Karnataka - Mysore

Wildlife activists demand inquiry into tiger’s death

MYSORE: Controversy is brewing in wildlife circles here over the “self-defence” theory propounded by a senior official of the Forest Department while reacting to the shooting of a tiger in a village near Nagarahole recently.

Wildlife activists find it difficult to comprehend how the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) I.B. Srivasthava concluded that the tiger was shot in self-defence.

Reacting strongly to the PCCF’s statement, Wildlife First, an NGO, which is also a member of the National Board for Wildlife, said that such a statement should be condemned and an inquiry conducted. K.M. Chinappa, president of Wildlife First, said the PCCF’s statement on the cause of death of the tiger, whose carcass was found near Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, rang hollow. He said that the post-mortem report showed that the claws had been removed and the canines and the lower jaw were missing.

Such statements in the context of a spurt in poaching activities around Nagarahole will only embolden wildlife poachers to carry out their activities by giving such false reasons said Mr. Chinappa.

Residents of villages in the area recently exhibited considerable patience when there were repeated cattle kills by a tiger. They assisted the Forest Department in trapping the animal. In the light of these facts, the “shooting in self-defence” theory does not hold water, according to the NGO.

“When several crucial questions have to be answered, such statements do not inspire confidence and amount to serious impropriety. We, therefore, demand that the case be investigated thoroughly by the CID Forest Cell of the olice since the Forest Department has powers only under the Wildlife Act and is not empowered to investigate crimes under the Arms Act also,” said Mr. Chinappa.

What is intriguing is that the self-defence theory was advocated while asserting at the same time that the “matter was under investigation”, according to Praveen Bhargav, member of the board.

The activists said that since the post-mortem report stated that the jaws and claws were missing, prima facie it meant that it was a case of poaching. Meanwhile, there were reports citing a few department officials that two persons had been arrested. But the Srimangala police admitted that though an FIR had been lodged, the case was still being investigated and denied that there had been any arrests.

The issue has caused consternation among wildlife activists in view of the fact that there are less than 1,400 tigers surviving in the wild. In a recent report released by the Wildlife Institute of India after the latest census, Nagarahole and Bandipur were cited as among the best habitats for the survival of tigers in India.

However, it is not the first time that poachers have struck in the Bandipur-Nagarahole belt.

A gang from Katni was found to be operating with impunity in Nagarahole.

Experts have called for the strengthening of anti-poaching camps especially now the State machinery is focussed on conducting the elections. It is feared that poachers will strike now if there is laxity in forest protection.

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