New Delhi:
In a strongly worded letter to all tiger states across the nation, The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has said that henceforth all tiger and leopard deaths will be treated as 'poaching', unless otherwise proved beyond reasonable doubt.
The letter, written by Member Secretary, Rajesh Gopal says, "As tiger source areas are targeted by poachers and tigers also become victims of non-targeted killings due to sensitive human-tiger interface conflicts, there is a need to ensure adequate caution while classifying tiger deaths as occurring due to 'natural' causes."
The letter also further highlights the importance of investigating each tiger death before drawing any conclusions on the probable cause. It says, "The day-to- day patrolling by field staff and supervisory checks at senior levels should ensure preventive actions as well as proactive detection, rather than retroactive actions."
The letter assumes even more importance as it comes just days after another tiger death was reported in the vicinity of the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in Chandrapur (in Borda) in Maharashtra on May 18. In fact, the mutilated carcass of the adult tiger was found within 72 hours of the 'poacher' alert sounded by the Maharashtra Forest Department.
The Maharashtra Forest department has also recently, granted 'shoot at sight' orders to forest guards with respect to poachers. The decision came on the basis of reports that poachers from Madhya Pradesh had been paid an advance of Rs.40 lakh to kill 25 tigers.
Kishor Rithe, President of Satpuda Foundation feels that a Special Investigation Team is the need of the hour. "I am happy to know the progress of Borda forest tiger poaching case. Chandrapur District SP and Dy. CF Kalyankumar both are doing excellent job. But this is not the time when we can afford to wait for the good results of some experiments. We must back all such investigations by providing required support in mobilising resources and powers to speedily access information by forming Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary which includes DG Police, Secretary of home and forest departments, Chief Wildlife Warden of Maharashtra."
The alarm calls even more worrying since Maharashtra alone has seen at least 8 tiger deaths in the last 5 months.