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'All 17 Sariska tigers missing'
All 17 tigers of the Sariska sanctuary counted in last year's census are missing, according to a wildlife committee.
All 17 tigers of the Sariska sanctuary counted in last year's census are missing, according to a wildlife committee set up by the Rajasthan government to investigate the disappearance of tigers.
The Empowered Committee for Forests and Wildlife, which made four trips to the tiger reserve and is expected to give a final report soon, concluded that Sariska was the "biggest wake-up call in the country's conservation history".
Early this year, tigers were reported missing from the Sariska sanctuary, a favourite destination of wildlife enthusiasts. Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje set up the committee Feb 27 to probe the matter.
Committee members, including wildlife conservationists Valmik Thapar and Bharatiya Janata Party MP V.P. Singh, said a combination of factors had contributed to the disappearance of the big cats.
Some of the tigers were reportedly killed using buffalo for bait while others were fatally ensnared with metal traps.
State's principal chief conservator of forests R.P. Kapoor told IANS: "We arrested some people last month who are telling us the modus operandi of (poacher) gangs that operated in Sariska last year. It is a well thought out operation."
For one, the absence of a field director in Sariska from May 2004 for a lengthy period gave the wildlife criminal syndicate a field day. Reconnaissance trips and inspection of the sanctuary by forest officials were rare.
A deputy field director was appointed only after five months, by which time the damage had already been done to the tiger population in the reserve, where a 2003 census had shown their number vary between 25 and 28.
"We are trying to determine if there was connivance of forest officials as well," said Kapoor.
Through a well-entrenched network, the poachers reportedly touched base with villagers living in the sanctuary.
A committee member said: "It is an unusually busy sanctuary. Last year, about 600,000 people visited the place because of a temple located in the far end of the park."
The chaotic crowds could have aided the poachers' plans.
A "red alert" has also been sounded in the Ranthambore sanctuary as the six-member team tries to ascertain the actual number of tigers and probe if poachers in the Sariska Tiger Reserve had links with those in Ranthambore.
The committee members also include wildlife conservationist Belinda Wright, Congress legislator Bharat Singh, journalist Rajpal Singh and chief wildlife warden Arun Sen.
