Worried over Similipal Tiger Reserve turning into a second Sariska, the National Tiger Conservation Authority has pressed panic buttons to save the wildlife there facing extinction.
The fourth largest tiger reserve in the country reported a staggering 40 per cent decrease in its tiger population (from 101 to 61) in 2009 census. Now it is at the centre of a fresh controversy after 10 elephants were found poached, one of which was felled by gunshot.
A two-member team of NTCA, which toured the reserve between June 6 and 11 to probe the elephant deaths, found proof of seven deaths. A few days later, wildlife conservationists from Mayurbhanj district found three more elephant carcasses. The committee has already submitted its report to the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
With such a bleak scenario of the wildlife there, the NTCA last week formed a seven-member committee comprising experts, senior police officers and the chief wildlife warden to monitor the status/progress of the recommendations made by tiger reserve officials.
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Similipal-reserve-under-threat--panel-to-keep-eye/645189
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