appreciated.
>
> For those of you unaware of this "sport", bullfighting is a horribly
> cruel ritualistic torture and killing of bulls with swords. We all
> know that there is enough animal cruelty in China without adding this
> to it.
>
> If you know anything relevant to this, no matter how insignificant it
> may seem, we would be very grateful if you could pass it to us.
>
> Kind regards to you all,
>
> Russ
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>

South China Morning Post
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?\
vgnextoid=de4e21505c7f4210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=Asia+%26+World&s=News
INDONESIA
Associated Press in Denpasar
Nov 16, 2009

Working from a tiny mobile clinic, the veterinary team netted and held down
a dog plucked from the streets of Indonesia's most popular resort island and
then administered a quick injection.
The shot was a rabies vaccine, and the stray was among only a few dozen
lucky enough to receive the preventive treatment that could save its life.
Authorities on Bali have responded to a deadly epidemic with vaccinations
and widespread culling.

Despite protests from animal rights groups that argue vaccinations are the
only humane solution, more than 25,000 feral dogs have been culled with
poison in a year.

In the same period, rabies killed 18 people and spread to seven of Bali's
nine districts.

The latest Indonesian epidemic is part of a regional problem, with about
31,000 of 55,000 annual rabies deaths worldwide caused by dog bites in Asia,
according to the World Health Organisation.

Inoculations that cure humans already infected with rabies cost about US$49
- more than 100 times the price of a preventive dog vaccination that costs
about 30 cents.

Apparently unable to foot that cost, Bali has opted for the cheapest
response, which is culling.

But culling is ineffective because of the nature of wild animals, warned the
WHO, the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and the local
Bali Animal Welfare Association (BAWA).

Killing dogs immediately reduces the stray population, but leads to higher
birth rates because those remaining thrive on the extra food and water.
Their puppies survive in greater numbers than before.

"We believe culling fails to address the cause of the problem. That's why it
doesn't work," said Sarah Vallentine, WSPA's programme manager for Companion
Animals in Asia. "It also alienates dog owners, the very people you want on
your side if you want to stop rabies."

Most of Bali's estimated 300,000 to 450,000 dogs are strays and roam the
streets in search of scraps.

They are being poisoned with the relatively cheap drug strychnine, laced in
food or put on a blow dart.

Rabies has an almost 100 per cent cure rate when treated quickly with a
series of shots, but without the right care it is usually fatal. By the time
symptoms are discovered it is often too late, and the infected person will
die painfully within seven days.

Children are particularly vulnerable because they have closer contact with
dogs and are less likely to report a bite or get first aid.

Budget shortfalls, a lack of political support and insufficient personnel
were holding up a vaccination programme on Bali, said Rita Kusriatuti, a
leading Health Ministry official dealing with communicable animal diseases.

BAWA, run by Californian Janice Girardi, is struggling in the meantime to
fill that gap.

Established in 2006, the organisation has 34 employees who operate a mobile
clinic and plans to hire 10 more just to fight rabies.

An anti-rabies strategy was successfully applied in Chennai, an Indian city
of eight million, where 120 people died at the peak of an epidemic in 1996.
Rabies cases and dog bites dropped dramatically to no fatalities by 2005,
and not a single rabies death has been reported since January last year.

A first rabies death was recorded on Bali last November, but the epidemic
seems to have had little impact on a generally busy year for tourism - an
industry that contributes up to 80 per cent of Bali's economy and draws
millions of foreigners to Indonesia. Bali could be rabies-free within 12
months with a budget of US$1 million, Girardi said.

Bali officials have set a goal of eradicating rabies by 2012.

An outbreak began on the nearby Indonesian island of Flores in 1987 and at
least 113 human deaths were reported between 1998 and 2003. Roughly 500,000
dogs, or 70 per cent of the stray population, were clubbed to death.

Girardi's teams have worked with the Ministry of Animal Husbandry to
vaccinate dogs in select villages on Bali over the past year, with about
60,000 dogs having been helped.

In the village of Silakarang, Bali, 59 dogs were inoculated last month when
residents took their pets to the mobile vaccination station after being
summoned by the local chief.

Even as officials focus on culling, Girardi believes the Balinese people
would not kill dogs if they had another option.

"That option, of course, is to vaccinate the dogs, which we believe is the
only way to eliminate rabies."

Our friends in the International Movement Against Bullfights (www.iwab.org) are
asking for information on a bullring that was built in Beijing in 2004.
Apparently there were plans at that time to introduce bullfights into China, but
these were cancelled. It seems that the bullring was used instead for rodeos and
circuses.

Unfortunately there are now reports that the Chinese government is keen on
reinstating this project and is planning the construction of another bullring,
this time near the Great Wall. These reports have yet to be confirmed, but does
anyone know if the ring built in 2004 is still standing? Any other information
you may have on this would be greatly appreciated.

For those of you unaware of this "sport", bullfighting is a horribly cruel
ritualistic torture and killing of bulls with swords. We all know that there is
enough animal cruelty in China without adding this to it.

If you know anything relevant to this, no matter how insignificant it may seem,
we would be very grateful if you could pass it to us.

Kind regards to you all,

Russ



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/No-domestication\
-of-pachyderms-for-govt-use-Project-Elephant-/articleshow/5232649.cms
No domestication of pachyderms for govt use: Project Elephant
PTI 15 November 2009, 03:14pm IST

NEW DELHI: The Centre has said no permit has been issued to Assam for
"domestication of wild elephants for government duties", even as the state
has   asked for lifting of the ban on trapping marauding wild tuskers to
contain the man-animal conflict there.

"The Wildlife Act permits only capture of wild elephant in case it threatens
human life. No such permission has been given to Assam in recent times," A N
Prasad, director, Project Elephant (PE), said.

Prasad, who is also the Inspector General of Forests, made the remark when
asked about the recent reported statement of Assam Forest Minister Rockybul
Hussain that the state government needs to "acquire wild elephants and
domesticate them for government duties".

He also dismissed the claim by Hussain that "trapping wild pachyderms will
also help contain the man-elephant conflict".

Assam has been asking the Centre for lifting the ban on using 'kunki'
(domesticated) elephants to trap wild ones which were destroying foodcrops.

"We have placed before the Central government the need to resume 'mela
shikaar' to capture marauding wild elephants that destroy houses and crops,"
Hussain had said during a forest ministers' conclave in New Delhi recently.

'Mela shikaar' is a traditional method of capturing wild tuskers using
domesticated and trained elephants.

*Good news from India...*


*SSB to check smuggling of animals *

Sanjeev Kumar Verma

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/SSB-to-check-smuggling-of-animals-\
/articleshow/5228470.cms



PATNA: There's good news for animal rights activists, finally. For, the
Sashashtra Seema Bal (SSB) has put its border outposts (BOPs) in the
districts of East Champaran, West Champaran and Sitamarhi in Bihar on alert.
Reason: these are the districts from where Indians generally enter Nepal to
attend the quinquennial Gadhimai fair in the Himalayan nation where a large
number of animals and birds are sacrificed. The SSB action comes with the
fair is only a week away.



The three main entry points which is used by Indian visitors to the fair are
Raxaul (East Champaran), Sikta (West Champaran) and Barginia (Sitamarhi
district). SSB has a total of 54 BOPs functional in these three districts.



"This has been done to prevent transportation of animals and birds,
particularly fowls, from India to Nepal during the fair," SSB IG (frontier
headquarters) Shyam Singh told TOI here on Wednesday.



About five lakh animals and fowls would be sacrificed at this year's fair
and approximately two-thirds of the visitors to the fair would be from the
Indian states of Bihar and West Bengal, who generally take animals and fowls
along with them to the fair from India.



Singh said though BOPs keep vigil even on normal days as transportation of
animals and birds was an act of smuggling, yet keeping the Gadhimai fair in
mind, an extra vigil would be maintained.



"Law breakers will be dealt with sternly," the IG said.



Singh, however, made it clear that SSB was not authorized to prevent
movement of people.



The SSB IG's must be music to the ears of animal rights activists, including
Maneka Gandhi, given that their repeated requests to the Nepal government to
ban sacrifice of animals and fowls at Gadhimai fair, have been turned down.



Nepal information and communication minister Shankar Pokhrel, who also is
the spokesperson of the current ruling coalition in the Himalayan nation, is
on record saying that the government could not use force to stop animal
sacrifices at the fair as it had to take into account the psychology and
sentiments of different communities.



Fair organisers, on the other hand, have come out with a timetable which
says, buffaloes and goats would be sacrificed at the altar on November 25
and 26 respectively.



Moreover, there have been reports that the organisers are trying to attract
more people to the fair by holding like circus and theatre shows at the fair
this time.


--
Lucia de Vries
Freelance Journalist
Nepal - Netherlands


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1200/is_n12_v147/ai_16795968/ Caste-off
orangs: controversy surrounds implications of a hybrid label - interbreeding
Sumatran and Bornean orangutans - Cover Story Science
News<http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1200/>,
March 25, 1995 <http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1200/is_n12_v147/> by
Janet Raloff <http://findarticles.com/p/search/?qa=Janet+Raloff>

Caste-Off Orangs

Controversy surrounds

implications of a hybrid label

By JANET RALOFF

At the tender age of 9 months, Chantek left his mother in Atlanta to live in
a trailer next to the music building on the University of Tennessee campus
in Chattanooga. There, his surrogate family toilet trained the inquisitive,
red-haired youngster and taught him language, how to clean his
bedroom, andthe deportment necessary to ride in cars, visit parks,
and eat burgers at the local fast- food chain. Eventually, this quiet,
strapping boy even received an allowance -- one he could bank or spend at
his discretion on treats. In many ways, Chantek lived much of his first 9
years like any ordinary child in the United States. But Chantek is an
orangutan, and his every action and reaction has been recorded and studied
as part of an ongoing examination of how these quiet, slow-moving -- some
would say highly intellectual -- apes think and behave. Acculturation to
human society did not prevent Chantek from slipping back into the
traditional world of captive orangutans when he returned home to the Yerkes
Primate Research Center in 1986. Indeed, he fathered a child 3 years later.

But this healthy, 18-year-old representative of an endangered species will
never sire again -- at least if internationally recognized primate
conservation policies prevail.

The reason? Chantek's mother hailed from Borneo, his father from Sumatra.
That makes Chantek a biological hybrid as well as a cultural one. The
American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums (AZA) adopted a
policy 10 years ago to stop interbreeding Sumatran and Bornean orangutans --
and to prevent any of AZA's hybrid offspring (now numbering 51) from
reproducing. The organization's 55 member zoos and primate conservation
centers with orangutans all adopted the policy, though some "accidental"
births did occur through 1991, observes Lori A. Perkins, a conservation
biologist at Zoo Atlanta who coordinates AZA's species survival plan for
orangutans.

Four other international umbrella organizations that oversee endangered
species management also subscribe to this policy, which now affects the
reproduction -- and status -- of 192 hybrid orangutans worldwide. Biologists
avoid crossbreeding captives because zoo animals are intended to represent
their wild brethren. Hybrids "don't have any biological meaning," observes
Zoo Atlanta director Terry Maple, himself an orangutan researcher.
"[They're] a man-made creation."
In fact, he says, "nobody wants them -- isn't that a pretty darn good reason
not to produce any more?"


The survey, completed in 1985, showed that orangutans born in the wild carry
the same inversion on both copies of chromosome 2 - - an SS pair in
Sumatrans, a BB pair in Borneans. Hybrids with wild-born parents carry one
of each, or SB.

While these inversion patterns provided a marker for wild-born orangutans'
island of origin, they couldn't establish how genetically divergent the two
groups are. Are the differences equivalent to races in humans? Do they
signal subspecies as dissimilar -- and therefore as unnatural for mating --
as Sumatran and Siberian tigers? Or do they represent distinct species, such
as the chimpanzee and bonobo (pygmy chimpanzee)?In 1990, researchers at the
National Cancer Institute in Frederick, Md., helped pinpoint the answer,
Perkins says. A study led by Stephen J. O'Brien and Dianne N. Janczewski
compared several hundred proteins -- reflecting several hundred genes --
from Sumatran and Bornean orangutans. It showed that genetic differences
between the two kinds of orangutans were 5 to 10 times greater than the
differences between the tiger subspecies. Ryder followed up on these data 2
years ago with a report on his chromosome 2 typing for 144 captive
orangutans -- including 58 born in the wild. He also analyzed variations in
the mitochondrial DNA of 14 of the orangutans, including six each from
Borneo and Sumatra.

