 |
| Footage from trap cameras at Nandankanan of the tiger straying into the zoo’s forested areas |
Bhubaneswar, May 3: Forest officials here are in a dilemma over the fate of the big cat that had strayed into the white tiger safari of Nandankanan zoo on Monday night.
While the state forest officials are trying to figure out the exact habitat of the seven-year-old tiger, they are yet to decide whether to release the big cat in its natural habitat or keep the animal in captivity.
Sources in the forest department said the tiger could be the one that had been spotted roaming in various forest areas, including Khuntuni and Athagarh, over the past four months.
The forest department is also analysing the pugmarks of the tiger collected from Nandankanan, Khuntuni and Athagarh to ascertain its identity.
In deciding the tiger’s fate, forest officials are also taking into account the threat perception to the big cat from human beings and those of its kind in case it is released in the wild.
“We are in constant touch with tiger experts and a final call on the animal’s future will be taken at soon as possible,” said principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife) J.D Sharma.
He also said extreme precaution should be taken before taking a final call as the big cat was a territorial animal and chances were there that the presence of the male tiger might not be conducive to others of its gender.
However, sources in the forest department said the possibility of keeping the tiger in captive condition couldn’t be ruled out.
“If the exact habitat of the tiger cannot be located, it would be better to keep it in captivity than to send it back to the jungle. This might lead to man-animal conflict,” said a senior forest official.
What is making things difficult is difference of opinion among those concerned about the tiger’s fate.
While some activists favour its release in the wild, there are others who believe that Nandankanan should be the tiger’s home as it has chosen the habitat.
“ If this tiger is the same one that had been spotted in Khuntuni and Athagarh forest areas, it becomes obvious that the big cat has shown preference for Nandankanan. Therefore, there is no harm if the tiger is kept in captivity. Its wild gene can be incorporated into the captive gene pool of Nandankanan,” said tiger expert Lala A.K Singh.
Wildlife activists, however, want the tiger to be released in its natural habitat as soon as possible.
“The authorities must release the tiger in its natural habitat. A GPS device should be fitted on the animal so that its movement can be monitored. If this is not done fast, we will move court,” said Sanjib Kumar Das, member-secretary of wildlife organisation People for Animal.
In a similar situation last year, a leopard rescued from Sonepur and later brought to the Nandankanan zoo had to be released in the jungle.