(IN): Tiger shot; kills one, injures 2

[Guest guest]

The Assam Tribune: " The whole episode, however, betrayed a rather

unprofessional handling of the situation, as the animal – which was

apparently not a man-eater and both the deaths were accidental – could have

been tranquilized and captured. "

 

WWF: “At a time when tiger conservation has become a major global issue, it

is most unfortunate that the animal was killed due to the inept handling of

the situation on the part of the Forest Department and police.”

 

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=mar2409/at02

 

Tiger shot; kills one, injures 2

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, March 23 – A full-grown Royal Bengal tiger that had strayed into

human habitation in Jakhalabandha in Nagaon district four days back was shot

under unfortunate circumstances today after it attacked some

over-enthusiastic onlookers while a drive was on to tranquilize the animal.

The tiger attack, which left a person, Uttam Sakia, dead and two more

injured, led to a public frenzy and chaos, “necessitating” the gunning down

of the animal.

 

Dr Prashanta Bodo, the vet from Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) working with

the Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, Kaziranga, also received a

bullet injury on his arm in the melee that prevailed after the tiger

attack.

 

The tiger had earlier killed a person in the area on March 19.

 

Chief Wildlife Warden, Assam, MC Malakar said that an order was issued today

to capture the animal by tranquilizing or to kill it as a last resort.

 

With hundreds of people gathering at village Sakmuthi near Hatbor in

Jakhalabandha since morning to have a look at the tiger after a joint team

of forest and police arrived along with experts from WTI and WWF, some

villagers approached too close to the tiger, causing the frightened animal

to strike.

 

“A man died on the spot and two others were injured in the incident,

following which the crowd got extremely agitated and a chaotic situation

prevailed. To prevent further deterioration of the situation, the tiger was

shot. A proclamation was also issued earlier to kill the animal if

necessary,” a forest official said.

 

The whole episode, however, betrayed a rather unprofessional handling of the

situation, as the animal – which was apparently not a man-eater and both the

deaths were accidental – could have been tranquilized and captured.

 

“At a time when tiger conservation has become a major global issue, it is

most unfortunate that the animal was killed due to the inept handling of the

situation on the part of the Forest Department and police,” a WWF official

said, adding that there was little coordination between the forest and

police teams and nothing was done to prevent villagers from making undue

intervention.

 

Forest officials said that the tiger, in all likelihood, had strayed out

from either Kaziranga or the Karbi Anglong hills.

 

Our Koliabor Correspondent adds: The tiger that had been creating panic in

Jakhalabandha area for the past five days killed a person and injured two

others this morning before it was shot dead.

 

The dead person is Uttam Saikia (45) of Sakmutha village under Koliabor

subdivision. His neighbour Bipul Bora was seriously injured when he tried to

rescue Saikia. A forest personnel was also injured.

 

The tiger was then shot dead.

 

--

http://www.stopelephantpolo.com

http://www.freewebs.com/azamsiddiqui