Signature campaign to save tigers from hunter Khan

NAGPUR: Wildlife lovers on Wednesday started an online petition against Hyderabad-based hunter Nawab Shafat Ali Khan who has been roped in by the state forest department to shoot problem tigress T1 in Pandharkawda.
Over 750 people had signed the petition, started by Conservation Lenses and Wildlife (CLaW) group working for wildlife protection, within four hours after it was launched.
The petition has been directed to DG forest, Delhi.CLaW founder member Sarosh Lodhi said, “Humans are responsible for the poor plight of tigers outside the protected areas (PAs) where decrease in forest cover, encroachments, fragmentation, poor prey base, trespassing has increased conflict.”
Such cases are on rise in Maharashtra, where services of a private shooter are being sought often by the forest department. Earlier, all such acts of putting down the animal or tranquillizing were being carried out by sharpshooters from police department.
The petition has alleged that the private shooter who has been roped in has a controversial past and various cases against him ranging from running illegal resorts to allegations of supplying arms to Maoists. Even if PCCF has the authority to award such orders to a private player, possession and administration of tranquillizing agents by a layman is prohibited under Drugs and Cosmetics Act, NDPS Act and Indian Veterinary Council Act-1984.
In the meanwhile, wildlife vets who arrived from Madhya Pradesh to tranquillize T1 had a meeting with PCCF AK Misra at Pandharkawda on Wednesday. Khan was present. Sources said vets questioned the presence of Khan in the area.
Sources said the MP vets asked PCCF that when even attempts to tranquillize the tigress have not started, why a hunter has been called. They told Misra that they don’t want a hunter on the scene compromising their efforts. The vets also said that hunter should not be allowed in till best of their attempts to capture the tigress alive failed.
Even the Supreme Court has said that first all attempts should be made to capture the tigress but sources in the meeting said Khan wants to shoot the tigress and hence is moving in the forest even during the night hours.
Dr Sarita Subramaniam of Earth Brigade, Mumbai, said, “NTCA should ask MP forest department to send more elephants to Pandharkawda so that tranquillizing operation is successful.”
Meanwhile, wildlife lovers have decided to take out a morcha at Yavatmal district collectorate on Thursday against entry of Khan in Pandharkawda.