RBT pugmarks seen in Mayurbhanj forest

Bisoi: At a time when tiger census is underway at Similipal Wildlife Sanctuary in Mayurbhanj district, a team of forest officials from Sargada Wednesday spotted pugmarks of a Royal Bengal Tiger (RBT) at Sarali reserve forest under Bisoi forest section and Rairangpur forest division in Mayurbhanj district. The forest officials led by Bisoi forest section head Khirod Chandra Singh and Rairangpur DFO (incharge) Sai Kiran DN were conducting a survey for tiger enumeration when they spotted the pugmarks of a Royal Bengal Tiger within 1,600 metre of the transact line at Sarali reserve forest under Sargada forest beat-1. Sargada forester Jeevan Ballav Patra, para staffers Jitu Majhi, Bulu Munda, Guru Charan Bindhani and Manglu Munda are participating in the survey which started from October 18 and will continue till October 28. The pugmark measured 18 cm in length and 13 cm in width, forest officials said. A detailed probe report on the pugmarks has been sent to the forest head office in Keonjhar, forester Patra said.