Forest dept calls on individuals to help capture tiger from Lalgarh

Kolkata: Remember the character of Kali Shankar played by Ajay Devgan in the movie 'Kaal' that released back in 2005? Kali Shankar was vested with 'magical' powers with which he could easily tame wild tigers of Jim Corbett National Wildlife Park.

Now with the Royal Bengal Tiger remaining elusive for a month in the forests of Lalgarh, the state Forest department is looking forward to similar 'magic' to capture the tiger.

"We are even ready to take help from a common man who will be ready to capture the tiger that has been eluding in the forests of Lalgarh. We have no knowledge of any such person or persons who is an expert in capturing tigers but if somebody can provide us with the contact of such a person, we are ready to take up his assistance," a senior official of the state Forest department said.

It may be mentioned that various efforts of the state government like using animals as a bait to trap the tiger has proven futile. The tiger even gave foresters the slip a few weeks ago when tranquilising experts had it within striking distance. "We are ready to take help from any expert in capturing the tiger," the official added.

The state Forest department had used drones, trained elephants and tranquilising teams and now they are using sniffer dogs to locate the elusive tiger, the stripes of which were captured in a camera trap at Lalgarh on March 2.

Ikna, a 2-year-old German Shepherd and a proud member of the state Forest department's canine squad, known for his skills to sniff out will be used to trace the big cat that was last spotted in Madhupur forest.

It may be mentioned that in March 2016, a sniffer dog, also a German Shepherd, from Karnataka's Bandipur Tiger Reserve was brought to Gudalur forest division in Tamil Nadu to trace a "man-eating" tiger. It reportedly located the hideout within an hour.

It may be mentioned that two experts from Sunderbans who have been roped by the department has been camping at Lalgarh for the few days.

"They will continue to be there. We are undertaking all possible means to capture the big cat," an official added.

It has been decided that if the tiger is trapped, it will be taken to the Sunderbans' Jharkhali rescue centre.

"Later, we will take a call on its release in consultation with the Centre," the official said.