Activists suspect Avni killed to clear land for developers

Mumbai: Wildlife activists and protestors, slamming the state government for sanctioning a shoo at sight order for T1 tigress, have asked for an independent SIT probe against the forest department. They suspect that the shooting order was an attempt to free up the land for developers, as a massive forest area has being diverted in the Yavatmal forest.

“The issue is not over with Avni’s death. We have demanded an SIT probe in the matter and have been stressing on bringing an independent wildlife organisation to conduct search operations for the 11 months old cubs, which are no-where related to the forest department or state wildlife board. An enq-uiry should also be set up against the forest de-partment over procedural lapses in the whole operation,” said Dr. Jerryl Banait, wildlife activist who filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the shoot at sight order for the tigress by the state chief wildlife warden.

Meanwhile, the city saw a huge protest on Sunday against the sho-oting of T1 tigress, whe-re a large number of citizens gathered at Carter Road. They asserted that such kind of killing of wild animals should be prevented, especially when their habitats are being encroached upon.

Mumbai-based activists have also stated that more than 400 hectares of forestland in Yavatmal district is being diverted for development project, which could hamper the wildlife there.

“The shooting of Avni is highly suspicious as the forest lands near the same area is being div-erted for mining and de-velopment projects. The tiger will not stay at one place, hence it seems th-at it was decided to rem-ove it,” said Stalin Day-anand, project director of NGO Vanashakti.