Tiger rehab centre locked

JALPAIGURI, Feb. 6: The Forest Protection Committee of South Khairbari at Madarihat today locked the gate of the Khairbari Tiger Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, agitating against a tender related to supplying food for the tigers.

Mr Abdul Ali, a local, said they would not allow outsiders to supply food for the tigers and leopards at the centre. “We live in the forest villages and are associated with working for the protection of animals and bio-diversity of the forest. We have inherited it from our ancestors, which is why the government has set up the FPCs with people like us There are 10 Royal Bengal Tigers and 15 leopards in the centre and we take good care of them. It is not fair that the forest department would try to engage others to supply food for the animals depriving us,” he said.

“We are not concerned with such tenders and demand the forest department to withdraw it immediately. We should get the supply order,” he said.

The agitators locked up the centre gate when the new supplier Mr Abdul Majid Mia came to deliver his consignment. “I have to supply 133 kg meat everyday for the animals. If the agitators continue in this fashion I will deposit the supply at the ranger’s office,” Mr Majid Mia said. The former food supplier delivered food to the tigers today.

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