Pregnant tigress brutally killed by poachers in Maharashtra
A brutally bruised and burnt carcass of a 4-year-old pregnant tigress was found in a cave of Mukutban range of Pandharkawda forest in Yavatmal district of Maharashtra, poaching is the suspected cause.
In one of the most shocking and sickening incidents of poaching, the carcass of a 4-year old tigress with four fetuses in her womb was found in the jungles of Pandharkawada in the Yavatmal district of Vidarbha region of Maharashtra.
The incident took place on Sunday but came to light only on late Monday evening. Officials say this is one of the most brutal incidents of poaching they have ever seen. The matter was kept under wraps by the forest department officials for at least 24-48 hours for the reasons best known to them with reports saying that the said incident could have taken place earlier than on the reported day of Sunday.
It is reported that the pregnant tigress was cleverly using a small underground cave for living and was preparing to deliver her babies in the warmth and safety of the same. Also, the cave was near a small nullah which provided her water for survival. A wire trap was laid down by poachers near the nullah in which she got injured and quickly returned to her cave where she rested down in pain unable to move.
The poachers blocked the cave with bamboo sticks and other material putting the same to fire so that the tigress suffocates. As she was injured by the wire trap it made her disabled and prevented her from escaping the burning cave.
To ensure that she is killed and does not escape or attack, the poachers poked sharp objects made of bamboo sticks and metal rods into her. The carcass of her was found with metallic wire around her neck indicating she was eventually choked to her death.
Finally, after she got killed the poachers cut off her front two paws to sell in the black market. From, the crime scene bamboo sticks and metal wires were recovered. The most shocking part is that the tigress was pregnant and a month away from delivering four cubs which now succumbed to death along with her.
The carcass of the tigress was found in a highly putrefied state, with blisters around her face due to the fire. Also, there were 7 injury marks, puncture wounds, and her ribs were also broken.
Deputy Conservator of Forest Raju Bansod said, “The tigress was found dead near a nullah (drain) in the forest. The carcass had injuries caused by a sharp weapon. An iron wire was found around the feline’s neck.”
Maharashtra tops in tiger deaths, accounting for 41 percent of the nationwide mortalities, and this year alone 17 incidents of tiger deaths due to poaching have been reported. The lackluster monitoring of tigers in territorial areas has come in for sharp criticism, especially when the forest ministry is with CM Uddhav Thackeray himself, who in the past has stood up for environmental causes like Aarey.
