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V S Sankar
31-05-2010, 09:25 AM
The cover story of "India Today'" 7th June issue is about tiger killers of India.Their principal Correspondent Mihir Srivastava has been on the trail of the poachers and gives detailed descrption about their modus operandi.

Two tribal communities are responsible for most of the tiger killings in India.The article also says that it is China which is responsible for the decimation of tigers in India.A killed tiger fetches the poachers a cool Rs.4 lacs.

Almost all parts of the tigers are used for some medicinal purpose in China.There are even tiger farms in China.

The Pardhis and Barwariyas are the nomadic tribes responsible for most of the killings.They are expert hunters and can track the tiger and the forest officals diligently.

The article talks about two people who were responsible for around 1000 tiger deaths.They were the traders who supplied the tiger parts to China.It is estimated that the demand for tiger(dead ones)is around 60 per year from China.These two people are behind bars now.

The tribal hunters receive orders from the traders and sets off by train(including women and children) to the target zone.They camp near the vicinity setting up temporay shops selling cheap jewelley as cover.It takes only a few days for them to learn about the tiger movements in the area.

They lay out animal meat as bait and keep iron traps.(The cover picture is of a big tiger trapped like this).It needs around 12 people to monitor the tiger and the forest guards.They start their activity just after mid-night after the last forest patrol.

How the tiger is trapped and killed makes disturbing reading.They skin the tiger on the spot and bury them there itself.They come back after a week to retrieve the bones.They would have already removed the organs.

The tribes look like just ordnary people but are making a lot of money.The article says that there may be a nexus between them and some forest officials.

The corespondent talks to MoFE, Jairam Ramesh on the protection of tigers.He says protecting tigers is a tough job and the government would do whatever it takes to keep the tigers alive.

Please click on the link to read an online version of the article

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/99228/Cover%20Story/Tracking+the+tiger+killers.html

Regards

Mrudul Godbole
31-05-2010, 04:14 PM
Quite disturbing article. It shows how easy it is for people to create a snare and kill a Tiger. Since the legal process is quite slow, they can take advantage of the laws to break them and the money involved makes it easier.

I hope since the Government is now aware about the whole process, some appropriate steps will be taken. Thanks for sharing this.

Sabyasachi Patra
01-06-2010, 10:08 AM
I agree. That is how they work. One should not get fooled by the appearance, as they make tons of money from this wildlife crimes.

In a well documented case in Sariska, the poacher admitted, that he had lost his cow and needed money. So his brother in law asked him to help in killing a tiger. They put a snare. And you know that one can easily make a snare by a motorcycle clutch wire. They had set a snare and the tiger got caught and despite all its efforts could not get out. The more it pulls, the tighter becomes the snare after which it gives up. These two fellows discovered the tiger after two days when the tiger was very weak due to loss of blood. They shot the tiger placing the gun on its head.

In some cases, they don't use gun but club the tiger to its death. So that there is no bullet hole in the skin.

Our present day laws are too weak to stop this. The accomplices in the crime, the people engaged in wildlife trade get a lesser sentence than the person actually killing the tiger. So these guys get upto 3 years and 25000 rupees in punishment. These laws need to be revamped. And the prosecution process including gathering of evidence needs to be revamped as well.

Sabyasachi

Mohan Raj
10-06-2010, 06:49 AM
Collective efforts are needed to prevent our forests. I came across an excellent article on Understanding Tigers and their conservation (http://www.truthabouttigers.org/home/?page_id=4).

Ravindra Yadav
11-06-2010, 12:57 AM
Dear Mr. Sankar,
Thanks for your information regarding article in India Today. I have read it. It is a heart wrenching story and an eye opener for whom who are still sleeping with respect to the present tiger crisis.
I request every member of our forum to read it. This India Today has done a good job by highlighting the the plight of tigers. Thanks to them also for raising an important but much neglected issue.

Ravindra Yadav