The forest department of Rajasthan can now relocate tigresses to the Mukundra Tiger Hills Reserve (MHTG) after the Rajasthan High Court dismissed a petition challenging the translocation of the male tiger T-91. The decision by the divisional bench of the court comes as a major relief for the state government, which was defending itself on the issue of shifting of the male tiger to the MHTG.
The T-91 was shifted from the Ramgarh Vishdhari Wildlife Sanctuary to Mukundra Tiger Hills Reserve (MHTG) by the state government. A petition filed by wildlife activist Ajay Dubey alleged violation of wildlife norms by the Rajasthan government in translocating the tiger and sought that the tiger be relocated to its original habitat.
The petition challenged the shifting of tiger on several grounds. It claimed that the Rajasthan state government had in 2017 sent a proposal to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to reintroduce tigers into MHTR. Through a letter dated 9 October 2017, NTCA had given in-principle approval to the proposal, the petition said.
The court had sought response from the office of the principal chief conservator of forests Rajasthan GV Reddy, to which it was tendered that no norms were violated in carrying out the exercise in MHTG. It was argued in the court that the chief wildlife warden is competent authority to take decision to shift the tiger as per section 11 of wildlife protection act 1972.
According to the original plan put together by the state government two female and one male tiger were to be let loose in the forests of MHTG. The forest officials had received in-principle approval for the relocation on October 9, 2017. However, the department fell short of fulfilling few conditions which led to the withdrawal of the permission.
The court observed that the NTCA is a capable body which can decide on the relocation of the tigers. The court also observed that the male tiger is roaming the sanctuary alone and in stress. The court also observed that the government was already sanctioned permission by the NTCA earlier. In such circumstances, court’s intervention is not warranted, the bench observed.
The Petition
The T-91 was shifted from the Ramgarh Vishdhari Wildlife Sanctuary to Mukundra Tiger Hills Reserve (MHTG) by the state government. A petition filed by wildlife activist Ajay Dubey alleged violation of wildlife norms by the Rajasthan government.
