The Forest Department officials here have launched operation “Badshah” to nab a tiger that reportedly strayed into the periphery of the State Capital last week.
Though officials have not been able to trace pug marks of the tiger, they have launched the hunt after villagers of nearby localities claimed that they had spotted the feline.
According to State Chief Wildlife Warden Rupak De, the operation has been launched to trace the big cat under the leadership of forest department’s Lucknow circle head Eva Sharma. At least seven teams of forest departments including one from the Dudhwa National Park are on the hunt of the tiger in Rahmankhera forest area and other parts of adjoining Malihabad, Mal and Kakori areas.
Forest officials are on the alert and have made elaborate arrangements to nab the tiger. Apart from teams that are ready with tranquilizers, arrangements have been made of five automatic cages to trap the animal once its location is tracked down. Reports say that the tiger was first spotted in Sitapur on October 15 after it had strayed from the Dudhwa National Park. It later crossed Hardoi to enter the peripheral areas of Lucknow district. The feline is believed to be in Rahmankhera forest area.
People have reported that they have seen pug marks of the tiger within 10 km radius of Rahmankhera area. Last week, pug marks were reportedly seen in Hasankheda village about eight km from Rahmankhera, while the marks were also found at Malha and Fursatnagar in Malihabad area. The tiger is believed to be moving along Behta drain in Rahmankhera area. People living in at least a dozen villages in Kakori and Mal areas are living in fear and have been on high alert day and night.
