Fwd: (IN): Finally DNA testing of Rajasthan tigers

[Guest guest]

Resending this important post which may have missed.

 

*Posted with the permission of Mr. Jay Mazoomdaar:*

*

*

*

*

 

the great man wrote!

 

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

George Schaller <gbs.kms

Wed, Feb 3, 2010 at 8:57 PM

RE: From Open magazine

jay mazoomdaar <jaymazoomdaar

 

 

Many thanks for the articles. They are most timely. And they may make

government think before acting. There are superb tiger scientists in India

but their advice is only sought after a stupid action. Sincerely, George

Schaller

 

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

azam24x7 <azam24x7

Wed, Feb 3, 2010 at 12:36 PM

(IN): Finally DNA testing of Rajasthan tigers

AAPN List <aapn >

 

 

http://www.hindustantimes.com/After-Sariska-fiasco-DNA-tests-for-tigers-before-s\

hifting/H1-Article1-504652.aspx

 

* After Sariska fiasco, DNA tests for tigers before shiftingJay Mazoomdaar*

 

Following a *Hindustan Times *report on the genetic incompatibility of

tigers that were shifted to Sariska National Park in Rajasthan last year,

the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has ordered DNA tests on

tigers of Ranthambore and Sariska, to ascertain breeding compatibility

before shifting any more of them.

 

The investigation (Rajasthan govt sent tiger siblings to repopulate Sariska,

June 29, 2009) exposed how tigers were picked up arbitrarily for

translocation without genetic or spatial analysis. Following the report, the

translocation process in Rajasthan was put on hold.

 

Between June 2008 and February 2009, two sisters and their half-brother were

sent to Sariska. These tigers have so far failed to breed.

 

Panna National Park in Madhya Pradesh didn’t make this mistake. With two

tigers sourced from Bandhavgarh and Kanha reserves, it got a third one from

Pench in November last year — five months after the HT investigation — to

ensure genetic diversity.

 

The decision on mandatory DNA testing of Ranthambore tigers was taken an

NTCA meeting last month, attended by Forests and Environment Minister Jairam

Ramesh. The NTCA has already issued an order, designating Bangalore’s

National Centre for Biological Science to conduct the tests to identify

individual tigers with breeding compatibility.

 

“The Hon’ble Minister for Environment and Forests has directed DNA testing

of all three tigers already translocated to Sariska… through fecal samples,

besides similar testing for the two tigers earmarked at Ranthambore for

translocation to Sariska,” says the note.

 

“The process of DNA analysis will take time. However, the translocation

programme will continue and our priority is to determine the compatibility

of a couple of young tigers that have been moving in the outskirts of

Ranthambore. The future of these tigers is uncertain due to heavy biotic

pressure (human presence) in these areas and they will definitely have a

better chance of survival in Sariska,” added NTCA member-secretary Dr Rajesh

Gopal.

 

*(The writer is an independent journalist)*

 

 

--

jay mazoomdaar

+91 98112 98759

 

http://mazoomdaar.blogspot.com

http://sariskastory.blogspot.com

http://truthofthetiger.blogspot.com

 

 

 

--

http://www.stopelephantpolo.com

http://www.freewebs.com/azamsiddiqui

 

 

 

--

http://www.stopelephantpolo.com

http://www.freewebs.com/azamsiddiqui