After pits, snares and automobile cable nooses, live high-tension electric wires used by poachers are turning out to be a huge threat to tigers.

Nine Gond tribals were arrested by Kanha Tiger Reserve authorities on Tuesday for killing a tiger and other protected animals in the reserve. The accused confessed to using a powerful 11,000 volt electricity line for electrocuting the animals. Tragically, while the target was deer and antelope meat, an 8-year-old male tiger also got killed after falling into a live electric trap.

“We have arrested nine villagers who have confessed that they manipulated live 11 KV wires to lay traps for animals. They first killed a large sambar deer in the buffer zone of the tiger reserve and consumed the animal. On November 2, they relaid the trap and a male tiger, which lived in the buffer zone and was out hunting, was caught in the trap. Forest authorities found the dead body of the tiger the next day. Even though the accused say they did not intend to kill the tiger, this is a serious tiger poaching case. Two people from the same community, who are the masterminds, are absconding,” says Kanha Park director R P Singh.

He says this dangerous trend has come close to claiming human lives. “Ten days ago, a forest guard was caught in a similar electrocution trap but he was rescued,” Singh adds.

Experts say using electrocution is a relatively new poaching method in Kanha.