Bhopal, Mar 14: The State Forest Minister has finally sacked the Director Van Vihar National Park following the death of a white tigress on Friday. The Van Vihar is under fire for its shoddy care of wild animals in the recent past. The situation was so pathetic that as many as 14 big cats have lost their lives at Van Vihar due to various reasons in the last one and half years.
The depleting number of Tigers at the Van Vihar national Park suffered another set back on Friday as 3-year old white tigress ‘Rashmi’ died following a scuffle with one of the other tigress and sustaining minor injuries in the incident. The tigress was suffering from chronic skeptic arthritis for quite some time, said AK Khare Assistant Director Van Vihar. ‘Rashmi’ was brought to the Park in the year 2006 from Borivali National Park Mumbai and was under treatment since then. Khare added that the tigress might have died of the shock following the scuffle with another tigress on Friday afternoon. The State Forest Minister Vijay Shah taking prompt action has sacked the Director JS Chouhan after the incident. Chouhan is under fire for quite some time following the death of 14 big cats in the span of just one and half years at the park.
The park authorities also had to face severe criticism last month when a male tiger brought from Panna died during treatment and an unsuccessful operation at the park. The number of tigresses has reduced to 11 following the death of ‘Rashmi’. The Park only has single tiger, which is kept in the rescue center as he is too old. The park authorities have preserved the skin of ‘Rashmi’ for displaying it in the form of trophy. The big cats at the park are fast being converted to trophies clearly indicates the negligence of the forest authorities in the state.