Nagpur: Based on scientific evidence like camera trap pictures, pugmarks and direct sightings, the committee constituted as per the NTCA standard operating procedure (SOP) headed by Pandharkawda deputy conservator of forests (DyCF) has identified tigress (T1) and her two cubs responsible for two human kills of the three reported last month.
According to sources, based on the committee report, the CCF of Yavatmal PG Rahurkar may recommend to the chief wildlife warden on Monday about capture-cum-shooting of problem tigress. In the last two years, problem tigers have killed 13 villagers in Ralegaon tehsil under Pandharkawda in Yavatmal district.
Rahurkar said he was yet to access the recommendations by the committee. “I will look into the facts before submitting it to chief wildlife warden,” he told TOI.
Yavatmal officials were tight-lipped as earlier shoot orders, issued on January 29, have been challenged in the Nagpur Bench of Bombay high court and the matter is still pending.
For the last two days, the committee, consisting of sub-divisional officer (SDO), SDPO, FDCM divisional manager, local NGO, sarpanch among others, discussed the issue threadbare and decided to recommend capture first and if not possible shoot the problem animal.
Now tigress alone has not remained the problem animal. The committee, after collecting evidence like camera traps, pugmarks and direct sightings, have attributed last two kills — one on August 5 (Gulab Mokashe) of Vedshi and another on August 11 (Waghuji Raut) from Vihirgaon — to the tigress and her two sub-adult cubs.
The identity of animals who killed Nagorao Junghare (60) of Pimpalshenda on August 28 is yet to be identified. Prior to these kills, the tigress was identified as the culprit but now sub-adult cubs’ role too has been identified.
After the latest kill, there is public outrage sending political leaders in a tizzy, especially when general and state assembly elections are slated to be held next year.
On Sunday, Bhavana Gawali, Shiv Sena MP from Yavatmal, visited Pimpalshenda to console the panic-stricken people. “Shiv Sena will take to streets if forest department failed to capture problem tigers. I will also call on union environment minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on the issue,” she told TOI.
“People have stopped visiting fields in entire Ralegaon and their survival is at stake. If all efforts to capture the tigers have failed then shooting remains the last resort,” she added.
The Shiv Sena MP also blamed the BJP government in the state and Centre for distributing forest land for various cement companies in Tipeshwar tiger corridor and allowing mines in 400 metres distance from the sanctuary. “This will only increase conflict,” she adds.
As monitoring and capture of problem tigress have become difficult owing to dense vegetation, as decided in a meeting in Mumbai, forest department has sought six elephants from the neighbouring Madhya Pradesh.
“Four elephants are expected at Ralegaon next week. We are removing under growth and setting up solar fencing to trap the tigers,” said Pandharkawda deputy conservator KM Abharna.
In the meanwhile, according to official sources, a team of sharp shooter Shafat Ali Khan has reached Pandharkawda.
