NAGPUR : With four tiger deaths in Vidarbha in last 8 days, wildlife continues to suffer in the region due to lack of protection and monitoring by the foresters.
In a shocking incident, two six-month-old leopard cubs were harassed after they were found abandoned near Koylari village in Sadak Arjuni range, 120km from here in Gondia Forest Division. The mother leopard is feared missing. According to Gondia deputy conservator of forest (DyCF) Yuvraj S, one cub was found on Sunday evening while another was the as traced in the same area on Monday morning. “Both the cubs have been shifted to Sakoli for better treatment,” he said.
One of the cubs was seen by locals near a brick kiln. They informed the forest officials at range office but as the staff along with rapid rescue team (RRT) arrived two hours latter, a motley crowd of villagers had thronged the place and ome of them even dragged the cub and harassed it.
The village where two cubs have been found falls in Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve (NNTR) corridor and is in the buffer. Wildlife continues to suffer as buffer zone has not been handed over to the tiger reserve, which is mandatory as per Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Twenty days ago a full-grown leopard was shot dead in Gothangaon range range near Navegaon National Park. Both the accused who shot the leopard are out on bail.
According to Anil Kumar Nair, Wildlife Trust of India’s (WTI) Central India Tiger Conservation Project lead, the cubs look extremely weak as their mother seems to be missing.
“We shifted one cub to Kohmara from where it was shifted to Sakoli for better treatment. Both the cubs are under shock, especially after being attacked by people and loss of their mother,” Nair added.
