Poachers electrocuted a four-year-old tiger in Ramghat beat in Arjuni Morgaon Forest Range under Gondia Forest Division and disappeared with its jaw and nails. The patrolling staff found the carcass in jungle on Thursday.
It is reported that the poachers killed the tiger two days ago by electrocution and took away some body parts. A gang of poachers has been active in Gondia jungle for the last two months and reportedly poached wild animals.
The frontline staff and labourers were on patrolling duty and noticed body of the tiger in compartment no: 254 in Ramghat beat and informed the higher authorities about the incident. Kulraj Singh, Deputy Conservator of Forest, Gondia, Mukund Dhurve, Honorary Wildlife Warden, Savan Bahekar, wildlife lover, and others rushed to the spot. The officers on the spot were of the opinion that the tiger was electrocuted to serve poachers’ evil designs.
The forestmen conducted ‘panchnaama’ and performed other activities as per the SOP of National Tiger Conservation Authority. The exact reason behind the death could be ascertain after arrival of the post mortem report.
According to estimates, the tiger has not come to this area from Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve. The officers tallied the pug-marks of tigers from the tiger reserve with this tiger but the result was negative, which means the big cat is from different place.
Meanwhile, this is a clear-cut case of poaching which is evident from the fact that poachers carried away the jaw and nails. Forestmen have registered an offence under relevant sections of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and are making further investigation into this sensational case. This is the third case of tiger’s death and first poaching case this year.
