Zoo authorities continue drive to track tigress, cub

BARANG: Nandankanan Zoo authorities have started drive to track the wild tigress and her cub whose pugmarks were found inside the zoo on Sunday afternoon. The officials claimed that no fresh pugmarks were found on Wednesday.

Deputy Director of the Zoo Chittaranjan Mishra said they would install camera traps method to track the wild animal. They would bring the cameras from Similipal Tiger Reserve by January 18, he said, adding, “We are not getting any pugmarks of the animals during last two days as they are moving around. If they come, we can get camera trap, otherwise not.”        

The authorities have created an artificial cage to entrap the tigress and her cub, while securities and patrolling inside the zoo has been beefed up. “The tigress and her cub is in the sanctuary area, so there is no threat for visitors,” said the authorities.

Notably, the forest department officials on December 28 last year had confirmed that the tigress and its child were freely roaming around the Chandaka-Dampada sanctuary on the outskirts of the city.

On December 24, according to the report, the tigress and its child had come to drink water from Khiragadia pond, near Talabasta village. After the scientific inquiry into the foot mark of the tigress and her child, the forest officials had proved that the rumour was true.