Asifabad Tiger Deaths, 2 Forest Officials Suspended

Two forest department officials have been suspended for ‘negligence’ in connection with the death of two tigers in the KB Asifabad district earlier this month. It may be recalled that a year-and-half old female cub was found dead on January 2, followed by the discovery of the carcass of an n adult male tiger on January 6 in the same forest patch of the Kagaznagar forest range. 

Asked if the suspensions were because the two officials were found in some way responsible for two incidents, senior department officials said the trigger was the death of the two tigers and the issue was their negligence in updating tracking and other data for the three to four months.

sked if the suspensions were because the two officials were found in some way responsible for two incidents, senior department officials said the trigger was the death of the two tigers



and the issue was their negligence in updating tracking and other data for the three to four months.

Senior department officials said the Penchikalpet forest range officer, Venugopal, who was also holding charge of Kagaznagar range, and forest divisional officer Venu Babu, were suspended. Officials said that Venu Babu was also facing questions relating to illegal constructions in Penchikalpet forest range, and some other issues related to tree plantation. 

The FRO was responsible for tiger tracking records on M-tripes, the online platform designed and maintained by the National Tiger Conservation Authority. With respect to Venu Babu’s suspension, it is learnt that as the FDO, it was his responsibility that daily monitoring of tigers is done by the FRO and others down the line.