Overview
- Forest teams recovered two tiger carcasses in the Shyampur range of the Haridwar forest division on the intervening night of May 18–19, and both animals had their limbs chopped off, officials said.
- Authorities have registered a case under the Wildlife Protection Act and arrested multiple suspects with reports saying up to four detained while one named accused remains absconding.
- Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal inspected the site, ordered a probe, and the department has served a notice to Shyampur ranger Vinay Rathi as part of a separate administrative inquiry.
- Investigators found a half-eaten buffalo carcass at the scene and are awaiting forensic and toxicology results to confirm whether poisoned bait caused the deaths.
- The dead cubs’ mother is being tracked by forest teams for signs of survival or distress near villages and the arrests and inquiry raise questions about links to illegal trade and the need for community engagement with nomadic Van Gujjar settlements.