BHOPAL: As country is cheering over increase of 30 per cent in tiger population in the past three years, Madhya Pradesh - which contributed 308 big cats - has gone down to third position compared to growth in other states amidst unabated poaching incidents.
Ironically when Union environment minister Prakash Javadekar was releasing the new tiger census in Delhi on Tuesday, two leopards were killed in state's Maoist-infested Balaghat district falling victim to bait targeting tiger, it's alleged. Sources say it was a case of revengeful killing as a poisoned cattle carcass was found.
State forest minister and other officials could not be contacted for their version.
Notably Madhya Pradesh has recorded a 44.13 per cent growth against 47.79 and 52.42 per cent growth by Uttharakhand and Kerala respectively.
While officials here are hopeful that the figure may change as counting in MP is still on, activists blame it on lack of conservation efforts and 'zero' per cent conviction of poachers.
As of now 53 cases of tiger poaching and 160 cases of killing of leopard are being tried in various courts in the state, some for over 40 years.
Wildlife activist Ajay Dubey claims a case of tiger death registered on May 17, 1975 in Kanha National Park in Mandla district is still pending decision in the court. Another case registered on September 25, 1979 in Balaghat district is also under the legal process. "Of pending cases 20 are related to poaching inside tiger reserves," he said.
