Bargarh: Even as animal lovers are yet to come to terms with the electrocution death of seven elephants in Dhenkanal district, a carcass of a Royal Bengal Tiger, allegedly poached by miscreants was recovered from Damodarpada jungle of Debrigarh Sanctuary near Khajuria village under Bhatli range in this district, reports said Sunday.
Raising serious concern over the safety of wild animals, the tiger is said to have been killed by poachers. After extracting its teeth and claws, the poachers, in an attempt to hush up the killing, allegedly buried the carcass inside deep forest, it was revealed.
Prima facie, the decomposed carcass indicates that poachers had removed its nails and teeth while its head was also found detached from the body. It is suspected that miscreants might have killed the tiger a week ago before burying it in the deep forests.
On receipt of information from local sources, a team of forest department visited the spot and exhumed the decomposed carcass of the tiger. Locals, however, assumed timber mafias might have killed the tiger that had been released in the sanctuary in an effort to save the jungles. The mafiosi could not trek through the jungle to smuggle wood for fear of the big cat, it is stated. Hence the needle of suspicion pointed towards the mafias who might have a role in the elimination of the tiger, suspected the locals.
When contacted, District Forest Officer Sudeep Kumar Nayak admitted he has information about the poaching incident. “I have deputed a team to investigate the matter,” he said adding “the probe would reveal whether the tiger had been killed by the jungle mafias, other cannibals or had a natural death.”
However, he hastened to add that he has no concrete information about the presence of a Royal Bengal Tiger in Debrigarh Sanctuary. “But it cannot be ruled out altogether as a couple of days ago I had information that a Royal Bengal Tiger has been prowling in the sanctuary,” he added.
Notably, the sanctuary had CCTV cameras installed at strategic points. But these cameras are apparently not being maintained properly. Possibly, the CCTVs have failed to capture the movement of the tiger and the persons who poached it.
“There were CCTV cameras in the jungle. They used to keep tabs on the movement of wild animals and the mafias. But, we are yet to understand the reason why the forest department has not taken measures to get them functional,” the villagers alleged.
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