Mitochondrial DNA is located outside a cell's nucleus and is inherited only
from the mother. In addition, it mutates more frequently than nuclear DNA.
For this reason, anthropologists use mutation patterns in mitochondrial DNA
to construct evolutionary trees of relationships within and between species.
Together, the two forms of genetic information established that the
chromosome 2 inversion distinguishes two taxonomically distinct lines, Ryder
says. And the roughly 3 percent variation between Sumatran and Bornean DNA
sequences suggests that gene flow between the two islands ended
approximately 1.5 million years ago, Ryder and Leona G. Chemnick conclude in
the September-October 1993 Journal of Heredity.

Last year, O'Brien and NCI colleague Lu Zhi reported similar findings from
their newest orangutan studies -- also involving mitochondrial DNA. Their
data suggested that "the extent of difference between Bornean and Sumatran
populations was consistent with species-level divergence."

Case closed? Not necessarily, according to data unveiled at the AAAS meeting
by C. Cam Muir of Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Muir finds no compelling difference between the mitochondrial DNA of wild
Bornean and captive Sumatran orangutans.

When he plotted the animals' genetic trees, Muir found that, rather than
occupying different branches, the orangutans shared various limbs, depending
on which sequence of genetic material he analyzed.

In contrast to earlier studies, Muir told Science News, his relies
ondifferences obtained by actually sequencing genes, as opposed to
differences
inferred from variations in the proteins that genes code for and other
indirect data. So presumably, he says, his data may prove a bit better at
distinguishing changes.

Overall, he believes, "use of the term 'hybrid' is improper because these
are not two species."

That interpretation could change, he concedes, once he has expanded his
analysis to include more genes -- including some from the nucleus --
andseveral hundred more wild orangutans.

But even if Sumatran and Bornean orangutans constitute separate species or
subspecies, Muir fears that a ban on crossing them in captivity may
dangerously restrict the gene pool, potentially making the animals less fit
and more prone to extinction.For populations numbering in the thousands, he
says, "there is an advantage to keeping distinct populations separate,
because in mixing them you could lose some critical genetic diversity."
However, "the opposite is true once you get below a threshold number
anddon't have a full representation of genetic types." Muir worries
that
maintaining captive Sumatrans and Borneans separately risks falling below
that threshold.

Anthropologist Colin P. Groves of Australian National University in Canberra
worries about a related problem. In analyzing orangutan skulls, he has found
bigger differences between those from Borneo's three geographically isolated
groups than between any of those populations and the orangutans in Sumatra.

Groves not only agrees that Borneans and Sumatrans are distinct subspecies
and should not be interbred, he also says that "eventually, we'll be
proposing that these [Bornean populations] be formally recognized as
subspecies." The Bornean skull differences he has observed are not visible
in living animals. So unless someone finds a genetic marker, he argues, the
ongoing repatriation to the wild of recently captured orangutans (usually
from the illegal pet trade) should be halted or altered. Otherwise,
well-intentioned game managers may hybridize animals in the wild.

He also argues that zoos and other game managers should attempt to establish
that Borneans paired for mating trace back to the same geographically
distinct parent population.

"I've been hearing that speculation [about Bornean subspecies] for about 5
years," says Perkins, who coordinates orangutan breeding in North America.
But if it turns out to be true, she told Science News, "I don't know what I
would do with the information."

Only 82 Bornean orangutans are managed under the AZA program, Perkins notes.
Even if roughly equal numbers came from each of the three populations, "I
don't know that it would be smart to subspeciate them," she says. The number
in each group might become too small to ensure a healthy degree of genetic
diversity.

Moreover, "I'd have no basis on which to separate them," she points out,
because records of where orangutans were captured are spotty at best. "So
our only options now are to just breed them as Borneans or to not breed any
Borneans -- which would send the [captive] population into a crash from
which it probably would not recover."

But veterinarian William B. Karesh of the Wildlife Conservation Society,
which operates the Bronx Zoo in New York, suspects that Perkins has no
reason to worry. He says unpublished genetic data from a study of 50
wild-born orangutans in Asia on which he and O'Brien's team are
collaborating suggest that Borneo's various populations may have been
geographically isolated for a long time -- at least 250,000 years. And while
they do appear to be dividing into subspecies, Karesh says, "they don't yet
qualify, really, as subspecies." In practical terms, he says, when
reintroducing a Bornean captive to the wild, "if you knew where the animal
came from, it would be nice to return it to that gene pool. But if you
don't, we're not really disturbing nature that much." For zoo animals, which
will never return to the wild, the issue becomes even less important, he
suspects.

Groves disagrees, noting that, at a minimum, the size of orangutans varies
between Borneo's populations -- and "size matters with adult male orangs."
Because big males tend to dominate, smaller ones from Borneo's Malaysian
region may not succeed in attracting mates if introduced into the island's
Indonesian southwest, where they would have to compete against bulkier kin.
And so the debate rages.

What difference does being a crossbreed make? At the AAAS meeting, several
speakers mentioned the fact that some hybrid animals have been sterilized.
There were also passing references to the practice of removing hybrids from
display and banishing them to the less stimulating environs of a zoo holding
cell after the AZA policy went into effect.Such charges spark Perkins' ire.
"We do not stick hybrids in the back of zoos," she maintains. "They stay in
the social groups they've been in and engage in a complete range of
behaviors -- even copulation." You could call every AZA institution in the
orangutan program "and they would tell you they don't keep [hybrids] any
differently." And, she adds emphatically, "as long as I'm the
[speciessurvival plan] coordinator, they will not." Perkins concedes
that some males
have received a vasectomy, which may not prove reversible. But most
institutions now rely on timed- release hormone implants to prevent sexually
active hybrid females from conceiving. Remove that implant, she notes,
"andthe females are fertile again." Even if one subscribes to not
mongrelizing
purebred populations, hybrids needn't remain childless. Groves suggests
sending fertile hybrids to major, responsible zoos that could not otherwise
afford orangutans, such as several in India.

Ethel Tobach of the American Museum of Natural History has another idea.
Many uninhabited Southeast Asian islands are ecologically similar to Borneo
and Sumatra. "It would be great to put hybrids on such an island and study
them there."

Groves agrees that "if you reintroduce them way outside their known modern
range -- such as in the Malay Peninsula -- you can do what you like because
there would be no population to disrupt."

But Maple argues that "the only reason we've been interbreeding [orangutans]
is out of ignorance. If nature isn't making Sumatran- Bornean crosses,"
heargues, "why should we?"
COPYRIGHT 1995 Science Service, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

www.ias.ac.in/currsci/sep252008/720.


*

OPINION
*

CURRENT 720 SCIENCE, VOL. 95, NO. 6, 25 SEPTEMBER 2008
*

Lions in India – A question of survival
*

Nicky K. Xavier

A question uppermost in the mind of a

conservationist who is anxious for the

survival of lions in India should be whether

there is any necessity of keeping Asiatic

lions (Panthera leo persica) and their

Afro-Asian hybrids sequestered in zoos

on the grounds of maintaining purity of

genes. Will a thorough scientific study of

the morphology, morphometry, osteology

and genetic attributes and animal behaviour

necessarily lead to the conclusion

that dissimilarities between the two socalled

sub-species outnumber the similarities

between them? The answer should

be in the negative. It is often pointed out

that the Asiatic lion has a smaller mane

and a tendency to have a ventral skin

fold, is slightly smaller in size and lives in

smaller prides. Some have also gone to

the extent of asserting that when considering

its history and phylogeny, it must be

considered an evolutionary significant

unit, almost certainly on its way to becoming

a distinct species.

It appears, the logic of speciation is

not correct here. A narrow taxonomical

perspective based on minor differences

seems responsible for sequestration of

hybrids. These minor differences and

geographical isolation, on closer study, can

be found to be inadequate to justify such

separation and to wedge apart the lions

into different sub-species. For one thing,

reproductive isolation is conspicuously

absent in the African lions and their Indian

counterparts. Most of their progeny have

proved to be healthy and fertile. For another,

the differences pointed out are minor

phenotypic and behavioural ones, which

however are produced by evolutionary

changes in gene expression. Epigenetic

differences arise even in monozygotic

twins. Thirdly, one should also take note

of the similarity in the karyotypes of the

two populations. Fourthly, merging of

phenotypic traits inherited from the parents

in successive generations F1, F2, F3

and so on of the hybrids makes it difficult

even for experienced zookeepers to

make out the differences by appearance.

This shows that the rate of evolution in

lions is minimal and slower than what is

assumed to be in geographically isolated

populations.

For a conservationist what is important

is to conserve the species as a whole rather

than keeping them reproductively isolated

as sub-species on the basis of marginal

differences. It is not suggested here

that two distant species should be allowed

to cross-breed, resulting in loss of

biodiversity. What is emphasized is the

necessity of re-examining the definition

of sub-species, which forcibly keeps two

populations of the same species reproductively

isolated on the basis of superficial

differences and isolation of the

habitat. There is an increasing tendency

for taxonomists in general to divide a

sibling species into sub-species and not

unite them if required. Take, for example,

the swamp deer in India (Cervus duvaucelli).

At present there are three subspecies

differentiated on the basis of minor

phenotypic and habitat differences. If

these three populations are allowed to

mix, much of the danger surrounding their

survival can be averted. All this redounds

to the conclusion that there has to be a

paradigm shift in speciation and substructuring.

Chances of survival of the species as a

whole and genetic variability within the

population are enhanced by hybridization.

Introgression of genes will accelerate

recombination and the genes will be

differentially regulated according to newly

evolving surroundings. The surplus hybrid

lions in Indian zoos exemplify this. Even

though heterosis is not invariably found

in successive generations of all the animal

groups, most of the hybrid lions are found

to be healthy and well-adapted. This

means, our concern should only be to

maintain an optimum level or a proper

balance between inbreeding and out-breeding

of different populations of lions in

general.

In fact, hybrids began to come into being

in India mainly because African lions

inducted by circuses and leading a pathetic

life in small cages were confiscated

and confined by the Indian authorities in

various zoos, where they inadvertently

hybridized with captive Asiatic lions.

Captive lions with around 600 individuals

outnumber the lions in the wild in Gir

forest in Gujarat totalling 359 in number.

The majority of these captive individuals,

except in Chhatbir zoo, Punjab, where

some individuals have been found to be

ailing from certain neurological problems,

is reported to be hybrids that continue to

breed well and remain well-adapted to

Indian conditions as is evident from the

data now available with the Central Zoo

Authority. Neurological problems need

not necessarily be due to hybridization.

Such problems are observed even among

direct descendants of Asiatic lions from

Gir forest, kept at Sakkarbaugh zoo in

Gujarat as well. On the other hand, the

strenuous efforts to propagate Gir lions

in captivity or in zoos yield not so encouraging

results. Now the question is: will

the growing numbers of the captive lions

become burdensome to the authorities?

Statistics indicates that approximately Rs

60 million is spent annually on the upkeep

of all the lions, which includes hybrids

and pure Indian lions in zoos.

Surplus lions could be introduced into

selected sanctuaries, say at Kuno in

Madhya Pradesh or Chandraprabha in Uttar

Pradesh along with habitat restoration

programmes. It has been pointed out that

there remains a technical snag that a new

introduction of hybrids may not be permissible

under IUCN guidelines, which

were framed for re-introduction programmes.

Moreover, they do not consider the

hybrid lions as endangered or threatened

species. As pointed out above, the authorities

should start treating these animals

as intra-specific hybrids of two distant

populations, which still retain close affinities,

in the larger interest of the efficient

management of the teeming lions.

Apart from this, merging of phenotypic

traits inherited from the parents in successive

generations of hybrids shows that

the rate of evolution is minimal and slower

than what is assumed to be, especially in

these geographically isolated lion populations.

Otherwise, their separation may

not be as old as thought to be in the timescale.

