Uttarakhand State PCS

• 07 Jun 2023

At least 12 Tigers and Tigresses have died in the last 5 Months

Why in News?

According to information received from the media on 5 June 2023, tigers are continuously dying in Uttarakhand amid efforts being made for the conservation of tigers across the country. In the last five months, 12 tigers and tigresses have died here.

Key Points:

• Uttarakhand Forest Department's Chief Wildlife Warden Dr. Samir Sinha said that 12 tigers have died in the state so far this year. Most of the deaths have occurred in the Central Terai region. Most of the deaths occurred due to mutual conflict or an accident. Chief Conservator of Forests, Kumaon has been asked to submit a detailed inquiry report.
• It is known that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had released the tiger census-2022 data in the country in April this year. It shows an increase of 6.7% in the tiger population in the last four years. The number of tigers across the country is reported to be around 3167.
• According to the 2018 census, the number of tigers in Uttarakhand is 442. State-wise figures have not been released yet, but Uttarakhand Forest Department Officials are predicting an increase in the number of tigers in the state on the basis of these figures. On the contrary, the speed at which tigers are dying can also blur the colour of the picture.
• According to the data released by the National Tiger Conservation Authority, a total of 76 tigers have died in the last five months across the country this year. Of these, 12 tigers were killed in Uttarakhand alone. The first tiger death in Uttarakhand this year was reported in Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve in January. In February, three tigers were found dead in Nainital and Ramnagar. Then in March, two tigers were killed in the Chakrata range Haldwani and Ramnagar divisions.
• In April, a tiger was found dead in Corbett's Dhela range. In May, two tigers were killed in the Kalagarh division and Corbett Tiger Reserve, while the death toll of three tigers is yet to be updated on the website. The reasons for the death of tigers are different. In 2022, nine tiger deaths were recorded in 12 months.
• It is worth mentioning that the number of tigers killed in Uttarakhand from 2001 to May 2023 is 181.

New Initiative of the Postal Department in Dehradun

Why in News?

On 6 June 2023, Uttarakhand Postal Service Director Anusuya Prasad Chamola informed that the Postal Department is now delivering speed post and parcels to Delhi through air service. For this, the Postal Department has signed an agreement with an air company. So far this work was done by train.

Key Points:

• Significantly, the Postal Department had started a special Rail Mail Service (RMS) in collaboration with the Railways. Under this, speed posts and parcels coming to the main post office in Doon from hilly districts including Dehradun were transported from Dehradun to Delhi through two trains (Mussoorie Express / Yoga Express). But, the Mussoorie Express takes a long time to reach Delhi.
• In view of this, the Mussoorie Express has been removed from the RMS. In return, the Postal Department is now sending speed posts and parcels from an airline flight. Although speed posts and parcels are being sent by the Yoga Express train running from Haridwar, the department is also exploring the option of another airline in place of this train.
• It is known that at present, those parcels and mail are being transported to Delhi by air service, which is important. Due to this, speed posts and parcels reaching throughout the week are reaching the people in a few days. While other speed posts and parcels are being transported to Ahmedabad by train after reaching Haridwar by departmental vehicle.
• More than 100 parcels are being booked in GPO throughout the day. These include parcels that are going abroad. While in other post offices in the hilly areas including Doon, parcels booked for the country also come to GPO late in the evening.