Centre agrees for CBI probe into tiger poaching

Deccan Herald , Monday, June 06, 2005
Correspondent : Staff Reporter
The Union government said that a census of the tiger population in reserves will also be conducted using ‘camera trapping’ and counting pug marks.

The Centre has favourably responded to the Karnataka Forest Department’s proposal for a CBI inquiry into the poaching of tigers in the state.

Drawing its response from poaching by the infamous Katni gang, accused of killing tigers at Bandipur and Nagarahole tiger reserves, Karnataka Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and Chief Wildlife Warden A K Verma said that a CBI probe was necessary as the case had all-India ramifications.

Agreeing to the Karnataka viewpoint, the Union government asked the forest department to approach the state government for its consent to conduct a CBI probe.

Mr Verma told Deccan Herald that the forest department will move the state government shortly in this regard. He added that six of the gang had been recently left by the court. They were arrested in January 2003.

Like other states, Karnataka had demanded filling up vacancies in wildlife sections of the department on priority basis. “It is a tough area where we need all posts to be filled. We have also recommended incentives to be given to wildlife personnel,” he added.

The meeting was attended by directors of Project Tiger, chief wildlife wardens, MPs and experts, members of Task Force on Tiger etc.

Mr Verma gave details of preparations made by the state forest department for the monsoon season when poaching normally reaches a peak. He also made a presentation regarding the tiger census set to begin in November. The Centre had recently sent out a red alert for monsoon preparedness.

According to Mr Verma, the census will be conducted in scientific and conventional ways involving ‘camera trapping’, counting pug marks and tiger droppings.

Reserves satisfactory

Meanwhile, Project Tiger, in a report on health of tiger reserves in the country, has put the Bhadra and Bandipur reserves in Karnataka in the ‘good’ category and Nagarhole in the ‘satisfactory’ category.

Forest and environment ministry sources told Deccan Herald that the Peri reserve in Kerala, Kalkkadmundan and Turai in Tamil Nadu have been put in the ‘good’ category while Nagarjunasagar in Andhra Pradesh has been termed ‘satisfactory’.

The study was based on 25 parameters given by the International Union for Conversation of Nature to the Indian government to check health of tiger reserves. They were categorised ‘very good’, ‘good’ and ‘satisfactory’.

 
SOURCE : Deccan Herald, Monday, June 06, 2005
 


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