Another big cat bites the dust

Fresh tiger pelt seized in joint operation by TN forest officials and Banagalore-based wildlife activists. Chetan R reports

Fresh tiger pelt seized in joint operation by TN forest officials and Banagalore-based wildlife activists. Chetan R reports

Yet another tiger death came to light on April 15 when Tamil Nadu wildlife officials seized the pelt of a 4-year-old tiger from Thekan, a former anti-poaching watcher, at Masinagudi on the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border.
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The tiger is said to have been hunted a month ago in the forest on the interstate border.
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Besides the tiger pelt, a wild dog, elephant tooth, deer pelt and eight deer horns were also seized from Thekan.

Thekan has been charged with hunting wild animals and trafficking in their skins and other body parts within MTR (Madumalai Tiger Reserve) limits.

JD (S) leader Bela Vasanthi was caught trying to sell the Leopard skin at Woodland Hotel on Tuesday.

"It was a rude shock," said Karthik P, a wildlife volunteer, who was part of the operation. "We were tipped about someone trying to sell a leopard skin. But to our shock we stumbled upon a fresh tiger pelt."u00a0

The arrest follows a month-long joint exercise by the Tamil Nadu wildlife officials and some Bangalore-based wildlife volunteer who convinced Thekan that they were businessmen keen on buying his wares.

"The operation is a success," said Rajiv K Shrivastava, field director, Madumalai Tiger Reserve.
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"Our team uncovered the trade in wildlife being carried out by Thekan. He has been taken into custody. This is a matter of serious concern."

Thekan, a tamarind collector, who was an anti-poacher once, allegedly changed sides and become a wildlife traderu00a0 few years ago.

"It's unfortunate that a tiger got killed despite so many initiatives being launched to sensitise people to their dwindling numbers," said Vinod Kumar Naik, a wildlife activist, who specialises in tiger conservation projects.

"The lack of infrastructure for wildlife staff combined with a rise in demand for tiger products in the international market has made tiger poaching nearly unstoppable."

However, officers of the National Tiger Conservation Authority have pulled up their socks after the incident. "This is a very serious issue.
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Officials across states (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala) are working together to tackle issues like wildlife trade and poaching. Investigations are on in this case. We hope to get more leads shortly," said Shrivastava.

Tiger products rate chart

Tiger Skin: Rs 2 lakh
Tiger nail: Rs 50,000
Tiger tooth: Rs 15,000
Tiger whisker: Rs 5,000

(All rates are approximate values the products command in the international market)

Tiger Deaths

Yearu00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0 u00a0Tigers killed
2006u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0 37
2007u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0 27
2008u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0 29u00a0
2009u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0 32
2010u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0 13 (so far)

Source: WPSI Wildlife Protection Society of India