Tiger death motivates forest officials for public awareness in Madhya Pradesh

Bhopal, Aug. 14 : The growing concern about tiger deaths in Madhya Pradesh have made the forest department of the National Park Association here to spread awareness about this endangered animal.

The death of a tiger by hunters earlier this year had caused a deep setback to the officials here. The injured tiger was taken to Bhopal for medical treatment. But, the forest department could not save it.

The incident and the endeavours made to save the tiger from dying motivated the officials here to do something for the safety of these endangered animals.

" This tiger was killed in the forests of Satla district on February 17th. A team of doctors from the forest department, Jabalpur district and veterinary hospitals were called for the treatment but unfortunately they couldn't save its life. All these efforts encouraged us to do something that conveys a public message," said A.K Khare, the conservator of the forest department, National Park, Madhya Pradesh.

Officials decided to make a trophy of the dead tiger with the help of Taxidermy Art where a model of the tiger will be made with the help of the dead tiger's skin and clay.

Once the trophy is ready it will be sited at the entrance of the National Park to make people aware of this endangered species.

To make this trophy, the forest department has approached a veterinary college of Mumbai for its services. The trophy will be made of the dead tiger's bones and skin and will be handed over to the forest department by September this year.

"The forest department of Madhya Pradesh wants to convey a public message. Once the trophy is ready, it would be sited at the interpretation centre where along with the trophy, photographs of efforts done in saving the tiger will also be displayed," said Santosh Gaikwad, Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy, Bombay Veterinary College.

There are just 30 tigers and lions presently existing in this national wildlife park.Most of them are old-aged and a tigress among them is cancer affected.

It is worth mentioning that many people describe Madhya Pradesh as a "Tiger state". By Ram Chand Sahoo

ANI