22 Sep 2018
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NAGPUR :Finally, in a breather for T1, the problem tigress of Pandharkawda, forest minister Sudhir Mungantiwar has agreed to keep away Hyderabad sharpshooter Nawab Shafath Ali Khan, to give a fair chance to tranquillise the big cat.

At a meeting in Mumbai, state’s chief wildlife warden AK Misra and additional PCCF (wildlife) Sunil Limaye managed to convince the minister and forest secretary Vikas Kharge to keep Khan away till tranquillising experts from Madhya Pradesh call it a day.

Misra said union minister Maneka Gandhi spoke to Mungantiwar and the MP government to take out efforts to capture the tigress alive. She told MP officials to provide elephants and vets to accomplish the task.
State’s chief wildlife warden AK Misra said, “There will be no clash of interest now, as the vets will be allowed to act independently.”

Sharpshooter Nawab Shafath Ali Khan, who was to return to Pandharkawda on Saturday after Muharram, said, “If they don’t want me I will not come, but I reiterate T1 tranquillising will not be possible considering her behaviour and landscape.”

Now that the minister has given a free hand, our biggest worry is that there should be no attacks on villagers. “This is the last chance to capture T1. If tranquillising efforts fail, there will be no option but to shoot the tigress ,” said officials.

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