UNE TIGRESSE SAUVAGE ET SON PETIT RÔDENT AUX ALENTOURS D'UN ZOO. Source : Times of India, ce jour.
BHUBANESWAR: A tigress and her cub reportedly spotted in Chandaka Sanctuary area last month are suspected to be moving around Nandankanan zoo for the last couple of days. The zoo authorities have found pugmarks of the Royal Bengal Tigress and the cub. However, they said there is nothing to panic as the animals have not been sighted.
"We have not issued any alert to visitors because the pugmarks were seen in the sanctuary area where visitors have no
access. We are alert and have taken all steps to locate the animals first," said deputy director of Nandankanan C R Mishra.
The pugmarks were seen near the Lion's Safari and a dumping yard of the zoo where animal wastes are thrown. "After discovering the pug marks, we first ensured that the wild cats are not among
our inmates. Since the tigress and her cub are from the wild they usually won't come out in the open during the day," said another senior zoo officer.
Forest officials had traced pugmarks of a
tigress and a cub at several places in the
Chandaka-Dampada sanctuary for the first time on December 24 and many times thereafter at Talabasta, Banra, Deras and Pithakata inside the sanctuary area. Divisional forest officer of
Chandaka-Dampada sanctuary S N Mohapatra said, "Though we have seen pugmarks and got information from villagers that they were roaming in the forest, no one has seen them so far."
According to wildlife experts, it is definitely a piece of good news that the tiger has been adopting this as its new habitat. "This has been a new trend among tigers that they are
travelling from one forest to another. Most probably the tigress has been displaced from its territory and not able to find its habitat. If it accepts Chandaka as its new home then it's really
good news," said Lala A K Singh, a wildlife expert.
