NAGPUR: Well-known tiger conservationist and former member of Tiger Task Force, Valmik Thapar strongly objected to radio collaring of iconic tiger Jai that has been missing since April 18. It is suspected that the big cat may have been poached.
“I am worried about Jai. Why was a radio collar fitted on the tiger and why is it not functioning?” asked Thapar and asserted that the Wildlife Institute of India, which was instrumental for radio collaring of the 7-year-old-tiger, should be held accountable for defunct collar.
Thapar, who worked extensively on tiger movement and its conservation, said he was against of radio collaring of tigers.
“Why don’t we allow the big cats to move around in their natural way, and why is it necessary to radio collar each and every tiger?” he asked.
Several big cats in India and other countries, particularly Sundarbans of Bangladesh died of radio collaring, sometimes because of infection or other reasons.
About the on-going search for Jai, Thapar said it would be very difficult to locate tigers in monsoon and did not rule out the possibility of Jai being poached or dead.
Meanwhile, the two suspected poachers arrested by the forest department on Tuesday accused of killing Jai, were released on bail on Thursday by a lower court at Paoni.
{{/usCountry}}Meanwhile, the two suspected poachers arrested by the forest department on Tuesday accused of killing Jai, were released on bail on Thursday by a lower court at Paoni.
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