Tiger Sighting Creates Panic in South 24 Parganas Village
Residents of Kishorimohanpur village in South 24 Parganas district experienced a tense Thursday morning after fresh tiger pug marks were discovered near their settlement. The village, located under Kultoli block's Maipith-Baikunthapur gram panchayat, immediately alerted authorities about the potential wildlife threat.
Forest Department Springs Into Action
A rapid response team from the forest department along with officers from Maipith coastal police station quickly arrived at the scene to assess the situation. The officials conducted a preliminary examination but faced an unexpected challenge - the incoming tide waters had obscured crucial evidence about the big cat's movement patterns.
A senior forest official explained their strategy: "We had to wait until afternoon for the tide water to recede to properly track the direction of the pug marks. This natural obstacle delayed our investigation but was necessary for accurate assessment."
Tiger's Path Traced Toward Thakuran Char Forest
Once the waters retreated, the forest team made a significant discovery. The pug marks clearly headed in the direction of a forest on Thakuran Char, located opposite the village across the water body. This finding provided some relief to the anxious villagers.
"The tiger appears to have retreated to the forest side," confirmed the forest official. "However, as a precautionary measure, our team will maintain night patrols in the area on Thursday in case the animal returns."
The official added important context about wildlife movement patterns in the region, noting that straying tigers frequently use this particular route when returning to the nearby Ajmalmari forest, suggesting this might be part of a regular territorial circuit for big cats in the Sundarbans region.
Local authorities have advised villagers to remain cautious and report any unusual wildlife sightings immediately. The forest department continues to monitor the situation closely, with teams prepared to respond to any further developments in this wildlife-human interface scenario.
