4 tiger cubs burnt to death in Nainital forest fire

Four tiger cubs were burnt to death in a forest fire in the jungles of Aampokhara near Hempur area of Nainital district of Uttarakhand, a top official said on Thursday.

The fire broke out on Wednesday evening and when the army and forest personnel reached the area to douse the blaze, they found the carcasses of three burnt tiger cubs, principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) S S Sharma said, adding that another tiger cub was found alive but during treatment it also succumbed to burn injuries.

All the cubs were less than one year old, he added.

Sharma said the forest department is making all possible efforts to check incidents of forest fires like clearance of dried pine leaves, formation of fire lines, seeking cooperation from van panchayats and the local residents, besides setting up crew stations and regular patrolling in forest area, especially in reserve forest areas.

The issue of forest fires and safety of wild animals from fires also echoed in the state assembly with speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal directing the state government to take necessary steps in this direction.

Describing the issue as a serious matter, Kunjwal asked the government to make a comprehensive fire management action plan to check the incidents of forest fire.

Kunjwal's directive came after Bharatiya Janata Party member Bishan Singh Chufal raised the issue. Chufal said the lives of several birds and wild animals have been lost in these forest fires and the state government must take serious steps to control them.