SudhirMungantiwar's no tiger poaching claim unacceptable: Animal activist

DNA India , Monday, March 21, 2016
Correspondent : SHAILENDRA PARANJPE
Despite minister for forests SudhirMungantiwar stating in the state assembly that there has been no tiger poaching incident in the state in past two years, activist KishorRithe has objected to it and said that it is impossible to accept this claim as there are a few unanswered questions.

Mungantiwar on Wednesday had informed the state assembly about it. Rithe — president of Satpuda Foundation and is also former member of the standing committee of National Board for Wildlife — cited an incident which took place on December 27, 2015. He pointed out that on December 27, 2015 four tiger cubs were found abandoned. The question remains as to where is their mother? Rithe said that there is a possibility that the mother of the cubs was eliminated by poachers.

Speaking to dna Rithe said that it is hard to believe the claim by the minister since on March 15, 2016 a tiger was found dead in compartment 23 of Pawnar in Zarijamani Tehsil of Yawatmal circle and it is suspected poaching by poisoning out of revenge killing. Hence, it is hard to believe that the minister is unaware of the same. "On March 14, a leopard was found trapped in a snare wire trap which was actually put for killing wild boars in Nanded. There are number of such instances which shows that wildlife poaching is going on in Maharashtra," he said.

He added: "I cannot accept his claim as he has the figures from official record — NTCA/Traffic India of tiger mortalities from October 2015 to January 2016 — that states that there are 28 total tiger deaths of which 7 deaths are from Maharashtra."

Rithe pointed out that if one takes the tiger skin seizures during the same period, there are no seizures of which the credit goes to cyber crime cell set up by the government of Maharashtra under the leadership of Mungantiwar.

"At the same time there are many wildlife (other than tiger) poaching incidents detected by Maharashtra forest department which are reported time to time in the media as well. It is visible that wildlife poaching is going on in Maharashtra by local poachers and the presence of Bahelia gangs also have been reported by the department which shows that they are also active," said the activist.

Rithe, however, has appreciated the efforts by Mungantiwar. He said: "I must accept that the poaching gangs from outside the state seem scared to see more vigilant Maharashtra forest department. We must also thank the judiciary in Maharashtra for acknowledging the gravity of this heinous crime and not granting the bail to these notorious tiger poachers."

 
SOURCE : http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-sudhir-mungantiwar-s-no-tiger-poaching-claim-unacceptable-animal-activist-2191952
 


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