The tiger census – From despair to hope
Published April 8, 2011 | 
It is celebration time for tiger enthusiasts in Kerala as the successful tiger conservation efforts have made Kerala one of the three states that has the greatest tiger density in the world. According to the latest tiger census India’s wild tiger population has grown by 12 per cent in the last four years, which put the number of big cats in the country at approximately 1,706.
The densely forested Western Ghats region that spreads along the three South Indian States of Tamilnadu, Kerala and Karnataka is home to over 533 tigers and continues to be the home of the maximum number of tigers. The Periyar tiger sanctuary and Parambikulam, also has recorded an addition of over 25 tigers, which is something we can be proud of. The reclusive animals of tigers are hard to spot and to ensure a precise head count of this elegant national animal of India, latest techniques like DNA mapping, camera traps and satellite images were employed.
As we pen this edition of tiger tales from the Karma Kerala desk, the mood is surely that of hope unlike the pall of gloom and despair that loomed over when we posted our first blog in the tiger series a year ago when the number of Indian tigers hit an all time low of just 1411. The social media like Face book and twitter have played an important role in giving resonance to the concern and anguish of wild life enthusiasts all over India.
Tiger occupancy areas shrunk from 9 million hectares to less than 7.5 million hectares over the last four years and to ensure a comeback of tigers, it is very essential to increase the forest cover and enhance the vigil against poachers. Mining is said to be the single largest threat to the tiger population as it destroys the habitat and the natural food supply of these predators. Around Thirty per cent of the tiger population lives in areas outside the government’s reserves, which makes conservation efforts complex and challenging.
The largest number of tigers lives in the entire Western Ghats area, which in itself is a testimony of the successful conservation efforts bearing fruits. Kerala can indeed feel proud of its successful tiger conservation efforts that has left its name in the hall of fame of wild life protection. The latest inputs from the tiger conservation front are indeed portraying a hopeful picture 
and the encouraging snippets compiled by the news desks all over India speak of a ray of hope at the end of the dark tunnel. The anxious moments are not yet fully blown over, and only concocted efforts will bring in permanent results that we all would like to see. So, let us all join our hands to make sure that the tigers continue to thrive in the forests of India to be our national pride and identity.
Saving the Stripes- When a live tiger becomes more valuable than its carcass!
Published April 7, 2010 | 
Tiger conservation in Kerala needs much more concerted efforts and a strong will to make sure that the national animal of India roar again in the jungles! It can happen only when a live tiger becomes far more precious than its carcass. It goes without saying that a massive project of this dimension can succeed only with the participation of the wild life department , NGOs, the forest staff, villagers and the tribals. Monetary benefit and tiger protection can be linked together to make it a lucrative affair for the landless tribals, who depend on the forests for their livelihood. The general public should be educated about the long term benefits of tiger conservation including better tourism prospects and employment scope.
The forest staff should be provided with better security gadgets and the latest weapons to deal with the poachers. Harsh punishments and hefty fines should be imposed on those who dare to kill wild animals so that it could prove a deterrent to the others. Bonus and pension plans of forest staff could be made relational to the improved tiger population during their tenure.
The tribal families who live along the periphery of the periyar tiger reserves should be provided jobs , housing and free education facilities to sustain their interest in tiger conservation and to make it financially viable for them . Preserving the bio diversity is the simplest and the most natural means to increase the tiger population and to minimise the man – animal conflicts. Probably the most important reason of all would be that our commitment to ensure our children and grand children the thrilling experience of beholding this wonderful animals in the wild! The count down has started and being an Indian, everyone of us should make sure that the body parts of our national animal never change hands again to be put up for sale in the road side markets of China and Vietnam!
Tiger – Our National animal is on the verge of extinction
Published February 16, 2010 | 
With only a handful of tigers remaining in the wild- to be precise just 1411 of them!- the count down has started and if we have to save the majestic national animal from extinction we must all act NOW! Bureaucracy, corruption and official apathy have been rated as some of the biggest factors for the sad plight of this dreaded hunter of the wild. It is always better to be late than never . So to conserve this wonderful animal, which is ruthlessly killed for its claws, teeth and skin that fetch a fortune in overseas market, a mass movement is the only solution.
Out of the 27 Tiger Reserves in India, Periyar tiger reserve in Thekkady is in Kerala . Spread over 777 Sq.Km, this wildlife sanctuary is one of the best managed tiger reserves in the country. on February 19th Parambikulam wildlife sanctuary in Palakkad district in Kerala, will be declared as the second tiger reserve in the State by union environment minister Jairam Ramesh. But setting up more tiger reserves is only job half done. Preservation of the animal and the habitat are very crucial to ensure the success to the project Tiger programme. Tribals who are familiar with the forests and the wild animals like the back of their hands should be involved more in the conservation efforts. Steps should be taken to minimize the man – beasts confrontation by clearing off all the illegal human settlements along the periphery of the forests and tiger reserves.
Live and let live should be the policy of all our efforts to ensure a beautiful world to the generations to come. Man has no right to plunder nature and to take everything good from the universe without ever repaying anything. We have not inherited this beautiful world , we have only borrowed it from our forefathers to be passed on to the succeeding generations! Do not wait for the Government to act. We as a 1.15 billion strong Indian community can make things happen. Let us all get together to save the pride of our nation – the magnificent animal of Tiger. Join hands with social network sites like facebook www.facebook.com/StripeytheCub or show your support at http://www.saveourtigers.com/KnowTheStoryTigerPark.php set up by animal lovers and concerned citizens to save our tigers from extinction. Do your might, no matter however small it may be, because it is after all a matter of life and death!
The ancient Mangaladevi temple- the temple that opens only once a year
Published April 29, 2008 | 
Kattapana: Scores of visitors including pilgrims and tourists from both Tamil Nadu and Kerala visited the ancient Mangaladevi temple located within the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary on the occasion of Chitrapournami day, for which the temple opens only once a year in the month of April .
Elaborate arrangements were made by the forest departments of the two States for the smooth conduct of the festival. Priests from both the states conducted separate pujas at the temple, which remained open till 5Pm. This temple is located along the jungles bordering Tamil Nadu and the festival is carried out jointly as both the States have made claims over it.
The forest path to the temple would be cleared by the forest department to facilitate the pilgrims from Tamil Nadu who reach the temple on foot. Pilgrims from Kerala reach the temple in jeeps through the Kumily-Mangaladevi route.
Kerala tribal farmers become pepper exporters to Germany
Published April 12, 2008 | 
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala has set up a role model yet again when it became the first state in the country, where the tribal farmers would directly export organic pepper to Germany. As per the innovative scheme, patronized by the state government, the three tribal communities at Vanchivayil village nestled deep in the Thekkady forests will export their first consignment of over four tones of organic pepper on April 12.
It was only after relentless persuasion of over eighteen months that the tribals could be coaxed to become exporters. The tribals get the full returns for their effort as this system operates sans middlemen.
Periyar Foundation, an apex body of 76 eco-development committees, the Forests Department and the state government has jointly organized the pilot project.
There were a lot of formalities involved in getting the organic certification ready from Lacon International, a company based in Germany apart from the Spices Board of India. At the outset, the German firm operated by the farmers’ society of ”Ecoland Herbs and Spices”, would be the main buyer to procure organic pepper. The best part is that the tribals would be getting over 33 per cent more than what they used to get before for their products as no middlemen are involved in the deal.