(IN): Probe into tiger’s death at Kanha

April 15, 2009

*Probe into tiger’s death at Kanha

**

Wednesday,

Apr 15, 2009 at 0120 hrs IST*

*New Delhi:*

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has ordered a high-level

inquiry into the death of a tiger at the Kanha Tiger Reserve on Sunday

evening, following allegations that it was hit by a vehicle carrying R P

Singh, field director of the reserve.

“We are going to investigate the death of the tiger at Kanha which

apparently involves field director R P Singh. We have received several

complaints, alleging that R P Singh was travelling in the vehicle which

knocked down a sub-adult tiger at the park. This is unbelievable and

shocking. We are going to investigate this at the highest level.

The NTCA has tried to reach the field director but since he is travelling,

it has not been able to contact him. I will also take up the matter

officially with the field director when he comes to attend a conference

tomorrow,” said NTCA member secretary Rajesh Gopal.

All field directors have been summoned to the Wildlife Institute of India,

Dehradun, by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) and the NTCA to

discuss the high number of tiger deaths in the country in the recent times.

Gopal is already in Dehradun to attend the meet, and Singh is slated to join

on Wednesday.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Singh denied the charges. “No tigers have

died in the past few days in Kanha. These are rumours spread by people with

vested interests,” he said.

Since November last year, at least 12 tigers have died at the reserve. Kanha

is also currently battling field fires.

The Indian Express had reported earlier that between November and March, at

least seven tigers had died at Kanha. More deaths were reported later.

The MoEF has also deputed the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau to prepare a

detailed investigation report on the reasons behind the deaths of so many

tigers within such a short time period.

--

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