The release of the lions into new

sanctuaries could be in a phased manner,

monitoring the released animals. However,

it must be concluded that once experimentally

released into the wild, the

question whether they will freely intermix

and form mixed prides mingling

with the Asiatic lions is yet to be ascertained

on empirical facts. If they do, one

can categorically conclude that geographical

separation has not led to the

formation of a so-called sub-species. What

OPINION

CURRENT SCIENCE, VOL. 95, NO. 6, 25 SEPTEMBER 2008 721

is therefore required now is the urgent

introduction of the hybrid population,

which is already having a wider gene

pool than their ancestral groups did, into

a new sanctuary as an experimental group

along with a habitat restoration programme

to be strictly monitored at least

in the initial stages.

One may note that another sanctuary is

proposed with the contingency of excess

numbers in zoos in mind. There is no

scope for fear that their numbers will

overshoot in the wild, because the natural

phenomenon of environmental resistance

will increase alongside population

size, and the latter will drop back as it

nears the carrying capacity. In the zoos,

contraception methods could be utilized

in the eventuality of excess growth of

numbers among the individuals of the

remainder left behind. In the wild, lions

can survive by predation. Yet at present,

their numbers are far less than the optimum

that our forests can sustain. In zoos

maintenance of big carnivores is questioned

sometimes from the point of view

of the ethical dilemma of killing some

animals to feed others. As pointed out

above, lions kill to survive. This natural

right of the carnivores is not lost simply

by reason of their captivity in zoos. Domestic

animals which profusely breed and

multiply in farms and which are common

should be given less importance than the

critically endangered tertiary level of

carnivores, which must be conserved at

any cost.

There has been a suggestion from some

quarters that hybrids should be culled

away. One can never support culling

healthy and genetically appropriate lions.

Culling of healthy animals which have

come into existence because of man’s activism

is not appreciated all over India,

where the lion is an object of worship

and forms part of mythology, folklore

and the state currency. Even if genetically

inappropriate and sterile inter-specific

hybrid animals like ligons or tigons were

to come into being by wrong breeding

practices in zoos, the idea of culling

would still be abhorrent to the Indian

ethos and they would be magnanimously

allowed to complete their lifetimes. Coming

to individuals stricken down with incurable

illness in Indian zoos, euthanasia

is resorted to in order to put an end to the

suffering. A total extermination of the

hybrids, if suggested is a horrible, unscientific

proposition, to say the least.

According to some assumptions, conservation

of biodiversity rules out man’s

intervention, and the purity of African

lions and Asiatic lions should be left untouched.

But there have been several instances

in which man has intervened to

preserve the gene pool. It has been reported

that when natural hybridization

was widespread, the US authorities intervened

in order to save the red wolf, even

as their hybrids were brought under conservation

programme. Also natural calamities

like floods, droughts and wild fires

have prompted man to intervene to protect

endangered animals, as has been the case

in Northeast India, where artificial

mounds are built during monsoons so

that wild animals, including rhinos might

take shelter from the rising waters of the

River Brahmaputra. When fragmentation

of habitats took place, the Government

took the initiative to build forest corridors

linking different segments together, thus

facilitating conspecific hybridization.

Man’s intervention in nature, an inevitable

feature of his struggle for survival, is a

fait accompli and it is futile to shy away

from it at this point of time when conservation

of animal populations is at stake.

Despite the fact that among human

populations there are marked differences

in phenotype, genotype and behavioural

patterns across the continents, they have

not been treated as separate sub-species.

No authority has forced on them the law

for reproductive isolation as a measure to

maintain genetic diversity. Then why,

scientifically speaking, a different standard

for animals when man himself is an

animal?

Nicky K. Xavier lives at Kollannur

House, Patturaikkal, Thrissur 680 022,

India. e-mail: nickyxavier@...
*

*


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Thanks Shubhobroto!
The main Cause may be inbreeding ,without any change .The breeding should be
done under the Guidance of Geneticist/Biologist and stud records need to be
made.
 
But for the purposes of CZA hybrids are not of much use in display areas as they
donot present the true Pictures of a species /subspecies.
I also agree there is some thing better than nothig.The main concern should be
welfare of Animals.
Regards

Dr.Sandeep K.Jain

--- On Fri, 13/11/09, Shubhobroto Ghosh <journalistandanimals@...> wrote:


From: Shubhobroto Ghosh <journalistandanimals@...>
Subject: Re: [aapn] (IN) Elephants to be banned from all zoos and circuses
To: "Dr.Sandeep Kumar Jain" <jeevdaya04@...>
Cc: drkrishna@..., aapn@yahoogroups.com
Date: Friday, 13 November, 2009, 11:01 PM

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/A-Political-Zoo-Story/\
articleshow/5227606.cms

A Political Zoo Story
13 November 2009, 08:43pm IST

Elephants' chained existences in zoos and circuses are to be trunk-cated, thanks
to the authorities' jumbo hearts. Transported to national parks and
sanctuaries, the tuskers will have head-room and leg-room. They'll need their
heads and, certainly, all four legs. To run for their lives once the forest
official-poacher-ivory trader nexus gets wind of this zoo story. It's like the
conservation fairy tale of the Gangetic dolphin becoming our ''national aquatic
animal''. Not only was that to symbolise riverine health, but also to help rare
species fight extinction. Simple solution: a smart cookie like the dolphin,
reminded of the Ganga's state, would itself act. Seek bluer pastures, that is.

Man-animal ties are edgier elsewhere. The porcine kingdom in George Orwell's
book, Animal Farm, had a maxim: ''Four legs good, two legs bad.'' Humans have
retaliated since. They blamed a flu on swine till lab guys traced the bug's
genealogy also to birds and humans. Exposed as birdbrains, humans neutered the
scourge by renaming it H1N1. Just as the animals disarmed, humans struck again.
Municipal authorities have got Section 144 slapped on Gurgaon's resident pigs.
Accused of littering and loitering, the 'offenders' face imminent capture and
relocation. But wait. Since pigs can't fly and relocation's often just a lorry
ride beyond state borders, swine may have pearls cast before them, after all.
They could reform their hygiene in Clean Delhi Green Delhi. And they could learn
civilised maxims like 'Four legs good, two legs better'. Oink, oink.

It's sheer generosity, allowing lesser creatures the same leniency, roving
ambassadorship and survival sport as VVIPs disrupting assemblies, hiding scams
or serving life-terms. Proud parochialists, for instance, subject legislatures
to the law of the jungle. So, their constituencies get unrepresented while they
free-range, going hammer and tongues at all migratory birds. Another
well-connected worthy stalks nightclubs before letting red-faced parole-givers
lead him back to his cage. Antecedents straight out of a medieval bestiary don't
deny politicos belly-room in jumbo ministries. And when money launderers are
netted, they show trapeze artistry, swinging from media circuses into specialty
hospitals, Sanctuary No 1 of political zoo stories. As for tiger reserves, think
luxury hotels where non-docile and non-domicile netas are herded when
governments totter. MPs/MLAs being sitting ducks of number-hunters, there's no
haathi chhaap on victimisation by poaching.

For similar reasons, bovines needn't resist blame for everything from non-use of
zebra crossings to burps causing global warming. Cops are universal fall-guys
too. Some in Victoria, Canada, decry a mural showing four-leggeds in police
hats, wielding batons. Indian cops have equal cause to combust. Try being beasts
of burden on pain of transfer from one wild life to another. As in a certain
elephantine state whose rulers, aspiring to monumental divinity, threaten to go
on a rampage when caricatured. Then again, Stalin wouldn't find Orwell's crack
at authoritarianism funny, either.

--
Thank you for your compassion !
With best regards,
Debasis Chakrabarti
Compassionate Crusaders Trust
http://www.animalcrusaders.org

*FACT & FICTION -** Innocence, sacrifice & brutality*
ARUN GUPTO


'*Man is thus in the crises of existence because man constantly tampers with
the designs of nature. We are suffering mostly because we brutalize the
nature around us. Gadhimai festival is one dark example of our tampering
with her.'*

http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=11683



Menaka Gandhi recently wrote about the sacrifice at Gadhimai performance and
gave a lot of valid arguments. She, however, began with a fallacious
proposition that Hinduism has nothing to do with sacrifice. Animal sacrifice
has been one of the essential features of various Hindu rituals. And, yet,
for millions of Hindus, such sacrifice has nothing to do with faith and
worship. Sacrifice was pervasive in almost all the ancient religions of the
world. Killings to gratify deities and to seek blessings are pervasive even
in contemporary rituals.



I may sound a pessimist realist but we all know that sacrifice is not going
to be abandoned by human beings. Killing for survival and for pleasure is
part of our cultural norms. It is an essential grammar of who we are. It
determines what human beings are.



Sacrificial system is solely born out of human interest, desire and purpose.
We justify that the weaker is negotiable on the god’s altar. We are not only
clever but brutally cunning while designing the politics of faith. Such
faiths are human constructs. There are people who opinionate to preserve
traditions. Sacrifice is one of the significant religious traditions at
multiple places in South Asia. My problem is how we preserve traditions when
such killings do not justify us as cultural beings. There are multiple
reasons for this irrationality of killing animals. I will return to the
point of preservation after a while.



Gadhimai performance looks terrifying. It is dark and ugly. It reveals our
barbaric nature of imagining that we kill animals and then the gods are
pleased. It is against animal rights. It brings environmental crises. It
shapes confused identities in children and adult. It looks obnoxious. It
hurts the sentiments of millions of people. It is an irresponsible act.



There are two more conceptual problems with such killings. One is that we
have traveled far and beyond to fool ourselves that the supernatural needs
blood of the animals for pleasure and satisfaction. If they really need, why
do they only need animal flesh and blood, why not human blood? Animal
sacrifice presupposes that humans are dear to them and hence they do not
need our flesh and blood. Hence, such sacrificial system is solely born out
of human interest, desire and purpose. We justify that the weaker is
negotiable on the god’s altar. We are not only clever but brutally cunning
while designing the politics of faith. Such faiths are human constructs.



The other problem is that the innocence of sacrifice has grossly disappeared
in modern man. Human beings in the remote past may have conceived the nature
as powerful determining elements which manifested themselves in forms of
fire, water, deluge, storm, greenery, food and so on. They may have thought
that to please such supernatural elements, the best way is to offer those
things which are dear to them in their daily lives. Sacrifice was a sacred
innocent act then. There was some essence of purity in their surviving
modes. We do not possess such innocence. We mostly are cunning in our faith.



Some years ago during the Dashami festival, religious enthusiasts killed
goats under the nose of national aircraft carrier in Kathmandu. Many of us
wrote against such aestheticide and animal right violation. The third
problem is that if one thinks of practicing such rituals in private, we have
no laws and systems to forbid them. Public performance of hurting other’s
sentiment and killing innocent animals manifest the darker side of culture.



Let me return to the issue of preservation. We are adamant to preserve
traditions. We must preserve them at any cost. But there are sophisticated
modes of preservation. We can preserve them in the domains of art and
literature (we do that), in memory, in history, in museums and in our
powerful narratives. Practicing and preserving those which defy our efforts
to being cultural must be replaced into such locations of preservation.



I should not sound a moralist but I certainly can be harsh on all those
modes of culture which lead us to being bizarre human beings. The best
cultural behavior is to be close to nature. Our cultures are embedded in the
multiple spectacles of nature around us. The animal world is the best nature
has given us. Nature sustains and regulates herself, not the human beings
only. Our anthropomorphic (human centric) arrogance and ignorance falsely
lead us to think that we are the superior ones. While regulating and
sustaining her, if nature intuits that the humans are the greatest enemies
for her preservation, we will be the first to be sacrificed.



*Man is thus in the crises of existence because man constantly tampers with
the designs of nature. We are suffering mostly because we brutalize the
nature around us. Gadhimai festival is one dark example of our tampering
with her.*



I respect Menaka Gandhi’s sentiments. We know how she works for the most
marginalized mute animals and nature around us. The farce is that the
government of Nepal is too occupied with our security and hence they would
never ever think about these weak animals who taste so good with rice and
roti. We still should raise our voice against such inhuman acts. If even one
person waits and thinks before the killing, her ideas have worked.



pallabi@...


