31st January, 2004

Poachers electrocuted yet another tiger to death near Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve on 20 January 2004. The electric trap was set in a nallah opposite the Dhamokhar Range Office in the Umaria Territorial Division of Shahdol Forest Circle. Since April 2003 Bandhavgarh is known to have has lost five tigers.

According to preliminary information received by the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI), the poachers killed and skinned the tigress on 20 January and sold the skin to Iqbal Ahmed of Amlai village. However, the poachers then had a dispute over the distribution of the money made from the sale. On 25 January, one dissatisfied gang member reported the incident to the Forest Department in the Territorial Division. Allegedly, his report was ignored, despite the fact that barely three months ago a male tiger known as B1 was similarly electrocuted this area. The poacher then volunteered the information to the Field Director, Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, who sent out a team under the leadership of the Assistant Conservator of Forests to nab the poachers.

The poachers were arrested from their village on 26 January and were transferred to the custody of Dhamokhar Range Office. Next morning, two of the poachers managed to escape. One of them was later rearrested; the other, Naresh Yadav of Kharahadand, is still absconding. At present, the Forest Department has seven people in custody, including Iqbal Ahmed. However, the main accused in the poaching case and Iqbal Ahmed’s partner are still absconding with the skin.

In 2001, WPSI started investigating poaching by electrocution, and presently has records of more than 257 wild animals that have been electrocuted. In the year 2003 alone, 28 elephants and six tigers died due to electrocution. On 6 January 2004 WPSI filed a petition before the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) of the Supreme Court of India on the issue of poaching by electrocution throughout India.