Forest dept withdraws order to shoot problem tigress

Nagpur: The second order issued by the state's chief wildlife warden AK Misra to shoot the problem tigress released in Bor was withdrawn on Friday by the forest department. This was done after the court pointed out that the order does not meet the requirements of the standard operating procedure.

The first order to shoot the tigress was issued on June 23, which was quashed by the high court on June 29.

After hearing the matter on Friday in a PIL filed by Dr Jerryl Banait through lawyer Tushar Mandlekar, justices Bhushan Dharmadhikari and Swapna Joshi said the material and evidence submitted by the forest department that it was the same tigress which had turned dangerous for humans doesn't reflect in the order issued by the chief wildlife warden. The court said that order "is also inadequate" and granted the department the liberty to pass a fresh order.

On Thursday, the high court had asked special counsel for the forest department, Kartik Shukul, to submit the records regarding identification of the problem animal. This included pugmarks of the tigress, DNA analysis and spot panchnamas if done. It also wanted to know if the National Tiger Conservation Authority's (NTCA) SOP was applied.

The chief wildlife warden on October 4, had issued fresh orders under Section 11 (2) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 stating that the problem tigress had turned dangerous to humans and in the last 15 days had killed two persons and injured one. Before being captured from Bramhapuri on July 10, it had killed two persons and had injured an equal numbers of villagers.

The court was also critical about hiring a private person to shoot or capture the tigress. "Where are the efforts to tranquillize the tigress," Justice Dharmadhikari asked.

On Thursday, the court also countered the forest department on setting up a committee as per the NTCA SOP. The existing committee was only for taking a decision on the release of the tigress.

According to forest department sources, even as efforts to tranquillize the tigress are in full swing, a fresh order to shoot the tigress will be issued soon.