Tiger spotted in Shenbagathoppu forest area
Online edition of India’s National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Staff Reporter
SRIVILLIPUTTUR: A tiger was spotted in the Shenbagathoppu forest near here. Local people claimed that it had taken away a calf reared by one of the tribals last week. However, the Wild Life Warden, Srivilliputtur, S.A. Raju, said, “It is not clear whether it is a tiger or a panther as the pug marks lifted were not clear.”
Stating that one of the anti-poaching watchers, who spotted the animal on Friday, had claimed that it was a tiger, Mr. Raju said that officials would monitor the Western Ghats range for some more time to confirm it.
The officials are planning to capture the animal’s image using a camera.
Mr. Raju said that the animal could have strayed from the reserve forest into the thick forest area which has a huge population of deer.
Srivilliputtur Ranger A. Palaniraj said that forest officials would keep a vigil in the area as the tiger is an endangered species. The big cat usually roams around in a range of 25 km, he added.
Thirty-two tribal families are living in the forest area of Shenbagathoppu, he added.
http://www.hindu.com/2010/05/25/stories/2010052557630100.htm
