Prowling male tiger terrorises Bastar, villagers on edge

Raipur: A tiger, believed to be a full-grown male, has unleashed terror in a cluster of villages in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region over the last four days, keeping residents on edge with fresh livestock kills and clear pugmarks in their midst. Amid deepening fear, forest teams and security personnel have launched a combined search operation, scouring the area using drones and trap cameras.The big cat is suspected to be moving around Khandiyapal and nearby villages under Tokapal block, about 30 km from Jagdalpur town. TOI carried a report earlier detailing how the first signs of the tiger's presence appeared four days ago, when fresh pugmarks were spotted on forest tracks. On Tuesday, the carcass of a cow was found in the Marenga area, while a wild boar also was spotted injured in an attack. Ujesh Kumar, a local resident, said people have been spending anxious and sleepless nights for days since the big cat announced its presence. "By evening, everyone shuts themselves indoors. Going to the fields after dark has stopped completely, and children are not being allowed to play outside," Kumar told TOI.With no clear image of the tiger captured on camera yet, the fear has only intensified. Forest officials have advised people not to venture out alone into the forest, avoid isolated paths, and immediately report any suspicious movement or fresh kills.As dusk falls, Khandiyapal and neighbouring hamlets fall eerily silent. Daily chores — grazing cattle, collecting firewood, tending to distant fields — have come to a trickle, as residents said they were living in constant anxiety, their senses alert to any sound emanating from the edge of the forests lining their hutments.Forest staff have asked villagers within a radius of roughly 10 kms to remain on high alert. A compensation case is also being prepared for the farmer, whose cattle were killed in a suspected tiger attack.Drones, trap cameras used, but no image yetConsidering the threat, forest department teams have roped in security force personnel to help trace the animal. Drones are being flown over the forested belt and adjoining villages, while ground teams try to match signs on the terrain with movement patterns.According to officials, more than 50 personnel from forest department and CRPF are currently engaged in the search and monitoring operation. Trap cameras have been installed at multiple points across the suspected corridor.Yet, despite four days of effort, the tiger has not been caught on camera even once. Earlier, chief conservator of forests (Wildlife) Alok Tiwari had inspected the pugmarks and confirmed that they belonged to an adult male tiger. Officials believe this is the same tiger that was recently sighted in the Bhanpuri area and is likely moving towards the Kanger Valley National Park. They suspect it may have strayed towards the villages while trying to navigate its route.From the size and depth of the pugmarks, the tiger is estimated to be fully grown, around seven to eight years old.Forest officials insist that the immediate priority is twofold: ensuring the safety of villagers while also protecting the tiger. For this, they are trying to create a "safe passage" — a secure route that would allow the animal to move back towards deeper forests and the Kanger Valley landscape without being harmed or pushed into conflict.