BHOPAL: In a major breakthrough, Madhya Pradesh police seized hides of a tiger, leopard and jungle cat during a covert operation in Balaghat district Police claim these endangered species were poached by poisoned-kills deep inside Maoist-infested forest areas on Satpura-Maikal landscape of central India — largest natural habitat of tigers in the world. The spot is located 10 km from Dora village which falls under jurisdiction of Balaghat’s Malajkhand police station.Accused Birju alias Virendra Purram, 30, resident of Dora village; Sarjit Singh, 45, resident of Dora village; Salik Uikey,50, of Narangi Chawk Rupjhar; Santosh Bhalavi, 32 of Dora village and Heeralal Maravi , 50 of Kodul Ukwa vangram Rupjhar have been charged under various section of Wildlife Protection Act.They were arrested following intelligence inputs. "They were looking for customers to sell hides. Based on specific details, trap was laid, and they were caught," said an officer.Investigators believe the tiger was killed a month ago. "They are not able to recollect exact year and month when other animals were killed. Modus operandi was to poison kills made by tigers,” said the officer.The accused were produced in a Balaghat district court on Monday which remanded them to a day-long police custody. Efforts are bow being made to recover bones and nails of the poached animals.Based on specific details, trap was laid, and culprits were caught“Investigations are underway to break the entire chain. They have initially confessed to have killed three wild animals only, but we think there are more. They are being questioned,” said an officer. Samples are being sent to forensic laboratories for detailed examination and strengthen case against them.A study conducted by Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI), Washington suggests that the Satpura-Maikal landscape is genetically connected and shows that tigers have been moving around. They found that the tiger meta-population in this landscape had a high genetic variation and very low genetic subdivision.Faecal samples were used to analyse the genetics of tiger and leopard populations in four reserves in central India: Satpura, Melghat, Pench and Kanha. Kanha and Pench reserves and Satpura and Melghat reserves are connected via forest corridors that tigers, leopards, humans and cattle share. It was found that both tiger and leopard population in the reserve maintained a high level of genetic diversity.

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