A female tiger named “Oni” was found dead in her enclosure at the Itanagar Zoo in Arunachal Pradesh, where intruders managed to shoot her in the head and carve up her body before security guards returned from a dinner break.
A necropsy revealed two bullet wounds from a .22 rifle in Oni’s skull, according to NDTV. Although no arrests were made, three zoo employees have since been fired, and a forest guard suspended, in connection with Monday’s tragedy.
In 2006, three tigers and a leopard were poisoned inside the Itanagar Zoo; all of cats except one tiger survived.
Following the post-mortem, Oni’s body was burned on zoo property in the presence of police and a magistrate, presumably to keep her skin, claws, teeth and organs from entering the illegal trade in tiger parts.
Three years ago, Sheila the tiger was poisoned inside an Indonesian zoo. Sheila’s skin and the body parts used in traditional Chinese medicine were taken by her killers. Two suspects were later arrested, but unfortunately received light sentences.
Image by Rameshng via Wikimedia Commons
Rhishja Cota
I am the founder of Annamiticus and I have been researching and writing about wildlife trafficking issues since 2009. I also founded World Pangolin Day in 2012. I am the author of USAID Wildlife Asia's Pangolin Species Identification Guide: A Rapid Assessment Tool for Field and Desk. I co-facilitated and was a presenter at the USAID Wildlife Asia Pangolin Care Workshop. At the 4th Regional Dialogue on Combating Trafficking of Wild Fauna and Flora, I facilitated the species roundtables on pangolins. I have trekked with forest rangers in Cambodia, journeyed to the streets of Hanoi to research the illegal wildlife trade, and to the rainforests of Sumatra and Java to document the world’s rarest rhinos. At CITES meetings, I collaborate with colleagues from around the world to lobby in favor of protecting endangered species. I hosted the Behind the Schemes podcast and am the author of the book Murder, Myths & Medicine. I enjoy music, desert gardening, herping, reading, creating, and walking with my dogs. Check out my t-shirts and stickers at snoots + teefers.
horrible thing.so sad.that too inside the zoo premises.tiger trade should be banned completely.