--
Lucia de Vries
Freelance Journalist
Nepal - Netherlands


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

*PETA urges Nepal to stop animal sacrifice during festival*



(Source: IANS)

Published: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 at 20:37 IST Click Image to Enlarge



New Delhi: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) on Thursday
appealed to the Nepal government to abolish execution of animals during
Nepal's November festival of Gadimai.



According to PETA, devotees sacrifice thousands of animals, including 6,000
young male buffaloes, after every five years in the month of Kartik
(November) as part of celebration for Gadimai festival.



"The organisers are planning to sacrifice over 500,000 animals this year.
Innocent creatures are killed en masse in an unorganised and unregulated
manner," said Nikunj Sharma, PETA coordinator.



Sharma said no one can adequately explain why these practices are carried
out except to say they are "traditional".


--
Lucia de Vries
Freelance Journalist
Nepal - Netherlands


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Yes! the condition of elephants in circuses and captivity with individuals(used
for Begging or in Marriages/procession ) is very bad. Then comes Zoos.Since the
elephants are very senstive and emotional, will the elephants of Zoo acclimatise
the new environment? Since elephants have also developed bonding with its
mahaouts and keepers in the Zoo, will the elephants which are in  different
Social  group adjust with others?
Chatt Bir Zoo near Chandigarh has six elephants including acalf of about two and
half year.
 
I totally agree  with subhobroto's view point that african elephants should not
be mixed with Asiatic.The Chatt bir Zoo in Punjab has faced the brunt as its
Asiatic Lions came in contact with Africans  and the hybrids have contracted
some disease (may be due to inbreeding)as aresult of that almost all the Lion
family is facing health problems.
It will be wise to keep them in open area in some Zoo.

Dr.Sandeep K.Jain
Member,Punjab State Board for Wildlife

--- On Fri, 13/11/09, drkrishna@... <drkrishna@...> wrote:


From: drkrishna@... <drkrishna@...>
Subject: Re: [aapn] (IN) Elephants to be banned from all zoos and circuses
To: aapn@yahoogroups.com
Date: Friday, 13 November, 2009, 2:16 PM


 



Dear Shubhobroto,

Let us face it - this is not an ideal solution. The principle of not
allowing elephants in zoos and circuses, however, is something we have
fought for. Elephants belong in the jungle - not in temples, zoos or
circuses. When the ban on tigers, leopards, lions, bears and monkeys came
in eight years ago, elephants were left out becauses of the large number
of these magnificent animals chained and kept in temples. With this ban,
one more hurdle to a ban on temple elephant seems achievable in the near
future.

Regards

S. Chinny Krishna

> Dear Dr Krishna,
> Everyone involved in this decision making process
> has to be congratulated on this progressive step. However, this is only
> the
> beginning and we should make sure the tragedy of the elephant transfer
> from
> Bengal to Japan is not repeated. We must also ensure the pachyderms are
> well
> treated in the places they are sent to, there are some issues with Forest
> Department safari elephants I am uncomfortable with.
> I am also not sure Corbett is the right place for Shankar, the Delhi Zoo
> African Elephant. It is my personal opinion that he would be happier in
> Mysore Zoo with conspecifics. I have spent hours watching and filming him
> and I well and truly believe the right place for him is Mysore Zoo rather
> than Corbett. Comments and opinions invited.
> Best wishes,
>
> Shubhobroto
>
>
>
> On Fri, Nov 13, 2009 at 10:56 AM, <drkrishna@aspick. com> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> In a move welcomed by all animal welfare people, the elephant will no
>> longer languish in zoos and be ill-treated and tortured in circuses in
>> India. We must now focus our efforts on getting them out of temples and
>> "religious" (irreligious? ) places. Maybe, the years spent by the
>> undersigned, Mrs. Norma Alvares and a few genuine animal welfare people
>> serving as members of the High Powered Committee on Performing Animals
>> between 2005 and 2008 has not been in vain!
>>
>> S. Chinny Krishna
>>
>>
>> http://timesofindia .indiatimes. com/home/ environment/ flora-fauna/
Elephants- to
>> -be-banished- from-all- zoos/articleshow /5221159. cms
>>
>> NEW DELHI: Delhi Zoo will soon be bidding farewell to its three
>> elephants.
>> In fact, elephants will no longer be seen in any zoo or circus in the
>>
>> country after the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) issued a notice on Monday
>> to
>> the effect that all of these animals in zoos, numbering about 140,
>> should
>> be
>> sent to national parks, sanctuaries and tiger reserves as soon as
>> possible.
>>
>> According to sources, the circular states that a zoo environment is not
>> the
>> best place for the large animals and they should be shifted to national
>> parks with immediate effect. "CZA's order is binding on all zoos.
>> Elephants
>> are large animals and require a large area to move about freely. The
>> environment of a zoo can be very restrictive. The animals have great use
>> for
>> departmental work, eco-tourism, patrolling etc and a decision has been
>> taken
>> to send them to national parks and tiger reserves where they can be
>> under
>> the supervision of mahauts," said A N Prasad, director, Project
>> Elephant.
>>
>> According to Dr B K Gupta, evaluation and monitoring officer of CZA,
>> India
>> had 140 elephants in 26 zoos and 16 circuses as on March 31 2009. "Of
>> these,
>> Mysore and Trivandrum have the largest number at 9 and 8 respectively.
>>
>> Delhi and Mysore are the only two zoos that have African elephants. The
>> decision was taken after evaluating conditions of elephants at various
>> zoos
>> and circuses. We found that circuses specially were not following
>> standards
>> set under the Recognition of Zoo Rules, 1992," he said.
>>
>> Delhi Zoo director D N Singh confirmed that they had received the order
>> though he restrained from elaborating on it. Sources said that Delhi
>> Zoo's
>> resident Asiatic pachyderms, Rajlakshmi and Hira, and its sole African
>> member Shankar would be moved to Jim Corbett National Park sometime
>> soon.
>> Shankar had been gifted to former president Shankar Dayal Sharma by the
>> Zimbabwian government.
>>
>> Sources explained that the various zoos would carry out this order in
>> consultation with the chief wildlife wardens of their specific states
>> and
>> the CZA.
>>
>> Environmentalists saw this as a positive move though some had
>> reservations
>> on the shifting of all elephants as that would be contrary to the
>> principal
>> of ex-situ conservation. "There is merit in this decision. It is best for
>> them to be as close to their natural habitat as possible. Elephants
>> needs a
>> lot of space to exercise and move about in and they are being deprived
>> that
>> space in zoos and circuses," said Samir Sinha, head of traffic, WWF
>> India

One can expect more and more such demos as a prelude to the "festival
season"in Kerala or the persecution season for elephants





   Saturday, November 14, 2009 3:12 AM IST

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   Device for controlling elephants demoed



   Express News
Service<http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/searchresult.aspx?AliasName=qK1tLBLX|\
pILczNiCZRSYEHJtp5ChTm2>
First Published : 13 Nov 2009 12:40:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 13 Nov 2009 12:29:16 PM IST

THRISSUR: A new device to control violent elephants was demonstrated at
Thekkinkad Maidan here on Thursday.

The device with remote control named ‘Violent Elephant Control Gear’ was
manufactured by the Mumbai-based Saine Engineering Private Limited, said
managing director Z Mathew. He told reporters that the elephants in musth or
violent condition could be controlled from a distance of 25 metre with the
remote control device made of plastic.

The device weighing only 8kg could be used for the control of tuskers
weighing over 40 kg.

Mathew said that the gear costing about Rs 30, 000 a piece would be attached
with one of the legs of the tusker when it was engaged in a public function.


“When the elephant shows any sign of violence, the remote control held by
the mahout is applied and both the legs of the elephant will tie together so
as to prevent the animal from moving,” he said.

Elephant owners here however were not very enthusiastic about the new
device.

They pointed out that the cost of the device was too high and the device
would necessitate the elephant to carry an additional burden of 8 kg all the
time.

Meanwhile, in a statement, Elephant Lovers’ Association secretary V K
Venkatachalam alleged that the device exhibited was against the rules.

He said that the manufacturer had not approved the required certification
for the device from the authorities concerned.

Without such certification, application of the device on elephants was a
violation of the existing rules related to the maintenance of domesticated
elephants.

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  Device for controlling elephants demoed

The device with remote control named ‘Violent Elephant Control Gear’was
demonstrated at Thekkinkad Maidan.

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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

---------- Forwarded message ----------

     Dear Center Directors, students and friends,
>
> You might have heard the Nepal news about the 500,000 animals that
> are going to be sacrificed over two days on 24th November (Ghaddimai animal
> sacrifice festival, happens every five years in the terrai).
>
> The Buddha boy wrote to the organizers asking them not to do it but his
> request was rejected. It is a big Hindu festival and now the Buddha boy is
> thinking to go there and try to stop it. I think unless one has special
> powers to show, people will not listen. It is a big religion with not 100 or
> 1000 followers but millions. Now it seems to have become a problem in Nepal
> like the problem with shoes and the Hindus in Pashupati. Now probably no
> matter what the reality is they will think it is the Buddhists who are
> making problems.
>
> My observation shows that the Buddha boy won't be able to stop it. Possibly
> some animal rights organisations might be able to help, but it's not sure.
> If western organisations and people like Nobel Peace (laureates) ask, maybe
> could help, but it would need many.
>
> It came out good to read the Golden Light
Sutra<http://www.fpmt.org/teachers/zopa/advice/goldenlight.asp>100 times so i
have asked Kopan gompa to send some monks to read it at the
> stupa and make strong prayers for the sacrifice not to happen, to dedicate
> like that and of course dedicate for world peace. You can find the Sutra
> in various languages here: http://www.fpmt.org/teachers
>
zopa/advice/goldenlight.asp<http://www.fpmt.org/teachers/zopa/advice/goldenlight\
.asp>
>
> I would like to request the centers and students to read the Golden
> Light Sutra and recite the Padmasambhava prayer for removing
obstacles<http://www.fpmt.org/teachers/zopa/advice/pdf/Padmasambava%20prayer%20t\
o%20clear%20obstacles%20feb05km.pdf>and for quick success, for the sacrifice not
to happen. This needs to be
> done quickly as the sacrifice is happening on 24th November. You can find
> the Padmasambhava prayer here: http://www.fpmt.org/teachers/
> zopa/advice/pdf/Padmasambava%20prayer%20to%20clear%
> 20obstacles%20feb05km.pdf
>
> Please recite any number of the Golden Light Sutra and the Padmasambhava
> prayer for removing obstacles and for quick success.
>
> With much love and prayers,
>
> Lama Zopa
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Nilesh Bhanage
> +91 9920777536
> www.pawsasia.org
> www.freewebs.com/pawsproducts
> www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HigxbMqfh0
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Dear Dr Jain and Dr Krishna,
                                           Thank you for expressing your
views. Please allow me to clarify myself.
First of all, let me state categorically that this is a positive step for
all elephants in captivity in zoos and circuses everywhere, in India and the
rest of the world. As Dr Krishna has rightly pointed out, elephants do not
belong in zoos and circuses, and if they are moved to national parks and
sanctuaries from zoos and circuses they will be closer to their natural
habitat. And I am also in concurrence with Dr Krishna when he says that this
step is going to assist the move to prevent elephants from being kept in
captivity in temples.
  However, please note that in captivity African Elephants and Asiatic
Elephants can and have had mutually beneficial relationships. They have also
bred once and the world's first known hybrid elephant called Motty was born
in Chester Zoo in England. I have the record and also two pictures of Motty
that I am more than happy to share. Now Shankar's case in Delhi. I have
watched him for the past nine years and he is without a shadow of doubt, my
favourite animal in Delhi Zoo.  He was in a large enclosure(now empty) with
his mate who died and he was subsequently moved to the present enclosure
with Asian Elephants. As I said, he should ideally have gone to Mysore Zoo
that has three African elephants and this was recommended in my zoo survey
but as he was a diplomatic gift, Delhi Zoo did not want to part with him. He
was kept chained most of the time and last month a biologist friend of mine
from UK visited the zoo with me and she discussed Shankar's fate with the
zoo director and was exploring other official venues to question his
chaining. But last week I was in Delhi Zoo and I saw Shankar and he was
unchained and in the company of an Asian Elephant. It is quite possible, and
I am quite prepared to believe that he might have bonded with his Asian
cousin, although I am not sure if this has happened and to what extent. But
as I said, African and Asian Elephants can have satisfactory bonds in
captivity and this gives rise to a tricky situation for the individual
animals concerned.
  Lions in Chaatbir Zoo. There is no evidence that hybridisation was the
reason behind those animals getting ill. The lion situation is a bit
different from the elephant situation. I was approached by WSPA to give my
views on those lions and I was not convinced that they had become sick due
to hybridisation because the purity of species and purity of races concept
is quite similar to the Neo Nazi racist propaganda of preservation of purity
of genes. I talked about this with a scientist/geneticist of Wildlife
Institute of India last month after attending their Annual Research Seminar
and he told me that hybridisation of African and Asian lions is an option to
save the lions in Gir since they are genetically crippled although they are
apparently  pure. I will post Nicky Xavier's paper separately for your
perusal. HYBRIDISATION CAN ACTUALLY STRENGTHEN ANIMALS DUE TO HYBRID VIGOUR
AND IS NOT NECESSARILY A BAD THING. And scientific opinion is split on the
preservation of pure genes. Hybridisation also occurs naturally in the wild.
With the possible exception of some isolated tribes in very remote areas,
all human beings are hybrid and and I know of no study that would say that
mixed race people are less healthy than pure races.
  I see the Chandigarh Zoo lion case and the Delhi Zoo relationship of
African and Asian Elephants differently. Since there is an option of giving
Shankar the company of his brethren in Mysore, it is one worth exploring.
But if that is not possible, then I see two options : he stays in Delhi or
goes to Corbett. Leaving him in Delhi is ambiguous ethically. Should he stay
with an Asian companion who would be better off in Corbett? I do not claim
to know the answer but I appreciate Dr Krishna saying that this is not an
ideal situation.
  Overall, this move is a good move from every perspective and I applaud it
as such. Dr Krishna and Norma Alvares have pursued this cause for years and
deserve kudos for this achievement regardless of what may happen to Shankar.
Very sadly, Shankar is likely to suffer as an African Elephant for being a
different species for no fault of his, but we can all pray that his
suffering will be the last of his kind in India and his Asian cousins will
never have to face chaining in zoos, circuses and temples. In fact, I have
been asked to give my opinion on this move by an elephant expert and I am
likely to repeat the statement I am making here.
  If you deem anything else that is important for sharing, please do.
  Best wishes,

