Poachers are suspected to have killed four wild tigers in Kerala’s Periyar Tiger Reserve in just the last six months, according to the National Tiger Conservation Authority.
These are among the 34 wild tiger deaths reported in the country during the first half of this year. Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu account for 18 of these deaths. In fact, all the nine wild tiger deaths reported in January were from these three States alone. Except in one case, poaching is suspected to be the cause of all these recorded deaths. The wild tiger deaths for the corresponding period last year was 32. The official database of the National Tiger Conservation Authority says the highest number of wild tiger deaths this year was in the forests of Karnataka, 9 in all. Six cases were reported from Madhya Pradesh and poaching is suspected to be the cause of all these deaths too. Five deaths were reported from Tamil Nadu during the first six months. Five deaths were reported from Maharashtra, while two deaths were reported from Uttarakhand and one each from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and West Bengal. During the first six months of last year the highest number of wild tiger deaths was reported from the forests of Tamil Nadu, 7. While one wild tiger death was reported from Andhra Pradesh during the first six months of last year, this year no death was reported from that State.
Four wild tiger deaths reported from Kerala
Highest number of deaths in Karnataka forests
Countrywide, 34 wild tigers died in the last six months
