The West Bengal Forest Department has put up a one square kilometer area along the Bandwan forest range in Purulia district with a nylon fence, similar to the fencing used in the Sundarbans Tiger Reserve, to prevent the tiger Zeenat from approaching humans. Settlements.
The full-grown big cat was last seen in a thorn bush on the side of a hill inside the Bandwan forest range, “moving a little distance in the last few days,” said Chief Conservator of Forests S Kulandaivel. PTI.
“We have placed nylon nets in an area of one square kilometer to prevent tigers from entering nearby human settlements and informed local villagers about the presence of tigers in the current location for their safety,” he said.
He added, “The tiger has moved quite a bit in the last two days, and its movements are being continuously tracked with the help of radio collars.” “Three tranquilizing teams have been placed at strategic locations while three live bait (goats) have been placed in the possible path of the animals,” he said.
However, the big cat did not show any intention to touch the bait despite many attempts.
Forest team members cannot go in and encounter wild animals for fear of attack and must either not be caught or continue a waiting game while Similipal returns to the habitat.
A half-eaten carcass of a goat found in a nearby spot after the tiger started chasing away the forest staff has terrified the villagers.
The villages there were fenced by Sundarban Tiger Reserve staff, who have expertise in the matter, as tigers come from mangrove forests into human habitats, Kulandaivel said.
“Odisha Forest Department teams are also monitoring Zeenat’s movement,” he added.
“Smart cameras have been installed at various locations in the area to monitor their movements and behaviour,” said Chief Wildlife Conservator Deval Roy.
The hilly terrain with thorn bushes made it easy for Zeenat to escape, hampering the continuous transmission of signals from her radio collar, another forest official said.
Zeenat reached West Bengal from Jharkhand 6 days ago and reached Purulia after three days in Jhargram and West Medinipur districts. He has so far shown no sign of returning to his native abode in Similipal.
After leaving Similipal, the tiger in the tri-national forest of West Bengal, Jharkhand and Odisha has traveled more than 100 km in search of new territory.
“We are trying to take him to Similipal through the same route, or we are trying to catch him and leave him there,” said the officer.
Zeenat and another tiger, two-and-a-half-year-old Jamuna, were brought to Similipal from the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) in Maharashtra with the aim of introducing a new gene pool to the tiger population.
While Jamuna was brought on 27th October, Zeenat arrived on 15th November and left in the wild on 24th November.
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