After a tiger was bitten by a dog in Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR), immediate vaccination of all domestic animals living in and around the PTR and other tiger reserves of the State besides adequate steps for the security of the tigers has been demanded.
Wildlife activist from the State capital Ajay Dubey on Thursday made public the report of inquiry conducted by his NGO Prayatan in the incident of a rabid dog biting a three year old tiger cub in the PTR on September 10.
Dubey said that the information received through RTI reveals that the tiger cub was already having injury in stomach and also underwent treatment for that in July by keeping it in the enclosure. At that time it was also found that its two upper teeth were also broken that is fatal for the tiger as it hunts from them. Due to the stomach injury and broken teeth this tiger cub became very weak.
Dubey further said that if the present conditions persist than this tiger could also become man-eater. The strongest possibility for this is when it tiger becomes unable to hunt then it starts attacking on humans because they are easy prey.
He said that these conditions also make it clear that at the time when rabid dog attacked this tiger it was injured and weak due to that it could not defend itself hence the dog bite it on many places.
The wildlife activist said that during our investigation serious negligence of the Forest department of the State Government also came to fore. According to the Wild Animals Protection Act 1972, it was the responsibility of the forest department to ensure vaccination of all the domestic animals living in and around the tiger reserves. But the department failed to implement the prescribed security measures in the State due to that the incidence of rabid dog biting tiger took place. This was revealed by Principal Chief Conservator of Forest in answer to a question asked to him through RTI, he added.