Increasing instances of electrocution of tigers revealed
2 Mar, 2013The reply to an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act has revealed an increase in the instances of tiger poaching in Madhya Pradesh through electrocution process.
The data obtained through RTI has shown that while four tigers were electrocuted in the period 1998 to 2005, in 2012-13 alone six tigers have died due to electrocution only one of which was an accidental death. The documents reveal that till mid December, 2012 thirteen tigers had died in Madhya Pradesh out of which four had died due to electrocution. After that two tigers died due to electrocution – one in late December and the other in February 2013 – taking the toll to 15. The documents sourced through RTI states that the new method of poaching i.e. electrocution came to the light between 1998 and 2005 when 4 tigers, 3 leopards and 15 different wild animals died due to electrocution.
The RTI applicant claimed that four out of five felines were electrocuted in Katni and Umaria districts around Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve area. It needs no mention that Tiger is not only a major draw for the tourists, it is at the top of the food chain.