Cub shifted to Koorgalli Rehabilitation Centre

Mysore/Mysuru: A tiger cub, which was exhausted after it had got separated from its mother, has been rescued by the Forest Department staff and shifted the two-year-old tiger cub to Mysuru Zoo’s Chamundi Wildlife Conservation, Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre at Koorgalli in city.

Yesterday at about 3.15 pm, public saw the tiger cub lying exhausted just 10 ft. away from National Highway 766 (Wayanad Road) in Bandipur Tiger Reserve and informed the Forest Department. Forest staff, who rushed to the spot, observed that the tiger cub was exhausted due to scorching heat, hunger and thirst.

Soon, a large crowd from nearby villages began to throng the spot, following which the Forest staff brought in domesticated elephants Jayaprakash and Dharma to the spot to drive the tiger cub back into the forest.

As soon as the operation to drive back the cub began, the tiger cub escaped into standing crops but the crowd began to chase the tiger cub.

As there were chances of the tiger cub attacking the people, Bandipur Tiger Reserve Director S. Prabhakaran sought the help of the Police. Tahsildar and Dy.SP too arrived at the spot and urged the crowd not to hamper the operation taken up by the Forest Department to capture the tiger cub.

As the crowd failed to listen, additional Police force was summoned to the spot, Section 144 was imposed and the crowd was dispersed.

Later, when the operation commenced, the cub roared from inside the crops resulting in elephant Dharma shaking off Veterinarian Dr. Waseem Mirza, who was seated on his back.

As soon as the veterinarian fell on the ground, elephant Dharma fled away.

Later, Forest staff Kumar, who was seated atop elephant Jayaprakash, fired a tranquilliser dart on the tiger cub, rendering it unconscious.

After confirming that the tiger had gone to sleep, the Forest staff rescued it and shifted it into a cage following which its health condition was observed and it was found that the cub was suffering from hunger and thirst.

The cub was fed water and food immediately and after taking permission from the higher officials, shifted it to the Chamundi Wildlife Conservation, Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre of Mysuru Zoo.