The tiger that was tranquillised and captured near Bandipur Tiger Reserve on Sunday is under close observation at the Chamundi Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre on the outskirts of Mysuru.
Soon after it was captured, the tiger, aged between four and five, was shifted to the rescue centre, run by the Mysuru zoo at Koorgalli, on Sunday night.
Agitated state
“The tiger is in an agitated condition and may take a few days to become stable. It is kept in a cage and doing fine. A team of veterinarians have been monitoring its condition since it was shifted here,” said Ajit Kulkarni, executive director of the zoo.
Mr. Kulkarni told The Hindu that a thorough examination of the feline’s health, including injuries, will be possible only after a few days or even a week as it needs to become calm and settle down. “No one but veterinarians and the staff concerned are being let close to the big cat’s enclosure,” he said.
“The tiger has not eaten food given to it since it was brought here. Once it starts eating, we will be reassured that it is gradually getting familiarised with the situation and environment,” he added. After a rigorous combing operations lasting five days, the Forest Department managed to capture the big cat, which is suspected to have killed two persons at the Chowdahalli-Hundipura area bordering the Bandipur forest, on Sunday.
Other tigers
So far, eight tigers rescued from the wild, including the one captured and brought here on Sunday night, have been housed at the rescue centre.
“The female tiger that was captured and brought to the rescue centre last month is very aggressive and growls thunderously if anyone goes near its cage even today. The Bandipur tiger does not appear to be very restless when compared to the tigress,” said Mr. Kulkarni.
No public display
He said wild tigers captured and housed at the rescue centre are unlikely to be displayed at the zoo. “They don’t adjust to the conditions and usually are confined to one area if put on public display. They will need to be kept at the rescue centre for their lifetime,” he said.
