Following an upsurge in poaching, the government of Maharashtra state, Western India, says injuring or killing suspected poachers will no longer be considered a crime.
More tigers have been killed so far this year than the whole of 2017. Just three days ago, the mutilated carcass of a tiger sans head and paws and chopped into 10 pieces was recovered.
At the First Stocktaking Meeting of Global Tiger Recovery Programs in Delhi last week, India’s Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan said that in the last four months, 30 tigers have been killed in India.
Maharashtra forest guards will not be “booked for human rights violations when they have taken action against poachers,” the government said.
Tiger numbers in India have dropped to 1,600 from 5,000-7,000 estimated in the 1990s, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Maharashtra has 169 tigers, including 36 cubs; most of them inhabit three tiger reserves in the Vidarbha region.
Maharashtra’s chief wildlife warden, SWH Naqvi, said that more guards will be posted but hopes to curb poaching more effectively through a new fund to pay informants. The government’s plan also includes active participation of villagers.
The announcements come a week after an alert was issued by the state Forest Department that poachers in neighboring Madhya Pradesh have been paid an advance to kill 25 tigers in Maharashtra.
All leave sanctioned for forest guards has been cancelled till mid-June to ensure there is maximum protection for the tigers.
Anish Andheria, director, Wildlife Conservation Trust told NDTV:
When you find a jaw trap near a water body in a park, in our past experience we have seen, it is not a one- off event. If one (tiger) goes, you have to believe that twenty will go of you don’t take steps. In Tadoba recently, there were jaw traps found – 2 tigers were trapped. One died, the other is struggling. The department has become alert.
More tigers have been killed so far this year than the whole of 2017. Just three days ago, the mutilated carcass of a tiger sans head and paws and chopped into 10 pieces was recovered.
At the First Stocktaking Meeting of Global Tiger Recovery Programs in Delhi last week, India’s Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan said that in the last four months, 30 tigers have been killed in India.
Maharashtra forest guards will not be “booked for human rights violations when they have taken action against poachers,” the government said.
Tiger numbers in India have dropped to 1,600 from 5,000-7,000 estimated in the 1990s, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Maharashtra has 169 tigers, including 36 cubs; most of them inhabit three tiger reserves in the Vidarbha region.
Maharashtra’s chief wildlife warden, SWH Naqvi, said that more guards will be posted but hopes to curb poaching more effectively through a new fund to pay informants. The government’s plan also includes active participation of villagers.
Photo Source Jeremy Sargefield Pixadus http://pixdaus.com/unnamed-tiger/items/view/62676/
The announcements come a week after an alert was issued by the state Forest Department that poachers in neighboring Madhya Pradesh have been paid an advance to kill 25 tigers in Maharashtra.
All leave sanctioned for forest guards has been cancelled till mid-June to ensure there is maximum protection for the tigers.
Anish Andheria, director, Wildlife Conservation Trust told NDTV:
When you find a jaw trap near a water body in a park, in our past experience we have seen, it is not a one- off event. If one (tiger) goes, you have to believe that twenty will go of you don’t take steps. In Tadoba recently, there were jaw traps found – 2 tigers were trapped. One died, the other is struggling. The department has become alert.
All poachers and their bosses deserve to be shot! Wild Life is more important than life of scums and parasites!
It's about time! A life for a life!
It's about time, animal cruelty and KILLING ANIMALS has gotten way out of control, this world in not just for humans.
More tigers, zero poachers!
It is about time. Now if only all other places would follow suit
THESE EVIL HEARTLESS POACHERS SHOULD LEAVE THOSE POOR BEAUTIFUL SOULS ALONE AND START POACHING THEMSELVES INSTEAD 🐯❤
Now here's a job I'd love!! Blast the Evil Poachers Brains out!! >:( No more pussy footing around!!! Animals have been treated like Sh*t for far too long!! & we must protect them now!! Especially iconic Tigers!! & before it's too late!!
Maybe the same should apply to rapists and murderers! An Eye for an Eye works for me!
Also wipe out all the rhino killers, why aren't the brainless idiots who think this will cure all thier health problems educated yet!!!
Yes! How about any who kill animals for sport, trophy or gain!! Then we'll be getting somewhere.
Poachers--if they're not shot on site--must be arrested, put on trial, convicted, and spend the rest of their sorry lives in prison.
Shoot to kill. Gladly. Leave innocent animals alone!!
Hallelujah ITS ABOUT TIME JUSTICE PREVAILS. THESE SPECIES DONT AND WONT STAND A CHANCE WITHOUT ACTION BEING PUT INTO PLACE AN EYE FIR AN EYE, ITS THE ONLY WAY!
EXCELLENT IDEA -- SHOOT-ON-SIGHT -- when moron-poachers do NOT respect law, morality, life -- unless punishments are extremely serious & severe so that idiot-poachers do NOT return to their horrific crimes, this just MAY BE the only solution to STOP CRIMES AGAINST ANIMALS.
It would be nicer to to put a bounty on their head. that would make my day
Put a bounty on poacher balls. Poacher balls are good medicine for impotence. Trophy hunters rank with poachers and often are. Their guides often are poachers
Stop hurting the animals.
Good. About time. Now that Botswana no longer has this policy there is rampant poaching happening.
Tigers are beautiful creatures and should be left in peace to live a natural existance. Poachers should be shot on site.
This is a crime, against the law. Poachers must be in JAIL!!!or be shot on site.
Don't destroy Enjoy. They are beautiful and we should adore their life.