Forest dept sounded alert after death of second tiger

DAINIK NATION BUREAU

On a day when a second tiger was reportedly found dead on Wednesday, the state forest department has become alert and enhanced patrolling and vigilance following information about suspected poachers out to poach tiger in the Corbett tiger reserve in the state. Sources state that the authorities had received information from confidential sources about some armed poachers including members of the Bawaria community had entered the Corbett tiger landscape with an intention to poach the stripped cat.

It will be recalled that a male tiger estimated to be aged about 12 years was found dead in the Haridwar forest division on Tuesday. While the forest department officials said that it was a natural death, some activists raised concern stating that it could also have been a case of killing in retribution by member of traditional cattle herder community. Sources said that a male tiger was found dead in the Belpadav range of Terai west forest division, though forest officials concerned could not be contacted to confirm this. Meanwhile, the department has stepped up security following information about wildlife poachers and suspicious armed persons had entered the world famous tiger habitat.

Corbett director in charge Parag Madhukar Dhakate said that security had been tightened at the Corbett national park. In addition to stepping up patrolling on foot and elephant back, the department has also deployed armed personnel in the search for the poachers purported to have arrived in the region to poach tiger. The boundary of the Corbett national park has been sealed and about 500 personnel of the forest department are conducting search in the jungles.