Forest dept under scanner after tigers go missing in Ranthambore

Ranthambore: The forest department is failing to protect its tigers. According to a rough estimate, about 30 tigers have gone missing from the forests of Ranthambore in the last one decade. In the last few years, cases of poaching have also been reported. An esurveillance system worth Rs 60 crore has been installed for monitoring and tracking tigers but camera towers have not been installed in Phalodi and Baler ranges. Most hunting and disappearance of tigers have been reported from these ranges.

Now the High Court and the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) have intervened and formed two separate investigation committees. The High Court has formed a committee of two lawyers to investigate the missing tigers. The forest department is constantly under the scanner now. In Ranthambore, the disappearance of tigers is astonishing despite the presence of an e-surveillance system. At present, there are camera towers in only four ranges. Officials say that Ranthambore has more tigers than its capacity.