Mumbai: Murderous hunters won't tranquilise tigers anymore

The era of bloodthirsty shikaris hunters invited by forest departments of various states to shoot wild animals in conflict with humans is set to end as the National Tiger Conservation Authority NTCA has introduced new guidelines for this As per the rules a confirmed problem animal should be eliminated only by a government department sharpshooter and not triggerhappy outsiders as in the case of tigress T1 who was killed last yearHowever wildlife conservationists experts and veterinarians say that as per section 111a of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act 1972 the Chief Wildlife Warden CWLW has the authority to declare any wild animal as a threat to human life and hence fit to be killed but can invite a private hunter They say only the new NTCA guidelines should now be followedT1s controversial killingLast year tigress T1 also named Avni was allegedly shot dead in cold blood at Yavatmal in Maharashtra by Asgar Ali Khan son of controversial shooter Nawab Shafat Ali Khan The Maharashtra Forest Department which had invited the shooter to kill the animal faced countrywide criticism for involving a private hunter in the operationAnimal lovers and conservationists were of the opinion that the practice of involving a private shooter should be stopped and only government officials should be involved in such operations Former Union Minister and senior BJP leader Maneka Gandhi had also criticised the Maharashtra Forest Department for involving the hunterThe NTCA had sent a letter to the Chief Wildlife Warden of all Tiger Range states on November 11 with the subject Revision of GuidelinesSOPs issued by NTCA The copy of NTCAs letter that is in the possession of midday states After declaring the animal as dangerous to Human Life its elimination should be done by Departmental personnel having the desired proficiency while providing the firearm with the appropriate bore size In case such expertise is not available within the Department an expert may be coopted from the other competent Government DepartmentsT 1 also named Avni was allegedly shot dead in cold blood at Yavatmal in Maharashtra by Asgar Ali Khan a shooter invited by the Maharashtra Forest Department File picEarlier guidelines stated After declaring the maneater its elimination should be done by Departmental personnel having the desired proficiency while providing the firearm with the appropriate bore size not below 375 magnum In case such expertise is not available within the Department an expert may be coopted from other State Governments or outside with due authorisationCreating new safarisThe new guidelines also mention rules to establish tiger safaris which shall be factored in the Tiger Conservation Plan of the tiger reserve concerned These safaris are supposed to house captured problem or injured animals Wildlife conservationists and activists say that the idea of creating tiger safaris near tiger reserves is hopelessly misplacedExperts speakTalking to midday wildlife conservationist and founder Sanctuary Nature Foundation Bittu Sahgal said The idea of creating tiger safaris near tiger reserves is hopelessly misplaced Its a thinlydisguised way to create dozens of new zoos and will fence off wildernesses at a time when we are looking to open up corridors in landscapes When Project Tiger was launched Kailash Sankhala the first director had explicitly stated that problem animals should NOT be put on display because by word of mouth this spreads disinformation of tigers per se being dangerous maneaters Eventually more money will probably be spent on some of these facilities than is spent on protecting tigers in situ in parts of IndiaConservation photographer Sarosh Lodhi from the group Conservation Lens and Wildlife CLaW said The PCCF office should not resort to Wildlife Protection Act Section 111a 11 that gives him the power to involve a private person to deal with the situation but follow the NTCA SOPSGNP veterinary officer Dr Shailesh Pethe said The role of veterinarians and the risks and difficulties of immobilisation of tigers in the wild has been well represented in the revised guidelinesWildlife veterinarian and forensic expert Dr Prayag H S said If the revised guidelines are followed in letter and spirit we are sure more wildlife can be saved Instead of time wasted in proving an animal a man eater which is never possible in field conditions the government department shooter is empowered to take a call so that will put an end to selfinvited shooters hunters who come in the disguise of capturing tigers and end up killing themCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news crime news current affairs and also a complete guide on Mumbai from food to things to do and events across the city here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates