A team of personnel from the forest and police departments, on Thursday morning, launched a hunt for the tiger, which was captured near Mullayanagiri Hills of Chikkamagaluru three days ago and was released into the Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary here on Wednesday. However, their daylong search ended in disappointment as the big cat remained elusive.
Angry village residents had staged protests following the release of the animal, and prevented the officials from leaving the area on Wednesday. Only after they were assured that the tiger would be recaptured, were the officials allowed to go.
Forest officials involved in the search operations told The Hindu that nearly 50 personnel from the Forest Department, about 40 from the police, four doctors and a wildlife expert searching for the tiger right through the day, but in vain.
The search operations will continue on Friday morning. Prashant P.K., Assistant Conservator of Forests, told The Hindu that the tiger was radio-collared and would be trapped soon.
