Eight casualties later, the Uttar Pradesh forest department has declared the Pilibhit tigers as maneaters. The state forest department has sent a team of experts to the Deoria range of Pilibhit, to tranquilise the animals.
On Sunday, tiger attack claimed its eight victim since May this year. The incident occurred in the Khutani range of Shahjehanpur district.
According to Divisional Forest Officer, Pilibhit, VK Singh: “The incident now makes it clear that these tigers — it may be just one of them or more than one — have become maneaters. And the recent incident shows that they are now moving towards human habitat, although the earlier incidents were reported deep inside the forest areas.”
While six of the victims were killed in Deoria Kalan range in Pilibhit district, two have been killed in Khutar range in Shahjehanpur district on the borders of Pilibhit. Although the laser cameras have captured photographs of three adult tigers, the department will match pugmarks to determine whether it is just one tiger or more than that who have turned maneaters.
The forest officials have set up a big cage for the carnivores in Sarriayya village. A team of tranquilising experts, led by Conservator (Rohilkhand division) Sunil Chaudhary, is also camping in the area and two machans have been set up to keep track of the animal.
Talking to The Indian Express, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Wildlife, B K Patnaik, meanwhile, said: “In case there is a decline in human deaths or the tiger is not spotted in the human habitation, it will be considered that the animal has retreated towards the forest area.”
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Pilibhit--tigers--declared-maneaters/674829/
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