Sariska, Ranthambore happy hunting grounds

The Pioneer , Thursday, March 17, 2005
Correspondent : Lokpal Sethi
The skin, teeth, jaw and other parts of tigers and leopards, being killed by poachers in Sariska and Ranthambore forest in Rajasthan are allegedly making their way to 'Golden City' located on Thailand and Myanmar (Burma), where these are being sold openly.According to wildlife experts, some time back one T Yamazaki and his film company Etheno Products, had produced documentary, which showed people in the Golden City, trading in tiger and leopard parts and have been quoted saying that they were procuring these things either from India and Nepal. The film also shows a haat (make shift market), where these items are displayed to attract the buyers. Mr Yamazaki, has been visiting Ranthombore, Sariska and other wildlife sanctuaries of Rajasthan for the past two decades to produce documentaries on wildlife. In one of its report, the Wildlife Protection Society of India has stated that between 1994 and 2004, at least 719 tigers and 2,474, leopards were killed by the poachers in different part of the country. Both, Ranthamobre and Sariska, have been figured prominently in this report Meanwhile, Forest and Environment Minister, Mr L N Dave said on Wednesday that if no tigers or less number of tigers were found in Sariska and Ranthambore, during the animal census in these forests in May next, the Government would re examine all the previous census, carried out by the wildlife authorities, annually. The controversy over the alleged disappearance of tigers from Sariska, now has been shifted to the world famous tiger forest, Ranthambore. A high power committee, appointed by the State Government, visited this National Tiger Park and declared an emergency of sorts as it felt that tigers are not safe in this sanctuary and poachers are now zeroing here.The head of the committee, V P Singh, a BJP Lok Sabha member, expressed concern over the prevailing situation there. He ordered the cancellation of leave of all the forest staff, posted in the Park. He also ordered deployment of more forest guards, with a view to sealing it. He also instructed the officials to organise foot patrolling in the park and to look out for poachers, who, according to him, are roaming in and around the Ranthambore forestHe is of the firm view that the number of tigers in the forest are far less than the claim made by the authority. "This is due to poaching of tigers in this forest". He believes that because the number of tigers have depleted in Sariska, poachers have made this forest as their next target.

 
SOURCE : The Pioneer, Thursday, March 17, 2005
 


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