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Congress opposes tiger shifting plan

M I Khan in Bhubaneswar

After the people around Nandankanan zoo, it is the turn of the Congress to oppose the Orissa government's proposal to shift some of the tigers, lions and other animals from Nandankanan to zoos in different parts of the country. "We will not allow the government to shift rare and endangered animals out of the state," said Congress leader Suresh Kumar Routray.

The ruling Biju Janata Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party coalition led by Naveen Patnaik is likely to face tough resistance from the main opposition Congress as far as this proposal is concerned. Routray threatened a statewide agitation if the state government decided to go ahead with the plan.

Interestingly, some BJD leaders are also opposed to the government's proposal. A senior BJD leader Prafulla Ghadei issued a warning against shifting the tigers out of state. "There is no question of shifting the tigers," he said.

The state government is planning to reduce the number of animals in the overcrowded zoo as per the suggestion of experts, following the death of tigers. "This is to prevent a fresh outbreak of the trypanosama epidemic and other diseases," sources in the government said.

Chief Conservator of Forests (wildlife) S K Patnaik said that the decision had been taken before the recent tiger deaths. However, in view of the latter, it has been decided to expedite the move. The strength of the zoo has already been reduced from over 1,600 to around 1,100 and would soon be decreased by another 300. It still has 44 tigers, 19 of them rare white, and over 50 lions.

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