Nagpur: Eight days after the operation to capture and shoot T1 was launched, countdown for the problem tigress of Pandharkawda has started with a two-member team of expert veterinarians packing their bags and returning to Madhya Pradesh leaving the field open for hunter Nawab Safath Ali Khan.The veterinarians – Dr Akhilesh Mishra and Dr Sandeep Agrawal, who had successfully captured and relocated at least 70 tigers in MP, called off their efforts amid frustration and lack of cooperation from the forest department, which was more inclined towards shooting T1 by Hyderabad-based hunter.According to officials in the field, the fact that Khan wants to shoot the tigress and not tranquillize was once again proved on Tuesday when the MP vets had tracked the tigress with two kills in compartment number 157 of Borati. “We were told to work for 4 hours while the shooter got a 20-hour slot. This has been the regular practice in last 8 days and such a situation we cannot carry on,” said one of the MP vets.“We along with MP vets were hardly 150 metres away from the tigress. She had made two cattle kills and her two cubs were playing in the nearby nullah. We were expecting the tigress to bring the cubs to the kills and planned the operation on Wednesday morning. However, when Khan learnt about it he rushed to the spot and started disturbing T1. He did not listen to MP vets too,” said officials.“This was a golden chance to net the tigress alive but for entire night Khan was near the spot flashing search lights and tracking the animal. Due to the disturbance, T1 did not arrive on the scene. An ACF, who accompanied the hunter, too was annoyed and walked out from the spot in protest,” said officials.Hunter Khan did not respond to repeated calls by TOI.A day earlier, state’s chief wildlife warden AK Misra had told TOI that he had sought extension of MP team’s presence, which was asked to stay put for 8 days. “The team will be there till the operation is over and I’ve written about it to MP PCCF Shahbaz Ahmad,” Misra had said.However, the team left leaving the elephants. “The vets were asked to return as we had sent them for 8 days only. We will also withdraw elephants. I’ve no communication from Maharashtra PCCF (wildlife) about seeking any extension,” said Ahmad.MP officials said that the team was frustrated as it was not allowed to work. “When Maharashtra is hell-bent on shooting the tigress, why should we keep our men in the field. Whenever our vets tracked T1, hunter Khan poured water on their efforts by disturbing the animal. The team was meted out humiliating treatment,” the officials told TOI on condition of anonymity.When reminded about his statement, Misra said, “I’m unaware about any such developments about MP team quitting and Khan disturbing T1. APCCF Sunil Limaye has left for Pandharkawda and only after his report, I will come to know the facts.”In the meanwhile, Ajay Dubey, founder of Bhopal-based NGO Prayatna, has issued a legal notice to Yavatmal CCF PG Rahurkar for violating Supreme Court orders by not paying more attention to tranquillize T1.

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