Barely a week before World Wildlife Day a tiger was killed by the poachers in Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh. One of the poachers, however was arrested with various parts of tiger’s body.
The Forest department got a tip off about the poaching on 24th February. It launched a joint operation with Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) against the poachers. The poacher was caught and arrested the same day.
A team of Forest personnel led by Jawaharlal Baro, Inspector, WCCB seized Royal Bengal tiger skin (approx size-2.15 Mtrs x 1.45 Mtrs), four tiger canines, a skull with teeth, 46 bones and a Vehicle bearing no. AS23V2160. One of the poachers was detained in the operation.
Speaking to Indian Masterminds, Wildlife Warden of Arunachal Pradesh Mr. Damodhar A.T. said, “It was disheartening to see Tiger being killed at an altitude of around 6400ft. The sanctuary with around hundreds of tiger is yet to be declared as Tiger reserve.”
MAIN ACCUSED FLED
The main accused of the case from Arunachal Pradesh absconded by taking advantage of thick Forest. However, the team could recover his documents of from the vehicle.
The Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Arunachal Pradesh has constituted a High Level Committee under the Chairmanship of Field Director, Namdapha Tiger Reserve for further inquiry into the issue and to provide technical assistance to Investigation team. The Wildlife Warden said that it is a high profile tiger poaching case and the investigation is in process to arrest remaining offenders.
NOT ENOUGH STAFF
Since Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary, still isn’t covered under Project Tiger, the department did not have dedicated staff for Tigers protection. There are only around 5 frontline staff present in the entire sanctuary guarding an area of 4149 sq.km under high altitude terrain condition. Mr Damodar claims unconfirmed reports of tigers poachig in the polast as well.
In 2013-14 a preliminary rapid survey by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in collaboration with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), documented 11 tigers in in Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary forest spread across just 336 km area out of the total area of 4149 sq.km of the Sanctuary.
HUNTER BEING HUNTED
According to a report titled ‘Skin and Bones: Tiger trafficking analysis from January 2000 to June 2022’, out of 3330 tigers’ body parts confiscated globally, 893 were seized in India. Authorities worldwide have seized tigers and parts equal to an average of 150 tigers a year over almost 23 years.
