CBI probe ordered into tigers' deaths at Corbett Tiger Reserve
The Uttarakhand High Court has ordered a CBI probe into the death of tigers at the Corbett Tiger Reserve over the past five years and the alleged involvement of forest department officials in the poaching of big cats. A division bench of the court comprising Acting Chief Justice Rajiv Sharma and Justice Lokpal Singh ordered an inquiry on Tuesday into the death of tigers.
Find out the involvement of forest officers in poaching: HC
The court asked the CBI to find out the involvement of forest officers in the poaching of tigers. The matter shall be inquired into and investigated by the CBI and the preliminary report shall be submitted, in sealed cover, within 3 months, the court said.
Only 6 out of 9 tiger deaths were natural
The direction came after the court was told that out of nine tiger deaths in the past only six were natural deaths. The court does not order for investigation by the CBI, but the present case is the rarest of rare cases where the expertise of CBI is solicited, the court said. The CBI is free to yield the services of its Wildlife Wing.
In last 30 months, 40 tigers have died in Uttarakhand
The court further observed that in a period of two-and-a-half years 40 tigers and 272 leopards have died in Uttarakhand. As per a newspaper report, poachers active in Uttarakhand belong to the Bawariya gang hailing from Haryana. The Director General of Police is directed to constitute a Special Investigation Team headed by Senior Superintendents of Police to nab these poachers, the court said.
Court banned the entry of private, commercial gypsies to reserve
The court further took cognizance of the fact that an area measuring 318.80 hectares falling in Dhulwa and Dhumanda has not been formally included in the Corbett Tiger Reserve. The state is directed to include this area in reserve within one month. Issuing various directions to preserve wildlife, the court banned entry of private, commercial gypsies to ply in Dhikala Zone of the reserve.
