Tiger T-122 that killed three herders in Chandrapur's Saoli caught in giant cage

The Chandrapur forest department has finally caught the tiger that spread terror in the Saoli area. The tiger, named T-122, had killed three herders, according to the forest department. It is about six years old and had been roaming the area for the past month.

The tiger kept moving through the villages of Samda, Nilsani, Pedgaon, Sonapur and Wagholi-Buti, which fall under the Vyahad sub-range of the Saoli forest range. Ordinary people and herders were deeply afraid. Besides killing three herders who had gone to graze cattle in the forest, it had also made life-threatening attacks on people. A climate of fear gripped the entire area. With the tiger now caught, the forest department and villagers have heaved a sigh of relief.

Putting public safety first, the Chandrapur forest department began a special operation in the Saoli forest range on September 27, 2026. It is said that, for the first time in the department's history, a large, specially built cage measuring 30 by 30 feet was used successfully to catch a tiger. Normally a big, ferocious animal like a tiger does not walk into a cage easily, and such operations can take months and consume resources, manpower and heavy expenditure.

To solve this problem, Ghanshyam Naygamkar, range forest officer of Chandrapur Territorial, and Rakesh Ahuja, biologist with the Brahmapuri division, drew on their long experience to come up with the idea and design for the large cage. The new approach has shown the capability of the Chandrapur forest department.

The operation was run under the guidance of Chief Conservator of Forests Ramanujam and Divisional Forest Officer Rajan Talmale. Assistant Conservator of Forests Vikas Tarse and Saoli range forest officer Vinod Dhurve led it. For the risky operation, nine Garuda CCTV cameras, 20 trap cameras and three live cameras were installed. Between 50 and 60 forest staff and labourers kept watch round the clock.

Eco-Pro president Bandu Dhotre, honorary wildlife warden Mukesh Bhandakkar, biologist Akshay Narnaware and Dr Chhonkar, retired assistant commissioner of the animal husbandry department, also helped. Despite being retired, Dr Chhonkar gave the forest department full support. Field assistant Maruti Pullewad, shooter Pradip Kodape, forest guards of the area concerned, the STPF team from Mul, the RRU team from Chandrapur and the PRT team also worked together with full planning and discipline.

V. C. Dhurve, territorial range forest officer of Saoli, said it was possible to catch the dangerous tiger only because of the collective, day-and-night effort of the entire team. Herders and villagers have got great relief with the tiger's capture.