Representative image of a tiger
Credit: iStock Photo
Bengaluru: Five days after the killing of five tigers in the Male Mahadeshwara Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, the Forest Department on Monday sent the deputy conservator of forests and two other officers on compulsory leave.
The Forest Department had come under spotlight after a female tiger and its four cubs were found dead in the Hoogyam range of the MM Hills division. The department later booked three persons for poisoning of the tigers.
Monday's order by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Force) Meenakshi Negi said DCF Y Chakrapani, Assistant Conservator of Forests Gajanana Hegde and Range Forest Officer Madesh were being sent on compulsory leave. Santosh Kumar G, an IFS officer who was recently transferred from MM Hills to Bengaluru, has been placed with concurrent charge of the sensitive area.
The order stated that the five tigers were killed just 100 metres from the road. "Despite the tigers lying dead for days just 100 metres from the road, the personnel have not noticed the same. The place of death is about 800 metres away from the anti-poaching camp. Media reports state that the staffers in the camp have not been paid for three months," the order said, pointing to the demoralisation of the staffers affecting conservation work.
The department said DCF Y Chakrapani and the two others were prima facie seem to be responsible. Since the matter requires a detailed investigation, the three were being sent on compulsory leave "till further orders".