Imphal, Dec. 2: The residents of Bhalok, a small village in Tamenglong district of Manipur, are spending sleepless nights after they sighted a big cat, descriptions of which fit that of a Royal Bengal Tiger.

Manipur has no record of the presence of big cats, though other species of the cat family like leopards are often sighted. The forest department has yet to carry out a tiger census in the state.

The villagers informed the district authorities, including forest officials, of the presence of the big cat sighted a few days back.

The district forest office yesterday sent a team to the interior village to confirm the report.

“The villagers’ description indicates that it could be a Royal Bengal Tiger. But we are yet to confirm the report,” a forest official here said today.

“There is a possibility that the tiger strayed into Tamenglong from the North Cachar Hills district of Assam,” the official said.

“Forest officials fear that the terrified villagers could kill the tiger. We have asked the team to spread awareness on wildlife among them so that it could be saved.”

Hunting wild animals is nothing new in the district though Manipur Wildlife Protection Act, 1974 bans killing of rare birds and wild animals.

According to reports reaching here, the villagers, fearing that the tiger could prey on humans and domestic animals, are guarding their homesteads in groups. However, there is no report of any untoward incident.