The carcass of a female tiger was discovered by the Kerala Forest Department’s Rapid Response Team in Wayanad in the early hours of Monday, January 27. The tiger was identified as the one that had killed a tribal woman on January 24. The cause of the tiger’s death has not yet been determined and the autopsy results are awaited.
Chief Wildlife Warden Pramod G Krishnan said expert shooters and veterinary doctors had arrived in Wayanad from other regions of the state to kill the tiger if efforts to capture it had failed. Forest Minister AK Saseendran said efforts to locate other tigers in the area would be intensified in the next two days. The Kerala government also issued an order allowing the officials to kill the tiger if they were not able to capture it.
However, a capture or kill order is not given arbitrarily. The government follows certain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to deal with emergencies arising due to the straying of tigers into human-dominated landscapes
Under no circumstances can a tiger be eliminated by invoking the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, if it is not habituated to causing human death. Since tigers are categorised under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, they can be killed only if they become dangerous to human life or are so disabled or diseased beyond recovery. The decision rests solely with the Chief Wildlife Warden of a state, who has to provide reasons for permitting elimination in writing. The elimination of a tiger categorised as ‘dangerous to human life’ should be the last option, after exhausting the option of capturing the animal as detailed in the SOP.
A clear differentiation between ‘human kill’ due to chance encounters and ‘habituated animals that have become dangerous to human life’ is considered essential to making a decision. Animals cannot be declared as ‘dangerous to human life’ in cases of chance encounters. However, the animal can be killed if it is confirmed it is a habituated tiger that 'stalks’ human beings and feeds on the carcass. Such tigers are considered to be likely to be ‘dangerous to human life’.
A committee is constituted for technical guidance and monitoring on a day-to-day basis, comprising a nominee of the Chief Wildlife Warde, a nominee of the National Tiger Conservation Authority, a veterinarian, a local NGO representative, a representative of the local Panchayat and a Field Director/Protected Area Manager/DFO/I/C Chairman.
The next step is to establish the identity of the tiger by comparing camera trap photographs with the National Repository of Camera Trap Photographs of Tigers (NRCTPT)/ reserve level photo database and find out the source area of the animal.
The third step is to conduct detailed research work to assess the reasons for the frequent tiger emergencies in the area. If frequent straying or livestock depredation/human injury/fatal encounters are established near human settlements, traps (automatic closure) with appropriate luring while avoiding disturbance are installed.
The fourth step is to set up camera traps near the kill site to confirm/establish the ID of the animal. After the crisis spots/districts are identified, an analysis has to be made to understand the reasons for the frequent straying of tigers in such areas. The animal has to be closely monitored using Google Maps, indicating forest patches, the territory of the tigers, nearby habitations, and corridors. Alerts have to be given to all nearby villages to be extremely cautious.
The fifth step is to constitute a Rapid Response Team (RRT) for capturing the animal to avoid lethal encounters. They have to be given equipment to neutralise the tiger and provided 'hands-on' field training involving the Wildlife Institute of India and other relevant outside experts if needed.
Several measures should be taken to ensure that the tiger is not harmed. Traditional tiger or wildlife corridors outside the tiger reserves falling in various forest divisions must not be blocked. Information should be gathered on whether there are gangs traditionally involved in the poaching of wild animals. High-tension electrical transmission poles in tiger-bearing areas should be insulated, besides covering open wells and irrigation canals. Samples from water points/perennial water sources should be checked for lethal contamination. Natural salt licks, a place where animals go to lick salt from the ground, should be inspected to prevent poisoning/poaching in tiger-bearing areas.
Read the full SOP here.