In the wake of rising man-animal conflict in Nagpur district in recent time, a case of tiger poaching came to light on Friday when some locals found a carcass of a male tiger lying near Bhangala Nala of Sironji area, under the Khapa Forest Range. After getting the information, a team of Forest Department rushed to the spot and conducted panchnama.

 

The foresters found tiger’s all four paws, whiskers and teeth missing, indicating a case of poaching. According to the Forest Department, the tiger was 3 to 3.5 years old. Prima facie, it said, the poachers had set up an electric trap using an 11kv power line, iron wires and bamboo stakes to kill the big cat. Nagpur Forest Division included the dog squad of Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) to assist in the probe. After proper investigation, the post-mortem of the carcass took place under the protocol of National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) by veterinarians and the viscera samples were collected and sent to Regional Forensic Lab, Nagpur for forensic analysis. Authorities have launched a thorough investigation to identify the poachers, examining past wildlife crime records and evidence found at the scene. The case is being probed under the supervision of senior Forest officials, including Deputy Conservator of Forests Dr Bharat Singh Hada. Local police are also assisting in the investigation, with officers from Khapa Police Station and Nagpur Rural Division present at the site.

 

The autopsy was carried out by Dr Rajesh Fulsunge, Veterinary Officer, Transit Treatment Centre, Seminary Hills; Dr Mayur Pawse, Veterinarian, Gorewada Rescue Centre; and Dr Mayank Barde, Veterinarian, PTR. During the process, Dr Bharat Singh Hada, Deputy Conservator of Forest, Nagpur; V C Gangawane, Assistant Conservator of Forest; S G Athawale, RFO; Pravin Lele, RFO; Kundan Hate, representative of PCCF (Wildlife); Mandar Pingle, representative of NTCA; and Shrikant Dhoble were present. V C Gangawane, S G Athawale and their team are investigating the case to trace the poachers and prevent further wildlife crimes in the region.

 

 

The Forest Department intensified the investigation as it contacted the Madhya Pradesh (MP) Forest Department on the basis of some inputs. As per the sources, the crime was committed by some known poaching gangs active in Nagalwadi and Khapa range for a long time. “Nagalwadi area is situated close to MP border and through forest area, one can cross the border within 15 minutes. The poachers frequently use these routes for poaching of wild boars and Chitals,” Dr Bharat Singh Hada, Deputy Conservator of Forest, Nagpur told ‘The Hitavada’. “In Madhya Pradesh, Holi festival is celebrated for 2-3 days and during this period, the poachers set up electric wire trap to electrocute animals like wild boar and Chital but this time they a tiger got trapped,” added Dr Hada. The senior officer informed that, two months ago, the Foresters had arrested some poachers red-handed when they were setting up a trap at the same Nagalwadi area. Last year also, the Forest Department apprehended some poachers while orchestrating the crime, but later, they got bail from the court. bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb