CHANDRAPUR (Maha): Forest department officials have busted a poaching racket in the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) with the arrest of six persons and recovery of bones of the wild cat, officials said.
The first arrest of one Mangaldas Madavi (29) was made on May 1 on a tip-off from Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI).
Three tiger claws were recovered from him, they said. During interrogation, it emerged that he hailed from village Jamni located within TATR. Further raids led to the arrest of second accused, Bhauji Gedam (36), a resident of village Kolsa, which is also located within TATR, on the same day, they said.
Investigators learnt that the duo, along with another accomplice, had poached a tiger in Kolsa range under the protected reserve in Vidarbha region, officials said.
On the basis of information given by Madavi and Gedam, four more of the gang were arrested yesterday, they said.
Their questioning led to the recovery of 20 tiger bones from a spot in the reserve, the officials said.
Assistant Conservator of Forests A N Dhote said the gang was also involved in trapping other animals like cheetal and sambar.
