Big cat yet to make an appearance

TNN | Jan 16, 2012, 03.28AM IST LUCKNOW: The entire team of forest officers and experts from Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) are camping in Rahmankhera to trace the tiger but the big cat is still to make an appearance before people. So far, it's only the pugmarks of the tiger which indicate the presence of the big cat in the area. If the feline is still present in Rahmankhera or moved on, is still not known. Those tracking the tiger could still be presuming that it is around. It was on January 8, last Sunday, that the forest department officers confirmed the presence of the big cat in Kakori. The pugmarks were found over 3-4 kms area in Kakori, near Chilauli village in Kakori. The pugmarks showed that the big cat had taken one big round and vanished, said one of the forest staff. The tiger was never spotted in the area. "It has not been seen till date," said the staff. However, to trap the tiger, three cages, with live baits, have been put in Rahmankhera. Sunday, was the third day since goats and a calf were tied to the baits, but the tiger has not even ventured into the close vicinity of the cages. On the basis of pugmarks, it appears to be a juvenile tiger, 3 to 4 years of age. The feline also knows how to hunt its natural prey. The area is full of blue bulls and other wildlife, which is the natural prey of the tiger. The tiger, so far, has only killed and eaten its natural prey, the blue bull. "It could have eaten about 1.5 quintal of flesh," said one Rahul Shukla. The area has water bodies, rich cover and natural prey, making it a preferred habitat for the stray cat. The fact that it has almost negligible human presence could have made it even better. The tiger is believed to have ventured from South Kheri and has travelled about 150 kms, till Kakori. And, nowhere along its movement, was a livestock killing reported. The big cat has not switched over to domestic cattle, and has only killed its natural prey. It's presence was first noticed in Hardoi on January 1. But, since then, the tiger has not been spotted by anyone, forest officers and experts have only be presuming. The forest officers, initially, also said that it could also be a leopard. However, experts said that it is the size of the pugmarks, which gives an impression that it is a tiger. The experts also cry foul that forest department was not carrying out the tracking operation properly. Out of the three cages put at the place, two are meant for trapping leopard and are smaller in size. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Big-cat-yet-to-make-an-appearance/articleshow/11505204.cms