The iconic male tiger, admired by thousands of tourists and feared by rivals, reportedly died after a fierce clash in the Khitauli range. Bandhavgarh National Park has lost one of its most recognizable and beloved tigers. Pujari (priest in English) , the majestic male who ruled hearts as much as territories , is believed to have died following a violent territorial clash with D1, another dominant male from the Khitauli range. Tourist guides noticed his sun-salutation poses at water bodies and a priest like calm in the cat, giving him the moniker. For wildlife lovers and regular visitors to Bandhavgarh, the news marks the end of an unforgettable chapter in the park’s rich tiger history. Several WhatsApp groups of tourists, guides, and wildlife enthusiasts have been flooded with tributes to the iconic tiger. While many stories circulating after Pujari’s death may not fully conform to scientific wildlife interpretations, they reflect the immense popularity of the big cat and t...
Close on the heels of the tiger census data released by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi showcasing the success of tiger conservation , visuals of a tiger in a chain held by the Environment and forest minister of Arunachal Pradesh shook the country. The minister Mama Natung walks the tiger like a pet .On April 16, he also twitted the video from his official twitter handle . He also posted the video with pride on his facebook page. For record, tiger is listed in the scheduled one of the Wild Life (Protecton) Act 1972 and one can not have it as a pet .This Schedule deals with endangered species.
Violation of Wildlife Protection Act
Interestingly, while tweeting the video , mama also tagged the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Union ministry of Environment, forest and climate change. NTCA is the apex body for the protection and conservation of the tiger. The caption reads ,“Happy to walk with reared tiger which is the most powerful Animals Tiger, so people's around the world should Learn the Love from Animals, if you love nature will find beauty everywhere. #moefcc #ntca_india #ArunachalCMO #PMOIndia #BJP4Arunachal”.
Mama, a businessman turned politician, can be seen taking the chained tiger for a walk. For 6.6 minutes, till the video ran, the minister wearing shorts and slippers is seen pulling the chain of the tiger and patting the beast on his back. Two more men, perhaps from his staff, were also seen one by one coming and patting the tiger like a pet. There are eight wildlife sanctuaries, and two national parks in the state of Arunachal Pradesh and this include Namdaph,One of the largest national parks in India.and all of them are under Mama Nutang. In the country where tiger protection is on the top of the priority list of the government, the minister’s act raises several questions.
Some Needs to Take Cognizance
In March this year, a resident of Uttar Pradesh was arrested after he was found in possession of a Sarus Crane, a bird listed in scheduled three of the Wildlife Protect act 1972. In February last year, Mohammad Arif, 35, brought home an injured sarus crane he found in his village of Mandhka in Uttar Pradesh’s Amethi district. After he took care of it over the next thirteen months, he found himself booked under the Wild Life (Protection ) Act.
The wildlife authorities moved the crane from Arif’s house to a Raebareli sanctuary and later shifted to the Kanpur Zoo. Arif might have been unaware of the Act and that he was violating it. But Mama is the minister for environment and forest and is expected to have an understanding that his act is a violation of the Wild Life Protection Act. And if he doesn’t , someone needs to take cognizance.
By Deshdeep Saxena
Images from the minister's Video
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