Tamil Nadu: Mudumalai hotspot for tiger poaching

Chennai: Poachers are now targeting drought hit Tamil Nadu for wild animals. Particularly the tigers in Sathyamangalam and Mudumalai are vulnerable with forests and water holes drying up this summer making it easy for the poachers to follow, said a forest department official responding to the recent case of tiger being poisoned to death at Sathyamangalam tiger reserve. Though in this case the DFO and his team cracked the case arresting four people for killing the big cat, but there is a constant threat for our big cats. Early this year, carcasses of three leopards were also recovered from Coimbatore conservator circle and this shows that the wild cats are under constant threat from poachers.

Based on secret information received by forest ranger Talamalai an investigation team was set up by DFO Sathyamangalam and the tribals of Bejjalatti settlement were trapped.

The tribes have removed claws and tooth of the deceased tiger, but this shows that the poaching network is still operating in the tiger reserves of TN. We are strengthening our intelligence so that the wildlife poaching can be prevented in future, the official noted.