Bengal Tigress Sundari On The Prowl Again, Narrow Escape For Villager

Bhubaneswar: It was a close shave for one Sanjay as he sped away to escape the clutches of Royal Bengal tigress Sundari, while on his way back to Hatibari village in Angul district.

According to sources, he was on his motorcycle when the tigress pounced on him.

On October 11, Sundari had killed a cow in broad daylight on the outskirts of the village.

The villagers have been living in fear since the tigress, brought from the Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh on June 28, was released into the core area of Satkosia Tiger Reserve on August 18.

On September 12, a woman was found dead on the outskirts of the village and suspecting that she was killed by the tigress, the villagers had ransacked Dhandatopa Forest Beat House and Tikarpara Forest Range office and set them on fire.

Prior to that, Sundari had strayed into human settlements in Athmallik forest range and killed a calf at Bipradiha village after crossing an overflowing Chanagodi Nullah on September 2. Twelve days later, she was back in the village and killed five cattle.

Following these incidents, a team of experts from Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and Wildlife Crime Control Bureau had arrived at Satkosia and monitored the movement and behaviour of the tigress for three days.

As Sundari did not show any sign of leaving the human settlements, the forest officials had decided to either tranquilise her or trap her in a cage. However, much to their relief, she moved inside the core area on the night of October 3.

The last two incidents have again set the alarm bell ringing for the Forest Department.