3 weeks ago
Tigress Death in Snare Raises Nallamala Wildlife Safety Concerns
A tigress living in a big forest in India got caught in a trap set by a poacher and died.
The people who found her body quietly burned it without telling their bosses.
Later, a senior forest officer found out and started asking questions.
This was not the first time: two other tigers died in the same forest earlier.
One tiger was caught in a trap, and another was hurt by a porcupine's sharp quills.
People who hurt tigers are called poachers, and some were arrested for having tiger claws.
Tiger claws are valuable, and some people sell them illegally.
Forest officers think these poachers might be part of a bigger group that sends tiger parts to other countries.
There are not enough forest guards to watch over the huge forest, which makes it hard to protect tigers.
Many people are worried that tigers are not safe even in a protected forest.
A tigress died in September 2025 after being caught in a poacher's snare in the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR) in the Nallamala forest.
Lower-level forest staff allegedly cremated the carcass quietly without informing senior officials, prompting a field-level inquiry by NSTR deputy director Vignesh Appavu.
Two other tiger deaths were reported earlier: one in a snare around International Tiger Day on July 29 and another on July 31 after porcupine quills pierced its body.
Three men — Y. Thimmaiah, Kunchala Mallikarjuna and Karavula Venkateswarlu — were arrested for possessing six suspected tiger claws, with two more suspects later taken into custody.
Officials suspect organised wildlife smugglers with possible links to Myanmar and Cambodia may be sourcing tiger parts for markets in China, though this is not conclusively established.
- Who
- Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve deputy director Vignesh Appavu confirmed the tigress's death, while lower-level forest staff allegedly cremated the carcass; three men were arrested for possessing suspected tiger claws.
- What
- A tigress died after getting caught in a poacher's snare, and the incident was reportedly kept under wraps with the carcass cremated without due process, raising concerns over big cat safety.
- Where
- The Indireswar section of the Nagalooti range in the Atmakur forest division, near Kottacheruvu in the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve, Nallamala forest.
- When
- The tigress died in September 2025 and the report became available on Tuesday; earlier tiger deaths occurred around July 29 and July 31.
- Why
- The death is suspected to be linked to organised wildlife smuggling of tiger parts, allegedly targeting markets in China, though investigators have not conclusively established this.
Wildlife Protection Concerns
Officials' Response
Carcass handling and disclosure
Wildlife Protection Concerns
Lower-level forest staff allegedly cremated the tigress with the help of locals without informing senior officials, raising questions about due process and transparency in wildlife death reporting.
Officials' Response
NSTR deputy director Vignesh Appavu said a field-level inquiry was conducted, the person who first noticed the carcass was questioned, and action will be taken against staff found to have failed in their duties.
Wildlife trafficking links
Wildlife Protection Concerns
Repeated snare deaths and recovery of tiger claws suggest the possible involvement of organised wildlife smugglers, with indications of international networks linked to Myanmar and Cambodia sourcing tiger parts for markets in China.
Officials' Response
Officials state that this international trafficking dimension is yet to be conclusively established by investigators, and seized claws will be subjected to scientific examination to verify they came from a tiger.
Key facts
- Tiger Reserve
- Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR)
- Tigress death
- September 2025, poacher's snare near Kottacheruvu
- Earlier tiger deaths
- July 29 (snare) and July 31 (porcupine quills)
- Persons arrested
- Y. Thimmaiah, Kunchala Mallikarjuna, Karavula Venkateswarlu
- Items seized
- Six suspected tiger claws
- Legal provision
- Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
- Nallamala forest area
- Nearly 3,467 sq km
- Forest staff shortfall
- About 250 available versus 750 required
Quotes
Vignesh Appavu
Deputy director of Nagarjunasagar‑Srisailam Tiger Reserve
“We conducted a field‑level inquiry into the incident and found that the tiger had died after getting caught in a snare. We questioned the person who first noticed the carcass. Samples of suspected tiger bones and soil were sent to a laboratory for scientific examination.”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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