At a time when animal lovers are in low spirits for frequent cases of poaching of jumbos and big cats, a tiger was recently sighted in the eco-tourism zone of Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary at Debrigarh in Bargarh district, bringing a smile to them.
Hirakud Wildlife Division has confirmed this. According to the Division, tourists and forest department staff came across a tiger in the eco-tourism zone on December 1. Later, the forest department also released a photo of this mighty big cat.
According to the forest department sources, it was some tourists who first spotted the tiger inside the Debrigarh ecotourism zone. They then immediately informed the forest department.
On getting information about the presence of the tiger in the Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary, the forest department swung into action and has taken measures to ensure its safe prowling.
“Tourists spotted the tiger in the eco-tourism zone of the sanctuary in the evening. We have taken several measures to protect the animal. In case of illegal entry, immediate action would be taken against the violators. We will give a reward of Rs 1000 to anyone who provides information about poachers, setting up of traps and illegal hooking. Posters announcing this have been pasted in the nearby villages,” said DFO of Hirakud Wildlife Division, Anshu Pragyan Das.
“We are also organising movie shows in the villages to aware people that tigers cause no harm to human beings. The presence of tiger helps forest grow. We are trying our best to save the animal. And we need people’s cooperation as well,” she added.
Notably, the Special Task Force of the Odisha Crime Branch had recently seized a tiger skin and arrested a wildlife criminal at Belpal Chhak under Udala police limits in Mayurbhanj district.