Remember Walker II? The tiger who walked about 2,000 km before making Gautala Wildlife Sanctuary in Aurangabad its home. There were doubts about its prolonged stay here in the absence of a female wild cat, but the young tiger was recently spotted near a waterhole, confirming its continued presence.

Clement Ben, additional principal chief conservator of forest, Wildlife (West), said, “The tiger was spotted at Gautala Autramghat Sanctuary last March, after more than 60 years. The male tiger is in sanctuary for over 14 months. The tiger had migrated from Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary in Vidarbha. At present, the tiger is solitary and appears to be transient for a while. Camera traps have been installed at strategic locations in the sanctuary that are frequently visited by the tiger. Our forest department staff conduct foot patrolling in the area to collect direct and indirect evidence of the tiger.”