Killer tiger gives forest department the slip

 

Bangalore: The state Forest Department's efforts to capture the tiger, responsible for killing two persons near Bandipur Tiger Reserve, drew a blank even on the third day, thereby exposing its limitations. 

 

The department is under severe pressure after the killings and some tiger experts are even advocating shooting down the big cat before it takes another human life.

 

The forest department is facing an acute shortage of trained tranquilising experts. Though the state is home to largest number of tigers and elephants in the country, it has only two certified experts.

 

On Saturday the forest team, combing the Moleyur Range of Bandipur Tiger Reserve, tried to dart the tiger seven times, but it gave them a slip. On Sunday the team even failed to sight the animal.

Earlier eye-witnesses had revealed that the tiger appears old and has a wound.

 

Tiger biologist Dr K Ullas Karanth has recommended that the tiger in Bandipur reserve should be shot down in order to save further human casualties. "We cannot risk another human life under these circumstances. This tiger is being eliminated from its home range and is unable to hunt its prey.

 

"The Project Tiger permits killing of tiger in case there is danger for human life. We cannot save every individual tiger when we are talking about saving a species and a population of tigers," Dr Karanth said.

 

Director of Bandipur Tiger Reserve H. C. Kantharaj said the tiger appears to have crossed Nugge river and is hiding in a thickly forested area near Chikbargi in Bandipur.  "We have deployed tranquilising teams at every 300 metres on the forest boundary and camera traps will be placed in the area. We will be using 10 cameras to track the tiger and the pictures may reveal the animal's condition. The rescue operations will be carried out on Monday," Kantharaj said.

 

Though the forest department officials conceded that there was indeed a shortage of experts on tranquilising, they pointed out that not many veterinary students are willing to take up wildlife stream.

 

"But we cannot take that as a answer," said a conservationist from Mysore, adding, "The forest department must provide incentives to the wildlife veterinarians, so that more students can join. Unless the department constitutes wildlife response teams with right experts, the future rescue operations will pose danger to human lives."