Two Rehabilitated Tigers Released Back To Wild, 2 Others Wait For Fitness Certificates
Forest officials captured these strayed tigers which had settled in fields/farms out of the forests of Bandipur and Nagarhole Tiger reserves thus increasing man-animal conflicts on the fringes of the both the tiger reserves especially in Nanjangud taluk where strayed tigers mauled 3 villages and seriously injured one in Hediyala sub-division of Bandipur National Park, a tiger reserve
BENGALURU: Of the referred 11 tigers to Sri Chamundeshwari Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre in Mysuru attached to Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens, 2 mid-age tigers rehabilitated at the Centre have been released back to the wild while two other tigers wait for their fitness certificates to get back into the wild.
Forest officials captured these strayed tigers which had settled in fields/farms out of the forests of Bandipur and Nagarhole Tiger reserves thus increasing man-animal conflicts on the fringes of the both the tiger reserves especially in Nanjangud taluk where strayed tigers mauled 3 villages and seriously injured one in Hediyala sub-division of Bandipur National Park, a tiger reserve.
Executive Director of Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens Anusha told Deccan Chronicle “We released two tigers after their rehabilitation. Tiger capture operation that started in November went for about three months and the captured tigers were referred to the Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre for their rehabilitation.”
She said tigers captured in problematic areas are shifted to the Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre and shifted animals are referred cases include injured, animals unable to hunt, weak and old having lost their canines and nails. At the Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, she said “the captured tigers are kept in quarantine to retain their wild nature.”
Prior to their release back to the wild, the Executive Director said “Veterinarians assess their health and declare them to be fit for survival in the wild. Only tigers declared fit are released back to the wild after closely examining their health so that they can survive in the wild.”
A wildlife activist observed "It is a welcome move to release captured tigers back to the wild instead of keeping them in captivity. But, the release of captured tigers should be based on a scientific study rather than simply letting it go back to the forests."
Adding, he said, "A study is needed prior to releasing a captured tiger back to the wild. It is important to have details on existing tigers at the place of release otherwise it results in territorial fights leading to injury to one of them."
