Tiger pugmarks near fields in Bastar spark alarm; leopard sightings in other parts of Chhattisgarh keep forest department on edge

RAIPUR: Signs of a tiger moving close to villages on the outskirts of Chhattisgarh's Jagdalpur town have triggered panic in Bastar. In Tokapal block’s Khandiyapal area, villagers on Monday reported large cat footprints near agricultural fields, prompting a rapid response from the forest department.

Keeping it low and without divulging much information, forest officials have not yet formally confirmed the presence of a tiger but admitted the tracks appear to belong to a “giant cat species”.

Forest teams reached the spot after locals spotted the pugmarks along field boundaries and in nearby patches of soil. Suspected same tiger moving across the belt. A forest officer said the department will only confirm the species after a detailed examination of the footprints and related evidence.

Unofficially, however, sources in the department say the pugmarks are “highly likely” to be those of a tiger already known to be moving across the Bastar region.

It is believed, this could be the same tiger that was sighted on Oct 10 in the downslope areas of Bacheli, later recorded in the Bhanpuri range, and earlier reported from Bijapur forests, all neighbouring regions. It is suspected that while moving from Bhanpuri towards Kanger Valley National Park, the big cat skirted fields near Khandiyapal, leaving a clear trail of prints.

In a related incident, officials recently received information that two cows were killed—suspected to be by a tiger—near Kurandi, about 10 kms from Jagdalpur.

In view of the fresh signs, forest staff have started installing additional trap cameras in and around Khandiyapal to conclusively establish the animal’s identity and track its movement.

Officials have urged villagers to remain cautious, avoid venturing alone into fields or forests at dawn or dusk, and immediately report any fresh signs, kills or sightings.

Leopard kills deer near houses in Balodabazar village

Even as Bastar grapples with tiger movement, a leopard incident has stirred fear in Balodabazar district. In village Bagar under the Sonakhan range, a leopard killed a deer in wee hours on Monday barely a short distance from the residential area.

The attack, believed to have occurred after 1 am, took place in a field adjoining house of local residents of local residents. According to initial information, a leopard pounced on a deer in the field and dragged it, leaving clear signs of a kill.

A forest department team reached the spot, inspected the area and prepared a panchnama.

With leopard movement close to human habitation, panic has spread in the village. Assistant range officer Astha Yadav and forest guard Yudhishthir Dadseyna from the Borasi beat have appealed to residents to remain alert, stay indoors after dark, avoid unnecessary movement at night and not harm any wild animals. Patrolling and monitoring in the area have been stepped up.

Across these locations, forest officials said the pattern points to increased movement of big cats—tigers and leopards—through human-dominated landscapes, driven by habitat connectivity and prey movement.

While insisting that no “official” conclusion will be drawn about the Khandiyapal pugmarks until reports are in, officers concede that the combination of tiger signs in Bastar and leopard-related incidents in Balodabazar and Dongargarh has created a stretched but heightened state of vigilance.