Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve: Suspected of international conspiracy to hunt tigers, more than 168 deaths in five years in MP

More than 168 tigers died in Madhya Pradesh in the last five years.

Highlights

The department also suspects international funding in tiger hunting. The forest department sent a notice to the officials of the Tiger Reserve. 34 tigers died in three years, post-mortem of 10 was not done.

Saurabh Soni, Naiduniya, Bhopal: There is a suspicion of an international conspiracy to hunt tigers in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve of Madhya Pradesh. The forest headquarters has served a notice to the forest officials posted here. In which it has been asked that in the case of death of 34 tigers in three years, why was the post-mortem of the bodies of ten tigers not done? Whereas, as per the rules, post-mortem is mandatory. It is also sought to know who is responsible for this.

Report on death of tigers

The forest department has prepared a report on the death of tigers in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. In this, the doctor of the Tiger Reserve has been blamed, but no mention has been made of the field directors posted there at different times, nor have they been held guilty. Many of them have retired.

Suspicion of international funding

There is also suspicion of international funding in tiger hunting. It is being suspected that the deaths of tigers in the Tiger Reserve are not normal but are due to hunting. 12 tigers died in the year 2021, nine in 2022 and 13 in 2023. Most of the deaths occurred in Manpur buffer zone.

More than 168 tigers died in five years

Here in Madhya Pradesh, more than 168 tigers have died in the last five years. Whereas 607 deaths have occurred across the country. This year, 86 tigers died across the country in seven months. Whereas 30 tigers have died in Madhya Pradesh. Most of these cases are of tiger hunting. In five years, 2,28,812 cases of forest crime have been registered in MP.

Death of tigers in Madhya Pradesh year wise

Year

MP Country 2020 26 106 2021 41 127 2022 34 121 2023 43 178 2024 30 86

Shocking facts revealed in the investigation report

During the investigation of the incidents in Bandhavgarh, dog squads and metal detectors were not used to investigate the crime scenes. Evidence was also not preserved. Due to which, even in the declared cases of poaching, the case in the court kept getting weak.

In most cases of tiger deaths, no report was filed. Videography of post mortem was not done and doctors were not present during the post mortem, due to which there was no clarity on death or murder. There were no security arrangements in hunting areas.

Action is underway in the case of the death of tigers in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. Show cause notices have been sent to the officials there. A report on the death of tigers has also been prepared. Further action will be taken based on the response to the notice and the facts that have surfaced.

Shubhranjan Sen, In-charge Wildlife Warden, MP Forest