Tigers in Orissa are under threat. Their survival now depends on a variety of factors, the removal of which could help them see another day. A few decades ago the distribution of tigers in the forests of Orissa was wide and almost most districts of the State harboured them. But since the early 1980s many forest areas have started feeling the pressure of deforestation, and poaching.
Wild Orissa believes that inclusion under the Project Tiger scheme will be an extra emphasis on tiger conservation by way of receipt of more funds from the Centre, receipt of more equipments such as vehicles, wireless sets, and arms from external agencies, reorienting the priorities of the forest personnel from forest protection to specific tiger conservation and wildlife conservation in general.
Tiger Reserve originated primarily as a hunting ground for the royalty. It was formally designated a tiger reserve in 1956 under Project Tiger in May 1972. It was elevated to a national park status in 1979. Located in the Mayurbhanj district of India, coastal state of Orissa, Simlipal Tiger Reserve is an ecosystem complete with forest vegetation (mainly sal trees), fauna and the adjoining Santhal tribal settlements. High plateaus and hills, the highest peak being the Mangesheri, surround the forest. At least 12 rivers cut across the plain area. The prominent among them are Burhabalanga, Palpala Bandan, Kahairi and Deo. This sprawling forest also has many waterfalls that are a perpetual attraction to the tourist. It has withstood two cyclones. in 1982 and 1999. without any irrevocable damages and continues to enchant visitors.
A tiger’s coat displays a combination of three colours-white, tawny, and black. “A wholly white tiger, with the stripe pattern visible ony uder reflected light, like the pattern of a white tabby cat, was exhibited in the Exeter Change Menagerie in the early part of the 19th century and described by Hamilton-Smith” (Pocock, 1939: 202). Sagar and Singh (1989) reported a “tiger without stripes” from Similipal Tiger Reserve, and cited similar information from another location in Similipal and one from Chitrakonda of Korput in Orissa.
Cape Cormorants can be found between Namibia and Algoa Bay, South Africa. The species is colonial and breeding can occur whenever sufficient food is available.At Lambert’s Bay, nests are built on fishing boats in the harbour and on any elevated site, including the stacked dolosse and rocky outcrops. The nest is a bowl built of sticks, seaweed and guano, in which between three and five eggs are laid.The eggs are incubated for approximately 23 days. Both adults incubate the egg. Chicks can fly at nine weeks.
The Newquay Cormorants Swimming Club is a friendly and competitive swimming club whose aim is to provide regular training for swimmers wishing to compete at local, national and international levels. We also provide training for swimmers who do not wish to compete.
The migration of cormorants takes place in October and November and then again in March and early April. However in recent years a growing number have taken to wintering in the Czech Republic. This year there are an estimated 8,000 of them predominantly in the eastern part of the country and fishermen claim that these protected birds are depleting their fish stocks and causing losses worth millions of crowns. Here’s how one fisherman puts the problem:
“The cormorants not only catch a vast amount of fish but they injure others in the process and an injured fish - even if it manages to escape - is almost certain to die in the winter months. Those that survive the winter, generally succumb to disease in the spring.”
The popular perception of cormorants is of a rapidly increasing species facing increasing conflict with inland fisheries. However, the evidence for recent increases in cormorant numbers throughout Europe largely originates from censuses of breeding colonies, and comparatively little is known about winter abundance and distribution.
The egret is near the top of the food web. They can be found eating small vertebrates such as snakes and anoles, but they more commonly eat frogs, crayfish and most of all, fish. The vegetation that they eat is comprised mostly of algae or plankton. Because they eat both small vertebrates and vegetation, they fall into the omnivore category.
Mating
Egrets mating rituals work in a very circular fashion. They live in colonies in nesting areas and the females use their plumes to attract a male. After they have mated, the female makes a nest with twigs and sticks to prepare for laying eggs. When ready, the female lays 3 to 4 pale, blue-green eggs and the babies hatch in 24 days. In 6-7 weeks, they fly north because of food shortages. When they find new nesting areas, the cycle begins again.
Herons and Egrets are in the same family and look similar, so what is the difference? The name Egret comes from the French ‘aigrette’ meaning the plume feathers of the six species of white Egrets. These are a special breeding plumage only occurring through part of the year. For many years they were popular in the fashion trade. Egrets were the Herons from which ‘aigrettes’ were obtained so causing the death of many birds. The term has since lost its original meaning and is now used to describe various members of the Heron family which do not have these plumes and which are not white.
These birds are snowy white, hence their name, about 22-27 inches long. With their wing span is about 39-46 inches. It has long black legs, bright yellow feet, yellow eyes, yellow lores (area between the eyes and beak) and a long slim black beak. Both male and female birds look very similar and weigh about 13 ounces on the average. Immature birds will have legs that are black in front but yellowish on the back.
Snowy Egrets often will be seen in loose flocks and breed in large colonies. During this time many egrets will have the gorgeous aigrettes, the long lacy feathers. The lores and the feet may also turn a reddish color or even orange. Nests are made of short branches and twigs, making a shallow nesting area. This nest can be found on the ground but also up into the trees or bushes, about 7-10 feet off the ground. The female will lay 3-5 pale blue-green eggs and will incubate them for 3 to 4 weeks. The nestlings, featherless and dependent on their parents for food and warmth when first hatched, will be stay in the nest for almost another month until fledging.
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