In a tragic and unprecedented incident, a forest department tracker lost his life after being accidentally shot with a tranquilizer dart intended for a lioness in Gujarat. The event, which occurred on Sunday evening in Visavadar taluka, has sent shockwaves through the wildlife conservation community, marking the first recorded human death from a wildlife tranquilizer dart in India.
The Fatal Incident and Immediate Aftermath
Ashraf Chauhan, the tracker, was part of a team responding to a situation where a lioness had mauled a four-year-old boy in Nani Monpari village on Sunday morning. The team located the big cat on a tuvar (pigeon pea) farm with crops about five feet high. To get a clear shot, the veterinary doctor, V A Chauhan, had to lie prone.
However, the dart missed its intended target. Instead, it struck Ashraf Chauhan, who was reportedly sitting opposite the vet, within the cone of fire. He was immediately rushed to Junagadh Civil Hospital, where he remained in critical condition throughout the night. Despite receiving CPR twice, his heart began to collapse in the morning. A third attempt at resuscitation failed, and he was declared dead on Monday.
Sources revealed that the tranquilizer's main component was ketamine, a drug that depresses the central nervous system. The dose used was a full one meant for an adult lion, which is approximately three times the amount that would be safe for a human. Officials confirmed that the doctors treating Ashraf lacked a specific protocol for such cases and the necessary antidote was not readily available.
Official Response and Financial Compensation
Forest department authorities have expressed deep shock over the incident. Principal chief conservator of forests Jaipal Singh described the episode as an unfortunate accident, confirming it was not intentional. He outlined the financial support for the bereaved family: an accidental death coverage of Rs 10 lakh, an additional Rs 5 lakh from the relief fund, and Rs 2 lakh from government funds.
An official inquiry into the incident has been initiated. Ram Ratan Nala, conservator of forests (wildlife) in Junagadh, stated that the investigation has been assigned to the deputy conservator of forests, Gir (West). The veterinary doctor involved, V A Chauhan, has been working with the Sasan division on a contract basis for about a year and a half.
Questions Over Safety Protocols and Team Positioning
The tragedy has raised serious questions about standard operating procedures during such capture operations. A senior officer from the Wildlife Institute of India pointed out that they had never encountered a human death from a tranquilizer dart before, even in tiger operations.
"I would question the role of the team, as to why the shot was taken from the opposite side of where Ashraf was sitting," the officer said. "There is a remote possibility that a big cat may charge before it falls unconscious. So why was the shot taken when Ashraf was on the opposite side? Usually, the entire team stays together when the shot is fired."
Other officials with rescue experience highlighted critical safety measures. They noted that the firearm's safety must be engaged while loading the dart, suggesting the possibility of either a malfunction or a failure to engage the safety mechanism.
Ashraf Chauhan is survived by his wife and a four-year-old daughter. His father, Ali Allahrakha Chauhan, also served as a tracker with the forest department, highlighting a family legacy of service. This devastating accident underscores the inherent risks faced by frontline forest workers and is likely to prompt a thorough review of safety protocols for wildlife tranquilization operations across India.
