JOIN USReport from CCMB, Hyderabad finds no human DNA in scat samples
The scat analysis report by Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, of Shiva, the tiger that was captured following the mauling of three persons in the forest fringes of H D Kote taluk, has found no presence of human DNA. Seven scat samples collected from regions where the feline was caught, was sent to CCMB on December 9.
The animal is currently lodged at Sri Chamrajendra Zoological Gardens hospital in the city. While the report had raised hopes of animal lovers that the tiger might be put on display, Executive Director of the Zoo, B P Ravi, said that displaying the animal would be unlikely in the immediate future.
The animal will be shifted to breeding and rescue center of the Zoo at Koorgalli soon. Depending on how the animal copes with other tigers during the breeding programme, a decision on whether to display the animal would be taken, he said.
Contrary to reports that Shiva will be shifted to the Animal Rescue Center at Bannerghatta, near Bangalore, Ravi said that the Zoo would retain him, as using the animal for breeding would help in introducing new bloodline in the zone. Earlier, a report by National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bangalore, also did not show any presence of human DNA from the scat sample.
According to the report by CCMB, DNA analysis of all seven scat samples did not show presence of human DNA, indicating that the tiger had not consumed any human flesh. The report also noted that of the seven scat samples, only six were from tiger origin. Of the six samples collected by the Forest department shortly after capturing the tiger, three samples were from a completely different tiger. CCMB in its report also noted that these three samples are of a tigress.
It can be recalled that few officials of the Forest department had raised concerns about the feasibility of the test, on the grounds that the samples were collected late.