                       Shubhobroto
On 11/13/09, Dr.Sandeep Kumar Jain <jeevdaya04@...> wrote:
>
>   Yes! the condition of elephants in circuses and captivity with
> individuals(used for Begging or in Marriages/procession ) is very bad.Then
> comes Zoos.Since the elephants are very senstive and  emotional,will the
> elephants of Zoo acclimatise the new environment ? Since elephants have also
> developed bonding with its mahaouts and keepers in the Zoo,will the
> elephants which are in  different Social  group adjust with others?
> Chatt Bir Zoo near Chandigarh has six elephants including acalf of about
> two and half year.
>
> I totally agree  with subhobroto's view point that african elephants should
> not be mixed with Asiatic.The Chatt bir Zoo in Punjab has faced the brunt as
> its Asiatic Lions came in contact with Africans  and the hybrids have
> contracted some disease (may be due to inbreeding)as aresult of that almost
> all the Lion family is facing health problems.
> It will be wise to keep them in open area in some Zoo.
>
> *Dr.Sandeep K.Jain*
> *Member,Punjab State Board for Wildlife
>
> *--- On *Fri, 13/11/09, drkrishna@... <drkrishna@...>*wrote:
>
>
>
> From: drkrishna@... <drkrishna@...>
> Subject: Re: [aapn] (IN) Elephants to be banned from all zoos and circuses
> To: aapn@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Friday, 13 November, 2009, 2:16 PM
>
>
>  Dear Shubhobroto,
>
> Let us face it - this is not an ideal solution. The principle of not
> allowing elephants in zoos and circuses, however, is something we have
> fought for. Elephants belong in the jungle - not in temples, zoos or
> circuses. When the ban on tigers, leopards, lions, bears and monkeys came
> in eight years ago, elephants were left out becauses of the large number
> of these magnificent animals chained and kept in temples. With this ban,
>
> one more hurdle to a ban on temple elephant seems achievable in the near
> future.
>
> Regards
>
> S. Chinny Krishna
>
> > Dear Dr Krishna,
> > Everyone involved in this decision making process
> > has to be congratulated on this progressive step. However, this is only
> > the
> > beginning and we should make sure the tragedy of the elephant transfer
> > from
> > Bengal to Japan is not repeated. We must also ensure the pachyderms are
> > well
> > treated in the places they are sent to, there are some issues with Forest
> > Department safari elephants I am uncomfortable with.
> > I am also not sure Corbett is the right place for Shankar, the Delhi Zoo
> > African Elephant. It is my personal opinion that he would be happier in
> > Mysore Zoo with conspecifics. I have spent hours watching and filming him
> > and I well and truly believe the right place for him is Mysore Zoo rather
> > than Corbett. Comments and opinions invited.
> > Best wishes,
> >
> > Shubhobroto
> >
> >
> >
> > On Fri, Nov 13, 2009 at 10:56 AM, <drkrishna@aspick.
com<http://in.mc946.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=drkrishna%40aspick.com>>
> wrote:
> >
> >>
> >>
> >> In a move welcomed by all animal welfare people, the elephant will no
> >> longer languish in zoos and be ill-treated and tortured in circuses in
> >> India. We must now focus our efforts on getting them out of temples and
> >> "religious" (irreligious? ) places. Maybe, the years spent by the
> >> undersigned, Mrs. Norma Alvares and a few genuine animal welfare people
> >> serving as members of the High Powered Committee on Performing Animals
> >> between 2005 and 2008 has not been in vain!
> >>
> >> S. Chinny Krishna
> >>
> >>
> >> http://timesofindia .indiatimes. com/home/ environment/ flora-fauna/
> Elephants-
to<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Elephants-to>
> >> -be-banished- from-all- zoos/articleshow /5221159. cms
> >>
> >> NEW DELHI: Delhi Zoo will soon be bidding farewell to its three
> >> elephants.
> >> In fact, elephants will no longer be seen in any zoo or circus in the
> >>
> >> country after the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) issued a notice on Monday
> >> to
> >> the effect that all of these animals in zoos, numbering about 140,
> >> should
> >> be
> >> sent to national parks, sanctuaries and tiger reserves as soon as
> >> possible.
> >>
> >> According to sources, the circular states that a zoo environment is not
> >> the
> >> best place for the large animals and they should be shifted to national
> >> parks with immediate effect. "CZA's order is binding on all zoos.
> >> Elephants
> >> are large animals and require a large area to move about freely. The
> >> environment of a zoo can be very restrictive. The animals have great use
> >> for
> >> departmental work, eco-tourism, patrolling etc and a decision has been
> >> taken
> >> to send them to national parks and tiger reserves where they can be
> >> under
> >> the supervision of mahauts," said A N Prasad, director, Project
> >> Elephant.
> >>
> >> According to Dr B K Gupta, evaluation and monitoring officer of CZA,
> >> India
> >> had 140 elephants in 26 zoos and 16 circuses as on March 31 2009. "Of
> >> these,
> >> Mysore and Trivandrum have the largest number at 9 and 8 respectively.
> >>
> >> Delhi and Mysore are the only two zoos that have African elephants. The
> >> decision was taken after evaluating conditions of elephants at various
> >> zoos
> >> and circuses. We found that circuses specially were not following
> >> standards
> >> set under the Recognition of Zoo Rules, 1992," he said.
> >>
> >> Delhi Zoo director D N Singh confirmed that they had received the order
> >> though he restrained from elaborating on it. Sources said that Delhi
> >> Zoo's
> >> resident Asiatic pachyderms, Rajlakshmi and Hira, and its sole African
> >> member Shankar would be moved to Jim Corbett National Park sometime
> >> soon.
> >> Shankar had been gifted to former president Shankar Dayal Sharma by the
> >> Zimbabwian government.
> >>
> >> Sources explained that the various zoos would carry out this order in
> >> consultation with the chief wildlife wardens of their specific states
> >> and
> >> the CZA.
> >>
> >> Environmentalists saw this as a positive move though some had
> >> reservations
> >> on the shifting of all elephants as that would be contrary to the
> >> principal
> >> of ex-situ conservation. "There is merit in this decision. It is best
> for
> >> them to be as close to their natural habitat as possible. Elephants
> >> needs a
> >> lot of space to exercise and move about in and they are being deprived
> >> that
> >> space in zoos and circuses," said Samir Sinha, head of traffic, WWF
> >> India

-----Original Message-----
From: AntiFurSociety@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, November 13, 2009 4:29 AM
To: AntiFurSociety@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [AntiFurSociety] Shanghai Cats Protection Group--Please read this
information


Hello everyone,
Please read this message from Shanghai.  Next to anti-fur activism, working
to help Chinese animal groups in China is the most important project for me
because the only way to end the immense animal suffering in China is by
having Chinese citizens reject the horrific treatment of animals in their
country.
Thank you.
Rosa

http://www.people4chineseanimals.org/Shanghai_Cats.html

Dear Shubhobroto,

Let us face it - this is not an ideal solution. The principle of not
allowing elephants in zoos and circuses, however, is something we have
fought for. Elephants belong in the jungle - not in temples, zoos or
circuses. When the ban on tigers, leopards, lions, bears and monkeys came
in eight years ago, elephants were left out becauses of the large number
of these magnificent animals chained and kept in temples. With this ban,
one more hurdle to a ban on temple elephant seems achievable in the near
future.

Regards

S. Chinny Krishna


> Dear Dr Krishna,
>                         Everyone involved in this decision making process
> has to be congratulated on this progressive step. However, this is only
> the
> beginning and we should make sure the tragedy of the elephant transfer
> from
> Bengal to Japan is not repeated. We must also ensure the pachyderms are
> well
> treated in the places they are sent to, there are some issues with Forest
> Department safari elephants I am uncomfortable with.
>  I am also not sure Corbett is the right place for Shankar, the Delhi Zoo
> African Elephant. It is my personal opinion that he would be happier in
> Mysore Zoo with conspecifics.  I have spent hours watching and filming him
> and I well and truly believe the right place for him is Mysore Zoo rather
> than Corbett. Comments and opinions invited.
>  Best wishes,
>
>                          Shubhobroto
>
>
>
> On Fri, Nov 13, 2009 at 10:56 AM, <drkrishna@...> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> In a move welcomed by all animal welfare people, the elephant will no
>> longer languish in zoos and be ill-treated and tortured in circuses in
>> India. We must now focus our efforts on getting them out of temples and
>> "religious" (irreligious?) places. Maybe, the years spent by the
>> undersigned, Mrs. Norma Alvares and a few genuine animal welfare people
>> serving as members of the High Powered Committee on Performing Animals
>> between 2005 and 2008 has not been in vain!
>>
>> S. Chinny Krishna
>>
>>
>> http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Elephants-to
>> -be-banished-from-all-zoos/articleshow/5221159.cms
>>
>> NEW DELHI: Delhi Zoo will soon be bidding farewell to its three
>> elephants.
>> In fact, elephants will no longer be seen in any zoo or circus in the
>>
>> country after the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) issued a notice on Monday
>> to
>> the effect that all of these animals in zoos, numbering about 140,
>> should
>> be
>> sent to national parks, sanctuaries and tiger reserves as soon as
>> possible.
>>
>> According to sources, the circular states that a zoo environment is not
>> the
>> best place for the large animals and they should be shifted to national
>> parks with immediate effect. "CZA's order is binding on all zoos.
>> Elephants
>> are large animals and require a large area to move about freely. The
>> environment of a zoo can be very restrictive. The animals have great use
>> for
>> departmental work, eco-tourism, patrolling etc and a decision has been
>> taken
>> to send them to national parks and tiger reserves where they can be
>> under
>> the supervision of mahauts," said A N Prasad, director, Project
>> Elephant.
>>
>> According to Dr B K Gupta, evaluation and monitoring officer of CZA,
>> India
>> had 140 elephants in 26 zoos and 16 circuses as on March 31 2009. "Of
>> these,
>> Mysore and Trivandrum have the largest number at 9 and 8 respectively.
>>
>> Delhi and Mysore are the only two zoos that have African elephants. The
>> decision was taken after evaluating conditions of elephants at various
>> zoos
>> and circuses. We found that circuses specially were not following
>> standards
>> set under the Recognition of Zoo Rules, 1992," he said.
>>
>> Delhi Zoo director D N Singh confirmed that they had received the order
>> though he restrained from elaborating on it. Sources said that Delhi
>> Zoo's
>> resident Asiatic pachyderms, Rajlakshmi and Hira, and its sole African
>> member Shankar would be moved to Jim Corbett National Park sometime
>> soon.
>> Shankar had been gifted to former president Shankar Dayal Sharma by the
>> Zimbabwian government.
>>
>> Sources explained that the various zoos would carry out this order in
>> consultation with the chief wildlife wardens of their specific states
>> and
>> the CZA.
>>
>> Environmentalists saw this as a positive move though some had
>> reservations
>> on the shifting of all elephants as that would be contrary to the
>> principal
>> of ex-situ conservation."There is merit in this decision. It is best for
>> them to be as close to their natural habitat as possible. Elephants
>> needs a
>> lot of space to exercise and move about in and they are being deprived
>> that
>> space in zoos and circuses," said Samir Sinha, head of traffic, WWF
>> India
>>
>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>
>>
>>
>

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20091111/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_singapore_pandas China's
Hu arrives in Singapore with panda offer
Wed Nov 11, 12:04 pm ET

SINGAPORE (Reuters) – China will give Singapore two giant pandas to mark 20
years of friendly ties between the two countries, Chinese President Hu
Jintao said Wednesday.

