JAIPUR: In all likelihood, Sariska would get its fifth tiger from Ranthambore on Friday. This time it would be a female.
Though officials refused to confirm the exact date but indicated a probability. "This time the tigers that have been identified for relocation to Sariska have not been radio collared unlike the previous three instances. These tigers have been identified after a DNA test of their scat samples," officials said.
"Therefore, it cannot be said beforehand we would definitely be able to locate the particular tiger on an exact date. We are trying for the relocation on Friday. When tigers are radio collared t is easy to locate them, else it is a mere chance that one takes in the forest," he said adding the radio collars were put on the tiger only after being brought to Sariska.
In fact, it was something like this that happened with the male T-12 tiger that was relocated to Sariska on Wednesday. Officials said the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) team had arrived at Ranthambore on Tuesday evening. The next morning when the team, along with director of the park RS Shekhawat, went to track the tiger it was coincidentally spotted at an ideal spot.
"Often we are able to locate the tiger but it becomes difficult to tranquillise it as the dart has to be carefully shot only on its hind legs, else one may injure it. On Wednesday, all things fell into shape and it was decided instantly to relocate the tiger," said RN Mehrotra, chief wildlife warden, Rajasthan.
Officials said the tracking team came within 10 metres of the tiger. "The T-12 tiger was our first choice for relocation and on Wednesday. We were lucky when we went for tracking to find it standing near its kill. It was then that the decision for relocation by the road route was taken," officials said.
With the fourth relocation, that comes after about two years since the last one, Sariska now has two males and two female cats with a third female hoping to find its way this week itself.
Officials say the relocated tiger is doing well in the temporary enclosure in Sariska. "It has adapted well and is behaving normally. The cat ate the bait this morning," officials said.
While all looks well for the forest officials, the silence of the tourism lobby has taken many by surprise. "Maybe they did not get the time to react. It happened all too suddenly for them to evoke any response," sources said.
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