14 tiger deaths in 2016, missing tigers not considered

The Times of India , Friday, December 30, 2016
Correspondent : Vijay Pinjarkar
Nagpur: The wildlife wing of the state forest department has claimed that 14 tigers have died in the state this year. However, it has not taken account several missing tigers which could swell the number to over 20. Popular tigers like Jai, three cubs of the Bramhapuri tigress, Alpha and Dendu from Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve (NNTR), have been missing for some time now.

Saying that various measures resulted in controlling poaching of tigers, the department said of the 14 tigers that died this year, only 1 died of poaching, 11 of natural causes and 2 were accidental deaths.

Forensic and DNA reports of several tigers have still not been received. The release by the forest department fails to make any mention about the missing tigers.

Wildlife spokesperson and divisional forest officer (DFO) GK Vashishtha says, "DNA tests are only for sex identification. One cannot know cause of death from DNA. Natural deaths in 90% cases are known at the spot after post-mortem only."

However, leading wildlife crime experts say, "Neither the forest department nor NGOs take a stand on missing tigers. If a tiger is missing, the officials will never admit it is dead. It is high time the departments take a stand on this."

For the first time, the forest department has officially admitted that 12 tigers were poached in 2012-13. Taking into consideration confessions by arrested Baheliya poachers, TOI had reported that the number was between 25 and 30. All these were killed in the forests of Vidarbha alone.

The department has admitted that man-animal conflict is at its peak with 60 persons being mauled by wild animals in 16 months from April 1, 2015 to August 16, 2016. Of this, big cats killed 10 persons and mauled an equal number.

The other carnivores, including leopards, killed 50 persons and injured 855 villagers during the same period. The department has provided compensation of Rs3.94 crore to relatives of the deceased and Rs3.38 crore to injured persons in animal attacks during the period.

Similarly, it had also paid compensation amount of Rs19.23 crore to farmers for crop damages by herbivores in 49,334 cases during the above said period.

Moreover, officials said work of solar fencing and trenches near forest areas under Dr Shyama Prasad Jan Van VikasYojna have been completed to avoid cases of crop damages, especially by blue bulls and wild boars. Yet, over 500 wild boars were shot dead by the department in Chandrapur itself this year.

To curb man-animal conflict, forest department has prepared a standard operating procedure (SOP) to deal with emergencies. However, this procedure is violated frequently. Last month, many locals handled leopard cubs and took selfies after the cubs were found in the bushes in Talodi forest at Bramhapuri (Chandrapur district).

FACT FILE

* TIGER DEATHS IN 2016: 14 | 1 of poaching, 11 of natural causes, 2 accidental

* TIGER POACHED IN 2012-13: 12

* MAN-ANIMAL CONFLICT: 60 mauled from April 1, 2015 to August 16, 2016

* TIGER ATTACKS: 10 killed, 10 injured

* LEOPARD ATTACKS: 50 killed, 855 injured

* COMPENSATION FOR DEATHS: Rs3.94 crore to relatives of deceased; Rs3.38 crore to injured

* COMPENSATION FOR CROP DAMAGE: Rs19.23 crores in 49,334

 
SOURCE : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/14-tiger-deaths-in-2016-missing-tigers-not-considered/articleshow/56244327.cms
 


Back to pevious page



The NetworkAbout Us  |  Our Partners  |  Concepts   
Resources :  Databases  |  Publications  |  Media Guide  |  Suggested Links
Happenings :  News  |  Events  |  Opinion Polls  |  Case Studies
Contact :  Guest Book  |  FAQs |  Email Us