<p>Almost seven months after a tigress reportedly went missing from the Sariska Tiger Reserve (STR), Rajasthan Police has claimed that a reported poacher has confessed that he killed a tigress at the reserve this February.</p>.<p>Tiger ST-5 was among the first batch of big cats that were relocated to STR from Ranthambore Tiger Reserve in 2010 owing to the dwindling tiger population in Sariska.</p>.<p>According to the Alwar police, a reported poacher identified as 30-year-old Sarfuddin has admitted to have shot dead the tigress, ST-5, and selling her skin for Rs 1.5 lakh.</p>.<p>Police arrested Sarfuddin, who also reportedly said that four others were involved in the act.</p>.<p>Moreover, in a statement issued by the forest department, Sarfuddin also confessed to poaching sambhars and nilgais from the areas under the Sariska Tiger Project.</p>.<p>However, senior officials said that the death of ST-5 is not confirmed yet and Sarfuddin’s claims are being investigated.</p>.<p>Rajasthan’s chief wildlife warden G V Reddy told DH, “We are investigating his claims and the alleged death of ST-5 can only be confirmed once we receive more evidence".</p>.<p>The tigress had gone missing in February and forest officials were unable to trace it. It was last sighted on February 24.</p>.<p>Earlier this year, ST-11 was found dead, after being caught in a barbed wire fence, which was a trap laid by the poachers.</p>.<p>According to wildlife experts two cases poaching have been recorded from Sariska this year, which shows that the department fails in preventing tiger poaching in Sariska.</p>.<p>In April, suspected poachers poisoned two tiger cubs to death in Ranthambore.</p>.<p>Following which Gajendra Singh Khimswar, Minister for Forest and Wildlife, had set up a committee to look into the issue.</p>.<p>The committee concluded that their is presence of traps in Sariska and Ranthambore.</p>.<p>The STR is spread across 1,281 sq km area which is divided into six ranges and is home to 17 tigers.</p>.<p>According to the latest data, Rajasthan is home to 81 tigers and STR is home to 15 tigers including four male, nine female and two cubs.</p>
<p>Almost seven months after a tigress reportedly went missing from the Sariska Tiger Reserve (STR), Rajasthan Police has claimed that a reported poacher has confessed that he killed a tigress at the reserve this February.</p>.<p>Tiger ST-5 was among the first batch of big cats that were relocated to STR from Ranthambore Tiger Reserve in 2010 owing to the dwindling tiger population in Sariska.</p>.<p>According to the Alwar police, a reported poacher identified as 30-year-old Sarfuddin has admitted to have shot dead the tigress, ST-5, and selling her skin for Rs 1.5 lakh.</p>.<p>Police arrested Sarfuddin, who also reportedly said that four others were involved in the act.</p>.<p>Moreover, in a statement issued by the forest department, Sarfuddin also confessed to poaching sambhars and nilgais from the areas under the Sariska Tiger Project.</p>.<p>However, senior officials said that the death of ST-5 is not confirmed yet and Sarfuddin’s claims are being investigated.</p>.<p>Rajasthan’s chief wildlife warden G V Reddy told DH, “We are investigating his claims and the alleged death of ST-5 can only be confirmed once we receive more evidence".</p>.<p>The tigress had gone missing in February and forest officials were unable to trace it. It was last sighted on February 24.</p>.<p>Earlier this year, ST-11 was found dead, after being caught in a barbed wire fence, which was a trap laid by the poachers.</p>.<p>According to wildlife experts two cases poaching have been recorded from Sariska this year, which shows that the department fails in preventing tiger poaching in Sariska.</p>.<p>In April, suspected poachers poisoned two tiger cubs to death in Ranthambore.</p>.<p>Following which Gajendra Singh Khimswar, Minister for Forest and Wildlife, had set up a committee to look into the issue.</p>.<p>The committee concluded that their is presence of traps in Sariska and Ranthambore.</p>.<p>The STR is spread across 1,281 sq km area which is divided into six ranges and is home to 17 tigers.</p>.<p>According to the latest data, Rajasthan is home to 81 tigers and STR is home to 15 tigers including four male, nine female and two cubs.</p>