Nagpur: In a big relief, the elusive sub-adult NT-3 tigress, which was missing since April 13 and whose GPS collar was found in the compartment No 95 on Sunday at Navegaon NagziraTiger Reserve (NNTR), was captured after rigorous efforts by the Forest Department on Monday morning.
Under its Tiger Conservation Translocation (TCT) programme, the Forest Department translocated NT-3 tigress from Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (T ATR) and was released in NNTR core on April 11. Before releasing the big cat, the forest team fixed a radio collar to monitor her movement in the forest. Under this programme, around seven-eight tigers will be released in NNTR to reduce the man animal conflict in Chandrapur and Bramhapuri districts. So far, three tigers have been released in NNTR under this programme.
The NT-3 tigress went missing within 48 hours of her release in the wild and the radio collar was found in Compartment No 95 in NNTR core area. After spotting the radio collar in the jungle, the Forest Department sprung into action and started a rigorous search operation in NNTR. The entire operation was carried successfully under the monitoring and guidance of the senior forest officials.
Rapid Response Team (RRT) joined by expert veterinarian Dr Ravikant Khobragade from TATR and Assistant Researcher from Dehradun successfully tranquillised the tigress in the morning. They reinstalled the GPS collar and later, the big cat was again released in the wild. Forest Conservator Srilaxmi A (Territorial), Deputy Conservator of Forest and Field Director of NNTR Pramodkumar Panchbhai, Deputy Field Director Pavan Jep monitored the operation.
The operation was carried out under the guidance of Chief Conservator of Forest Maheep Gupta (Wildlife), Additional CCF Dr Praveen Chauhan (Nagpur), TATR’s Field Director Dr Jitendra Ramgaonkar, Deputy Conservator of Forest and Field Director of NNTR Jayarame Gowda R. It was informed that the movement of the released NT-3 tigress is being monitored 24×7 by the expert and trained team with the help of the GPS collar and VHF.
