CHANCHAL GOLA/Ramnagar
Forest department officials and wildlife enthusiasts are enthused with sightings of two cubs learning hunting skills from their mother- a tigress who was injured earlier this year. The tigress in the Phato range of Terai west forest division was treated for her injury and released and recent sightings have confirmed that her cubs are now learning to hunt from her.
Terai west divisional forest officer PC Arya informed that the tigress, estimated to be about 10-years-old was spotted limping due to an injury on her leg during May this year. The injury was believed to have been caused in a fight with another big cat. After spotting the injured tigress, the department personnel began monitoring her. On May 3 wildlife veterinarian Dr Dushyant Sharma and department personnel successfully rescued the injured tigress. Having rescued the tigress for treatment, the department also had to focus on her two cubs who were dependent on her. Sharma said that the injured tigress was treated at the Dhela rescue centre. After a week of treatment and regular monitoring, she recovered. During the period of her treatment and recovery, the department personnel provided meat to the cubs and also monitored them with means including camera traps. Sub divisional officer Sandeep Giri said that the tigress was released back into the forest to reunite with her cubs after the treatment.
On May 8, after her release, the tigress returned to her cubs and began training them in the art of hunting. According to guides and tourists visiting Phato, the tigress is now often seen either with her two cubs or watching them as they hunt on their own.The two cubs are estimated to be aged about one a half years old and on reaching about two years of age, they are expected to move out and search for their own territories, as tigers do.
