The tiger found dead in Sariska reserve in November was poisoned, according to a forensic report whose finding may lead to concern over the safety of other translocated big cats there.
“Organophosphorus insecticide was found in the viscera sample of the tiger by scientists at the Forensic Science Laboratory,” Rajasthan forest minister Ram Lal Jaat said on Friday quoting the forensic report.
A senior forest and wildlife officer said that they have identified a man who they suspected had poisoned the tiger to death and the matter was being probed. In a setback to efforts for reviving tiger population in Sariska, the carcass of a tiger identified as “ST-1” — one of the five tigers translocated to the Sariska since 2008 was found dead on November 14. Sariska lost all its native tigers by 2004-05, mainly to poaching. The report proved true the apprehensions of environment minister Jairam Ramesh.
During his visit to the park following the tiger’s death, Mr Ramesh had expressed fears that it could be a case of poisoning and had admitted there was failure of “governance”.
Taking serious note, state government initiated an enquiry and suspended two senior officials — divisional forest officer B. Praveen and assistant conservator of forest Mukesh Saini — on the charge of dereliction of duty on November 16.