A string of tiger deaths in Pench have raised questions on the vigilance of the Park authorities.
A week after a tigress and her two cubs were
found dead in a case of suspected poisoning, there's more bad news from the Pench National Park in Madhya Pradesh.
Three people have been arrested after they were caught with tiger paws and a carcass was found buried in a village in the buffer zone of the Park on Monday.
The arrests were made as they were on their way for a ritual using the tiger body parts after a Godman promised to change their fortunes overnight.
Chief Conservator of Forests Chittaranjan Tyagi, said, "This is really tragic that, even today, people believe that a self-styled Baba or Bhumka can make someone wealthy a using a tiger's paws. They call it 'Zadti' in local language. There have been such cases reported before. This is the third such instance that has come to light in 18 months, wherein it all was done for the blind faith."
Though villagers say that electric wires, put up to keep stray animals away from farms, led to the electrocution of the adult male tiger, they haven't been able to explain what the accused were doing with the tiger's severed limbs.
As many as eight tigers have been reported dead in this year alone at the Pench Tiger Reserve - a figure the park authorities dispute, claiming the number is at five. But it has already raised an alarm even at the Centre that has now called for a report on the deaths.
While forest officials stress the need to raise the level of awareness among locals, the tiger deaths have raised questions on the vigilance of the Park authorities.