Tigers fight for turf, but foresters happy

The Pioneer , Monday, June 22, 2009
Correspondent : Prithviraj Singh | Dehradun

The death of the sixth tiger resulting from territorial fighting, in the past six months, has raised hopes among Uttarakhand forest officials about the presence of other big cats in Tarai Central Forest Division. Tarai Central Divisional Forest Officer Parag Madhukar Dhakate said, “It (the fight) is an indication that there are more tigers in the same area. This is a message that tiger conservation project of the State Forest Department is doing good job and have added to big cat’s population.”

A 6-7-year-old male tiger died of starvation on Friday evening near Bor Dam forest area of Pipalparao Forest Range in Tarai Central Forest Division. According to the departmental sources, the tiger died of starvation for its failure to hunt prey. Earlier, it had sustained serious injuries on upper portion of its forelimbs during a fight over the territory. Dhakate said the injuries on forelimbs and paws had turned the tiger immobile, rendering it unable to hunt.

However, the recent death of the big cat has also worried wildlife experts of the State as they believe that this region has become hostile for the life of tigers. But Dakate added, “Although the tiger’s death is a sad news, this is an encouraging message about the rise in tiger population in the division.”

“We rule out the possibility of poisoning or poaching as post-mortem report shows that the tiger was empty stomach while no fresh injuries were seen by the doctors on its body,” said Dakate. The DFO added, “Doctors and other experts present during post-mortem concluded that the tiger was engaged in territorial fight with another big cat that inflicted serious injuries leading to its death due to starvation.”

He said that post-mortem was conducted in the presence of a NTCA-nominated doctor, Satyapriya Gautum Bhalla; Hem Singh Gehlot, a representative from WWF; Dr Santosh Kumar Sahu, and two Government veterinary doctors --- Dr Sanjeev Pant and Dr SP Pathak. The DFO said that all representatives and doctors were unanimous over the report. “However, body parts of the dead tiger have been sent to WII and Bareilly-based IBRI,” said Dakate.

“Our patrolling team spotted the tiger lying in a swampy trench. The patrolling team climbed upon a tree and observed its movement. However, instead of moving from there, the tiger collapsed slowly,” said the DFO.

 
SOURCE : Monday, June 22, 2009
 


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