Bantala: People of Kataranga village in this tehsil of Angul district were a panicky lot after spotting a tigress Tuesday afternoon.
The tigress turned out to be `Sundari’, which was brought from Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh and kept in an enclosure at Raiguda of Satkosia Tiger Reserve of Angul district. She was released into the wild from the enclosure August 17.
Five goatherds Tuesday saw the tigress resting near a bush behind the village school. The big cat also stared back at them, they said. The goatherds brought their goats back to the shed and informed the other villagers. The villagers remained awake the entire night fearing that the animal may attack them.
On being alerted, a team of forest officials led by assistant conservator of forest (ACF) Subhendu Behera reached the village and kept vigil. The tigress was still near the village and the officials have asked people not to enter the nearby forest, it was learnt.
“Though we came face to face with the tigress, she didn’t attempt to attack us,” said Yoginath Padhan, one of the goatherds.
When contacted, Satkosia divisional forest officer SMDT Rahman said the tigress has been near Katarang village for the last two days. A team of forest officials have camped in the village and people have been asked not to enter the forest, he added.