KOLLAM: The recent death of a tiger at the Achankovil forest has raised eyebrows as the incident sheds light in to numerous tiger deaths that have been happening in the forests across the state recently. Not less than five tigers were reported to be dead in the forests or in proximity in the last two years, according to experts. A majority of these deaths were as a result of poaching or by human interventions including setting up traps.
“There have been many projects including the Project Tiger envisaged for the benefit of the tigers. However, all these projects lacked proper monitoring and need a revival,” M.N. Jayachandran, co-opted member, Animal Welfare Board of India told DC. The negligence towards these sensitive animals which are less in number continues to exist even at the Periyar tiger reserve, under which comes Sabrimala where waste management is given least priority, he points out.
Even the night traffic along the proximity of forests adversely affects the animals. Most of the wild animals including the leopards and tigers fall prey to the human beings after they come out of the forest in search of food apart from being poached. The authorities are least concerned about finding out the reason behind these animals coming out of forest in search of prey. A comprehensive probe is necessary for the conservation of these animals, Mr. Jayachandran said.
