Forest dept halts ops to rescue tigress with metallic wire on belly
RUDRAPUR: The Uttarakhand forest department has decided to suspended its operation, for a few months, to rescue a tigress with a metallic wire around her stomach, after she was spotted with two cubs, at Surai range of Khatima in US Nagar, officials said on Thursday.
The officials added that two cubs were spotted along with the tigress in camera traps, and in the interest of their upbringing, authorities have decided to halt the rescue operation for some time. Additional camera traps have been installed in the area and monitoring has been intensified for the safety of the tigress and the cubs, the officials said.
“Recently, we spotted two cubs in camera traps moving with the tigress. We have sent their pictures to Dehradun to ensure whether the cubs are of the tigress,” said Rajendra Manral, ranger, Surai Forest Range.
According to forest officials, the tigress was spotted with the metallic wire around her belly in Surai Forest in 2019. While the authorities launched an operation to rescue the tigress, they had to halt the same due to the
Covid-19 pandemic.
Manral said: “Earlier, the tigress was spotted alone but now, she is seen with two cubs. The cubs are merely one month old and at that juncture, they need their mother for upbringing. Separation from their mother will be difficult for them to survive. Once they grow up, the rescue operation will be resumed with the permission of higher authorities. “
The permission for the rescue operation from the chief wildlife warden expired on February 4. Forest officials wanted an extension but after spotting the cubs with the tigress, they changed their plan.
“We installed two cages and 35 camera traps during the rescue operation. Now, the cages are on their location itself but closed,” Manral said.