These days, the villagers living close to Mahendragiri forest range in Odisha's Gajapati district are spending sleepless nights for fear of a Royal Bengal Tiger that has strayed from the jungles of the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.
Some days ago, the villagers of Santoshpur near Gandahati under Mahendragiri forest range reported to the Forest department that a tiger had killed two cows in as many nights in their village. Taking it seriously, the Forest department officials launched a probe and spotted the paw marks of an animal.
Then, strap cameras were installed in the jungle. From the footage of a prowling tiger captured in the cameras, the Forest department officials came to know the presence of the tiger in Mahendragiri forest range. While keeping track of the movements of the wild animal, the officers are also creating awareness among the villagers on how to save their and their domestic animals’ lives.
“From the paw marks and trap camera footage, we are sure that the animal is a tiger. On Saturday night, it moved out of Gandahati and went to S Routpur. We believe it has moved towards the Andhra border,” said ACF, Paralakhemundi, Arun Sahu.
“We have been asking people to stay inside and keep their animals in sheds after sunset,” he added.
On the other hand, the villages are bearing a deserted look with people choosing to remain indoors after sunset.
“We don’t have seen it but seen its paw marks. We are in fear. We choose to remain inside after sunset. We have stopped venturing into forests in day hours,” said a villager.
Another villager requested the administration to drive the bid cat away from the village.
When contacted over his mobile phone, PCCF (Wildlife) Sushil Kumar Popli said, “It was the same tiger that had strayed into the area earlier. We have its photographs. The Odisha government is taking all possible measures. Tigers are coming to this side because we have taken lots of steps for tiger conservation. To keep a watch on its movements, we have installed camera traps and deployed special tracking units. This apart, people have been asked to be alert and the government is also compensating the loss.”