PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Ramnagar
The man-eating tiger responsible for killing an unidentified person in the Kosi Range under Ramnagar Forest Division still remains at large despite intensive efforts by the Forest department to capture it. To recall, the tiger had on January 10 dragged an unidentified man from the edge of the forest near Gular -Sidh Temple into the jungle, leaving the people, living in proximity to the forest, in panic. The following day, his body was recovered from the forest. Samples of the remains were sent to a laboratory for DNA testing to establish the identity of the deceased.
Following the fatal attack, the Forest department intensified its operation to capture the tiger. Informing this, the sub-divisional forest officer (SDO) Ankit Badola said that a total of 16 trap cameras have been installed inside the forest and these are being continuously monitored. “However, the tiger has been captured on camera only once so far,” he added.
During the patrols, the forest staff have also found pugmarks of a tiger, a tigress and cubs in the area, making the situation more serious. Permission has been sought from the chief wildlife warden to install cages to capture the man-eater.
As a precautionary measure, roadside stalls and vendors from the Gular- Sidh Temple premises to the Kosi Barrage have been temporarily closed and entry of morning walkers into the area has been prohibited.
“With the man-eater remaining on the loose, the Forest department continues to keep strict surveillance. We are also appealing to the people living near the forest to stay alert,” said Badola.
