'Man Eater Tigress' Avni Killed, Wildlife Activists Call It A Murder

Tigress Avni, who was also known as T1, was killed on November 2 after a massive search operation in the forest area of Yavatmal district of Maharashtra. According to the forest officials, the team consisting of forest & private sharpshooters spotted Avni in the Forest Development Corporation Maharashtra( FDCM) area in compartment No.149 borati. Veteran shooter Nawab Shafat Ali Khan's son Asghar, upon finding her, shot her down at around 11 PM. 

Avni & two years of terror

Avni was a 5-year-old big cat. Almost two years ago, she had killed one person. After this incident, everyone thought that this could be the exceptional case as she may not be a man-eater wild animal. But this was just the beginning of the terror of a man-eater tigress. In the last 18 months, Avni killed 13 innocent people. Tigress Avni’s terror was spread in 22 villages. 

After the pressure from local residents to kill the man-eater wild cat, forest depart issued an order to tranquillise or kill the tigress. This order was first challenged in Nagpur High court & later in the Supreme court. The apex court had refused to stay the order & asked the officials to first tranquillise her, and in case that fails, shoot her. 

In the last two months, the government had spent almost Rs 60-70 lakhs on the search operations. Forest department had hired elephants, thermal drones, perfumes, sniffer dogs, paraglider, more than hundred trap cameras. More than 200 people including private & forest department shooters were involved in the search operations. Though every time, Avni somehow managed to elude to capture in camera. But on Friday, shooters sighted her in 149 Borati & killed her. 

Villagers of the problematic forest area had celebrated the killing of Avni by bursting crackers. They also distributed sweets.   

READ: ''Death Of Lions In Gir Forest Extremely Serious Situation, Protect Them'' Says Supreme Court

'It is a murder'- wildlife lovers  

The news of Avni’s death has created a storm on the social media. While expressing displeasure over the killing, AAP leader Priti Menon, who is also a animal lover, wrote on twitter: 

"With immense sadness I inform you that @SMungantiwar murdered #Avni in cold blood.As always @Dev_Fadnavis made false promises. Who cares for the life of tiger when Reliance and other such Man-eaters are on the prowl for forest land. #Murderers

READ: 11 Lions Found Dead In Gir Forest, Gujarat Govt Orders Inquiry

Another animal lover said, "Sorry Tigress Avni, I hope you will now really rest in peace in a world where no one will encroach your home again, where no one will bring harm to your kids...I just pray to the Almighty that your kids will learn to live without you...@BJP4India sorry my vote for is gone..."

After the death of Avni, the forest department has launched a search operation to locate her two cubs who are just 9 months old.