Corbett Tiger Reserve director Parag Madhukar Dhakate has been removed from his post as he ordered shoot-at-sight to contain poaching in the premier tiger reserve. The director had issued the order after he got information about poachers entering the southern side of the park. He had pressed some 150 forest officials to start patrolling and aerial surveillance was also stepped up to locate the poachers. There are 388 camera traps inside the forest and the photos were also reviewed for understanding poacher movement. The director had reportedly informed the nearby villagers about the measures and had asked them not to venture into the forest for grazing.

Poaching is taking a heavy toll on the tiger population. This action by the director was to send shivers down the spine of poachers. However, the alacrity with which the Government took action to remove him from the post has come as a surprise. The state is currently under election mode and the results will be declared on March 11th. The bureaucracy headed by the Chief Secretary S. Ramaswamy takes all decisions.

Recently BBC team had shown a negative documentary about Kaziranga and had accused the patrolling team of unnecessarily killing poachers. When honest officers are silenced by weak and mostly corrupt bureaucracy, India's Natural Heritage becomes the casualty.