The two cubs of tigress Avni, who was shot dead in Yavatmal earlier this month, were spotted twice on Thursday morning, triggering a massive search for them.
According to Forest officials, the cubs, who had been missing since Avni’s killing, were first spotted by residents of the Vihirgaon village in Yavatmal at around 5.30 a.m. on Thursday.
“The villagers informed us and we alerted our teams, after which several personnel were rushed to the village. Around two hours later, the two cubs were once against spotted in one of our camera traps. They were seen walking together and seem to be physically fine,” a forest officer said.
The officer added that experts were monitoring the movement of the cubs with the help of camera traps and pressure impression pads, while a strategy is being worked out to capture both the cubs safely.
“We have also placed pieces of meat at various locations, and villagers have been alerted and asked to provide any information about their sighting immediately,” the officer said.
The development elicited varied reactions, ranging from disbelief to concern for the cubs.
“Where is the proof that the cub has been found? What are they doing about it?” Saritha Subramanian, an animal activist and a petitioner for Justice For Avni, said.
Actress Rupali Ganguly, who has also been championing the cause, said, “If they are telling the truth, they should at least share the photos or any other details. Even if they are captured, we don’t want them to be put in a zoo.”
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday questioned whether the two cubs found dead on railway tracks in Chandrapur were Avni’s cubs.
“A DNA test must be done and details of the mother of the two cubs found in Chandrapur must be made available,” AAP spokesperson Preeti Sharma Menon said.
Avni, officially known as T1, was alleged to be responsible for the deaths of as many as 13 villagers in Yavatmal. She was shot dead in a late night encounter by a team of Forest Department officials and civilian hunter Asgar Ali on November 2, leading to widespread outrage in animal rights activists and Opposition parties.
