The memo was based on confession of three tiger poachers — Tota, Balram and Balku Bawaria — caught in separate raids in the state. They were caught with tiger and leopard skins allegedly killed in the state.
According to NGO Wildlife Protection Society of India, 61 tigers were killed in 2011 and 18 till end of February 2012 in the country. This does not take into account the alleged killing of tigers by these three poachers.
The poachers reportedly hired locals to kill tigers in different forest ranges of the state, including Corbett Tigers Reserve, which has highest density of big cats in the world.
“For each tiger an initial amount of Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 was paid," said a senior state forest department functionary. Once the animal was killed and handed over another Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 was paid.
Although the poachers operated separately, their modus operandi was similar. They visited the state to order the killing in three to four locations and thereafter, the entire operation was run using mobile phones. "For the first time, mobile phones were put on surveillance and it helped us to crack the racket," a senior state forest department functionary said. Read the full report here.
Source: Chetan Chauhan, Hindustan Times, New Delhi.
