Sambalpur: Demonstrating its natural hunting behaviour, the Royal Bengal Tiger sighted inside Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Odisha has killed a sambar deer in the sanctuary’s core area, forest officials said.
The tiger hunted the sambar deer in the late evening hours on Monday, marking an important development in its adaptation to the sanctuary’s natural habitat, according to Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Anshu Pargyan Das,
Earlier in the afternoon, the tiger was spotted in the tourism zone of the sanctuary, where around 40 tourists travelling in four safari vehicles had the rare opportunity of witnessing the big cat.
The tiger was reportedly exploring the forest and searching for a suitable habitat when it came into the tourists’ view. Later in the evening, it moved into the core area and successfully hunted the sambar deer.
Following the development, the Forest Department has stepped up security measures to ensure the safety of the tiger and prevent any potential threat to its survival.
Patrolling has been intensified along the river routes inside the sanctuary as well as in the western border areas. The department has also alerted the police, local residents and informants to report any suspicious activities, including poaching, the use of traps or nets, and other activities that could endanger the tiger.
The Forest Department has announced a reward of Rs 1,000 for anyone providing information about such suspicious activities. The identity of informants will be kept strictly confidential.
The police of Bargarh and Sambalpur districts will also extend necessary support and share relevant information to strengthen the tiger protection measures.
Forest officials are keeping a close watch on the movement of the animal to ensure its safety and continued adaptation to the habitat.