By Principal Chief Conservator
Copyright thehindu
The partial remains of a tiger were found in the Hanur range of MM Hills Wildlife Sanctuary on October 2 in what is suspected to be a case of deliberate killing.
The incident comes within a few months after the carcass of five tigers – a mother and its four cubs – were found in MM Hills in the last week of June, which turned out to be a case of poisoning.
The latest tiger death came on the very first day of the Wildlife Week celebrations, and the Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment Eshwar B. Khandre has ordered an investigation.
The Minister has said that steps must be taken to ensure such incidents do not recur in this region, and a report must be submitted within eight days with recommendations for action against negligent officials as well as poachers.
A team led by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) will conduct the probe. The team headed by PCCF Smita Bijoor has been directed to personally visit the spot near Pachchedoddi village in Hanur beat, where the partial remains of the tiger were found, and conduct a thorough inquiry.
The Minister has directed that attention be paid to all poaching cases recorded in this forest over the past three years, and that earlier investigation reports be reviewed.
The latest incident has once again highlighted the continuing poaching of wildlife in the MM Hills sanctuary, and the imperatives of improving forest protection and strengthening anti-poaching camps.
