Wildlife activist alleges illegal disposal of tiger, leopard carcasses in Bandipur, demands fresh probe

2 min read

2 years ago News Desk

Gundlupet: Alleging lllegal disposal of poached tiger and leopard carcass by a range forest officer, a wildlife activist has urged the chief Minister to start a fresh inquiry.

Jospeh Hoover, a former Karnataka State Wildlife Board member on Friday told media “Moleyur range forest officer in Bandipur Tiger Reserve has illegally disposed the tiger and leopard carcass which was chopped by the poachers.”

A range forest officer had reportedly burried the snared carcass of a tiger and the hacked carcass of a leopard in the Moleyur range of Bandipur Tiger Reserve in 2018-19.

Though the Government of Karnataka had been alerted about the clandestine disposal of the carcasses, no action has been taken yet.

The criminal activity was brought to light two years ago.

Though the CMO had recently written to the additional chief secretary (forests, environment and ecology) to escalate the matter, nothing has been done about it.

For no reason, Madhya Pradesh forest department has questioned the authencity of tigers numbers in Karnataka.

Tiger Mortality Count

“We (MP) have the maximum number of tigers and we take into account all the carcasses found in our state. It is a mystery for us why lesser tiger deaths were reported there (Karnataka) when the number of big cats is almost the same,” Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) J S Chauhan had said when asked about the wide gap in mortality figures in the two states.”

Madhya Pradesh had reported 34 tiger deaths in 2022 against Karnataka which had lost 15 tigers.

At times, the death of a male elephant is shown as a female when tusks are taken away by poachers. It is reported as natural death to avoid investigation and legal work.

Forest staff are conniving with veterinarians to avoid legal procedures.

Recently, an assistant conservator of forest was reprimanded for declaring the a tusker that died as a female elephant in Kanakapura.

We request you to kindly call for a probe into the clandestine disopal of the carcasses of the tiger and leopard.

According to sources the Range forest officer enjoys a political backup that is shileding him.

-Team Mysoorunews