03 August,2017 08:20 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet Jadhav
Despite objections from locals, the forest department has released the tigress in an enclosed space for now, before deciding whether to release it in the wild
Representational picture
The tigress that killed three people in Brahmapuri forest and was labelled a 'problem animal', has been released in the Bor Tiger Reserve - in a large enclosed area for now, but the big cat could also be released in the wild once experts deem it safe to do so.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) and chief wildlife warden of the state, A K Mishra, said, "The tigress from Brahmapuri that was tranquillised and captured after the man-animal conflict incidents has now been radio-collared and was released in Bor on Saturday. The expert team is monitoring its activity and movements."
mid-day had reported earlier that the forest department had earlier given shoot orders for the tigress, but the department faced heavy criticism for the decision.
Shoot order quashed
Later, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High court quashed the shoot order. Forest officials eventually captured the tigress on July 10 after tranquillising it.
The animal has now been fitted with a radio collar so officials can track its behaviour, based on which, they will decide whether or not to release it in the wild.
Locals angry
Sources said that local villagers staying outside Bor were angry that the tigress had been released there, but the forest department did not succumb to pressure and took a call that was right for the tigress and the human residents.
A committee that was appointed to study the case, submitted its report to the PCCF, after which the decision was made to release the tigress.
Bor has sizeable tree cover and more space since the relocation of the Navargaon village. This is crucial for the 2-year-old tigress, which is trying to establish its territory. The Bor tiger reserve is 138 sq km and is said to have 10 tigers, including five cubs.
