Palasgaon tiger T-179 caged in Chandrapur; herder mauled by tiger in Pombhurna

The forest department in Chandrapur district has succeeded in capturing the Palasgaon tiger. The tiger, numbered T-179 (SM-1), was trapped in a cage at about 3.30 pm on Friday, October 30. The forest department said this was the same tiger that attacked a woman in Palasgaon on October 16, killing her.

The tiger had caused fear for several days in the Palasgaon forest range of Chimur taluka. On October 16 it attacked Usha Ankush Gurnule of Palasgaon and killed her on the spot. Angered by the incident, residents held a road blockade that lasted a full three hours.

As the question of public safety became serious, the forest department immediately pursued the matter at higher levels and obtained legal permission from the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) to capture the tiger. Under this permission, the operation was carried out at about 3.30 pm on Friday in compartment number 558 of Gondmohali in the Palasgaon beat.

The operation was carried out under the guidance of Field Director Prabhunath Shukla, Deputy Director Vishal Mali and Assistant Conservator of Forests Saitanmay Dube. Palasgaon Range Forest Officer Sagar Barsagade, Field Assistant C. N. Rasekar, Forest Guards D. B. Kharde and Vikrant N. Dudhe, and an expert team from the Chandrapur Transit Treatment Centre (TTC) safely caged the tiger. It has been taken immediately to the TTC in Chandrapur for further medical examination and treatment.

Villagers in Palasgaon heaved a sigh of relief at the tiger's capture. But the same day, another terrible incident of human-wildlife conflict occurred in Pombhurna taluka.

Rajeshwar Bija Sidam (60) of Satara Tukum in Pombhurna taluka had gone towards the forest as usual to graze his cows. A tiger lying in ambush in forest compartment number 436 at Satara Tukum suddenly pounced on him and seriously injured him. He has deep wounds on his body. On receiving the news, forest department staff and villagers reached the spot and admitted the injured Sidam to the District General Hospital in Chandrapur, where he is undergoing treatment.

In a single day, a tiger that had spread terror in one place was caught, while elsewhere a herder was attacked in an area bordering the forest. Fear has again spread among farmers, farm labourers and herders. They have to go into the forest and fields at risk to their lives, and people are strongly demanding that the forest department step up patrolling in such areas and take firm measures.