Tiger not sighted for second consecutive day

People living on the fringes of the forests in H.D. Kote have been cautioned against venturing into the jungles at night or alone during day.

The tiger prowling on the borders of Bandipur National Park and which killed two persons last week in H.D.Kote continues to be elusive despite intense combing operations by the Forest Department.

For the second consecutive day the animal was not sighted at all, though the authorities combed a vast swathe of the area covering more than 10 km in the process on Monday.

In a bid to infuse courage among the local community living on the fringes of the forest boundary, the authorities have assured them of 24 x 7 vehicle patrolling. People living on the fringes of the forests in H.D. Kote have been cautioned against venturing into the jungles at night or alone during day.

Conservator of Forests H.C. Kantharaj, who is the Director of Bandipur Tiger Reserve, said that despite a thorough combing of the area, the tiger could not be spotted at all. Suggesting a change in strategy, Mr. Kantharaj said that the department will demarcate and circle a vast area of forest and comb the entire place.

“We will all camp in the region for a few more days and ensure protection to the local people with additional vehicles and staff,” he added.

Though the officials believed that the tiger could have headed towards Hediyala range based on the sighting of pug marks, no tiger sighting was reported even in this portion of the forest.

Veterinarian Nagaraj, who was part of the combing operation and accompanied the team in a bid to tranquilise the tiger, said that only pug marks were seen. Though more than 10 cameras were placed at vantage points along the demarcation line (D-Line) where the tiger was sighted on Saturday, there was no image of any tiger, Mr. Kantharaj said. The number of cameras will be increased to enhance monitoring of the area, he added.