KOLKATA: A tiger strayed into a village at Kultali in the Sunderbans, leading to a daylong drama on Friday.
The adult male was spotted hiding in a paddy field early in the morning. Panic-stricken villagers of Kishorimohanpur saw the big cat darting around the field, but couldn't track it down in the morning mist. Later, the field was surrounded by nets and villagers kept vigil.
A forest department team reached the spot and managed to tranquillize the tiger. It has been taken to Bonnie Camp for observation and could be released on Saturday morning.
The paddy field had to be cordoned off after the tiger started growling and attempted to sneak out. Hundreds had gathered at the spot with sticks, rods and fishing nets. The foresters had a trying time keeping them out. It took them nearly four hours to corner the animal and fire the tranquillizer dart.
"It seems to have worked perfectly, for the tiger fell senseless almost immediately. It might have sneaked out of the nearby Herobhanga forest, swum across the river and entered the village last night. The animal is now being observed by our team of veterinarians. It would be released on Saturday if the animal is found to be in perfect health," said Subhendu Bandyopadhyay, DFO, South 24-Parganas.
Around a dozen tigers have strayed into Sunderbans villages in the last three months. Straying is expected to continue and could happen more frequently now. "Straying traditionally goes up between November and February. It has happened relentlessly throughout the year this time. We are keeping our fingers crossed," said a senior forest official.
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