New plan to protect tigers in Karnataka

ByMB Maramkal, TNN | Feb 19, 2013, 07.20 PM IST Tadoba Special Tiger Protection Force to get 33 jawans, INSAS riflesNew plan to protect tigers in KarnatakaMan-eating tigress shot deadElectrocution of tiger: Three officers suspended MYSORE: Increasing incidents of tiger deaths due to poisoning has made the officials of the tiger project to work out an action plan to end this menace of targeting big cats by mischievous elements. Death of two of the three tigers due to poisoning has left worried the officials. Of the three tigers which died in the recent past including one on Sunday have been found to be poisoned by the villagers . What has made the issue more complicated is this is the new modus operandi being adopted by tiger mafia to employ the villagers and persuade them to poison the tigers which invade their villages to prey on their livestock. Tiger's trait of it's return to eat the left over of the prey has made it easy for villagers allegedly employed by poachers to poison the kill before the tiger visits it next day. Sunday's incident typically fitted this format as officials have found an empty packet of a pesticide and two crows dead near the carcass of the cow which was killed by the tiger . Even tiger was found dead hardly 100 mts from the spot where the half eaten cow carcass was lying . Now officials of the tiger project have decided to take head on the mischievous elements through an action plan which has a positive approach to the issue. As per the plan, project tiger officials with the help of Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) members will create a data base of all the cattle heads in the villages located inside and on the periphery of the tiger sanctuaries and territorial forests. This data base even have pictures of cattle population and their owners and cowboys who graze them. Project tiger officials are even planning to announce a compensation package for farmers and the cattle owners whose animals are preyed on by tigers . In addition, number of members of STPF will be increased and they will part of stepped up vigil package on this score. Disclosing the implementation of this ne security project in next couple of days, project tiger direct B J Hosmath said this plan will automatically eliminate mischievous elements which will act as stooge in the hands of poachers gangs. First the vigil and data base help officials to identify the cattle owner instantaneously and second the compensation package will help the villagers to avoid mischievous elements. " We want to tackle the problem through positive approach instead of curbing and searching for poachers" Hosmath felt , adding that this is worked out by project tiger officials itself and confident of achieving results. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysore/New-plan-to-protect-tigers-in-Karnataka/articleshow/18576976.cms