Avni not shot in self-defence: Tiger panel
MUMBAI: Refuting the forest department’s claims that tigress T-1 or Avni was killed in self-defence on November 2, the final report by the independent committee constituted by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) revealed that she was killed deliberately and the darting process was illegal.
“The dart was fired from approximately 12.8 metres when T-1 was on its natural path, crossing the road. T-1 continued movement after darting on its path while snarling and growling at the team, probably due to the dart’s disturbance, moving vehicle and spotlight. Within 3-5 seconds, [Asghar Ali] Khan took one of the guns and shot T-1 from the moving vehicle in sitting position. T-1 was stunned by the impact and died on the spot,” read the report. “In view of the facts, the firing in self-defence is doubtful.” The analysis said, “T-1 was moving away from the road and vehicle on its traditional walk path while it was shot. The shot was taken in a hurry by the inexperienced Khan (son of independent sharpshooter Nawab Shafat Ali Khan).”
HT has a copy of the 12-page report that PV Subramaniam and Sarita Subramaniam from animal welfare group Earth Brigade Foundation procured by filing an RTI. HT had reported on Wednesday that the investigation committee constituted by NTCA flagged off several violations during the killing of T-1 and a notice had been issued to chief wildlife warden, Maharashtra, regarding the violation of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, Arms Act 1959, and NTCA standard operating procedures in man-animal conflict situations.
The report further said that it was evident from the provisional post-mortem report that the bullet trajectory was at an obtuse angle from the side of the animal entering from the back side of the left scapula (shoulder blade) and penetrating towards the front of
right scapula. The committee observed that the drugs used for tranquillising T-1 were handled by unauthorised personnel who are not supposed to handle or use the same.
“The darting of T-1 by Mukbhir Sheikh (forest staff) is unauthorised, as he was authorised to identify T-1 or her cubs,” the report said, adding that the dart fired by Sheikh was used after a lapse of 56 hours. “Mukhbir Sheikh or Khan did not care for the advice of the expert.”
T-1 was seen multiple times on November 2 during the daytime and could have been darted, the report stated.
“Despite this, no proper planning was done for darting and capture of T-1 and cubs. There was no wildlife manager, veterinarian or biologist in the team. The team was not equipped to deal with the sedated tiger, did not have reversal drugs, stretcher, capture cage, net, and manpower to locate T-1 after tranquillisation. The rapid response team was not available,” the report said adding that they are all violations of NTCA SOP guidelines.