Kolkata: The West Bengal forest department has erected a nylon fence, similar to the fence used in the Sunderbans Tiger Reserve, along a one-square-kilometer area on the edge of Bandwan forest range in Purulia district to prevent tigress Zeenat from straying into nearby human settlements .
The action comes as efforts continue to capture the tigress, which wandered from Similipal Reserve Forest in Odisha two weeks ago and is currently in Purulia district, a senior forest official said on Wednesday.
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The adult big cat was last seen in the thorny bushes next to a hill in Bandwan forest area and “has been moving for a short distance for the last few days,” Chief Conservator of Forests S. Kulandaivel told PTI.
“We have installed a nylon net over an area of one square kilometer to prevent the tiger from entering nearby human settlements and have informed villagers about its presence at the current location for their safety,” he said.
He added, “The tigress has been moving a short distance for the last two days and her movement is being constantly tracked with the help of a radio collar.”
“Three tranquilizer teams were deployed at strategic locations while three live baits (goats) were placed in the animal’s possible path,” he said.
However, despite several attempts, the big cat has yet to show any intention of touching the bait.
Members of the forest squad cannot go in and confront the wild animal for fear of an attack and must continue the waiting game until it is either captured or returns to the Similipal habitat.
The half-eaten goat carcass found at a nearby spot triggered panic among villagers as the tiger continued to evade the forest staff.
The fence was constructed by Sundarbans Tiger Reserve staff who have expertise in the matter as tigers in villages there are more likely to invade human habitats from the mangrove forest, Kulandaivel said.
“Teams from Odisha Forest Department are also monitoring the movement of Zeenat,” he added.
“Smart cameras will be installed at various locations in the area to monitor their movement and behavior,” said chief wildlife warden Debal Roy.
The hilly terrain with thorny bushes made it easier for Zeenat to escape as there was interference in the continuous transmission of signals from her radio collar, another forest official said.
Zeenat had crossed from Jharkhand to West Bengal six days ago and reached Purulia after trekking through Jhargram and Paschim Medinipur districts for three days. So far it has shown no signs of returning to its original habitat in Similipal.
The tigress has covered over 100 km and after leaving Similipal, wandered through the forests at the tri-junction of West Bengal, Jharkhand and Odisha in search of new territory.
“We are trying to drive them back to Similipal the same way or catch them and release them there,” the official said.
Zeenat and another tigress, 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 into the tiger population.
While Jamuna was brought on October 27, Zeenat arrived on November 15 and was released into the wild on November 24. PTI