Bhopal: The State-level probe panel formed for looking into the mysterious disappearance of tigers from Panna has started its proceedings from Friday. The four members of the team conducted a field visit on Friday for assessing the present status inside the park. The team is expected to conduct a public hearing on Saturday. The four members of the state level Panna probe panel, which landed at Panna National Park, conducted a field visit across the park to start the proceedings on Friday. Four members of the panel; Principal Chief Conservator Forest (PCCF-Wildlife) HS Pabla, former member World Wildlife Fund Ravi Singh, former director Wildlife Institute of India HS Pawar and senior journalist Abhilash Khandekar have reached Panna for starting the inquiry.
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) Member-Secretary Rajesh Gopal and former State PCCF JJ Dutta are the remaining two members of the panel. The team first of all conducted a field visit for assessing the present status inside the park and also for verifying the facts and figures they have about the park. The team also discussed the situation of Panna with the noted wildlife expert Raghu Chudawat. Notably, Chudawat was the first renowned tiger expert, who had raised an alarm in the year 2005, by preparing a report regarding 23 missing tigers from Panna.
Meanwhile, the visiting team is expected to conduct a public hearing and will seek written or oral evidences in connection with the mysterious disappearance of striped cats from Panna over the past few years. The task for this panel is already cut out as the center’s probe panel in its report has already claimed that big cat community has been wiped out from Panna. The state probe panel is concentrating on ascertaining the reasons responsible for decline in tiger population from Panna and devising future course of action for conserving wildlife at Panna. The park administration has also handed over required documents to the visiting panel members in connection with the inquiry. The panel is planning to continue the inquiry till July 6.