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Cheetah (p. 273), the Asiatic or two-horned Rhinoceros (p. 274) and the
Kashmir Stag (p. 275). The revised editions of the Gazetteers of Poona and
Satara Districts, published in 1954 and 1963, point out that the Tiger which
was once plentiful in these districts, particularly in the Ghat areas, and on the
Mahabaleshwar Plateau, has become rare. The leaflet issued by the Forest
Department of the Maharashtra Government on the occasion of the wild life
week in October 1968 points out that the larger wild animals have suffered in
the last decade a serious reduction, and that the number of tigers is reduced
to such an extent that there is anxiety about its total disappearance. It is
stated in the leaflet that during 1966 and 1967 only 22 and 19 permits were
issued, respectively, for shooting tigers, but actually many more must have
been killed. It is also stated in The leaflet that Nilgai and Blackbuck have
practically disappeared from all parts of the State, and that Sambar,
Chousinga and Chinkara which were plentiful at one time have become rare
in several parts of the State. It is necessary to analyse and study the factors
that threaten the survival of birds and animals in order to obtain an idea of
their quantitative effect. The factors may be enumerated serially as under :
(1)Extension of cultivation, and reduction of forest areas and grasslands.
(2)Misuse of crop protection guns for killing of birds and animals.
(3)Large scale poaching for meat, skins, feathers, etc. by villagers and for
organised trade.
(4)Disturbance of wild life in their natural habitat owing to increased human
activities for collection of firewood, leaves, forest produce, etc.
(5)Use of pesticides and poisons.
(6)VIP shoots, shoots on permits and their consequences.
The first factor, namely, extension of cultivation due to pressure of
population has been accepted in the past as both inevitable and inexorable;
but time has now come to consider if reduction of forest areas should be
halted altogether and reliance be placed on intensive cultivation rather than
on extension of it by destruction of forest areas (actual and potential).
FAUNA 14