Despite having lost its Tiger State tag, the State government seems to have learnt no lessons as tiger deaths under mysterious conditions continues in the state turning it to Tigers graveyard state.
The state that was once pioneer with highest number of tigers in its national parks and known as Tiger State after losing its tiger state tag three years back seems has learned no lessons as tiger deaths under mysterious conditions continues in the state making the state now defame as Tigers graveyard state.
Thirty tiger deaths have been reported in the state this year till now as one more striped feline a white tigress this time breathed her last under mysterious circumstances in the Mukundpur tiger safari of Satna district on Wednesday.
Wildlife and green activist have cried foul over the death of four year old tigress Radha alleging that the death was result of a botched mating attempt by the Mukundpur zoo authorities in violation of norms.
The white tigress Radha had reportedly stopped taking food since last three days and breathed her last on Tuesday night. She was injured about a fortnight ago in a clash with a royal Bengal tiger that was let into her enclosure in an attempt of getting them to mate.
Wildlife activist Ajay Dubey has filed a complaint with Central Zoo Authority (CZA), blaming the death of the rare white tigress on negligence of the Mukundpur zoo officials.
Dubey in his complaint letter said that the mating was attempted despite absence of experts and Mukundpur not having the status of a breeding centre. Also the zoo does not have veterinarians with expertise in wildlife treatment. Therefore the injured tigress could not be cured.
Dubey has demanded sacking of forest minister Gaurishankar Shejwar and a CBI inquiry into the continuing deaths of tigers in MP, especially that of the white tigress.
The activist said that the MP government, administration and forest officials have all adopted very casual attitude towards tiger conservation despite strict rules in place. The state has repeatedly failed to fix accountability of authorities in different cases of deaths of tigers. Also, the state failed to implement recommendations of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) regarding top-level regular monitoring of investigations into tiger deaths, he added.
He said the forest minister never took any stringent action against any official in any case of tiger death, thus allowing the conservation authorities to remain casual and negligent towards their task. During past one week, three tigers have perished in MP – two in Satna and one in Bandhavgarh tiger reserve.