A tiger named Tiger T-104 that killed more than nine humans, was shot dead by forest officials in Bihar’s West Champaran district.
Key points
- The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the State’s additional principal chief conservator of forest-cum-wildlife warden had issued a ‘shoot-at-sight’ order for the big cat following protest from the people living around the Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) in Bagaha.
- The elimination of the tiger has raised eyebrows since the animal is listed under Schedule 1 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (WLPA).
- The NTCA has laid down Standing Operating Procedures (SoP) for declaring tigers and leopards as ‘dangerous to human life’, if they pose threats to human lives.
- The SOP laid down in 2007 (and amended in 2019) states that animals which have become ‘dangerous to Human Life’ should be eliminated as per the statutory provisions provided in section 11 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
- Tiger as well as leopard are categorized under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, with highest statutory protection against hunting under section 9 (1) of the said Act.
- Hence, such species can be killed if they become dangerous to human life or are so disabled/ diseased beyond recovery.
- Under section 11 (1) (a) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the Chief Wildlife Warden of a State alone has the authority to permit hunting of such animals becoming dangerous to human life or disabled or diseased beyond recovery.
- However, as per the statutory requirement, the Chief Wildlife Warden of the State has to state in writing the reasons for permitting elimination before hunting.
- There are several reasons for a big wild cat like tiger or a leopard to get habituated as becoming ‘dangerous to Human Life’, viz.
- Disability due to old age, incapacitation due to serious injury or loss/breakage of its canines etc. However, there may be several exceptions, and hence specific reasons have to be ascertained on a case to case basis.
