T1 killing: Now, we are searching for Avni’s cubs, says Asghar Ali

HYDERABAD: Asghar Ali and his dad

Nawab

Shafat Ali Khan have launched a search for the cubs of Avni. Asghar Ali said the cubs were not with the tigress when it was shot. “We have launched a search for the cubs,” Nawab Shafat Ali Khan said. He has taken part in around 25 operations of man-animal conflict, and in five cases, he tranquilised the wild animals. In 20 cases he killed the animal, most of them being leopards and tigers.


Nawab Shafat Ali Khan, who was on his way to participate in a

wildlife

board meeting in Patna, defended his son’s action in killing the tigress. ”Ashgar Ali is a renowned shooter, conservationist and crack shot. We made a lot of efforts for 38 days to capture the animal in hostile terrain. Asghar Ali represented Telangana in several national competitions and he is an excellent horseman.

“Our efforts now is to save the cubs. The cubs are 11 months old and bigger than a leopard. They have not been with the mother for the last three months. They are moving independently,” he said.

On October 25, the tigress was spotted below a machan in a field by villager Shalik Asole near Bhulgad. “The tigress had shown aggression to this villager. On Friday from 6:45 pm onwards, the tigress was sighted by many villagers and vehicles that were passing the Borati-Warud

Ralegaon

road. So as a reflex action of self-defence, Asghar Ali fired from a distance of about 8-10 meters. The tigress died on the spot. After getting the message at 11:30 pm, top forest officials reached the spot. After preliminary formalities, the tigress was shifted to Gorewada in Nagpur for post-mortem examination,” said AK Mishra the PCCF of Maharashtra.