Bigcats News

[Rishi]

The total number this year will probably remain below 100. Let's hope the census-count will cross 3000 individuals...

---

2 tigers ‘poisoned’ near Pench, toll 23 this year
Vijay Pinjarkar | TNN | Updated: Nov 18, 2017, 10:58 IST

The death toll of tigers is highest in Maharashtra this year

*This image is copyright of its original author

HIGHLIGHTS

• The last death had been two days ago, on Nov 15, when a sub-adult tiger was found dead under mysterious circumstances in Mul range
• Mallikarjuna said stripe patterns of both tigers will be matched to identify whether the tigers were residents or had dispersed from Pench Tiger Reserve
  

NAGPUR: Two tiger deaths, suspected to be due to poisoning, were reported on Friday in Nagpur forest division, taking Maharashtra to the top of the chart in the country with 23 big cat deaths this year. Shockingly, this is the sixth tiger death in 33 days in Vidarbha region.

The state's tally of tiger deaths is followed by neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, which has reported 21 deaths. The official figures of National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) make these the 22nd and 23rd tiger deaths in Maharashtra, and the 95th and 96th in the country. Most of the deaths were not due to natural causes.

The 23 tiger deaths also include five killed in last three years by fishermen in and around Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra. This figure of five has been recorded in confessional statements of 16 fishermen accused of committing the crime.

The last death had been two days ago, on November 15, when a sub-adult tiger was found dead under mysterious circumstances at Fulzari in Mul range in the buffer zone of Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR).


On Friday afternoon, two tigers — a male and a female — were reported dead of suspected poisoning in Pusda beat under Paoni range, 82km from Nagpur. The area seems to be vulnerable to tiger poaching as last year on December 21 an adult tigress was found dead in Salai beat in the same range.

Deputy conservator of forest (DyCF) G Mallikarjuna said both tigers were found dead within 150 metre area of a spot where cattle kill has been reported. "The incident seems to have occurred 3-4 days ago. All the body parts of the tigers are intact, and we are probing the poisoning angle," he added.


Forest guard Arun Githe, who was informed by villagers, reported the incident to forest officials in the afternoon. Immediately, NTCA and PCCF representatives Aditya Joshi and Prafulla Bhamburkar, honorary wildlife warden Kundan Hate, and wildlife veterinarian Dr GM Kadu rushed to the spot.

However, since it was close to darkness, post mortem could not be conducted. Mallikarjuna said the post mortem will be carried out on Saturday.

NTCA protocol requires forest staff to be posted wherever cattle kills are found. But the forest department found this cattle kill four days after the incident, raising questions on patrolling in the area.

Wildlife biologist Joshi said the forest patch where the tigers were found dead is part of 650 sq km Bawanthadi block, connecting source population areas like Pench, Nagzira, Navegaon and Kanha. "There is scientifically recorded evidence of dispersing spill over tiger population from both MP and Maharashtra Pench moving towards Balaghat, Seoni, Nagzira and Bhandara forests," said Joshi.

Mallikarjuna said stripe patterns of both tigers will be matched to identify whether the tigers were residents or had dispersed from Pench Tiger Reserve.

According to sources, Pench officials had recently alerted territorial staff about a couple of tigers being sighted in territorial forest areas after crossing the busy NH-7.

"Cattle kill compensation needs to be expedited. Regular monitoring holds the key for long-term survival of tigers in such areas," said honorary wildlife warden Roheet Karoo. Reply