Tiger was killed in ‘unwarranted firing’ by forest guard: Official

The carcass of the 10-year-old tiger with a bullet wound was found on June 18 at Japoripathar village close to Kohora range of the park. The forest department had initially said that the death was due to “accidental firing while trying to scare away the tiger from the public area.”

Updated on: Jun 28, 2021, 07:02:27 IST

By Utpal Parashar, Hindustan Times, Guwahati

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

The death of an adult male tiger last week on the fringes of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR) in Assam due to firing by forest personnel was unwarranted, an inquiry into the incident by a forest official revealed.

As per the 2017 census, Kaziranga had a population of 111 tigers. (AFP file photo. Representative image)

The carcass of the 10-year-old tiger with a bullet wound was found on June 18 at Japoripathar village close to Kohora range of the park. The forest department had initially said that the death was due to “accidental firing while trying to scare away the tiger from the public area.”

However, on Sunday, a statement by KNPTR stated that an inquiry into the incident conducted by an assistant conservator of forest revealed that the firing was unwarranted and based on its finding, the forest personnel responsible for the death was suspended.

A post-mortem of the carcass had revealed bullet injury through lungs and heart of the animal, the statement informed.

A day before it was shot, the tiger had killed a cow “probably because of the fact that it had three worn out canines while one was missing”.

Three carcasses of tigers have been recovered from KNPTR this year.

Earlier this month, the carcass of a four-year-old male tiger was found at Sidha Kathani area of the park.

According to forest officials, the carcass bore multiple injury marks and it was stated that the tiger died after sustaining grievous injuries during a fight with another male tiger.

The carcass of a female tiger cub with puncture marks on neck and broken ribs was found in the park in February. Forest officials said the cub, aged around 4 months, might have been killed by a bigger tiger.

As per the 2017 census, Kaziranga had a population of 111 tigers.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

Follow India news real-time updates and the latest news covered on Hindustan Times, featuring today's critical updates on Sonam Wangchuk LIVE and more across India.