Pilibhit: An adult male tiger, tranquilized by a rescue team from Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR) on Monday, had killed a farmer in the core area of Mala Forest range on Sept 9, while another tiger mauled a 40-year-old man near the Sharda Sagar dam hours after the rescue.
The operation, led by divisional forest officer (DFO) Manish Singh. Field teams tracked the tiger's movements using camera traps.
On Saturday evening, the tiger killed a buffalo calf used as live bait and dragged it into the forest. The second calf was partially consumed by the tiger around 6:30 PM on Sunday. The opportunity to dart the tiger arose at 4:30 AM on Monday when it returned to the half-eaten bait. PTR's veterinary officer, Dr. Daksh Gangwar, tranquilized the tiger at 4:50 AM.
DFO Singh said the tiger, estimated to be 8 years old and weighing over 270 kg, was found in good health with intact canines and no physical injuries or deformities during a medical examination. It was then transferred to the Mala Forest range headquarters, where they are awaiting instructions from chief wildlife warden Sanjay Shrivastav regarding the tiger's relocation.
SHO Madhotanda police station Achal Kumar said hours later, another tiger mauled Sujit Rai on the service road of the Sharda Sagar dam, 20 km from the rescue site. The tiger may have swum across the 3-km-wide dam from the Chuka tourist area.
Rai, curious about the tiger, approached the spot where it was hiding in the shrubs. The tiger attacked, causing deep injuries to Rai's right shoulder, left underarm, and back. He is currently hospitalised in critical condition.
DFO Singh said, "A team of 10 forest personnel, led by sub-divisional forest officer Ramesh Chauhan, has been deployed to ensure the tiger can safely return to its habitat. If the tiger remains near the dam by Tuesday, further action will be taken."