Valpoi: Two Tiger carcasses including that of a female were recovered from Mahadayi Wildlife Sanctuary on Tuesday-Wednesday, totaling the deaths to three.
Forest Department officials who had found first carcass of a cub on Sunday, had recovered another one of the same age on Tuesday evening. During the combing operation, the third carcass, apparently of the mother of the two was recovered in the forests of Golavali village in Sattari taluka, which is inside Mahadayi Wildlife Sanctuary.
“The third carcass was found within one kilometer radius of the spots where two carcasses were recovered earlier on Sunday and Tuesday,” a senior forest department official said.
State Forest department on December 23, 2019, had camera trapped the presence of a tigress along with her three cubs in the area, where the carcasses are found.
While exact cause of their death is yet to be ascertained, the Forest Department official termed this could be a “revenge killing” by the miscreants.
The tiger who was on the prowl in the area had attacked livestock of the locals.
Forest department has taken into custody four locals, who are being investigated. The department has booked case against unidentified persons under Wildlife Protection Act.
Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, in whose assembly constituency the deaths have been reported, has appealed Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change ministry to send a central team to investigate the incidents.
Earlier during the day, Rane tweeted “Rane tweeted “with reference to the two cubs that have been found dead at Mahadayi wildlife Sanctuary, Sattari, I would requestion Union Minister for Forest Shri @PrakashJavdekar to intervene and send a central team to conduct a detailed investigation into the matter.”
“Having a passion for wildlife, especially tigers, this incident in my constituency at Valpoi has taken me by shock. A thorough investigation into the matter is vital. It is very important to stop such mishaps as it is our duty to conserve and protect wildlife,” he said in another tweet.
