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In landmark conservation effort, ferocious tiger rehabilitated to Dudhwa

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By Kushagra Dixit
New Delhi/Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (Kheri), March 9 (IANS) A ferocious tiger, which recently killed a woman in Pilibhit forest of Uttar Pradesh, has been successfully rehabilitated to Dudhwa Tiger Reserve. Being seen as a landmark in conservation efforts, this is only the second such achievement in Terai region — and among the few across the country.

The forest communities in the Terai region are the most vulnerable to fatal attacks from the big cats. As many as five deaths in just over two months of 2018 have caused panic among residents in the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve area.

The region, infamous for highest number of man-animal conflict, had witnessed 21 tragic deaths in 2017.

In the present case, the feline was tranquilised the day after it killed a 22-year-old woman — thought to be the latest in a series of similar incidents.

The tiger had take refuge in agricultural field just near the village where it killed its last victim. It was intercepted and sedated by a five member team in a daunting operation. The team comprising experts from Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), state forest department and WWF, used a JCB machine, two tractors and a offroader to corner the ferocious feline.

Prior to its release, it was closely observed in confinement for three days. The tiger has now been radio-collared to help foresters monitor its movements and analyse its hunting behavior to ensure it does not wander off, officials told IANS.

It has now been learnt that although the tiger killed the woman “out of hunger”, it did not eat the carcass.

“Therefore, the tiger is not a man-eater, it has no deformity which makes it the most suitable for rehabilitation,” Dr Mayukh Chatterjee, Head of WTI’s Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation division, told IANS.

According to the officials, the tiger has been relocated in Belrayan Range of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, about a 100 kms away from the Pilibhit region. Its new abode, officials say, was choosen carefully so that the area has less tiger density, and high prey-base.

“In high tiger density region, there are possibilities that the young tiger may be dominated and pushed out by other felines,” Chatterjee said.

In the last similar incident, a conflict-tiger wondered over 200 kms from Pilibhit Tiger Reserve to the outskirts of Lucknow city and was rehabilitated in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve in 2014.

“Its a rare opportunity and a matter of pride for us. We again have an opportunity to understand the behaviour of a rehabilitated tiger. Dudhwa is one of the safest reserves for tigers and now, after 2014 case; its also emerging as a rehabilitation heaven,” Mahaveer Koujalagi, Deputy Director, Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, told IANS.

Just on the outskirts of Pilibhit Tiger Reserve are agricultural fields where the local residents cultivate sugarcane. While tigers see these sugarcane fields with rich prey-base as an extension of their natural habitat, it also leads to negative man-animal conflict — the death of the woman on March 5 being the latest example.

In 2017, total 21 people were killed by at least five different tigers in Pilibhit Tiger Reserve. One such tiger was declared man-eater in February 2017 and sent to Lucknow Zoo.

According to records, 33 people were killed by tigers in 2013-14, while 28 were killed in 2014-15 throughout the country.

India is home to 70 per cent of the world’s free-ranging tigers, estimated at 2,226 in 2014, of which at least 640 dwell outside tiger reserves.

(Kushagra Dixit can be reached at [email protected])

–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma

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World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.

Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.

During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.

On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”

Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.

It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.

Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.

Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”

On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”

The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.

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