The decision has been taken following the death of four tiger cubs in Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra (FDCM) Pathri range following the disappearance of mother tigress.

Sources informed that forest department has formally informed CBI (wildlife wing) to institute a special investigation team (SIT) to trace the missing tigress. SIT will consist of an officer each from CBI, forest and police departments. SIT will look into the possibilities of poaching, accidental death etc. The department has also decided to enhance protection in the tiger bearing areas in Chandrapur district. Decision to deploy STPF outside tiger reserve is part of the same initiative, sources claimed.

State government has also forwarded a proposal to the Union government seeking further strengthening of laws related to tiger poaching. State government has recommended raising the punishment from 7 years to 10 years and penalty of 25,000 to 5 lakh in case of poaching of tigers and top predators. Forest minister stressed upon active involvement of people in protection and conservation of wildlife. He also claimed that government has adopted the policy of giving fourfold rates of land for rehabilitation of the villages in fringe forest. He stressed on strengthening of laws against the illegal tree felling.

Meanwhile, forest department failed to trace the missing tigress. Principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) (wildlife), Shree Bhagwan and chief general manager, FDCM, GRK Rao, visited the spot where cubs had died and the place where tiger had killed a woman on Monday.

The department has increased the number of camera traps in the forests to track the mother tigress. Forest officers have not ruled out the possibility of the tigress being involved in the killing of woman. Hence, camera traps have also been installed at the place where the woman was killed on Monday.