Royal Bengal Tiger pugmark found in Hadagarh forest

KEONJHAR: Forest officials found 'pugmarks' of a Royal Bengal Tiger (RBT) in Hadagarh wildlife sanctuary in Keonjhar district during a recent survey.

A tiger and co-predator survey, as part of an all India exercise, was carried out in different forests of the state in March. The inputs of the survey are being currently analyzed. "There was no sign of RBT in Hadagarh sanctuary in last several years. The finding is an interesting development," divisional forest officer (wildlife) Sangram Keshari Behera told TOI. He, however, declined to divulge much. "Guidelines prohibit detail disclosure of the signs and location. It is likely to endanger the wildlife," Behera said.

Hadagarh sanctuary spread over 191.98 sqkm encompasses Baula (Keonjhar) and Satakosia (Mayurbhanj) reserve forests. It is part of a contiguous land mass linking Similipal and Kuldiha (Balasore) forests. "This is an elephant corridor too," the DFO said.

"Tigers are highly-sensitive animals. They are secretive. Whenever there is disturbance in forest, they run to the core area to hide. Once the disturbances subside, the young tigers migrate to the peripheral areas of the forest to set up their own colonies," the DFO said. "There is a good population of other animals in Hadagarh sanctuary like leopard, sloth bear and deer, which could be another reason for attracting RBTs from Similipal as well," he said.

Behera said they had recently launched efforts for relocation of nearly 3,000 people residing in 16 villages inside Hadagarh sanctuary. "The villagers have to consent to it. We have started the confidence building measures as a first step," he said.

"Recently a team of National Tiger Conservation Authority experts visited Hadagarh and other places and found the forest corridor connecting Similipal safe for tiger conservation," he said.