New scare at Ranthambore: Traps found

Even after the Rajasthan police unearthed a poaching racket in Ranthambhore National Park and arrested several suspects, there is little res...

Even after the Rajasthan police unearthed a poaching racket in Ranthambhore National Park and arrested several suspects, there is little respite for India8217;s most famous tiger reserve. Sources said as many as 10 metal claw traps have been recovered from the park in the past few days. Forest guards have also intercepted a gang of three inside the park who reportedly fired three rounds before getting away.

Deputy Field Director RS Sekhawat confirmed that all is not well with Ranthambhore. 8217;8217;We spotted some metal chains that are usually used to tie the metal traps to nearby trees. Some movement was also reported inside the forest but I don8217;t know about gunshots. Perhaps, local dacoits took refuge inside the park. The intruders left the park soon enough. Of course, we are more vigilant. Otherwise, these things would have gone unnoticed,8217;8217; he said.

A number of ground staff and forest guides have told this correspondent that the traps were found deep inside the park 8212; at Lambi nallah between Bakola and Lakada 8212; about 7 km from the nearest village Uliana, infamous as a hub of the local poaching racket. 8216;8216;If they were looking for sambhars or wild boars for meat, they wouldn8217;t have gone so far inside. It8217;s just not feasible to carry the animals out from that far when they can get those at fringe areas. Besides, the traps were put at the edge, not centre, of the bridle path where tigers usually walk,8217;8217; pointed out a forest guard.

8216;8216;Of course, I am not discounting poaching threats. We are looking into the developments carefully,8217;8217; Shekhawat said.

Jay Mazoomdaar

Jay Mazoomdaar is an investigative reporter focused on offshore finance, equitable growth, natural resources management and biodiversity conservation. Over two decades, his work has been recognised by the International Press Institute, the Ramnath Goenka Foundation, the Commonwealth Press Union, the Prem Bhatia Memorial Trust, the Asian College of Journalism etc. Expertise and Experience Mazoomdaar’s major investigations include the extirpation of tigers in Sariska, global offshore probes such as Panama Papers, Robert Vadra’s land deals in Rajasthan, India’s dubious forest cover data, Vyapam deaths in Madhya Pradesh, mega projects flouting clearance conditions, Nitin Gadkari’s link to e-rickshaws, India shifting stand on ivory ban to fly in African cheetahs, the loss of indigenous cow breeds, the hydel rush in Arunachal Pradesh, land mafias inside Corbett, the JDY financial inclusion scheme, an iron ore heist in Odisha, highways expansion through the Kanha-Pench landscape etc. ... Read More