7th November, 2003

On 6 November, three days after the recovery of the dead male tiger near Damna village on the edge of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, the Forest Department of Shadhol Forest Circle have arrested seven villagers who have been accused of the crime. It is now clear that the tiger died in an electrocution trap laid by the poachers for bush meat. The bamboo pegs recovered from the scene have 3 to 4 burn marks on them which clearly show that this was not the first time they had been used to electrocute animals.

Trip records obtained by a Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) field officer from the local electrical substation show that there was a massive trip at 8.40 pm on the night of 29 October. This most likely indicates the time of the electrocution of the tiger. This was the only electrical trip at the substation between 22 October and 3 November, when the tiger was discovered.

WPSI would like to congratulate the Forest Department on their swift and effective investigations. The Department is presently carrying out an intensive search for the large male tiger known as “B1”, who is suspected to be the victim of this tragic electrocution case.

“This huge male tiger was one of the most photographed tigers in the world. He was a particularly handsome and bold animal and if it his him this is a loss of unimaginable proportions, both to Bandhavgarh and the world”, says Belinda Wright, Executive Director of WPSI.