In a rare incident, a Royal Bengal tiger was sighted in the Atkona village of the Kalinagar area in Uttar Pradesh’s Pilibhit district. The majestic feline, having ventured out of the Tiger Reserve forest, was captured on video nonchalantly perched on the compound wall of a Gurudwara.
The viral footage on social media, shows the tiger casually strolling along the wall, much to the amazement and panic of onlookers. A sizable crowd had gathered to witness this unusual sight, prompting both the Forest department and local police administration to take immediate action.
The tiger was, however, tranquilized and taken into safe custody by the forest department officials.
Hope the UP Forest Department is able to safely rescue this Tiger which came out of the Tiger Reserve in Pilibhit district and decided to rest on a wall. Biggest challenge is to shield the Tiger from the crowd and the never ending craze for a selfie video @airnewsalerts pic.twitter.com/EUZEFMD8xY— Supriya Sahu IAS (@supriyasahuias) December 26, 2023
The tiger’s nocturnal escapade began at around 2 am when it entered Atkona village, eventually finding its way to the boundary wall of a farmer named Shindu Singh, according to the report by the ETV Bharat. The commotion started when local dogs began barking loudly at the presence of the wild visitor. Shindu Singh, startled by the noise, discovered the tiger perched on his compound wall upon investigation, the report added.
As word spread through the village, residents took precautionary measures to ensure their safety. Many lit bonfires outside their homes, while others climbed onto their rooftops, shining torchlights at the majestic creature. Despite the commotion, the tiger remained unperturbed, maintaining its regal pose on the wall throughout the night.
With a growing crowd outside Shindu’s house, villagers promptly contacted the forest department. Forest officials, accompanied by a rescue team, arrived to address the situation and safely relocate the tiger back to its natural habitat.
As per the Republic report, the forest department set up a security cordon using a net to prevent any untoward incidents. Bengal tigers, which once freely roamed the entire Indian subcontinent, faced a significant decline in numbers during the 20th century due to a combination of poaching and habitat loss. In 1900, it is estimated that approximately 100,000 tigers inhabited India. However, by 1972, this number had dwindled to a mere 1827.
Since 2015, there has been a noteworthy 40% increase in tiger numbers, attributed to advancements in monitoring and counting methods. Unlike many other species, conducting a tiger census is relatively straightforward due to the distinctive striped patterns of each Bengal tiger; no two are alike.
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