JAIPUR
is too much of babudom stifling the environment for felines? Kartikey Dev Singh traces the attitude of sweeping everything under the rug
Is Rajasthan’s forest department harming its own tigers? Are officials more important to the department than the striped felines? Is there any strategy to stall the investigations, if any, after the death of tigers under mysterious circumstances?
A close overview of actions by the forest department over the past four years is enough to bring out the horror. The department indeed fizzes out any uproar after death of any feline by stalling the probe process.
The recent deaths of two tiger cubs at Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve (RTR) under suspicious circumstances and that of ST-11 at Sariska points that babudom that prevails over animal welfare in the department.
The death of the two sub-adult cubs at Ranthambhore is suspected to be a case of poisoning. However, this would not be the first time such an incident has occurred here. Officials at Ranthambhore were startled in 2013 on finding the carcass remains of a tiger in Khandar area. The officials immediately came to the conclusion that the tiger, claimed to be an old feline, was killed by a rival male tiger in a territorial fight.
“However, as protocol demands, the viscera - of which not much could be gathered - was sent to Wildlife Institute of India (WII) for investigation. The officials were in for a rude shock when the report stated that the feline died not of territorial fight but had been poisoned. What is more is that the animal was slated to be a young animal and not an old one as the department officials had surmised. As the report created ripples, the officials started blaming each other and the matter trickled down to a forest guard who was shot off a letter.
The guard was later given a warning but asked to carry on with his service. The report was selectively put on the back burner, sources at Ranthambhore revealed, adding, “ironically no investigation has been initiated in the matter till date. Also, there has been no probe conducted in the case of tigress T-17 which went missing much the same way as ST-5 at Sariska.”
Now, an almost similar comedy is being played out in Sariska as well. “Immediately on reaching the spot, the officials gave the explanation that the trap was set for a blue bull and later the claim stood thwarted. However, now when it comes to adjudging the fault of a person, the investigation has been handed to the official who himself is part of the entire faulty administration. How is a junior officer supposed to investigate his senior? The investigation should have been handed to someone from outside who would have been unbiased. Instead, it has been handed to those who are part and parcel of the entire controversy,” the sources added.
Interestingly, in 2010, when tiger ST-1 at Sariska was poisoned, the then Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had travelled to Sariska the very day and held a high-profile meeting of officials. Gehlot took stern action resulting in charge-sheeting of half a dozen officials at Sariska and even suspension of the DFO there. “However, now it appears that instead of wildlife conservation, tourism is the main focus area of the forest department and that too only in Ranthambhore,” sources at the reserve said.
IND vs NZ, 2nd Test Dream11 prediction: Fantasy cricket tips for India vs New Zealand match
How To Prepare For The UPSC CSE 2025 Exam?
'India supports dialogue and diplomacy, not war': PM Modi at BRICS Summit
This woman lost in Dubai's desert orders camel via Uber, netizens say 'your camel has arrived'
Good news for Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Paytm gets NPCI nod to..., shares surge over 7%
Fan requests Rohit Sharma to deliver her message to Virat Kohli, here's how Indian captain responded
Rajkummar Rao recalls being scammed in Delhi during struggle days: 'The man had...'
Robbers pose as customers in jewellery shop, what owner did next will leave you shocked
Maharashtra Elections 2024: NCP releases 1st list of 38 candidates; Ajit Pawar to contest from…
Japanese Shah Rukh Khan leaves Bollywood Badshah's fan impressed, social media says...
Will KL Rahul be retained by LSG ahead of IPL Auction? New report provides BIG update, it says...
'Wayanad will have two MPs': Rahul Gandhi after Priyanka files nomination for bypolls
I Want To Talk teaser: Abhishek Bachchan announces his next with Shoojit Sircar, to release on...
Diwali 2024: When is Deepawali, October 31 or November 1? Check dates, mahurat timings and more
JEE Main 2025 exam date to release TODAY: Know how to register, check exam calendar HERE
Jhalmuri fever hits London: Video of British man selling Kolkata-style street food goes viral, watch
SC slams Centre as Delhi air worsens, calls environment laws...
Ex-cricketer suggests replacing KL Rahul with THIS batsman for 2nd Test vs NZ, he is…
TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee smashes bottle, hurls it towards Chair in row over Waqf meet
Know how Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani's children Isha Ambani and Akash Ambani got their names
Family finds venomous snakes under their bed, what happened next will leave you in shock
This company's Vice President gets fired after raise and bonus, reason will leave you shocked
Mukesh Ambani-led Jio Financial eyes JVs with Allianz SE in insurance sector
IMD's BIG update: Cyclone Dana forms over Bay of Bengal, to cross Odisha-Bengal coasts on...
This company gifts cars as Diwali bonus, calls its employees celebrities, is owned by…
Amid divorce rumours with Aishwarya Rai, Abhishek Bachchan skips her family gathering
When Ratan Tata opened up about his parents separation, first love and childhood, he said...
Blow to Mukesh Ambani ahead of Isha Ambani, Akash Ambani's birthday, Reliance stocks...
Saudi Arabia's futuristic megacity project Neom a big threat to migratory birds? Experts say...
Apple CEO Tim Cook didn’t know about this iPhone feature, left speechless, know here
Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Jio offers superhit Diwali plan, unlimited 5G internet for just Rs...
Bengaluru Rains: Schools closed, WFH advisory for private companies as IMD issues yellow alert
Israel confirms killing of Hashem Safieddine, presumed successor of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah
Big move by Anil Ambani, his company to invest Rs 10000 crore to set up India's largest...
Meet Indian genius, who was born in small town, today leads AI innovations of Google, she is...
Woman stays at luxury resort worth Rs 3 lakh for free, claims she used...
Delhi AQI update: Air quality worsens to 'very poor' level at 349, becomes 'severe' in these areas
PM Modi to hold bilateral talks with Xi Jinping at BRICS Summit today
Odisha, West Bengal brace for Cyclone Dana: How was it named and what it means?
POCSO case: Mumbai Police ask Ekta Kapoor, her mother to appear for questioning tomorrow
Watch: Can you identify all the actors in this clip from 1991?
Priyanka Gandhi to file nomination for Wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll today
Meet woman, whose father used to sell milk, cracked UPSC exam with AIR 62 to become...
Delhi: No water supply in Capital for 12 hours on Friday due to…; check list of affected areas
Salman Khan resumes shooting for Sikandar amid death threats from Lawrence Bishnoi
India, Pakistan extend Kartarpur Sahib corridor agreement for five years
DNA TV Show: What is BRICS currency? Is it possible to introduce it today?
IPL 2025: Three-time IPL champion set to join Gujarat Titans as batting coach - Reports
PM Modi, Xi Jinping to hold bilateral meet on sidelines of BRICS Summit on Oct 23, first in 5 years
New Himalayan snake species named after Academy Award winner Leonardo DiCaprio, it will be called…
Cyclone Dana: Schools closed in West Bengal, Odisha for 4 days from...
Delhi govt to provide special assistance of Rs 5000 monthly to...
Rape-accused Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein diagnosed with bone marrow cancer
IND vs NZ: Sarfaraz Khan or KL Rahul; Who will find a spot in 2nd Test? India coach says…
Mumbai Police interrogates Ekta Kapoor, her mother Shobha Kapoor in case under POCSO act
Mukesh Ambani may team up with govt to sell food products through...
Bengaluru: Several feared trapped as under-construction building collapses
Best Cheap VPS Hosting Providers: Top Picks for Hosting Under USD 10
Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal set to raise Rs 8500 crore, says it is meant to...