Angul: Panic gripped the villages surrounding the Satkosia Reserve Forest in Angul district after the Royal Bengal tiger Mahavir was released into the forest. It may be mentioned here that the tiger was brought from Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh June 21.
Forest officials said, the tiger was released into the wildlife sanctuary July 6 before being kept in a enclosure to watch his movements.
After the release of the tiger the villagers are not venturing out of their houses after sunset. Even during the day, they carrying sticks and sharp weapons to defend themselves from a possible tiger attack. The parents and the guardians are now accompanying children to the school apprehending danger from the tiger. “We are forced to keep the doors and windows of the houses closed,” said a villager.
Neither the administration nor the Forest officials had alerted the villagers before releasing the wild cat into the forest, the villager said.
However, the Forest department has ruled out any possibility of a tiger attack.
“We are constantly monitoring the movement of the Bengal tiger. Tigers always try avoiding human beings. Since there is plenty of food in the sanctuary, there are remote chances of it venturing into the human habitat,” Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and Field Director, Satkosia, Sudarsan Panda, told the media.
