Tiger suspected to have passed through a farm in Chikkakanya village, Mysuru taluk; Forest staff confirm the pug marks as that of a big cat

Mysuru: Two months after a tiger was spotted near Chikkakanya village in Mysuru, the fear of big cat has returned with the pug marks of the tiger found at a farm in the village.

Following an information from the farm owner, Forest personnel, who visited the spot, confirmed the pug marks as that of a tiger. The traces of the pug marks have been sent to Tiger Cell to verify whether it is that of the same tiger that was spotted two months ago or that of another animal.

However, going by the size of the pug marks that is big, it is suspected to be that of a fully grown tiger or tigress that had given birth to four cubs at Chikkanahalli near Sargur in Mysuru division after straying out of Bandipur Tiger Reserve, before they were separated. Four months ago, the one-and-a-half-year old tiger cubs had sparked fears when they were sighted in the outskirts of Chikkakanya.  One of the tiger cubs, named as T-7 was camping near Chikkakanya, Doddakanya and surrounding villages. Recently, another cub named T-6 died after it was fatally knocked down by a car near Mysore Airport, on Mysuru-Nanjangud road, when it was crossing the road from Marase to Airport side.

On Dec. 28, 2023, the tiger cub named T-9 had been spotted near Bidrallihundi-Channahalli in Srirangapatna, Mandya, only to disappear mysteriously, giving rise to suspicions that the big cat may have returned to the forest. Following this, Forest personnel had stopped the combing operation, but had continued to create awareness among the villagers.

Now, with the finding of pug marks, Forest personnel have resumed combing operation. DCF (Mysuru division) Dr. Basavaraju said: “There is no eye-witness account about the sighting of the tiger at the farm in Chikkakanya. There is neither any information from the people, except for the pug marks of the tiger.”