No. 15-37/2012-NTCA
Government of India
Ministry of Environment & Forests
National Tiger Conservation Authority
****
Annexe No.-V, Bikaner House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi-110011.
Telefax: 2338 9883
E-mail: jdntca@gmail.com
Dated: 18thMarch, 2013
To
1. The PCCF/HOFF (s),
Tiger Range States.
2. The Chief Wildlife Warden (s),
Tiger Range States.
Sub: Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for disposing Tiger/ leopard carcass/ body
parts – reg.
Sir,
Advisories have been issued by Project Tiger/National Tiger Conservation Authority
from time to time, on different issues relating to tiger mortality, post mortem, reporting etc.
Based on the same and with inputs from field officers / experts, a Standard Operating
Procedure (SOP) for disposing tiger/ leopard carcass/ body parts has been developed to meet
the present challenges.
A copy of the said Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for disposing tiger/ leopard carcass/ body parts, duly approved by the competent authority, is forwarded herewith for information and necessary action.
The SOP my please be translated in vernacular and widely circulated amongst the field staff for guidance.
Yours faithfully,
Encl: As above. SD/-
(S.P. Yadav)
Deputy Inspector General (NTCA)
Copy to:
1. PS to MEF.
2. PPS to Secretary (E&F).
3. PPS to DGF & SS, MoEF.
4. PPS to ADG (WL)
5. Additional Director, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, New Delhi.
6. Inspector General of Forests, Regional Office, Guwahati.
7. Assistant Inspector General (NTCA), Nagpur and Bangalore.
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE FOR DISPOSING THE TIGER/ LEOPARD
CARCASS/BODY PARTS
1. Title : Standard Operating Procedure for disposing the tiger/ leopard carcass/ body
parts.
2. Subject: Tiger death/seizure of body parts
3. Reference: Advisories of the Ministry of Environment & Forests/ Project Tiger/ NTCA on
the subject (Advisory No: 1-60/89-WL I dated 04-11-1994 from the Addl. IGF (wildlife) Ministry of Environment and Forests)
4. Purpose: To ensure that the carcass/ body parts of tiger/ leopard are disposed of in a
transparent manner to prevent any pilferage for illegal market.
5. Short summary: This Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) provides the basic, minimum
steps which are required to be taken at the field level (tiger reserve or elsewhere) for disposing
of tiger/leopard carcass/ body parts where carcass is available or the body parts have been
seized.
6. Scope : The SOP applies to all forest field formations including tiger reserves besides
other areas where the incident has occurred.
7. Responsibilities: The Field Director would be responsible in the case of a tiger reserve.
For a protected area (National Park / Wildlife Sanctuary), the concerned protected area manager would be responsible. In the case of other areas (revenue land/conservation reserve/community reserve/village/township) the Wildlife Warden, as per the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, or Divisional Forest Officer/ Deputy Conservator of Forests (under whose jurisdiction the area falls), would be responsible. The overall responsibility at the State level would rest with the Chief Wildlife Warden of the concerned State.
8. Detailed instructions for the procedure to be followed for disposing of the tiger/ leopard
carcass/ body part(s) where body part(s) / carcass is available
(i) At Scene of crime (SoC) / incident: when carcass or parts available:
Follow the SOP issued by the NTCA on dealing with the tiger mortality/ seizure of body parts. Dispose of the carcass by incineration in the presence of the Field Director or an officer not below the rank of the Conservator of Forests besides the Post Mortem (PM) Team having representation from the civil society institution
While incinerating the carcass, the sequence must be photographed and video recorded.
Before leaving the site, ensure that the whole carcass including bones are fully burnt.
After ensuring the complete incineration of the carcass, prepare a ‘Panchnama (Memo) on disposal of the carcass, duly signed by the PM Team and officer incharge, and send a final report (Annexure-I) to the CWLW under intimation to the NTCA with supporting photographs/ documents.
(ii) In case of seizure of body parts (Skin – dry or fresh/ bones/meat or other body parts):
Follow the SOP issued by the NTCA on dealing with the tiger mortality/ seizure of body parts. In case of seizures of body parts, the same may be required as evidence for prosecution in the courts of law and hence in such situations do not dispose the same till the orders of the
concerned court for such disposal are obtained.
Once orders have been obtained by the competent authority, dispose of the body part (s) by incineration in the presence of the Field Director or an officer not below the rank of the Conservator of Forests besides the Team (same as prescribed for the Post Mortem) having representation from a civil society institution
While incinerating the body parts, the sequence must be photographed and video recorded.
Before leaving the site, ensure that the whole/ all body parts are fully burnt.
After ensuring the complete incineration of the body part (s), prepare a ‘Panchnama’ (Memo) on disposal of the body part (s), duly signed by the said Team and officer incharge, and send a final report (Annexure-I) to the CWLW under intimation to the NTCA with supporting photographs/ documents.
(iii) In cases of seized stock of wildlife trophies obtained during seizure/ confiscation:
All seized stock of wildlife trophies, where no case is pending in a Court of law, should be destroyed through incineration in the presence of the Field Director or an officer not below the rank of the Conservator of Forests besides a team (same as prescribed for the post mortem) having representation from a civil society institution.
While incinerating the body parts, the sequence must be photographed and video recorded.
Before leaving the site, ensure that the whole/ all body parts are fully burnt.
After ensuring the complete incineration of the body part (s), prepare a ‘Panchnama’ (Memo) on disposal of the body part (s), duly signed by the said Team and officer incharge, and send a final report (Annexure-I) to the CWLW under intimation to the NTCA with supporting photographs/ documents.
The provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 must be followed before destroying such
stock.
*****
ANNEXURE – 1
FINAL REPORT
To be submitted for disposal of each case of tiger/ leopard carcass/ body part (s)/ trophy
1 Name of Office
2 Locational details of the mortality:
description, GPS, Compartment
/Block/Range /Sub-Division/ Forest
Division/ Tiger Reserve or place/ time
3 Date of Mortality/ carcass report
4 In case of seizure of body parts details
indicating the status of carcass or
seized material
5 Details of the person (staff/ Others)
who reported the incident first:
name/address/ contact details/
telephone numbers/e-mail
6 For carcass: Date, time and Place of
Post Mortem (PM)
7 Details of PM Team
(names/designation/ address/ contact)
8 Details of the missing body parts, if
any
9 Cause of death as ascertained after the
PM
11 Colour photographs of the carcass/
body part (s)- (close ups, indicating
injury, if any ); details of comparison
with camera trap photo data base
12 Cause of death: Natural/ Poaching
13 In case of poaching/ seizure of body
parts:
i. further action taken/ proposed:
ii. attach colour photographs of
the seized body part/s
iii. attach certification regarding
species identity (for bone
pieces/ meat/ other body parts
which are not physically
identifiable)
iv. action taken with respect to
offenders/ suspects (if arrested)
v. status of Case/ complaint:
number, date of filing the
complaint, Sections of law,
name of Court where filed
14 Panchnama/memo of disposal of
carcass/ body part (s) Enclosed/ not-enclosed
15 Remarks if any
16 Signature of the Officer In-charge
with name, designation, date and
stamp
(SOP prepared with inputs from Field Officers of Tiger Reserves)
