Patna– The Bihar Forest Department on Tuesday captured a tiger that had strayed from the Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) into residential areas of Bagaha, killing a farmer and injuring a forest tracker within 24 hours.
The operation involved sedating the big cat, transporting it for a medical examination, and preparing it for relocation to the Patna Zoo.
The tiger had killed farmer Mathura Mahato on Monday while he was working in his field in Nariya Sareh near Ghoraghaat Khairhani village, adjacent to the Govardhana forest area of VTR Forest Division-1. On Tuesday, forest worker Vijay Oraon was injured during the rescue mission.
According to VTR Forest Conservator-cum-Field Director Dr. Neshamani K, the tiger — estimated to be around 12 years old — was found in a weakened condition. Veterinary checks suggest it could no longer hunt wild prey due to age and frailty, forcing it to enter human settlements in search of food. Officials believe it originally came from Nepal’s Madi forest.
The rescue team — comprising DFO Vikas Ahlawat, Ranger Satyam Kumar, Veterinary Doctor Sanjeev Kumar, and Biologist Pankaj Ojha — used drone surveillance to track the animal. A trap was set in a sugarcane field, and the tiger was sedated with a tranquilizer gun around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday before being loaded into a rescue vehicle.
The health check-up has been completed, and the tiger will soon be transferred to the Patna Zoo.
The Valmikinagar Tiger Reserve and its surrounding areas, including Manguraha and Gobardhana, are prime wildlife habitats. Official figures indicate that 54 tigers currently reside in VTR, located in the Bagaha subdivision of West Champaran district. The reserve is known for its biodiversity, providing a natural home for tigers, leopards, deer, blackbucks, and other species. (Source: IANS)
