Tiger and leopard deaths contradict govt’s no-poaching claim, says HC

Raipur: Taking a serious note of reports indicating suspected poaching of a tiger and a leopard in different parts of the state, the Chhattisgarh high court on Tuesday directed the principal chief conservator of forest (PCCF)-cum-wildlife warden to file a personal affidavit explaining the incidents. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Bibhu Datta Guru observed that the developments were disturbing, particularly as the state had earlier informed the court that no new cases of poaching had come to light.The matter was originally listed for March 2026 after the state, during the last hearing on Dec 10, submitted that there were no recent instances of wildlife poaching. However, the bench preponed the hearing after reports appeared in The Times of India and Hindi dailies, detailing the recovery of carcasses of a tiger and a leopard with tell-tale signs of poaching.Referring to the reports, the court noted that a tiger's carcass was found in the Revti forest of Ghui range under the Surajpur forest division. The body bore severe injuries, with canines and claws missing, raising strong suspicion of poaching. According to the reports, villagers discovered the carcass and alerted forest officials, following which officials from the ranger level up to the chief conservator, along with veterinarians, reached the site.The carcass was reportedly in an advanced stage of decomposition, indicating the tiger may have died three to four days earlier. Sharp weapons were allegedly found near the site, suspected to have been used to remove the animal's teeth and nails. Sniffer dogs and experts from Guru Ghasidas National Park and Kanan Pendari were called in to assist the investigation, and a post-mortem was planned after examination by wildlife experts.The bench also took note of another report from Khairagarh, where an adult leopard was found dead in suspicious circumstances in Banbod village, located between Khairagarh and Dongargarh. The leopard's claws, nails, and jaw teeth were reportedly missing, pointing towards organised illegal hunting. The carcass was found on revenue land near the forest, triggering panic in the area. Observing that the incidents were "very serious in nature" and prima facie contradicted the state's earlier submissions, the bench directed the PCCF-cum-wildlife warden to file a personal affidavit responding specifically to the news reports and the steps taken by the department.