Tiger still eluding traps while elephants add to panic in Bengal
MIDNAPORE: AUTHORITIES HAD SET UP TRAPS ON FEBRUARY 27 IN THE AREA AFTER COMPLAINTS FROM VILLAGERS OF MISSING COWS IN THE AREA
Even as the Royal Bengal Tiger sighted in the former Maoist-dominated area of Lalgarh in February continued to elude traps, a herd of wild elephants smashed the cameras set up to track the big cat, heightening panic in the area on Sunday.
According to villagers, the tension has surpassed the panic prevalent at the zenith of Maoist activity between 2008 and 2011. This is the first time a tiger has been sighted in this area.
Forest officers believe the tiger could have strayed from Odisha’s Simlipal, about 190 km away.
Authorities had set up traps on February 27 in the area after complaints from villagers that at least five cows belonging to locals had gone missing in a span of seven days.
According to forest department officials about 20 elephants are moving in the area now.
“The tiger might have gone to other parts of the forest after sensing the presence of the elephant herd,” said Rabindranath Saha, divisional forest officer (DFO ) of Midnapore on Monday.
The panic however has not abated in the area.
“You cannot imagine how we are spending our days. Even during the height of Maoist activity, we did not suffer from this level of panic. For almost the entire day, we are staying indoors,” said Manik Mahato, a farmer of Kumarbadh village about 8 km from Lalgarh.
“We don’t know when elephants will attack us, or the tiger will appear. Even going out to respond to nature’s call has become risky,” said Laxmi Mahato of Amalaia, near Madhupur forest.
“We don’t know when elephants will attack us, or the tiger will appear. Even going out to respond to nature’s call has become risky,” said Laxmi Mahato of Amalaia, near Madhupur forest.
The administration has already issued warnings for the locals. “We are issuing advisories over microphone. The people are asked to remain alert and not to go in the forest, “said Debashis Mahimaprasad Pradhan, DFO of Bankura South division