Panaji: The investigations into a tiger
poaching case in Goa has revealed that the big cat was shot
dead by tribals of Majik community after trapping it into a
wire snare.
The state forest department, which is investigating
the case, in its probe report has reconstructed the entire
sequence of incidents that led to the killing.
"Three women were amongst the half a dozen Majik
community members, who witnessed the killing, which happened
in February last year. While two main accused shot the tiger
to death after trapping it in wire snare, others witnessed the
cold blooded killing sitting atop a tree fearing that the
tiger may jump on them, the report said.
A Royal Bengal Tiger was killed at Keri in February last
year and the incident was brought to light in April after a
picture of the dead animal was published in a local newspaper.
"The group of villagers fearing the aftermath later burnt
the tiger by dragging it for almost 250 metres in the same
cashew plantation," the probe further stated.
A senior forest department official said that killing
might not have been exposed, if not for the act of one of the
local enthusiastic youth to click the dead tiger on his
mobile.
Forest department officials stated that it took almost
one and half month for the forest officials to locate the
spot, which is bordering Mhadei wildlife sanctuary in state's
Sattari taluka.
PTI
First Published: Friday, February 12, 2010, 21:18