Tiger evades forest officials yet again

KANPUR :After Forest and Wild Life Trust of India officials laid cages to trap the tiger — the pug marks of which was spotted at Kanhuwa village near the Ganga Barrage area, the wild beast again gave them a slip on Sunday. The tiger on looose since October have not yet been sighted even once though it's footages were recorded in cameras after it had strayed in Fatuwa Ka Nala jungle area of Gadhi Silauli in Unnao district on November 14.
The forest department is under severe pressure as the tiger had been straying near the human settlements and killing cattle.
"The two to three-year-old tiger's pug marks, besides carcasses of a wild blue bull and two calves were seen, since it had strayed in the region," said a forest official while talking to TOI.
Eleven teams including of state forest department and Wild Life Trust of India, besides Kanpur Zoo had laid several trap cages in the Katri region, where the pug marks of the wild beast were recorded, but going by the fresh pug marks discovered on Saturday, the forest officials are of the view that as the area has abundance of blue-bulls and wild boars, the tiger had not been biting the bait and is prefering natural prey. "Fresh pug and marks and struggle spots were sighted again in Ludhwa Kheda, which is located on the other side of the Ganga river, and which is very close to City borders, only suggested that the big cat had given a wild chase to it's prey after crossing the Ganga river. On tracking the pug marks further, it was confirmed that after a wild chase, it had returned again to the old spot. It had also visited the guawa orchard of one Radheyshyam, who also claimed to have heard the loud roar of the tiger on late Friday night. "It is hiding in a thickly jungle of `munj' and `narkul' which is spread in vast area alongside the river banks thus giving a tough time to the trackers," said Radheyshyam further.
Earlier, the pug marks of the wild cat were sighted in and around the Kanhuwa village in the Katri area. The trap cages along with a bait have'nt been of any use so far. The trap cage has two compartments, one in which the bait is kept and another in which the animal would get trapped, as soon as it steps on a lever.
On Saturday again, separate teams of forest department and Wild Life Trust of India during a day-long combing operation failed to sight the animal."We have deployed tranquilising teams at strategic points on the forest fringes in the Katri region. We have also deployed forest personnel in the outer layer of the jungle where the tiger was reported to be hiding to monitor it's late night activities and preventing it from entering human settlements. The combing operation will be carried out again on Sunday," said Dr Utkarsh Shukla, deputy director Lucknow zoo.
Meanwhile, forest officials have decided to try the trap for another day before zeroing in on another spot. "We will see if the tiger bite the bait in trap cages tonight. Our teams surveyed the area again and we will keep a watch at the same place. If it fails, we will lay the trap cages at other spots, after assessment of fresh pug marks in the area," he added.
It might be noted, fear of tiger had compelled the district administration to close all schools in Katri region near Ganga Barrage.
Meanwhile, villagers of Kanhuwa and it's adjoining Paharipur, Mangalpur, Shankerpur Sarai and Rampur, are continuing to remain indoors till the tiger is captured by the forest officials.
"We are protecting ourselves by burning bonfire near our cattle-sheds and move out in groups during late night or wee hours. It's still not sure whether the animal is in our area or not. Once we are sure that the animal is not in the vicinity, we can carry on with our normal life," said a group of villagers of Kanhuwa.