From Our Correspondent
GUWAHATI: Assam government has ordered an inquiry into the killing of a tigress by Assam Police personnel near Kaziranga National Park on Monday and asked for the report within 15 days.
Assam Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain informed that a three-member inquiry committee headed by the Additional Principal Conservator of Forest O P Pandey had been entrusted to conduct the probe into the circumstances leading to the death of the tigress near Kaziranga National Park.
The committee has been asked to fix responsibility and suggest measures to prevent recurrence of such incidents in future.
Meanwhile, a two-member team deputed by National Tiger Conservation Authority (NCTA) has confirmed that there were 14 bullet marks on the carcass of the tigress killed on Monday last.
The full-grown tigress was shot dead by Assam Police Battalion personnel near Kaziranga National Park after the animal had went on a rampage in a village called Bocha Gaon.
The tigress which strayed out of the national park, was found hiding in the backyard of a villager . Assam Police Battalion (APBn) personnel who were rushed to the spot, opened fire at the animal after it had attacked one of the police jawans. It was killed on the spot.
The plains of Assam are considered as one of the significant natural tiger habitats potent enough for its long term conservation.
Assam represents about 15% of India’s total tiger population with estimated 100 tigers in its forest areas, mostly in the Kaziranga Landscape.
Kaziranga National Park which is more famous for its treasure trove of one-horned Asian rhinoceros, located in the flood plains of Brahmaputra River is an important tiger habitat in the country.
The tiger population there is considered a healthy source population. The India Tiger Estimate 2010 has recorded considerable increase in tiger population in Assam plains, basically in Kaziranga area.
In fact, the big cat population in the State has touched an impressive 143, a record increase of 73 tigers.
Assam in 2006 recorded a population of 70 tigers but in 2010 its population has grown to 143.
The estimates are part of the detailed report on the All India Tiger Estimation-2010 released by Union Ministry of Environment and Forest in July this year.