Big cat leaves forest officials confused

TNN, Jan 14, 2011, 06.21am IST

LUCKNOW: Even after three lives were lost in the man-animal conflict in the killing fields of Katarniaghat and Nishangadha, the forest department is yet to wake up from its slumber.

The department is yet to identify the big cat, which made the killings. On one hand, department's preliminary findings indicate it to be a "tigress with a cub". On the other hand, pugmarks show them to be three different big cats behind three killings made over a week-long period. "We are trying to identify, because prima facie it appears to be three different tigers," said BK Patnaik, chief wildlife warden, UP on Thursday.

The pugmarks were found only in the first and last killing. In the case of second killing there were no pugmarks. The killings have been made in two ranges -- Nishangadha and Katarniaghat. The department is making Pugmark Impression Pads (PIPs) along tracks and water holes. This is being done to track the movement of the tigers in the area and also to identify the real man-eater.

The mobile veterinary unit has been stationed in the area, so that it could be called in for rescue as and when required. The tranquillising team from Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) has also been called in along with a tiger biologist to watch the behaviour of the tigers.

Three teams comprising forest officers have been put on the job to patrol the area for tracking the big cats. "This is a mating season for tigers and they are known to be aggressive during this period," said Patnaik. The locals in the area are being informed about the same. They are being told not to go to forest to collect firewood or grass.

But has the department made any arrangements to meet such requirements of villagers? The department has no clear cut answers on this. Meanwhile, gram pradhans in the area have been given the phone numbers of forest officers, so that they can immediately inform officers in case they spot a big cat in vicinity.

The department has not branded any of the three killings to be a man-eating incident. In the last incident, however, the tiger was spotted around the body of its victim, though villagers tried to chase it away. But forest officers said that it was a natural behaviour of tiger that it does not leave its kill.

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