The panel also found that Avni was shot in haste but endorsed the forest department's claim that she was darted with a tranquilizer first
T-1 or Avni was not killed in as an act of self-defence, a panel set by the Centre to probe her death has found. She was also killed in violation of the Wildlife Protection Act and the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) of National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), say sources involved in the probe. The tigress was linked to the death of at least five people in Yavatmal, Maharashtra.
The panel also found that Avni was shot in haste but endorsed the forest department's claim that she was darted with a tranquilizer first. However she was shot before the tranquilizer could take effect.
The NTCA has now asked the Chief Secretary, Maharashtra government and Chief Wildlife Warden, Maharashtra forest department to take action and comply with the panel's recommendations.
Avni was killed on the night of November 2 when a patrolling team, which included shooter Asghar Ali Khan, spotted her at Borati. The post-mortem concluded that the bullet was fired when she was looking away. The probe panel too drew similar conclusions: It found that the tigress was walking away from the patrolling team when shot. Forester Mukhbir Shaikh had shot a dart at her, but she was fatally shot at before it could set in.
This was one of the violations of NTCA's SOP to deal with problem animals. The SOP states that there needs to be an induction period -- of about 10-15 minutes -- to render the animal immobile.
As per orders of the Chief Conservator of Forest (Yavatmal) Shaikh was authorized to be on the patrolling team only to identify Avni. The panel thus concluded that Shaikh's darting of the tigress was also in violation of Wildlife Protection Act's (WPA) Section 11. WPA says that only persons authorized by the Chief Wildlife Warden can dart a problem animal.
"We were authorized by the Chief Wildlife Warden and Conservator of Forest, Yavatmal, to be involved in the operation. I shot her when she turned towards our vehicle to attack," Asghar Ali Khan said about the panel's findings.
The composition of the patrolling team and Asghar Ali's experience too has come under a cloud. The panel holds that the patrolling team was not experienced enough to handle such a situation, sources say.
As per the NTCA SOP, the team out to capture big cats requires a skilled team comprising wildlife managers, biologists, trained veterinarians and most preferably an individual specializing in animal anaesthesia. The this was not followed by the team tracking Avni, the panel found.
Maharashtra's Chief Wildlife Warden AK Mishra did not respond to calls and messages sent by DNA seeking a response.
PANEL’S FINDINGS
The post-mortem concluded that the bullet was fired when she was looking away. This was one of the violations of NTCA’s SOP to deal with problem animals.
‘NOT SHOT IN SELF-DEFENCE’
- Avni shot before tranquillizer could immobilize her
- SOP says 10-15 minutes be given for this after darting
- Fatal bullet was shot when the tiger was looking away from patrol team
- Patrolling team was not experienced enough
- Team must have wildlife managers, biologists, vet, and animal anaesthesia expert
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