Pugmark spotted at Jhargram forest

Kolkata: The fear of tiger has surfaced once again at Jhargram with the spotting of a pugmark at Banspahari forest area on Sunday morning. The tiger is likely to have entered Bengal through the Jharkhand border.

DFO (Divisional Forest Officer) Jhargram, Umar Imam has confirmed the entry of Royal Bengal Tiger and has already reached the spot for necessary action with a team from the Forest department adept in tranquilising big cat, if necessary.

According to sources in the Forest department, a search operation for detecting the tiger is on.

“We have taken all precautionary measures so that the tiger is prevented from entering into human habitat. There is nothing to panic and everyone should be alert, “said a senior official of the Forest department.

Seven days back, a tiger was detected roaming in and around Chandil forest area in Jharkhand. However, the big cat could not be tracked as it was not fitted with radio collar. Based on local people’s input, trap cameras were laid but the tiger was not photographed.

The forest officials are not sure whether the tiger presently in Jhargram is the same one that locals informed to have spotted in Chandil.

At the end of December , Tigress Zeenat hailing from Simplipal Tiger Reserve in Odisha had entered Belpahari forest in Jhargram and after a few days had travelled to Purulia . The tigress was ultimately captured at Bankura and was handed over to Simlipal authorities.