“A composite task force has been set up. Teams are on the ground. A special team with tranquilisers is being brought in from Sunderbans. It is true that this one, unlike the previous one (Zeenat), has no radio collar. This makes our job tougher,” Debal Roy, head of forest force, West Bengal, told The Indian Express.
“We are observing whether the tiger shows signs of settling in these forests. We have two strategies. If the tiger returns on its own to its area of origin, we will allow it. But if the tiger decides to stay, we will sedate and capture it,” added Roy.
Another worrying factor for forest officials is that tribal groups in Jhargram organise festivities on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. “The area where the tiger is roaming around has been cordoned off with nets from three sides. Tomorrow there is the Makar festival. Everything is normal but people have been told not to go inside the forest for any purpose,” state forest minister Birbaha Hansda told The Indian Express,
S Kulandaivel, chief conservator of forests, said, “We have put in all resources and teams in place. Special awareness drives have been conducted in tribal-dominated villages that will celebrate the festival tomorrow near the forest area where the tiger is located. We are taking all precautions.“
“We have alerted villagers residing near the forest area to not venture into the forest. Resorts and hotels have been alerted, tourists are also asked to avoid visiting forest areas, since this is the tourist season in Jhargram. We have been using loudspeakers to spread the message,” said a senior forest official.
On December 29, three-year-old tigress Zeenat was sedated and captured in Bankura after 21 days, in which she had covered nearly 300 km, travelling through Similipal Tiger Reserve in Odisha and crossing Jharkhand. A war of words ensued between West Bengal and Odisha after the tiger was returned to Odisha.
It had escaped Similipal Tiger Reserve on December 8. According to experts, it is common for tigers to cover distances to find a suitable area or territory with a good prey base.