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SC seeks report on tiger deaths
From Our Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI, July 10 — Expressing anguish over the recent tragic death of 12 white tigers in the protective custody of Nandankanan Zoo, the Supreme Court today directed the Centre to file within three weeks a copy of the report of the expert committee assigned with the task of going into the causes of their death along with the action taken report (ATR).

The report of the committee and the ATR should be supported by an affidavit from Additional Inspector General of Wildlife S.C. Sharma, the court added.

The direction was issued by a three-judge Bench comprising Chief Justice A.S. Anand, Mr Justice R.C. Lahoti and Mr Justice K.G. Balakrishanan during resumed hearing of a public interest litigation filed by Mr Naveen M. Raheja. The petition sought effective steps by the authorities concerned to save the tigers from extinction due to poaching in the wild.

The court noted that the tragedy at the Nandankanan was a matter of concern.

Additional Solicitor General Altaf Ahmad told the court the government was seized with the issue and had already constituted a high-powered team of experts to look into the matter. The team, he said, would submit its report on July 15.

“We will have to address the larger issue of protecting the tiger population not only in the forests but also in zoos,” the Chief Justice observed. For this reason, he said, the examination of the report of the expert committee was required.

Earlier, the Chief Justice said what had happened in Nandankanan was a serious matter. “We would like to see the report of the expert committee appointed by the government because the report has to be included in the present litigation for a different perspective.”

Mr Altaf Ahmad informed the court that the government had yet to receive the report of the expert committee and the incident at the Nandankanan Zoo was not connected in any way with the project tiger.

“But the animals died in the protective custody of the zoo which is worst,” the Chief Justice pointed out. He also made reference to a recent report telecast by a private TV channel showing yearwise deaths of tigers in protective custody since 1984.

“If these deaths have taken place due to negligence, then it is imperative to see what action has been taken against those responsible for the same. Unless that is done nothing will happen and no amount of legislation would improve the situation,” he observed.

Tigers’ death: govt calls meeting

NEW DELHI, July 10 (UNI) — Concerned over the death of a dozen tigers at the Nandankanan zoo, the Centre has convened a two-day meeting of top officials and veterinarians of the country at Chennai commencing from July 19.

The death of the big cats in captivity will be the main focus while handling of other animals would be the other areas which would be discussed in the meeting. Directors of all zoological parks and veterinarians involved in treatment of wild animals and administrators will take part in the conference.

While 12 tigers succumbed to trypanasomosis, five others have managed to survive. The deaths have sparked a heated discussion in the country and the zoo managements have come under severe attack for laxity.

Though tigers are no more a species facing extinction, the number of white tigers is only about 200 in the country. The 1997 census had estimated the number of tigers at 2979 without the figures from the states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Nagaland and Tamil Nadu. These states were believed to have 822 tigers in 1993.

Tiger population in Namdapha up

ITANAGAR, July 10 (UNI) — The tiger population in Namdapha tiger reserve of Arunachal Pradesh has increased marginally from 57 in 1997 to 60, according to a census carried out recently.

The Namdapha tiger project Field Director D.N. Singh said in the last census in 1997 there were only 57 tigers in the reserve. Of these, 19 are male, 29 females and live cubs.

There were only 43 tigers in Namdapha when the area was declared a tiger reserve forest in 1983.