Bettiah: A tiger that had ventured out of the Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) forest and into residential areas is now making its way back to its natural habitat. The forest department has confirmed that the tiger is retracing its path through the same river it used to exit the forest and reach Chanpatia, a distance of 60 km.
Forest Division 1 DFO Pradyumna Gaurav stated that it could take the tiger an additional 3 to 4 days to fully return to the forest, as it has traveled far from Chanpatia. Forest workers are closely monitoring the tiger’s movements through pugmarks and using drones for aerial surveillance. Gaurav assured the public that there is no cause for alarm, emphasizing that resources such as tranquilizer guns, nets, and cages are on standby if needed.
The DFO appealed to residents to remain calm and not be swayed by rumors. He acknowledged that tracking the tiger has been challenging due to rain, high water levels in rivers and streams, dense vegetation, and sugarcane crops. To address these difficulties, a team of forest personnel is patrolling the area around the clock to ensure the tiger’s safe return to the forest.
The tiger, which strayed from the Manguraha forest area within Forest Division 1 of VTR, had been roaming residential areas for approximately two weeks. On Monday, it traversed Pipra village in Chanpatia via the Karatha and Sikrahna rivers. By Wednesday, it had reached near the Shiva temple in Puraina village through the Chanpatia – Sikrahna bridge. The tiger continued its journey and reached Pokhariya via Karanpatti on Thursday. Forest officials now report that the tiger has left Chanpatia and is moving back toward the forest.
