Sariska tiger was poisoned: Forensic report

[Mrudul Godbole]

Bad news from Sariska..one more Tiger poisoned.

Sariska tiger was poisoned: Forensic report
PTI, Dec 3, 2010, 09.51pm IST

JAIPUR: The tiger found dead in Sariska reserve last month was poisoned, according to a forensic report whose finding may lead to concern over the safety of other translocated big cats there.

"Organophosphorus insecticide was found in the viscera sample of the tiger by scientists at the Forensic Science Laboratory," Rajasthan forest minister Ram Lal Jaat told PTI today quoting the forensic report.

A senior forest and wildlife officer said that they have identified a man who they suspected had poisoned the tiger to death and the matter was being probed.

In a setback to efforts for reviving tiger population in Sariska, the carcass of a tiger identified as " ST-1"-- one of the five tigers translocated to the Sariska reserve since 2008 was found dead on November 14.

Sariska lost all its native tigers by 2004-05, mainly to poaching.

The report, submitted yesterday, proved true the apprehensions of environment minister Jairam Ramesh.

During his visit to the park following the tiger's death, Ramesh had expressed fears that it could be a case of poisoning and had admitted there was failure of "governance and administration".

Taking serious note of the death of the tiger, the state government initiated an enqurity and suspended two senior officials- Divisional Forest Officer B Praveen and assistant conservator of forest Mukesh Saini- on the charge of dereliction of duty on November 16.

A dew days later, the government transferred Field Director and Chief Conservator of Forest (CCF), Sariska, K K Garg to Kota, and suspended a forest guard Ramgopal on the charge of dereliction of duty.

Article- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Sariska-tiger-was-poisoned-Forensic-report/articleshow/7037683.cms#ixzz17KQk81mr

[Sabyasachi Patra]

There is no other way, but to ban the sale and use of Synthetic pesticides near our wilderness areas. For more on this issue, check here: http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5539

The culprits have to be found out and punished. It should be noted that despite the presence of the security forces, the killing still occurred as the villages are yet to be relocated from the park. The systemic deficiencies of the park like villages inside park, heavy pilgrim traffic on saturdays and tuesdays and illegal mining has to be dealt with a strict hand. Else, this tiger translocation project is doomed.

In the longer term, the connectivity with other forests have to be recreated. It should be noted that the Shri Rajesh Pilot was favourable to the idea of linking Sariska and Ranthambhore, even though his village lies in this corridor. One should be statesman like him. Alas, fate dealt a cruel blow and took him away in the prime of his life. Hope, his son and other members of the younger brigade are listening.

Sabyasachi