Straying tigers worry for wildlife officials in Nagarhole

NEW DELHI: Two fully grown male big cats have been straying out of the Nagarhole Tiger Reserve in Karnataka for the last few days, keeping wildlife officials on their toe as they fear the animals might intrude into human habitats or be targeted by poachers.
"It is for the last one week that the duo are roaming in the fringes of the reserve and have killed a few cattle there as well. The two aged tigers seem to have been driven out by their counterparts in a territorial fight in the reserve," said B K Singh, Karnataka Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF).

The staff has been alerted which is keeping a close watch on their movement and making efforts to drive them back to the reserve, he said.

"We hope that they do not get into poachers' trap or enter into nearby villages as it can result into a serious man-animal conflict," he said referring to the recent death of the two tigers in Ranthambore in Rajasthan who were poisoned by angry villagers.
Two 17-month-old cubs were found dead early this month in Ranthambore, allegedly poisoned by villagers apparently upset over the killing of their livestock by the tigers.

Though straying of animals was a natural phenomenon, at times lack of enough space in their habitat due to over-population becomes the main reason for such action, he said.

"This is the second incident of straying of tigers this year, with the previous one being in February when a big cat was chased back to the sanctuary."

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Flora-Fauna/Straying-tigers-worry-for-wildlife-officials-in-Nagarhole/articleshow/5743954.cms