Indian tigers vulnerable to poachers

[Guest guest]

Sorry I may have forgotten the link to the story " Leopard enters Scool

in Jaipur " , its:

http://www.ndtv.com/environment/Wildlife.asp?id=98274 & callid=1

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Tiger story follows:

 

Link: http://www.ndtv.com/environment/Wildlife.asp?id=98216 & callid=1

 

Indian tigers vulnerable to poachers

Rubina Khan Shapoo

 

Wednesday, December 20, 2006 (Kanha Tiger Reserve):

 

Even as a National Tiger Authority is in the process of being set up

along with a Wildlife Crime Bureau, the truth is India's tigers are

more vulnerable than ever to poachers.

 

In a shocking incident, a male tiger in the Kanha Tiger Reserve got

his paw caught in a metal trap in the heart of the reserve.

 

And if a group of foreign tourists hadn't seen Bhola caught in the

trap, the incident might have remained unreported.

 

" I am very upset to see the poaching. After I go back to the States I

will write mail to officials to stop this, " said Marry Lumeses, USA

tourist.

 

Return to reserve

 

Once the news spread the forest department, reportedly tracked down

and captured the tiger who was in considerable pain. According to

other reports, Bhola has been re-released into the reserve, which if

true might lead to further problems.

 

" If the tiger is injured and there is no arrangement for its food then

the chances of its survival are slim. This only reflects how careless

the forest department is that a metal trap was laid right in middle of

the reserve, " said Navneet Maheshwari, wildlife activist.

 

The forest department is unwilling to comment on the incident or the

allegation that they forced the tourists to give up the pictures of

the tiger caught in the metal trap.

 

" Look we work so hard to save them regardless of day and night, " said

R Chaturvedi, Deputy Ranger.

 

But the truth is that in the last two years at least four tigers have

died mysteriously in the Kanha and Bandhavgarh National Parks.

 

And as long as the forest department and project tiger remain in

denial that our parks are vulnerable to poaching, the world's most

charismatic cat remains in big trouble.