Sparks custody battle between Forest dept and villagers
Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 29
The killing of a tigress resulted in a custody tussle over the felled animal’s corpse between government officials and distraught villagers on February 29. The incident, which occurred at Medziphema village, Dimapur district on Monday caught the administration and the Forest department by surprise, with officials virtually pleading the villagers to hand over custody of the animal’s corpse to the department for completing necessary formalities as it involves a highly endangered species.
The tigress was shot and killed by the villagers today at around noon. According to the villagers, she was troubling the village for over a week raiding livestock belonging to the villagers. As the tigress’s raids grew troublesome endangering livestock as well as people, the village early on February 29 made a decision to scare and chase the animal away from the village periphery, said one elderly villager.
All able-bodied men of the village was mobilised for the task, which began in the morning. The elderly man said that the villagers were able to track down the tigress just outside the edge of the village and were making attempts to chase her deep into the forest beyond the village when an unfortunate event occurred. “One young man was mauled by the cornered animal, who sustained deep gashes on the head and body.” It occurred around 10:30 am.
It enraged the villagers, who eventually cornered and killed the tigress at round 1:30 pm.
It was a matter of prestige for the village but to the Forest department it meant trouble with its officials getting to know of the matter only well after the hunting party had been mobilised.
After the kill, district administration officials led by the Medziphema ADC arrived at the village, who reasoned with the villagers on the legal implications of hunting endangered wildlife. The village elders maintained it was done solely with the intention of protecting human life and livestock.
The ADC further appealed the villagers to hand over custody of the corpse to the Forest department to which the villagers were reluctant citing customary belief of bravery and honour. The villagers finally relented handing over the corpse to Forest officials late in the evening.
