Kamal Ghorui
BHOPAL: A collared tiger that had been rewilded and released from Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve into the Satpura Tiger Reserve landscape was allegedly poisoned to death by a villager seeking revenge after the big cat killed his ox in Chhindwara district. Forest officials have arrested four persons in connection with the incident.This tiger was four and half years old and was released into the wild in December 2024. According to the forest department, a joint team of the Satpura Tiger Reserve buffer staff and the Sangakheda range team of the West Chhindwara Forest Division had been tracking the last known location of the radio-collared tiger since Thursday evening.During a search operation on Friday morning, the team first recovered the carcass of an ox in a forest patch falling under revenue land near compartments P-266 and P-262 of Chhatiaam beat in Sangakheda range. Officials suspected the animal had been preyed upon by the tiger.A detailed search of the area with the help of a dog squad led to the recovery of the tiger’s carcass, which had been buried in the ground nearby. The carcass was found at around 8.30 am.During preliminary investigation, forest officials traced the owner of the ox to a nearby village. The accused, identified as Udesingh, 50, a resident of Chhatiaam, was detained and questioned.Officials said that during interrogation, he confessed that the tiger had killed his ox a few days earlier. In retaliation, he allegedly laced the carcass with pesticide and left it in the open. The tiger died after consuming the poisoned meat. He also admitted that he, along with others, buried the tiger’s carcass the following day to conceal the incident.Based on his statement, three more accused were arrested. They have been identified as Bisanlal Sheelu, 30, a resident of Putaiam, Manohar Singh, 60, from Dob Jhirna in Babai tehsil of Narmadapuram district, and Kailal, 65, a resident of Kuchikhoh.APPCF (wildlife) L Krishnamurty told TOI that the villagers are being questioned for more details. ‘All its body parts are intact. But we are interrogating them to verify their claims” Forest officials said further investigation is on to ascertain other aspects of the case, including the exact substance used and whether there was any prior planning involved.The carcass of the male tiger was later cremated as per protocol in the presence of Satpura Tiger Reserve Field Director Rakhi Nanda and West Chhindwara DFO Sahil Garg.All accused will be produced before the court, officials said. Wildlife activist Ajay Dubey has demanded strict action against those involved.
