Endangered tiger killed by poachers TNN

BAHRAICH: A rare wild tiger has been killed by poachers, on Indo-Nepal border a wildlife official said on Saturday.

The adult male tiger, which had been fitted with a collar carrying a GPS tracking system that allowed scientists to monitor its adaptation back into the wild, was killed two weeks ago, the official said.

Tikaram Adhikari, a warden at Bardia National Park in Nepal's southern plains where the endangered animal was released said, the tiger was last traced by the tracking system on May 9.

"Next two days, we could not locate it. Then, early this week, we found that it had been killed by poachers," he said.

"The tiger was moving towards human settlements. After seeing the tiger, the poachers offered him poisoned beef. It died after consuming the food," Adhikari said.

The tiger was named Namobuddha by park authorities. Four locals have been arrested on suspicion of poaching, Adhikari said.

The injured tiger was captured by wildlife officials when wandering into a tourist resort in southern Nepal.

Tiger was released into Bardia national park as it as an ideal home for the animal because it of its vast size, available prey and relatively low levels of poaching, authorities said.

"Using the tracking system we were hoping to gain valuable insights into its movement and habitat.But after this incident we feel that saving wild tigers will be more challenging," Adhikari said.

The project was part of Nepal's efforts to double its population of Royal Bengal tigers, which once roamed the country's southern plains in large numbers but have been depleted due to poaching. A WWF survey carried out in 2008 found just 121 adult tigers of breeding age in Nepal.

Experts say poverty and political instability in Nepal have created ideal conditions for poachers who kill animals for their skin, meat and bones, which are highly valued in Chinese traditional medicine.

The WWF says tigers worldwide are in serious danger of becoming extinct in the wild.
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