Hu arrived in Singapore Wednesday for an annual summit of Asia-Pacific
leaders, after visiting Malaysia where he made the first official visit of a
Chinese leader in 15 years and signed several agreements on trade and
investment.

After reviewing an honour guard upon arrival, Hu met Singapore President
S.R. Nathan and the city-state's founding father, Minister Mentor Lee Kwan
Yew.

Lee recently caused a ruffle among Chinese netizens when he called for the
United States to remain engaged in Asia as a balance to China.

The gift of pandas, a popular attraction at zoos around the world, is often
used by China as a diplomatic tool. China earlier this year gave two pandas
-- Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan, whose names said together mean reunification --
to Taiwan, which it regards as a renegade province, as a sign of warming
relations.

The pandas, a male and a female, will arrive in the second half of 2011 and
be housed at Singapore's new River Safari, according to Wildlife Reserves
Singapore, the country's zoo operator.

(Reporting by Kevin Lim; Editing by Bill Tarrant)


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/austriaanimalspandachina Vienna zoo's panda Fu
Long heads for China

    - AFP – Vienna's Schoenbrunn Zoo animal keepers hold a cage with the
    Panda cub named Fu Long (happy dragon). …

  Thu Nov 12, 1:46 pm ET

VIENNA (AFP) – Fu Long the panda, Europe's first to be conceived naturally
while in captivity, is to leave his home town of Vienna for China next week,
the Schoenbrunn Zoo in the Austrian capital said Thursday.

The giant panda, whose name means "Happy Dragon" in Mandarin, is to be
transferred to a conservation and research centre called Bifengxia Base in
the Sichuan province, which is home to 60 other pandas and where it is hoped
he will breed.

Fu Long is now just over two and his birth in August 2007 was a sensation
because he was the first panda in Europe to be conceived naturally in
captivity rather than by artificial insemination.

"We're sad that our little one is leaving us. But we're proud that we're
returning a strong, healthy panda to China," said the zoo's director Dagmar
Schratter.

Chinese ambassador Wu Ken said he hoped the panda's parents, who are still
in Schoenbrunn, "will give the zoo a new baby in the spring."

Fu Long, who now weighs more than 50 kilogrammes compared with around 100
grammes when he was born, has become Schoenbrunn's star attraction, similar
to the polar bear Knut in Berlin.

Coupling of pandas in captivity is extremely difficult, since females are
only fertile three or four days a year. Another panda was born at a Madrid
zoo in 1982 thanks to artificial insemination.

Less than 1,600 giant pandas remain in the wild, according to the Vienna
zoo.

In 1984, China began its long-term panda lending programme to foreign zoos,
which pay up to a million dollars a year to house the creatures.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20091108/sc_livescience/antssavematestrapped\
insand
Ants
Save Mates Trapped in Sand

    -

  Lindsey
Konkel<http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/livescience/sc_livescience/byline/antssa\
vematestrappedinsand/34017961/SIG=117c426eb/*http://www.naturalhistorymagazine.c\
om>
Natural History Magazine
LiveScience.com<http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/livescience/sc_livescience/byli\
ne/antssavematestrappedinsand/34017961/SIG=10sog4vj6/*http://www.livescience.com\
>
lindsey
Konkel<http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/livescience/sc_livescience/byline/antssa\
vematestrappedinsand/34017961/sig=117c426eb/*http://www.naturalhistorymagazine.c\
om>
natural History Magazine
livescience.com<http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/livescience/sc_livescience/byli\
ne/antssavematestrappedinsand/34017961/sig=10sog4vj6/*http://www.livescience.com\
>
–
Sun Nov 8, 6:22 pm ET

Helpful acts, such as grooming or foster parenting, are common throughout
the animal kingdom, but accounts of animals rescuing one another from danger
are exceedingly rare, having been reported in the scientific literature only
for dolphins, capuchin monkeys, and ants. New research
<http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/livescience/sc_livescience/storytext/antssavem\
atestrappedinsand/34017961/SIG=12cs388e4/*http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3A\
doi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0006573>shows
that in the ant Cataglyphis cursor, the behavior is surprisingly
sophisticated.

Elise Nowbahari of the University of Paris North, Karen L. Hollis of Mount
Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts, and two colleagues mimicked
a natural situation-an ant restrained by collapsing sand and debris.

But hidden beneath the sand was a nylon snare holding the ant firmly in
place. The ant's nestmates consistently responded by digging around the
victim and tugging at its limbs until they found the trap, then biting at
the nylon strand. Potential rescuers did not, however, do the same for
unrelated ants or insects of other species.

The ants' ability to discern and then tackle the unfamiliar nylon snare
demonstrates cognitive and behavioral complexity, unlike such simple actions
as digging or limb pulling, which could arguably be elicited by a chemical
distress signal. Nowbahari and Hollis distinguish rescue behavior from other
cooperative acts in that both participants risk physical harm
(rescuing
ants<http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/livescience/sc_livescience/storytext/antss\
avematestrappedinsand/34017961/SIG=120c1bpt8/*http://www.livescience.com/animals\
/090202-nhm-lizard-ants.html>could
themselves be trapped under falling sand), with no possibility of
reward for the rescuer aside from the benefits of kin selection.

The research was detailed in the journal PLoS ONE.

    - Image Gallery: Ants of the
World<http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/livescience/sc_livescience/storytext/ants\
savematestrappedinsand/34017961/SIG=12cc4u7pq/*http://www.livescience.com/php/mu\
ltimedia/imagegallery/igviewer.php?gid=47>

  This article was provided to LiveScience by Natural History
Magazine<http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/livescience/sc_livescience/storytext/a\
ntssavematestrappedinsand/34017961/SIG=118pcllb1/*http://www.naturalhistorymagaz\
ine.com/>.


    - Original Story: Ants Save Mates Trapped in
Sand<http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/livescience/sc_livescience/storytext/antss\
avematestrappedinsand/34017961/SIG=120lnripa/*http://www.livescience.com/animals\
/091108-nhm-ants-rescue.html>

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ytext/antssavematestrappedinsand/34017961/SIG=10sog4vj6/*http://www.livescience.\
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Dear Dr Krishna,
                         Everyone involved in this decision making process
has to be congratulated on this progressive step. However, this is only the
beginning and we should make sure the tragedy of the elephant transfer from
Bengal to Japan is not repeated. We must also ensure the pachyderms are well
treated in the places they are sent to, there are some issues with Forest
Department safari elephants I am uncomfortable with.
  I am also not sure Corbett is the right place for Shankar, the Delhi Zoo
African Elephant. It is my personal opinion that he would be happier in
Mysore Zoo with conspecifics.  I have spent hours watching and filming him
and I well and truly believe the right place for him is Mysore Zoo rather
than Corbett. Comments and opinions invited.
  Best wishes,

                          Shubhobroto



On Fri, Nov 13, 2009 at 10:56 AM, <drkrishna@...> wrote:

>
>
> In a move welcomed by all animal welfare people, the elephant will no
> longer languish in zoos and be ill-treated and tortured in circuses in
> India. We must now focus our efforts on getting them out of temples and
> "religious" (irreligious?) places. Maybe, the years spent by the
> undersigned, Mrs. Norma Alvares and a few genuine animal welfare people
> serving as members of the High Powered Committee on Performing Animals
> between 2005 and 2008 has not been in vain!
>
> S. Chinny Krishna
>
>
> http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Elephants-to
> -be-banished-from-all-zoos/articleshow/5221159.cms
>
> NEW DELHI: Delhi Zoo will soon be bidding farewell to its three elephants.
> In fact, elephants will no longer be seen in any zoo or circus in the
>
> country after the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) issued a notice on Monday to
> the effect that all of these animals in zoos, numbering about 140, should
> be
> sent to national parks, sanctuaries and tiger reserves as soon as possible.
>
> According to sources, the circular states that a zoo environment is not the
> best place for the large animals and they should be shifted to national
> parks with immediate effect. "CZA's order is binding on all zoos. Elephants
> are large animals and require a large area to move about freely. The
> environment of a zoo can be very restrictive. The animals have great use
> for
> departmental work, eco-tourism, patrolling etc and a decision has been
> taken
> to send them to national parks and tiger reserves where they can be under
> the supervision of mahauts," said A N Prasad, director, Project Elephant.
>
> According to Dr B K Gupta, evaluation and monitoring officer of CZA, India
> had 140 elephants in 26 zoos and 16 circuses as on March 31 2009. "Of
> these,
> Mysore and Trivandrum have the largest number at 9 and 8 respectively.
>
> Delhi and Mysore are the only two zoos that have African elephants. The
> decision was taken after evaluating conditions of elephants at various zoos
> and circuses. We found that circuses specially were not following standards
> set under the Recognition of Zoo Rules, 1992," he said.
>
> Delhi Zoo director D N Singh confirmed that they had received the order
> though he restrained from elaborating on it. Sources said that Delhi Zoo's
> resident Asiatic pachyderms, Rajlakshmi and Hira, and its sole African
> member Shankar would be moved to Jim Corbett National Park sometime soon.
> Shankar had been gifted to former president Shankar Dayal Sharma by the
> Zimbabwian government.
>
> Sources explained that the various zoos would carry out this order in
> consultation with the chief wildlife wardens of their specific states and
> the CZA.
>
> Environmentalists saw this as a positive move though some had reservations
> on the shifting of all elephants as that would be contrary to the principal
> of ex-situ conservation."There is merit in this decision. It is best for
> them to be as close to their natural habitat as possible. Elephants needs a
> lot of space to exercise and move about in and they are being deprived that
> space in zoos and circuses," said Samir Sinha, head of traffic, WWF India
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

In a move welcomed by all animal welfare people, the elephant will no
longer languish in zoos and be ill-treated and tortured in circuses in
India. We must now focus our efforts on getting them out of temples and
"religious"  (irreligious?) places. Maybe, the years spent by the
undersigned, Mrs. Norma Alvares  and a few genuine animal welfare people
serving as members of the High Powered Committee on Performing Animals
between 2005 and 2008 has not been in vain!

S. Chinny Krishna

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Elephants-to
-be-banished-from-all-zoos/articleshow/5221159.cms



NEW DELHI: Delhi Zoo will soon be bidding farewell to its three elephants.
In fact, elephants will no longer be seen in any zoo or circus in the

country after the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) issued a notice on Monday to
the effect that all of these animals in zoos, numbering about 140, should be
sent to national parks, sanctuaries and tiger reserves as soon as possible.

