The decision of the Forest Department to release the captured tiger — believed to have killed a woman in Pandaravalli village, near Mullayanagiri Hills, in Chikkamagaluru — in the Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary in Belagavi backfired once again on Wednesday, with apprehensive residents of Talawade village in Khanapur taluk demanding its recapture.
The officials had brought the captured tiger in a vehicle and released it into the forests around 10.30 a.m. Soon after learning of the release, irate residents took the officials to task and asked them why they had let the big cat into the forests, thereby putting their lives in danger.
Forest officials from Khanapur taluk also rushed to the village and tried to pacify the residents. But the residents stuck to their guns, refusing to allow the forest staff to go until they recaptured it.
Finally, they relented and allowed them to leave only after an assurance that a nsearch operation would be launched from Thursday morning to re-capture the tiger.
‘Report with care’Bengaluru Special Correspondent writes:
In Bengaluru, Vinay Luthra, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden, speaking at a press meet on Wednesday, said no norms were flouted while releasing the tiger into the wild. The tiger was transported in a fully-covered tiger cage and released after a radio collar was put on it. He also cautioned the media to report with care, especially with reference to terming of the tiger a “man-eater” as the tiger could have killed the woman out of fear and not as prey.
