Patna, (Bihar Times): All efforts and huge amount of
fund failed to check the poaching of tigers in Bihar’s
only Tiger Reserve in Valmikinagar in West Champaran.
A tiger died in the iron-trap laid in the Madanpur
Range Compartment 16 of the Tiger Reserve on the
intervening night of Friday-Saturday.
The tiger population in India is fast dwindling. As
against 55,000 in the year 1900 it has come down to
only 1,400 in 2005. The 840 square kilometre
Valmikinagar Reserve had only 33 Tigers––now only 32
left.
On Saturday morning the officials and doctors rushed
to the spot to save the trapped tiger, but they had no
tranquilizer with them. Use of tranquilizer was
essential to bring the tiger under control so that it
could be freed from the net. The plan was to rush the
injured animal to Patna for further treatment.
With no tranquilizer around the helpless forest
department officials asked for it from Patna but
before it could reach the spot the tiger died after
struggling furiously for hours. The local people and
the officials were the mute spectartors.
But the big question is as to how notwithstanding the
presence of the officials and employees the poachers
managed to lay a trap inside the Tiger Reserve. There
are in all 27 Tiger Reserves in the country. Officials
suspect that the tiger was also poisoned. Tiger’s
organ and skin are in high demand in South-East Asia.
The state’s minister for forest on Sunday ordered an
inquiry into the killing of tiger in such a manner.