The T-132 tigress, which was captured from Parseoni taluka last month, will remain in Gorewada Rescue Centre (GRC) as it is difficult for the department to find a suitable natural habitat for the problem tigress. As per the information received from the sources, the tigress is fit to be released into the wild, but as it turned into a problem tiger, the department is planning to keep it in cages to avoid any further incident. Initially, the tigress will remain in Gorewada, and later it will be shifted to any other zoo. The three-and-a-half-year-old tigress killed two persons and killed many cattle in February. The tigress was constantly venturing near human settlements and attacking people in Parseoni taluka. Last month, the tigress was captured near the Chargaon Forest area by a joint Forest team. The Forest team used baits, installed cages, and set up camera traps to capture the tigress.

 

The big cat created panic among villagers; even they stopped going to agriculture fields for their daily work. Currently, the tigress is residing in Gorewada, and veterinarians are observing the behaviour and health of the tigress. Initially, the forest department were planning to release the tigress in some other place in the State, but the senior officials are planning to keep the tigress in Gorewada. Another tiger which is responsible for killing a farmer in Parseoni taluka is still at large, and the Forest Department is performing a search operation to find out the big cat. In the last two months, Parsheoni taluka witnessed three human deaths due to tiger attacks, raising panic among residents.

 

Keeping the anguish of people in mind, Forest Minister Ganesh Naik, last month, reviewed a meeting and interacted with victims’ families and assured them to take appropriate steps to solve the issue. In these three incidents, there are two different tigers involved, one which has already been captured and another one which is still elusive. There are five tigers in Parseoni taluka who are frequently venturing near human settlements and territorial forest areas. Among them, the department captured one last month.