A Special Investigation Team (SIT), comprising members from Nainital police and forest department, is investigating the three tiger deaths in Corbett tiger landscape which were discovered between May 27 and June 1.
Meanwhile, the Corbett Tiger Reserve is working on installing over 40 camera traps in its periphery area with the assistance of World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
The discovery of a tiger body about six days old in Dhela range of Corbett on May 27 was followed by discoveries of a body about five days old on May 29 at Ampokhra range of Terai west forest division and another body about 10 days old at Fato range of Terai west division on June 1. Suspecting foul play in the deaths, the department collecting samples from water holes for laboratory tests and the results are awaited.
According to the Corbett tiger reserve director Samir Sinha, the investigation of the three tiger deaths was handed over to the Nainital police. “A special investigation team including police and forest department staff is conducting the investigation which is under progress; so I would not like to comment further on it.”
However, Sinha did state that in order to further boost wildlife security, work is being undertaken with the help of WWF to install more than 40 camera traps in the sensitive periphery area of Corbett. The staff is being trained by WWF at present and the action plan is being worked out, he added.
Meanwhile, wildlife activists have alleged that the lackadaisical approach of the chief wildlife warden SS Sharma towards keeping an eye on wildlife security is exerting a negative impact on the work of the department. Repeated lapses in wildlife security are evidenced from the fact that seizures of wildlife contraband, including leopard pelts and body parts, musk deer pods and bear gall bladders, have increased in frequency.