Informatics Publishing Limited

A. Veeramani , Pramod G. Krishnan , A. K. Bhardwaj , Rajasekharan Pillai , Gigi K. Joseph

Abstract

An ornithological survey in PTR was carried out for assessing the current status and distribution of bird species in the Tiger Reserve. Eleven blocks were selected for the ornithological survey and 187 bird species were recorded during the survey of which 4 species viz. Common green shank (Tringa nebularia), Malabar pied hornbill (Anthracoceros coronatus), Ashy-crowned sparrowlark (Eremopterix grisea) and Chestnut-bellied nuthatch (Sitta castanea) are new records to Periyar. In addition, the Spot-billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis), Phesant-tailed jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus), Purple heron (Ardea purpurea), Purple swamphen (Porphurio porphyrio), Western Reef egret (Egrita gularis), Oriental white ibis (Threskornis melanocephalus), Common teal (Anus crecca), Common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) and Common coot (Fulica atra) were also recently sighted. This adds up to a total of 323 species of birds recorded from PTR. Sabarimala pilgrimage, raising of water level, sporadic forest fire and cattle grazing are some of the major threats to the hird population. Recommendations are given for addressing some of these issues.

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A. Veeramani , P. S. Easa , E. A. Jayson

Abstract

Declaration of forests as Protected Areas, implementation of Wildlife Protection Act, denial tot restriction on natural resources to the depending people coupled with degradation/fragmentation of habitat lead to conflict between interests. A questionnaire survey was conducted among the villagers ofthe selected settlements in Marayur Forest Range for information on matters related to socio-economic status and wildlife conservation. About 10% ofthe households in each settlement were selected randomly. Most of the people (77.78%) have their own lands and the major source of income is cultivation. According to the respondents paddy, sugar cane, plantain and vegetables were the highly raided crops by wild animals. Gaur, Wlephant and Wild boar were held responsible by the respondents for most of the damages to crops. Gaurding combined with ordinary fencing was the protection method employed by majority of the cultivators in Marayur. The reasons for crop damage and compensation details were discussed.

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A. K. Bhardwaj , Pramod G. Krishnan , K. Geetha , A. Veeramani

Abstract

Understanding the significance of Tiger in the ecosystem, Government of India launched 'Project Tiger' in 1973 for the conservation of tiger and its habitat. By the end of year 2000, 27 Tiger Reserves were established in the country. One of the major constraints or issues confronting conservation in the Tiger Reserves can be attributed to the existence of human population in and around the reserves. These Reserves with the status of Sanctuary or National Park are traditionally following the conventional model of exclusionist Protected Area (PA) management which stresses on coercion and policing as the dominant tool for biodiversity conservation. However, consistent with the National Forest Policy, 1988, the PAs have gradually started addressing the livelihood needs of the local communities and soliciting their support for conservation. Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR), Kerala, is an example of the successful co-existence of park and people. The tiger reserve along with its adjoining forest areas form an exceptionally rich rainforest landscape. However, mega developmental threats and subsistence dependency of local people had threatened the long-term conservation of PTR. The implementation of India Ecodevelopment Project (IEP) between 1996 and 2004 opened a new vista of PA management, which goes hand in hand with the protection of the PA and livelihood security of the local people. One of the most important contributions of the project has been the evolution of various Community Based Ecotourism Programmes (CBEP) with strong focus on park protection and visitor experience providing sustained livelihoods to about 2000 including indigenous families and rehabilitated forest offenders. Involvement of the local people in pilgrimage management has resulted in safeguarding the ecological sanctity of Sabarimala apart from generating valuable income for forest dependent communities. The project has resulted in the improved planning and protection of the PA Area, reduction in resource use by local people, improvement in habitat health, building social capital among local communities and creation of institutional mechanisms for sustaining the achievements. In order to ensure the post project sustainability, the Government of Kerala has established a semi autonomous Trust named Periyar Foundation with the objective of supporting biodiversity conservation and community welfare initiatives of PTR and adjoining landscape. An eco development surcharge levied on visitors to the PA is being pooled into the operational fund of the Foundation. In nut shell, a new system of decentralized and self-reliant PA management system is evolving in PTR wherein the interest of the biodiversity of the PA is integrated and mainstreamed with the livelihood security of the local people in the landscape.

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A. Veeramani , E. A. Jayson , P. S. Easa

Abstract

Information on man-wildlife conflicts in Kerala during the period 1983-93 were collected from the office records of the Divisional Forest Offices and by Visiting areas from where man-wildlife conflicts were reported. Cattle lifting was mainly due to Panther (Panthera pardus) Tiger (Panthera tigris) and Wild Dog (Cuon alpinus). Eighty nine cattle lifting cases were reported during the period. Thirty one human deaths and 64 injury cases were also reported, mostly due to Elephants. Out of the total compensation claimed for cattle lifting only 20% was disbursed and only 14% were disbursed for human casualties. Electric fences using energizers may solve the problem temporarily. Resettling of villagers from inside the forest areas is also advisable.

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A. Veeramani , E. A. Jayson

Abstract

A survey was conducted to determine the crop damage by wild animals in Kerala. The data were collected from the office record of the Divisional Forest Offices and by visiting the field. Major crops destroyed by wild animals in Kerala are paddy (Oryza sativa), coconut palm (Cocos nucifera), plantains (Musa sp.), arecanut (Aareca catechu), coffee (Coffea arabica), tea (Thea sinensis), rubber (Havea braziliensis), cashew (Anacardium occidentale), oil palm (Elaeis guineensis), Pepper (Piper nigrum), Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum), tapioca (Manihot utilissium), etc. Maximum crop damage was recorded from the Wynaad Wildlife Sanctuary, Elephant (Elephas maximus), Wild Boar (Sus scrofa), Porcupine (Hystrix indica), Gaur (Bos gaurus), Sambar (Cervus unicolor), Bonnet Macaque (Macaca radiata), Common Langur (Presbytis entellus) are the main animals involved in crop damage. Out of the total compensation claimed only 8.2% was disbursed by the Forest Department. It is found that high voltage electric fencing using energizer is very effective for stopping elephants from entering agricultural fields.

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S. L. Mannan ¹, S. Venugopal ¹, A. Veeramani ¹

Affiliations
1 Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, KALPAKKAM, IN

Abstract

Structural components such as in bridges, cranes, engines, pressure vessels and offshore structures are often subjected to cyclic loading Fatigue failures generally occur at stress concentration sites in the components The geometrical and metallurgical states of welds make them prone to fatigue failures owing to stress concentrations caused by weld shape and discontinuities. Moreover, welding introduces unfavourable tensile residual stresses, often of yield magnitude, which increases the severity of the applied fatigue loading. As a result, both applied compressive and tensile stresses can be equally damaging. In addition, the existence of defects in weld eliminates the fatigue crack initiation stage, and hence, the life IS predominantly governed by fatigue crack propagation.

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