Relocated tiger adapts well to new habitat in Mukundra
For wildlife enthusiasts rejoicing over the rise in tiger numbers in Rajasthan, here’s another heartening news. The lone male big cat in Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve (MHTR) has adjusted well to its new habitat igniting hope that officials can go ahead with proposal to translocate two tigresses into the protected area.
The three-and-a-half-year-old MT-1 was translocated from Ranthambore Tiger Reserve to MHTR on April 3. It is the first big cat in the 759-sqkm MHTR that was notified as third tiger reserve in Rajasthan in 2013.
Having just nearly two months, MT-1 has started marking out territory within the 80-sqkm fenced area where it was released. “On an average, MT-1 walks around 15 kilometres every day. It is making kills every four to five days,” assistant conservator of forest, MHTR, Pra- mod Dhakar, said.
Forest officer Daulat Singh said MT-1has killed over a dozen ungulates including spotted deer and at least one bluebull.
Dhakar said the fenced area has 15 water points and sufficient prey base. MT-1 is likely to get a female companion after the Rajasthan wildlife department and the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) reached a truce. The NTCA had granted permission for relocation of three tigers from Ranthambore to Mukundra but in March, the authority put the approval in abeyance, putting paid to the state’s plan to populate state’s third tiger reserve.
:A middle-aged woman injured another woman by smashing her head to a stone following an argument over fetching drinking water at Sector 9 of Hiran Magri area in the city, police said on Sunday.
Later, when police arrested the accused for the attack, she inflicted injuries to herself by a knife, the police said, adding that the woman was out of danger.
According to the Hiran Magri police, the incident took place on Saturday evening when Sapna, a resident of Sector 9 of the Hiran Magri area, and one of her neighbours, Mona Kathik, had gone to fetch water from a hand pump in the area. They had an argument over fetching water, which suddenly turned violent when in the fit of rage Sapna smashed Mona’s head with a stone, the police said. Mona rushed to the local police station and lodged an FIR against
Sapna for assaulting her. The police booked Sapna under section 307 of the IPC and later arrested her.
During her interrogation, Sapna suddenly left the police station, pulled out a knife from her scooty and stabbed herself thrice in the abdomen, the police said, adding that everyone present at the police station got stunned. Later, Sapna was rushed to MB Hospital in the city for treatment, where her condition was stated to be stable. The police have slapped another case against Sapna for attempting suicide and waiting for her recovery to take further action. HTC
KOTA: UDAIPUR