JAIPUR: A hide-and-seek game is on between a runaway male tiger and an array of men trailing it in the ravines of the Chambal river in Dholpur district of Rajasthan. The feline, aged around six years, belongs to Ranthambhore National Park but has been playing truant for the past three years. Now the task before the experts and the forest authorities is to get it back to the Rajasthan jungles because the animal has reached the boundary of the State and may walk over either to Uttar Pradesh or Madhya Pradesh any time.
Over 150 people are out now “stalking” the tiger, which the local people refer to as Mohan, to make it move homeward. The team, which includes Jaipur Zoo veterinarian Arvind Mathur and wildlife expert Sudarshan Sharma from Ranthambhore, is adopting “Haka” method to unsettle the tiger from the bushes and drive it in the opposite direction.
“ Haka is a terminology often used during the hunting expeditions of yore. In this technique men armed with sticks shout and beat the bush around them to disturb the animal from its location and make it move in the direction they want it to,” informs Rajpal Singh, author and member of the Rajasthan Board for Wildlife. The team is carrying tranquillizer guns with it so that in case sedation is needed that can be carried out, he says. “We need to do this as the animal stands the risk of exposure to human habitation. There can be accidents while it crosses the public roads or railway tracks in the process of continuing with its .onward journey,” says Mr. Singh. “My feeling is that the tiger must have reached the Van Vihar sanctuary in the district.”
When last spotted, the tiger was in Duria Kheda near Kathumari village, some 20 km from the district town of Dholpur. “We could not do much today as the animal could not be located during the day,” said R. K. Bhati, Divisional Forest Officer of Dholpur, on Saturday evening talking to The Hindu on phone. “We are on its trail and the mission continues. We have to get it back by whatever means,” he added.
The fugitive animal has already been to Bund Baretha sanctuary in Bharatpur district during his earlier wanderings. After getting out of Ranthambhore National Park at an early age, he had returned to it once before starting all over again. This time it had left the Kailadevi sanctuary, adjoining Ranthambhore, on July 21 and has been moving on a perilous style ever since.
Against all odds, including incessant rain, harsh terrain and the presence of dacoit gangs in the Chambal ravines, the Mission titled “Operation Reverse” continues. Once the tiger gets caught it also stands the chance of joining the newly-revived five-strong tiger family in Sariska Tiger Reserve.
http://www.hindu.com/2010/08/08/stories/2010080858980100.htm
Capturing and relocating this tiger to Sariska or Panna is one option, but I see no reason why this tiger should return to Ranthambhore; it was probably chased from there by a dominant male in the first place. It is only natural for male tigers to disperse and seek new territories, and it also helps prevent inbreeding in separate tiger populations. If this tiger reaches Kuno or even Raisen, it would be beneficial for those small and endangered tiger populations.
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