According to sources, the circular states that a zoo environment is not the
best place for the large animals and they should be shifted to national
parks with immediate effect. "CZA's order is binding on all zoos. Elephants
are large animals and require a large area to move about freely. The
environment of a zoo can be very restrictive. The animals have great use for
departmental work, eco-tourism, patrolling etc and a decision has been taken
to send them to national parks and tiger reserves where they can be under
the supervision of mahauts," said A N Prasad, director, Project Elephant.

According to Dr B K Gupta, evaluation and monitoring officer of CZA, India
had 140 elephants in 26 zoos and 16 circuses as on March 31 2009. "Of these,
Mysore and Trivandrum have the largest number at 9 and 8 respectively.

Delhi and Mysore are the only two zoos that have African elephants. The
decision was taken after evaluating conditions of elephants at various zoos
and circuses. We found that circuses specially were not following standards
set under the Recognition of Zoo Rules, 1992," he said.

Delhi Zoo director D N Singh confirmed that they had received the order
though he restrained from elaborating on it. Sources said that Delhi Zoo's
resident Asiatic pachyderms, Rajlakshmi and Hira, and its sole African
member Shankar would be moved to Jim Corbett National Park sometime soon.
Shankar had been gifted to former president Shankar Dayal Sharma by the
Zimbabwian government.

Sources explained that the various zoos would carry out this order in
consultation with the chief wildlife wardens of their specific states and
the CZA.

Environmentalists saw this as a positive move though some had reservations
on the shifting of all elephants as that would be contrary to the principal
of ex-situ conservation."There is merit in this decision. It is best for
them to be as close to their natural habitat as possible. Elephants needs a
lot of space to exercise and move about in and they are being deprived that
space in zoos and circuses," said Samir Sinha, head of traffic, WWF India



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Chinese-supersti\
tion-the-biggest-threat-to-tiger-conservation-/articleshow/5220371.cms

'Chinese superstition the biggest threat to tiger conservation'
ANI 11 November 2009, 08:33pm IST

KOLKATA: With China observing the year of the Tiger in 2010, conservationists
across the globe fear the endangered mammal would be threatened more, as trade
in tiger goods is likely to rise considerably.

Chinese superstition is one of the primary reasons behind poaching of tigers.
There is huge demand for tiger skins, tiger bones, tiger tooth and tiger nails
amongst superstitious Chinese.

In the Year of the Tiger, the demand for tiger products would be obvious for its
auspicious value.

Conservationists want the trade in tiger goods to be stopped completely by the
Chinese government. "Merely making tiger the theme for the year is dangerous.
The government should initiate awareness programmes for the protection and
conservation of tigers. Killing of tigers for tiger products should be stopped
completely. As long as there is poaching, tigers would continue to remain on the
endangered list", claimed Suchanda Kundu, Member, Sanctuary Asia.

"Creating awareness amongst the local population about the need to protect the
tiger and conserve its habitat is also essential", added Atanu Kumar Raha,
Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, West Bengal.

Thank you for your compassion !
With best regards,
Debasis Chakrabarti
Compassionate Crusaders Trust
http://www.animalcrusaders.org

FW: [People4ChineseAnimals] Digest Number 366

ICVS ASIA will be doing a seminar on "Trap-Neuter-Return - Humanely &
Effectively Managing Stray Cats"
Saturday, November 14, 2009

Are you living with an ever-expanding colony of stray cats in your compound?
Come learn about Trap-Neuter-Return the most humane and effective method
available to end the severe feral and
stray cat overpopulation crisis in Beijing.
The International Center for Veterinary Services (ICVS) is promoting
awareness and guiding the development of community-wide TNR programs. Come
learn more about TNR and how you can effectively control the population of
stray and feral cats in your neighborhood!

Meet Charlotte Landwehr <http://www.charlyscats.org/>, a cat care provider
that has successfully managed TNR programs in Beijing since 2004. Charlotte
is the author of "Stray Cats in Beijing" - an introduction to TNR and the
founder of "Charlyscats.org <http://www.charlyscats.org/>," a Beijing-based
TNR initiative.

Click here for more information:
http://www.icvsasia.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&i\
d=42&Itemid=49&lang=en
http://www.icvsasia.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=55%3Aicvs-c\
ommunity-cats-tnr-program&catid=57%3Atnr&Itemid=87&lang=en

*Dear all,*
*               Please find attached an interview of Dr M K Ranjitsinh, one
of South Asia's most prominent wildlife conservationists. This interview was
conducted by me for the Wildlife Trust of India early this year for their
website but since that has not come to fruition I am posting it here with Dr
Ranjitsinh's permission. He is one person I miss the most from WTI and he
sent me a very moving note when I left. We are still in touch and I have the
highest regard for his achievements and the kindness with which he has
always treated me. Please feel free to circulate with proper credits.*
* Warm regards and best wishes,*
**
*                                                         Shubhobroto*
*Profile of Dr M K Ranjitsinh, Chairman of the Wildlife Trust of India

It is perhaps sacrilegious to squeeze all the achievements of the Wildlife
Trust of India Chairman, Dr M K Ranjitsinh in one short profile note. A
scion of the former royal family of Wankaner in Saurashtra, Gujarat, he is
one of the most distinguished and accomplished wildlifers in India and
indeed the world. Named after the famous cricketer, Dr Ranjitsinh has led a
peripatetic and multifarious life that has seen him make full use of his
multi talented personality. As Collector of Dhar and Mandhla districts from
1965 to 1970 he handled one of the severest famines in recent times, with
almost one and a half lakh labourers working on the scarcity works and
foodgrain provision being a major task. He was Deputy Secretary and
Director, Forests and Wildlife, in the Ministry of Agriculture and in this
role took substantive roles in administrative aspects of wildlife
conservation of the forests of Andaman and Nicobars, Arunachal Pradesh and
Goa.  Dr Ranjitsinh has been instrumental in setting up one of the most
remarkable zoological gradens in the country, Van Vihar in Bhopal, perhaps
the only zoo in the world with an open air enclosure for leopards. As
Commissioner of Bhopal from 1983 to 1985 he directed relief operations
during the disastrous gas leak in December 1984.  He has also served as
Director General of the Council for the Advancement of People's Action and
Rural Technology(CAPART) and was involved in sanctioning of projects of
prominent non governmental agencies. Dr Ranjitsinh drafted and piloted the
Wildlife(Preservation) Act of 1972, the first comprehensive wildlife
legislation applicable to the whole country. As the first Director of
Wildlife Preservation of India under this Act from 1973 to 1975, he drafted
the schemes for financial assistance to different Indian states  for
establishing national parks and sanctuaries. He has spearheaded the
protection of the Central Indian race of the Barasingha, the Manipur Brow
antlered Deer and the Nilgiri Tahr, amongst numerous other species. As the
Member Secretary of the Task Force for formulating Project Tiger, he was
instrumental in the identification of the first tiger reserves in India. Dr
Ranjitsinh prefers to see animals in the wild, but he was responsible for
the launching of the successful captive breeding and rehabilitation of three
species of crocodilians in India. From 1975 to 1980, he worked as the
Regional Adviser in Nature Conservation in the Bangkok regional Office of
the United Nations Environmental Programme(UNEP) and rendered technical
advice in nature conservation, ecosystem management, legislation and
international cooperation in this regard to Asian countries. Thailand's
national conservation plan was prepared with his assistance. His exemplary
efforts in nature conservation saw him as the only representative on the
Expert Group that assisted the Government of Germany in preparation of the
International Conservation of Migratory species of Wildlife. Dr Ranjitsinh
played a leading role in the amendment of the Wildlife(Protection) Act of
1972 and banned the trade of endangered species all over the country. He
loves tigers but he loves their elusive mountain dwelling brethren, the Snow
Leopard too and initiated a project for the conservation of this species.
India's premier wildlife research institute, the Wildlife Institute of India
was started with his support and he acted as Chairman of its Research
Advisory Committee. He has been the Chairman of the Standing Committee of
the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species(CITES) and has
led the Indian delegation to the World National Parks Congress in the United
States. Travel is an obsession with Dr Ranjitsinh and he has visited more
than 90 countries till date. He has been a pioneer in establishing a
compensation scheme of cattle killed by tigers and leopards and diverted the
tribals of Orissa from their hunting practices. His academic credentials are
impeccable and he holds a PhD in Wildlife Ecology from Saurashtra
University. He has published more than 50 papers on wildlife and nature
related issues and has written two books on wildlife, including 'Beyond the
Tiger: Portraits of Asian Wildlife'. Dr Ranjitsinh espouses the non lethal
usage of wild animals and thinks that India's unique religious traditions do
not permit the wanton destruction of wildlife. An avid reader and collector
of books, he loves Hindustani Classical music and collects coins, stamps and
art related to wildlife. His stalwart efforts have been recognised by the
award of the Order of the Golden Ark of Netherlands in 1979 and by election
to the Global 500 Roll of Honour of the United Nations Environment
Programme(UNEP)in 1991.*
**
*INTERVIEW WITH DR M K RANJITSINH on 2nd January, 2009*
**
*INTERVIEWER : SHUBHOBROTO GHOSH*
**
*Dr M K Ranjitsinh is an impeccably polite man. Having agreed to give me
time for an interview, he requests me to take a seat whilst he arranges
piles of papers. "Just got to arrange all these," he says and after having
done so, states he is ready to face "your barrage".
  The following conversation took place and the pattern of the
question-answer session has been preserved verbatim :

ME : To begin with, thank you for your time and patience in granting this
interview. To start off with, where are you from?

M K RANJITSINH : I am from Wankaner in Saurashtra in **Gujarat**.**

ME : I understand you belong to a royal family. Are you related to the
cricketer Ranjitsinhji?

M K R : Erstwhile royal family(smiles). I am not related to Ranjitsinhji the
cricketer, but I was named after him. He was known to my family as a friend.

ME : What is your educational qualification?

M K R : I have an MA in History(Honours) from St Stephen's College in **New
Delhi**. And I hold a PhD in Ecology from **Saurashtra** **University** of *
*Rajkot** that was awarded to me in 1983.**

ME : If you do not mind me asking you this, Royal families have
traditionally been accused of exploiting humans and they have also been
accused of exploiting animals. How do you defend your royal connections
especially when you relate it to your work for social causes and
particularly wildlife conservation?

M K R : This is a very interesting question, I must say it is a very
provocative question and sometime ago a journalist asked my father a similar
question. But I am not provoked at all. I'll take your question.
  First,  exploitation of humans. You tell me, if royal families were all
exploitative and abusive, why are members of ex Royal families still getting
elected in **India**? The electorate of **India** does not consist of fools
and certainly the people of **Gujarat** are no fools. See, you have to
understand that there were good rulers and there were bad rulers. If the
will of the people is manifested in elections and people weigh their choices
rationally, isn't there something to be said for ex members of Royal
families still getting elected in a democracy like India today?**
  My father once mentioned, "In a monarchy, one family exploits the people(If
that is how you want to put it.) In a democracy, a thousand families exploit
the people."
   Now to come to your more germane question regarding exploitation of
animals, I have to admit that some princes of royal families were inveterate
hunters and slaughtered animals indiscriminately and such wanton killing was
and remains indefensible. But at the same time there were hunters like
Dharmakumarsinhji who were keen observers of fauna and he was an ardent
ornithologist. I also have to say that there was more wildlife in states of
yore where princes were interested in hunting. When I started as the
Director of Wildlife, about 80% of the then existing wildlife reserves were
former hunting reserves of the British and of the princes.  If one family
hunted many animals, in **Northern Madhya** Pradesh and Chhattisgarh there
were still more tigers in this country then than now after the Project Tiger
initiatives. Hunting was not a free for all during the colonial rule. *

* *

* *

*ME : What about sport hunting? The morality of taking a life for pleasure?*
*

M K R: I would not advocate sport hunting now. It will militate against the
current ethos of animal protection in **India**. But again I emphasise that
50 years ago, there was more wildlife in **India** than now. The Maharaja of
Dholpur in Rajasthan was a former hunter and would call individual Sambar by
name. Regarding the moral issue, there is no more or and no less morality in
taking a life by hunting than eating a chicken. What I do mean to say is
that there is no morality in taking a life per se.  But there are different
kinds of hunting. One is hunting for possession, a selfish affair. And there
is hunting for eating. And many hunters turned into conservationists, for
example, Jim Corbett and Billy Arjan Singh. So you have to take into account
different perspectives on this issue. For example, does it help the cause of
the tiger by saving maneaters? I don't think so. I would rather have a
maneater shot than captured since an animal in captivity is as good as dead
as far as conservation goes. **

ME : What are your views on keeping wild animals in zoos ?

