By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Shyampur (Haridwar), 20 May: The brutal killing of a male tiger and a tigress in Haridwar’s Shyampur range has triggered serious concern within the Uttarakhand Government and the Forest Department, with the incident once again highlighting the growing challenge of wildlife crime and human-animal conflict around the Rajaji Tiger Reserve landscape. Two days after the carcasses of the big cats were recovered under shocking circumstances, Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal and Om Prakash Jamdagni visited the site today to take stock of the situation and review the ongoing investigation.
During the inspection, senior forest officials briefed the minister about the sequence of events, the progress of the probe and the extensive search operation underway in the forest area. Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Swapnil Aniruddh, SDO Poonam Kainthola, Shyampur Ranger Vinay Kumar Rathi and several other officials from the Forest Department were present during the visit.
It may be recalled that the gruesome incident came to light after forest personnel recovered the bodies of a nearly two-year-old male tiger and a two-year-old tigress from the Shyampur range adjoining the Rajaji Tiger Reserve. According to the officials, all four paws of both tigers had been chopped off, raising strong suspicion of organised wildlife poaching and illegal trade in animal body parts. Reports emerging from the investigation also indicated that the animals were fed buffalo meat laced with toxic substances and were thus poisoned.
The forest officials said two Van Gujjars have so far been arrested in connection with the case, while three others remain absconding. Two additional suspects from Udham Singh Nagar district have also been detained for questioning. Joint teams of Haridwar Police, Uttarakhand STF, Rajaji Tiger Reserve personnel and Forest Department officials are conducting continuous raids and search operations to trace the remaining accused.
Adding to the concern of the authorities, the mother tigress of the two slain tigers has remained untraceable since the incident. Forest officials said the tigress has not been sighted after the death of her cubs, prompting fears about her safety and movement within the forest landscape. Ten camera traps have been installed across the Shyampur range and extensive combing operations have been carried out throughout the forest area. Officials claimed that fresh pugmarks believed to be of the tigress were found a day earlier, providing some indication that the animal may still be moving within the range.
The Forest Department has also initiated internal scrutiny following the incident. DFO Swapnil Aniruddh issued notices to Shyampur Ranger Vinay Rathi and two other personnel, seeking explanations regarding the circumstances under which such a serious wildlife crime took place inside the forest division.
Speaking during the inspection, Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal said protection of wildlife remains the highest priority of the state government and such incidents would not be tolerated under any circumstances. He directed officials to ensure a fair, transparent and thorough investigation and instructed that strict legal action be taken against all those involved in the killing of the tigers. He said Uttarakhand’s forests and wildlife are part of the state’s ecological identity and every effort must be made to strengthen surveillance and conservation mechanisms.
Jamdagni also expressed deep grief over the incident and stressed the need for greater public awareness regarding wildlife conservation. He said society as a whole must become more sensitive towards forest ecosystems and wildlife protection so that such incidents are not repeated in future.
It may be reminded here that the incident has sparked widespread outrage among wildlife activists and conservationists, particularly because the Shyampur range forms an important corridor connected to the Rajaji Tiger Reserve, an area known for significant tiger and elephant movement. Wildlife experts have repeatedly flagged the increasing pressure of human activity, encroachment and illegal activities in forest fringe areas adjoining Rajaji. In recent years, the Haridwar forest division and Shyampur range have witnessed several serious incidents involving unnatural deaths of wild animals, including tigers, elephants and leopards, due to poisoning, electrocution, train accidents and conflict situations.
The latest case has once again drawn attention to the vulnerability of wildlife in the region and the continuing threat posed by poaching networks operating around protected forest areas. Forest officials said post-mortem examinations of the two tigers were conducted in accordance with National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) guidelines and forensic samples have been preserved as part of the investigation.
