Raveena Tandon, Dia Mirza, Other Celebrities React Strongly To Killing Of Tigress Avni, Call It 'National Shame'

Celebrities have reacted strongly to the killing of tigress Avni (T1), who reportedly caused the death of 13 persons in the last two years. Raveena Tandon, Dia Mirza, Siddharth, Kubbra Sait and Avinash Gowariker were among those who expressed their shock, calling it a ‘sad day’, ‘unconscionable’, ‘saddening’ and termed it a ‘National Shame’, ‘horrible tragedy’ and a ‘fake encounter.’   

READ: NGOs Protest Against Maharashtra's Shoot-at-sight Order For Tigress

According to reports, the action was completed after a 3-month search for Avni which involved 150 members of the forest department, trackers, shooters, drones, sniper dogs, elephants and more, in and around Tippeshwar Tiger Sanctuary. The decision to kill Avni was taken after the Maharashtra forest department issued a shoot on sight order for her in September this year. The move was challenged in Bombay High Court, which ordered a stay on the suit by a wildlife lover. The Supreme Court had refused to intervene in the high court’s order.   

READ: China Reverses Their 25-year Ban On Using Rhino Horns And Tiger Bones Under "special Circumstances"

Avni was shot by Asgar Ali, who was hired by the forest department for the task. There’s no clarity yet on the whereabouts of her two cubs. Locals in Yavatmal ‘celebrated’ the death, but animal rights activists are furious over the decision for the lack of tranquilisation efforts.