Angul: The two-year-old tigress translocated from Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh has crossed the borders of Satkosia Tiger Reserve to roam in the bordering village of Bipradiha in Dhandatope range, causing panic among local residents.
Two days ago, she preyed on a calf near the border village. After roaming around the border areas for three days, the tigress, Sundari, was spotted at Baghmunda in Satkosia, according to official sources.
Sundari, according to villagers, was wandering at Dandatopa for some days after crossing the sanctuary border. On Saturday, she came across a cattle herd near the village and allegedly lifted the eight-month-old calf before vanishing into the forest. This has spread panic among villagers who, besides demanding compensation, have asked the forest authorities to chase the animal away from the area.
"The tiger followed its instincts and preyed on the calf. Proper compensation will be paid to the owner. A forest department team is monitoring and following her. She has left that area and returned to the Satkosia forest area," said a forest department official.
Officials are worried that unlike the male tiger from the Kanha Tiger Reserve, Sundari is yet to create its own territory and mostly roamed near human habitations. She requires a bigger territory. While the male tiger has settled within a 100sqkm area in the reserve, Sundari needs about 300sqkm.
As a result, she wanders in the forests of Angul, often crossing into those in Cuttack and Narasinghpur. So far, it has not gone to any village, a source said.
"A project like this takes five years and it is too early to say anything about her," the official said
The official said the tiger from Kanha had become friendly with Satkosia's elderly resident tigress, who is chasing away the new tigress from her area.
"We are waiting for the old tigress to get pregnant so that the male tiger will come to the younger one. Usually, two to three tigresses remain with a male tiger. We are waiting for that," the official said.
