After India’s first interstate trans-located tiger was found dead, the ambitious tiger re-introduction programme to increase big cat population in Odisha’s Satkosia Tiger Reserve (STR) has been put on hold.
The tiger MB-2, which was brought from Kanha Tiger Reserve (KTR) in Madhya Pradesh to Satkosia on June 21, was found dead with wounds and maggots in the neck inside Satkosia on Wednesday.
Mysterious death
“We had received information about the tiger’s death at around 1 p.m. on Wednesday. Till 10 a.m., the tiger was alive and its movement had been recorded through the radio collar fastened around his neck. After the tragic death, the tiger re-introduction project has been put on hold for the time-being,” said Sandeep Tripathi, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife), on Thursday afternoon.
Biswajit Mohanty, who was present during the postmortem on the request of National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), said there was a deep cut in the neck. “But a deeper scientific investigation is required to ascertain how it was caused,” said Mr. Mohanty. After postmortem, the tiger’s body was incinerated.
Subsequently, Ramasamy P, Divisional Forest Officer, Satkosia Wildlife Division, was appointed as investing officer to probe into the matter and for initiating further course of action. The NTCA, according to State Forest and Environment Department, would also send a senior officer to STR to study the circumstances under which the animal died.
Satkosia, spread over Angul, Cuttack, Nayagarh and Boudh districts was declared a tiger reserve in 2007. The STR had once boasted of having over 10 tigers. Subsequently, STR’s big cat population had dwindled due to several reasons including anthropogenic interference and poor prey base. A year ago, the government decided to implement a tiger recovery programme.
“About ₹18-19 crore was estimated to be spent on the tiger reintroduction progamme. The centre would bear 60% of the total outlay, while State’s contribution would have been 40%,” said Mr. Tripathi.
Sundari’s uncertain future
The death of MB-2 is not the only set back to reintroduction programme. Sundari, a tigress, which was trans-located from Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, was to be recaptured following two incidences of alleged human maulings by her. The tigress is presently kept in a special enclosure inside Satkosia. Her fate is not known as the NTCA and the State government are evaluating the pros of cons of shifting Sundari out of Satkosia.
