The Shekar Singh commision report discusses the importance of
introduced species and the need to develop a policy on the same. I
have not read the document recently and do not know if anything
recently has been proposed or ordered by Supreme Court or MOEF on this
issue. But it was with regard this issue that we conducted the study
on elephants and deer in the islands and subsequently the S.Court
ordered WII to investigate the issue further. The probem with this
issue is that while the problems of species introcduction are staring
us in the face, the people who need to recommend to the courts and
MOEF the immediate removal of exotics are vascillating on the issue
and or buying time so that they can do some 'work' in the islands.


I will highlight again that we do not know what exists in these
islands - this weekend they (colleagues in the islands) reported a new
lizard to me; soon as i get detailed photographs of the same I will
know if this is another new species.

regarding species that will be obvious when introduced - There are no
venomous snakes south of Katchal in the Nicobars. No cobras or Kraits
south of little andaman. I suspect cobras and kraits are less likely
to stow away in cargo, but i have never worked with them to know their
habit; but this is not impossible. pit vipers by habit may quite
easily stow away and can cause serious damage to nicobar fauna -
especially south of Katchal. These will also be harmful to people as
south of katchal, even I confidently walk barefoot in the forest. Thus
if venomous snakes do stowaway south of Katchal we will hear of them
soon. Rats and other foreign rodents can be serious problems.

But honestly we will not notice any of these impacts even by
conducting a study (besides ofcourse the venomous snakes south of
katchal)


Shreyas




--- In andamanicobar@..., Sharbendu De
<sharbendude@y...> wrote:
>
> Dear Shreyas, Anthra and others,
> Species introduction is a major concern for all of us. Undoubtedly.
It's been a while I haven't made a posting here since I left for
Andaman. So lots to say, but shall be specific for the moment.
>
> I had volunteered with ActionAid to work on relief & rehabilitation.
In the circles, while we discussed about about brining in country fowl
and goats, I mentioned to them of island specific species as well the
regulations and dangers on introduction of exotic species. More needs
to be fed within the groups and govt bodies.
>
> If we can have a copy of the govt order on 'introduction of exotics'
I can try to circulate it among all NGOs and try to keep them abreast
with the issue.
>
> Best wishes
> Sharbendu De
> Tel: 09434269906 (M)
>
> Ashish Fernandes <cree@v...> wrote:
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Shreyas" <shreyas_krishnan@y...>
> To: <andamanicobar@...>
> Sent: Friday, February 11, 2005 7:01 AM
> Subject: Re: introduced species and need for a proactive policy
>
>
> >
> > Well, I do not think a study rapid or other wise is going to stop
> > species introductions and other bio-diversity messups. what is
> > needed is simply a proactive policy of 'destroying' introduced
> > species.
> >
> > there are two issues here - 1) the implementers [in this case forest
> > department (FD) or any NGO] must know what diversity exists here -
> > a) we barely know the diversity of these islands; b) the
> > implementers in this region believe they know it all (this has been
> > my experience woring with the FD)
> >
> > 2)during relief and rehab the administration will not pay attention
> > to this slight detail (species introduction) that may never affect
> > human populations of these islands significantly at all. And thus it
> > is upon the FD to be proactive; in the aftermath of the tsunami and
> > the rehab I suspect they are sitting in the back seat.
> >
> > the problem of species introductions has already begun with the
> > commencement of relief and rehab operations.
> >
> > Another problem with being proactive is Indians dont like to
> > destroy/kill animals or plants (Even when scientific evidence
> > suggests their negative impact), thus the deer and elephants remain
> > in the andamans. I was at the wildlife board meeting in July 2004.
> > It was rather disappointing that every one in the conference room
> > was toeing the line of the FD or WII. (Please remember I have
> > nothing against these institutions, what I am against is toeing
> > peoples lines to keep oneself safe). For good or bad I was the only
> > person urging immediate action against destructive introduced
> > species. I asked the PCCF to choose between conserving Turtles or
> > dogs on nesting beaches. They (FD & WII) wanted long term studies to
> > conclusively prove (this never happens in science) the destructive
> > nature of these large mammals on the habitat - to which I asked the
> > PCCF to start these long term projects and conserve weeds few
> > decades from now or to remove these introduced species and conserve
> > the forests now. Obviously my attitude at that meeting will affect
> > my future research permits.
> >
> > The above paragraph was simply to highlight that your concerns are
> > to fall on deaf ears unless an order comes from above - say a
> > supreme court directive or a ministry directive.
> >
> > An example of proactive measures is exemplified in New Zealand.
> > These islands have no snakes on them, they do have endemics and also
> > the Tuatara lizard. (the is an old lineage of lizards with unique
> > physiological adaptations to temperate climes. the only populaitons
> > of this genus are in these islands). what would happen if snakes
> > from neighboring Australia were to stow away on cargo vessels ????
> > New Zealand has a strict quarantine policy of all imports. during
> > this quarantine any animal, especially snakes seen in the cargo
> > holds are exterminated. Thus, you still have rare species in New
> > Zealand.
> >
> >
> > I hope some one on this discussion group can do something toward
> > getting a proactive policy of species introductions in place.
> >
> >
> > Shreyas
> >
> > PS: By the end of the year I will be publishing seven new species
> > regarding the fauna of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > > Thanks Shreyas , i think some of us are really concerned that
> > during relief
> > > new species might be introduced as part of the rehab process and
> > could
> > > create severe damage to environment and bio diversity besides socio
> > > cultural concerns . Therefore some study /assesment would have to
> > be
> > > rapidly done and an alternate plan based on local species etc
> > would have
> > > to be put forth
> > >
> > > Nitya
> > > ANTHRA Pune
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
> To visit your group on the web, go to:
> http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/andamanicobar/
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> andamanicobar-unsubscribe@...
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Do you Yahoo!?
> Yahoo! Search presents - Jib Jab's 'Second Term'
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]