M K R : I am not in favour of keeping animals in captivity per se
but support ex situ conservation as a last resort for saving animals. But
certainly I am opposed to keeping animals in captivity for the enjoyment of
people. I well and truly believe that the best way to appreciate the beauty
of an animal is by viewing it in the wild. In **India**, people ogle at
animals in zoos and National Parks. It is our own fault. The whole
conservation effort is too tiger centric. People do not appreciate other
forms of wildlife. I was in Corbett recently when I spotted a leopard in a
tree. Some tourists were causing a ruckus so I asked them to stop making
noise. "This is just a leopard, not a tiger," I told them sarcastically. And
believe it or not some of them left the spot immediately murmuring, "Only a
leopard, not a tiger, not a tiger." This mindset has to change.**

ME : What are your views on the reintroduction of animals ?

M K R : Reintroduction of animals should be done the right way. It could
bring focus on the area which is very important. Take for example, the
Rhinos of Dudhwa that were brought there in 1979 from **Assam**. They are
still in an enclosure and in my opinion, they should have been released.**

ME : How do you view domestic animal welfare in the light of wild animal
welfare?

M K R : I am not against domestic animal welfare but there is a conflict
between wild animal welfare and domestic animal welfare because they compete
for the same resources in areas of wild habitat.

ME : How do you justify spending money and resources on animals when there
are people dying out of hunger and starvation and poverty in **India** ?**

M K R : If you are a welfare state, you have to give attention to poverty
alleviation. Is the solution to this the destruction of forests? Saving
animals means saving forests and ecosystems, the natural heritage of the
country.  Land diverted for demographic use cannot be brought back for any
other use. How many people will you help by destroying forests? Saving
habitat of animals is the primary issue here, the animals come second. And
to what extent is the reclaimed land cultivable?  Marginal land should be
forested. In **Western Satpura** in **Southern Aravallis** in Bhil tribal
areas in Madhya Pradesh there is an ecological holocaust. Madhya Pradesh and
Chhattisgarh have lost 32,000 square kilometers of forest areas in the last
sixty years. If everything in a democracy should be put to vote, then why
not put the future of the entire country to vote on every issue including
the fate of our religious shrines? Is that acceptable in a democracy? Is
that how a democracy should function? And does a democracy necessarily mean
a free for all?**

In this country, there is a religious sentiment to save forests and
wildlife. There is also a fear of retribution, a hangover from the colonial
past. In some places, people do not encroach on forests because they fear
dacoits. Wildlife also survives in demilitarized war zones. There is no
single overriding common denominator regarding protection of animals and
wildlife in **India**. Some communities are more conducive to conservation
principles than others. And the survival of forests in **India** is
inextricably linked to the survival of animals. If the tigers are not there
in Sariska, how will the forest survive? You have to have certain choices.
If we are prepared to protect our religious sites considering them to be
sacred, why are we not prepared to save our forests that are also part and
parcel of God's land?**


ME : What is your stance on the burning debate on 'Tigers versus Tribals'?

M K R : As I have mentioned, tigers cannot roam free as man eaters. But
there IS a distinction between tigers as a threat to human life and as a
threat to human property. In a protected park, people should be moved out.
In other areas, tigers would have to coexist with humans and they will not
survive. We have to look into ways to resolve this man animal conflict.  The
aim should be to lessen damage to human property without destroying the
animals.



ME : You have written several books on wildlife. Who are your favourite
authors?

M K R : (Laughs) Too many to mention. Dunbar Brander, George Schaller,
Colonel C H Stockley, Dharmakumarsinhji, Salim Ali, Saroj Raj Chaudhury, Jim
Corbett, F W Champion. I liked Burrard's books on mountain fauna. Also books
written by Stebbing. Most of these people were pioneers in their respective
fields.

ME : Which wildlifers do you most admire?

M K R :  I liked the conservation efforts made by the British and Indian
princes. I appreciate the works of Sanjay Deb Roy, Kailash Sankhala, Billy
Arjan Singh and Saroj Raj Chaudhury. Chaudhury was a remarkable man – he
contributed a lot to forest management in India and was the first director
of the nascent Wildlife Institute of **India**. **

ME : How many countries have you visited ?

M K R : (Laughs)  Close to 90 I think. I love to travel and visit countries
and sometimes it so happens that two countries join to become one and one
country divides into two!

ME : What are your views on feral animals?

M K R : (laughs) What kind of feral animals?

ME : Any kind of feral animals.

M K R : They have to be considered on a case by case basis. In **New Zealand
**, they shot 18,000 Himalayan Tahr in two years, that is probably greater
than the number of Tahr that exist in **India**. There might be a case for
controlling feral Cheetal Deer in the Andamans. I would say that the local
fauna and flora would have to take precedence in conservation and if feral
animals are imposing a threat to them, they should be controlled.**

**The phone rings. Dr Ranjitsinh picks it up. It is his wife asking him to
come home early. "I think I will be late today," he replies. "I have a guy
at the office here named Shubhobroto who is asking me all kinds of awkward
questions." He puts down the phone and says, "Pray continue."**

ME : What are your views on sustainable use of wildlife?

M K R : I don't believe in sustainable use of wildlife and would be
uncomfortable with the concept. Sustainable use is never the ONLY way to
save animals. Killing wild animals would go against the grain of ethics in *
*India**. Ethically, it would be counterproductive. It would imply animals
should have monetary value in order to be preserved. I know some countries
accept sustainable use of animals but **India** is different in that we
believe in sanctity of life. There should be no lethal usage of animals. But
some sustainable use that does not harm the animals like using shed peacock
feathers is OK. We have to be careful though that this allowance is not
misused.**

ME : Are you a vegetarian?

M K R: I am turning into a vegetarian for ethical reasons. I have never been
a great meat eater.

ME : What are your views on euthanasia?

M K R : I would agree to euthanasia if there is no hope of recovery for an
animal.

ME : What are your views on corporates funding wildlife protection causes?

M K R : If there are no unwarranted strings attached, I don't have a problem
with accepting money from them. It is a moral judgment one has to make. As
long as it is not anti conservation, it is OK in my opinion to accept money
from industrial groups.

ME : Do you believe in God?

M K R : Yes, I do believe in God. Nature is God's creation. I have
worshipped in every religious shrine I have come across in my travels.

ME : If Nature is God's creation, who created God?

M K R : I have to be honest and say that I do not know the answer to this
question.

ME : What are your hobbies and your pastimes?

M K R : I love listening to Hindustani Classical Music. Also appreciate
sport, specially cricket and tennis. I collect coins and stamps bearing
animal pictures. Collect art related to wildlife. I love mountain walking
and mountain mammals and am a great admirer of mountain scenery. I am also
fond of books on animals and wildlife.*



*ME : Thank you very much for your time and trouble.*



*M K R : My pleasure.*


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

MAILBOX: Perhilitan (Wildlife) monitors wildlife caretakers - Malay Mail
  Submitted by pekwan on Wednesday, November 11th, 2009
   Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 03:11:00


[image: Wildlife] <http://www.mmail.com.my/content/18491-wildlife>
THE Ministry Of Natural Resources and Environment appreciates the concerns
highlighted by S. M. Mohd Idris of Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM), in his
letter “Take care of all zoos in Malaysia” (Malay Mail, Nov 3, 2009).



The ministry is aware of the growing concern among public and SAM on the
well being of wildlife kept at zoos.

The suggestions made by SAM are in parallel with the ministry’s plan in
making sure all zoos are best managed in terms of facilities and well being
of the wildlife.

The new proposed policy will look into ensuring all zoos are regulated and
welfare of wildlife is well taken care of. Under the Protection of Wildlife
Act 1972, the management of a zoo is required to get licence or special
permit issued by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan).

Moreover, Perhilitan is conducting regular visits to the zoos as a part of
the department’s enforcement
measures. Offences committed by any individual, including cruelty  to the
wildlife, will be charged in the court while the ministry is also looking
into revoking licences or special permits for those found guilty of
committing such offences.

The ministry is hoping that with these actions in place, the zoos will be
more concerned in the well being
of the wildlife and not merely looking at making profit. Should any
clarification be needed further on this matter, please do not hesitate to
contact Perhilitan at pakp@....



*Yamuna Perimalu
Corporate Communications Unit
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment*


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

This is William Johnson writing about Pilleri's Gangetic Dolphins in 'The
Rose Tinted Menagerie' in 2007(Link here :
http://www.iridescent-publishing.com/rtm/ch5p7.htm ) :
"But what of Prof. Giorgio Pilleri's allegations against the dolphin
industry? "He is the worst of all!" Gasser exclaimed heatedly. "He had a
tiny pool in the cellar, no filtration, no daylight - the poor animals,
Ganges dolphins - didn't get any light and every month one died. They were
swimming around in their own shit, and he even implanted cables in their
brains. And now he starts to complain about us, but it was him who lost the
dolphins!"
(Chapter : The Global Industry)
  I fear the animals in Japan might have been similarly experimented upon. It
is interesting Gasser says Pilleri had more than one dolphin, an assertion
that goes against what Mr R K Sinha told me. The Science Today article also
mentioned more than one animal. I think these records have been lost or
destroyed, for obvious reasons.

On Tue, Nov 10, 2009 at 7:12 AM, Merritt Clifton <anmlpepl@...>wrote:

>        Today I found a bit more on file pertaining to Maneka Gandhi
> opposing dolphin captivity.
>
>        In 1994 a plan for building a dolphinarium was advanced in
> Motijheel,  Bengal,  reportedly with government support.
>
>        However,  Maneka opposed it.  I don't think there was any other
> organized opposition.  The last I heard of it was a short summary of the
> failed project that was published in The Statesman of March 21,  2002,
>  which did not mention Maneka:
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------
>
>
> Hyacinth chokes 'park' for dolphins
> by Asim Pramanik in Motijheel in Murshidabad
>
> Motijheel gained fame under the Nawabs of Murshidabad who encouraged the
> cultivation of pearls there.  Now,  however,  it is not pearls but a stalled
> dolphin park project that residents are talking about.
>
> In a bid to boost tourism,  the government mooted the idea of the park in
> 1994.  Dolphins were to be brought from other counties and a huge park was
> to be set up along the banks of the lake which would offer boating
> facilities.  But nothing has been done and the number of tourists has
> dwindled steadily.  Only migratory birds frequent the lake throughout the
> year which is choked with hyacinth and weeds.
>
>
> The many rounds of talks between the zilla sabhapati and the Kajarias,  a
> business house,  for investing money in the project has been all but
> forgotten.  Presently about 250 acres of land around the lake have been
> leased out for farming.  The land on which Ghasiti Begum's palace stood is
> being used for tamarind cultivation.
>
> "Lalbag residents have always been vocal about their desire for beautifying
> Motijheel.  The famous Motijheel mosque at the entrance of the lake needs
> repair immediately,"  Mr. AR Khan,  chairman of the urban development
> committee in Lalbag,  said.
>
> Mr. Monoj Panth,  DM,  said:  "The judicial department has consented to the
> beautification project,  which will include a park and cottages for guests.
>  The Murshidabad zilla parishad and the tourism department will be in charge
> of the project."
>
>
> --
> Merritt Clifton
> Editor,  ANIMAL PEOPLE
> P.O. Box 960
> Clinton,  WA  98236
>
> Telephone:  360-579-2505
> Fax:  360-579-2575
> E-mail:  anmlpepl@...
> Web:  www.animalpeoplenews.org
>
> [ANIMAL PEOPLE is the leading independent newspaper providing original
> investigative coverage of animal protection worldwide, founded in 1992.  Our
> readership of 30,000-plus includes the decision-makers at more than 10,000
> animal protection organizations. We have no alignment or affiliation with
> any other entity.  $24/year; for free sample,  send address.]
>


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