Who is guarding the tigers?

While the entire nation is worried about grave threat to wildlife, especially tigers, and adopting measures to protect the big cat, the state forest minister has virtually thrown open three tiger reserves in the state for poachers.

The recent transfers in forest department have once again highlighted the callous attitude of the government towards protecting the wildlife in the state.

“It seems the forest ministry is waiting for a Sariska or Panna to happen in the three tiger reserves in the state and other protected areas (PAs). Because the minister has haphazardly transferred officials recently and left some very important posts without officers,” said a senior forest department official.

Pachpute transferred over 350 transfers recently. This included over 240 range forest officers (RFOs), and the field director and conservator of forests of the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR). Though SH Patil, field director, TATR has been shifted out, there is no replacement leaving the reserve headless. Similarly, over a dozen RFOs from wildlife areas were shifted without any replacements.

The worst-affected reserve after the transfers would be TATR and Pench. TATR will be back to square one as Tadoba RFO KR Sonawane, who has not even completed a year in his current assignment, has been shifted to Uran. There is no replacement for him. Also, Moharli RFO AD Patthe is on the verge of promotion as ACF so this post is also likely to fall vacant soon.

Similarly, RFO (protection) GN Pise is to retire soon. Overall, of the four RFOs in TATR, only Kolsa RFO DP Chondekar has been replaced with RP Kamble from Pandharkawda in Yavatmal. However, Kamble has not reported to his new posting yet.

At Pench Tiger Reserve, two RFOs Anil Waghmare of anti-poaching squad and ST Londhe of east Pench have been shifted to Paoni and Kuhi, respectively, without any replacements. West Pench RFO Anil Nimje is on the verge of being promoted as ACF and his post too will become vacant soon.

These transfers are all the more surprising since Pench is grappling with the chronic problem of fishing, and both Pench and Tadoba are high on the hit list of poachers. The then PCCF (wildlife) B Majumdar had in fact announced closure of the park for tourists due to vacancies of RFOs. Now, Pench is heading for a similar situation.

Pachpute, who decides the postings, seems to have gone back on his promise made in November that wildlife areas will get priority in postings. Pachpute said, “The postings will be made soon. As far as the post of field director of TATR is concerned, the chief minister had some queries. Besides, there were some technical problems. We will issue the orders.” Pachpute gave a similar reply when the issue of vacant TATR posts was taken up with him.