Man-Eating Tiger Captured in Chandrapur After Two Fatal Attacks
A dangerous tiger responsible for two human fatalities was successfully tranquilized and captured by forest authorities near Savarla village in the Talodhi forest range of Chandrapur district on Saturday evening. The critical operation was executed by the specialized Rapid Response Team (RRT) from the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, operating under the direct supervision of Brahmapuri divisional forest officer Kumar Swami.
Operation Details and Team Leadership
The tranquilization mission was expertly led by veterinary specialist Dr. Ravikant Khobragade, who headed the RRT unit with crucial assistance from Range Forest Officer A.R. Kannamwar. After days of meticulous tracking and surveillance, the team strategically set up bait near the site of one of the tiger's previous kills. Around 6 PM on Saturday, skilled shooter Ajay Marathe successfully darted the animal with a tranquilizer, leading to its safe sedation and subsequent capture.
Background of the Attacks
The captured tiger had been terrorizing the region for the past fortnight, claiming two lives in separate tragic incidents. On March 25, 45-year-old Pramila Watghure from Talodhi village was fatally attacked while collecting firewood in a scrub forest area near Savarla. Just eleven days later, on April 5, 58-year-old farmer Mahadev Kubde from Minthur village was killed near a stream adjacent to his agricultural field in the Nagbhid forest range.
Forest Department Response and Tracking
Forest officials reported that the tiger had been repeatedly sighted prowling near agricultural fields, moving between the Talodhi and Nagbhid forest ranges. This persistent threat to human safety prompted authorities to issue immediate capture orders. The RRT conducted extensive tracking of the animal's movement patterns before implementing their capture strategy. Following the successful operation, the sedated tiger was carefully transported to the Gorewada Wildlife Rescue Centre for further evaluation and management.
This incident highlights the ongoing challenges of human-wildlife conflict in forest-adjacent regions and the critical role of specialized response teams in managing such dangerous situations.
