NO SIGNS OF TIGER, SEARCH TEAMS AWAIT ITS NEXT MOVE

LUCKNOW: No new pugmarks of the elusive tiger prowling the city outskirts were found on Thursday, as poaching fears troubled forests and Wildlife Trust of India teams.

The teams continued their combing operations in the villages of Mal area and felt that the tiger may be getting familiar with the area on the outskirts of the state capital as it has not left any new signs of its movement for several days. Till now, the tiger has killed two animals. Its pugmarks were spotted last week, but they were already three days old by that time and hence could not help in tracking the animal.

Experts feel that since the forest area on city outskirts is prone to poaching, the animal should soon be settled back in the jungle it came from.

The team is working on a three-prong strategy: trying to locate the tiger through its behavioural pattern; studying the pugmarks; and working on information from different villages. It is now waiting for the tiger’s next move and hopes to catch it quickly.

The tiger was first sighted on October 15 in Sitapur district and its presence was felt in Lucknow district last Wednesday when pugmarks were seen in Godhan village of Mall, nearly 34 km from the city area. On Saturday, pugmarks were seen in Goparamau village in Mall, after reports of a blue bull being killed by it.

EXPERTS FEEL SINCE THE FOREST AREA IS PRONE TO POACHING, TIGER SHOULD SOON BE SETTLED BACK IN THE JUNGLE IT CAME FROM